The Brad Carlson blog

Bachmann is back

2012-01-25T21:57:00.006-06:00

I admit I was mildly surprised by this bit of news.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota congresswoman who dropped a bid for the GOP presidential nomination in January, will run for re-election to Congress in 2012, her campaign said Wednesday.

Bachmann's political future had been in question ever since she announced she was suspending her presidential campaign on January 4, the day after finishing sixth in the Iowa caucuses. Bachmann has represented Minnesota's sixth district since 2007, but gained an outsized profile in the last three years for her vocal support of the tea party movement and her presidential bid.

Bachmann's campaign spokesman, Guy Short, confirmed Wednesday she would seek reelection for her seat, noting there were "more details to come" on her official announcement.

As a resident Congressional District Six, I am thrilled that Bachmann is jumping into the race. She has been a strong and consistent voice for fiscal sanity, something that is sorely needed these days.

I said at the outset that I was mildly surprised by this, and there are a couple of reasons for that reaction. First, Bachmann gained significant national chops by being the GOP Presidential frontrunner during the Summer. As such, I wasn't certain she could humble herself and come back to CD6 after gaining such prominence on the national political stage only to fade after winning the Ames, IA straw poll. And since redistricting has yet to be finalized, there is some question as to whether her residence in Stillwater will even remain in the sixth.

The other aspect had to do with the 2010 election cycle, when Bachmann's detractors beat her over the head with the charge that she was frequently absent from her district, a criticism that was largely unfounded. However, there's no denying such a charge this time around as she spent ample time in 2011 on the Presidential campaign trail. Not to mention the fact she continually pointed out how proud she was to be an Iowan, having lived in the Waterloo area until she was thirteen. That's probably not the best method to galvanize support from your constituents in Minnesota.

Having said all that, Bachmann will have a significant advantage in fundraising over any Democrat opponent given that she did attain a national following while running for President. Combine that with the fact the she was one of the few GOP bright spots in the 2006 & 2008 elections (and won by her widest margin in 2010), it's pretty much a certainty that leftist PACs are not even going to bother targeting this district. My guess is the political demographics haven't changed that dramatically over the past couple of years, making it even more of a daunting task for a DFLer to knock off such a strong incumbent as Bachmann.

Now if Michele can just steer clear of the verbal missteps......

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A phoenix rises in Arizona

2012-01-23T19:32:00.005-06:00

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who was seriously wounded in Tucson, AZ a little more than a year ago by crazed gunman Jared Loughner, is resigning her seat in Congress.

Citing the need to focus more on her recovery, Giffords will step down this week.

But before she walked away, Giffords took care of one more order of business on Monday morning. In a final act of service on behalf of her constituents, Rep. Giffords finished her "Congress On Your Corner" meeting which she was in the midst of fulfilling on that fateful Saturday morning a little more than twelve months ago.

Photo courtesy of Rep. Gabby Giffords' Twitter feed

Dignified, courageous and heroic to the end.

Godspeed, Rep. Giffords.

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Although you're superior over me, we talk to each other in a friendship way....

2012-01-22T06:57:00.004-06:00

Tune in to the Northern Alliance Radio Network this afternoon from 1:00 pm until 3:00 Central time as I will be on the air with this week's installment of The Closer. It's getting serious in the GOP Presidential primary, so we'll take a look back at the past week's events in South Carolina. We'll discuss Rick Perry dropping out and Newt Gingrich performing yet another flawless imitation of that beast in the Eagles song "Hotel California."

At 1:15, I will be joined via telephone by Hastings, MN native Ben Utecht. After a nice career as a Tight End for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team (2000-03), Ben went on to the NFL to play for the Indianapolis Colts (including the '06 season when they won the Super Bowl) and the Cincinnati Bengals. However, a severe concussion at Bengals training camp in 2009 effectively ended Utecht's NFL career, so he transitioned to another passion of his --- music.

We'll discuss his fledgling music career as well as his current musical tour with renown pianist Jim Brickman.

Then in the 2:00 hour I will welcome to the studio Joe Arwood, who is one of a handful of GOP candidates looking to oppose Sen. Amy Klobuchar to represent Minnesota in the US Senate.

We'll discuss Joe's personal background and get his insights on Klobuchar's stupefying support of SOPA and PIPA.

So please give us a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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2011 NFL Playoffs: Championship weekend

2012-01-21T09:10:00.003-06:00

Baltimore Ravens (+7) at New England Patriots: I have thought about this matchup since the minute the Ravens closed out the Houston Texans on Sunday. To he honest, I've waffled back and forth about which team I feel will win. So instead of throwing around a bevy of stats (as is my wont), I'm just going with a gut instinct here.

I bet Pats coach Bill Belichick is still seething over the first round blowout he suffered at the hands of the Ravens two years ago. The resounding 33-14 win for Baltimore was the first home playoff loss suffered by Belichick as Patriots coach. If you know anything about coach hoodie, you know he has a tendency to internalize his bitterness and then regurgitate it vicariously through his team.

So with all that twisted logic, I say the Pats reach their fifth Super Bowl in eleven seasons.

New England 28 Baltimore 24

New York Giants (+2-1/2) at San Francisco 49ers: Once again, I will eschew any relevant stats pertaining to this matchup. The Giants calmly, collectively and methodically went into Lambeau Field Sunday and dismantled the 15-1 Green Bay Packers 37-20. The day before, in one of the more frantic and electrifying finishes in NFL playoff history, the 49ers scored a last second touchdown (culminating four TDs score by both teams in the final 4:02 of the game) to defeat the red hot New Orleans Saints 36-32.

The way I see it, the Giants have been in playoff mode each of the past three weeks and have that same vibe going as in 2007 when they won three road playoff games en route to defeating the 18-0 Patriots in the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the 49ers may still be coming off that high that resulted from an exhilarating win over the Saints, so I wouldn't be shocked to see them come out a little flat.

The Giants, in my opinion, are the most balanced team in the playoffs right now and have that aura about them that they know it's their time. You know what? I believe it is, too.

New York 21 San Francisco 17

Postseason record
Straight up: 4-4-0
Against the Spread: 1-7-0

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Quick Hits: Volume XLIX (Vapid Celebs edition)

2012-01-18T19:57:00.008-06:00

-Actress Sophia Bush (no relation to you-know-who) is disaffected by the job performance of President Obama. But worse than that, she vows to join the ranks of Alec Baldwin, Robert Redford and Susan Sarandon by exiting the U.S. if a scurrilous Republican is elected President.

Said the actress, “I'm afraid for our country that people like this [current Republican candidates] could even be thought of as the president. I live in a country where I believe all men are created equal, not just wealthy white guys. I believe all men, all women, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic background, you deserve the same rights. If that's not where our country is going, then I'll leave. I don't need to live here. I'm out! I'll go to Canada, peace! See you later."

It's never a wise thing for a celebrity to make political statements because it's likely in many cases that fans of their movies/TV shows/music are of diverse political affiliations. Thus there's a risk of alienating a significant number of said devotees.

Yes, that kind of politically charged rhetoric is almost certain to have an adverse impact on DVD sales of such juggernauts as Chalet Girl and Table for Three.

-NFL reporters such as ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Adam Schefter and John Clayton along with NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora and Steve Wyche are some of the best in the business when it comes to breaking the latest news in pro football.

But can we now add actor Rob Lowe to that list? Lowe tweeted the following Wednesday afternoon:

Hearing my fave, #18 Peyton Manning will not return to #NFL. Wow.

When asked by Mortensen to respond to Lowe's tweet, Manning's father Archie laughed at the report and subsequently dismissed it.

I too am very skeptical of Lowe's "report", so much so that I will sit through the entire two hours of the Lowe movie Square Dance if I'm wrong.

-On September 11, 2001, actor Mark Wahlberg was scheduled to fly from Boston to Los Angeles on American Airlines Flight 11. However, at the last minute, he decided to rearrange his schedule to attend a film festival in Toronto. As it turned out, Flight 11 was the first of two commercial airliners to crash into the World Trade Center in New York.

In the 10+ years since he cheated death, Wahlberg hasn't spoken much about that fateful day until recently in an interview he gave in the latest issue of Men's Journal.

“If I was on that plane with my kids, it wouldn’t have went down like it did. There would have been a lot of blood in that first-class cabin and then me saying, ‘OK, we’re going to land somewhere safely, don’t worry.’”

After significant backlash over those comments, Wahlberg issued an apology.

"To speculate about such a situation is ridiculous to begin with, and to suggest I would have done anything differently than the passengers on that plane was irresponsible. I deeply apologize to the families of the victims that my answer came off as insensitive, it was certainly not my intention," Wahlberg said in a statement.

Someone made the comment that Wahlberg taking out a few terrorists wouldn't be all that implausible due to the fact he wiped out an entire movie theater that was playing his latest film Contraband.

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Quick Hits: Volume XLVIII (GOP Presidential Candidates edition)

2012-01-16T19:22:00.004-06:00

-Of the seven GOP Presidential candidates who participated in the Iowa caucuses a couple of weeks ago, nearly all have had their turn as "flavor of the week/month" with the exception of one. So it's no surprise what took place Monday morning.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman withdrew from the Republican presidential race Monday and endorsed front-runner Mitt Romney, while a supporter of Texas Gov. Rick Perry called for him to also drop out for the sake of conservative unity.

"Our campaign for the presidency ends, but our campaign for a (better) American continues," Huntsman declared. "I believe it is now time for our party to unite around the candidate best equipped to defeat Barack Obama. Despite our differences and the space between us on some of the issues, I believe that candidate is Gov. Mitt Romney."

Many have said that Huntsman's biggest downfall was he denied his conservative credentials in an effort to draw in more moderate Republicans and even some Democrats who have become disaffected by the Obama presidency. Unfortunately for Huntsman, this strategy backfired miserably, as he rarely (if ever) registered above single digits in any of the polls.

I guess it should come as no surprise that Huntsman chose to drop out right after the New Hampshire primary results had him finishing a distant third behind Romney and Ron Paul. If he truly had any appeal with the block of supporters he was targeting, it would have been apparent in New Hampshire. You see NH is an open primary state where Independents and Democrats were allowed to vote. Having finished nearly 24 points behind Romney, Huntsman either didn't sway as many non-conservatives/non-Republicans as he had hoped or they simply didn't turn out.

So long, Governor Huntsman. We hardly knew ye.

-Star Tribune political reporter Rachel Stassen-Berger asked the following question via Twitter on Monday:

Pawlenty back in the "veepstakes" speculation. Do you think he belongs there?

My answer was "No", for the simple reason that (assuming Romney is the GOP nominee) there needs to be a VP candidate which energizes the conservative base. Romney himself certainly isn't that candidate, so his running mate will have to have that draw.

Personally, I believe Marco Rubio is the most viable (and obvious) option, for the reasons Mike Huckabee recently laid out in a Newsmax interview.

“I think Marco Rubio is the much stronger candidate, mainly because Mitt needs to balance himself geographically. Florida is going to be a very key swing state,” said Huckabee, who noted that Romney has not asked for his advice on a running mate.

“If he could get Rubio on the ticket, you’ve got a person with great ties to the Hispanic community, an amazing communicator, a terrific leader, a Floridian and someone who has impeccable values voter credentials with the pro-life and pro-family crowd,” Huckabee said.

Lest we forget that 2008 GOP candidate John McCain received a lukewarm reception amongst the Republican base until he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. Granted it wasn't enough to defeat the "Hope and Change" juggernaut, but there was no question that the conservative base of the GOP was more engaged once Palin came on board. Solidifying and energizing the base is a must in November if we hope to defeat an incumbent President.

-I like Newt Gingrich. Really, I do. And I don't believe for a second that he's "anti-capitalism" despite the digs regarding Mitt Romney's tenure at Bain Capital.

But his latest attempt to denigrate Romney's candidacy is just plain silly.

"Why would you want to nominate the guy who lost to the guy who lost to Obama?" Newt asked a standing-room only crowd in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Obviously Gingrich is referring to 2008 when Romney lost the GOP nomination to John McCain who in turn was defeated in the general election by Obama. That logic is flawed in a couple of different ways.

Do you recall who won the GOP nomination in 1980 to take on incumbent President Jimmy Carter? Yes, it was Ronald Reagan. Suppose if in the 1980 GOP nomination process that candidate Howard Baker tweaked Reagan by saying he was the guy (in 1976) who lost to the guy (Gerald Ford) who lost to Carter. As we see now, that clearly was not enough to consider disqualifying Reagan.

The other flaw is the GOP is now taking on a vulnerable incumbent President whose economic policy failures can be highlighted with statistical data. But four years ago they were opposing an unstoppable juggernaut who used charismatic speeches to sway an electorate which was weary (rightfully so) of eight years of a big government Republican. But people now realize one cannot alleviate issues incurred from eight years of "Compassionate Conservatism" with an even more substantial power grab.

These are different times indeed. But lately Gingrich seems to have reverted to his 1990s persona when the phrase "loose cannon" often preceded his name.

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Who needs a house out in Hackensack? Is that all you get for your money?

2012-01-15T06:35:00.002-06:00

The year 2012 has been news intensive thus far, and this past week was no exception. Today, from 1:00 until 3:00 pm Central time, I will be on the air on AM 1280 The Patriot.

In addition to recapping Tuesday's New Hampshire primary (and previewing Saturday's South Carolina primary), I'll also address the commemoration of the 1-year anniversary of the Tucson, AZ shootings.

At 1:15, I will welcome to the studio Anthony Hernandez, who is vying for the GOP nomination to oppose Senator Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota's Senate election this November.

Then in the 2:00 hour, I will be joined via telephone by comedienne/philanthropist/cover girl Danielle Teal.

Danielle is one of the more genuine, fun-loving people you'll ever meet, so we'll get some updates on her award-winning charitable endeavors (she received the 2010 United Way Presidents Award for Olmsted County in recognition of her volunteering and fundraising efforts amidst flooding that Summer) as well as her comedic career.

So please give us a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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2011 NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round

2012-01-14T09:13:00.005-06:00

New Orleans Saints (-3 1/2) at San Francisco 49ers: This will be the most intriguing matchup of the weekend, as the Saints' high powered offense takes on the stingy 49ers D. Call it finesse vs. grittiness. The unstoppable force vs. the immovable object. The Socs vs. The Greasers (What, you never saw The Outsiders?).

As always, I believe Saints all-world quarterback Drew Brees will get his. But how will 49ers QB Alex Smith fare in his first opportunity on the big stage that is the NFL playoffs? It's possible that the Niners could choose to pound Frank Gore in an effort to keep Brees & Co. off the field. The Saints run defense is ranked 12th in the NFL in total yardage, but that's a little deceiving. New Orleans' 2011 regular season opponents have had little use for the run given the fact many had fallen behind early.

In the end, the Saints should have enough to squeak by.

New Orleans 27 San Francisco 21

Denver Broncos (+13 1/2) at New England Patriots: A rematch of Week 15, where the Patriots went in to Denver and crushed the Broncos 41-23. However, the Broncos had things going their way early, as they built a 16-7 lead at the beginning of the second quarter. Unfortunately for Tim Tebow & Co., they lost three fumbles in the final 8-1/2 minutes of the first half, which was the catalyst for the Patriots scoring 20 unanswered points going into halftime.

Denver keeps this week's game close if they don't turn the ball over and runs the ball effectively. They did rack up 252 yards rushing in the regular season matchup vs. New England but, again, turnovers cost them. Meanwhile, 34-year old Pats QB Tom Brady is desperately trying to join the elite ranks of Montana and Bradshaw by acquiring his fourth Super Bowl ring. He appears focused like he's never been before, and thus I believe he wills his team to the next round.

Pats win, Broncos cover.

New England 34 Denver 24

Houston Texans (+7 1/2) at Baltimore Ravens: In the 2011 regular season, the Texans and Raves ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in total defense in terms of total yardage. Both offenses feature dynamic all-purpose running backs (Arian Foster - Texans; Ray Rice - Ravens) whom will likely be relied upon heavily. And both have big physical receivers who can cause matchup problems for opposing defenses (Andre Johnson - Texans; Anquan Boldin - Ravens).

These teams seem very evenly matched, but the Ravens have the edge in playoff experience and home field.

Baltimore 21 Houston 10

New York Giants (+7 1/2) at Green Bay Packers: The Giants lost a late regular season game at home 38-35 to the team considered the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl. But when the two clubs met again in the playoffs, the Giants scored a monumental upset.

A bold prediction for Sunday? Actually, that is the scenario which played out in 2007. The New England Patriots beat the Giants 38-35 in the '07 regular season finale to finish the year 16-0. But when the teams met in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants stunned the Pats 17-14.

I bring this up only because the parallels are eerily similar. The Packers (who won on the Giants' home field 38-35 in Week 13) have been dubbed the team to beat this postseason but now have to face a Giants team that (like in 2007) no one really believes can make a serious run. So are we indeed looking at the Giants pulling off another implausible Super Bowl run for the second time in five years? Will the Packers (like the Pats in '07) fall short of the grand expectations fostered by one of the more dominant regular seasons in NFL history?

Nah.

Packers 42 Giants 24

Postseason record
Straight up: 2-2-0
Against the spread: 1-3-0

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Quick Hits: Volume XLVII

2012-01-12T06:04:00.000-06:00

-I can't seem to keep up with the latest liberal chanting points. On one side, I read how the Tea Party movement has lost its influence all over the nation and that they've had little impact leading up to the 2012 campaigns.

But then Wednesday I hear the insufferable and vacuous Debbie Wasserman Schultz dredge up that despicable slander of how the Tea Party "rhetoric" resulted in the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords a little more than a year ago.

"We need to make sure that we tone things down, particularly in light of the Tucson tragedy from a year ago, where my very good friend, Gabby Giffords -- who is doing really well, by the way, -- [was shot]," Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic National Committee chair said during a "Politics and Eggs" forum this morning. "The discourse in America, the discourse in Congress in particular . . . has really changed, I'll tell you. I hesitate to place blame, but I have noticed it take a very precipitous turn towards edginess and lack of civility with the growth of the Tea Party movement."

Question for ya, Ms. W-S. Which movement has been more prominent in its lack of civility, not to mention actually partaking in violence? Would that be the Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street? Before you answer, here's a cheat sheet for ya.

-From the ridiculous to the sublime, I'd like to take a minute to highlight the blog of my pal Danielle Teal. It's one thing to make a New Years resolution, but it's something different to make a substantial commitment and stick to it.

Every day for each of the 366 days (remember, it's a leap year) of 2012, DT has made a vow to enact a "random act of kindness." Whether it's an act of service for someone in need or expressing appreciation of another person's work, Danielle will document her progress daily. I'm honored to call Danielle a buddy not only because she's cool but also how she unwittingly causes me to assess my own selflessness. I guess that too can be considered an act of kindness.

-University of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, who also won the 2011 Heisman Trophy, has officially declared for the 2012 NFL Draft.

With the Indianapolis Colts selecting #1 overall, it's pretty much a forgone conclusion they will take Stanford QB Andrew Luck. Since the St. Louis Rams, who will pick second overall, already have their franchise QB and left tackle in Sam Bradford and Rodger Saffold, respectively, it's likely they'll draft based on a myriad of other needs.

That leaves my Minnesota Vikings at #3. While the jury is still out on whether or not Christian Ponder is the long-term answer at QB, there's no way the Vikings pull the plug after he's had only ten starts. So could it be that the Vikings will draft Griffin with the third choice and then trade him to a QB-starved team who picks in the top 10? That way the Vikes could accumulate additional draft choices, including a top 10 selection. I feel it's a very plausible scenario since the Vikings themselves have many holes to fill, so it would behoove them to rebuild through the draft. The likely trade partners could be the Washington Redskins, who pick sixth, or the Miami Dolphins, who will have their fate determined by a coin flip on whether they'll go 8th or 9th.

Yes, this is the magic of the NFL. Even though your favorite team may have been out of playoff contention before Columbus Day, there's always something going on to pique your interest.

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Common ground now shaky

2012-01-09T19:18:00.006-06:00

As a supporter of most Republican candidates running for some political office, I take heart in the fact that the GOP is becoming more of a "big tent." In fact, at my local BPOU alone you'll find a mix of pro lifers, social libertarians, the "religious right", etc. But the one common denominator usually is (and always should be) fiscal conservatism and a belief in free markets.

Unfortunately, the 2012 GOP Presidential nomination is beginning to have the makings of a quasi-Occupy Wall Street meeting.

The Democrats started it, and now Republican rivals are piling on. Mitt Romney is suddenly playing defense about his career as a venture capitalist--and in a Republican primary campaign, of all things.

The attacks on Romney’s Bain Capital career from fellow Republicans may be coming too late in the game to knock him off his path toward the nomination. They may also be ineffective in a party that lionizes capitalism and the business sector that propels it. Raising hackles about Romney's flip-flops on abortion and other key issues and comparing his Massachusetts health law to "Obamacare'' seems like safer ground.

But at the very least, the GOP field is providing a cache of video that Democrats are no doubt already hoarding for use in the likely event that Romney is President Obama’s opponent.

On Monday, a super PAC bankrolled by allies of Newt Gingrich said it is planning a $3.4 million media blitz in South Carolina that attacks Romney as a ruthless corporate titan who profited on the backs of hundreds of laid-off workers.

In Concord, meanwhile, Jon Huntsman turned a Romney remark about liking to be able to fire service providers who fall short into a Bain reference. "What's clear is, he likes firing people; I like creating jobs," Huntsman said.

Rick Perry also took up the anti-Bain attack at a campaign event in Anderson, S.C. "I have no doubt that Mitt Romney was worried about pink slips - whether he was going to have enough of them to hand out,'' he quipped, poking at Romney’s attempt at a feel-your-pain moment on Sunday.

Why do I feel like I'm suddenly in an alternate universe?

Now, am I denying there are risks in a capitalist system? Of course not. After all, there are no guarantees to succeed but the rather the assurance of the opportunity to have as much success as one desires. And I think it's been proven for many, many decades that one's ability to perform is hampered with too much government intervention. Thus, government programs are impediments to long-term success.

The thing that is most perplexing is there is a buffet of issues on which to attack Romney (i.e. health care, his flip flop on abortion, etc.), yet the one thing that conservatives can appreciate about him is what he's being forced to defend: his success in business.

If I were a conspiracy theorist, I could surmise that the rest of the GOP field knows Romney is the inevitable nominee and thus are assisting him in honing his debate skills against President Barack Obama. I shudder to think the likes of Gingrich and Perry actually subscribe to talking points which sound as though they're emanating from Zuccotti Park.

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Hang around 'til quarter after twelve, that's when they fall in line...

2012-01-08T07:06:00.001-06:00

After two weeks away, I make my return to the bunker that is the AM 1280 The Patriot studio! From 1:00 pm until 3:00 Central, there will be a lot to catch up on now that Presidential primary and caucus season is in full swing.

At 1:15 I'll be joined by Sheila Kihne, who is a conservative activist here in the Twin Cities. We will dissect all that has taken place the past week surrounding the GOP candidates, including a review of the Iowa Caucuses and a preview of this Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. I'll also look to get Sheila's input on the state of the Minnesota GOP now that we have a new state chair in place as well as newly elected leadership in the Senate.

So please give us a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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2011 NFL Playoffs: Wildcard

2012-01-07T11:13:00.004-06:00

Cincinnati Bengals (+4) at Houston Texans: The last time there was a playoff game in the city of Houston, veterans (and future Hall of Famers) Joe Montana and Warren Moon were the starting quarterbacks. Today's game will feature rookies Andy Dalton and T.J. Yates as the starting QBs for their respective clubs.

The last time the Bengals won a playoff game was 1990, which was the week before they effectively ended the NFL career of Bo Jackson. But Cincy was one of the bigger surprises this season after going 4-12 last year. Rookie QB Dalton and WR A.J. Green became a formidable hookup during the year with Green logging over 1,000 yards receiving, and RB Cedric Benson also having a solid 2011 campaign by racking up 1,067 yards rushing. But in finishing the season 9-7, Cincinnati did not have a signature win. In fact, they went 0-7 vs. teams in this year's playoffs.

While the Texans have had a high octane offense over the past few seasons, this year they've done it with defense. The hiring of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has been the catalyst for the now top tier defensive unit, which ranks second in fewest yards allowed. In fact, from last season to this, the Texans D has allowed an average of 91 fewer yards and nearly 10 point less per game. And since Houston is down to their third string QB, running back Arian Foster (7th in the NFL in All-Purpose yards) will be relied upon heavily to grind out yardage and keep the Houston defense fresh.
Houston 17 Cincinnati 10

Detroit Lions (+10 1/2) at New Orleans Saints: Despite losing to the Saints in a Week 13 matchup in New Orleans 31-17, the Lions actually were in the game in the fourth quarter. It's even more remarkable that Detroit wasn't getting blown out when you consider they were hampered by the limitations of defensive lineman Nick Fairley (injury - foot) and the absence of DT Ndamukong Suh (suspension - stupidity).

It's expected there won't be a lot of defense played in this game when you consider this is the first matchup in NFL history where both QBs have thrown for 5,000+ yards in the regular season. In fact, both clubs combined for nearly 900 yards of offense in their head-to-head regular season battle.

I say the Lions will hang tough but fall just short because their inevitable buffoonery will cause them to commit a 15-yard penalty at the most inopportune time. Even without Suh playing in the Week 13 game, the Lions racked up 11 penalties for 107 yards, including multiple unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.
New Orleans 38 Detroit 31

Atlanta Falcons (+3) at New York Giants: The Giants have to be one of the more maddeningly inconsistent team in the NFL this season. They can boast of tough, hard fought wins in New England and Dallas while at the same time being saddled with bad home defeats to Seattle, Philadelphia and Washington. But their playoffs essentially started last week when they absolutely had to beat the Cowboys at home just to get in. And QB Eli Manning was right there statistically with the likes of Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford as he threw for 4,933 yards and 29 TDs in 2011. However, he still has a penchant for throwing costly interceptions, as he threw 16 picks.

Meanwhile, Atlanta QB Matt Ryan put together another solid season by utilizing receivers Roddy White (1,296 yards) and rookie Julio Jones (959 yards) to supplant another solid year by RB Michael Turner (1,340 yards and 11 TDs). But because they're in the same division as New Orleans, the Falcons don't seem to get a lot of national respect. But with a very good offense and average defense, Atlanta's 10-6 record suits them perfectly as the team that is solid but not spectacular.

Call it a gut feeling.
Atlanta 28 New York 24

Pittsburgh Steelers (-8) at Denver Broncos: There was a survey on espn.com yesterday asking which quarterback QB you'd rather have start for you this weekend. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger with the bad ankle or the Broncos' Tim Tebow at 100%? I believe it came out about 60-40 in favor of Roethlisberger.

Yes, it appears Tebow-mania has subsided quite a bit with his having two awful games to end the regular season. In fact, Denver was fortunate just to get in to the playoffs, needing division rival Oakland to lose at home to a San Diego team which had nothing to play for. But the Chargers did indeed prevail, allowing the Broncos to limp in to postseason with a 8-8 record.

The Steelers, however, continue to battle injuries as they'll be without RB Rashard Mendenhall (ACL tear) and All Pro Center Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) in addition to Roethlisberger playing with still a very sore ankle. The Broncos have a solid defense as it is, so this game was going to be tough sledding for the Steelers even if they were 100% on the offensive side of the ball.

Ah, but the Steelers still have a pretty good defense, too. And that will be the difference.
Pittsburgh 20 Denver 10

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Number one with a bullet, I'm a power pack....

2012-01-06T23:56:00.004-06:00

Well I figure it's high time I end my partially self-imposed hiatus from the blogosphere. The fact I haven't done my radio show the past two Sundays combined with the busyness of Christmas/New Years has sapped my motivation. Yet here I am late on a Friday evening just to prove I'm still alive.

A few quick updates.

Had a great New Years weekend last week as my wife and I traveled to Rockford, IL to see Jim Brickman and friends in concert. One of the featured artists on tour with Brickman included Minnesota native Ben Utecht. You may recognize the name from his having played Tight End for the U of M in the early 2000s as well as a modest stint in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts (with whom he won a Super Bowl five years ago) and Cincinnati Bengals. After suffering a serious concussion at 2009 training camp with the Bengals, Utecht decided to retire at age 28 and pursue his other passion --- music. I have to say that I was impressed with his singing and certainly wish him the best in his musical career. And given he has such a fascinating story, I approached him in the lobby after the show and invited him to be a guest on my radio program sometime (yeah, I know. I'm such a shill). My wife and I then proceeded to ring in the New Year with Jen's good friend from high school and her husband. I'll just say that it's still difficult to accept that I'm barely able to last much past Midnight at this point in my life.

Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to recover from the fun weekend, as I had to be back at work Monday. As such, I was a little more frazzled than normal on Sunday evening when trying to wind down the weekend. To make matters worse, we noticed our beloved cat Macbeth was struggling to breathe and was making some rather guttural noises. As I got ready for work Monday morning, I noticed Mac wasn't engaging in his normal routines. Typically he would sit on the blue chair just outside our bedroom as he waited for me to head downstairs to feed him and our other cat Cleo. He would then take a couple of quick bites of his food before he would come over by me to beg for the milk I poured on my cereal. Once all that was done, he would follow me to the master bathroom and lounge in one of our closets until Jen & I finished getting ready. He would often openly complain about the high pitched noise of my wife's hair dryer. Sadly, all he did Monday morning was lay at the top of the stairs in obvious discomfort. Since Jen had the day off, she decided to take him to the vet. I felt the urge to crouch down and spend a few extra minutes with Mac in an effort to try and comfort him (Can you tell we don't have any kids?). Sadly, it would be the last time I would see him alive. By the time he arrived at the vet, Mac was making the most awful noises as if he were struggling for every single breath. Sure enough, it was ascertained that he was suffering from fluid around his heart. Essentially he had the feeling as if he were drowning. With Jen beside him, Mac laid there calmly as he was given oxygen and then a shot to allow him to pass peacefully and mercifully. Five days later, I still miss him terribly.

On Tuesday evening, I was invited to be third wheel on The Late Debate with Jack and Ben. With the Iowa Caucuses taking place that night, we planned on reviewing the night's events. Instead, because it was such a hotly contested race between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, a winner was not even declared at Midnight, the normal ending time of LD ----- so we went to a THIRD hour. Finally at 1:30, Romney was declared the winner of the Iowa Caucus by eight votes. Eight. But the highlight of the evening was the three of us with our "peanut gallery" commentary as we played speeches of the various candidates as well as CNN's live coverage. Considering I had that much fun pontificating on a rather meaningless event (Iowa's 25 delegates are non-binding), I can only imagine how much of a blast I'll have co-hosting AM 1280 The Patriot's coverage of November's general election!

So there you have it. Between holidays, road trips, dying pets, radio moonlighting and 60-hour work weeks, the blogging had fallen by the wayside. But I'm glad to be back!!

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The Joy of Sak's

2011-12-30T05:02:00.001-06:00

Sak's Sports Bar in Vadnais Heights Thursday evening was the site of 1500 ESPN's final NFL trivia contest of the season. Having participated in a handful of contests this year (and having reached the championship round TWICE without a victory), tonight was my final opportunity to win the coveted $100 cash prize!

There was a record number of participants in the opening round, as 30 people/teams took the opening written quiz, which was worth 19 points. The sixteen best scores were then eligible to face-off in the "Family Feud" style bracket tournament. We were given a pre-contest tip by emcees Tom Pelissero and Phil Mackey to know the history of the Vikings' regular season finales.

As is normally the case, I rolled the opening quiz, thus earning the 5th seed in Thursday's tournament.

To recap:

Round One
Jerry Burns coached his final game as Vikings head coach in 1991. Who was the Vikings' starting QB in that season's final regular season game?

Brad (buzzing in first): Rich Gannon (correct)

Brad wins!!!!!!

Round Two (Best 2 of 3)
Name the QB who has thrown the most Week 17 TD passes since 2000.

Brad (buzzing in first): Brett Favre (correct)

1-0, Brad

Name the last QB who was selected #2 overall in the NFL draft.

Sam (buzzing in first): Jamarcus Russell (incorrect)
Brad: Rick Mirer (incorrect)
Sam: {no guess}
Brad: Ryan Leaf (incorrect)

Correct answer was Donovan McNabb in 1999.

Still 1-0, Brad

Cris Carter caught his final touchdown as Viking from which QB?

Brad (buzzing in first): Todd Bouman (incorrect)
Sam: Brad Johnson (incorrect)
Brad: Daunte Culpepper (CORRECT)

Brad wins, 2-0

FINAL FOUR (best 2 of 3, category questions)
There are currently six players this season who have rushed for at least 1,000 yards in addition to having at least 300 yards receiving. Name them.

Brad (buzzing first): LeSean McCoy (correct)
Jermichaels: Maurice Jones-Drew (correct)
Brad: Arian Foster (correct)
Jermichaels: Steven Jackson (correct)
Brad: Ray Rice (correct)
Jermichaels: Frank Gore (INCORRECT)

Brad leads, 1-0

In the 2010 regular season finale, Vikings QB Joe Webb completed passes to nine different players. Name them.

Brad (buzzing in first): Sidney Rice (INCORRECT)
Jermichaels: Visanthe Shiancoe (correct)

Tied, 1-1

In the 2001 regular season finale, Vikings QB Spergon Wynn completed passes to six different players. Name them.

Brad (buzzing in first): Michael Bennett (correct)
Jermichaels: Randy Moss (correct)
Brad: Jake Reed (correct)
Jermichaels: Cris Carter (correct)
Brad: Doug Chapman (INCORRECT)
Jermichaels (for the win): Jim Kleinsasser (INCORRECT)
Brad: Byron Chamberlain (CORRECT)

BRAD WINS, 2-1!!!!

Championship Round (Best 3 of 5, category questions)
In 2007, RB Adrian Peterson was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Name the other ten running backs taken within the first four rounds.

Nine-time champ Brendan (buzzing in first): Marshawn Lynch (correct)
Brad: Rashard Mendenhall (INCORRECT; drafted in round one in 2008. CLOSE!)

1-0, Brendan

This Sunday, Jim Kleinsasser will play his final NFL game. Kleinsasser was drafted in 1999. Name the other seven players drafted by the Vikings that year.

Brad (buzzing in first): Jay Humphrey (correct)
Brendan: Daunte Culpepper (correct)
Brad: Dimitrius Underwood (correct)
Brendan: {no guess}

1-1 tie

In the 51-year history of the Vikings, there have been seven players who donned the Vikes' uniform whose last name began with 'Y'. Name them.

Brendan (buzzing in first): Albert Young (correct)
Brad: Rickey Young (correct)
Brendan: Ron Yary (correct)
Brad (taking all 15 seconds): Uhh.....Sam Young? (INCORRECT)

2-1, Brendan

Drew Brees broke Dan Marino's single-season passing yardage record of 5,084. Other than Marino, name the 10 QBs who have more career passing yardage than Brees.

Brendan (buzzing in first): Peyton Manning (correct)
Brad: Brett Favre (correct)
Brendan: John Elway (correct)
Brad: Fran Tarkenton (correct)
Brendan: Warren Moon (correct)
Brad: Steve Young (INCORRECT)

Brendan wins, 3-1

Yes, one could say that I personify my favorite NFL club in that I get to the big game only to fall short.

Sure, I lost out on the hundred bucks. But I did receive consolation prizes in the form of a black Coors Light t-shirt (got a white one last month) and two tickets to the Traxxas National ISOC Snocross & Freestyle, which will take place next weekend at Canterbury Park.

So there's that.

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Lost in emotion

2011-12-23T04:55:00.001-06:00

My friend Brittany, who's a staffer at the Republican National Committee, made a very savvy observation a couple of months ago regarding President Obama's reelection prospects in 2012. She basically said the Obama campaign will vie for the emotional vote since the intellectual vote is out of play.

My how Brit's prescience is playing out perfectly.

Let's start with the agreement to end the Iraq war. In less than 24 hours after announcing the draw down of US forces in Iraq by the end of 2011, the Obama reelection team sent out a campaign letter patting themselves on the back for keeping one of their central promises. Of course the emotional component was how all the troops would be home for Christmas, for which Obama et al were quick to accept full credit. But the intellectual aspect of this issue tells us that the exit strategy was agreed upon by the Iraqis and the Bush administration in late 2008. In addition, the withdrawal date was kept only after the Obama administration failed to secure an extended stay in Iraq. The region was still rather unstable, so prominent Pentagon officials advised that there still be a presence. Sadly, with US forces having been gone approximately one week, multiple explosions occurred in Baghdad Thursday, resulting in multiple fatalities.

How about Obamacare? Despite the Supreme Court of the United States blocking out three days in March for hearings on the law's Constitutionality, the Obama administration is touting the supposed wonderful attributes of the new bill, specifically how young adults can remain on their parents' health insurance until age 26. The emotional highlight is that 2.5 million more younger Americans will have healthcare under this new law. That's good, right? Ah, but that darn intellectual component just throws cold water on the whole thing. Such a provision of allowing young adults to remain on Mom and Dad's coverage is already causing premiums to rise. Lest we forget, the major provisions of the bill are not even slated to take effect until 2014. What will that do to healthcare costs???

But the coup de grace of "emotionalism" took place during this whole "payroll tax holiday" debacle. From the beginning, President Obama was looking to extend the payroll tax cut for another year. In exchange for this agreement, the Congressional Republicans attempted to negotiate expedition of a review of the Keystone XL pipeline, which many argue would create thousands of jobs as well as giving us more access to our own source of energy, thus lessening dependence on foreign oil. Yet when the Senate inexplicably passed only a two month extension of the payroll tax (a logistical nightmare to implement according to people familiar with...y'know....how business works) and the GOP-controlled House voted it down because they wanted to pass a one-year pact, what do you suppose the spin was? Yep, according to the President, those awful Republicans are denying tax relief to the middle class....even though they were acquiescing to Obama's wishes of one entire year of maintaining the lower rates. Facts are, the continued lower payroll tax rate means less money going into Social Security, thus perpetuating this absurd practice of deficit spending. That's the argument that should have been made at the outset.

These examples provide a clear-cut strategy to defeat the President in 2012. Now the onus is on Republicans (Presidential and Congressional candidates) to make the intellectual case to voters. As Michelle Malkin noted last month, it's high time somebody offers "Concrete solutions (as opposed) to kick-the-can-down-the-road fecklessness.”

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It happened thirty years ago today

2011-12-20T06:49:00.004-06:00

It was 30 years ago today, December 20, 1981, when the Minnesota Vikings played their final game at Metropolitan Stadium --- and I was there!

The temperature was only in single digits but I didn’t care. It was an opportunity to see my favorite Vikes in person. Back then, the purple-helmeted warriors were still coached by the legendary Bud Grant and led by the likes of QB Tommy Kramer and receivers Ahmad Rashad & Sammy White.

With the Vikings trailing the Kansas City Chiefs 10-6 late in the game, Kramer led the Vikings down the field in one last quest for victory. Alas, the Vikes came up short as Kramer’s fourth down pass to TE Joe Senser in the end zone was broken up.

My brother Eric had brought along a Vikings pennant flag autographed by Rashad. Eric was so disgusted at the outcome that he threw said flag onto the field and exclaimed “VIKINGS SUCK!”

As we were walking to the car, I suddenly began to limp. Within seconds, it felt as though my feet were going to fall off. Yes, it appeared I was stricken with a slight case of frost bite. Of course, being only 12-years old, you would have thought I was shot in the foot with a .357 magnum. A family friend ended up performing the fireman’s carry in order to get me to the car.

Picture that. A guy in his late 20s with a kid dressed like Randy from the movie A Christmas Story draped over his shoulder.

Classic!

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Mike Jungbauer for Majority Leader

2011-12-19T19:47:00.003-06:00

In light of the resignation of MN State Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, my personal State Senator is throwing his proverbial hat in the ring for the leadership position.

I like Mike Jungbauer a lot, and would be hard pressed to name anyone more well spoken on policy.

Give him a listen.

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I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead...

2011-12-18T06:40:00.002-06:00

With all the news that has taken place this past week, it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring in reinforcements for today's installment of The Closer. So in a fortuitous concatenation of events, I had already booked Jack Tomczak and Benjamin Kruse of the local nightly radio show The Late Debate to appear on the program this afternoon. From 1:00 pm until 3:00 Central time on AM 1280 The Patriot, the three of us will delve into several topics on both the local and national levels.

In the first hour, we'll look at the state of the MN GOP. Whether it's scandals regarding caucus leaders or party chair candidates, we'll discuss the fallout as well as the future of the party itself.

In the second hour, we'll check out the national political scene, including the GOP Presidential race and the ending of the Iraq war.

So please give us a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Godspeed, Senator Koch (UPDATE: Whoa!)

2011-12-15T22:08:00.007-06:00

I fully admit that I had ZERO clue this was coming.

After just one year on the job, Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch suddenly announced she was resigning from the post because she would not seek reelection.

"We cannot afford a lame duck leader in negotiations next session, which is why I am resigning from my position as Majority Leader," she said in a letter.

You can read Senator Koch's entire letter here.

When state Republicans, in November 2010, won control of the Minnesota Senate for the first time since the early '70s, Koch shortly thereafter was named majority leader, becoming the first woman in Minnesota history to hold that title.

At this moment, there is little to go on as to why Sen. Koch will not seek re-election in 2012. Nevertheless, that doesn't preclude people like myself from speculating.

Despite the fact the legislature is in session only half the year, being leader of the majority caucus is literally a full-time (and then some) job. That leaves very little to no time for working to supplement the pittance of a salary earned by legislators, never mind a family life. With a daughter in 10th grade, it's quite possible Senator Koch felt as though she was missing out on too much family time. Since Koch herself is not a career politician, it's also possible she had grown quite weary of the nasty tone levied against her during the government shutdown in July or the fact she's been rather lukewarm on the polarizing issue of a new Vikings stadium.

To me, this might well be the perfect time to step down. In light of the news a couple of weeks ago that the state of Minnesota is looking at a $876 billion budget surplus, all without raising taxes, GOP leaders were able to extract a pledge from Governor Mark Dayton that he would not push for his long sought-after tax increase during the 2012 session. If you can get a liberal Democrat like Dayton to acquiesce to such a thing, your work is done! That, and I believe the interview I conducted with Sen. Koch on December 4 was the last radio guest appearance she conducted as Senate Majority Leader. Again, how does she top that???

But in all seriousness, I wish Senator Koch nothing but the best. She served the state of Minnesota with a tremendous amount of passion and professionalism and was true to her core convictions all the while.

UPDATE: Sen. Koch accused of "inappropriate relationship." Wow, this has been just a banner month for the Minnesota GOP, eh?

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Quick Hits: Volume XLVI (UPDATE: Sawalich drops out)

2011-12-13T05:46:00.002-06:00

-Yes, it's pretty much been established that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is a jellyfish. Beyond that, the man makes Droopy Dog sound like General George S. Patton.

Behold Reid's insufferably ignorant statement on the financial status of those who create jobs in America.

"Millionaire job-creators are like unicorns; they're impossible to find and don't exist."

A famous Dennis Miller rant from about 4-1/2 years ago comes to mind when I listen to that clip.

If it’s possible to make Mr. Limpet sound like Demosthenes, Reid does it every time he opens his ashen piehole and haltingly forces out that tremulous pale-gray oratory that sounds like it’s oozing from a stuck caulking gun.

I'll say one thing for Senator Reid and his fellow Democrats. They have definitely provided a veritable trove of sound bites which the Republican National Committee absolutely can (and should) use to their advantage.

-I'll fully admit that I'm not much of an insider when it comes to Minnesota state party politics. So when MN GOP chair Tony Sutton resigned nearly two weeks ago, I didn't really have any strong feelings either way.

Upon Sutton's resignation, it was learned that the party was approximately a half-million dollars in debt. Naturally, the pro-Sutton and anti-Sutton crowds had their say as to whom was most responsible, but the fact is that such petty squabbling wasn't going to alleviate the problem.

So as speculation commenced regarding candidates for the next MN GOP chair, many delegates began to compile a list of qualities they'd like to see in the next party chair. A lot of what I heard from those who consider themselves "grassroots" is they'd prefer to see someone who makes a more concerted effort to reach out to them. In addition, many felt we should focus on someone who possesses a solid business acumen, an attribute which would be of great value in attempting to overcome the party's debt.

The first name I've seen thrown into the fray is Eden Prairie resident Brandon Sawalich, who is the Sr. Vice President at Starkey Hearing Technologies. At first blush, his background is quite impressive. Here's hoping for more superlative candidates as the days go on.

UPDATE: Sawalich drops out, continuing the tremendous run for Minnesota Republicans.

-Collective hearts of Minnesota girls were shattered over the weekend upon the news that Twins catcher Joe Mauer asked girlfriend Maddie Bisanz for her hand in marriage (she said yes).

Mauer was asked if this big change in his life was going to affect his baseball career.

"No. (Maddie's) the one who got me through last year," Mauer said. "If anything, she's going to make me better. We were really close (friends) in '09, too."

I can hear it now. If indeed Mauer has another sub par season in 2012, some Twins fans might actually begin referring to Maddie as "Yoko Bisanz."

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Just when things went right doesn't mean they were always wrong......

2011-12-11T06:59:00.003-06:00

Assuming my access card to the radio station's entrance still works, I'll be live on the air this afternoon from 1:00 pm until 3:00 Central time on AM 1280 The Patriot.

Say, you remember how Mitt Romney was the inevitable GOP nominee for President? Well I'll dig in to how Newt Gingrich has long passed the "flavor of the month" status and is in prime position to take the Iowa caucuses. I'll also discuss how Gingrich's improbable ascension over the past several months has the Obama reelection team scrambling.

At 1:30, I will be joined by author Mary Corbett via telephone. Mary's latest book is entitled National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses, which provides insight into the military institution that has been around for 375 years!

At 2:00, Jake Loesch of Minnesotans United for All Famillies will join me in studio. MN United is a nonpartisan organization committed to defeating the Minnesota Marriage Amendment, which will be voted on by Minnesotans in November 2012.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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NFL Trivia night: Ray J's

2011-12-09T05:46:00.001-06:00

After taking a couple of weeks off, I was back in the saddle for NFL Trivia night Thursday at Ray J's in Woodbury. And just like last time I played, I breezed through the first three rounds to get to the finals.

The latter rounds entail buzzing in "Family Feud" style and answering questions by category. The finalists then alternate within one category until someone gets an answer wrong. If there's an odd number of answers, the person who buzzes in first has the advantage if the two contestants run the table. The first to win three categories in the championship round wins the match.

On this particular evening, my opponents in the finals was a duo who called themselves "The Jermichaels."

Question 1: Something along the lines of which QBs have had at least ten 4th quarter comebacks on the road since 1997.

Brad (buzzes in first): Favre (incorrect)
Jermichaels: (for the win) Roethlisberger (correct)

1-0, Jermichaels.

Question 2: Since 1985, the Vikings have drafted 13 different Tight Ends. Name them.

Jermichaels (buzz in first): Kleinsasser (correct)
Brad: Kyle Rudolph (correct)
Jermichaels: Steve Jordan (incorrect)
Brad (for the win; takes nearly all of the allotted 15 seconds and then pulls out of his a**): Carl Hilton (CORRECT)

1-1 tie

Question 3: In the Lions' winless season in 2008, five QBs threw at least one pass for the team. Name them.

Brad (buzzes in first): Dan Orlovsky (correct)
Jermichaels: Daunte Culpepper (correct)
Brad: (take nearly all 15 seconds): Frank Reich (knew it was wrong almost immediately. Reich was 46 in 2008; INCORRECT)
Jermichaels (for the win): Drew Stanton (correct)

2-1, Jermichaels.

Question 4: Name the running backs drafted by the Vikings since 1992.

Jermichaels (buzz in first): Adrian Peterson (correct)
Brad: Robert Smith (correct)
Jermichaels: Onterrio Smith (correct)
Brad: Michael Bennett (correct)
Jermichaels: Mewelde Moore (correct)
Brad: Toby Gerhart (correct)
Jermichaels (taking nearly all 15 seconds): Moe Williams (correct)
Brad: Lorenzo Booker (INCORRECT)

The Jermichaels win the $100.

{sigh} Oh well, there's always next week.

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Baldwin bounced

2011-12-08T05:19:00.000-06:00

This past Tuesday, actor Alec Baldwin was removed from an American Airlines flight allegedly due to his failure to cooperate with FAA regulations.

Baldwin got into a tiff with a flight attendant and was kicked off a flight Tuesday because, he tweeted, he wouldn't turn off his smartphone while waiting for the plane to take off. He was playing the popular phone game Words With Friends at the time.

"Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS while we sat at the gate, not moving," Baldwin, 53, tweeted, adding the sly hashtag, #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt," referring to American Airlines filing for bankruptcy a few weeks ago.

One could hardly blame the flight crew for their incredulity regarding Baldwin's story. I mean, "Words with Friends?!?!" It would seem hard to believe someone that insufferable actually has friends.

I digress.

Since Baldwin was so public with his criticism of American Airlines, the company took to its Facebook page to give their account of the incident.

Since an extremely vocal customer has publicly identified himself as being removed from an American Airlines flight on Tuesday, Dec. 6, we have elected to provide the actual facts of the matter as well as the FAA regulations which American, and all airlines, must enforce.

Cell phones and electronic devices are allowed to be used while the aircraft is at the gate and the door is open for boarding. When the door is closed for departure and the seat belt light is turned on, all cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off for taxi-out and take-off. This passenger declined to turn off his cell phone when asked to do so at the appropriate time. The passenger ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane’s lavatory. He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. They immediately contacted the cabin crew to check on the situation. The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language (Oof. I sure hope Baldwin's daughter didn't ignore her Dad's call that day - ed.).

Given the facts above, the passenger was removed from the flight and denied boarding.

Naturally, there was much mocking and ridiculing of Baldwin in light of his claiming to be a victim. Leave it to Dave "Iowahawk" Burge to sum it up so brilliantly:

Alec Baldwin: the Rosa Parks of fat white middle age celebrity millionaire First Class-cabin iPhone douche bags.

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Catching up

2011-12-07T20:33:00.003-06:00

I haven't had an opportunity to scan a lot of news today, so I was hoping someone could help me out with something. On this the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, did Ron Paul enlighten us as to why we had it coming?

Just curious.

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Waiting for the other shoe

2011-12-06T21:44:00.005-06:00

Upon the suspension of his campaign for the GOP Presidential nomination, Herman Cain had many speculating as to who among the remaining candidates he will support. In fact, there were reports surfacing Monday morning that Cain was all set to endorse Newt Gingrich. Obviously that never happened and likely will not happen in the immediate future, according to Cain himself.

It's been pretty apparent in all of the debate forums that Cain and Gingrich have a mutual admiration for each other. The two even engaged in a very civil one-on-one debate last month. But on top of all that, according to polls taken a little more than a week ago, Gingrich's favorability rating amongst Cain supporters is incredibly high. That is very surprising when you consider that Cain is the antithesis of a Washington insider and that his appeal was largely built upon his being a Beltway outsider with a strong business background. So it's rather curious to me how Cain's supporters would be so willing to then flip a switch and support a candidate like Gingrich, who has been inside the Beltway in some way, shape or form for over thirty years.

I guess it's possible that Cain could upset applecart and endorse someone else. I know he has a very strong ally in Michele Bachmann when it comes to repealing Obamacare and he shares a solid business acumen with Mitt Romney. Given what Cain said a few months ago, the only thing we can say with certitude is that he will not be giving the nod to Rick Perry.

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A time to build up, a time to break down....

2011-12-04T06:57:00.000-06:00

It is my goal to have guests each and every Sunday on the radio show so as to not to subject anybody to my rambling for two hours. Once again, I have achieved that goal!

On today's edition of The Closer from 1-3 pm Central, I will be discussing presidential politics, whether it be the ongoing Herman Cain saga, the dings in the inevitable Mitt Romney candidacy or the continued surprise ascension of Newt Gingrich.

At 1:30, I will welcome to the program Meredith Dake. A native of Oklahoma, Meredith is the producer for Larry O'Connor's podcast as well as a contributor to Andrew Breitbart's Big Government site.

Then at 2:00, I am honored to welcome Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch to the program. We will discuss such issues as Minnesota's surprising budget surplus as well as the major issues to be addressed once the new legislative session begins next month.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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From Silver to Gold

2011-12-03T18:37:00.004-06:00

About ten months ago, I shared the story of Frank Sanders, a Godly man whom I've known for more than twenty years.

Frank was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January and was given approximately six months to live. Here it is ten months later, and Frank is still with us, though not in the best of health. While he continues to preach when he can at the Woodbury church where he is pastor, Frank is often hampered by the side effects of his illness, thus rendering him the uncomfortable role as spectator.

For now, Frank's family is comforted by the fact the God's perfect will shall be obtained. Either Frank will receive miraculous healing and continue to live on this earth for several more years or he will be called home to be with his Heavenly Father, a place where he'll be made whole once again and have no more physical pain.

Frank's life, eschewing the fortune and fame of a professional hockey player to honor the call to join the ministry, in and of itself is one for the storybooks. In fact, I recently obtained my copy of From Silver to Gold: One Man's Pursuit of the Ultimate Prize, which details Frank's remarkable transformation.

While there's a possibility that Frank's remaining time on this earth may be short, he has ensured his inspirational story of unshakable faith will endure forever.

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Mitt miffed

2011-11-30T21:50:00.003-06:00

One of the reasons I hear why Mitt Romney is the ideal GOP Presidential candidate is his ability to charismatically articulate his positions. That's all fine and good, but I have been saying for some time that Romney has never been seriously challenged this election cycle. The only other GOP candidate who has openly gone after Romney in the debates is Rick Perry. Unfortunately, Perry's attempts were so feeble that they did little to no damage.

Leave it to Fox News Channel's Bret Baier, host of Special Report, to unwittingly cause Romney to become agitated.

Mitt Romney became visibly irritated with "Special Report" host Bret Baier when he confronted the presidential hopeful about his numerous nuanced positions compared to his past positions.

"Well, Bret, your list is just not accurate," Romney said, when asked by Baier about changing his stances on climate change, abortion, gay rights and immigration.

"So, one, we're going to have to be better informed about my views on issues," Mitt Romney sarcastically said to Baier.

"My view is, you can look at what's written in my book. You can look at a person who has devoted his life to his family, to his faith, to his country," he said.

So Romney was a little annoyed by Baier's line of questioning. Big deal. As Jazz Shaw of Hot Air pointed out, Romney will soon be claiming that the interview was very insightful.

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When it's Cain, it pours.

2011-11-30T05:29:00.000-06:00

Look, even when Herman Cain was racking up victories in various GOP Presidential straw polls, I didn't believe he'd be able to carry the momentum into primary and caucus season.

Unfortunately for Cain, he was derailed by unforeseen circumstances (at least unforeseen by the electorate) related to allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women. While Cain continued to poll well, it just seemed like a matter of time before the bottom would fall out. Personally, I felt the final straw came three weeks ago when Cain's campaign manager Mark Block insisted that one of Cain's accusers, Karen Kraushaar, was the mother of a Josh Kraushaar who worked for Politico, the web site which broke the sexual harassment allegations. One minor flaw --- Block's claim of the two Kraushaars being related was utterly false. To make matters worse, Josh Kraushaar had left Politico in 2010.

So with the latest story of Cain having allegedly carried on a 13-year affair with a Georgia woman, and Cain in turn making a pledge to reassess whether or not to even stay in the race, it almost has a feel of "piling on" at this point. And even if Cain somehow was able to emerge unscathed from the multitude of alleged improprieties, he's never going to escape his cringe-inducing response to a question regarding Libya.

Yes, what was once a seemingly inspirational run for the highest office in the land has quickly turned into a proverbial free fall. What a shame.

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Frank giving way to rough Waters

2011-11-29T05:21:00.001-06:00

Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank will not seek reelection for his seat in the US House. First elected in 1980, Frank reached the pinnacle of his power in Congress when he became the Chair of the House Financial Services Committee when the Democrats regained a majority in 2006. Frank's friendly relationship with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (which were responsible for pumping up the housing bubble) and his partnering with Sen. Chris Dodd on the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act has caused great harm to America's financial standing.

But just as I was rejoicing in Frank's imminent departure, I learned of who will likely take his place as lead Democrat on the Financial Service Committee --- California Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Yes, that Maxine Waters, who once threatened to "tax banks out of business" as well as betrayed her true feelings regarding her socialistic tendencies.

If Republicans are smart, they'll use those two soundbites to remind people what may happen if Democrats ever regain control of the House while Waters is still around.

------------------------------------------

Profile in double entendres

2011-11-28T22:12:00.006-06:00

Dayton roughs up Minnesota.

That headline can either refer to a story in:

a) Sports

or

b) Politics

Kudos to the Minneapolis Star Tribune for all they're doing to cut costs. Recycling headlines? Brilliant!

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Those windshield wipers slappin' out a tempo, keepin' perfect rhythm with the song on the radio.....

2011-11-27T07:29:00.004-06:00

This afternoon I make my debut in the new expanded time slot for my program The Closer. From 1:00 pm until 3:00 Central time, I will be looking back at the Thanksgiving week that was.

From SuperCommittee failures to late night talk shows sandbagging Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to the Minnesota Marriage Amendment, there will be no shortage of items to discuss, which is fortuitous since I now have to fill two hours of air time.

Sometime in the first hour I will welcome to the program Brandon Darby. Mr. Darby is a former radical left-wing activist turned FBI informant, having worked with the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He has some rather chilling accounts of some of the operations he helped thwart, including a bomb scare at the 2008 Republican National Convention, which took place right here in the Twin Cities. These days, Brandon is exposing the shenanigans of the "Occupy" movement through his association with Andrew Breitbart's Big Government site.

Then in the second hour, I'll be joined by Fox Sports North's NBA analyst Mike McCollow. We'll get into the events surrounding the ending of the NBA lockout and what we can expect from our Minnesota Timberwolves now that there will be a basketball season.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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For the record...

2011-11-22T20:33:00.005-06:00

Yes, I heard about the flap regarding the song played when Congresswoman (and GOP Presidential candidate) Michele Bachmann appeared as a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. And yes, as a matter of fact, I do believe it was incredibly inappropriate (not to mention childish and stupid).

But just so we're clear ---- I would find it just as despicable if, say, First Lady Michelle Obama was serenaded on a TV talk show to this song.

Glad we could clear that up.

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Quick Hits: Volume XLV

2011-11-22T05:10:00.001-06:00

-Gee, what a shock. The "SuperCommittee" failed to reach an agreement on deficit reduction. Also not surprising was the Democrats pretty much refused any measure unless it included some sort of tax increases. In tough economic times, tax increases should not even be considered, but especially when you're talking about a measure which doesn't even address the biggest drag on government spending, which is entitlements.

Nevertheless, that doesn't prevent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from pointing the finger at Grover Norquist even though it's likely that a vast majority of Americans have never even heard of Norquist. Senator Reid sure has got a lot of nerve to place blame for his party's failures on a private citizen when the chamber he allegedly leads hasn't even passed a budget in 936 days. Oh, and another inconvenient truth for Dems? From the Summer of 2009 thru early 2011, Democrats owned the Presidency, a majority in the House and a super majority (60-40) in the Senate. If hiking taxes was so doggone important to them, what on earth were they doing that whole time when they had carte blanche to do whatever they desired? Oh, that's right. They were in the process of committing political suicide by forcing upon Americans a health care bill which the majority of us did not want. My bad.

-On Sunday, First Lady Michelle Obama and VP Joe Biden's wife Jill were booed at a NASCAR race where they served as the event's grand marshals.

While these women really haven't caused much controversy themselves, I imagine the NASCAR fans were sending a message to their husbands, especially Mr. Obama. You see, the vast majority of those fans are "working class", which is a segment of the voting population Obama admitted 3-1/2 years ago he would have trouble winning over. Certainly you recall his rationale.

"It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or anti-pathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Bottom line, did I think the jeering towards the ladies was inappropriate? Sure. But I will say that the indignant lefties should spare the outrage, given how President Bush was received during the peaceful transfer of power to Obama back in January 2009.

-In case you missed it, I announced on my radio show this past weekend that starting this Sunday the 27th, I will have a new and expanded time slot. Yes, The Closer with Brad Carlson will now air from 1:00 pm until 3:00 Central time on AM 1280 The Patriot!

My sincere thanks to the powers that be at Salem Broadcasting-Twin Cities (specifically GM Ron Stone and Operations Mgr Lee Michaels) for their generosity in allowing me to branch out in this fun little endeavor of talk radio. Just in time for the 2012 elections!

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How NOT to win friends and influence people

2011-11-21T05:25:00.001-06:00

Even though the "Occupy" movement has pretty much fallen out of favor with the voting public, they don't seem all that concerned with winning back the support.

From Occupy DC this past Friday:

On Friday, November 18, Occupy DC protesters and other progressive groups will be bringing the message of ‘why we occupy’ to the people of DC. Occupytheboardroom.org is a website that provides people with an opportunity to write emails to a ‘pen pal’ who is of the top 1%, to voice their frustration about our country’s economic situation.

The protestors' plan was to "occupy the evening commute" by hopping on the DC Subway (The Metro), thus wreaking havoc amongst regular commuters --- people who are in the same group as they are --- THE NINETY NINE PERCENT!!!

Even more asinine is now there's an Occupy Black Friday movement.

Their goal? To “bring the economy to a halt on the one day they won’t be able to ignore us.”

While "Black Friday" is an event that is still a novelty to some consumers, the advent of the internet has made "Cyber Monday" a more practical endeavor. Upon returning to work the Monday after the long Thanksgiving weekend, consumers will work off the turkey hangover by browsing the online shopping sites while on the job. In fact, last year's Cyber Monday made history by becoming the first ever $1 billion online shopping day.

It’s unclear whether Occupy Black Friday will become an official Occupy Wall Street sponsored protest, but the site’s message forums are already calling for such a demonstration, saying that Occupy needs to put an end to “holiday spin doctors” and the “hypnotic messages to spend, spend, spend.” Facebook groups have also sprung up that call on Americans to protest against stores that deprive workers from spending Thanksgiving dinner with their family.

That last sentence pretty much sums up the doltish thought process of the "Occupy" movement. In this case, retail workers should be entitled to not have to work on what is one of the busiest retail days of a calendar year. Yeah, what is this nation coming to when its retail stores have an expectation of their employees (people who, on their own accord, applied to work there) to...you know...do employee stuff?

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They say I'm crazy but I have a good time.....

2011-11-20T08:27:00.005-06:00

Lots to get into on tonight's edition of The Closer on AM 1280 The Patriot. I'll be on the air live from 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central talking about such issues as the declining popularity of the "Occupy" movement (amazing what happens to a movement upon accusations of rape and public defecation) as well as praying quarterbacks, which also doesn't appear to be very popular.

Also, sometime within the first half hour, I will have a very special and exciting announcement regarding my show!

For the final two segments I will joined by Tabitha Hale, who is the New Media Director at FreedomWorks. One thing I know about Ms. Hale is she is not afraid to put herself and her beliefs out there, even if it can sometimes result in her being physically attacked.

Amongst the topics I'll get in to with Tabitha is the ever fluid GOP Presidential race as well as the Senate Rules Committee turning away the Tea Party Debt Commission earlier this week.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

-------------------------------------------

Connect the dots, people

2011-11-18T20:43:00.006-06:00

So some guy fires shots into the White House earlier this week, was arrested Wednesday and received a show of support from "Occupy San Diego." Rumor has it the shooter, Oscar Ortega-Hernandez, was blending in amongst the "Occupy D.C." crowd.

I'll come back to that.

I've always felt the Occupy movement was terribly misguided when they condemned the banks. In fact, the entity which should have been the target of their protests was the entity who took taxpayer funds (i.e. OUR money) and funneled it to said banks in the form of bailouts. That of course would be our U.S. government. In essence, that is the main tenet of the Tea Party, which is protesting government over the reckless spending of our tax dollars.

So is it possible that the Occupy crowd took in the insights of, say, the Tea Party, and realized that the government was taking their money (assuming some of the Occupy crowd pays taxes) to give to Wall St. et al? That would be an awfully convenient narrative for the mainstream media to glob onto, wouldn't it? Now that the Occupy movement is not nearly as popular as it once appeared, the media could gin up a scenario where they've gone the way of the Tea Party crowd by "demonizing government," which would explain the drop in "Occupy's" popularity

Which brings us full circle to the White House shooter. It must've been the "hateful tone" of the Tea Party which drove him to want to fire shots at President Barack Obama.

I wonder if Sarah Palin removed the cross-hair symbols off the map on her PAC website?

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Searching for Benji Franklin

2011-11-17T21:22:00.004-06:00

Every Thursday evening during the NFL season (except Thanksgiving), local sports station 1500 ESPN hosts Thursday Night Football trivia. Tonight was the second consecutive Thursday I was able to attend. Last week, I was one of the 16 finalists (seeded #7) after successfully answering 13 of 16 questions in round one (you can cheat by using a mobile device, so it wasn't too tough). However, the next round entailed a Family Feud style face-off at a podium where the first person to buzz in at any point of the question has 15 seconds to answer. Last week, I buzzed in first but I incorrectly guessed that Kerry Collins was the QB the last time the Oakland Raiders had a winning season. Since I was wrong, my opponent had the allotted 15 seconds to answer and correctly came up with Rich Gannon.

This week (week number eleven of this series), I made the trek out to Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grill at the Mall of America (only 15 minutes from my work place) in an attempt to redeem myself.

This time I had my "A" game as I breezed through the first few rounds and got all the way to the finals. The winner would receive ONE HUNDRED BUCKS!!!

The finals are by far the most difficult, as its best three of five, and you only get a point if you win a category. Each category has multiple answers and it alternates between the two finalists until someone answers incorrectly. My task was even more daunting due to the fact I was taking on Brendan Byrne, who had won seven of the ten weeks, including six in a row from week four thru week nine.

The first category had to do with a more prominent Raiders-Vikings matchup, which was Super Bowl XI in January 1977. The question: There were nine Vikings players which tallied at least one yard of offense in that game. Can you name them?

Brad (buzzing in first): Bob Lee (correct)
Brendan: Tarkenton (correct)
Brad: Brent McClanahan (correct)
Brendan: Sammy White (correct)
Brad: Stu Voight (correct)
Brendan: Foreman (correct)
Brad (using up nearly all 15 seconds): Ahmad Rashad (correct)
Brendan: NO GUESS

1-0, Brad!

Next up: The '99 playoffs. In Jacksonville's 62-7 rout of the Miami Dolphins in the AFC divisional round, four QBs threw a pass in that game. Name them.

Brendan (buzzing in first): Dan Marino (correct).
Brad: Mark Brunell (correct)
Brendan: Fiedler (correct)
Brad: No GUESS (correct answer - Damon Huard; I would've NEVER got that).

1-1 tie.

For the life of me, I don't recall the next question. All I know is I lost.

2-1, Brendan.

Next: Sid Luckman is the all-time leader in percentage of pass attempts thrown for touchdowns at 7.9%. There are 56 others with at least 5%. Name them.

Brad (buzzing in first): Tom Brady (correct)
Brendan: Norm Snead (INCORRECT)

2-2 tie.

Then it came down to the final category. Whomever took this one would win the hundred bucks. Carson Palmer, who will face the Vikings Sunday, was the top overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft. Name the other 31 first round draft choices that year.

Brendan (buzzing in first): Kyle Boller (correct)
Brad: Kevin Williams (correct)
Brendan: Byron Leftwich (correct)
Brad: Terrell Suggs (correct)
Brendan: Mike Williams (INCORRECT)
Brad (FOR THE WIN): Gerard Warren (INCORRECT)
Brendan (FOR THE WIN): Boldin (INCORRECT)
Brad (FOR THE WIN): Roy Williams (INCORRECT)
Brendan (FOR THE WIN): W. Green (INCORRECT)
Brad (FOR THE WIN): Drew Brees (INCORRECT)

Here's the kicker. Had I just said "Warren" earlier, I would have won. That's because Ty Warren was a first round pick in '03, not Gerard.

Since three incorrect answers is the maximum in an alternating question, we had to move on.

Still tied 2-2, emcees Tom Pelissero and Phil Mackey turned to "The Book," which is a thick almanac with a myriad of stats. They came up with the following: Name any of the players who led the NFL in interceptions in a season since 1950. (NO SHOT we would run the table on that one).

Brendan (buzzing in first): Night Train Lane (correct)
Brad (thinking a Hall of Fame DB would be an obvious choice): Mike Haynes.

Mackey vehemently searched the record book. "Mike Haynes.......is......INCORRECT. Brendan wins again!!!"

Yes, Brendan took home yet another "Benjamin Franklin." Second place (me) won a Coors Light t-shirt.

All I could think of as I came so perilously to victory was a slogan I could affix to the back of the aforementioned t-shirt: "I drank Diet Pepsi to the point of getting the jitters, felt my heart rate increase rapidly as I stood at the podium, scraped my knuckle when hitting said podium in disgust and all I got was this lousy t-shirt". Or something along those lines.

-------------------------------------------

Quick Hits: Volume XLIV

2011-11-15T18:04:00.006-06:00

-You knew it was only a matter of time before the Occupy Wall Street movement would either peter out or lose what little accolades it received from the voting public.

On Tuesday afternoon, they were told they could no longer camp out in New York City's Zuccotti Park.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Stallman said the city can enforce “reasonable” rules to maintain safety and hygiene at the encampment that has become the epicenter of a nationwide movement.

The protesters have a right to free speech but they “have not demonstrated that they have a First Amendment right to remain in Zuccotti Park, along with their tents, structures, generators and other installations,” he wrote.

Without all those amenities, I highly doubt that the OWS crowd will hang around too much longer now that winter weather is beginning to rear its ugly head.

Not that they care much about popularity amongst the general public, but OWS is going to find out Wednesday that their movement is no longer all that popular with voters. The sample group Public Policy Polling, which has been previously lauded by the ultra lefty site Daily Kos, reported via Twitter that there are going to be some "pretty bad numbers" for OWS. Yeah, it's amazing what can happen to a group's alleged popularity when there are multiple reports of sexual assault and public defecation.

-For the record, I did not watch the Monday evening interview NBC's Bob Costas conducted with former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky regarding the allegations that Sandusky sexually abused at least five underage boys. However, while listening to the ESPN radio show Mike and Mike in the Morning on Tuesday, I heard a 3-4 minute audio excerpt of the interview.

The one aspect of the discussion which made me want to reach for some creep repellant also caught the attention of NESN's Ben Watanabe.

Costas: "Are you sexually attracted to young boys, to underage boys?"

Sandusky: "Am I sexually attracted to underage boys?"

Costas: "Yes."

Sandusky (after a two-second pause): "Sexually attracted? You know, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. I... but no, I'm not sexually attracted to them, to young boys."

For those of you keeping score at home, it took Sandusky 17 words to get to the "no" part. He managed to mention that he enjoys "young people" and loves "to be around them," which are things not even his harshest critics contest.

Until Sandusky is convicted, the claims against him are only allegations. But it's difficult to understand how anyone could struggle with such a straightforward question.

Keep in mind that Sandusky's attorney was present. Granted I'm the furthest thing from a legal scholar, but I find it unfathomable that any competent lawyer would allow his client to open himself up to that line of questioning, especially when anything Sandusky says can be used against him in a trial.

Oh, and for the record, I will never, ever, ever, EEEEVVVVVERRRR again use the phrase "horsing around" thanks to Sandusky using that as a euphemism for what he did with those young kids.

Let's move on......quickly.

-Do I really have to talk about the Vikings??? OK, I'll get it out of the way. Their 45-7 loss on Monday night to the Green Bay Packers marked the second most lopsided regular season defeat in franchise history. The all-time rout came in 1984 at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, 51-7. By all accounts, I'm sure the Packers could have usurped that margin of victory had they desired to do so.

The '84 season also marked the worst regular season finish for the Vikings (3-13) since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978. In looking ahead at the remaining seven matchups for this season, I have a feeling the best the 2-7 Vikings can hope for is to tie that record of futility.

No better time than the present to ask for a new stadium, eh?

-------------------------------------------

So it begins

2011-11-14T18:19:00.007-06:00

Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States announced it would hear arguments over the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's health care law. The case will be heard in March 2012, with a decision expected by the end of June.

The justices announced they will hear an extraordinary five-and-a-half hours of arguments from lawyers on the constitutionality of a provision at the heart of the law and three other related questions about the act. The central provision in question is the requirement that individuals buy health insurance starting in 2014 or pay a penalty.

In the modern era, the last time the court allotted anywhere near this much time for arguments was in 2003 for consideration of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform. That case consumed four hours of argument. This argument may spread over two days, as the justices rarely hear more than two or three hours a day.

If indeed the SCOTUS strikes down the individual mandates as unconstitutional, it would create quite a political circus a mere four months ahead of the general election. Many would surmise that would sink the Obama re-election campaign, but is that truly the case? As we've heard in several debates over the past few months, the top issue of many (if not all) of the GOP Presidential hopefuls is repealing Obamacare. Well if the SCOTUS takes that off the table by striking down the law as unconstitutional, what then? Obviously President Obama will still have a record of poor economic policies and thus there will remain a strong case to vote him out of office. Either way, the law being struck down would be an embarrassment to the current administration.

On the flip side, all hope would not be lost if the Supreme Court upholds the law. If the Republicans can win the White House (50-50 right now, in my opinion) and regain control of the Senate (need to flip four seats), the Republican-controlled Congress could pass a repeal measure for the GOP President to sign it. Of course, that in and of itself would be a bitter fight in the likely event Republicans do not have a "Super Majority" (60-40) in the Senate. But with a simple 51-49 majority, the GOP could use the reconciliation process (i.e. the "Nuclear Option") to ram a repeal bill through. Oh, and if some squishy Republicans start to become concerned with any political fallout? Just remind everyone that the Democrats were never afraid to use such a process while controlling the Senate.

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I've been bruised and I've been broken. Can't believe that I put up with all this pain.....

2011-11-13T08:51:00.002-06:00

Less than a year until election day typically equates to much fodder for a talk radio host. With that in mind, there will be a lot to squeeze in on this evening's installment of The Closer, which will air LIVE from 6:00 pm until 7 Central on AM 1280 The Patriot.

We'll look back on last Tuesday's elections and how certain media outlets chose to shine the light on alleged lefty triumphs but conveniently ignored any sharp rebukes of the Obama administration. We'll also talk about the ever fluid events of the GOP Presidential race, including the stunning resurgence of Newt Gingrich and how he's the latest "flavor of the month."

For the final two segments, I will be joined via telephone by GOP political operative Matt Mackowiak.

Matt and several other right wing activists/bloggers have drafted a movement simply entitled Not Mitt Romney, which, quite obviously, is a grassroots effort to ensure Romney is not the GOP Presidential candidate in 2012.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

-------------------------------------------

Thank You, Veterans

2011-11-11T06:24:00.001-06:00

Yes, there was an election on Tuesday

2011-11-09T19:48:00.004-06:00

In my little town of Ramsey, MN, we had one contest for school board and three referendums for the school district. While important, it didn't have the "sex appeal" of Congressional and Presidential elections.

But if there was one takeaway from this year's elections, it was the state of Ohio having an opportunity to follow the example of Wisconsin and curb the public employee unions' inordinately high power. Sadly, by a vote of 61-39 percent, Ohio voters turned back Gov. John Kasich's proposal to overhaul collective bargaining for said unions. As a result, the status quo will be maintained, thus putting further strain on Ohio's delicate fiscal outlook. Truth be told, I couldn't help but feel genuine sympathy for those union members who were openly rejoicing the vote's result. What they don't realize is that Tuesday's celebration will soon turn into devastation for some of their peers when necessary layoffs commence.

Since Ohio has been a key swing state in Presidential elections for nearly 70 years, could this be a precursor to what will happen next year? Since 1944, Ohioans have sided with the losing candidate only once – opting for Nixon over Kennedy in 1960. So for those Democrats who were rejoicing over GOP Governor Kasich getting his finger slapped, don't automatically assume President Obama will take Ohio (and thus be reelected) in 2012. What was conveniently under-reported in light of Tuesday's p.e. union "victory" was also a very sharp rebuke of the President's signature legislation --- Obamacare. In fact this ballot initiative, known as "Issue 3" (Ohioans not being forced to participate in a health care system), passed by a larger margin than Issues 1 (raising mandatory retirement age for judges) and 2 (restricting collective bargaining for public employee unions) failed.

Ahhh elections. We're just gettin' warmed up.

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Who will gain from pain of Cain?

2011-11-07T21:13:00.004-06:00

Regardless if the sexual harassment allegations against GOP presidential hopeful candidate Herman Cain are true or not, he's not going to be the Republican nominee. I'll admit his poll numbers have far exceeded what many thought he would ever attain. But when feminist attorney Gloria Allred emerges (she must have burned through all of Tiger Woods' and Charlie Sheen's mistresses), this situation turns from a political race into a glorified TMZ episode. Either way, Cain's viability as a serious candidate appears very much in peril.

While I'm sure Cain's fellow candidates will wish him well on the surface, privately the remaining field will attempt to horn in on Cain's supporters. So who would benefit most from Cain's departure? Call me crazy, but I think Newt Gingrich is in prime position to vault into the lead. Just last week a Rasmussen poll showed Gingrich gaining ten points on frontrunner Mitt Romney. Combine that with the fact that a Gingrich-Cain debate over the weekend highlighted Gingrich's prowess in knowing the issues (in front of some of Cain's most ardent supporters no less), the opportunity for Gingrich to emerge as frontrunner has never been stronger.

One takeaway from a number of GOP debates this election season is that a fair number of Republican voters almost regretfully pointed out Gingrich's solid showing, intimating that his supposed "unelectability" made him little more than a spoiler in the nomination process. However, a fundraiser in Des Moines, IA Friday evening showed that prominent GOP voters are beginning to warm to the former House speaker. As I sift through the candidates (again, any of them would make for a better President than Obama), the one thing I look to is who could best stand up to the President in a one-on-one debate. Since Obama will be unable to appeal to the electorate on facts due to his poor record, he is likely to go the the ol' demagoguery card. As far as I can tell, there isn't a better candidate to combat such a strategy than Gingrich.

I can't even begin to convey what a stunning development this would be. A mere five months ago, Gingrich's campaign was in shambles due to mass resignations of key members of his staff. Now less than a year from the general election, we're talking about Newt Gingrich as a serious Presidential candidate. Unbelievable.

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Radio Roundtable

2011-11-06T19:55:00.004-06:00

In Round Two of my radio exploits, I will be part of the roundtable on tonight's Late Debate from 10:00 pm until Midnight.

In addition to hosts Jack Tomczak and Benjamin Kruse, there will be a bipartisan roundtable of guests with myself and Laura Gatz on the right & "Two Putt" Tommy and an unnamed Democrat on the left.

If you're so inclined, check out the broadcast on Twin Cities station 95.9 FM WLKX or watch the show via UStream.

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I don't need you to worry for me, 'cause I'm all right......

2011-11-06T08:51:00.002-06:00

Tune in to AM 1280 The Patriot this evening from 6:00 until 7:00 Central time, as I will be closing out the weekend of Northern Alliance Radio Network programming.

With all that has gone on this past week, it's going to be difficult to narrow down the topics, but that's a challenge I gladly accept! With that, I plan on taking the first two segments to talk about GOP Presidential drama, kooky ex Governors and the ever fluid situation with the Vikings stadium.

For the final two segments, Orit Sklar will join me via telephone.

Ms. Sklar co-founded an organization called My Food. My Choice!, which is a grassroots coalition looking to alleviate the nanny state, specifically where food is concerned.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Romney: Hold a rally or hold your nose

2011-11-03T19:14:00.004-05:00

I'm not gonna lie to ya. Regardless of which GOP candidate emerges as the nominee for President, I will vote for said candidate. Period. End of story.

But here's the issue facing many grassroots activists: Will you work to elect the nominee, regardless of who it is? I understand that many people who are right-of-center politically would cast the proverbial "hold their nose" vote for Mitt Romney if indeed he is the Republican candidate for President in 2012. But there just doesn't seem to be a lot of enthusiasm for a Romney candidacy should that come to pass (which seems more likely these days).

We must not take for granted that President Barack Obama, despite his low approval ratings as well as presiding over a porous economy, is a sure loser come Election Day 2012. It's going to take some effort to ensure his defeat but, as opposed to 2008 when he was a veritable Pied Piper, it is very doable. Conventional wisdom is that the support of party establishment alone is not enough to get a candidate elected. There must be political machines behind that person, machines which will tout a candidate's strengths and what he'll bring to the Oval Office. If the prevailing sentiment surrounding Romney is "He's not Obama", that isn't nearly enough to increase voter turnout, which is another key factor in ousting an incumbent President.

Now I'm not suggesting we need a "rock star" type candidate who will be a cult of personality like we witnessed with Bill Clinton in 1992 and Obama in 2008. But at the very least, the Republicans need to nominate a candidate who provides a stark contrast (and major upgrade) over a scuffling President. From what I can tell, Romney may not be that candidate, especially when you consider the health care bill he singed into law as Governor of Massachusetts in many ways resembles Obamacare. Speaking of which, Romney, when pressed, has said he will indeed sign a repeal of the Obamacare law if he is President. If that's true, then something else needs to happen in 2012: The Republicans need to flip the Senate.

So if you're a conservative and a President Mitt Romney doesn't exactly fire you up, plan to vote for him anyways if he's the GOP candidate. But in the mean time, pour all your grassroots activist energy into electing a Republican Senator in your state. With the GOP likely to maintain (if not increase) their solid majority in the House, attaining a majority in the Senate would go a long way to passing a repeal of Obamacare. From there, a President Romney need not be reminded of his campaign promise. However, the Republican-controlled Congress, as well as the American people, will likely present him with not-so-subtle reminders.

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Quick Hits: Volume XLIII

2011-10-31T22:10:00.005-05:00

-Has any newspaper or blog yet come up with the headline "Herman caned?"

I digress.

GOP Presidential hopeful Herman Cain was revealed to have been accused of sexually harassing two women while in charge of the National Restaurant Association in the early '90s. What seemed to put Cain in a rather precarious position is that his company agreed to financial settlements with his accusers. But as Ed Morrissey pointed out, that does not necessarily prove guilt either.

If the settlements exist (Cain later admitted they did - ed.), and if they pertain to sexual harassment, then it’s certainly fair game for the media. This would differ from the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill allegations, as Hill never reported Thomas contemporaneous to the supposed harassment (and continued working for him after they supposedly occurred). The two settlements would indicate that the women involved undertook action contemporaneous to the claims, which is more substantial than Hill’s behavior. However, it’s not clear from the story whether the settlements themselves are settled legal complaints, or merely small golden parachutes that don’t make any reference to the reason for the departure of the two women.

Will this ultimately derail Cain's campaign? Hard to say at this point. From what I've been able to tell, Cain and his staff have handled this situation about as well as could be expected when conducting their expeditious responses.

-Perhaps the country's most famous socialite, Kim Kardashian, has filed for divorce from NBA player (and Minnesota native) Kris Humphries. Said filing took place on only day 72 of the marriage.

What really drives me nuts about these high-profile (and dysfunctional) marriages falling apart is the lamenting of the pro-gay marriage crowd. They squawk about how couples like Kardashian-Humphries or Tiger Woods-Elin Nordegren are allowed to marry but same-sex couples continue to be denied that same opportunity. Meaning what? If gays are allowed to marry that suddenly society will have unlocked the long lost secret to a solid union? Or perhaps if Kim Kardashian had just married her pal Paris Hilton, then all would have worked out OK? I know fans of....ahem....."amateur adult films" would be all aboard for that particular hookup.

-This NFL season, the Detroit Lions have been one of the surprise success stories in the first half of the 2011 campaign. After enduring a decade of absolutely wretched football, the Lions have started out 6-2, mainly due to young quarterback Matthew Stafford staying healthy combined with one of the more aggressive defensive lines, which is anchored by possibly the NFL's most feared defensive tackle in Ndamukong Suh.

But perhaps the most spectacular achievement by the Lions this season is they may actually have swayed me to root for the Green Bay Packers in two games this season. While the Lions' talent is undeniable, they have also become one the more arrogant (bordering on thuggish) teams in the NFL. From starting a brawl prior to their week seven game against Atlanta to their mocking Denver QB Tim Tebow's faith this past weekend, the Lions strike me as a very unlikable bunch.

So come Thanksgiving Day as well as the NFL regular season finale, I may actually root for the Green Bay Packers both those weeks when they oppose the Lions. Yes, Christmas miracles have come early this year.

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Now I don’t claim to be an A-student, but I’m trying to be....

2011-10-30T08:37:00.000-05:00

I'll be on the air LIVE tonight as I wrap up the weekend of NARN broadcasts on AM 1280 The Patriot. From 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central time, I'll delve into such topics as World Series play, demagogic nonagenarian sports writers, and the U.S. possibly being ruled under a dictatorship. You know, your standard fare for a radio talk show!

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Quick Hits: Volume XLII

2011-10-29T18:35:00.005-05:00

-In a speech this past Wednesday in Denver, CO, President Obama spoke to college students regarding jobs and student loans. In the speech, the President lamented how he and wife Michelle accumulated $120,000 in student loans and how the monthly payments on said loans were ridiculously high.

Well enough is enough.

Hey kids!

Had it with those annoying student loans? Sick of those ridiculous monthly payments? Find yourself up against the wall? Or maybe just too busy, protesting "outside" broad and wall?

Well, good news!

How would you like to hear about a plan to take all that college debt and just...Swoooossshhhhh!

Blow it away! It's true. Because President Obama could be on the verge ...of making it law!!

You heard me right, the President is unveiling a student loan plan, where if you're in too deep ...not only is the government going to help you out...but stick the bill with all those capitalist swines you've been protesting while he's at it.

But wait, Neil, you're saying...he can't do that. He has to get Congress' approval.

Here's the good part. Three words.

No. He. Doesn't.

The big guy's planning a brilliant end-run around those pesky Republicans by way of executive order.

They don't like it, deal with it, and they can take it up with a judge like all their other endless legal challenges while they're at it.

So ... You in?

Closed circuit to those who shrieked "DICTATOR" during the George W. Bush administration: You have a problem with a sitting U.S. President making law via executive fiat???

-My Dad once riddled me this - "What's the difference between a catfish and a lawyer? One is a bottom-feeding scum sucker and the other is a fish."

OK, I'm over-generalizing there, as not all lawyers are subhuman. But I can't say with certitude that a certain Los Angeles attorney doesn't validate my Dad's assertion.

An attorney representing the Dodgers and owner Frank McCourt filed a civil complaint against the two men charged in the Opening Day beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow in Los Angeles Superior Court last week, arguing that they should be held liable for the attack, not McCourt, the team or other parties named in the suit filed by Stow's family in May.

"One of the things the jury will be asked to do is to determine what percentage of fault various individuals have for this event," McCourt's attorney Jerome Jackson told ESPNLosAngeles.com.

"You're saying to the jury, 'They (the Stow family) are saying we're 100 percent liable. But does that mean (Marvin) Norwood and (Louis) Sanchez, who beat this guy up, have no liability? And, does it mean Mr. Stow himself has no liability?' "

Jackson said that if the case goes to a jury trial, he will ask jurors to assign percentages of liability to the Dodgers, McCourt, Norwood, Sanchez, Stow and the other entities named in the original suit. If financial damages are awarded, they would be paid out at those percentages.

"I've been doing these cases for 23 years and I have never seen one yet in which it didn't take at least two people to tango," he said, referring to the notion that jurors could decide Stow bears some liability in the attack. "So stay tuned and stand by."

Jackson compared the Stow case to a suit filed by a woman named Maria Para Helenius, who lost sight in one of her eyes after being involved in a fight in the Dodger Stadium parking lot in 2005. A jury found her assailant, Denise Ordaz, 85 percent liable for the attack, Helenius 15 percent liable and the Dodgers zero percent liable. She was awarded $500,420, according to court documents obtained by ESPNLosAngeles.com, 85 percent of which was to be paid by Ordaz.

Stow, who was in a coma for several months following the attack, remains in a Bay Area rehabilitation facility. His family has said that he is speaking again and has made great progress since the March 31 attack, but that he still needs around-the-clock care indefinitely.

What really galls me about this is how in the world can a man who was beaten until he was comatose even be considered to have some sort of liability? Did Stow's attackers suffer wrist injuries while beating him repeatedly? Did Stow not adequately clean up the blood he spilled in Dodger Stadium?

To me, this would appear to be case of Frank McCourt trying to cover his backside. With he and wife Jamie involved in a very contentious (and potentially expensive) divorce, the Dodgers franchise faced some perilous financial issues, including questions regarding the team making payroll at certain points of the season. As such, without a renewed TV deal and its accompanying revenue, the Dodgers looked to slash expenses. So what was rumored to be one of the cost-cutting measures? Ballpark security. Perhaps if Dodger Stadium had more security personnel, the attack on Stow might have been thwarted.

Regardless, the whole soap opera surrounding a once proud franchise is making some nasty headlines these days.

-Tomorrow afternoon will be a matchup of rookie quarterbacks in Charlotte, NC as the Carolina Panthers (and #1 overall selection, QB Cam Newton) will play host to my Minnesota Vikings, led by QB Christian Ponder.

In addition to the two young signal callers being first round draft picks and (barring serious injuries) the foundation for their respective franchises, they have something else in common. You see, both Cecil Newton and David Ponder (the fathers of the aforementioned rookie QBs) were training camp participants for the 1984 Dallas Cowboys.

Very cool!

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October 27, 1991: Bundle of nerves

2011-10-27T05:39:00.005-05:00

For the second time in five seasons, the Minnesota Twins would be involved in a game seven of a World Series. The scenario in this particular decisive game was similar to that of four years earlier. The Twins would be in the raucous atmosphere of their home stadium, the Metrodome, for the final game and would have their undisputed staff ace to start the game (it was Frank Viola in 1987; Jack Morris in 1991).

The first six games of this series versus the Atlanta Braves was enough to drain fans emotionally, as four of the games had been decided by one run, three on the final pitch and two went into extra innings.

Because I had midterm exams starting the next day, I figured I would hole up in my University's library and just study until I was sure the game would be over. I was so incredibly nervous at the prospect of my Twins coming sooooo close to another World Series title that I wasn't sure I could handle the tension of yet another close game (Wow, how prophetic was that?!?!).

Ultimately I decided to attend the Sunday evening service at my church, where there was a guest speaker from Jamaica. At one point during the service, I looked over at one of my best friends (and fellow Twins fan). As he caught my eye, the looks on our respective faces was obvious - "This is it!!! I wonder how our team will fare tonight?"

The church service was so amazing and uplifting that for 2-3 hours, I had successfully diverted my mind from the nerve wracking ball game. As I headed out to my car, I flipped on the radio, assuming the game was close to being over. As the broadcast came back from commercial, I heard the voice of the Twins, Herb Carneal, explaining how the Twins allowed runners to reach second and third base with nobody out in the eighth inning, yet got out unscathed. But I couldn't believe my ears when I heard that the game was still scoreless!

I then listened to how the Twins got runners to first and third with one out and the previous night's hero, Kirby Puckett, coming to the plate. At that point Braves manager Bobby Cox lifted John Smoltz (who had matched zeros with his boyhood idol Morris for 7+ innings) in favor of lefty reliever Mike Stanton. Cox ordered Stanton to intentionally walk Puckett to load the bases with one out to pitch to Kent Hrbek, who struck out in all three previous at-bats in the series versus Stanton. I got home about the time this pitching change was taking place, so I ran downstairs to find my brother with his head in the palms of his hands. Turns out Hrbek had just lined a ball up the middle, which was snared by Braves second baseman Mark Lemke who in turn stepped on second base (base runner Chuck Knoblauch thought the ball was up the middle for a base hit and was already halfway to third) for an inning ending double play. This was the first live action I had seen all night yet I was instantly a bundle of nerves.

After escaping that huge jam in the top of the eighth inning, Morris was locked in. He retired the Braves 1-2-3 in both the ninth and tenth innings. In between, the Twins blew a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth, as they had runners at first and second with no outs but failed to score.

On to the bottom of the tenth, where Dan Gladden stepped in against Braves reliever Alejandro Pena. Gladden hit the first pitch for a blooper into left center field. The ball bounced by left fielder Brian Hunter but center fielder Ron Gant was right there to back him up. Seeing this, Gladden was hauling some serious butt out of the batter's box and never slowed down as he rounded first base. Gladden slid into second just ahead of Gant's throw, meaning the winning run was in scoring position with no outs. A sacrifice bunt and two intentional walks later, pinch hitter Gene Larkin stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Once again, I was sweating bullets while fending off the knots in my stomach. While the Twins were in prime position to win the game, and thus the series, I couldn't help but think how they had already hit in to three double plays this game. I no sooner exorcised that negative thought from my mind when Larkin looped a fly ball over the Braves' drawn in outfield. The ball fell harmlessly to the ground for a base hit. Gladden trotted home from third with the only run of the game. As he stepped on home plate, Gladden was engulfed by several teammates, including Morris. I couldn't help but notice that Jack still had on his warmup jacket with his glove in hand. Yes, the guy manager Tom Kelly called "The Horse" would have indeed gone out to pitch the 11th inning had his team failed to score in the 10th.

For the second time in five seasons, my Minnesota Twins were World Series champions! I was so wired by what I had witnessed that there was no way I was going to get to sleep that night. Turns out my temporary insomnia that evening was a good thing as I was woefully behind on studying for midterms.

In looking back at the '91 World Series, it's amazing to think how tight knit it was. Of the seven games, five were decided by one run, four were decided on the game's final pitch and three went in to extra innings.

In the end, I felt the most poignant sentiment was conveyed by a member of the losing team. After his Braves lost game seven, second baseman Mark Lemke (who hit .417 in the series and would have likely been MVP had Atlanta won) said "The only thing better would have been if we stopped after nine innings and cut the trophy in half." I would've been inclined to agree.......if only I weren't a Twins fan that is.

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October 26, 1991: Do or Die

2011-10-26T06:02:00.008-05:00

It was a Saturday evening at about 4:00 and I had just arrived home from my part time job in downtown St. Paul. I was a senior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and midterm exams loomed, beginning on Monday. I had planned to sequester myself in my bedroom for a couple of hours in an effort to get some studying done. Alas, this proved to be an impossible task, as my mind continued to wander to a certain monumental event to take place in Minneapolis that evening - Game Six of the 1991 World Series, featuring my Minnesota Twins taking on the Atlanta Braves.

After winning the first two World Series games at home, the Twins proceeded to lose all three games in Atlanta and now were on the brink of elimination. My stomach was in knots, as the Twins were going trot out Scott Erickson to start game six. Despite being nearly unhittable the first half of the regular season and finishing the '91 campaign with 20 victories, Erickson struggled down the stretch. In his game three start against Atlanta, Erickson was knocked out of the game without getting through five innings. But I knew that if somehow, some way, the Twins could pull out the game six victory, it would be winner-take-all in game seven with their staff ace rarin' to go.

I was going to watch the game in Brooklyn Park with some friends at somebody's home. As I drove from St. Paul to Brooklyn Park, I passed by the Metrodome. To think, in about an hour, a World Series game would be played there.

The Twins got off to a 2-0 first inning lead against Braves lefty Steve Avery. Kirby Puckett drove in Chuck Knoblauch with a triple and then Puckett scored on a broken bat single by Shane Mack. Since Avery had given up only two runs through three postseason starts, the Twins getting to him early was a big deal.

In the third inning, with a runner on first, Braves slugger Ron Gant hit a towering fly ball to deep left center field, which looked as though it was going to be a run-scoring extra base hit if it didn't get over the wall for a game tying homer. Somehow, Puckett got back to the wall, leaped three feet in the air and snared the ball against the plexiglass atop the fence. Given the circumstances, it was perhaps the greatest catch in postseason history and it kept the Twins in the lead for the moment.

It was still 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Braves shortstop Rafael Belliard led off with a single. The next hitter, Lonnie Smith, then hit a one-hopper to third baseman Scott Leius. What should have been a routine 5-4-3 double play resulted in only a force out at second base as Knoblauch could not get the ball out of his glove for the throw to first. I had this awful feeling that play would haunt the Twins, and sure enough it did. NL batting champ Terry Pendleton swatted Erickson's next offering over the center field fence for a game-tying two-run home run. But Puckett knocked in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning, putting the Twins back on top, 3-2.

Amazingly, the Twins were still leading by that same 3-2 score into the seventh inning, and Erickson was still on the mound. But after giving up a leadoff single to Mark Lemke, Erickson's evening was done. He had given the Twins all he had, so now it was up to the bullpen. The Braves loaded the bases in the seventh with one out and Gant at the plate. The Twins had the right pitcher on the mound in sinker baller Carl Willis, as they needed a ground ball double play to get out of the inning. Sure enough, Gant hit a slow roller to shortstop Greg Gagne. Gagne threw to second for one and Knoblauch turned and fired to first as quickly as he could, but the speedy Gant barely beat the throw. Lemke scored from third to tie the game.

Both bullpens put up zeros into extra innings. Then in the bottom of the eleventh, Braves manager Bobby Cox inexplicably summoned lefty Charlie Leibrandt to pitch to the first batter of the inning, Kirby Puckett. It didn't seem to make sense on the surface, as Puckett was nearly a .400 hitter versus lefties. On the other hand, Puck had struggled throughout his career against Leibrandt, so Cox used that as his guide. Despite being a free swinger, Puckett watched the first three pitches go by (strike, ball, ball). Then with a 2-1 count, Leibrandt left a changeup up over the outer half of the plate. Puck reached across the plate and hit the ball deep to left field. My friends and I all stood breathless as we watched the ball sail towards deep left field. As soon as announcer Jack Buck uttered the words "and we'll see you TOMORROW NIGHT," we all erupted in the basement. In fact, I took advantage of everyone's elation by giving a big hug to a certain girl I liked, and then proceeded to hoist her in the air. She was quite taken aback by that display, but there was definitely no hard feelings. Our Twins had forced a seventh game of the World Series!!!!

As I drove home to St. Paul, I listened to the postgame show on the radio. In hearing the myriad of player reactions, one stood out. Kirby Puckett, the game's hero and perhaps the most beloved player in Twins franchise history, talked of how he entered a somber clubhouse prior to the start of game six. He essentially told his teammates to loosen up a little. After all, it was the World Series. When that didn't seem to work, Puck simply told his fellow Twins to hop on his back because he was going to carry the club to victory. Puck's night - Three hits (including the game-winning homer), three RBIs and a remarkable catch to save at least one run (if not two). I'd say he made good on his pledge.

Meanwhile, the Twins' game seven starting pitcher (and aforementioned staff ace) Jack Morris, who was born for these kind of situations, was asked about perhaps the biggest start of his MLB career, which would take place in less than 24 hours. Jack's reply? "In the words of the great, late Marvin Gaye - 'Let's Get It On.'"

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Spin it to win it

2011-10-24T21:27:00.008-05:00

President Barack Obama has been utterly shameless in his willingness to assign blame for the country's woes. Whenever he drones on about America's economic woes, inevitably he'll mention the tax cuts, two wars and prescription drug benefit that were enacted before he took office. Never mind the fact that it took him 2-1/2 years to accomplish what President Bush did in eight, which is increase our national debt by $4 trillion. Facts are for mere peasants apparently.

But what's really galling is the President having the temerity to spin the drawdown of US forces in Iraq by the end of 2011 as his keeping one of his "central promises." That's all fine and good, except for one minor flaw. You see, it was President George W. Bush who, in 2008, negotiated withdrawal of our troops by the end of 2011. Also conveniently omitted from President Obama's announcement was the fact he had attempted to negotiate an extended stay beyond 2011. So instead of being humbled by his failure to secure an action deemed necessary by many American military officials, the Obama campaign sent out the following ~~spin~~ letter this past Saturday.

Friend –

I’m James Kvaal, the new policy director for President Obama’s 2012 campaign. You’ll be hearing from me occasionally about the President’s policies and those of our opponents, and how we can all help bring about change for our country.

Yesterday, we accomplished one major change when President Obama announced that all American troops in Iraq will be home before the holidays (but only after you failed to keep them there longer. - ed.).

With that action, the Iraq war will end. And one of the President’s central promises will have been kept (But who knows how y'all would have spun this had you successfully negotiated to keep U.S. forces in Iraq into 2012. I'm sure you would've figured something out, because you think the electorate has short memories. Ah heck, let's be honest. You would've just blamed Bush - ed.).

Both as Americans and as supporters of President Obama, this is something for us to reflect on, and be proud of.

The war in Iraq was a divisive, defining issue in our country for nearly nine years, and was the catalyst for many Americans to get involved in politics for the first time.

Now, thanks to the actions of this President (Uhhhhh, I'm sorry. WHICH President?!?! Let me remind you - ed.), we can say that conflict is coming to a close.

The end of this war reflects a larger transition in our foreign policy as, in the President’s words, “the tide of war is receding.” The drawdown in Iraq has allowed us to refocus on the fight against al Qaeda, even as we begin to bring troops home from Afghanistan. And of course, this week also marked the definitive end of the Qaddafi regime in Libya (Ahhh. So regime change is now OK, huh? Good to know - ed.).

These outcomes are an example of what happens when a leader sets a plan and sees it through (Yes, thank you, President Bush! - ed.). In the last campaign, the President committed to getting American troops home while leaving behind a stable and secure Iraq. You rallied around that vision, and now that promise has been fulfilled (However, if sectarian violence is ratcheted up once again, as some military officials fear will be the case, I think you know where the blame will be placed - ed.).

On behalf of this campaign and supporters of the President across the country, I want to thank the more than 1 million Americans who have served in Iraq (Finally something in this letter that isn't complete bilge - ed.), and all those who worked to make this possible

Thanks,

James

James Kvaal
Policy Director
Obama for America

I don't know about you, but I find it so incredibly arrogant that this administration so blatantly tries to spin its failures as something that is good for this country. God help us all.

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....to bring you a show with no intoxication....

2011-10-23T07:43:00.001-05:00

I fully expect the Vikings to have wrapped up their defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers by the time The Closer gets started this evening. From 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central time, I will be LIVE on the air on AM 1280 The Patriot.

The first half of the show, we'll discuss political news on a National level. President Barack Obama announced U.S. troops would indeed be out of Iraq by the end of this year. We'll also touch on the death of Libyan leader Muammar ~~Qadaffi~~ ~~Khadaffy~~ Gaddafi. I also want to opine on the perpetual idiocy of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as well as Vice President Joe Biden.

On a local level, I will get into the ongoing saga regarding the Vikings' new stadium. My friend and blogging colleague Mark Heuring, who has done extraordinary coverage of this issue on his blog Mr. Dilettante's Neighborhood, will join the program for the final two segments to discuss the latest news on this matter.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Box score of the week (FINAL ONE OF 2011)

2011-10-21T05:42:00.002-05:00

It's World Series time, so let's check out Game 1 of the 1966 Fall Classic featuring the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers.

----------------------------------------

In this game, Orioles relief pitcher Moe Drabowsky tied a World Series single game record by striking out six consecutive batters. He tied the record set in 1919 by Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hod Eller. However, Eller's record was set against the infamous Chicago White Sox team (aka Black Sox) who conspired with gamblers to deliberately lose the series. So we could make the argument that Drabowsky's record is more legit.

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Throwing Christian to the Lions Packers

2011-10-20T05:39:00.000-05:00

So a rookie quarterback makes his regular season debut in garbage time of a blowout loss, then is rewarded with his first career start the following game against the Green Bay Packers. Somehow the rookie makes just enough plays to lead his struggling club to a victory over the hated Pack.

You think that's far-fetched? Well it really isn't. That's because the scenario I just laid out actually happened. That's right, it was two seasons ago when Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rookie QB Josh Freeman led the 0-7 Bucs to an upset win over the Packers. I couldn't help but be struck by the similarities as Minnesota Vikings rookie Christian Ponder (fresh off his NFL debut in a 39-10 loss at Chicago) will make his first NFL start on Sunday when the Vikes host Green Bay.

Of course, there is one stark difference between the Packers club which lost to a winless Tampa team two years ago and the one the Vikings will face Sunday. The Pack happen to be 6-0 and defending Super Bowl champions. That said, Ponder may have a chance to make some plays as the one chink in the armor of the Packers this season is their porous pass defense, which has allowed nearly 300 yards per game. However, that stat is somewhat misleading. Green Bay has built such sizable leads in all of their games that they're willing to let opponents complete passes in the field of play so as to run down the game clock.

I think the Vikings are currently in a situation where anything less than a 20 point loss on Sunday should be considered a moral victory.

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Quick Hits: Volume XLI

2011-10-19T05:36:00.004-05:00

-Yet another GOP Presidential debate took place Tuesday night, this time from Las Vegas. To be perfectly honest, I'm suffering from debate fatigue, so the only saving grace for me on these nights is the banter on Twitter (my night was made when Rush Limbaugh's brother David replied to one of my tweets).

One of the common complaints amongst debate observers is the fact the candidates spent too much time attacking each other and not enough taking on the White House's current occupant. Personally, I have no problem with that, as there will be ample time for the eventual GOP nominee to savage President Obama on the campaign trail as well as head-to-head debates. With the nomination process still very fluid (one recent poll indicated 70% of Republican voters have yet to decide on a candidate), it's important that the candidates continue to distinguish themselves.

In the end, there was no consensus as to who was the clear cut winner. However, Herman Cain had to fend off more attacks than he was used to now that he has been near the top of the polls, and I thought he acquitted himself OK. Unfortunately for him, he was backed into a corner about his comments where he indicated he'd consider swapping out Gitmo detainees for Americans held captive. Cain eventually disavowed those remarks.

Other than that, there didn't seem to be any stark differences from some of the more recent debates.

Mitt Romney wasn't dinged enough to harm his standing as frontrunner.
Rick Perry was solid early only to peter out near the end.
Ron Paul sounded strong domestically but shot himself in the foot when talking foreign policy (in this case, decrying aid to Israel).
Newt Gingrich continues to be the regrettable candidate in that he's a brilliant political mind but his personal baggage will preclude any chance to be the GOP nominee.

So for now, the Romney drumbeat will likely continue.

-When it comes to demagoguery, timing is everything. So as baseball's Fall Classic quickly approaches, it's not surprising the latest issue Washington leftists decided to undertake.

U.S. senators and health officials are taking on a baseball tradition older than the World Series itself: chewing tobacco on the diamond.

With the Series set to begin Wednesday between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers — a team that started life as the Washington Senators 50 years ago — the senators, along with health officials from the teams' cities, want the players union to agree to a ban on chewing tobacco at games and on camera. They made the pleas in separate letters, obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

"When players use smokeless tobacco, they endanger not only their own health, but also the health of millions of children who follow their example," the senators wrote to union head Michael Weiner. The letter was signed by Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, and fellow Democrats Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Senate Health Committee Chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa.

Now was there an actual study done which provided evidence that children indulge in chewing tobacco because their favorite baseball players do so? I'm guessing not. As a former smokeless tobacco user, I can tell you that young people in this country pick up that nasty habit the same way they do many other vices ---- peer pressure. Nothing more.

-Speaking of the World Series, I'm having a hard time getting a handle on the matchup between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams seemed to win their respective pennants in similar fashion: Solid bullpen bailing out the sub par starting pitching combined with an explosive offense.

For me, I give a slight edge to the Cardinals, simply because they've essentially been in playoff mode for the past eight weeks. After an August 24th loss, the Cards were 10-1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves for the National League wildcard spot. However, St. Louis won 23 of their final 32 games just to get in the postseason. They then dispatched the team with MLB's best record, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the divisional round and then eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, having to win two games in Miller Park where the Brewers were a ridiculous 57-24 in the regular season.

For what it's worth, I say Cards in seven.

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Just because.....

2011-10-16T23:29:00.003-05:00

Q: What do you call a Brewer with a World Series ring?
A: A thief.

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A simple prop to occupy my time....

2011-10-16T17:27:00.003-05:00

It's essentially all occupation all the time on this evening's edition of The Closer, as I'll be live on AM 1280 The Patriot TONIGHT from 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central time.

First off, we'll look at the media's analysis of the Tea Party vs. Occupy Wall Street, and how there are conspicuous differences. I also want to take a look at two separate attacks against GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain that would have never gone uncovered by the MSM had candidate Barack Obama been attacked the same way 3-4 years ago.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Box score of the week

2011-10-14T05:28:00.001-05:00

Game 7 of the 1962 World Series - Yankees-Giants.

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This classic World Series game went right down to the wire, as the Giants had the tying run on third base and the winning run on second with two outs and Willie McCovey at the plate. McCovey would line out to Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson to end the game as well as the '62 World Series.

But what's extra special about this particular game is it was the first ever 1-0 contest in a decisive postseason series game.

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Quick Hits: Volume XL

2011-10-13T20:16:00.004-05:00

-So shrill lefty Joy Behar invited singer Harry Belafonte to appear on her CNN Headline News talk show, and Banana Boat Hare is asked about a black Republican.

I think you know as well as I do where this is going.

Like Condoleezza Rice, Herman Cain doesn’t need Harry Belafonte to tell him what it means to be black — but it looks like the legendary singer is just as willing to reject Cain’s life experiences as a legitimate example of what it means to grow up black in America as he was to reject the life experiences of Rice and Colin Powell in 2002. Remember when he compared the two of them to “house slaves” who would retain their privileged positions only for as long as they did what “the master” wanted? (I sure do - ed.)

He doesn’t have anything nice to say about Herman Cain, either. In an interview with HLN’s Joy Behar, Belafonte said Herman Cain was “denied intelligence” and called him “a bad apple.”

“I just want to make this observation about Herman Cain,” Belafonte said. “The Republican Party, the Tea Party and all those forces to the extreme right have consistently tried to come up with a representation for what they call black … and tried to push these images … They’ve got Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell. They’re heroes for some people, but for a lot of us they’re not. And Herman Cain is just the latest incarnation of what is totally false to the needs of our community and the needs of our nation!”

When looking at back at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech, the one aspect that stands out is how he dreams of his four children not being "judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." I perused the entire speech and I found nary an excerpt which even so much as implied that one's "content of character" is dependent upon political party affiliation.

I daresay Dr. King would have been thrilled at the prospects of a black man obtaining the level of success Cain achieved as a businessman.

-When ESPN decided to no longer use Hank Williams, Jr.'s music as the opening theme to its Monday Night Football broadcasts, they cited their policy of prohibiting political advocacy by anyone associated with their network. It was just this past August that golf analyst Paul Azinger got his finger slapped for a snarky remark he made about President Obama, via Twitter. Keep in mind that ESPN's response to both incidents was rather expeditious.

So I'm wondering why I haven't heard so much as a peep from the sports titan regarding an ESPN contributor's remarks on NPR nearly a week ago.

NPR's apparently a great place to go to denounce Herman Cain. On Friday's edition of Tell Me More, host Michelle Martin cued up Cain's remarks suggesting the Occupy Wall Street protests are "planned and orchestrated to distract from the failed policies of the Obama administration." Quite obviously, you can disagree with that theory without comparing Cain to segregationists.

But that's precisely what sports columnist and ESPN regular Kevin Blackistone said to Martin: "It sounds like to me what people who used to run the White Citizens Councils used to say in the South during the civil rights movement, that it was outside agitators who were coming in and stirring up black folks down there."

He added: "How disingenuous it is of a CEO of a company or anybody to make a suggestion that it is the unemployed's fault that they are unemployed at a time when corporate America is breaking the record profits in 2011, is flushed with cash in terms of its coffers, and unemployed people are over 14 million. Absolutely disingenuous."

This is the same left-wing columnist who suggested Israel should be banned from international sports competitions (except, er, the Olympics after that unfortunate Munich mass murder): "could it not be time for sport to illuminate Israel's deadly occupation of Palestinians?"

As of this evening, I've been unable to locate anything which would indicate ESPN reprimanded Blackistone for his comments. In fact, he was in his regular spot this afternoon as panelist on ESPN's afternoon show Around The Horn.

-There's been no shortage of reactions in the media, blogosphere and social network sites regarding the "Occupy Wall Street" protests. Because this is mainly a "progressive" movement, the protestors are characterized as a "diverse group" who are merely "frustrated" with those who aren't paying their "fair share" in taxes. On the other hand, for two years running, the Tea Party has been tagged with such labels as "angry" and "monochromatic."

Let me boil it down for you in the simplest terms. The OWS crowd acts like a bunch of petulant children because they resent those who were willing to do things (i.e. work hard and take calculated risks) which they aren't. With the Tea Party, you have a bunch of people in essentially the same economic class who want to be free to take risks and are concerned that all for which they have worked will dissipate due to out of control and unsustainable Federal spending.

I think David Burge of the blog Iowahawk summed it up best when addressing the OWS crowd.

Lemme get this straight. A bank lent you $100k that you handed to a college for a worthless degree, and now you're mad at... the bank?

Alas, personal responsibility appears to be in short supply these days.

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The way I see it.....

2011-10-11T20:12:00.004-05:00

....is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's endorsement of Mitt Romney for President makes sense while at the same time is befuddling.

I understand that Romney was once a blue state Republican governor like Christie is now. East coast Republicans, fair or unfair, have broader appeal amongst the GOP establishment than do more conservative candidates. As much as my fellow righties kvetch about the electability argument, the fact remains that President Obama isn't so vulnerable that we can put forth Michele Bachmann or Ron Paul at the top of the GOP ticket. Bottom line is no one wins a Presidential election with only the support of their respective party's base. Independent voters are key and who ultimately swung the 2008 Presidential election to Obama.

On the other hand there's the issue of entitlement reform. That's the one place where Christie is conservative and Romney isn't. While Christie took on New Jersey's public employee unions and their benefits packages in an attempt to overhaul the state's fiscal mess, Romney has used Rick Perry's desire to reform Social Security and Medicare as a way to demagogue the issue, implying that Perry is looking to cut off such valuable benefits from today's senior citizens. Also, as much as Romney attempts to differentiate Obamacare from Massachusetts' health care reform (aka Romneycare) he signed into law in when he was the state's Governor in 2006, it's been for naught. Romneycare's chief architect, MIT professor Jonathan Gruber, was a paid consultant for the Obama administration and thus a booster of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." In fact, Gruber said earlier this year that Romney's plan essentially "gave birth" to Obamacare.

Bottom line is this is a huge "get" for Romney. After all, many GOP supporters for weeks pined for Christie to get into the Presidential race despite his saying "no" at every turn. Like it or not, the New Jersey Governor's endorsement of Romney will definitely (pardon the pun) carry some weight.

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Tell us General, is it party time? If it is, can we all come?

2011-10-09T17:00:00.004-05:00

In what has been the most prolific radio broadcast schedule in my brief career, I will be on the air from 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central time TONIGHT on AM 1280 The Patriot. This will be my third broadcast in the past 48 hours, but there is still a lot to cover.

I'll discuss this past weekend's happenings at the 2011 Midwest Leadership Conference in Minneapolis and how GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain continues to rack up straw poll wins. But can he carry that momentum into primary and caucus season?

I also want to discuss Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid invoking the so-called "nuclear option" to block a vote on President Obama's jobs bill. I'll discuss how such a tactic could serve to come back and haunt the Democrats within the next year-and-a-half.

Finally, there's always something developing in regards to Obama administration blunders/scandals like Solyndra as well as Operation Fast and Furious.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Saturday Night Afternoon Live!

2011-10-08T12:44:00.005-05:00

With Ed Morrissey out on assignment, I will be accompanying Mitch Berg for the Saturday edition of the Northern Alliance Radio Network, beginning at 1:00 Central and going until 3:00 pm. We will be broadcasting LIVE from the 2011 Midwest Leadership Conference taking place at the Double Tree in Bloomington.

It'll be a guest-a-palooza with the likes of Jen DeJournett of VOICES of Conservative Women, Linda Lee Tarver, who is Ethnic Vice Chair with the Michigan Republican Party, and Chris Fields, who could very well provide a very formidable challenge to Rep. Keith Ellison in MN CD5.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Box score of the week

2011-10-07T05:01:00.002-05:00

It's the baseball postseason, so let's focus on that, shall we.

Let's check out Game 5 from the 1999 NLCS where the New York Mets, down 3 games to 1, hosted the Atlanta Braves.

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With the score tied at three in the bottom of the 15th inning, the Mets' Robin Ventura came to the plate with the bases loaded and blasted a pitch over the center field wall for a game-winning........single? Yes, after Ventura's blast, he was mobbed by teammates as he rounded first base, thus never completing his journey around the bases. It mattered not, as the Mets stayed alive in the series.

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Palin passes

2011-10-05T19:53:00.004-05:00

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is not running for President --- just as I have been predicting since January.

While I'm rather ambivalent about this decision, many of Palin's ardent supporters appeared to be utterly devastated. That's rather concerning to think my fellow righties would create such a cult of personality in a politician that Palin saying "no" would elicit such a response. Lest we forget how we rolled our collective eyes at the crazy leftists who obtained such an emotional attachment to Barack Obama. That's not to say that Palin wouldn't have made a better President than Obama. I definitely believe she would have, which of course is damnation with faint praise.

One major drawback of Palin's candidacy would have been her spending so much time fighting off scurrilous attacks from every angle, including from certain members of the right wing punditry. Combine that with her tenure as Alaska governor being marred by her up and quitting before her term was complete, Palin's attempts to make a substantive case to be elected President would have been almost secondary.

But the main reason I felt that Palin would not run for President is, quite simply, she makes so much money not being in politics. Between book sales, reality TV and speaking engagements, she could live like royalty even without riding on Air Force One. I also believe she will thrive in a role as kingmaker, as any of the candidates currently in the GOP field would welcome Palin's endorsement. Of course, it's possible that Palin will wait until the dust settles and actively campaign for whomever emerges as the nominee. That would seem to be the wiser choice, as the recipient of a Palin endorsement may end up not being the nominee when it's all said and done.

One thing is for certain: Sarah Palin's voice will be heard throughout this Presidential campaign process. As a serendipity of not seeking the highest office in the land, it's a voice which will not have to utilize the most politically correct tone.

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Quick Hits: Volume XXXIX

2011-10-04T05:28:00.003-05:00

-Ever since Rick Perry announced his candidacy for President, Michele Bachmann has seen her poll numbers steadily decline. Amongst the GOP hopefuls, Bachmann is, at best, a distant third behind Perry and Mitt Romney, which casts severe doubts on her even being in the race in February.

If indeed Bachmann does drop out of the Presidential race within a few months, what options does she have then?

The Minnesota Republican never ruled out a return to Congress.

A loyal GOP base back home, uncertainty over district boundaries and tepidness by possible successors are helping keep Bachmann's political options open. But among party operatives and past allies, there are increasing doubts that Bachmann will try to reclaim her seat — or would even want to go back to the House.

I would be very surprised if Bachmann decides to jump into the CD6 race. During the 2010 campaign, DFL opponent Tarryl Clark attempted to make hay of how little time Bachmann spent in her home district. However, because there was no substantive proof of that, it never gained a whole lot of traction. But Bachmann has been involved in a high profile run for President since about May, so such a charge would carry more weight leading up to election day. Couple that with her constantly touting her Iowa roots leading up to the Ames, IA straw poll, and it's almost as if Bachmann has bastardized the state where she holds a seat in Congress.

Like Sarah Palin, Bachmann has a certain charisma which could lend itself well on the speaking circuit. And given the interesting life she has led, Bachmann's story could definitely pass for a New York Times bestseller. I see a book deal in her near future.

-ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!?!?!

Well, a certain rowdy crooner won't be asking that question any time soon.

The Hank Williams Jr. song that has opened Monday Night Football for 20 years was not part of the opening of this week's Indianapolis-Tampa Bay game after Williams made controversial comments about President Barack Obama.

Williams compared Obama to Adolf Hitler on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" show Monday morning.

ESPN, in a statement, said: "While Hank Williams, Jr. is not an ESPN employee, we recognize that he is closely linked to our company through the open to Monday Night Football. We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result we have decided to pull the open from tonight's telecast."

Williams, whose song "All My Rowdy Friends" has been the Monday Night Football theme on both ABC and ESPN since 1991, told "Fox and Friends" that he thought Speaker of the House John Boehner playing golf with President Obama "would be like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu ... In the shape this country is in?"

While I don't believe Williams is implying that Obama is like Hitler, it goes without saying that any Hitler analogy should be avoided at all costs.

This isn't the first time ESPN has embroiled in a Hitler-esque controversy. Back in June 2008, ESPN columnist Jemele Hill was suspended by the network when she said rooting for the Boston Celtics "is like saying Hitler was a victim. It's like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan."

Sure, ESPN may have double standards in other areas, but they at least stay consistent when it comes to those invoking a mad man who looked to wipe out an entire race.

-Back in January 1992, the Twin Cities hosted Super Bowl XXVI. Part of the weekend's festivities was a venue called The NFL Experience, which took place at the Minneapolis Convention Center. As a bona fide NFL rube, I had to go check it out.

While there, I was waiting in line to get somebody's autograph (don't recall who) when I spotted a very attractive young lady who was an employee at the event. Now I wasn't exactly the smoothest talker back in the day, but I vowed to make a favorable impression this time around. As I was making small talk, I mentioned to this very nice young lady that I had already met Daryle LaMonica and got his autograph (she had ZERO clue who that was). Then in an uncharacteristically whimsical move, I asked her for an autograph. With a cute smile, she signed the the poster I had. I actually was able to read the name ("Wow, she has nice penmanship," I thought to myself).

As we continued the pleasant conversation, I decided to ask where she lived. "Andover," she replied. Then all my hard work was destroyed when I attempted to be funny (once again, not my strong suit in the early '90s). "I'm sorry, did you say 'Bend Over?'" She then gave me a courtesy laugh and moved on to another part of the event. Yeah, I definitely put the "nova" (Spanish for "no go") in Casanova.

So what is the point of that story? Shortly after I met that young lady, I learned that her father was (and still is) a prominent local minister. And would you believe that just last week I met the aforementioned minister in person for the first time?! Yes, while I was chatting with this very kind and compassionate man of God, I couldn't help but think how much of an arse I made of myself when meeting his lovely daughter 19-1/2 years earlier.

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I'll be glad to explain it if it's too hard to comprehend.....

2011-10-02T11:24:00.002-05:00

The Closer has returned!! Yes, as much as I tried to reinvent the program, the calls for The Closer have been loud and clear, so that remains the name of my weekly radio show. I guess it still works in that I'm closing out the weekend's Northern Alliance Radio Network broadcasts.

Anyhow, I'll be on the air this evening from 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central time on Twin Cities station AM 1280 The Patriot.

Amongst the topics we'll discuss is the continued obsession with New Jersey governor Chris Christie on whether or not he'll enter the GOP Presidential fray despite his saying "NO" at every turn. We'll also review Sarah Palin's announcement yesterday on her decision.....wait, WHAT?!?! Palin didn't make known her 2012 plans?!?! I thought October 1 was the "drop dead" date. Huh.

In the second segment, Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries will join us via phone to promote the "Understanding the Times Conference", which will take place October 7-8. Jan has been a staple with the Salem broadcasting family, as her long running Saturday show "Understanding the Times" (heard 9-11 a.m. on WWTC and KKMS) has been running for nearly ten years.

Finally, our guest intensive show will wrap up with an appearance (via phone) by Ali A. Akbar. Ali is a conservative activist who gained much notoriety for his open letter to Oscar winning actor Morgan Freeman shortly after Freeman declared the Tea Party as "racist."

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Box score of the week

2011-09-30T06:03:00.003-05:00

In 1984, the eventual World Series champion Detroit Tigers hosted the New York Yankees in a late September game.

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With this Tigers victory over the Yankees, manager Sparky Anderson became the first manager in MLB history to guide both a National League team (Cincinnati Reds) and American League team to 100 victories in a season.

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Quick Hits: Volume XXXVIII

2011-09-29T00:03:00.001-05:00

-To be perfectly honest, I'm not really all that interested in recounting actor Morgan Freeman's labeling the Tea Party as racists. It's become rather tedious pointing out how Hollywood leftists and mainstream media types regularly slander those who are right of center for merely exercising their first amendment rights.

But political activist Ali A. Akbar was not willing to let Freeman off the hook. Going under the logical assumption that the Oscar winning actor had never attended a Tea Party rally, Akbar looked to remedy that.

An excerpt:

I’ve attended dozens of tea party events. I’ve helped organize them, and I’ve even spoken at a few. The tea party is not what is often depicted in the news. It is people of all colors who are terribly concerned about the direction that America is heading. We don’t trust big government to make decisions for us. And we fear that the present administration’s spending is going to lead our country down a path to insolvency, much like what Greece is currently facing.

Your comments about the tea party have caused me physical pain. You’ve rekindled the old painful paradigm of Uncle Tom – that any black man who votes Republican is some kind of sellout. It’s not true. I work hard, pay my taxes, love Jesus, and I’m good to my family and community. In effect, your comments have stereotyped an entire group of people. And I know in my soul that you must regret that on some level.

By all means, read the whole thing.

-By now, everyone has heard of the disaster that was Solyndra, the solar energy company which pestered the US Government for $535 million in tax payer money, only to go belly up in a couple of years.

Recently it was revealed that, in addition to a new building which looked like the Taj Mahal, Solyndra also had robots that whistled Disney tunes!

All I want to know is when does the liquidation sale take place?!?!

-On September 3, the Boston Red Sox had a 9-1/2 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League wild-card spot. On September 6, the Atlanta Braves were 8-1/2 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League wild-card spot.

Inexplicably, both wild-card races were tied going into Wednesday evening. In an epic final day of the Major League Baseball regular season, both the Red Sox and Braves blew ninth inning leads, with the Sox falling to the Orioles (who scored two runs in the ninth to win 4-3) and the Braves eventually succumbing to the Phillies 4-3 in 13 innings. Meanwhile, the Rays were down 7-0 to the New York Yankees but scored six runs in the 8th inning and one run in the 9th to tie the game and eventually win it in 12 with an Evan Longoria walk-off home run. Over in the NL, the Cardinals routed the Houston Astros.

To summarize: Rays in. Cards in. Red Sox and Braves, unable to administer the Heimlich maneuver, have the dubious of honor of sharing the most stunning collapse in the wild-card era, which began in 1994.

As one Sox fan noted on Twitter Wednesday evening, "get ready for another 86 years." Ouch.

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About that bandwagon invitation

2011-09-26T22:13:00.007-05:00

For those who know me (or may have read this blog for any extended period), you know I am a long-suffering fan of the Minnesota Vikings. My earliest recollection of Vikings football was Fran Tarkenton's final season in 1978, which would mean I've endured 33 (soon to be 34) full seasons of my favorite NFL squad not winning a Super Bowl.

Add to that the fact my father and his three siblings were all born and raised in Wisconsin. As one can imagine, I receive an incessant amount of ribbing from Dad's side of the family because of their allegiance to the Green Bay Packers. Plus, my paternal grandmother is one of fifteen kids, most of whom still live in the same small town in Northwest Wisconsin. That means I have literally scores of relatives who are Wisconsin natives and thus still love their Pack. So whenever there is a family function, I am the proverbial whipping boy. I mean, seriously, what defense do I have against a team who is the reigning Super Bowl champion? I'm pretty much left to grin and bear it.

Even though my Vikings have a rather bleak product on the football field right now, the issue is further compounded by the fact they may not even be in Minnesota much longer, given the uncertainty surrounding a new stadium. Armed with that knowledge, Packer fan friends and relatives are constantly reminding me that there is room on the Packers bandwagon. While I certainly respect the Packers' rich history as well as the present day version that has the potential to be a dynasty, could I actually make such a drastic change as a sports fan?

Not. A. Chance.

Think about it. Does that really seem like a bold move, to hop on the bandwagon of a team at the height of its success? Does that really show any conviction of character? Even if the Vikings do relocate to Los Angeles, I just don't see myself ever donning a block of cheese on my head. Sure, I'll still be an NFL fan without a pro team in Minnesota just like I was an avid NBA rube before there was ever a franchise in the Twin Cities (Some would argue there still isn't one, but that's another story).

I am genuinely happy for my Packer fan peeps who experience the sheer joy of a model NFL franchise. You can also count on me to remain a loyal friend or a loving relative to you. But I will never root for your club.

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Desperation sets in

2011-09-26T00:01:00.002-05:00

President Barack Obama is a failure.

I know. You know it. And the American people know it (h/t Bob Dole).

The unmitigated disaster known as "Obamacare" (of which the major provisions do not even kick in until 2014) is already wreaking havoc, resulting in increasing insurance costs. And the "Recovery Summer", which was supposed to occur 18 months after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law in early 2009, did not occur either of the past two summers. Combine that with the fact that he's been sharply rebuked by voters in November 2009 (GOP candidates defeating Democrats in NJ and VA gubernatorial races), January 2010 (Republican Scott Brown winning the MA Senate seat occupied by a Kennedy or Kennedy family flunky since 1952), November 2010 (A gain of 63 House seats and 6 Senate seats for the GOP) and earlier this month in a special election in New York CD 9 (Bob Turner becoming first Republican to win there since 1923), it's not difficult to fathom that the incumbent President has become desperate.

ABC TV White House Correspondent Jake Tapper was out on the West Coast Sunday covering the President's appearance at a fundraiser. Per Tapper's Twitter feed, here are some of the gems offered up by Obama:

POTUS at fundraiser hits Perry as "a governor whose state is on fire denying climate change."

Ah yes. Demagoguery. Quite possibly the last refuge for a politician who can fall back on zero legislative accomplishments. And never mind the dubious nature of such an asinine claim. After all, there's an election at stake here. Money needs to be raised.

"....audiences cheering at the prospect of somebody dying because they don't have health care and booing a service member in Iraq because they're gay. That's not reflective of who we are."

You're right, Mr. President. A handful of jackwagons in a crowd of hundreds of people is not reflective of who we are. Neither is a union leader calling his political opponents SOBs and then saying they should be "taken out". But hey, I understand. It's not up to you to condemn every individual who makes such inflammatory remarks. I mean, it's not like the aforementioned union leader said such things at an event where you were present. Oh, wait. YES HE DID!!!! Naturally, your gutless administration declined to comment when asked for a reaction.

"This is a choice about the fundamental direction of our country. 2008 was an important direction. 2012 is a more important election."

That's spot on, Mr. President. Your defeat may finally yield that "Recovery Summer", albeit 26 months later than you had originally anticipated.

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The highest cost of livin's dyin', that's one everybody pays....

2011-09-25T12:56:00.004-05:00

The Sunday edition of the Northern Alliance Radio Network will take place TONIGHT from 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central time on Twin Cities station AM 1280 The Patriot.

I want to start out discussing the rather harrowing story of a Florida couple who won a lawsuit due to the "wrongful birth" of their son. That's right. Wrongful birth.

We may also take a look back at Thursday's GOP Presidential debate and how Rick Perry and Mitt Romney may have hindered their status as frontrunners.

And in the final two segments, I will welcome great baseball mind Corey Ettinger, who will discuss the collapse of the Minnesota Twins and what they have to do for 2012 to become relevant once more. Also, Corey and I both saw the movie Moneyball this past weekend, so we'll discuss the authenticity of said film as well as the entertainment value.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

--------------------------------------------

Box score of the week

2011-09-23T05:43:00.002-05:00

Let us go back to the final week of the 1982 season when my Minnesota Twins traveled to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays.

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Having been defeated by the Toronto Blue Jays in the final week of the 1982 season, the Twins lost their 100th game that season, marking the first time in franchise history they reached triple digits in the loss column.

For the 2011 campaign, it appears it's merely a matter of when the Twins will clinch their second 100 loss season.

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Priceless in God's eyes

2011-09-21T05:35:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Acts 10:34, which states "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." What that basically means is God does not show favoritism towards any individual and that He loves us all equally, regardless if we're a vile sinner or the pastor of a church who has led hundreds of thousands to salvation.

While I am not a Dad myself, it's been conveyed to me by those who are parents that they garner at least an infinitesimal understanding of what God's love means. That is, the birth of their children triggers such an overwhelming and unconditional love that they would literally lay down their own lives for the sake of their child. Sure, parents of disabled kids may bear an extra physical (and, at times, emotional) burden, but many of those moms and dads will never question the cost.

I guess that's why I was quite taken aback by a Florida couple who claims they would have aborted their child had they known of his impending disabilities.

Many times, “wrongful death” is at the root cause of a lawsuit, but what happens in the case of a “wrongful birth” charge?

In West Palm Beach, Florida, a couple sued a doctor and an ultrasound technician for negligence. The two claimed that they would have aborted their son, who was born with no arms and only one leg, had they known about his disabilities beforehand. PalmBeachPost.com’s Jane Musgrave writes:

[The parents] claimed they would have never have brought Bryan into the world had they known about his horrific disabilities. Had Morel and technicians at OB/GYN Specialists of the Palm Beaches and Perinatal Specialists of the Palm Beaches properly administered two ultrasounds and seen he was missing three limbs, the West Palm Beach couple said they would have terminated the pregnancy.

As a result of what some are calling a “wrongful birth,” (I'm sorry, but wrongful BIRTH?!?! I don't think even the pro-choice movement could have envisioned the giving of life as being a crime - ed.) Ana Mejia and Rodolfo Santana sued Dr. Marie Morel and an ultrasound technician for $9 million — a figure that was estimated to cover the child’s expenses for the next 70 years.

The couple believe that the doctor and his staff member should have noticed the baby’s issues before he was born. For what was apparently seen as a failure to properly read sonograms, a jury comprised of four men and two women sided with the couple, holding the doctor 85 percent negligent and the technician 15 percent negligent.

While the couple didn’t win the fill amount they wanted, they walked away with $4.5 million — half of the figure that was originally requested. Feeling overjoyed, they explained that the award would greatly assist their son Bryan.

I just pray to God that somehow Bryan is sheltered from this whole episode once he is old enough to understand life's complexities. Essentially he'd be under the impression that he wasn't wanted, but since he was used as prop to obtain a huge pay day, he'll now be showered with love and affection.

Of course the comeback would be that it's easy for me to be outraged, in that I don't have to bear the extra financial burden in raising a handicapped child. Fair enough. But I guarantee if that little boy were surrendered upon birth, some compassionate couple who aspired to be parents would snap him up in a heartbeat. In fact, Florida has a safe haven law, which allows for a mother/father to bring their newborn infant up to 7 days of age to any 24 hour staffed Fire or EMS Station or Hospital as a "Safe Haven" and remain completely anonymous. No questions asked, no law enforcement notified.

I am certainly grateful for Bryan's sake that he was given life and thus has the opportunity to defy all sorts of doubts and low expectations regarding his existence in this world. I just hope Bryan's parents one day acknowledge that his being spared death was a blessing for much, much more than what it brought financially.

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Quick Hits: Volume XXXVII (President Obama edition)

2011-09-20T05:14:00.002-05:00

-Giving another clear indication he is devoid of ideas, President Barack Obama unveiled yet another debt plan which involves increasing taxes on "the rich." This is a tired old strategy where class warfare is always the safety net for a failing Presidency. As Rep. Paul Ryan said Monday, such a strategy may make for good politics but rotten economics.

This time though, the Democrats promise support of future cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. But as sure as one can utter the name Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, the Republicans ought to know better than to fall for the "promise" of spending cuts. It's just not in the Democrats' DNA.

So unless the President's so-called "Buffett Rule" involves some sort of tax breaks for business conducted in Margaritaville, it just sounds like the same old failed economic policies which have hampered the country at every turn.

By the way, Obama has been squawking about "fairness" since he was on the campaign trail in 2007. Once inaugurated President in January 2009, he essentially had carte blanche with a majority in the House and, for a time, a super majority in the Senate the first year or two of his Presidency. Why not push such tax hikes through at that particular juncture? He no doubt had more than enough votes. I believe I know the answer, but I'm opening the floor for additional speculation.

-There's never been a lot of popular sentiment for raising taxes in a recession. In fact, a liberal Democrat President once made the following statement:

The last thing you want to do is to raise taxes in the middle of a recession because that would just suck up — take more demand out of the economy and put businesses in a further hole.

So who were you thinking? Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s? Bill Clinton in the '90s?

No, that quote came from the White House's current occupant a little more than two years ago. It was also Obama who, in the Summer of 2008, called it "unpatriotic" to add $4 trillion to our National Debt-----something he also has done in the first thirty months of his first term.

It would seem to me that there is not a more harsh (or effective) critic of President Obama than Obama himself.

-There's been faint speculation for some time that President Obama may receive a primary challenge for the 2012 Presidential election. Even more interesting is the possibility that Democrat party bosses could go so far as to ask Obama to step aside altogether, thus promoting a different candidate.

Then on Sunday, I saw a compelling case on why Obama should indeed withdraw. I guess that wouldn't be a big deal if said article originated in such right wing sites as National Review, Townhall or Hot Air.

But would you believe the Obama withdrawal plea was laid out in the Chicago Tribune?!?!?!

I don't know why, but the phrase "crapped the bed" suddenly leaped to my mind.

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If it were easy as fishin', you could be a musician....

2011-09-18T08:54:00.001-05:00

As I make my reappearance this evening on the Northern Alliance Radio Network, it will have been exactly 36 days since I was last in the Patriot bunker. Yes, this evening from 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central time, the reincarnation of The Closer (now known as The Brad-cast) will take place on AM 1280 The Patriot.

And what a news week it has been, as my Congresswoman Michele Bachmann made hay in the CNN/Tea Party debate last Monday as well as post-debate in her attacks on GOP nominee leader Rick Perry. Did she really kill all of the momentum she obtained during the debate?

Meanwhile, last Tuesday, the citizens residing in New York Congressional district nine elected to the US House Bob Turner, the first Republican in nearly ninety years to occupy that seat. Is this yet another rebuke of the Obama presidency? It would appear so.

I'll then kick it into overdrive as I discuss the seemingly desperate Obama administration and their attempts to get into a solid position for reelection. Specifically, we'll check out some of the tactics they've undertaken to try to hammer home the same message which has been rejected over and over and over again.

So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Box score of the week

2011-09-16T06:18:00.003-05:00

The Texas Rangers traveled to Cleveland's Municipal Stadium (aka The Mistake by the Lake) to take on the Indians - May 26, 1993.

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Prayers for the Abeler family

2011-09-15T21:31:00.003-05:00

I was shocked and saddened to learn that my State Representative Jim Abeler lost one of his six sons Wednesday evening.

A statement from Jim himself:

So sad to let you know that our 22 year-old son Josiah passed away last night due to a seizure while he slept. We are shocked yet mostly peaceful, though we miss him terribly already. He was a senior business major at Bethel and enjoyed his work at Costco. We would appreciate your prayers as we ask the Lord to strengthen us and all those who were touched by him. And thanks to the many who have already reached out. It means a lot.

I ask that you join me in prayers for the Abeler family over their loss. I pray they receive peace and comfort which will transcend all understanding.

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The referendum contiues

2011-09-14T06:02:00.004-05:00

On November 3, 2009, Republicans Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell were elected as governors of New Jersey and Virginia, respectively. A couple of months later, Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown shocked the world by winning a special election for the US Senate seat occupied by a Kennedy or Kennedy family flunky since the 1950s.

And of course who could forget this past November when the GOP gained 63 seats in the US House (thus reassuming the majority) and six seats in the Senate?

Last evening, yet another resounding message was sent.

With the outcome of his own reelection effort 14 difficult months away, President Obama suffered a sharp rebuke Tuesday when voters in New York elected a conservative Republican to represent a Democratic district that has not been in GOP hands since the 1920s.

Bob Turner, the winner, cast the election as a referendum on Obama’s stewardship of the economy and, in the state’s Ninth Congressional District, which has a large population of Orthodox Jewish voters, the president’s position on Israel.

With 75 percent of the precincts reporting at press time, Turner had a commanding lead, with 53 percent of the vote, compared with 47 percent for Weprin.

Turner, 70, a retired cable TV executive who has never served in elective office, defeated Democratic State Assemblyman David Weprin, 55, who has two decades of experience in public service, to fill the seat left vacant when Anthony Weiner (D) resigned in disgrace in June after more than 12 years in the House.

The defeat came as Republicans trounced Democrats in another special House election Tuesday, in northern Nevada, where Republican Mark Amodei led Democrat Kate Marshall, 56 percent to 39 percent almost from the start.

In both contests, the GOP pulled ahead by linking the Democratic candidate to Obama and his handling of the economy. Both Republican contenders urged voters to “send a message” to the president.

The race in New York was especially stunning when you consider a Republican had not occupied that particular Congressional seat since March of 1923.

To put that in historical perspective, I have compiled a list entitled "The last time NY-09 was represented by a Republican......"

Warren G. Harding was President.
The Green Bay Packers had yet to win a world championship.
The New York Yankees had yet to win a World Series.
Legendary Yankees catcher Yogi Berra was not yet born.
The original Yankee Stadium was in the process of being built.
There were a mere 18 NFL teams.
There had yet to be a transatlantic flight.
There was no such thing as a transatlantic phone call.
"The New Yorker" did not exist.
Hitler's "Mein Kampf" had not been published yet.
The F. Scott Fitzgerald classic "The Great Gatsby" had not been published yet.
The Chrysler Corp. had not been founded yet.
President Barack Obama's maternal grandmother was less than a year old.
Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush weren't even born yet.
Ronald Reagan was a sixth grader.

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Debate post mortem

2011-09-13T06:06:00.002-05:00

Some general thoughts in the aftermath of Monday evening's CNN/Tea Party Presidential debate from Tampa, FL.

-As expected, Texas governor (and solid leader in the polls) Rick Perry was targeted by several of the GOP candidates over such issues as his executive order for mandatory Gardasil vaccinations for young girls to the Texas DREAM Act to his referring to Social Security as a "Ponzi scheme."

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, whose standing among Republicans has slipped dramatically since Perry entered the race, said she was "offended" by Perry's executive order, which included an opt-out provision for parents who did not want the vaccine.

"To have innocent little 12 year old girls to be forced to have government injections through an executive order is just flat-out wrong," Bachmann said.

Good point by Bachmann, but I felt she overreached when she implied Perry's motivations for specifically using Gardasil was because he received campaign contributions from the drug's manufacturer Merck Co. Of the $30 million Perry has raised in campaigning for Governor, a mere $5,000 came from Merck.

Perry was also attacked by his opponents for signing the Texas DREAM Act in 2001, which granted in-state tuition to some children of illegal immigrants.

And former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney chided Perry for referring to Social Security as a "Ponzi scheme" and vowed to protect the program. Romney called such language "over the top" and said that Perry wrote in his book "Fed Up!" that the entitlement program is unconstitutional.

Perry said Romney is trying to "scare" seniors who rely on the federal program.

When Romney persisted on the constitutionality question, Perry said the nation needed to have a serious conversation on the issue, which prompted Romney to cut him off by saying "we're having that conversation right now, governor."

And it's a good thing we're having this conversation. Nevertheless, I felt it was futile for the other GOP candidates to attack Perry on this issue since he's lost no traction in the polls once more of the electorate became aware of the "Ponzi scheme" statement. And for folks my age, it's hardly a revelation that the money we're currently contributing to Social Security will not be there for us in 30+ years.

-If Ron Paul were a legitimate candidate, last night's performance would have effectively ended his candidacy. Essentially saying America invited the the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks a mere one day after the event's 10th anniversary ensured that Paul will fade into oblivion within the next 4-5 months. It's a shame, since he seems to have excellent insights on the domestic issues, but they get overshadowed by his loony foreign policy stance. Ann Coulter had a great line via Twitter when she said Paul "is so good when he's not talking about legalizing drugs or unilateral surrender." Also via Twitter, Michelle Malkin topped it off by saying "Just when you think no one could out-assclown Paul Krugman, Ron Paul comes through."

-The evening ended on a lighter note with moderator Wolf Blitzer (who was great leading the festivities, as was CNN as a whole) asking "What would you add to the White House if you were to move in?" Upon that question being posed, GOProud co-founder Jimmy LaSalvia stated "OK now I know it's a gay in charge of this debate."

But seriously, some of the answers included the following:

Rick Santorum: He'd bring his seven children and "add a big room."

Newt Gingrich would "kick out all the White House czars" and bring music, ballet, chess and his grandkids to the White House.

Paul: "A bushel basket full of common sense."

Perry: "The most beautiful, most thoughtful first lady," his wife, Anita.

Romney: A bust of Winston Churchill.

Bachmann: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Herman Cain: "A sense of humor ... America is too uptight."

Jon Huntsman: "My Harley-Davidson motorcycle" and his moto-cross bike.

According to the calendar, Summer is coming to an end. But as we ease closer to primary season, it's very evident by the tone in Monday's debate that the GOP race is heating up.

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In it to win it

2011-09-12T06:11:00.003-05:00

As I write this, the race for the GOP nomination for President appears to be a two person contest between Texas governor Rick Perry and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

If pressed, I could tell you which candidate I prefer to emerge from the current crop of Republicans looking to oppose President Barack Obama in 2012. But regardless if it's Perry, Romney, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul (HAHAHAHA!!! Yeah, right. - ed.), Herman Cain or Jon Huntsman who secures the nomination, my greater focus is ensuring Obama's defeat. After all, what is the goal for any candidate who takes on the President in next year's general election? Duh, winning!!

Given the social networking vibe amongst the right, I'm finding diverse opinions on who should oppose Obama. Some would argue that the likes of Bachmann and Paul would be the most ideologically pure, and thus we should be as true as possible to the Republican party principles. However, many others strenuously object to such candidates, feeling that they lack any mainstream appeal. That's where it would appear moderates like Romney, Perry or Huntsman would have an advantage due owning the executive experience which others lack.

My pal Katie Kieffer wrote an intriguing piece last week, challenging the narratives that certain lower tier candidates are "unelectable."

Even well-meaning conservatives fall prey to regurgitating the mainstream media’s mantra. For instance, a successful entrepreneur told me that he “likes Paul” but thinks he’s unelectable because he’s too “quirky.” I recently met a businessman who said, “You know, I agree with everything Bachmann says, but she’s not electable. There’s no way she can win.” Another conservative told me, “I agree with everything Bachmann says, but there’s something about her. I don’t know what it is, she just seems un-presidential.”

In this country, citizens have the right to vote for whomever they like based on whatever reasoning or logic they desire (That's not always a good thing but hey, welcome to a representative republic with democratic processes). We need to look no further than the 2008 election of Obama. I heard very little (if any) substantive reasons why people cast a vote for him. The prevailing sentiments for voting for a glorified community organizer was due to his being articulate or that he gave inspirational messages of "hope" or how it was high time our supposedly progressive country elected a minority to its highest office.

Like I alluded to earlier, the #1 goal for the political right in 2012 is ousting the incumbent President. That isn't going to happen without some independent voters throwing their support behind the GOP nominee, especially since Obama garnered the majority of votes from said demographic in '08.

So does one really believe that independents would vote for Bachmann or Paul over Obama? Early polling data would indicate that it's not likely. Regardless, I sincerely believe that any of the current crop of GOP candidates (yes, even Huntsman) would make a better President than the White House's current occupant.

With that, I have but one message for the GOP candidates: Just give me something I can use.

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It happened ten years ago today

2011-09-11T06:12:00.001-05:00

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Ridin' the range once more, totin' my old .44 (UPDATE: Time change)

2011-09-09T11:59:00.005-05:00

After a brief hiatus, I will resume my weekly radio show on Twin Cities' station AM 1280 The Patriot! My show will air every Sunday (beginning September 18th) from 4:00 pm until 5:00 Central time.

With this change I will be replacing the old programming in that one-hour time slot, which currently is a replay of a prior-week airing of The Dennis Miller Show. Heck, usurping even an encore presentation of the great Dennis Miller is a lot to live up to. I'm thinking I may have to ease the transition by emitting a visceral rant or two containing words and cultural references which may require annotations.

For example, I can talk about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and how if it’s possible to make Mr. Limpet sound like Demosthenes, Reid does it every time he opens his ashen piehole and haltingly forces out that tremulous pale-gray oratory that sounds like it’s oozing from a stuck caulking gun.

I can also opine on the ever-increasing possibility that national Democrat leadership may encourage a primary challenge to incumbent President Barack Obama. One should know by now never to underestimate someone like a Hillary Clinton since she's a lot like the Glenn Close character in Fatal Attraction, in that you better hold her under water for the extra breath or she's coming up with a Ginsu.

Meh. I think I'll stick with my own vibe.....whatever that may be.

UPDATE: Turns out I will be on the air from 6:00 pm until 7:00 Central time.

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Box score of the week

2011-09-09T08:45:00.004-05:00

In the first game of a July 2002 doubleheader, the Boston Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays.

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Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra celebrated turning 29 by hitting three home runs this game, thus becoming the first (and still only) MLB player to hit three round trippers on his birthday.

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Quick Hits: Volume XXXVI

2011-09-06T20:10:00.004-05:00

-Given how the internet lit up like a pinball machine after a speech given by Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. in Detroit Sunday, I'm sure there are few who are unaware of the money quote (emphasis mine).

“We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers. And you see it everywhere, it is the Tea Party. And you know, there is only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what? They’ve got a war, they got a war with us and there’s only going to be one winner. It’s going to be the workers of Michigan, and America. We’re going to win that war,” Hoffa told thousands of workers gathered for the annual Labor Day rally.

“President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march… Everybody here’s got a vote…Let’s take these sons of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong,” he concluded.

The most disappointing aspect is, as of Sunday evening, the White House declined comment.

I don't know the exact percentage, but I would say a fair amount of voters who call themselves Republicans are aligned with the Tea Party's belief of less government spending, less taxes and less government interference in our lives. As such, Hoffa's remarks were aimed at a significant portion of the American people. Mr. President, I may not support any of your policies and will work vehemently to ensure your defeat in next year's presidential election. But was I naive to take you at your word on Election Night 2008, when you said the following in your victory speech:

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

Well as my President, I would appreciate you not falling back on the same partisanship by allowing such thuggish rhetoric to go on without condemnation.

-Speaking of the President, it's fairly obvious to me the only job he's concerned about is his own. Nevertheless, he plans on going forth with the charade of unveiling his "jobs package" Thursday before a joint session of Congress.

Perhaps President Obama would be wise to heed the advice of those who, you know, have working knowledge in that area.

John Schiller, chairman and CEO of Energy XXI, said "if the government would get out of the way, from a regulation standpoint, and let us [XXI] do what we do good you'll see us continue to hire and grow this economy."

"I think that's a message from across the board," said Schiller.

Jon Faraci, CEO of International Paper, told CNBC "to create jobs what we need is demand. This economy is 70 percent consumer driven, so we need consumers spending some of their discretionary income if we're going to have demand that's gong to lead to more jobs. If we get demand, we’ll put more shifts on, our employees will be working more hours, and we’ll hire more people. Without demand we can have all the certainty in the world and all the clarity about regulation, but to me it’s not so much about confidence as it is about demand," explained Faraci.

Seriously, Mr. President, no one will be all that offended if you go ahead and scuttle your planned Thursday night speech. Besides, it'll give that much more time to prepare to watch the NFL team of which you are now a shareholder.

-If there's any wondering why the United States Postal Services faces possible default on a $5.5 billion trust fund payment, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) may have offered a helpful hint.

Labor represents 80 percent of the agency’s expenses, compared with 53 percent at UPS and 32 percent at FedEx

I wonder what kind of ruckus would ensue if the Postal Workers Union members were asked to contribute more to their benefits (i.e. health insurance, retirement, etc.), thus taking a step to prevent their employer's bankruptcy?

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For you viewing pleasure

2011-09-03T22:53:00.006-05:00

As many of you know, I had the opportunity to be a part of four different radio broadcasts live from the Minnesota State Fair. In two of said broadcasts, I had the honor of working with prominent national blogger Ed Morrissey, who aired our work over the internet via USTREAM.

On opening day of the fair, Ed & I delve into a variety of topics, including the latest on the crop of GOP Presidential candidates.

On Monday, August 29, the highlight had to be my being tricked into eating the "Macho Man" chocolate covered jalapenos on a stick (51:58 into this clip). I was told I would be partaking in the "Senor Timido" brand, which is milder. However, the "milder" version still had me feeling like I was on fire, so I pretty much bailed on the final minute of the first hour's final segment, desperately trying to procure a cool beverage. It was revealed to me in the beginning of the second hour that all the chocolate covered jalapenos are of the "Macho Man" ilk.

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Rough Waters

2011-09-03T13:14:00.004-05:00

Extortion [ik-stawr-shuhn] noun
1. an act or instance of extorting.
2. Law. the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.
3. oppressive or illegal exaction, as of excessive price or interest

It's rather difficult to conjure up any other term than "extortion" when listening to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) demand that some banks change the way they do business.

At a Town Hall event in Los Angeles, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) said the president should use the bully pulpit to, "bring the gangstas in, put them around the table and let them know that if they don't come up with loan modifications and keep people in their homes, that they've worked so hard for, we're gonna tax them out of business."

One would think it would behoove the banks to modify loans when homeowners run in to an unexpected financial crisis, and thus be in a position to miss mortgage payments. The last thing banks want is to stockpile an inventory of foreclosed houses. But for a member of the Federal government's legislative branch to suggest that private business acquiesce to their demands or face financial ruin?

Words fail.

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Box score of the week

2011-09-02T06:09:00.001-05:00

The Los Angeles Dodgers visit Cincinnati to take on the Reds the opening week of the 1989 regular season.

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In 1988, Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser set an all-time record with 59-1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, breaking the mark of 58 held by former Dodger great Don Drysdale. Because Hershiser finished the '88 season with that streak intact, it carried over to the '89 campaign. In his first start that year (the game referenced above), he recorded the first two outs of the game (pushing his overall streak to 60 innings) before allowing a run.

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Handle with care

2011-08-31T22:05:00.005-05:00

I think it goes without saying that I will never be accused of being an apologist for President Barack Obama. But I found it rather difficult to be overly critical of some of his high profile blunders during the first 2-1/2 years of his Presidency. Whether it was his unnecessary bowing to foreign leaders or mispronouncing Corpsman as "Corpse man" or continuing to blather on during God Save the Queen at Buckingham Palace, the President has had more than his fair share of embarrassing moments.

But I have to ask: Who is advising the President on such matters? The Commander in Chief has tremendous responsibilities in being leader of the free world that he hasn't the time to be micro-managing his administration. As such, people in such elite positions require a staff which can advise him on matters of decorum amongst foreign leaders as well as maintaining a tight schedule.

Which brings us to the latest mishap of the Obama administration.

In a bold masterstroke of bipartisanship, Barack Obama today decided the perfect occasion for his so-called "long-awaited" jobs speech would be at the exact same time next Wednesday the GOP has a long-scheduled presidential debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA.

Does a man languishing in the polls at 38% really believe the nation is calling for more of this childishness from him?

President Barack Obama will make his long-awaited speech about jobs Wednesday night to a joint session of Congress at the same time that the Republican presidential candidates are scheduled to debate at the Reagan Presidential Library in California.

Perhaps by "long-awaited" they're thinking of the promise made by Obama on August 29, 2010 when he said he'd have a jobs plan when he returned from Martha's Vineyard.

The media immediately seized upon this announcement today by implying the speech was set in stone, but Obama needs approval from House Speaker John Boehner, who should tell him where to go.

Naturally, the churlish Obama notified Boener just minutes before making the announcement public.

Boehner's office only got the Obama request asking for a Joint Session of Congress, 15 minutes before the notice went out to the press.

Of course, why afford Boehner the time to react when you can simply ambush him for cheap political gain?

Is it possible that the President was readily aware of the GOP debate scheduled next Wednesday? Sure. But with all that he has on his mind on a daily basis, it's also not a stretch to believe that he had no clue of the significance of September 7th. The bottom line is there are administration staffers who are paid to be politically astute so as to ensure the President of the United States is in a position to convey the utmost dignity. But as we've seen with the White House's current occupant, it's apparent that the staffers oftentimes have a rather unenviable task.

But I digress.

Within hours of announcing a September 7th date to speak in front of a joint session of Congress, the White House later relented and moved the speech to the following evening.

Uhhh, Perhaps Obama's handlers need a little more schooling on how to be culturally astute. You see, for the past several years, the second Thursday in September features the opening game of the NFL regular season. This year, said game happens to feature the two most recent Super Bowl champions in the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers.

As I write this, I have yet to hear if Governors Bobby Jindal (R-LA) and Scott Walker (R-WI) have strenuously objected to this newly scheduled speech and the possibility of it preempting the NFL opener featuring their hometown clubs.

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Nothin' but blues and Elvis, and somebody else's favorite song....

2011-08-30T11:20:00.001-05:00

This evening will mark the final broadcast for me personally from the 2011 Minnesota State Fair. From 5:00 pm until 7:00 central time, I will be on LIVE in what will be a solo endeavor. However, I'm told there is an off chance I'll have the privilege of being joined by nationally syndicated radio guy Michael Medved for a segment or two, as he will also be live today and tomorrow from 2-5!

As far as topics, who knows? Such things are always fluid.

If you happen to be out at the fair this evening, we have a new location! We're located on Machinery Hill, which is at the north end of the fairgrounds, specifically near the corner of Underwood Street & Murphy Avenue (see map here).

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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And all the beads we made by hand are nowadays made in Japan.....

2011-08-29T10:40:00.005-05:00

It looks like another glorious evening is in store in the Twin Cities as Ed Morrissey and I get set for another edition of the Northern Alliance Radio Network LIVE from the Minnesota State Fair. We'll be on from 5:00 pm until 7:00 Central Time, discussing a myriad of topics. This past weekend saw the escalation of Hurricane Irene on the east coast which, SURPRISE, is being politicized. We'll also discuss the flap regarding ESPN reprimanding golf commentator Paul Azinger over his skewering of President Obama.

And if all goes well, we may have a surprise special guest or two.

If you happen to be out at the fair this evening, we have a new location! We're located on Machinery Hill, which is at the north end of the fairgrounds, specifically near the corner of Underwood Street & Murphy Avenue (see map here).

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link. As a special added bonus, you can view the program via Ed's USTREAM channel!

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Rise up, gather round, rock this place to the ground....

2011-08-26T12:30:00.001-05:00

On a special edition of the Northern Alliance Radio Network, Mitch Berg and I will be broadcasting LIVE from the Minnesota State Fair. We will be on the air from 5:00 pm until 7:00 Central Time, featuring some prominent guests.

Right out of the chute at 5:06, Congressman John Kline (who represents Minnesota CD 2) will join the program for two segments. In the midst of his fifth term in the US House, the former Marine Corps colonel will discuss many of the pressing economic issues facing our nation and what lies ahead in the 2012 election season.

In the 6:00 hour, we will be joined by 18-year old Mary Zahurones, who was recently named the 58th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. No word on whether or not the butter sculpture will be accompanying her.

If you happen to be out at the fair this evening, we have a new location! We're located on Machinery Hill, which is at the north end of the fairgrounds, specifically near the corner of Underwood Street & Murphy Avenue (see map here).

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Box score of the week

2011-08-26T05:52:00.002-05:00

The Chicago White Sox hosted the Detroit Tigers on July 12, 1979.

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This game was scheduled to be the first of a twi-night doubleheader. After game one, the White Sox organization, along with Chicago radio station WLUP, put together a promotional event where fans would bring in a disco album in exchange for a 98 cents admission fee. The plan was to take all the disco albums, place them in a large crate in center field and have disc jockey Steve Dahl blow them up. This was in response to what Dahl sensed was an anti-disco backlash from listeners of his station. Hence, "Disco Demolition Night" was the name of the event.

However, several thousand fans (many were likely inebriated) proceeded to storm the field, wreaking all sorts of havoc. Because the crowd go so out of control, the second game of the doubleheader was unable to go on as scheduled, forcing the White Sox to forfeit, thus giving the win to the Tigers.

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Job's going fine and the bills are all paid, and everyone thinks that I'm doing OK.....

2011-08-25T09:00:00.001-05:00

Opening Day of the Minnesota State Fair always brings about a tremendous amount of hoopla, and this year is no different. Some combination of The Northern Alliance Radio Network will be LIVE at the fair every weeknight (except Labor Day) from 5:00 pm until 7:00 Central.

This evening, I am honored to share the airwaves with the indomitable Ed Morrissey. Ed is one of the nation's most respected bloggers as his numerous daily posts on Hot Air are quite often used as show prep for talk radio titan Rush Limbaugh. With that in mind, I'm not sure what I'll contribute to the broadcast, other than ensuring Ed has an ample supply of cheese curds.

If you happen to be out at the fair this evening, we have a new location! We're located on Machinery Hill, which is at the north end of the fairgrounds, specifically near the corner of Underwood Street & Murphy Avenue (see map here).

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link. As a special added bonus, you can view the program via Ed's USTREAM channel!

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Where credit is due.

2011-08-24T19:24:00.003-05:00

Look, I'm not such a blind partisan hack that I can't give props to a Democrat administration when said props are earned. The opposite is also true, in that I am not afraid to be critical of Republicans if indeed criticism is warranted.

With that in mind, I refer you back to a speech Barack Obama gave on the campaign trail back in the Summer of 2008.

The problem is, is that the way Bush has done it over the last eight years is to take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children, driving up our national debt from $5 trillion for the first 42 presidents – #43 added $4 trillion by his lonesome, so that we now have over $9 trillion of debt that we are going to have to pay back — $30,000 for every man, woman and child. That’s irresponsible. It’s unpatriotic.

Irresponsible? I'd be willing to go along with that. I've often expressed my dismay over President Bush's mantra of "Compassionate Conservatism" being nothing more than a euphemism for growing government. But unpatriotic?!?! A pretty strong charge, especially when leftists squealed like stuck pigs when they alleged that they themselves were called unpatriotic. Never mind that there was never any substantive proof of such charges, but that's neither here nor there.

My main point here is that President Obama has done in 2-1/2 years what his predecessor needed eight years to accomplish --- add $4 trillion to National Debt "by his lonesome." And as Ed Morrissey pointed out, deficit spending has increased 152% per month under President Obama. So by candidate Obama's standards, President Obama is 152% more unpatriotic than President George W. Bush.

So does that mean leftist kooks like Janeane Garofalo will retroactively refer to candidate Obama as a racist for insinuating that the first black President is even more "unpatriotic" than George Bush? Just a thought.

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Quick Hits: Volume XXXV

2011-08-23T19:24:00.003-05:00

-With Libyan rebel forces having overrun the city of Tripoli, it would appear that the 42-year reign of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi may be coming to an end. But even if Gadaffi's days are indeed numbered, this latest struggle serves to emphasize this is merely the end of the beginning.

On Monday, President Obama made a statement regarding the happenings in Libya. There were some aspects of the speech which sounded rather familiar (emphasis mine).

For over four decades, the Libyan people had lived under the rule of a tyrant who denied them their most basic human rights. Now the celebrations that we've seen in the streets of Libya show that the pursuit of human dignity is far stronger than any dictator.

I want to emphasize that this is not over yet. As the regime collapses, there's still fierce fighting in some areas, and we have reports of regime elements threatening to continue fighting. Although it's clear that Gadafy's rule is over, he still has the opportunity to reduce further bloodshed by explicitly relinquishing power to the people of Libya and calling for those forces that continue to fight to lay down their arms for the sake of Libya.

As we move forward from this pivotal phase, the opposition should continue to take important steps to bring about a transition that is peaceful, inclusive and just. As the leadership of the TNC has made clear, the rights of all Libyans must be respected. True justice will not come from reprisals and violence. It will come from reconciliation and a Libya that allows its citizens to determine their own destiny.

And to think, just three years ago we were given the impression by Obama and his supporters that "regime change" was soooooo 2003. Apparently it's all the rage once more.

-Vice President Joe Biden was in China recently giving a speech at Sichuan University on U.S.-China relations. Now it's one thing to be diplomatic when visiting a country where human rights policies aren't exactly aligned with the United States. But there was one sentence in Biden's speech which left many Americans stupefied.

Your policy has been one which I fully understand -- I’m not second-guessing -- of one child per family.

Uh, say, Mr. Vice President? You do realize how the Chinese government upholds said policy, don't you? Via forced abortion. And as someone who professes to be a Catholic, you're saying you understand that policy?!?! Do I have that right?

Having expressed even more incredulity, Townhall political editor Guy Benson went so far as to seek the official position of the Obama Administration on the issue.

The Obama Administration strongly opposes all aspects of China’s coercive birth limitation policies, including forced abortion and sterilization. The Vice President believes such practices are repugnant. He also pointed out, in China, that the policy is, as a practical matter, unsustainable. He was arguing against the One Child Policy to a Chinese audience.

Fair enough. But I fail to see how the VP's expressing his "understanding" of the policy would indicate he finds the enforcement of it "repugnant."

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Box score of the week

2011-08-19T05:34:00.001-05:00

April 27, 1971 - The Atlanta Braves hosted the San Francisco Giants.

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In this game, the Braves' Hank Aaron hit his 600th career home run. With slugger Willie Mays playing for the Giants, it marked the first time in MLB history where two players with at least 600 career home runs played in the same game.

If Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is activated from the DL and plays this weekend, he and the Twins' Jim Thome would be only the second pair of players with at least 600 homers each to participate in the same contest.

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Closing out "The Closer"

2011-08-18T20:28:00.004-05:00

As some of you may know, my Saturday radio show has been moved to Sundays, 2-3 pm Central on AM 1280 The Patriot.

I was informed earlier this week that Salem Broadcasting sold the 3:00 hour on Saturdays, something that did not come as a surprise at all. Back in mid-May, when I was initially offered the show, I was told by the Operations Manager that the goal was to have original programming on Sundays. However, I was allowed to hitch my wagon to the Northern Alliance Radio Network every Saturday until someone offered to pony up for the 3-4 pm time slot. As a result, the final installment of The Closer took place last weekend.

Since I will now be the only live NARN program on Sundays, it doesn't make a lot of sense to continue under the same show name. Since I'm probably one of the more uncreative people I know, I was simply going to call my new gig The Brad Carlson broadcast, in the motif of my equally unoriginal blog title. But thanks to my Facebook friends, specifically Nancy LaRoche of Freedom Dogs, a new title of the show has been selected. So on Sunday, September 11 (wonder what I'll talk about that day), "The Brad-cast" will make its debut!

In the interim, I will be making four weeknight appearances at the Minnesota State Fair starting next week. I will be on 5-7 pm on Thursday, August 25 thru Tuesday, August 30, with the weekends off. Be sure to stop by and say "hi!"

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Perry-palooza (UPDATE: Schultz issues mea culpa)

2011-08-16T21:25:00.002-05:00

It was only a matter of time before the MSNBC kooks would get the vapors over another Texas governor running for President (Dang, I wish Olbermann was still on the network).

On Ed Schultz's MSNBC program Monday, selectively edited video footage of Rick Perry giving a stump speech was used to give the impression he was conveying a racist statement.

Not to be outdone, Chris Matthews on Tuesday referred to Perry as "Bull Connor with a smile."

I never thought I'd see the day where a prospective GOP Presidential candidate could induce more lunacy than what Sarah Palin has endured since 2008. And this is only Day THREE of Perry's campaign.

UPDATE: “We did not present the full context of those statements and we should have,” Schultz said, then replaying the full Perry quote that made it clear the “big black cloud” Perry was referring to is the U.S. debt, and not President Obama, as Schultz maintained Monday. “No doubt about it, it was a mistake and we regret the error … we should not have included it in our coverage.”

Ya think?!?!?!

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