Box score of the week

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

-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

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

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....

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.....

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Box score of the week

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

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)

-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....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-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

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

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

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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