Earlier this week I was considering my thoughts on all of these birther issues being raised by Donald Trump and others. It is interesting now in retrospect, after the President has released his certificate, that it appears it was Donald Trump and his antagonism that finally pushed Obama to do this.
If someone had a legitimate concern about where he was born then I guess it is fine to ask. I would like to think that if anybody ran for President with a foreign sounding European name that the same questions would be asked but I also think that we are naive if we think that would happen.
Barack Obama is different. He is the first African American President and truthfully it might be a long time before there is another one. A confluence of events occurred to put him in the white house that was unprecedented and truthfully unexpected.
The question is though is there something more. The truth is that since Bill Clinton was elected extending through GW Bush and now Obama we have not had another President that the opposing party truly honored and did not try to delegitimize Clinton did not win a majority and then he was not honorable, Bush stole the election and then governed like he won in a landslide and Obama, well lets just say he is not like the typical President.
What makes it different. Is it talk radio. With the 24 hour news cycle and the age of opinion rather than factual radio it is surely true that we are much more polarized. Our Congress does not need to work together and in fact are often punished when they are seen as working with the enemy. It was not so long ago that the opposing party members were considered colleagues and not enemies.
We cannot go back and it is unlikely that we will. It is good that the President settled this issue. The problem is that still, many who doubted his legitimacy will still find ways to do so. The President could learn from this the same lessons that he should have learned from his previous attempts at negotiations with the right, they will not work with him. If it his idea, even if it was thier idea the day before, then it is a bad idea.
If there is a center in politics then the folks in the center have to get much more involved and much more active. Until they do as Obama said we will have carnival barkers and sideshows dominating the news.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Fan Behavior and What It Says About Us
Bryan Stow is in a coma. The San Fransisco Giants fan was beaten in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium after a Giants - Dodger game earlier this month. The details of what happened I am not sure of but one can guess that alcohol played a part. Disputes between fans happen frequently at sporting events.
Sometimes the back and forth chants between opposing groups of fans, at a Bangor-Brewer basketball game for example are amusing and fun. Sometimes they are a little rude and not a great idea. Still words, even when in bad taste, do not hurt.
All the major league sports have a problem. NBA fans who can be close to the crowd abusing opposing players verbally from the beginning of a game to the end. Hockey fans we have all heard stories about. Football fans make alcohol a pregame ritual.
Major League Baseball may have the biggest problem. As the team with the longest season they need the most repeat customers. Taking a family to the game costs enough, getting a seat and then having to protect your children from the cursing, beer spilling drunk two rows over makes it an even more expensive event.
So Mr Stow may or may not recover. His family is strong and we all pray for him to get well. The men involved in the altercation with him will have to deal with the legal and moral recriminations of their actions.
I suppose fan behavior is no different than our culture in general. Yet watching the Boston Red Sox fans boo Carl Crawford as he struggles in his first month with the team makes one wonder if they realize that for the next eight years he will be the left fielder for the team. Do we suppose he will ever forget this treatment. Fans act confused and suprised that players leave them and do not show loyalty. After this behavior do we blame them. Sox fans were surprised when Johnny Damon did not wish to rejoin them last September, this after five years of booing.
Yankees suck is often heard at Fenway, even when the Yankees are not in town. At this point with two titles of our own do we really need to be doing this. What is wrong with going to the game and being supportive.
Colin Cowherd says stay home and watch it on the Vizio, It is cheaper and you see better. Little did he know saying it was safer was also a factor.
We all need to do better.
Sometimes the back and forth chants between opposing groups of fans, at a Bangor-Brewer basketball game for example are amusing and fun. Sometimes they are a little rude and not a great idea. Still words, even when in bad taste, do not hurt.
All the major league sports have a problem. NBA fans who can be close to the crowd abusing opposing players verbally from the beginning of a game to the end. Hockey fans we have all heard stories about. Football fans make alcohol a pregame ritual.
Major League Baseball may have the biggest problem. As the team with the longest season they need the most repeat customers. Taking a family to the game costs enough, getting a seat and then having to protect your children from the cursing, beer spilling drunk two rows over makes it an even more expensive event.
So Mr Stow may or may not recover. His family is strong and we all pray for him to get well. The men involved in the altercation with him will have to deal with the legal and moral recriminations of their actions.
I suppose fan behavior is no different than our culture in general. Yet watching the Boston Red Sox fans boo Carl Crawford as he struggles in his first month with the team makes one wonder if they realize that for the next eight years he will be the left fielder for the team. Do we suppose he will ever forget this treatment. Fans act confused and suprised that players leave them and do not show loyalty. After this behavior do we blame them. Sox fans were surprised when Johnny Damon did not wish to rejoin them last September, this after five years of booing.
Yankees suck is often heard at Fenway, even when the Yankees are not in town. At this point with two titles of our own do we really need to be doing this. What is wrong with going to the game and being supportive.
Colin Cowherd says stay home and watch it on the Vizio, It is cheaper and you see better. Little did he know saying it was safer was also a factor.
We all need to do better.
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Middle East---Still
What does it say about this country that we are now involved in three wars and the large majority of Americans do not have it affect their daily lives. What does it say that military deaths are a small footnote to the news, if they are mentioned at all.
Now we hear that the situation in Libya might be at a stalemate. Are we shocked? We and the UN have done just enough to help the rebels to keep them viable while not enough to help them have a realistic chance to win. I never understood the idea that we had a viable interest in Libya ( if we did why would we have allowed Quadaffi to stay in power for 30 years. So now we are in the position that if Quadaffi stays in power we will have lost face by putting ourselves on the side of the rebels. One can bet also that the rebels find a way to blame the Western forces that did not do enough to help them. Obama did many of the things he has criticized his predecessor for. There was no clear mission in Libya, no clear idea of what victory was, we were not even sure as a declared policy that regime change was a must.
So now we have Syria killing protesters almost daily. We have mourners being killed at funerals. In short Syria is doing nothing less than what the Libyan leaders were doing. To be sure I am not advocating we act in Syria. I do think that if we were going to act in Libya or Syria a much better argument could be made that Syria, being close to Israel and Iraq was much more important to our interests.
Was Libya a situation where Obama was bullied by the Republicans or did he feel this was a place where he could flex his muscles and be sure of victory. If this was the case it did not work and there is no victory in Libya.
At a family gathering I was at recently we were talking about a new school we had been in, this was the new Cony High school, and how nice it was. My Aunt said imagine how many schools we could build for the cost of all these wars for just one day. Sadly she is correct.
Obama new better. His speech about Libya was a meandering, longwinded message that still defined nothing. We still know nothing. I do not that we ever really will.
Now we hear that the situation in Libya might be at a stalemate. Are we shocked? We and the UN have done just enough to help the rebels to keep them viable while not enough to help them have a realistic chance to win. I never understood the idea that we had a viable interest in Libya ( if we did why would we have allowed Quadaffi to stay in power for 30 years. So now we are in the position that if Quadaffi stays in power we will have lost face by putting ourselves on the side of the rebels. One can bet also that the rebels find a way to blame the Western forces that did not do enough to help them. Obama did many of the things he has criticized his predecessor for. There was no clear mission in Libya, no clear idea of what victory was, we were not even sure as a declared policy that regime change was a must.
So now we have Syria killing protesters almost daily. We have mourners being killed at funerals. In short Syria is doing nothing less than what the Libyan leaders were doing. To be sure I am not advocating we act in Syria. I do think that if we were going to act in Libya or Syria a much better argument could be made that Syria, being close to Israel and Iraq was much more important to our interests.
Was Libya a situation where Obama was bullied by the Republicans or did he feel this was a place where he could flex his muscles and be sure of victory. If this was the case it did not work and there is no victory in Libya.
At a family gathering I was at recently we were talking about a new school we had been in, this was the new Cony High school, and how nice it was. My Aunt said imagine how many schools we could build for the cost of all these wars for just one day. Sadly she is correct.
Obama new better. His speech about Libya was a meandering, longwinded message that still defined nothing. We still know nothing. I do not that we ever really will.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Spring Baseball in Maine
I hate to be cold. Since I got my medical condition to be cold is a recipe for aches and pains for days. My muscles, always weak and failing, in the cold rebel.
So spring baseball or my son's team can be hard to watch. But watch it we do. As parents we want to and I certainly do. Over the last year I have missed a basketball game or two, a soccer game and more baseball games than I ever had. When I am too sore to move, there is any chance of rain or cold I have been known to miss a game.
However as any parent of a school athlete knows, the one way to guarantee your child will do something special is to miss a game, or even when attending the game to just turn your head or look the other way. It has happened to all of us.
Friday we went to my sons game. It was so cold. After three innings, we had to leave. Still as cold as it is , the camaraderie shared by the parents at these events is wonderful.
Saturday I wore a turtleneck, a sweatshirt, a hooded sweatshirt and my coat. A hat and of course a blanket to sit on and a big blanket to cover with. Then of course I also had sweatpants on underneath my jeans.
Most of us parents have been going to games together for years and years and it is a wonderful group. Most know of my illness as it has developed in the last couple of years and so support is there though I feel silly sometimes so geared up. What is important though is I am there. As parents we want to be there for our children.
I love baseball. I love all that my children do. Baseball in Maine is a challenge. I would not miss it for the world.
So spring baseball or my son's team can be hard to watch. But watch it we do. As parents we want to and I certainly do. Over the last year I have missed a basketball game or two, a soccer game and more baseball games than I ever had. When I am too sore to move, there is any chance of rain or cold I have been known to miss a game.
However as any parent of a school athlete knows, the one way to guarantee your child will do something special is to miss a game, or even when attending the game to just turn your head or look the other way. It has happened to all of us.
Friday we went to my sons game. It was so cold. After three innings, we had to leave. Still as cold as it is , the camaraderie shared by the parents at these events is wonderful.
Saturday I wore a turtleneck, a sweatshirt, a hooded sweatshirt and my coat. A hat and of course a blanket to sit on and a big blanket to cover with. Then of course I also had sweatpants on underneath my jeans.
Most of us parents have been going to games together for years and years and it is a wonderful group. Most know of my illness as it has developed in the last couple of years and so support is there though I feel silly sometimes so geared up. What is important though is I am there. As parents we want to be there for our children.
I love baseball. I love all that my children do. Baseball in Maine is a challenge. I would not miss it for the world.
Obama's Line in the Sand
President Obama entered the deficit battle last week with a speech outlining more what he would not do rather than what he would.
Medicare will not become a voucher program as long as he is President. This is a good answer. Social Security can be fixed. These are all answers we are looking for.
Are they true? I suspect so. Americans like Medicare and Social Security and one has to assume that the sooner or later people are going to understand the clear divide between rich and poor, left and right and so on.
A battleship cost 15 to 20 billion dollars. A cruise missile such as what was launched at Libya costs millions, and so on and so on. Our military spending is the most bloated thing in the world. Why tea party followers have visions of cutting the budget but do not want to touch the military I do not understand.
In a month or so the debt ceiling will have to be raised? It will be interesting to see if it will happen without a melodramatic fight from the right or worse an actual credit crisis. How far will the right go.
I realized the other day that there was a two path highway with the Bush tax cuts. First was to give the rich a huge tax cut but even more insidious was the real outcome. To get us into such a deficit that we would have to cut the entitlement programs Republicans have hated since, well, forever. This is the plan, it has been the plan and remains the plan.
Vote Republican all you want. But know that. Republicans want an oligarchy and they are on their way. Democrats are dumb and make mistakes and can be self righteous but in the end the difference is like that between a child that fibs because he wants something good to happen and a serial killer. To be clear lots of good Americans are Republicans. I would caution to say 90 percent of Republicans want what we want, which is a better country. The fact is that they are being manipulated to an extend by men that are simply put...as close to evil and ruthless as we might see on this earth.
I saw on Sunday morning this week a story about the highest American tax brackets. In WWII that rate was 90 percent, in the seventies it had fallen into the sixties, Reagan for all his revolution only brought it to 50 percent. Bush's tax cuts brought it to 35 percent and is along with Afghanistan and Iraq ( wars unpaid for because no sacrifice was asked for) the reason for us moving from a surplus at the end of the Clinton era to the trillion dollar deficits of today. The Republicans talk about Obama's plan to redistribute the wealth of this country. Let us be clear, the Bush tax cuts were a massive redistribution program. It moved money into the hands of the wealthiest in unpaid taxes onto the backs of all Americans in a deficit budget.
Cut the military in half, single payer health care, increase the payroll social security tax. I am not a liberal. I consider myself a moderate. These just appear so common sense it makes one wonder why I am so out of step. Am I really that out of step.
If I am then I hope that Obama's line in the sand is real and not just something he will keep erasing.
Medicare will not become a voucher program as long as he is President. This is a good answer. Social Security can be fixed. These are all answers we are looking for.
Are they true? I suspect so. Americans like Medicare and Social Security and one has to assume that the sooner or later people are going to understand the clear divide between rich and poor, left and right and so on.
A battleship cost 15 to 20 billion dollars. A cruise missile such as what was launched at Libya costs millions, and so on and so on. Our military spending is the most bloated thing in the world. Why tea party followers have visions of cutting the budget but do not want to touch the military I do not understand.
In a month or so the debt ceiling will have to be raised? It will be interesting to see if it will happen without a melodramatic fight from the right or worse an actual credit crisis. How far will the right go.
I realized the other day that there was a two path highway with the Bush tax cuts. First was to give the rich a huge tax cut but even more insidious was the real outcome. To get us into such a deficit that we would have to cut the entitlement programs Republicans have hated since, well, forever. This is the plan, it has been the plan and remains the plan.
Vote Republican all you want. But know that. Republicans want an oligarchy and they are on their way. Democrats are dumb and make mistakes and can be self righteous but in the end the difference is like that between a child that fibs because he wants something good to happen and a serial killer. To be clear lots of good Americans are Republicans. I would caution to say 90 percent of Republicans want what we want, which is a better country. The fact is that they are being manipulated to an extend by men that are simply put...as close to evil and ruthless as we might see on this earth.
I saw on Sunday morning this week a story about the highest American tax brackets. In WWII that rate was 90 percent, in the seventies it had fallen into the sixties, Reagan for all his revolution only brought it to 50 percent. Bush's tax cuts brought it to 35 percent and is along with Afghanistan and Iraq ( wars unpaid for because no sacrifice was asked for) the reason for us moving from a surplus at the end of the Clinton era to the trillion dollar deficits of today. The Republicans talk about Obama's plan to redistribute the wealth of this country. Let us be clear, the Bush tax cuts were a massive redistribution program. It moved money into the hands of the wealthiest in unpaid taxes onto the backs of all Americans in a deficit budget.
Cut the military in half, single payer health care, increase the payroll social security tax. I am not a liberal. I consider myself a moderate. These just appear so common sense it makes one wonder why I am so out of step. Am I really that out of step.
If I am then I hope that Obama's line in the sand is real and not just something he will keep erasing.
Donald Trump?
Donald Trump is leading in some polls to be the Republican nominee for President. in many ways Donald Trump is considered a joke, a parody of himself. However one thing is certain. He has the ability and the money to tap into a vein of strong discontent.
I wish that Trump would not have policies that seem to be so changable depending on the way the wind blows. Ten years ago he advocated single payer health care and a one time millionaries tax to pay down our debt. Now seeking Republican votes he wants to repeal Obamacare, and says no new taxes. He also is on the birther wagon now. I wish that Obama would just show the certificate but I also hear that no one in Hawaii can get them as they are all electronic. Something rings odd here but I do not lose sleep over it.
The issue that makes Trump to me have a populist appeal is when he says things that many of my friends both from the right and left agree with. When Trump says that we should have kept the oil fields from Iraq in payment for deposing their dictator, that we should put a 25 percent tariff on all goods from China ( my personal favorite) or pull our troops from protecting Saudi Arabia unless they give us a strong discount on oil er must realize these have strong appeal.
Are they realistic. I do not know. But to a generation raised with America as the worlds power and now feeling like we are diminished daily the idea of a tougher, stronger, our way or the highway has great appeal.
Obama is all about nuance. There is no nuance to Trump. Can he win. No, probably not. But the questions he poses are valid? Why does the United States save the world and what do we get out of it. Some oil WOULD be a good place to start.
I wish that Trump would not have policies that seem to be so changable depending on the way the wind blows. Ten years ago he advocated single payer health care and a one time millionaries tax to pay down our debt. Now seeking Republican votes he wants to repeal Obamacare, and says no new taxes. He also is on the birther wagon now. I wish that Obama would just show the certificate but I also hear that no one in Hawaii can get them as they are all electronic. Something rings odd here but I do not lose sleep over it.
The issue that makes Trump to me have a populist appeal is when he says things that many of my friends both from the right and left agree with. When Trump says that we should have kept the oil fields from Iraq in payment for deposing their dictator, that we should put a 25 percent tariff on all goods from China ( my personal favorite) or pull our troops from protecting Saudi Arabia unless they give us a strong discount on oil er must realize these have strong appeal.
Are they realistic. I do not know. But to a generation raised with America as the worlds power and now feeling like we are diminished daily the idea of a tougher, stronger, our way or the highway has great appeal.
Obama is all about nuance. There is no nuance to Trump. Can he win. No, probably not. But the questions he poses are valid? Why does the United States save the world and what do we get out of it. Some oil WOULD be a good place to start.
Driving is Scary
What is wrong with people? I am attempting to impart some wisdom about conservative driving to my fifteen year old son as he drives with his permit. Unfortunately each day we see examples of people driving crazily.
I try to drive correctly, I let people in. I do not race in and out of stoplights. And yet some days I feel lucky to be alive. About a week ago I pulled out past a snowbank ( after the April fools storm ) to see if any cars were coming. A car was, and they honked loudly, which is fine as I did not want to pull in front of them. But they flipped me off as they went by. Why? Are we so on edge that we instantly think to do that.
Sometimes when someone does something improper around me my son will say hit the horn. I always tell him no. Once the act is committed hitting the horn does no good. If the horn will alert somebody to danger then use it but as a weapon for expressing anger no...give people the courtesy you would like. Sometimes the horn could jump someone, such as an older person.
Friday evening my wife and I were merging onto the highway. I hate merging as people are insane but I was merging and had plenty of time, there were cars coming in both lanes but I merged and was up to the speed limit ( this was a merge location where you cannot be up to full speed immediately as you have to slow virtually at the end before you can see) and what do I see? But the car in the right lane behind me decides he does not want to slow to the speed limit but decides to crowd around me while the car on his left is on his left. In short we went three wide as I moved over seeing him come. If I had not I do not know what would have happened.
I tell my son that the difference between 55 and 65 in an hour on an average trip is negligible. Speed kills but impatience kills more. Be late. Be alive.
But most of all I tell my children in all things Be Nice. That lesson does not change when you get behind the wheel. Just be nice.
I try to drive correctly, I let people in. I do not race in and out of stoplights. And yet some days I feel lucky to be alive. About a week ago I pulled out past a snowbank ( after the April fools storm ) to see if any cars were coming. A car was, and they honked loudly, which is fine as I did not want to pull in front of them. But they flipped me off as they went by. Why? Are we so on edge that we instantly think to do that.
Sometimes when someone does something improper around me my son will say hit the horn. I always tell him no. Once the act is committed hitting the horn does no good. If the horn will alert somebody to danger then use it but as a weapon for expressing anger no...give people the courtesy you would like. Sometimes the horn could jump someone, such as an older person.
Friday evening my wife and I were merging onto the highway. I hate merging as people are insane but I was merging and had plenty of time, there were cars coming in both lanes but I merged and was up to the speed limit ( this was a merge location where you cannot be up to full speed immediately as you have to slow virtually at the end before you can see) and what do I see? But the car in the right lane behind me decides he does not want to slow to the speed limit but decides to crowd around me while the car on his left is on his left. In short we went three wide as I moved over seeing him come. If I had not I do not know what would have happened.
I tell my son that the difference between 55 and 65 in an hour on an average trip is negligible. Speed kills but impatience kills more. Be late. Be alive.
But most of all I tell my children in all things Be Nice. That lesson does not change when you get behind the wheel. Just be nice.
Koran Burning
A couple weeks ago Afghanistan exploded, even more than usual. Why? Because some pastor in Florida decided to burn the Muslim bible, a Koran. It was a repulsive act.
Many deaths occured in the forthcoming protests including many civilians and several United Nations aid workers. Now it is understood that many Christians, and certainly many conservative Christians believe that without Jesus one goes to hell. Still one has to question any thought of burning a Koran.
Saying the Koran, and thus the Muslim faith, is evil is wrong. Certainly the Koran is used to justify some terrible acts. But as we Christians know Hitler thought he was doing the work of the Bible as well. In short any religeous text can be used to justify an evil act if the person doing the interpreting is unbalanced or ill informed.
This pastor by the way, this man of God, had earlier promised that he would never burn the Koran. Commenting after he admitted " he may not have kept his word." He is just a man and mistakes are made by all of us, however what we need is a lot more patience and a lot more understanding.
There are men of good faith in all religions and my Bible tells me to judge not lest ye be judged. I will not judge a man of another faith because of what a man of his faith does anymore than I would want to be judged by the acts of the worst Christian I know.
People. Love your neighbor. Not the neighbor who looks like you or agrees with you. Your neighbor. Even if he is named Ahmad.
Many deaths occured in the forthcoming protests including many civilians and several United Nations aid workers. Now it is understood that many Christians, and certainly many conservative Christians believe that without Jesus one goes to hell. Still one has to question any thought of burning a Koran.
Saying the Koran, and thus the Muslim faith, is evil is wrong. Certainly the Koran is used to justify some terrible acts. But as we Christians know Hitler thought he was doing the work of the Bible as well. In short any religeous text can be used to justify an evil act if the person doing the interpreting is unbalanced or ill informed.
This pastor by the way, this man of God, had earlier promised that he would never burn the Koran. Commenting after he admitted " he may not have kept his word." He is just a man and mistakes are made by all of us, however what we need is a lot more patience and a lot more understanding.
There are men of good faith in all religions and my Bible tells me to judge not lest ye be judged. I will not judge a man of another faith because of what a man of his faith does anymore than I would want to be judged by the acts of the worst Christian I know.
People. Love your neighbor. Not the neighbor who looks like you or agrees with you. Your neighbor. Even if he is named Ahmad.
University of Maine Athletics
It has been a tough season for the University of Maine. The hockey team had an up and down year ending with no tournament birth and more and more displeasure being voiced about the tenure of Tim Whitehead. Cindy Blodgett was fired as the womens basketball coach on the new AD's first day and expressed displeasure as wins and losses had never been a predicating factor of a coach's tenure at Maine. ( she felt )
The Maine football team had a solid season but did not make the playoffs though one little hears complaints about the program of Jack Cosgrove. Perhaps it is diminished expectations knowing that Maine is Division II in football and thus less passion is expanded, but Cosgrove has run a very good program and has been a standup guy from day one. After some of the good seasons he has had he has made the decision to stay at Maine when certainly he could have moved up to a bigger program and Maine needs to reward that loyalty.
Perhaps the biggest dissapointtment in terms of talent versus results was the Maine mens basketball team, Starting conference play with a five or six victories and being picked by some preseason magazines to represent the conference in the NCAA tournament this was an exciting time for Maine basketball. Of course exciting time for Maine basketball is not very exciting. Crowds are small and the connection is low and it would take more than a paragraph to contemplate why Maine folks embrace hockey players from away but not basketball players. Certainly it is not for lack of interest as Maine hoop fans flock to high school games. The connection is not there and perhaps never will be. The season for the basketball team however disappointed whatever followers they did have by ending the season on a long losing streak, losing home court in the playoffs and bowing out in the first round. Sad indeed.
So what is to be done. Can Maine compete. Is it realistic to think they can. The answer is yes and no. The hockey program draws the most press and is the easiest to address. Can they win and compete. Surely they can. Is Whitehead the best coach. This is open to debate among many. I think Whitehead is a good coach and has done great things at Maine. I wish they would give him a long contract so the folks complaining would sit down and be quiet. I believe that the more grumbling there is the less stability there is and the less chance a player will be inclined to come to Maine. One of the reasons players such as Paul Kariya have come here in the past was the stability of the program and the area in which the school is. Maine needs to embrace that it is not Boston not state we are not Boston but. Winning breeds winning. If Jack and then David Capuano had not chosen to come to Maine years ago would Shawn Walsh have attracted the players he did. We will never know but sometimes it just that simple.
Hockey has changed and college hockey has too. Maine can and will compete in the future but Tim Whitehead has done a good job and deserves more loyalty and respect than he is getting by far.
So then I will do an about face and say that Cindy Blodgett's firing was warranted. Can Maine basketball compete. Womens I would say yes but much will depend on the coach. Getting Blodgett felt like the right move in an attempt to keep Maine girls at home but it did not work. I do not know enough to know why she could not recruit but something must be done to get the strong players from Southern Maine and all of Maine really to grow up wanting to play for Maine. Perhaps a Coach with strong connections in Maine high school basketball and regionally as well.
Can the Maine men's basketball program succeed. The answer is most likely not and the further answer it is doubtful any but a few will care. There are reasons and they are pretty obvious and it does not reflect well on Maine or its residents but they are there and cannot be denied. Still perhaps a better product with a few local players would be helpful. Maine is in a tough spot in that regard as the few players from the area that could compete at that level dream of bigger things than Maine, in short young men do not grow up dreaming of playing for Maine.
Maine football can, does and will continue to compete. Maine football does attract Maine kids and Cosgrove somehow does a fine job putting a good team on the field. Anyone criticizing Cosgrove needs to think about how hard a job he has in Orono, Maine fielding a team. He does a great job and Maine has had some strong seasons.
Perhaps the worst one can say about Maine baseball is that I almost forgot to write about them. I grew up in an era when Maine baseball was a National Power. I remember watching them on ESPN playing Miami when I was in college. I remember Mike Ballou giving up the bomb when Maine gave up the big lead to AZ State when Maine could have easily competed for the championship. AZ won that year, what could have been we do not know. Some friends and I went up in Billy Swift's last year and sat in centerfield behind the fence and talked with him ( he had pitched the day before) when Maine won that regional.
Can Maine compete. Sadly no. The playoff structure of the NCAA has changed. Maine cannot host a regional as they used to and Maine cannot attract the players that they used to. With the money thrown at high school kids Maine has consistently lost committed Maine schoolboys and who can blame the kids. Perhaps a Division II program would be a better choice as Maine folks would come to baseball if the program could succeed. Even now it is a good product to go watch but the spring weather in Maine is a challenge.
Can the new AD correct things. Perhaps. In times of budget cuts and concerns perhaps the answer is to have good coaches, good programs and good kids and see if that combination can lead to a success we can be proud of. In most cases we have those ingredients. Lets not be greedy.
The Maine football team had a solid season but did not make the playoffs though one little hears complaints about the program of Jack Cosgrove. Perhaps it is diminished expectations knowing that Maine is Division II in football and thus less passion is expanded, but Cosgrove has run a very good program and has been a standup guy from day one. After some of the good seasons he has had he has made the decision to stay at Maine when certainly he could have moved up to a bigger program and Maine needs to reward that loyalty.
Perhaps the biggest dissapointtment in terms of talent versus results was the Maine mens basketball team, Starting conference play with a five or six victories and being picked by some preseason magazines to represent the conference in the NCAA tournament this was an exciting time for Maine basketball. Of course exciting time for Maine basketball is not very exciting. Crowds are small and the connection is low and it would take more than a paragraph to contemplate why Maine folks embrace hockey players from away but not basketball players. Certainly it is not for lack of interest as Maine hoop fans flock to high school games. The connection is not there and perhaps never will be. The season for the basketball team however disappointed whatever followers they did have by ending the season on a long losing streak, losing home court in the playoffs and bowing out in the first round. Sad indeed.
So what is to be done. Can Maine compete. Is it realistic to think they can. The answer is yes and no. The hockey program draws the most press and is the easiest to address. Can they win and compete. Surely they can. Is Whitehead the best coach. This is open to debate among many. I think Whitehead is a good coach and has done great things at Maine. I wish they would give him a long contract so the folks complaining would sit down and be quiet. I believe that the more grumbling there is the less stability there is and the less chance a player will be inclined to come to Maine. One of the reasons players such as Paul Kariya have come here in the past was the stability of the program and the area in which the school is. Maine needs to embrace that it is not Boston not state we are not Boston but. Winning breeds winning. If Jack and then David Capuano had not chosen to come to Maine years ago would Shawn Walsh have attracted the players he did. We will never know but sometimes it just that simple.
Hockey has changed and college hockey has too. Maine can and will compete in the future but Tim Whitehead has done a good job and deserves more loyalty and respect than he is getting by far.
So then I will do an about face and say that Cindy Blodgett's firing was warranted. Can Maine basketball compete. Womens I would say yes but much will depend on the coach. Getting Blodgett felt like the right move in an attempt to keep Maine girls at home but it did not work. I do not know enough to know why she could not recruit but something must be done to get the strong players from Southern Maine and all of Maine really to grow up wanting to play for Maine. Perhaps a Coach with strong connections in Maine high school basketball and regionally as well.
Can the Maine men's basketball program succeed. The answer is most likely not and the further answer it is doubtful any but a few will care. There are reasons and they are pretty obvious and it does not reflect well on Maine or its residents but they are there and cannot be denied. Still perhaps a better product with a few local players would be helpful. Maine is in a tough spot in that regard as the few players from the area that could compete at that level dream of bigger things than Maine, in short young men do not grow up dreaming of playing for Maine.
Maine football can, does and will continue to compete. Maine football does attract Maine kids and Cosgrove somehow does a fine job putting a good team on the field. Anyone criticizing Cosgrove needs to think about how hard a job he has in Orono, Maine fielding a team. He does a great job and Maine has had some strong seasons.
Perhaps the worst one can say about Maine baseball is that I almost forgot to write about them. I grew up in an era when Maine baseball was a National Power. I remember watching them on ESPN playing Miami when I was in college. I remember Mike Ballou giving up the bomb when Maine gave up the big lead to AZ State when Maine could have easily competed for the championship. AZ won that year, what could have been we do not know. Some friends and I went up in Billy Swift's last year and sat in centerfield behind the fence and talked with him ( he had pitched the day before) when Maine won that regional.
Can Maine compete. Sadly no. The playoff structure of the NCAA has changed. Maine cannot host a regional as they used to and Maine cannot attract the players that they used to. With the money thrown at high school kids Maine has consistently lost committed Maine schoolboys and who can blame the kids. Perhaps a Division II program would be a better choice as Maine folks would come to baseball if the program could succeed. Even now it is a good product to go watch but the spring weather in Maine is a challenge.
Can the new AD correct things. Perhaps. In times of budget cuts and concerns perhaps the answer is to have good coaches, good programs and good kids and see if that combination can lead to a success we can be proud of. In most cases we have those ingredients. Lets not be greedy.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Paul Ryan says so
Paul Ryan the Republican budget guru in the house released his deficit cutting budget plan last week. He is to be credited for putting his thoughts out and suffering the consequences. His plan of course will never become law but it does start the conversation.
What frustrates Democrats and liberals the most is the President Obama continues to follow and not lead. We hear this week that he will be releasing his own budget and deficit plan but we also suspect that while not agreeing with Ryan and the conservatives that his plan will counter what has been proposed allowing it to be a template and thus setting the discussion points.
As a parent with a child that loves to debate I know that if a discussion is opened, even if I have no intent on giving into any proposals by him, we are in negotiation. What we also know is that once negotiation is opened one never knows where it will end. Again we wish Obama had more passion for the process and could use that to present his case and go over the obstructionist Congress. He has shown no propensity and no desire to do so.
Ryan makes some bold proposals. Give these Republicans credit they have no scruples about trying to make a pig shine. As a moderate Democrat I can see how the wording of his plan to " save " Medicare and Medicaid sound reasonable. Inspection shows however this is a plan to end these programs as we know them.
Ryans proposal would stop payments as currently exist in Medicare by giving Seniors a voucher to use to spend on their healthcare by buying insurance. This would mean deductibles, caps and limits. This would also put for profit insurance companies in the mix. When the administration cost of Medicare are 3 percent versus over 20 percent for the insurance companies there is no way this plan is anything but a sham to increase profits for insurance companies. Ryan should be ashamed.
Why is that these Republicans have such an issue with these programs that help millions. Don't they have grandparents. Surely not all of them were born rich.
The Mediciad proposal is if anything worse, making it a block grant that would allow the states to determine how to spend it. With Republican governors this would mean diverting funds from programs. With Democrats it also could mean changes. In short it would mean that each state would be able to make politics the way to determine medical issues.
Worse yet and shocking to the extreme is that Ryan proposes lowering the highest tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. The bracket continues to fall. Tax rates for the wealthy are the lowest they have been in my lifetime and clearly the divide between rich and poor is not enough for these Republicans.
What is most frustrating to me is that it seems self evident that a populist approach is what we need but instead Obama seems intent on bringing five percent of the independents to his side rather than motivating the ten to fifteen percent of Democrats that he is losing. The electoral map is not friendly to Obama across the midwest, deciding to run as the " I'm not as bad as the other guy" candidate may not be enough to energize the base the way he needs.
Paul Ryan's plan is an attempt to wreck the New Deal, Fair Deal and any other deals made to help the working people.
Mr. President. Lead.
What frustrates Democrats and liberals the most is the President Obama continues to follow and not lead. We hear this week that he will be releasing his own budget and deficit plan but we also suspect that while not agreeing with Ryan and the conservatives that his plan will counter what has been proposed allowing it to be a template and thus setting the discussion points.
As a parent with a child that loves to debate I know that if a discussion is opened, even if I have no intent on giving into any proposals by him, we are in negotiation. What we also know is that once negotiation is opened one never knows where it will end. Again we wish Obama had more passion for the process and could use that to present his case and go over the obstructionist Congress. He has shown no propensity and no desire to do so.
Ryan makes some bold proposals. Give these Republicans credit they have no scruples about trying to make a pig shine. As a moderate Democrat I can see how the wording of his plan to " save " Medicare and Medicaid sound reasonable. Inspection shows however this is a plan to end these programs as we know them.
Ryans proposal would stop payments as currently exist in Medicare by giving Seniors a voucher to use to spend on their healthcare by buying insurance. This would mean deductibles, caps and limits. This would also put for profit insurance companies in the mix. When the administration cost of Medicare are 3 percent versus over 20 percent for the insurance companies there is no way this plan is anything but a sham to increase profits for insurance companies. Ryan should be ashamed.
Why is that these Republicans have such an issue with these programs that help millions. Don't they have grandparents. Surely not all of them were born rich.
The Mediciad proposal is if anything worse, making it a block grant that would allow the states to determine how to spend it. With Republican governors this would mean diverting funds from programs. With Democrats it also could mean changes. In short it would mean that each state would be able to make politics the way to determine medical issues.
Worse yet and shocking to the extreme is that Ryan proposes lowering the highest tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. The bracket continues to fall. Tax rates for the wealthy are the lowest they have been in my lifetime and clearly the divide between rich and poor is not enough for these Republicans.
What is most frustrating to me is that it seems self evident that a populist approach is what we need but instead Obama seems intent on bringing five percent of the independents to his side rather than motivating the ten to fifteen percent of Democrats that he is losing. The electoral map is not friendly to Obama across the midwest, deciding to run as the " I'm not as bad as the other guy" candidate may not be enough to energize the base the way he needs.
Paul Ryan's plan is an attempt to wreck the New Deal, Fair Deal and any other deals made to help the working people.
Mr. President. Lead.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Dollar versus the World
There is this video making the rounds of the internet under the site endofAmerica by an analyst who claims to have predicted the crash of 2008. He claims the calamity that is coming is not a military one but will be tied to our crushing national debt and the eventual loss of the United States dollar as the worlds currency.
As a person who does not understand the world economic situation it was interesting to see the video describing that the United States big advantage is that to purchase products for import such as oil from the Middle East. This is because the United States does not need to exchange its currency to purchase these imported products.
The fear is that at some point our creditors will not accept our dollars as payment. When this happens we could hit a period of inflation that we cannot even imagine. The comparison is with the British governments defaults of the late sixties into the seventies.
I do not know if this is true. I do know that debt we have and continue to incur is not something that can be kept up. The battle in Washington now is over what do we cut. The polarization of the country is between right and left, rich and poor, and on and on we go.
I do believe there is an economic crisis coming. I am unsure how we prepare ourselves. There is no leadership in Washington that I trust.
As a person who does not understand the world economic situation it was interesting to see the video describing that the United States big advantage is that to purchase products for import such as oil from the Middle East. This is because the United States does not need to exchange its currency to purchase these imported products.
The fear is that at some point our creditors will not accept our dollars as payment. When this happens we could hit a period of inflation that we cannot even imagine. The comparison is with the British governments defaults of the late sixties into the seventies.
I do not know if this is true. I do know that debt we have and continue to incur is not something that can be kept up. The battle in Washington now is over what do we cut. The polarization of the country is between right and left, rich and poor, and on and on we go.
I do believe there is an economic crisis coming. I am unsure how we prepare ourselves. There is no leadership in Washington that I trust.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
CIA in Libya and Obama plays follow the leader
Egypt is considered the most important country in the middle east to Western interests. If Egypt treats Israel with forebearance, keeps the Suez Canal open and secure, and acts as a counterpoint to Iran and its less than positive to Western intersets influence the relationship with the United States has great value to us.
Libya on the other hand is a no win situation. Obama seemed to know that originally as his lack of interest in getting involved showed. We really had no idea who the rebels were, what was their driving force and most importantly if they could succeed. While no one would mourn the loss of Quadaffi the fact remains that our interests in Libya are not strong and do not really improve with the rebels winning.
By waiting and then joining the efforts Obama leaves us open to criticism for not helping soon enough rather than appreciation for helping. Further a policy that does not endorse regime change but instead only for humanitarian reasons is foolish. A humanitiarian crisis occurs daily in the world and we rarely interecede. As we apparentky change horses in Yemen and watch many countries across Africa move toward revolt including Syria one wonders what is the guideline for when we intercede.
To me nothing good in terms of our interests can change here. If we are involved we will be to blame for its failure and also will be expected to intercede in other areas of the Middle East and be accused of racism and discriminaton if we do not. The cost can not be dismissed as we are already into the billions of dollars for the expense thus far and to what end.
Now the CIA is involved in Libya and soon one must wonder when the cries of colonialism are made against not just the United States but other western countries that are becoming more involved in these countries under fire. U N forces and especially France have interceded to drive out the President of The Ivory Coast. Again do we really have an interest to do this.
No one wants innocents to suffer. The question remains however why Obama chose to intercede in Libya other than to prove his mettle. Does he really think that Americans care about this issue enough to justify his caving into Republicans.
A bad choice. Obama's press conference last week was confounding as he spoke for well close to an hour and had a tone of whining defense of his actions. It was a speech that to me was vague and defensive like a child who had a good reason in his mind for what he did but now after the fact knows it was not well thought out and his parents want to know what he was thinking. The truth is Obama seems not to know what he was thinking.
Not good.
Libya on the other hand is a no win situation. Obama seemed to know that originally as his lack of interest in getting involved showed. We really had no idea who the rebels were, what was their driving force and most importantly if they could succeed. While no one would mourn the loss of Quadaffi the fact remains that our interests in Libya are not strong and do not really improve with the rebels winning.
By waiting and then joining the efforts Obama leaves us open to criticism for not helping soon enough rather than appreciation for helping. Further a policy that does not endorse regime change but instead only for humanitarian reasons is foolish. A humanitiarian crisis occurs daily in the world and we rarely interecede. As we apparentky change horses in Yemen and watch many countries across Africa move toward revolt including Syria one wonders what is the guideline for when we intercede.
To me nothing good in terms of our interests can change here. If we are involved we will be to blame for its failure and also will be expected to intercede in other areas of the Middle East and be accused of racism and discriminaton if we do not. The cost can not be dismissed as we are already into the billions of dollars for the expense thus far and to what end.
Now the CIA is involved in Libya and soon one must wonder when the cries of colonialism are made against not just the United States but other western countries that are becoming more involved in these countries under fire. U N forces and especially France have interceded to drive out the President of The Ivory Coast. Again do we really have an interest to do this.
No one wants innocents to suffer. The question remains however why Obama chose to intercede in Libya other than to prove his mettle. Does he really think that Americans care about this issue enough to justify his caving into Republicans.
A bad choice. Obama's press conference last week was confounding as he spoke for well close to an hour and had a tone of whining defense of his actions. It was a speech that to me was vague and defensive like a child who had a good reason in his mind for what he did but now after the fact knows it was not well thought out and his parents want to know what he was thinking. The truth is Obama seems not to know what he was thinking.
Not good.
Obama in 2012
President Obama announced yesterday that he will be seeking reelection. This is totally expected and most feel that Obama will be reelected. I am not so sure. The Republican candidates for President - this might be the most important factor for Obams - appear to be a very unexciting group.
The candidates with the most name power are also those that are the most polarizing. Sarah Palin appears to have reached the conclusion that she likes cashing checks more than she does the idea of running for President. Pawlenty, Bachman, Barbour, Gulliani and others might run but is hard to think of any moderates, independents primarily voting for them.
Of course the election is really a question of the electoral map. With Republicans winning many state houses across the Midwest, in states Obama did win and needs to win again one can see a path to victory for a Republican. The sense is however that no credible candidate has surfaced unless one thinks Mitt Romney could win. Perhaps he could. Romney's identity as a merger and acquisition shark, his running away from hos own version of Obamacare, his many flip flops make him to me a candidate that will self destruct.
Were another Democrat available I would run to them. I am sorely disappointed in Obama. This Republican field however offers no hope to those seeking a moderate. Until a moderate Republican breaks with the union bashing, defense industry,kowtowing health insurance lobbying, and tax cuts for the rich mantra then it just seems that no Democrat could abandon Obama.
I cannot. I would love another candidate. But as it stands now it looks like we have to stay with the President and hope that somewhere he remembers what he stood for. Perhaps it is a sad reflection on our system that so many Democrats feel that there will be no candidate worth being excited about until 2016. A candidate that engendered such hope and excitement reduced in two years to a boring, ineffectual, conservative and timid President. This is perhaps the saddest thing about the upcoming election cycle.
Things can change. The world does everyday. For now however one sees a bleak horizon.
The candidates with the most name power are also those that are the most polarizing. Sarah Palin appears to have reached the conclusion that she likes cashing checks more than she does the idea of running for President. Pawlenty, Bachman, Barbour, Gulliani and others might run but is hard to think of any moderates, independents primarily voting for them.
Of course the election is really a question of the electoral map. With Republicans winning many state houses across the Midwest, in states Obama did win and needs to win again one can see a path to victory for a Republican. The sense is however that no credible candidate has surfaced unless one thinks Mitt Romney could win. Perhaps he could. Romney's identity as a merger and acquisition shark, his running away from hos own version of Obamacare, his many flip flops make him to me a candidate that will self destruct.
Were another Democrat available I would run to them. I am sorely disappointed in Obama. This Republican field however offers no hope to those seeking a moderate. Until a moderate Republican breaks with the union bashing, defense industry,kowtowing health insurance lobbying, and tax cuts for the rich mantra then it just seems that no Democrat could abandon Obama.
I cannot. I would love another candidate. But as it stands now it looks like we have to stay with the President and hope that somewhere he remembers what he stood for. Perhaps it is a sad reflection on our system that so many Democrats feel that there will be no candidate worth being excited about until 2016. A candidate that engendered such hope and excitement reduced in two years to a boring, ineffectual, conservative and timid President. This is perhaps the saddest thing about the upcoming election cycle.
Things can change. The world does everyday. For now however one sees a bleak horizon.
Baseball Season, April Fools and a Foot of Snow
I love baseball. Every spring the beginning of baseball makes me excited and happy to see the games start. This year was no different. My son is trying out for baseball last week and the Red Sox were to open. It was an exciting time.
In the end my son made his team and the Sox evidently decided they were not ready to start playing baseball yet. The series in Texas last weekend might well end up being the low point of the season. At least we hope so. The Sox were just beat in all aspects of the game.
To make the beginning of spring and baseball more disheatening last Friday we got an April Fools Day present of 14 inches of wet heavy snow. Certainly an April snowstorm is not unknown but compared with last spring when we had temps in the 70's by mid March and a very warm April this is a cruel start.
The good news is that it can only get better. The Sox will win tonight, my son will get more opportunity playing baseball this year, the snow will melt, the grass will get green and the temperture will hit seventy this month. We hope.
Go Sox. Go Spring.
In the end my son made his team and the Sox evidently decided they were not ready to start playing baseball yet. The series in Texas last weekend might well end up being the low point of the season. At least we hope so. The Sox were just beat in all aspects of the game.
To make the beginning of spring and baseball more disheatening last Friday we got an April Fools Day present of 14 inches of wet heavy snow. Certainly an April snowstorm is not unknown but compared with last spring when we had temps in the 70's by mid March and a very warm April this is a cruel start.
The good news is that it can only get better. The Sox will win tonight, my son will get more opportunity playing baseball this year, the snow will melt, the grass will get green and the temperture will hit seventy this month. We hope.
Go Sox. Go Spring.
LePage rebuked by Republicans
In a letter sent to several outlets in the state a group of Maine Republicans have criticized Governor LePage and his governing style since taking office. It would seem that LePage does not have a filter. As the letter states were this one incident they would not feel compelled to speak out but clearly a pattern has developed.
These Republicans do not find fault with LePage's policy but with his style of off the cuff statements and do also question the timing of some of his more symbolic acts such as the mural issue at the Dept of Labor.
LePage who has been on vacation this last week, that in itself became an issue, as being a lightning rod such as LePage has makes even simple things controverial, will most likely come back and attempt to turn the page and keep his toungue.
It will be intersting to see if he can and one also wonders if any division will occur with Senate Republicans in districts that traditionally have been Democratic and who might be getting an earful back home. One wonders if LePage is more pragmatist or idealist. We shall soon see.
One thing LePage does not seem to have a good sense of is symbolism. It would seem easy to ascertain that when making cuts to state employee benefits that he would volunteer to make the same cuts to his own benefits package. In many ways LePage seems to be tone deaf to any voice but his own.
These Republicans do not find fault with LePage's policy but with his style of off the cuff statements and do also question the timing of some of his more symbolic acts such as the mural issue at the Dept of Labor.
LePage who has been on vacation this last week, that in itself became an issue, as being a lightning rod such as LePage has makes even simple things controverial, will most likely come back and attempt to turn the page and keep his toungue.
It will be intersting to see if he can and one also wonders if any division will occur with Senate Republicans in districts that traditionally have been Democratic and who might be getting an earful back home. One wonders if LePage is more pragmatist or idealist. We shall soon see.
One thing LePage does not seem to have a good sense of is symbolism. It would seem easy to ascertain that when making cuts to state employee benefits that he would volunteer to make the same cuts to his own benefits package. In many ways LePage seems to be tone deaf to any voice but his own.
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