Mental Health Alert & Safety Warning

Stay away from the crazies that storm the stores on the day after Thanksgiving. Not only would you raise your stress level by being around the nuts fighting over the last __________ (fill in the blank) at that particular store, but you're also in physical danger as some of those nuts suspend any pretense of civilized behavior. Here is a case in point:

A worker died after being trampled and a woman miscarried when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island Wal-Mart Friday morning, witnesses said.

The unidentified worker, employed as an overnight stock clerk, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.

Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.

"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too...I literally had to fight people off my back."

Disgusting. I'm frugal and like to save a buck as much as the next guy, but I'd never fight a bunch of morons in order to get to the limited quantity of something just to save a little money. First reports are often wrong. However, if it turns out people actually took the doors off the hinges then someone needs to be charged in the death of that worker.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving greetings!

We should all take a moment today and truly consider all the blessings that have been conferred upon us. Regardless of any particular temporary hardships or setbacks, we always have much to be thankful for and while we celebrate the idea of appreciation of those blessings just once a year it is something we should be mindful of throughout the year. Enjoy the football games and the feasts and all that goes with the holiday, but don't forget the meaning behind the holiday.

And now an announcement from the "Can It Get Any Worse?" Department

NBC: Daschle to be Obama's HHS Secretary

Any of you really expecting "Hope and Change" should bear in mind "They are who we thought they were." You're delusional if you expect anything but a much more stridently liberal re-run of the Clinton years.

(H/T Tom)

Herb Score- Rest in Peace

Former great Indians pitcher and long time Indians broadcaster Herb Score died today. A left handed pitcher with a great fastball, Score was the 1955 Rookie of the Year and followed that with an even better second season when he won 20 games and struck out 263 batters. Tragically, early in the fifth game of his third season a line drive from Gil McDougald struck Score in his eye. While he pitched in parts of five more seasons he was never the same pitcher again. A man of strong faith, he never blamed that accident for his career ending prematurely. Instead he always said he thought he hurt his arm pitching on a cold night the following year. After his playing days, Score was the voice of the Indians for a generation of fans. While he was a great ball player, anyone who met him said he was a much better person than ball player. Unlike many announcers, Score was like an old family friend to the listening audience.

Here are a few links to articles on Score's passing.
A review of his life and career.
Bill Livingston: Herb Score belongs at the top of a lot of lists.
Two of his play by play partners pay tribute: Tom Hamilton & Joe Tait.


Rest in Peace, Herb.

Will the Obama administration match the lofty talk?

Now that the election has been held, what can we expect going forward? I think we will have a lot of moments where we, to paraphrase former NFL coach Denny Green, will realize "They are who we thought they were." Many people, including some who should be smart enough to know better, fell for the rhetoric about President-elect Obama being a different kind of politician or even a post-racial candidate. The more clear thinking among us didn't fall for the BS. It will be tempting to repeatedly scream "I TOLD YOU SO!" over the next four years. However, screaming at people is not often the best way to win them over. In fact, it often just makes them more entrenched. Instead when someone who mistakenly voted for Obama feints surprise over some action taken by the new administration I recommend just shaking your head and saying "They are who we thought they were."

The first indication of how extreme left this administration will tilt will be the appointments made by the new president. Over the next couple weeks various names will be leaked or floated. Compare those names to the expectations of a new kind of politician. Our first example is the rumor floated saying Rahm Emanuel will be offered the position of Chief of Staff. Here is a link to a story from a couple years ago describing Emanuel's ruthless nature. This was piece from a friendly newspaper - The Chicago Tribune. Read this snippet and ask yourself if this sounds like a new kind of politician:

In a world where congressmen refer to each other as "my distinguished colleague," Emanuel, 46, is sometimes unable to get through a single sentence without several obscenities. . . . . his style is extremist. The top of his right middle finger was severed when he was a teenager, adding to his aura of toughness--especially when he extends that middle finger, which he does with some regularity.

He'll fit in with the president-elect who has the immature habit of furtively raising his middle finger during speeches.

Michael Crichton - Rest in Peace

Terrific author Michael Crichton has died at age 66. I hadn't heard he was ill, but the article says he has been battling cancer. Crichton is best known as the author of "Jurassic Park" and the creator of "ER." In recent years he has been an outspoken critic of the hysteria over the myth of anthropogenic climate change.

Election 2008 - Post Mortem

The voters have spoken and we have a new direction. I'll run down the good, the bad and the ugly in this post. Where we go from here will be a separate post.

Winners:

Sen. Barack Obama is now the president-elect. Whether you attribute his election to massive vote fraud, or an immense advantage in campaign funds (fueled by donations of questionable legality) or anything else there is no question of who won or lost.

The mainstream media who demonstrated they could successfully throw an election.

Senate Democrats clearly won as they picked up 5 seats. While they did not reach the magic number of 60 seats, they got close enough that the threat of a filibuster is not really an option.

ACORN clearly won. If it's revealed that you're running a criminal enterprise to influence an election you definitely feel a lot better to find out any investigation will be controlled by people appointed by the guy you were cheating to help.

Fans of out of control government spending and earmarks won as well.

Fans of government corruption won. U.S. Rep. William Jefferson cruises past Moreno.

People who understand that marriage is a union of one man and one woman won again.

Losers

Sen. John McCain - Waited until his concession speech to give his best performance of the campaign. This election will be poked, prodded and examined to death. However, to me McCain made several strategic missteps. The biggest mistake was to attempt to play his opponents game by repudiating the sitting president from his own party and go change, change, change. He needed to defend the overall course we are on otherwise people would pick his opponent who was the clearer choice for change. The other big mistake was to restrict his campaign from aggressively making the case against his opponents character.

The little remaining credibility of the mainstream media was completely destroyed. Throughout the campaign they displayed no objectivity about this race and chose not to pursue any skeletons of the Dem candidate.

Sen. Dole and Sen. Sununu. It is usually very difficult to unseat an incumbent senator. It takes either a major screw up or a tidal wave against their party. Dole was affected by both as she ran a sloppy campaign with ads that backfired against her. Sununu lost a rematch against a popular former governor in a year which clearly was bad for republicans.

The future of the Supreme Court took a major hit as the most pro-abortion presidential candidate ever was elected. Obama has made clear that he will appoint judges who will base rulings on their emotions instead of actually applying the law as it is written.

The reputations of the people of Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Within the last few weeks Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA) twice insulted his constituents as racists and rednecks and yet those same people had so little personal pride they still voted for his reelection. No winner has been declared in the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, but that state's reputation took a serious hit by the mere fact that Al Franken got a single vote let alone over a million votes.

Tax payers obviously will be the biggest losers from last night. Anyone who believed Obama's lies about 95% of people getting a tax cut should be committed.

Only in America

I had a couple dozen different (and mostly negative) post election points to make, but have decided to go with the positive first. As children, we all were told that in America anyone could grow up to be president. After last night, a whole lot more people believe that to be true. Regardless of whether you hold the president elect in high or low esteem, it is unquestionably good for our nation that all children believe they can achieve anything.

Civic Duty Completed

Well, we did our part. The wife and I just got back from voting. Not too long a wait, maybe 15 minutes. Now all we can do is wait for the results later tonight. I can say with confidence that Butler County will go overwhelmingly for McCain. The rest of the state? No idea how it will go.

Oh My Gosh, Woman sent to prison for late term abortion

This wouldn't happen during an Obama administration. //sarcasm off//

Endorsement for President of the United States of America

Tomorrow between 130 million and 160 million people will go to the polls and elect the next president. Many people will endorse a candidate and give a couple reasons why they prefer that one over the other (or others, if you actually acknowledge Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, Bobb Barr, and friends). This time I'd rather address various concerns and how the candidates stack up on those particular issue.

If you care about security and national defense, here is how they compare:
Sen. John McCain - A lifetime of military service, followed by decades in the Senate fighting for defense issues including fighting against misguided spending.
Sen. Barack Obama - Scant history, but wrong on the only issue he has expressed an opinion on - the surge in Iraq. Also, has discussed cutting defense spending by 25% and discontinuing any anti-missile defense spending.

I'll give that one to McCain. Make your own call.

If you care about foreign affairs:
McCain - Has been repeatedly tested and will be respected by foreign leaders.
Obama - Very naive and assumes leader of hostile nations can be talked into being nice. Chose Sen. Biden as his running mate because of Biden's vast experience in foreign affairs. Problem is Biden has decades of being wrong on nearly every issue that has come up.

I kind of think that one goes to McCain as well.

If you care about the economy:
McCain - Not an economist by his own admission. However, we can count on him to work diligently to curb excessive government spending.
Obama - Will raise taxes causing a much deeper and longer recession. His positions that he admits to border on European socialism. His long associations with admitted communists like Bill Ayers and Frank Davis leave me thinking socialism is the least of our concerns with Obama.

McCain isn't my first choice on this issue, but he is far better than his opponent again.

If you care about character and personality:
McCain - Positives: Survived several years in a POW camp and his fellow prisoners compliment him as a major boost to their morale because of his open defiance of prison officials and refusal to accept early release from prison based on his father's seniority.
Negatives: After returning from prison, he cheated on and later divorced his first wife, Carol, who had been seriously injured in a car accident while he was gone.
Obama - Positives: Seems like a good family man with a happy marriage.
Negatives: Attended a church with a goofy racist preacher for twenty years and had no problem associating with Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, etc.

Feeling generous I'd almost call this a tie. However, Obama's repeated misjudgments of people seriously call his ability to differentiate right from wrong into question.

If you are worried about excessive government intrusion into our lives:
McCain - Has long advocated a limited role for our government.
Obama - Is a major proponent of increased government influence through a national health care plan.

McCain looks better here.

If you're anxious for increased spending on failed social service programs then Sen Obama is the candidate for you. From his failures with the Annenberg Challenge, which spent a hundred million dollars and made no difference in Chicago inner city schools to the tax payer money he wasted to improve his district (you know - the $100,000 Gazebo) he has shown a real fondness for spending other people's money.

If you think we need to continue to force lending institutions to provide home loans to high-risk buyers then Obama is your guy. He is the Fannie Mae sponsored candidate.

If you're concerned about First Amendment rights:
McCain - Co-Author and defender of McCain/Feingold Act which infringed on our right to free speech.
Obama - Expected to take action to restore the misnamed Fairness Doctrine in order to silence talk radio.

Once again, I'll call this a tie though the Fairness Doctrine seems like a greater threat to our rights.

If you're concerned about Second Amendment rights:
McCain/Palin - Both endorsed by the NRA. Palin is an avid hunter and outdoorsman.
Obama/Biden - Prior to running for president, Obama was an extremist against 2nd Amendment rights. He even disagreed with the right of someone to defend themselves in their home.

McCain is your only choice in this regard. Not even close.

Do you want more or less government? I want gridlock more than increased government action. Consider what an Obama election would mean. We'd have an extremely liberal congress (both houses) with an equally liberal rubber stamp in the White House. With a McCain election, anything he proposed would be fought in congress and if congress voted for anything overly ridiculous then McCain could veto.

If you care about the destination of your soul:
McCain/Palin - Don't just talk the talk on pro-life, they live those values.
Obama/Biden - Most pro-abortion presidential ticket ever. Obama has gone so far as to oppose legislation that would require treatment for children who survive abortions out of fear that any infringement on abortion could threaten Roe v. Wade.

Personally, when I meet my maker I'll have enough to account for that I don't want to have to defend voting for Obama.

Bottom line: If you have any concern about the future of our country Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin are the choice going forward. Go with Obama/Biden if you want bad people running bad government.

Endorsement for U.S. Senate seat from Minnesota

I heartily endorse Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) for reelection to the U.S. Senate. Sen. Coleman has performed very well in the senate. However, like in the case of Rep. Murtha, the opponent is the key to the importance of this race. Running against Coleman is unhinged, dishonest former comedian and noted tax cheat Al Franken. Franken is a far-left extreme partisan Democrat and would add nothing to the senate. Or at least nothing positive.

Endorsement on Statewide Ballot Issues

In Ohio we have about a half dozen statewide ballot initiatives to modify our state constitution. They all sound like a bunch of BS. I recommend voting against all of them. If you disagree with me then vote for them.

Endorsement for Pennsylvania's 12th District

I endorse Bill Russell to serve as U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 12th District. Russell is a combat veteran and a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel. Russell is a sharp individual and a staunch conservative. However, it is equally important who he would replace in Congress - Rep. Jack "My Constituents are Racist Rednecks" Murtha (D-PA). A corrupt politician, Murtha has been embarrassing his district and our country for decades. During the 1970's he was caught on tape by the FBI negotiating bribes during the ABSCAM scandal. Since the 70's he has been wasting government money on various pork barrel spending projects in his home district ensuring his reelection. In recent years Murtha, a rare EX-Marine, slandered our troops by declaring they had murdered Iraqi men, women and children in cold blood before the investigation was completed. Add it all up and he must go. If the people of Pennsylvania have any pride whatsoever he will lose big tomorrow.

Election Endorsement - Ohio 8th District

I endorse incumbent Rep. John Boehner to remain as our U.S. Representative from Ohio's 8th District. This one won't even be close. I haven't even heard who is running against Boehner. Wouldn't matter anyways since Boehner represents the interests and values of our district. He's is a good man leading an unfortunately shrinking minority party in Congress.

Monday Morning Linkfest

Here are a bunch of links with limited commentary. Obviously, with the election winding down the articles are mostly related to tomorrow's election.

Stanley Kurtz, who did more investigative reporting on Sen. Obama than anyone, has an article titled: What We Know About Obama. A good review.

Obama’s No Kennedy is an article by Deroy Murdock discussing former Robert Kennedy aide Bartle Bull speaking for Sen. McCain at a rally this past weekend. On that note, I wonder how many of Obama's supporters in the Kennedy clan are aware that Obama pal Bill Ayers dedicated his first book to Sirhan Sirhan. For anyone unaware, Sirhan is the nut who shot and killed Bobby Kennedy in 1968.

Burt Prelutsky pens America's Last Will and Testament. Read the whole thing, but here is a snippet I really liked:

It occurs to me that politicians continue, as a matter of P.R., to refer themselves as public servants. They are the only servants in the history of mankind to not only make more money than their masters, but are the ones who insist on giving all the orders.

What's the secret behind Palin's appeal? I think it is simpler than the article indicates. She is popular because she is authentic.

The "No Kidding, Sherlock" headline of the day: Ohio Coal Association Says Obama Remarks Make It Clear: Obama Ticket Not Supportive of Coal. So, you don't buy Obama's claim that he was taken out of context when he pledged to use cap and trade emissions fines to bankrupt coal plant?

Howie Carr gives us Five reasons to vote against Obama. Just five Howie? Come on I know you can do better than that.

Early voting is a big mistake. I realize it existed in some states prior to this cycle, but it seems to have gotten worse (or maybe just gotten more attention) this election. I was going to do a lengthy post pertaining to this problem, however Tom Blumer at BizzyBlog saved me the trouble with his post titled: Early Voting Is a Travesty!

Endorsement posts coming later today.

Texas Tech 39 & Texas 33

Wow, great game by Texas Tech defeating the number one team. The Red Raiders are a fun team to watch. Two years ago Texas Tech jumped out to a 21 to nothing lead on Texas only to lose the game late. Tonight, Texas Tech led 19 to nothing early but found themselves trailing 33 to 32 with a little more than a minute remaining. They quickly marched down the field and scored a touchdown with one second left on the clock.