Breaking Non-News Item

New York Times claims David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were on the list of 103 baseball players who tested positive for steroids in 2003. We have reached the point where no news regarding past steroid use is shocking.

Winners and Losers Cambridge Edition

As everyone is aware, last week there was a confrontation between a Harvard professor and a Cambridge police officer. This wouldn't be nationally newsworthy except the professor happened to be a black man who screamed racism and belligerent and crappy with the police officer. Beyond that the story got further legs when the president answered a question about the case and immediately assumed the polices actions were race based and declared that the Cambridge police acted "stupidly." A bad situation all around. However, there are some winners to go along with the mix of losers. Here is the cast of characters and a quick analysis of how they did during the confrontation and in the aftermath.

Professor Gates - Stature clearly diminished. Showed himself to be race obsessed and immature. Could go so far as to say his integrity is in question based on the facts of the case not matching his rants and comments. Loser.

Harvard - The college has employed this character for decades to show their progressiveness. Hard to believe they were unaware of his nature. Slight loser.

Sergeant Crowley - Stayed composed even while being falsely accused of racism. received strong support from local and national law enforcement organizations. However, he was branded a racist and some will believe the charge regardless of basis. Also, the president described his actions as stupid and whether they should or not some people give credence to the president's opinion. I'd like to label Crowley a winner, but he somewhat lost. That is the problem with false accusations, especially regarding race, once a charge is leveled it will always be part of your story.

President Obama - Unnecessarily injected himself in the case. He admitted he didn't have the facts yet still declared the police acted stupidly. It was an opportunity to be a racial healer by making the point that in cases like this some people too quickly assume a racial aspect without that being the case. However, instead of acting presidential, Obama showed himself to have the same opinion on race matters as clowns like the "camera reverends." Loses his mantel as a post-racial politician. Came across as still being a community agitator instead of being on the law and order side of things. Big loser.

People who voted for President Obama thinking he was a post-racial politician - It is up to them. If they realize he's a JAP (Just Another Politician) then they're a step ahead of where the were. If they still fall for his empty rhetoric then they are bigger losers.

Bill Cosby and Juan Williams - Cosby correctly said the president was wrong to weigh in and Williams correctly declared this confrontation was NOT a case of racial profiling. Both are winners who will have greater credibility going forward. Folks who immediately side with their own race regardless of facts have zero credibility.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick - See comments regarding President Obama.

Today's Non-News Item: Corruption in New Jersey

It would be easy to conclude that this is a big story. FBI raids across the state of New Jersey with mayors of of several major cities taken into custody. Unfortunately, since it is New Jersey it isn't news and won't make a wit of difference. Even if this group of crooks are indicted and convicted they will just be replaced with new crooks. It is like house cleaning at a sleazy hotel - changing the towels and sheets doesn't mean the place is clean.

The article had a bit of information I found amusing:

WNBC-TV in New York reported and showed images of the mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus being taken into FBI headquarters in Newark. The station also showed rabbis being taken into custody.

Rabbis? Huh, I thought they just worked for tips (old bris joke).

Now The Muslims Have Gone Too Far

It is one thing for the crazy Muslims to tell their women they can't drive. It is stupid, but who cares. It also is stupid for them to make their women wear the goofy burka outfit, but still none of my business. However, this news item is an example of them really getting out of hand.

An Islamic court in Malaysia has sentenced a Muslim woman to be flogged with a rattan cane for having a beer in a nightclub, a court official said Tuesday. It is rare for a woman in Malaysia to be sentenced to caning -- a punishment usually reserved for men in various crimes ranging from rape to bribery. Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was sentenced Monday to six lashes and a fine of 5,000 ringgit ($1,400) for consuming alcohol

What!?! They are going to beat this woman and steal money from her for drinking a beer??? Yet somehow these goofs get upset when rational people mock them for being stuck in the 8th century.

Another Thirty Pieces of Silver

In the months leading up to the 2008 election several prominent, and formerly actively pro-life Catholics publicly endorsed Barack Obama for the presidency. A few months ago we noted Dan Rooney receiving his payment of thirty pieces of silver in the form of appointment as Ambassador to Ireland. Today, another payment has been made as Doug Kmiec was nominated as Ambassador to Malta. A law professor who also served in the Reagan administration, Kmiec was a strong pro-life advocate until a year ago. He supported Mitt Romney in the primary, but after Romney lost in the primary he strangely switched allegiance to Barack Obama the most pro-abortion candidate to run on a major party ticket. Prior to the election Kmiec authored abook titled "Can A Catholic Support Him?: Asking the Big Question About Barack Obama" which somehow made the case that it was possible for a faithful Catholic to support a pro-abortion presidential candidate. I can only wonder if when all is said and done he will feel the ambassadorship is worth betraying all he used to profess to believe?

Karl Malden - RIP

Karl Malden died today at 97 years of age. The veteran character actor was one of my favorites from old classic movies. He is better known to more recent audiences as the guy from the American Express commercials who says "never leave home without it." His birth name was Mladen George Sekulovich. With the way that rolls off your tongue I have to wonder why he changed it.

Rest in Peace Mr. Malden.

Sestak to Challenge Specter in Dem Primary

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) switched from RINO to DINO out of fear that he would be easily be beaten in the Republican primary next year because of his ridiculous vote supporting the massive pork laden faux stimulus bill. Now, after switching to Democrat to seek another term in the senate it turns out he will have a decent challenge for the nomination of that party. Rep. Joe Sestak announced today that he will oppose Specter. I'm no fan of Sestak (he had a reputation in the Navy of being a crappy boss resulting in demotion from Vice Admiral to Rear Admiral and sudden retirement), but I hope he gives Specter a hard bruising fight in the primaries. Let them spend lots of stupid money and then the most damaged and beaten man can face off against Pat Toomey in the general election. Both Specter and Sestak voted for the Stimulus bill and will be vulnerable on that front especially if the economy continues to stumble.