Sarah Palin???

I haven't necessarily been doing a great job of keeping up with the news but this Sarah Palin story has me completely confused. She resigning her job as governor of Alaska to ? Get ready to run for President? In 2012? Her term as governor was ending in 2010 so...

I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't completely overwhelmed with her selection as McCain's running mate last year. I appreciated the fact that she energized the Republican base for a less than energizing candidate but I was never convinced that she was the right person for the job. And now I'm even more convinced that she wasn't the right person for the job.

If this is some strategy to run for President, it's a very poor one. Quitting in office is not a virtue. Sure, some may say she's stepping down because her heart isn't in running Alaska but I find that hard to believe. I'm wondering if there isn't a backlash against her growing in Alaska and there's a fear that Sean Parnell could lose in 2010 and embarass her in her home state. Or is there something even more sinister at work? There have been several investigations in her activities...is there a bigger one coming down the pike or a bigger one that has been threatened?

I'm not sure what's going on but this is definitely bizarre and doesn't make me want her as the Republican nominee in 2012. Given the current state of affairs, should the party look for someone a little more stable and predictable? You betcha.

So, I traveled out to Chicago for a few days of vacation. It was definitely an entertaining trip. The main objective was to visit Andrew, who has lived in Chicago for the past 6-months and is now moving to North Carolina. I flew out of Pittsburgh with Brian and Ryan on Thursday. Thursday evening, Ryan's brother Ben was meeting us. He was flying out of DC.

Upon arrival at the airport, we learned our flight was delayed 20-minutes. That was probably good since we cut it pretty close anyway and that gave us a little time to grab a bite to eat. We flew into Midway and caught the Orange Line into the city. We prompty checked into our hotel and, well, it was pretty awesome. Directly across the river from Trump Tower and an amazing view of Chicago River.

After spending a little time at the hotel, we decided to head out and catch some sites. The first location was the Millennium Park. They were setting up for "Taste of Chicago," so there wasn't any traffic to deal with for the most part around the park itself. One of the cool things in the park is Cloud Gate, better known as "The Bean", which gives visitors a very unique perspective of the Chicago skyline.

And then there was the Buckinham Fountain, which most people will remember from the opening scene of "Married...with Children."

After that, Brian, Ryan and myself went to Potbelly's for a sandwich and entertainment by the guitar player up in a perch. The debate ensued on whether he was paid to entertain or just received a free lunch. I'm betting on the lunch. Anyway, after eating, we headed down the street and essentially ran directly into the only person I know living in Chicago, Jason. I tried to figure out the odds of that occuring but was unable to come up with a formula. I figure it's pretty astronomical though. It was definitely cool that it happened, though, and we were able to make plans with Jason before leaving Chicago.

We decided to spend some time doing a little more site-seeing in the city since Andrew didn't get off work until 5:00 and it was 2:00 at this point. We headed down to the North Avenue Beach for a bit, which is very well developed and very cool. We then went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Since it was in the 90s, not many animals were out and about to watch.

We finally met up with Andrew and had dinner. His apartment building was pretty interesting in that Charlie Chaplin and Bugs Moran had lived there and parts of Chucky were filmed in the building. After visiting a few establishments, we headed back downtown to the hotel. Upon leaving the train area and heading up the steps, we found that the City of Chicago was resealing the sidewalks. Since there was no other means of escape, we stepped on the freshly sealed asphalt where I promptly slid and fell.

That didn't really bother me too much over the course of the trip until the last evening. Then it hurt a bit. It's still healing. We stopped at a 7-11 on the way to the hotel where I made friends with crazy people, including a former lady security guard from Beumont and a Bohemian woman who just wanted toothpaste. All in all, it was an entertaining first day.

Death of an Icon

I was going to write about my Chicago trip but Michael Jackson died in the middle of it so I thought I would talk about that today and save the Chicago trip for tomorrow. It was easy to know something happened with Jackson since you couldn't walk a block in Chicago without hearing someone blaring Jackson out their car windows or through their portable sound system (80s-style) or out of nearby shops. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Jackson was quite a character. It was nearly impossible to listen to the radio in the 80s or early 90s without hearing a Michael Jackson song. Thirteen No. 1 hits and 5 No. 1 albums don't do justice to his musical contributions. He defined an entire genre of music, bringing incredible beats, energy and dancing with his voice. "Thriller" continues to be a musical marvel to this day.

Of course, you can't take the good of Jackson without the bad. The constant controversy surrounding him clouded his genius. Bizarre news stories about his daily habits were released at a pace that far surpassed his musical releases. He shot back at the tabloids in his song "Leave Me Alone," but his behavior was too eccentric to ignore. And the allegations of abuse was much more than most could handle. Whether innocent or guilty, Jackson's judgement was questionable, at best.

But I have to ask whether the public would be as mournful today if Jackson weren't so strange. His strange antics have kept him in the public eye far more than his music in recent years. If Jackson had simply grown old, looked normal and faded into retirement, would people be as moved by his death? Sure, they would mourn and listen to old Jackson tunes but would there be this type of out-pouring of grief? The public longed for Jackson's "crazy" habits as much as they longed for his terrific music. He became a reality show of sorts. His monetary woes, his custody issues, his ever-changing and more terrifying looks -- all part of the sideshow that was Michael Jackson.

I was in high hopes that Jackson would shock everyone and make a comeback following the 02 tour. I was in hopes he would actually be able to perform again. I had read several articles listing new artists, like Akon and RedOne, that were axiously hoping to work with the King of Pop following his concerts in the UK. That was all wishful thinking, I'm sure. But at least there was a hope of such a thing occuring. Now that hope is gone...at least Michael's music remains.

Dave Matthews Concert

After attending the Dave Matthews Band Concert on Saturday night, it's pretty easy to see why people travel all over to see the group and will go to multiple shows a year to watch the same group perform the same number -- they're awesome. Unfortunately I have no pictures as the event staff said "no cameras" and, like an idiot, I simply didn't take a camera into the venue. That hardly stopped the other 22,998 fans from bringing in a camera. How they accomplished this, I don't know -- nor do I really want to know. But I digress...

The Hold Steady opened for Dave. I purchased a Hold Steady CD a while back and never really got into it but couldn't remember why until last night. The lead singer, Craig Finn, doesn't really sing. He just kinda talks in a monotone way over the music for most of the song. There are very few lyrical pieces to the music. It's not bad...just not my cup of tea. After about 40-minutes, they cleared the stage and the giant curtain went up in preparation for Dave.

The venue filled in a hurry at 8:00 p.m., in anticipation for the opening of the show. We had seats in Row Z (26 for those with a math/alphabet issue) which had a decent view of the stage but I would have much rather been about 25 rows closer. The show started and everything was electric. The crowd was into it from the first notes and, well, it was just phenomenal.

They hit alot of their hits, like "Ants Marching," "Two Step," "Best of What's Around" and "Bartender" and mixed in a lot of stuff from the new album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. Maybe they jammed a tad too long on a couple songs but the jams were all cool, especially the prolongs "Ants Marching." No "Satellite," "Crash Into Me," or "Space Between," but they couldn't hardly play the entire collection (unfortunately). After 3-hours, they finally closed with "Halloween," which delighted the fans in attendance.

Needless to say, I probably could have stayed another three hours to listen to them play. They honestly sounded as good at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as they do on a post-production live CD. Boyd Tinsley tore up the violin and Carter Beauford was amazing on drums. Really, the whole show was just amazing. And the crowd was well-behaved, which was nice.

Leaving the show was a spectacle as we sat in the parking area for a good hour hoping a group of people were going to fall out of a truck. It never happened unfortunately. However, the concert the girl in the next car over was putting on herself was definitely entertaining. Once we got on the highway, it was smooth sailing home except the downpours. The whole experience, though, was definitely positive. And I will most certainly be getting tickets to next year's Dave Matthews visit to the area.

State of the Union

I'm just completely disgusted with the entire state of the current union. If you were upset with some of the hypocrisy of the Bush Administration, you would have to be absolutely pulling your hair out with the Obama Administration. This is a group that contradicts itself on a daily basis, from Guatanomo to bailouts to Iraq to national security. It's an administration adrift and confused.

Or is it? Perhaps confusion is how the Obama administration works best. Saturate people with conflicting stories until they have no idea what is really happening. We're shutting down Gitmo. No, we're keeping Gitmo open. We're restarting military tribuanals. We're trying them in the American judicial system. We're letting detainees go. We're transferring them to American facilities. It's a new story everyday. The Democrats relish in mis-direction and confusion.

The other thing the Dems are feeding on is pure fear. Swine Flu! Unemployment! Debt! Bankruptcy! War! Terror! Vaccines! Coal! Carbon! Global Warming! China! Dollar!

People accused the Bush Administration of playing on fears when it comes to terror. Well, the Bush folks were mere novices when it comes to playing the fear card. When people are fearful and not in control of their surroundings, they want to put their faith that someone will protect them. Obama has promised the government will protect everyone. The more fear, the more people look to the government to protect them. This plays right into their hands in the attempt to grow the government ever larger. And the media is right there to perpetuate those fears onto the American public and to further perpetuate the belief that only the government can protect folks from their fears.

The other thing I find extremely disgusting is the allegedly high poll numbers Obama receives. I have a hard time finding anyone that supports the Obama Administration policies. Even people who voted for him have gone out of their way to denounce the outrageous spending practices. I find it hard to believe that 70% of Americans approve of the direction this administration is taking us. Maybe 70% of those looking for a handout. Maybe that's the only people the press polls anymore.

I find it frustrating and, quite frankly, infuriating to watch the direction we are heading. That is the primary reason I have limited my writing. I find it hard to watch the news on a regular basis because of the constantly conflicting stories and the obvious Obama-worship that most newscasters display. I can only hope that we can rectify the issues that are being created. I'm not confident in that however.

Favre to Return...Again?

Brett Favre is meeting with Coach Brad Childress of the Vikings to discuss possibly returning to play yet another season. This is hardly a shocking development. As soon as the Jets released Favre, everyone saw the potential for yet another Favre comeback. And, of course, it would be with the Vikings since Minnesota is an in-division rival to the team that made Favre famous, the Green Bay Packers.

If Favre returns and plays for the Vikings, it would be the final finger to all Packers' fans and prove that Favre has always cared more about Favre than the fans of Green Bay. Over his many years in Green Bay there were plenty of spin doctors playing on Favre's team, convincing anyone who would listen that Favre only cared about Green Bay. Last year's debacle with New York and now this year's Favre tease proves that Brett Favre only cares about Brett Favre.

Personally, I don't care whether he returns or not. It's always nice to have Favre out there helping defensive backs pad their interception stats but, other than that, there's not much use for him. Favre might be a working stiff yet again...time to hang up the tiara until next year.

NASCAR at Richmond

Went to the Richmond to see the Crown Royal 400 this past weekend. Needless to say, it was an interesting experience. The most amazing part was the variety of people to see...and, well, there was a race too.

Being still considered a "southern" sport, we obviously saw our share of interesting people. The Confederate flag is still flown proudly in Richmond apparently...I imagine even more so the further south the race gets.

Yes, his leg says "Git 'er Done!"

This dude's back is a tribute to the Civil War with Generals Lee and Grant on the back.

And, well, I'm not going to say anything about this...

The facilities were what you would expect for about 90,000 people hanging out in a parking lot.

As you would expect with something as sponsor-oriented as NASCAR, there were booths setup everywhere advertising different products

But who really wants a sample of Hellman's mayonnaise???

And nothing really explains this guy...

Thankfully the it didn't rain during the race itself but we had a few good downpours mid-afternoon that sent the spectators scrambling.

Once inside, we found track drying was well underway. The sound of the track drying equipment is actually louder than the actual cars. It was painful listening to the blowdryers but at least they were able to get the track dry and start pre-race festivities on time. One of the more interesting aspects of getting into the track is that NASCAR actually allows you to bring your own food and drink into the track. So everyone had bags and coolers. It's pretty nice because you don't have to worry about excessive costs in buying a hotdog from a vendor. It's a very fan-friendly sport.

They parachuted in the American flag and there was a flyover. And the "The Commandant's Own" The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps performed the Star Spangled Banner.

Because of track drying, they actually started the race under the yellow flag to take care of any wet spots but it wasn't log before the green flag flew and we were racing.

Everyone there had their favorite drivers. Obviously, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. elicted the loudest applause while Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson shared the title for most boos. The crowd was most pleased when Johnson wrecked in the latter stages of the race.

I think the race tied or surpassed a Richmond record for cautions and a few occurred between turns 1 and 2 where we were located but, for the most part, there weren't any major accident.

Kyle Busch won the race handedly and, surprising, the crowd wasn't too opposed to that outcome. It just happened to be Kyle Busch's 24th Birthday so that was interesting too...

All in all, it was an enjoyable experience. I think people take shots at NASCAR fans because of the redneck beginnings of the sport but the people at the track were really no different than the variety of people you would see at a typical Mountaineer game. I'm definitely going to have to go to another race at some point...it was an overall fun time.

Tea Parties

"It's despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful polical stunt."

Those are the words of Rep. Jan Schawowsky (D-Ill.) regarding yesterday's nationwide "Tea Parties." These tea parties are in protest to the unreasonable amount of debt being run up by the newly elected president and the obvious future tax increases that must occur to pay for these new programs.

What is amazing to me is Schawowsky's protest of Americans using their First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Where is Ms. Schawowsky when Americans assemble to protest our military or Americans assemble to give rights to illegal aliens in this country? Oh, that's right...those are noble causes to Rep. Schawowsky. Real working Americans standing up for their rights isn't noble. Only the jobless should be out protesting anything, right? I'm sure that's what Rep. Schawowsky believes.

The Return of Tyranny

President Obama has been busy these past 3 months. He is slowly, but surely, pulling the country further and further left and doing everything in his power to create additional dependence on the state and government for day to day living. He has weakened America's standing around the world for apologizing for anything he can find. And he plunges the economy deeper in the tank while doing so.

There are so many things wrong with his agenda that it is nearly impossible to find one item in which to go in detail. I guess I will discuss his primary goal which is to create additional dependence on the state to accomplish his ambition of the redistribution of wealth and equal misery for all.

This country was founded on the belief that all were created equal and all have equal opportunity to succeed. There is no guarantee of equal results. Unfortunately, it appears that President Obama has never read the United State Constitution or Bill of Rights. Or he has warped their meaning to the point those documents are unrecognizable.

If President Obama succeeds in his goals, all results will be equal. The redistribution of wealth and private property will occur making all people "equal" regardless of their success. The only way this can occur if for a greater power, the government, to control everything. President Obama believes the government can better handle life than the person actual living. Obama believes the government is better equipped to run your life than you are. Does that make sense?

From health care to education to creating a world government, Obama wants the government to run every aspect of your life and give up American sovereignty. This is the path we are heading down. And this president has accomplished more toward pushing us to this way of life in 3 months than all liberals have since our founding days. This is the return to tyranny from our government. This is the antithesis of what our Founding Fathers envisioned. If America doesn't wake up soon, it will be too late to stop this runaway train.

UNC = National Champs

No real suprise the North Carolina won the national championship last night. It surprised me more than so many people though Carolina might lose somehow. UNC has superior talent and a superior coach. Izzo might have good teams out at Michigan State but they hardly compare to the talent that Roy Williams can acquire at North Carolina.

The only bad part about last night's game was the lack of drama. North Carolina proved from the opening tip that they were there to win a championship and nothing short of that goal would be accepted. UNC dominated the first half of the game by out-hustling the Spartans in every aspect of the game. It was a magnificient performance.

Roy Williams has cemented his legacy as one of the all-time great coaches by destroying Izzo's Michigan State. Two championships down...who knows how many more before he finally leaves UNC. The sky is the limit...he is at North Carolina.

Obama's Administration - Taking Jobs

Unemployment is high, energy costs are going up and the government is trying to spend money it doesn't have. So, to make things better, we're going to shut down coal operations in West Virginia? How does this even make sense? Apparently West Virginia's unemployment rate isn't high enough for the Obama Administration. And cheap energy from coal? Well, why should Americans have any break on energy costs?

This Administration is proving to be so much more incompetent than I could have ever imagined. It would be almost comical if American's livelihoods weren't at stake. The damage being done now may never be undone. When the EU President is a voice of economic reason, there is something seriously wrong with the way things are being handled in the States.

Other countries are balking at buying American debt. The dollar is plunging amid fears of massive inflation and devaluing of American currency. Other countries are floating the idea of dropping the dollar as the world standard for currency. This is serious and has far more reaching implications than just high unemployment. But too many Americans are caught up in the euphoria from this "historic" administration to see the dangers that lie ahead. This administration is historic...but for all the wrong reasons.

Big East Rules

Five Big East teams remain among the final 16 in this year's NCAA tournament. Not bad considering only 7 Big East teams were picked. Compare that to the two from the Big Ten and ACC despite the fact they also received 7 bids each. Funny considering some pundits thought the Big Ten should have as many as 9 bids this season. At the end, I think it shows the Big Ten is pretty weak and the ACC is having an off year. The Big East is the best in college basketball. Whether that translates into a national title is yet to be seen.

Is anyone really suprised WVU lost the opening round game? I'm not. I had them beating Dayton but it definitely wasn't because I believed they would. Thankfully I had them losing in the 2nd round. There's something missing from WVU's play and it's just not that we don't have a big man inside. The offense is anemic -- we rely completely on offensive rebounds to win games. Poor shooting will lead to losses and WVU has shot poorly.

On the other side, was anyone surprised that Michigan advanced to the 2nd round and gave Oklahoma a run? John Beilein is a heckuva coach. It's hard not to continue to enjoy Beilein's style of play. Michigan will be a top tier team in the Big Ten next year.

Lastly, how much longer until the United State is bankrupt? Obama is now talking about another $1 Trillion dollars in bad debt acquirement by the government. Where is this money coming from? China is already balking at buying more American debt. The dollar is dropping. We're devaluing our currency and soon will be hit with crippling inflation. Or at least that's the scenario I'm starting to see develop. What is the gameplan of the Obama Administration? I don't see one. I can't understand a word this supposedly articulate politician says. His contradictions already define his administration. And Congress may be even more confused than the president. Say what you will but the Bush administration was far more transparent than this supposedly transparent administration.

Random Stuff

Haven't updated in a while...so, I'll just throw a bunch of things together real fast:

• If George W. Bush made the "Special Olympics" joke that Barack Obama made on Leno, there would be marches in Washington DC by now. I'm not saying the joke was really that bad but I am saying there is a huge double-standard in how the press covers those types of events.
• Perhaps this wouldn't have happened if Obama's Teleprompter had been used. It amazes me that the press has built this guy up as the most articulate president ever and he can't speak without the use of verbatim notes.
• I dislike greatly Duke and Coach K but I have to give him props on recommending the president focus more on the economy than his NCAA picks. Perhaps he should spend more time on foreign relations than who is in his bracket.
• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has to love Barack Obama. The signals have been sent that the United States is weak on foreign policy and definitely doesn't have the backbone to backup rhetoric with force. We just want to play nice with everyone. Iran will have a nuclear bomb in a couple years...that will be nice.
• I can't get WVU past Kansas in my bracket. I tried...just doesn't work. Hopefully they can get by Dayton today.
• The AIG bonus mess has been projected through a very bias prism. If people were guaranteed money by a business, that business should pay that money. This is why the government should not be involved in private business. I am more offended by the corruption in Washington and the gifts our "representatives" receive. Perhaps those gifts should be taxed 100%. I would definitely be in favor of that course of action.
• Lastly, is there any politician more disturbing than Nancy Pelosi? Google her...check her out. She's atrocious.

Burning Bridges

Obviously the British press isn't overly impressed with the "Chosen One":

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/iain_martin/blog/2009/03/06/president_barack_obama_dislikes_britain_but_hes_keen_to_meet_the_queen

Obama is over his head and drowning. He can't give a speech without a teleprompter. He can't figure out the economy. And it's becoming evident that he doesn't know what to do with foreign policy. And yet people in this country remain oblivious. Eventually the honeymoon will have to end...and it will be a rude awakening.

Jim Cramer's Response to the White House

I think this is all for today:

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/news/cramer-my-response-white-house

It's amazing that the White House is taking on individuals who disagree with their plans just to stifle opposition. And it's scary.

Anti-Green

Conservatives are often labled as anti-green or anti-environment. I'm not sure that's a very fair assessment of the conservative position on the environment. I am very much in favor of clean air and water. I am very much in favor of not littering. I turn down the heat in the winter when I'm not home and turn off the air conditioner in the summer when I'm out. I bought rechargeable batteries and drive a car that gets 25 MPG. Shoot, I even bought those spiral lights that are environmentally friendly. But, I don't do those things for the right reason -- I do it to save money, not the environment. So that makes me anti-green.


My problem with the enviromental movement begin with the notion that we must suffer to make things right again. We must pay more for energy to right our environmental sins. We can't make the small changes that I said above but, instead, we must completely give up our way of life according to many environmentalists. Green has become a de facto religion for many on the far left with Man being a scourge upon the earth. We must either repent and suffer for our environmental sins or face an oncoming environmental apocalypse.

Personally, I just don't think that way. I am pro-environment as long as it makes sense. Obama's green initiatives are mostly subsidies for alternative energies that would lose money if they didn't receive subsidies. The long term plan is even more sinister. To force more people to use green energy, it must be cost effective. To make alternative fuels and energies more cost effective, Obama's initiative will find ways to raise prices on existing energies such as oil and coal. This, obviously, will be to the detriment of the American citizen since energy prices will sky rocket to give alternative energies some appeal.

Talk about destroying an economy. One of the few reliefs we have felt with this economy is the lower gas prices. If Obama has his way, those prices will return to $4 + or higher just to further the far left greenies. It is absolutely ridiculous to make people suffer just to satisfy a fringe group in this country. Progress can be made but we're not to a point that it is cost effective. Talk about taking a hit against the middle class...this will definitely hurt if Obama gets his way.

Why Limbaugh is Right

The White House is attacking Rush Limbaugh as the leader of the Republican Party. They're not exactly right. Limbaugh might have the attention of the Republican Party but Limbaugh has long said he doesn't lead the Republicans. Nor does he run for office. If anything, Limbaugh leads the conservative base in this country. Not necessarily Republicans but rather a principle that can be taken up by Republicans, Democrats or Independents.

Conservative people typically vote Republican because the Republican party has often stood for conservatism when compared to the Democrat party. However, there are liberal Republicans as there are conservative Democrats. Limbaugh, much like other conservatives, do not have to agree with the Republican party. When George W. Bush expanded the government, conservatives protested. Conservatives raised concerns about the first $700 billion dollar bailout. Conservatives did not like the choice of John McCain. Conservatives, including some Democrats in the "Blue Dog Group" are concerned about the latest "stimulus" bill.

I am a fiscal conservative. I believe in lower taxes and less government intervention. I believe government hampers business. I am not against oversight but I do not believe the government should be interfering in the day-to-day operation of any business. I believe in free enterprise and that America works best in the private sector. And these are things that Limbaugh also happens to believe. And I believe that it is an American citizen's right to voice that opinion. As does Limbaugh. And it's because I am conservative first, and not a Republican first, that I can criticize Bush's expansion of government and bailout plan. It is because I am conservative first that I can compliment Joe Manchin's fiscal conservatism in keeping West Virginia in the black. I don't care if he's a Democrat as long as he follows basic economic principles to keep the state in check.

On a social agenda, I find myself at odds with some in the conservative base. There are many social arguments in which I just don't have an opinion. So I base 90% of my votes solely on the financial policies of the candidate. And that's the Number One reason why I'm having a hard time with Barack Obama. I don't believe his policies are going to advance this country. And I believe we are heading down the wrong direction. And, like Limbaugh, I don't want to see this country turn into a welfare state where the redistribution of wealth becomes the primary job of the state.

Lastly, I don't like the policy the White House has taken in trying to bully and intimidate opponents. They have tried to distort the words of anyone who publicly disagrees with their policy. They have obviously taken on Limbaugh and Hannity and, by doing so, pushed many Republicans back to their conservative ideals (thank you, White House). And they have taken on other journalists who voice their opinions. They have attacked Rick Santelli for disagreeing with the "stimulus" bill on CNBC in his famous "Chicago Tea Party" rant and now they are taking on Jim Cramer because the believes the White House is destroying wealth.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the First Amendment guarantee Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press? Is it now not permissible to question the judgment of the White House? When the Press Corps was pushing a "Lose the War" agenda in Iraq and the White House called for a more balanced report, didn't the Press cite the First Amendment? Now the White House is trying bully the press even though a majority of the press has been favorable towards the "stimulus" bill. By calling out every critic and attempting to embarass their critics, they are trying to stifle opposition.

Anyway, I have strayed very far from my initial point. Limbaugh is right because he is standing up for conservatism. It doesn't matter whether it be a Republican or Democrat ideal...someone needs to stand up for conservatism and, for several months, he was the only person doing it. And that is the right thing to do...regardless of your party. In the next few days, I will try to explain what conservatism means to me...and why I'll vote for a conservative every time.

Closing in on Tournament Time

I've been so wrapped up in the political world and bailouts and "stimulus" packages that I've barely paid attention to college basketball. That all changes quickly this week as we close in on conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament. Nothing compares to March Madness.

So, some quick observations...

• West Virginia is a lock for the tournament. The question is whether they will get a bye in New York or not. The loss to Cincinnati was unnecessary. They may need to beat Louisville on Saturday to avoid playing on Tuesday in the Big East tourney.
• If Notre Dame didn't have the name Notre Dame, would anyone even consider them on the bubble for the NCAA tournament? They're horrible and Luke Harangody is a bum.
• I kinda like Louisville to win the Big East tournament. Pittsburgh will choke and I just don't think UConn is going to do it. Mark down the Cardinals.
• Oklahoma better hope Blake Griffin doesn't get injured again. Talk about the wheels falling off...
• Watch out because Kansas is playing like the defending national champions. They completely decimated a good Missouri team on Sunday. They could go deep into the tournament and throw out some favorites.
• Speaking of Kansas throwing out a favorite, I'm worried about North Carolina. The 30-point victory over Georgia Tech allayed some of my fears but there's still something amiss with this team. I hope to see strong games against V. Tech and dook. They're still my favorite for the tournament...I just have a few reservations.
• The SEC is one weak basketball conference.

Some teams have a lot of work left to make the tournament. It should be a fun end of the year. Most of the teams I care about are already locked in. If Notre Dame doesn't make the cut, I'll be a happy person until the tournament actually begins.

I-79 Connector

I hadn't traveled down through State Street for a few months and was curious to see if any work had progressed on the I-79 connector to Downtown. Much to my surprise, there appears to be several areas in which there has been some work completed. Many houses are now gone and they've shut down the Dairy Mart and removed the gas pumps. If you don't want to travel the road, here are some pictures. Avoid it if you can...unless you have some good shocks. Trust me.

I'll travel the road again in a few months and see what changes there have been. I'll be anxious to see how much the economic slowdown delays progress on the connector...

Goodbye Philips Lighting

On May 29, 2009, Philips Lighting in Fairmont will shut down their final line. The fluorescent lamp manufacturing company started in Fairmont as Westinghouse in the summer of 1941. In 1983, Dutch-based Philips purchased the plant from Westinghouse. At it's peak, the plant employed 2,900 people. There was a serious threat of the plant leaving in 1989 when Philips announced they would either close the Fairmont plant or a plant in Lynn, Mass. Thanks to a lot of hard work, the Fairmont plant remained open.

On that date in 1989, Philip employed around 800 people. When it was announced the Fairmont plant would remain open, Fairmont held a “Philips Appreciation Day." I remember attending "Philips Appreciation Day." Duggar (sic) from the Duggar & Al show MC'd the event. But over the years the appreciation faltered and employees dwindled from over 800 to just 89. The closing of the plant, while sad for those 89, barely caused a ripple in Fairmont considering the economic climate.

I'm sad to see Philips leave. My grandma worked there for many years and I'm sure that if you look back through your family and friends in Fairmont, you'll find someone who was employed at Westinghouse or Philips at some point. For a long time it provided much of the identity of Fairmont. Now, it will be just one more empty lot.

The Great Mistake

On November 4, 2008, Americans went to the polls and elected Barack Obama as President. It doesn't take too much insight to see where the country has gone from that point forward. The stock markets continue to collapse, banks may need to be nationalized, governors are fighting over government money and Americans are fighting as to whether they deserve federal money or not.

Sure, these things were beginning towards the end of the Bush years but there remained confidence in the markets to stabilize. Bush presented an optimistic look towards the future, knowing American ingenuity would win the day. But with Obama, we now have a Coward in Chief. Instead of exuding confidence the American public, Obama presents doubt and worry. He revels in purveying fear and spreading doubt. And he is trying to quash any hopes of recovery.

America looks to the President for confidence in the future. Obama only returns fear. And with a purpose. By worrying the American public and further destroying the American, and world, economy, Obama can further his socialist agenda. By convincing the public that only the government can right the ship, he is able to steal more money from the working public. By forcing businesses to declare bankruptcy, he can justify further government expansion and liberal ideals such as universal health care and unlimited social benefits.

The United States was in a financial disaster when Obama took office but his doom and gloom attitude is threatening to turn this into a full fledged catastrophe. All for the advancement of an agenda that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have long dreamed of. It's an unbelievable turn of event. Wonder how many people would have believed where we are now back on November 4, 2008? I guess it doesn't matter now...

Begging for Money

The true purpose of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton's recent Asian tour was revealed when she visited China to beg them to continue buying American debt. If the Chinese elected not to buy American debt, there would be no money for the stimulus plan. Of course, the ace in the hole for America is that we provide, by far, the largest market for Chinese exports. So it makes sense for the Chinese to buy more American debt.

This huge trade deficit the United States currently has against China must be solved at some point. China has such a controlling interest in the United States that our very sovereignty could be threatened. China is much like an investor in a business. China is investing it's money into a business called the United States. And it has become the single, largest sharehold in this business. By being the largets shareholder, they can hold large sway over decisions being made by the company. In this case, is the United States.

China has threatened the nuclear option of liquidating American debt in the past. Yes, China would suffer if they chose to make sure a move but not nearly to the extent the United States would suffer. China's huge surplus in exports would help them recover from the collapse of the dollar. And a weaker yuan would only increase their imports. On the other hand, the collapse of the dollar and the staggering amount of debt on each American would debilitate the economy.

Instead of looking to an answer for this threat to national security, we continue to beg the Chinese to buy our debt. Eventually that debt will cost us dearly. It's not a question of if, but when.

The Growing Revolt

Slowly, but surely, there's a growing feeling of uneasiness about the massive amount of dollars being spent on the "stimulus" plan and "bailout" plan. Americans are beginning to look at the total amount of money being spent and are starting to worry about how this money will be paid back. Fiscally responsible citizens are beginning to wonder why they are going to be paying the bills to bailout other individuals who were less frugal.

Only time will tell where this bailout and stimulus lead us. I believe it will be down a path of many, many years of hardship. Hopefully I am wrong but there's too much growth in the government as part of this "stimulus," which will ultimately lead to higher taxes and greater unemployment. And when the ecomonmy does turn, the potential for inflation or, worse, stagflation is great. There's a growing chorus of concerns. Obama has two years to turn this around or his revolution of "change" may be a short one.

Your Tax Money At Work

The Senate is preparing to pass a 1,071 page, $790-BILLION dollar "stimulus" this weekend. That's $790-billion dollars of your money they are getting ready to spend. And some of the Senators are admitting they won't have time to read the entire bill. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) doesn't expect any of his colleguages will actually have time to read the whole bill.

And pushing even more is Nancy Pelosi who wants the bill passed before her scheduled trip to Rome this evening. By rushing the bill through, it breaks a promise that the Dems made to have the bill available to the public for at least 48-hours before any vote is taken.

This is our money. This is our country. This is not soley Nancy Pelosi's country. This is not soley Harry Reid's country. This is not solely Barack Obama's country. This is not their government. This country's government was formed on the idea that it was of the people, by the people and for the people. If we allow Pelosi and Reid and their cohorts to continue to hide legislation from or rush legislation through without the input of citizens, that government, as we know it, will perish from this earth.

State of the State

I give Joe Manchin a pretty bad time usually. Most of the time it's because he seemingly cares a little too much about Mountaineer athletics and seems to be putting his nose where it truly doesn't belong. Perhaps that's simply a bad observation...but's it's probably accurate. But I must admit I was impressed by this State of the State address last night. At least what I saw of it before the electric went out.

When the federal government is trying to steal taxpayer money to expand the bureaucracy, it's nice to hear the governor speak of fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets. His promise not to increase entitlement programs was probably disappointing for the folks who believe government is the only solution to our problems. His promise not to raise taxes in the near term was much welcome. His pledge to stand against the teachers and not promise raises the state can't afford was brave and I'm sure it irked many. But at least the man was strong enough to make a stand.

West Virginia won't be immune to the financial downturn. But as long as Manchin maintains his promise to fiscal responsibility, West Virginia will move through the storm much better than many of these other states. Of course that might not be saying much...