On the Couch with Newt and Nancy

Nancy Pelosi keeps hinting that she knows something that will derail Newt Gingrich’s Presidential run. I doubt she knows anything of any substance, but if she does, I’d expect it to become known in October. That would be the worst possible timing if Gingrich were to become the nominee.

As for Newt, a picture says a thousand words. This one speaks volumes.

Memo to Republican Candidates: You are no Ronald Reagan

Over the last few years, we’ve seen more and more candidates invoke the memory of President Ronald Reagan. I don’t blame them for admiring Reagan’s accomplishments, but I do often question their sincerity. Are these candidates simply sharing thoughts about their fondness for Reagan, or is it solely a transparent method of trying to ride the coattails of a man they may not really identify with?

This has been going on a while, but it has been Newt Gingrich’s frequent mentions of Reagan during debates that have annoyed me. To hear Gingrich tell it, he and Reagan were rather close, and shared credit for some of the accomplishments of the Reagan Presidency.

» read more

3,000 hits isn’t synonymous with greatness

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, two of the greatest players of all-time, never reached 3,000 hits

I know people are tripping over themselves in an effort to heap accolades on the New York Yankees Derek Jeter after his 3,000th hit. The worst part was the tendency for the media to constantly point out that he’s the only Yankee to ever attain 3,000 hits. Let me just point out one thing: 3,000 hits or not, Jeter isn’t in the same class as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, or Mickey Mantle.

After Jeter’s accomplishment, I checked out the list of career hit leaders. Here’s a list of the 28 men who reached 3,000 hits:

1. Pete Rose 4256
2. Ty Cobb 4189
3. Hank Aaron 3771
4. Stan Musial 3630
5. Tris Speaker 3514
6. Cap Anson 3435
7. Honus Wagner 3420
8. Carl Yastrzemski 3419 » read more

New York votes to legalize gay marriage

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

Finally, New York voted to legalize gay marriage yesterday. It’s a development that has been a long time coming, and should further embolden those who are seeking marriage equality.

“We made a powerful statement. This state is at its finest when it is a beacon of social justice,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Of course, not everyone agreed. Here are some words of wisdom from the Catholic Bishops of New York: » read more

Have you tried the Deep Fried Kool Aid recipe yet?

I wonder if the Kool Aid man eats Deep Fried Kool Aid?

Just when you thought you’ve seen everything, you get surprised again. It seems like everyone is talking about Deep Fried Kool-Aid. That’s right, Kool-Aid! A man named Chicken Charlie invented the new culinary delight, which he began selling at county fairs. I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll pass. » read more

Utah law should be looked at as a wake-up call

American Silver Eagle

In the past two or three years, there have been a lot of events that should have served as wake-up calls for politicians and public officials. Another one of these events happened recently when Utah passed a law to encourage individuals to accept U.S. gold and silver bullion coins for their weights, rather than their nominal value. For example, the American Silver Eagle is a one dollar coin, but with the current spot price of silver at $38 per ounce, it is also worth $38.

There are a lot of people concerned about the economy, from survivalists who are waiting for a complete economic collapse, to those expecting slightly greater than usual inflation. Personally, I’m not expecting a massive collapse, but I am expecting increasing inflation and an erosion of the dollar’s value as the presses keep rolling. Making it more convenient to use gold and silver is a good thing which might encourages individuals to diversify their wealth.

A majority of Americans support gay marriage

In a recent Gallup poll, 53% of Americans support gay marriage in 2011, up from 44% in 2010.

For the first time, a Gallup poll indicates that a majority of Americans support gay marriage. 53% support gay marriage in this year’s Gallup poll, compared to just 44% last year.

As a registered Republican who supports gay marriage, I’m disappointed and a bit surprised that only 28% of those in the G.O.P. support same-sex marriage. For those who think of the Republican party as a bastion of social conservatism, it makes perfect sense. Still, I find troubling inconsistencies. » read more

Omar Bin Laden thinks his father deserved to be treated better

Omar Bin Laden, one of Osama Bin Laden's sons

Omar Bin Laden, one of Osama Bin Laden’s sons, is thinking about taking legal action against the United States for his murder, and for his burial at sea. Here is an excerpt from a letter reportedly attributed to Omar Bin Laden:

‘We hold the American President (Barack) Obama legally responsible to clarify the fate of our father, Osama Bin Laden, for it is unacceptable, humanely and religiously, to dispose of a person with such importance and status among his people, by throwing his body into the sea in that way, which demeans and humiliates his family and his supporters and which challenges religious provisions and feelings of hundreds of millions of Muslims.’

So, someone who has killed thousands of people deserved better? I don’t think so. As far as his funeral service, he received much better treatment than I would have provided. Omar Bin Laden complains that his burial at sea “challenges religious provisions.” Many religions look down on cremation, but isn’t that exactly what happened to thousands of people on September 11, 2001? Did those people have a choice? Did their families? » read more

Wisconsin: Labor that doesn’t labor

Many of those who are protesting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s attempt to reign in state spending should be ashamed of themselves.

So many teachers have called in sick, that several cities and towns had to close their schools. Since there are tens of thousands of union protesters complaining outside the state capital, it’s pretty easy to figure out where those teachers are spending their days. Ideally, these teachers would be fired. Of course, they won’t be. As a matter of fact, there’s allegedly a doctor outside the capital giving teacher’s notes to excuse them for being out of work due to their “illnesses.” » read more

Lara Loga describes the treatment of the media in Egypt

Lara Logan of CBS News discusses her experience covering the demonstrations in Egypt.

Lindsay Lohan needs to do time if found guilty

Lindsay Lohan mugshot after being arrested

Lindsay Lohan has been charged with grand theft for allegedly stealing a $2,500 necklace from a jewelry store. I mention this because if she is found guilty, she needs to do some serious time. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of seeing celebrities skate by with a slap on the wrist. A couple of days in the county jail aren’t enough.

Now for some pictures of Lindsay Lohan before she began engaging in criminal activities and self-destructive behavior:
» read more

Julian Assange: Not as evil as you think

Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks

I think it’s safe to say that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is easily the most infamous person in the world. The big question is whether all the negative publicity is warranted.

Some have compared Julian Assange to a terrorist, and many have said repeatedly that he will have blood on his hands, since many of his leaks could endanger people. Of course, many of the people who are up-in-arms were also singled out for their own mistakes, so they might not be the best of choices if one is seeking an opinion. I’m not going to pretend there will be no negative ramifications from the Wikileak cables, but I do feel it will have some positive effects. » read more

Thoughts on South Korea

As I write this, North Korea is once again threatening South Korea, and readying surface to air missiles. A few days ago, they attacked a South Korean island killing two civilians and two South Korean soldiers. You might also remember that North Korea was accused by the South of firing a torpedo that destroyed a naval vessel, killing 46 South Korean soldiers.

When will it end, or put another way, when will it begin? When will the threats, attacks, production of nuclear weapons, and arms sales to unstable nations end? Unfortunately, it looks like it will only end when war begins, or should I say continues, since the Koreas have technically been at war since the middle of last century. » read more

Keith Olbermann is back on the air after much ado about nothing

After being suspended for giving campaign contributions to 3 liberal Democrats without MSNBC’s permission, Keith Olbermann will be back on the air. The suspension lasted for only two shows, and follows a great deal of criticism about the move.

I don’t like Keith Olbermann, I don’t watch his show, and politically, we’re about as opposite as you can get. With that said, suspending him was absolute nonsense. MSNBC’s policy on political donations is absolutely necessary for reporters and anchors who are trusted to be neutral and detached from the news they are reporting. Keith Olbermann is anything but neutral, and only an idiot wouldn’t realize that he is an unabashed liberal. By the way, there’s nothing wrong with that, since his show is opinion-based.
» read more

Here comes the iPhone 4

Just when you thought the iPhone couldn’t get any better, it does. The new model will be slimmer, have expanded battery life, a front-facing camera for video conferencing, a 5 megapixel camera with flash, folders for apps, and high def resolution. If you’re a nerd, you probably want to get this ASAP.

The new model will be available on June 24th, and will be available in a 16gb model for $199, and a 32gb model for $299 (both with a 2 year contract). To top it off, Netflix also announced a new app that will be available this summer, which will allow users to stream movies on their phone. Unfortunately, the news isn’t all good. » read more

Tiger Woods talks to ESPN

Tiger Woods spoke to ESPN today, and the five minute interview was rather unspectacular. I was personally annoyed by something I found disingenuous: His desire to apologize to everyone for his undisclosed problem. I know it sounds good, but it’s complete nonsense to think he owes anyone other than his wife Elin Nordegren an apology. But then again, I’m biased. For the life of me, I don’t know how someone who seemingly has everything can risk it for so little. Come on, he’s married to her: » read more

When will Pope Benedict take responsibility for his actions?

Pope Benedict criticized Irish Bishops for doing wha the Vatican expected of them

Pope Benedict criticized Irish bishops for “grave errors in judgment,” which led to many children being abused by priests and nuns. Catholic Bishops in Ireland deserve the criticism, since they were complacent while priests and other members of the Church harmed young parishioners. Unfortunately, Pope Benedict glossed over the major cause: The Vatican.

The abuse allegations in Ireland are not confined to that country alone. Allegations came to light in the United States several years ago, along with Germany and many other European nations. It’s also likely that the number of allegations will increase as victims gain the courage to face the Catholic Church and their abusers. » read more

Illegal Haitian Immigrants allowed to stay in U.S.: What’s next?

Not surprisingly, the Obama administration has decided to offer protected status to Haitians in the United States illegally. This status is often given to people who face going back to a country affected by a natural disaster or war. Many will agree with this decision and consider it humane. I think it’s insane.

For Haitians in the United States legally, extending their visas is the right thing to do. For Haitians in need of medical service due to injuries from the earthquake, I support bringing them to the United States temporarily so they can receive the treatment they need to survive. For those here illegally? They deserve nothing more than a plane ride home. » read more

Decorated World War II veteran pressured to remove flag

Colonel Van Barfoot is a 90 year-old World War II veteran who some believe to be the most decorated soldier in the nation. Unfortunately, some of his neighbors have a problem with a flag pole in his front yard. The home owner’s association permits flags, but seems to be rather vague in how they are allowed to be displayed. Some neighbors have small flags displayed on their porch, but Colonel Van Barfoot feels this is an inappropriate way to display the U.S. flag. It’s hard to believe someone could be so opposed to a decorated World War II veteran’s flag.