Broken Masterpieces

I guess I’m still in shock with Albert Pujols signing with the Angels. I really can’t believe he left the greatest baseball city where he was going to go down as the all-time Cardinal. Statues, constant adoration, legendary status; those are gone. Now, he starts over with the Angels. He’d better keep producing because he doesn’t have any good will in the bank with Angels’ fans.

Other than a huge paycheck it does help Pujols that he’s going to a team with the DH. He’s becoming slightly injury prone and that can give him a break and maybe keep him productive for a longer time. However, I got a feeling that after about 4 years his contract will be an unbearable for the Angels. I wish the best for Pujols but, even more, a great replacement for the Cardinals.

As a Dodger fan and despite the ownership situation, I beg them to sign Prince Fielder. Younger sluggers aren’t free agents that often. I know if Magic was in charge it would not even be a question.

My 2012 British Racing Green MINI Hardtop S is on this ship.  Due at the Panama Canal on 12/11/11 and Oxnard by 12/21/11.

The MINI on order

I’m just doing some testing on my blog. Haven’t been here in a while but will start at it again.

Obama floats plan to tax cars by the mile – The Hill’s Floor Action.

This is absolutely stupid.  We are already taxed every time we fill the pump.  Now they want us to have electronic devices in our cars to monitor our driving?

YouTube – Paul Ryan Thrashes Obama’s Speech: “Exploiting People’s Emotions” Is “Demagoguery”!.

Review & Outlook: The Presidential Divider – WSJ.com.

Our president is taking a class warfare approach to fixing our debt and deficit crisis.  This is very disappointing.  As I’ve said before President Obama had no real world experience in preparation for being President and now we are seeing the results.  He is a person that can talk the talk but never walked the walk.  His lack of leadership has been horrible and now he’s just focused on winning the election of 2012.

via Egyptology – Clifford D. May – National Review Online.

That brings us back to Bush’s democratization policy. It fell short, in my opinion, by emphasizing the holding of elections rather than the process of nurturing democratic habits and building democratic institutions that guarantee basic human rights to all. Recall how Hamas came to power in Gaza in 2006: The U.S. facilitated an election campaign and allowed Hamas, an armed terrorist militia, to pretend it was just a political party. Hamas restricted fundamental rights and freedoms even during the campaign. That led to an election featuring one man, one vote — one time. Since Hamas’s victory, there has been no serious discussion of holding another election in Gaza and Gazans enjoy no rights, though they do enjoy some entitlements courtesy of European and American taxpayers. During Bush’s final two years in office, the Freedom Agenda withered on the vine.

I agree.  I’m afraid that elections in Egypt will just end up as mob rule.  Without a constitution (and a system that protects it) in place that guarantees certain freedoms a democracy is not going to make things any better.  George W. Bush seems to have not emphasized that enough.  The right to vote is only one part of freedom.  Freedom of religion, of speech, of self-determination, of thought, of assembly, to disagree, to own property, to defend yourself….   all these are essential for a free society.  May Egypt and all other Middle Eastern countries head down this path.

via Egypt protests show George W. Bush was right about freedom in the Arab world.

“Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East did nothing to make us safe – because in the long run, stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty,” Bush said. “As long as the Middle East remains a place where freedom does not flourish, it will remain a place of stagnation, resentment and violence ready for export.”

I’m not confident that the initial outcome in Egypt will be good.  Will radical Islamists somehow take power or will there be a transformation to a democratic and free Egypt.  Even in Iraq where there are now free elections it is not safe to be a Christian so that is not true freedom.  Egypt scares me also as this Pew Research Center survey indicates 84% of Egyptian Muslims favor “Death penalty for people who leave the Muslim religion”.  This does not sound moderate.

“You still want it to be about consistency, but you have to be consistent during those 10 [Chase] weeks.” – Kurt Busch

via Drivers in favor of much simpler scoring system – ESPN.

It is a sucky sport that doesn’t want winners.  In NASCAR it seems OK to not win races yet win the championship.  Sorry, that blows.  I want a point system that makes it favorable to win.  The old F1 10-6-4-3-2-1 was the best system.  Reward the winners and get the guys off the track that are racing their wrecked cars around the track to just collect points.

The Non-Accusatory Case for Civility – By Rich Lowry – The Corner – National Review Online.

I have not watched the Tucson Memorial but glad to hear of some leadership.  A stark contrast to Bill Clinton with Oklahoma City when he used that to attack.  Sad to hear that it was a pep-rally atmosphere as people need to realize that this is not the time for politics.  Props to President Obama for his leadership and tone last night.  I’ll watch it sometime but my heart isn’t ready.

The Tab Comes Due in 2011 – Victor Davis Hanson – National Review Online.

Very interesting.  2011 should be a very interesting year for our country.  Getting a handle on our crazy spending will be difficult but has to be done.  Gas prices are going bonkers again and what is going to be done?  “Green” jobs are worthless in a less than friendly business environment so even those would end up being farmed out.

The WikiLeaks Vindication of George W. Bush – Larry Elder – Townhall Conservative. – Just interesting.

It is amazing that California, running an unemployment rate of 12.4%, has chosen Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer to hold influential places in government. Also, a jobs growth proposition that suspends green laws until more jobs are created has failed. Looks like Texas Gov. Rick Perry will come back to hunt for more jobs. This blows.

Works and Days » The Inexplicables. – Brilliance from Victor Davis Hanson

President Obama:

The president said: “If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies, and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us’ — if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election — then I think it’s going to be harder. And that’s why I think it’s so important that people focus on voting on November 2nd.”

John Boehner:

In remarks prepared for delivery to a rally in Cincinnati with Rob Portman, the GOP nominee for Senate in Ohio, and John Kasich, the GOP nominee for Ohio governor, Boehner says:“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a president in the White House who referred to Americans who disagree with him as ‘our enemies.’ Think about that. He actually used that word. When Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush used the word ‘enemy,’ they reserved it for global terrorists and foreign dictators — enemies of the United States. Enemies of freedom. Enemies of our country.

I’m not a fan of Boehner at all but he’s 100% correct.  “Hope” and “change” were just campaign slogans; never meant to be kept.  If you are not someone who leans left and stands with the President, then you are his enemy.  He said it himself.  Shame on President Obama.  There has never been a president more divisive that this one and I wish the Stewart/Colbert crowd would first hold President Obama accountable for this before going after anyone else.  It all starts at the top.

via John Boehner to hit President Obama on ‘enemies’ – Mike Allen – POLITICO.com.

Making It Up As He Goes. – I’m just so unimpressed with our President compared to the expectations.  He can make a great speech but at the end of the day is just another average politician who talks big and delivers very little.  “Change”?

We might want to listen to Mr. Blair about this:

In a speech in New York, the former prime minister said that warnings over the past week of terrorist plots against Europe should remind people that they remained under threat.

via Radical Islam has outmanoeuvred West, says Blair – Telegraph.

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Week 3 Play of the Week candidates | KUSI – News, Weather and Sports – San Diego, CA | Polls.

Tyler Gomogda is a worthy pick for the week 3 Play of the Week for KUSI.  Please vote for him now.  Great kid, great player.

Could not agree more.  McCourt needs to sell the Dodgers now.

Frank McCourt may win the Dodgers, but he has officially lost Los Angeles.

via McCourt’s now all alone after O’Malley’s public stand – latimes.com.

Islam and Moral Nuance – Article – National Review Online.

A great read from Dennis Prager.

Coming back to my long neglected blog to just air things out:

• A Christian drawing attention to themselves by burning a Quran just stinks. Not a good way to show Christ’s love. However, our beloved Constitution allows it. Why has the media and politicians decided to fan these flames? I do think it does bring up a good point; why does this cause fear? Of course, the answer is radical Islam is alive and well. Our president can call it what he wants but I hope the War on Terror is victorious.
• At the same time some folks want to build a mosque near Ground Zero. I’m sure they do not approve of the burning of the Quran yet they have a tin ear regarding building the mosque. Again, they have a right to build it but it is a bad idea. Of course, millions are against building it but the fear isn’t terrorism, just that it isn’t the right time.
• 9/11 is approaching. We are quickly forgetting. Radical Islam is alive and well and is a threat. It is our government’s responsibility to defend our nation. However, I do think there are a ton of lessons we’ve learned, both good and bad, since 9/11. It can never be about revenge but defense.
• I do hope that average Joe American Muslims can help us understand more about why they are here and love our country. They want the same freedoms as the rest of us. I’m also sure they hate terrorism as much as I do.
• I am concerned about some incidents within our military from Muslims. I know it is a small number but their take on Islam is affecting them. Again, need some help from American Muslims here as they might have some insight.
• Enough said on those topics but it is on my mind.
• I’m becoming quite disenchanted with high profile high school sports. I enjoy rooting for the players but not a fan of any of the egos involved with head coaches. They think that if you don’t want to play that it is something wrong with the player when the real problem is the stubborn ego of the coach. Many of them are lying when they say they care about your kid. Watch their actions. At the same time some of the lower profile sport coaches are wonderful and their actions indicate that they do care about the health and well being of our kids.
• Contrary to what us parents might think most of our kids will not get athletic scholarships. Let’s let them enjoy the ride; making friends, learning life skills, etc.
• It is stunning how many of us take youth sports so seriously. I periodically need to be reminded myself.
• My Dodgers will not be good until they are sold.
• How can the Padres be in first place and have such low attendance?
• How can the Chargers win the Super Bowl without their left tackle?
• I’m already bored with the Miami Heat.
• My faith is stale. Not sure what to do next but not enjoying this. Too many distractions but also wanting authenticity not a facade I keep.
• I would rather work with iPhoto than go to church. That’s what my actions indicate.
• I see a wave coming in American Christianity that seems to be a vehicle for liberal politics. They call themselves progressives and think moral issues don’t matter. They have some good points but the Christians I see feeding the poor, providing free medical services and loving as Jesus loves are more conservative than me. They aren’t about “awareness” but actually living a lifestyle of giving and service. The snobbery I am seeing from the hipster/edgy/progressive Christians is kind of gross. They say that they love everyone but seem to hold religious conservatives in contempt.
• I need more sleep.
• It is quite interesting to watch Barack Obama slide so fast. Before he took office I was more qualified to be President. He has no clue how the American economy works. Seems like a good guy in way over his head. It is too bad Mitt Romney isn’t very electable but he’d be a good president.
• I hope the next president is a former governor with enough experience in a non-government life. Meg Whitman in 2016?
• I can’t believe I’m such a late-comer to Netflix. Loving it.
• I need to break my bad health habits.
• Anyone want to buy a 2009 Mustang GT? A fun toy but boys need braces.
• I want an iPad real bad but haven’t found the real need. Give me a few months and I will find the need.
• I hate those stupid Che shirts or anything else that gives props to Communists.
• It truly is strange to see our country trying to spend its’ way out of our problems. We aren’t learning the lesson other countries have. Some hard decisions need to be made and most of Washington or our state governments won’t do it. Look to New Jersey for a man of courage.
• I love tax cuts but hate tax credits. Make tax cuts broad and get rid of tax credits. It is criminal that the government gives tax credits to people who don’t pay income tax. It’s just another way to buy votes.
• Corporate taxes in America are sky high. Cut that by two thirds and watch job growth rebound and become sound. Corporate taxes only take money from possible employees. It’s just basic economics. Let’s get away from the central planning.
• If President Obama wants to spend $50 million on roads then all the preferences towards companies based on who owns the company needs to be dumped. Give it to the best companies regardless of race or sex of the owners. Get the best deal and quality. In 1994 California had some rebuilding to do and they dropped those quotas and the job got done faster and better.
• It is hard to think that the government will do healthcare any good when most other government services are horrible. Too many times it’s not about doing things correct and well but about protecting a job that probably isn’t needed.
• In 1995 when the government shut down and non-essential people weren’t needed didn’t that tell you something? Our federal, state and local governments need to get down to just keeping the jobs that are essential. First step is a hiring freeze.
• Why do government workers have the best pensions when much of corporate America can’t afford pensions? That must be fixed.
• What our government does well is the military and even there, unnecessary duplication in many areas is a huge issue.
• I can’t stand that one federal judge van throw out acts of Congress or public votes based on their bias not the law. The left is happy with some recent rulings but, eventually, it won’t be going their way. Not good precedence at all.
• I’m done

Could not agree more:

Growing disillusionment with the Obama administration’s handling of the economy as well as health care and immigration has gone hand in hand with mounting unhappiness with the President’s aloof and imperial style of leadership, and a growing perception that he is out of touch with ordinary Americans, especially at a time of significant economic pain. Barack Obama’s striking absence of natural leadership ability and blatant lack of experience has played a big part in undermining his credibility with the US public, with his lacklustre handling of the Gulf oil spill coming under particularly intense fire.

via The stunning decline of Barack Obama: 10 key reasons why the Obama presidency is in meltdown – Telegraph Blogs.

However, President Obama could learn from Bill Clinton who got a big wake up call in 1994 and got away from trying to be radical.  He got on board with the American people and worked with the Republican Congress.

Is there a more powerful thought than “love your enemies”? Pondering this after the pastor brought it up.

David Cameron, don’t follow Barack Obama – Telegraph.

Moreover, the President’s decision to focus his entire first year on health care, when the voters were focused on the economy, on unemployment, on deficits, demonstrated, in the end unhappily for him and frustratingly for his fellow citizens, that he simply wasn’t thinking about what they were thinking about. In a high economy this might have been forgiven if he’d been generally understood to be a visionary. But he didn’t come across as a visionary – “We will go this way, the path may not be clear to all but I can see the sunlight through the hills beyond.” No. He came across as a detached academic who believed in abstract notions he’d picked up in the faculty lounge.

Barack Obama has never had a job where he actually had to produce.  The real world is tough.