It it time to stop denying the truth.
Barack Obama is now officially the affirmative action president.
eric
Archive for July, 2011
Affirmative Action, Barack Obama, and Neverending Excuses
Monday, July 11th, 2011Those violent Canadians
Sunday, July 10th, 2011Before getting to the pathetic excuse that is the main event, keep in mind that this is the Summer sports lull.
In baseball, Derek Jeter finally has 3,000 hits. As boring as baseball normally is, every once in awhile comes a feel-good story worth watching.
There was the (since tarnished) 1998 home run chase between Mark McGwire and Samy Sosa.
In 2001 the Diamondbacks defeated the Yankees after 9/11 in the bottom half of the 9th inning in the 7th and deciding game. Winning manager Bob Brenly was a hero to unheralded mustachioed fellows.
In 2002 the Angels defeated the Giants after a game 6 miracle comeback and a stirring game 7. The image of Dusty Baker’s kid crying as his father held him in his arms will live on.
Derek Jeter has played the game the right way. To go 5 for 5 on his big day, including a home run for number 3,000 at home, was a perfect script. The Yankees won the game 5-4. Baseball can go back to being boring, but on this day it was worth watching (I watched the highlights. I am still not sitting through a live inning, much less a whole game).
Now on to football, which does matter.
The Edmonton Eskimos beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28-10. Although I should like the Tiger-Cats based on name alone, I remember 30 years ago when the Eskimos won 5 straight Grey Cups from 1978-1982 with Warren Moon. This concludes anything worth discussing about the CFL.
In NFL news, the NFL Lockout is not over. Optimism has been a bit premature. The next mediation session is July 19th. This is troublesome since July 15th is supposedly the deadline to be able to have the Bears and Rams play in the Hall of Fame Game on August 7th. As one politician recently said about a budget battle, nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. So as of now in NFL world, there is no deal.
This week in football brought the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The good comes in the form of Kerry Collins. He has announced his retirement after 16 years. He will not make the Hall of Fame, but he was an underrated player who should absolutely be in the Hall of Very Good. He took the Giants to a Super Bowl, the Panthers to an NFC Title Game, and the Titans to an NFL best 13-3 record only a couple of years ago. His stint with the Raiders was marred by a patchwork offensive line. Whenever he was given time, he got the job done. He was a good ambassador for the league. He led the Panthers to a sweep of the 49ers in his second year, and led the Titans near the end. Overall, he was a winner.
The bad came with Hines Ward being arrested for DWI. This is not just bad. It is sad. In the wake of the troubles Ben Roethlisberger has had, in addition to former teammate Santonio Holmes, one would think everybody on the Steelers would wake up. Ward was a true role model. He was also a source of pride for Koreans worldwide, given that he is half Korean. He is insisting that he is innocent, and I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt based on what appears to be his good character until this. Yet driving at 4am itself is a recipe for trouble. I hope he is innocent.
The ugliness is Deshean Jackson using a gay slur. There is no place for this. The explosion of Facebook and Twitter means that nobody has privacy ever again. Those with such thoughts should ductape their own mouths.
In Olympics news and Korean news, the South Koreans have won the right to host the 2018 Winter Games. This is nice, since there is really nothing to dislike about South Korea. They deserve their chance to shine. The Olympics are also boring, but the people of South Korea overlooked that. Congratulations to them.
NASCAR finally came to Kentucky. I like NASCAR and Kentucky. It is a good match and a great addition to the NASCAR schedule.
In news more boring than even baseball and the Olympics, soccer and golf are still played.
In annual running of the bulls news in Pamplona, Spain, it happened today. People ran and bulls followed.
Lastly, the Vancouver riots should finally put to rest the stereotype of the polite, perfect Canadians and their ugly Southern neighbors in America.
For those who do not follow hockey, the Boston Bruins went on the road in game 7 of the NHL finals and shellacked the Vancouver Canucks. Rioting and looting and burning stuff is stupid behavior no matter who is doing it. Yet in sports, it is normally the winning fans who act like imbeciles. This may be the first time where the winning fans acted with class and grace while the losing fans turned into criminals and thugs.
The people of Boston are not known for being classy fans. Yet despite having dreadful accents, they celebrated peaceably and honorably after Boston won the Stanley Cup. The Canuckleheads destroyed some city blocks and set cars on fire. Yes, those ugly Canadians committed crimes.
It is not fair to blame all of Canada for some hooligans, but can we finally stop blaming most American sports fans for our bad apples? Everybody bashes Americans, yet soccer hooligans in Wembley Stadium have done more to embarrass England than American fans have here.
Not all Canadians are perfect and not all Americans are lazy slobs.
So to all of those violent Canadians out there, try being more polite. Be humble and proud like Americans. The Boston Bruins fans can show you how.
This concludes a sports weekend without real sports. Please NFL, return already.
eric
39 1/2 Saturday
Saturday, July 9th, 2011On July 9, 2011, I officially turned 39 1/2.
I have not acknowledged by half birthday since I was 14 1/2 and somebody told me I should have stopped a few years earlier.
I will not be going to Chuck E. Cheese today because the only people my age at Chuck E. Cheese without children are people who should be investigated by the cast of “Law and Order SVU.”
I have never been the midlife crisis type of guy. Perhaps I could be more introspective, but I have always found sitting around thinking about existential stuff and what it all means to be code words for overglorified navel gazing.
I do navel gaze, but that is when I am sitting by the pool, and I literally am contemplating nothing deeper than my own navel. I wonder how many milliliters of water it can hold.
I know that tomorrow I will be closer to age 40 than 39, but my reaction to this metric can be summed up in one word:
shrug.
Some may point out that if it was no big deal I would not have spent time preparing a column about it. Actually, this is not the case.
I woke up after a nice 10 hour nap (I do like sleeping in on Saturdays), realized I had forgotten to prepare something, and wondered what to write about. I saw the date and thought, “cool, I can do that.”
I guess I am blessed to be a guy who is comfortable in hos own skin. I do not have everything I want in this world, but I believe in the process. I am building a business and seeking a nice woman to settle down with. Today I plan to see friends and at some point I will watch football.
I really am that simple a guy. My needs are few, and I hope that stays constant.
For some people, turning 40 is the end of the world. Turning 39 1/2 is a reminder.
I am just glad that I turned 25 because that allowed me to use rental cars. Turning 35 allowed me to run for president, and I am still contemplating a run. It will be less a run than a walk since I am not into running.
So I guess I will stay the course, since I do not see any need for radical change.
Oh, and I am going to grow my hair long like it was in college. Why? Because I can. Fifteen years on Wall Street meant suits and ties. Now I wear Hawaiian shirts to work.
I prefer to do as I d@mn well please whenever I d@mn well please, which apparently is always.
Life does involve decisions, and the next decision I make will affect my life for several hours. What should I have for lunch? I am torn between the four basic food groups of burgers, pizza, hot dogs, and tacos.
A trip to the pool and jacuzzi will count as exercise.
Happy 39 1/2 birthday to me. The (in)significance is (under)overwhelming.
eric
2011–Still struggling to win the war against nonsense
Friday, July 8th, 2011Waterboard Casey Anthony and all those who are obsessed with the trial. That concludes my Casey Anthony report.
eric
Dominique Strauss-Khan and Casey Anthony–Imperfect Evil
Thursday, July 7th, 2011My refusal to contribute to the decline of American society prevents much discussion of the Casey Anthony case.
The way many people feel about Casey Anthony is how I and others feel about Dominique Strauss-Khan.
eric
Joplin Missouri, July 4th, and Rush Limbaugh–The best of America
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011I had the honor and privilege of celebrating July 4th at a rally in Joplin, Missouri. Rush Limbaugh and thousands of others pitched in to help.
eric
My Conference Call with Senator Pat Toomey
Tuesday, July 5th, 2011I recently participated in a conference call with Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey. He spoke about the pending budget crisis and the need for a balanced budget amendment.
Due to my travels, this recap is a cross between a hodgepodge and a mishmash, rather than a coherent flowing column. Later on I will smoothe out the jagged edges. Here is the gist of the call.
“Crisis on our hands, not overstating it.”
“Larry Lindsay in WSJ…CBO numbers understate size of deficits in near future…wildly investigting cost of Obamacare, wildly optimistic about economic growth.”
Perilous path
Something dramatic and bold.
Balanced budget amendment does all of this.
“Huge govt expansion with huge tax increases…spending could not exceed 18% of GDP. Supermajority to raise taxes.
Requiring balance, limiting spending, supermajority to raise taxes would insure a govt limited in its scope.”
It would force reform of entitlement programs…enormously pro growth
Fiscal train wreck big part of what is having a chilling effect on our economy.
“Future of the country depends on whether we get our fiscal house in order or slide down the path weve seen some of our European friends follow.”
“No small feat to have Rand Paul and Olympia Snowe sign a major piece of legislation.”
Not only good policy, but the American public loves it. Will raise debt limit contingent on these cuts and a BBA. If we get that passed, where in the world does the Pres go? American people want BBA, they support it.
If we do pass it, it puts us on offense and puts the President in a very difficult position.
One person on the call pointed out that supporting BBA doesn’t tie you to any specific cuts.
Toomey replied “I don’t think that’s a reason not to pursue a BBA.”
Not mutually exclusive. We could fall short and make progress on other fronts. If we fail to get 67, but American people notice, we can bring it up again and maybe pick up another couple votes.
If we had the will we wouldn’t need to do this, but we have shown we don’t have the will. Any way we can impose this straitjacket is good.
My budget includes cuts for 2012.
On person on the call asked about Cap and BBA but not cuts?
“No, I want to see cuts.”
“I doubt very much that Reid wants to bring this bill to the floor. From what little i know about parliamentary procedure, there are ways we can do it.”
eric
To all the liberals on July 4th
Monday, July 4th, 2011Happy 235, America!
I just drove at 3:30am this morning from Hilton Head South Carolina to Savannah, Georgia, took a flight to Atlanta and another to Kansas City, spoke at an independence rappy in KC, and am now driving to Joplin, Missouri. Rush Limbaugh is holding a relief effort event.
Meanwhile, here is my independence wish for liberals.
As we prepare to have American flags fly high and Roman candles light up the night sky, I would like to ask a favor of liberals, leftists and all others on the “progressive” side of the political spectrum.
Take July 4th off. For one day, don’t act like you. Don’t act like a stereotype of yourselves. You claim you love peace. Well enjoy peace with a huge helping of quiet next to it.
There is not a single thing any of you believe that cannot wait until July 5th.
The anti-war protesters can wait until Tuesday. Freedom of speech does not mean that people are required to speak. On this day, silence is platinum. If you see soldiers in their uniforms and are unable to thank them for their service, just leave them alone. They fight so that you can protest. You do nothing for them. They do everything for you. They bleed for you so you can heap scorn on them. Let them enjoy their holiday.
The grievance mongers of every minority group should also take a 24 hour siesta. Carping about how the United States of America was founded by rich, white slave-owning land barons is long beyond the gates of boring. In the last decade alone we have elected a bi-racial president, had a female vice presidential candidate, and a Jewish vice presidential candidate. A Jewish woman heads the Democratic Party while a black man recently headed the Republican Party. His predecessor was Jewish and (unbeknownst at the time) gay.
The current crop of presidential candidates includes one woman, one black man, a gay Jewish man, a pair of Mormons, a Catholic, and even some standard tall white guys with good hair and red and blue diagonal neckties.
Let the complaining cease today. There is so much that is right with America that needs to be appreciated.
To all of the vegans and vegetarians, let the carnivores enjoy their beef hot dogs in tranquility. This nation was not founded on tofu or any other imitation food derivative. Let our dogs eat Mighty Dog and stop trying to feed them veggie snacks. Today is not a day to complain about world hunger, American obesity, cholesterol, or hold up signs stating that “meat is murder.” Beef tastes good. Good taste is a form of pleasure. Let us have our pleasures without the guilt trip.
Eat a real hot dog. Eat four. Heck, eat 64 like Joey Chestnut if you can. July 4th is the Coney Island Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Brooklyn. Immigrants came to Ellis Island, saw the statue of liberty, and realized that they could do anything and be anybody here. Joey Chestnut does not represent sloth, gorging, or any other negative stereotype of Americans. He represents the spirit of competition in the free (super) market. Cheer him on to win the Yellow Belt or stay silent.
Comedian Dennis Leary long ago pointed out that this country was founded on two things: “Meat…and war.” So let us eat our hot dogs and salute our soldiers free of lectures and condescension.
There will be plenty of time for those on the left to try and raise taxes and spend that money down a rathole of failed programs that destroy those meant to be helped. For just one day, let’s have an Independence Day free of whining and complaining about inequity. America is liberty, and liberty is life.
America feeds, clothes, protects, and defends the world. We are the most technologically advanced nation in the history of civilization as well as the most powerful. Yet we are also the most compassionate. We believe in “love thy neighbor,” and have every right to shout from the rooftops how much we love this land that has given us everything and then some.
Liberals will always have Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp. Conservatives have Lee Greenwood and Toby Keith. Yet if we are truly going to “come together,” let it be in an expression of positive sentiments on July 4th. Don’t tarnish America’s birthday by attacking the most beautiful and noble experiment in the history of civilization.
Nobody is questioning the patriotism of liberals. Deep down they love America for what they want it to be. Today, just love it for what it already is.
This is not about patriotism. It is about timing.
Take the day off from complaining. Share hot dogs with your neighbors, even if those neighbors are soldiers. You might appreciate them (the hot dog and the soldiers) more than you realized.
America-bashing can return on July 5th for those who need dour pessimism the way those who see Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on a hill” need oxygen.
Yet for one day only, just be grateful for America. Don’t allow the fringes to regulate it out of existence. Put extra ketchup, some celery salt, and those delicious sport peppers on your hot dog.
Complain about calories, American excess, and life itself tomorrow if you must.
Today…just live. Enjoy your freedom. Now enjoy it quietly so your neighbor can enjoy freedom as well.
America, Ray Charles has a message from heaven. “God done shed his grace on thee.”
God bless our troops, and God bless America now and forever.
eric
Update: Joey Chestnut successfully completed the Drive for Five, Downing 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes. The world record of 69 is his as well.
Joey Chestnut and the Drive for Five
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011July 4th is more than just America celebrating the fact that for 235 years we have preserved freedom and democracy by giving threats to the world a good red, white, and blue b*tchslapping.
July 4th is where we celebrate with fireworks, and red meat…lots of red meat.
So in the spirit of American competition and beef, it is time for the 2011 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in the greatest part of the greatest city of the greatest country in the world.
Welcome to Coney Island, Brooklyn, United States of America.
Hockey and basketball are done for the year. Football has not started, as both basketball and football are locked out. Baseball, soccer, and golf remain baseball, soccer and golf. There are no sports on television.
Except for today.
This is where we celebrate America at its decadent and competitive best.
Bring on Joey Chestnut.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Chestnut
http://joeyjawschestnut.com/
I love this guy. He gets paid to do what most people would do for free if they could. He gorges on food and gets a championship belt for it.
I may have three championships from playing coed touch football, but Joey has four Yellow Belts. He defeated six time champion Kobayashi in 2007 and has not stopped eating since. His reign of 2007-2010 takes him back to Coney Island for the 2011 match.
This is where the big (hot) dogs of competitive eating come to show their stuff.
I may have failed in my quest to handle the “Man vs Food” Ghost Chili Pepper Burger at Chunky’s in San Antonio (ate half, nearly died from pain), but I can still appreciate a carnivorous chompion.
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, good luck with the drive for five.
Make America proud.
Down those hot dogs like it’s the Summer version of Super Bowl Sunday because, well frankly, it is.
Gentlemen, and ladies…start your appetites.
Go get ’em Jaws.
Happy July 4th and God bless America.
eric
Rick Amato Show–My June 2011 Podcast
Saturday, July 2nd, 2011Today I am flying from Los Angeles to Atlanta and then taking a short flight to Savannah, Georgia. From there I have a drive to Hilton Head, South Carolina. For those who have never been to Hilton Head, it is basically people who fled from Palm Beach due to the liberalism. The snow birds reach the sun and then retreat back North, albeit slightly.
Anyway, on June 30th I guest hosted the Rick Amato program.
http://amatotalk.com/blog/june-30-2011-two-hours-show/
The podcasts are below.
http://amatotalk.com/podcasts/AMATO-06-30-11.mp3
http://amatotalk.com/podcasts/amato06-30-11hr2.mp3
Mt first guest was the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, Rebecca Kleefisch.
http://www.rebeccaforreal.com/bio/
Then came Nevada State Senator Elizabeth Halseth.
http://www.elizabethhalseth.com/
http://www.elizabethhalseth.com/media/pictures/elizabethhalseth_SD9.png
They are both stunning Republican brunettes who are not only not Jewish, but married to men who are not me. They are lovely people, and more importantly tough young conservatives.
The show got lighthearted with an interview of Scott “Big Daddy” Edwards of the Republican Party Animals. He should be an American hero to young GOPers everywhere.
http://republicanpartyanimals.org/
Then came a brief interview with a representative from my gold sponsor American Bullion.
http://www.americanbullion.com/
Finally there was a serious interview with Jim Poolman, the Vice Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. He discussed hos Americans can help regarding the floods that have devastated Minot. Please everyone help the people of Minot.
http://www.mavensearch.com/synagogues/C3331
http://www.northdakotagop.org/2011/06/dalrymple-asks-president-for-additional-help/
Enjoy the show while I am Carolina bound.
eric