Archive for January, 2012

CNN South Carolina Debate–Great candidates and an imbecile moderator

Friday, January 20th, 2012

On Friday, January 20th, I address the Southern Republican Leadership Conference. On  Saturday, January 21st, South Carolina has its primary. I would like to say that this is direct causation, but sadly it is coincidental.

On Thursday, January 19th, the Republicans had their final debate before the primary. Only 4 candidates remained: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul. Earlier in the week Jon Huntsman dropped out and endorsed Romney. Earlier in the day Rick Perry dropped out and endorsed Gingrich. The debate was put together by CNN, the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, and the Tea Party Patriots.

The good news regarding the debate is that all four candidates did well. I have been sharply critical of Ron Paul, but I am giving him his due. This was one of his best debate performances. I scored the debate a 4 way tie. All of them put in strong performances.

The bad news is that the debate itself was a disaster. CNN has not been a credible news organization since Bernard Shaw retired. John King is the Jon HUntsman of the media, but worse. King is  substanceless pretty boy not fit to shine the shoes of Tim Russert or Jim Lehrer.

There was not foreign policy question in the entire 2 hour debate. There was nothing about Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb, Israel and the Palestinians, Syria murdering its own citizens, or the regime change in North Korea.

John King began the debate by bringing up allegations by Gingrich’s ex-wife.

To paraphrase: Speaker Gingrich, I have unsubstantiated allegations against you by an ex-wife who may have an ax to grind. These charges come at the 11th hour, only 2 days before the primary. However, since CNN despises Republicans, I am going to ask about them since it casts you in a bad light.

When asked if he wanted to discuss the allegations, Gingrich said “No.”

The crowd laughed, but Gingrich was just getting warmed up.

“I am appalled you would begin a debate that way.”

“This is despicable.”

“I am astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate.”

When John King tried to claim that he was just reporting what others were speaking about, Gingrich made the buck stop with King.

“You and your staff to chose to start with it. Don’t blame it on someone else. I’m tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama.”

King tried to get the other candidates to bash Gingrich. None of them took the bait.

Rick Santorum: “We are all fallen.”

Mitt Romney: “Let’s get on to the real issues.”

Ron Paul: “We talk about corporations that run campaigns. What about the corporations that run the media?”

At that moment CNN operatives decided that it was illegal to live blog the debate. I was forced to close my computer.

Then I tried to text my editor to explain what happened, and was told that texting during the debate was forbidden.

So thank you CNN for being a useless, worthless organization.  I understand you want to be the only voice analyzing the debate so you can get it wrong. Heaven forbid somebody offer anything other than the Obama perspective.

I took notes by scribbling in a notepad. I could transcribe it, but the questions were worthless.

CNN should be banned from future Republican primary debates. CNN cannot be banned from the general election, but a Republican primary should be about Republican voters. CNN imported several of their own people to sit in the audience. Naturally they were Obama supporters.

What business do Obama supporters have attending a GOP debate?

Democrats boycott Fox News, but the difference is people actually watch Fox News. Also, Democrats don’t take questions from Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh. Until conservatives demand that only real journalists be allowed to ask questions, they will continue to look bad on television.

In a primary debate with a mostly GOP audience, the candidates managed to still receive thunderous applause as John King was booed from start to finish. Yet in a general election Republicans will be at the mercy of the liberal media unless they stand up and demand unbiased moderators who ask intelligent questions.

This debate will quickly be forgotten. The only downside is long after the GOP primary, John King and CNN will still exist.

The candidates were outstanding. The debate was a disgrace.

This is CNN.

eric

21 Questions for Barack Obama

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

At the Southern Republican Leadership conference, several men will be forced to do what Barack Obama has never had to do.

Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul will all be forced to answer questions. At the final GOP debate before the South Carolina Primary, there will even be follow-ups to questions. Candidates will face scrutiny. This is called being “vetted.”

In 2008, questions about Barack Obama were not allowed. The media gave him a protective shield. Uncomfortable topics were off limits. In 2012, any attempt to bring up issues not dealt with the first time around will be derided as “old news.” Trying to get Mr. Obama to give straight answers was described as trying to nail Jello to the wall.

When asked what programs he would cut, he said he would “go through the budget line by line.”

So which programs would he eliminate? “The ones that don’t make sense.”

Which programs are those? “The ones that don’t work.”

At no time did Barack Obama actually answer the question, which meant he planned to cut nothing. That is what happened.

So rather than give Mr. Obama another free ride, there are questions he must be forced to answer. A good start would be for the lapdogs in the media to even ask tough questions with the same relentlessness that questions are asked of Republicans.

So while the media prepare to attack conservatives at the SRLC in Charleston, here are some questions for President Obama.

1) You have made an issue of an opponent not releasing his tax returns. Will you finally release your college thesis so Americans can gain insight into your thinking? Will you release your transcripts in the name of transparency?

2) You believe wealthier Americans should pay their “fair share.” What is a precise percentage that these Americans should pay in taxes?

3) Syrian President Bashar Assad is murdering his citizens in the streets. Do you have a plan to stop this?

4) You rejected the Keystone Pipeline project because you said you did not have enough time to study it. You have been in office for three years. How much time do you need? Will you not give a precise timeline for reaching a discussion, and if not, why not?

5) Gasoline was less than $2 per gallon when you came into office. On your leadership it doubled. What will you do to get it down to the price it was at when you were inaugurated?

6) Your administration invested taxpayer dollars in companies like Solyndra and others that ended up failing, going bankrupt, and wasting money. Have any of these companies succeeded? Do you have one single success story of a green company actually working properly?

7) When your Attorney General Holder was questioned about the flow of guns in the Fast and Furious scandal, he claimed that his critics were racists. Do you agree with this? If not, why was this program enacted?

8) The National Labor Relations Board sued Boeing to block them from opening up a plant in South Carolina. You chose not to get involved. Isn’t this the same as voting “present?”

9) You have accumulated more debt on your watch in three years than your predecessor did in eight years. Now you want an increase in the debt ceiling. Why should this happen?

10) Do you have specific plans for cutting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security? Exactly what do you plan to do? Why was this not dealt with during your first term?

11) You claimed that Obamacare would be a positive development. Yet the main problem in the health care industry are spiraling costs. Your plan does not contain costs. It may be ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. What is your plan to rein in healthcare costs? Why did you not include this in your original plan?

12) Why do you even want a second term? What do you plan to actually do?

13) You claimed that you “saved or created” thousands of jobs. Do you have verifiable metrics? Can you quantify this? Can you offer anything other than your say so?

14) You promised to unite people but have pitted people against each other based on race, religion, gender and class. Why did you resort to populist rhetoric rather than attempt to unify people?

15) One of your opponents has called you the best “food stamp” president. you may take offense to this, but the charge is accurate. Why have so many people become dependent on government while on your watch?

16) You ordered the killing of Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was caught using interrogation methods approved during the George W. Bush administration. Would you like to now reaffirm that the Bush methods work?

17) Iran is on its way to a nuclear bomb. In 2009 you reached out to Iran and they smacked your hand away. The young people in Iran begged you to stand up, and you sided with the mullahs. The uprising happened on your watch. Shouldn’t your commitment to human rights force America to stand up for the people of Iran and not the government?

18) You and your surrogates have referred to Republicans as hostage takers and terrorists. You gave a speech about how everyone should tone down their rhetoric, but you have not toned down yours. Do you understand that you have contributed to the toxic Washington environment with your angry diatribes?

19) You have been very critical of “hedge fund managers,” “fat cats,” and “millionaires and billionaires.” You have attacked Wall Street greed. Rather than attack straw men, would you be willing to name names? Why will you not criticize Jon Corzine, given that he represents everything you claim to detest about Wall Street? Would you be willing to return any and all campaign donations received from Wall Street?

20) You appointed several people in controversial recess appointments under the guise that “we can’t wait.” Weren’t the Founding Fathers more worried about moving too fast than too slow? Isn’t the Constitution and the separation of powers supposed to prevent presidents from overreaching?

21) You maintain that without you, things would have been worse. Do you have anything to offer as evidence? Why should possibly preventing negatives be acceptable? Have you successfully contributed anything positive? Do you have one major program that you enacted that has actually worked?

eric

The presidential process works

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Today begins the Southern Republican Leadership Conference from Charleston, South Carolina. At some point on Thursday or Friday I will be speaking at SRLC 2012.

As the entire political world descends on South Carolina, one thing has become abundantly clear.

The presidential process works.

The criticisms of electing a president are as wide as they are deep. Yet those criticisms are wrong.

Some people say that the process is too long. Yet the fact that candidates are scrutinized for two years or more is a good thing.

Only in the United States could an ordinary average American go up to a presidential contender and ask tough questions. More importantly, these ordinary Americans demand…and receive…the answers.

The process is not perfect, but fixes in recent decades have made it very good.

Initially things began with the Iowa Caucus, followed by the New Hampshire Primary.

These two states are very different. Iowa voters like “nice”politics. They dislike attack politics. They want respectful discussions and debates. New Hampshire voters tend to prefer the rough and tumble. They don’t mince words or sugarcoat language with the candidates. Iowa thinks New Hampshire is too impolite. New Hampshire thinks Iowa neds to toughen up.

Iowa voters in the Republican Party tend to be social conservatives. Christian activists have a huge influence in this state. New Hmapshire voters tend to be more libertarian leaning. Economic issues dominate.

Yet one criticism of both states still remained. They are both overwhelmingly white.

Some people would consider this irrelevant, since a black man named Barack Obama won white voters in Iowa to springboard his candidacy to a very serious perch. Yet this is not sufficient. One black man being decided on did not alter the fact that whites were still the deciders. One black man being elected does not have as much weight as minorities having a larger say in the political process.

The solution was to add South Carolina and Nevada to the mix of states that would be allowed to decide early. The Iowa Caucus would go first, followed by the New Hampshire Primary, then the South Carolina Primary, and followed by the Nevada Caucus. After that the other 46 states would have their say.

South Carolina gives the South a voice. It also contains a large black population. While many blacks vote Democrat, South Carolina has several prominent black Republicans in high positions. As of the 2012 primary, Congressman Tim Scott is immensely popular. GOP Vice Chairman Ed Cousar is a rising star. National Committeeman Glenn McCall is very well regarded. If ever there was a state where being a black Republican was moving away from being an anomoly and more of a nrmal situation, South Carolina would be it.

South Carolina also has a strong military prescence, with the Citadel being a source of American pride. Some candidates can escape Iowa and New Hampshire by only focusin on moral and fiscal issues, respectively. Foreign policy issues cannot be avoided in South Carolina.

Nevada has a large Latino population. Governor Brian Sandoval is another rising star (along with New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez).

So between Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, there is real diversity. Racial and ethnic diversity? Check. Geographical diversity? Check? Ideological diversity? Check.

Again, the process is not perfect. Florida threw a monkey wrench into the process in 2008 and is doing so again 2012. They are losing half of their delegates, as they did four years ago. While they did jump in front of Nevada, they are still after the other three early states. Also, Florida does offer plenty of different constituencies, from the Cubans in Miami to the Jews in Palm Beach all the way to the white evangelicals in the Panhandle.

It used to be that Democrats allocated delegates by proportional representations while Republican contests were winner take all. This allowed John McCain to defeat Mike Huckabee 33-30% in South Carolina and vanquish Mitt Romney in Florida despite only winning 34-31%. That problem has now been fixed. Republicans will have proportional allocation of delegates before April 1st to ensure that the nomination is not wrapped up too early. Then after April 1st contests will be winner take all, to prevent a floor fight at the convention.

As of now, five candidates still remain. Whether Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, or Ron Paul win the nomination, one thing is clear.

The presidential process is working.

eric

Carolina Bound for Presidential Politics

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Today has me flying from Los Angeles to Charleston, South Carolina for some presidential politics. I will be speaking at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC) and soaking in the atmosphere of witnessing South Carolinians pick the next president.

So there is no time for well thought out ideas. In the last 24 hours Jon Huntsman dropped out of the presidential race, the Golden Globes happened, and a Fox News debate with the Wall Street Journal happened. Due to time constraints and lack of significance, the first two stories will not be covered. They came, they went, and I shrugged.

As for the debate, forget well fleshed out analysis. Here are my notes. Enjoy my incoherence.

MLK WSJ DEBATE

Brett Baier

Rick Perry
Rick Santorum
Mitt Romney
Newt Gingrich
Ron Paul

Juan Wiliams
Kelly Evans
Jerry Seib

Baier: Why are you going negative?

NG: He started it in Iowa. I created millions of jobs while Speaker. Questioning his record is legit. Whoever we nominate must be able to stand up to Obama.

MR: Invested in well over 100 different businesses. I have experiences turning around tough situations, Olympics, etc. Left MA with 4.7% unemployment. My record is out there.

Baier: What regs would you put in place to curb vulture capitalism?

RP: My income tax have been out every year. Mitt, release yours. Get rid of Dodd-Frank.

MR: China cheated, dumped steel, 40 steel mills closed. Halt all Obama regs.

Gerald Seib: One bad deal.

MR: 2 plants consolidated, all employees had a chance to join new company. Obama in office 3 years and does not have a jobs plan yet.

KE: Huntsman complained about negativity. You have been particularly negative.

RP: Exposing voting record quite proper. I wish I had thrown in more.

RS: Paul is quoting Soros and other left-wing backed organizations. I am not perfect. I voted for NCLB. I shouldn’t have. I hope it is repealed. I represented PA, it’s not a right-to-work state. I support RTW, but I did what was best for PA.

JW: Romney guilty of lies and hypocrisy. Negativity?

RS: Should felons be given the right to vote?

MR: Super Pacs are independent.

RS: Should voting rights be restored once their sentences are over?

MR: Do not restore the rights.

RS: You as Gov supported a more liberal position giving them rights while still on parole.

MR: I had an 85% Dem legislature.

RP: Great example of insiders. DC needs to leave states alone.

Baier: Huntsman insults, flip-flopping.

MR: Clarified his abortion position, an embryo situation.

JW: Voter ID?

RP: Texas is under assault. States rights. This administration is at war with organized religion.

RB: Extending unemployment benefits?

RS: 99 weeks too long, makes it harder to find work when you come back. Give states flexibility.

RB: Max length?

NG: Better way to think about it. All unemployment comp should be tied to job training. 99 weeks is an associate degree. Difference between Obama and 5 of us, we think work is good.

KE: How far would you go to keep fin system functioning?

MR: No pres should have blank check for slush fund. Don’t think how much we can get gov’t in economy, but get it out. This pres has opened up no new markets in 3 years while China has opened up 44.

GS: Closing mil bases hurts SC econ and nat’l security.

RP: Build more bases here and remove them overseas. MIL spending vs defense spending. Building fancy embassies are not def spending, they are waste.

BB: > Fed inc tax

RP: 10%

RS: 10, 28

MR: 25

NG: 15%

Paul: 0% until 1913. Inflation tax 0.

KE: Release your tax records?

MR: Open to doing it in April.

JW: Dream act, are you alienating Latinos?

MR: No favors for illegals. I love legal immigration.

JW: Special treatment for blacks based on past injustices?

RS: Work, high school grad, marriage before children…according to Brookings, only 2% of those end up in poverty. Obama does not allow promoting marriage to young girls or abstinence education. Neutrality ends in poverty.

JW: Racial disparities in drug sentencing?

RP: Yes. Rich white people don’t get death penalty very often.

JW: Poor kids working as janitors? Isn’t this insulting?

NG: No. I don’t see that. My daughter’s 1st job at age 13 was a janitor. 30 kids for price of one NY janitor due to unions. Only the elites despise earning money.

JW: Are you belittling minorities?

NG: Fact is, more people put on food stamps by Obama than anyone. I know it is politically incorrect to use facts that make people uncomfortable. Every American of every background has a chance…It bothers liberals but I will help every person get a job, get a better job, find way to own the job.

BB: You were against killing of Bin Laden?

RP: I did not say that. I voted for authority to go after him. Respect sovereignty of other nations or face the consequences. They could have done it a more proper way like with KSM.

BB: To the left of Obama?

RP: We can capture him in different ways. We captured and tried Saddam? Why can’t you capture people? Eichmann was given a trial.

BB: Unilateral action?

NG: Bin Laden was not a Chinese dissident. Analogy Paul used was utterly irrational. Dissident not a terrorist. Andrew Jackson had a pretty good idea about America’s enemies. Kill them.

RP: Golden Rule in foreign policy. Not to warmongering.

BB: Negotiate with Taliban?

MR: Of course not. We go anywhere they are and we kill them. The right thing for Bin Laden was the bullet in the head he received. You don’t negotiate from weakness like Obama has done. We are at war with Radical violent Jihadists.

BB: Cited Mitchell Rice, advisor to Romney.

MR: Rice is wrong.

BB: Syria?

RS: Obama has dealt with it as badly as possible. Setting up embassy terrible move. No to military option of removing Assad.

BB: Murder of women of Turkey skyrocketing under new regime. Should Turkey still in NATO?

RP: Turkey ruled by Islamic terrorist. Foreign aid to NATO should be 0. Regarding Ron Paul, the noise you were looking for was a gong. Panetta called soldiers who urinated on Taliban corpses utterly despicable. Utterly despicable is cutting Danny Pearl’s head off and showing it on video.

RP: Al Queda want to kill us here, Taliban just want foreigners off their land.

KE: Would you have signed Nat’l Defense ACT?

MR: Yes. The right to protest is not the right to kill Americans. That is treason. We have the right to jail those people. Al Qaeda not entitled to due process.

RS: US Citizens detained should have right to federal court to determine whether you could have counsel and continue being held.

RP: Patriot Act has eliminated 4th Amendment.

KE: Housing market?

RP: Cut taxes. Simplify system, even Timothy Geithner can get his taxes in on time. Make Congress part-time. Get gov’t out of housing market.

GS: Raise retirement age, eligibility age for medicare, or reduce benefits?

MR: For those 55 and over, nothing changes. Liberals show videos of seniors being thrown over cliffs, yet Obama cut Medicare 500 bil. Add a year or 2 to retirement age to SS. Send Medicaid back to states, repeal Obamacare.

GS: Gov’t making up difference if mkt return less than gov’t?

NG: Private plan is voluntary. In Chile, not one gov’t check has been written. You have a universal investing nation.

GS: Eliminating corp inc tax for manufacturing as opposed to others, isn’t that picking winners and losers?

RS: Romney not bold, Newt irresponsible. His plan leads to hundreds of millions of dollars in increased debt. Doing it now is fiscal insanity.

NG: We pay for it by taking 185 bureaucracies and creating single block grant. I balanced budgets for 4 years.

RM: In private sector you overborrow you go out of business.

Superpacs: MR: We all would like to see Superpacs disappear. Abolish McCain-Feingold.

KE: Spend less on border security?

RP: America is at 40 year low thanks to Obama.

BB: is NCLF good or bad?

NG: It’s a failure. Reduce dep’t education.

That concludes my incoherence. I did not have time to turn this into anything worthwhile. Oh, and in case nobody cares, Jon Huntsman is still out of the race and the Golden Globes are still almost as worhtless as the Oscars.

eric

From Dr. King to the Obamas

Monday, January 16th, 2012

On this holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., there is a general consensus about race relations that is is far from an absolute consensus. It is in this vein that the moral clarity of Dr. King is compared and contrasted with the contradictory lessons of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

http://comadmin.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2012/jan/16/how-barack-and-michelle-obama-can-truly-honor-dr-m/

eric

NFL 2011-2012 Divisionals Recap

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Last week the NFL Wildcard games reduced 12 teams down to 8. This weekend reduces the season to the final 4 of them. The National Football League requires no hyperbole. Let’s get down to the games.

New Orleans Saints @ San Francisco 49ers–Both of of these teams finished the regular season 13-3, but they are very different teams. Sean Payton has Drew Brees running a high octane offense that is every bit as explosive as the great offenses in NFL history. Jim Harbaugh has turned the losing 49ers around with a suspect quarterback and unimpressive offense. The 49ers have a stifling defense. They win ugly. The cliche is that defense wins championships. Trent Dilfer has a Super Bowl ring. Dan Marino does not. Yet Drew Brees also has one, and last week he threw for 466 yards as the Saints piled up 626 yards of offense.

Brees made it look easy early on, using 6 minutes of clock to move the Saints from their own 20 to a 3rd and 6 at the San Francisco 7. Brees then hit Pierre Thomas, who was on the way to a touchdown when he got blasted by Whitmer at the 2 yard line. The resulting fumble was recovered by Willis as the Saints turned it over in what would be a shockingly common theme in the first half. The hit causing the fumble appeared to be helmet to helmet but was not called. After an exchange of punts, the 49ers took over at their own 46. 2 plays later Alex Smith went deep to Vernon Davis, who broke tackles and coasted for a 49 yard touchdown and a 7-0 49ers lead.

The Saints took over at their own 14. From their 25, Brees was intercepted by Goldson. Goldson returned it 41 yards to give the 49ers 1st and goal at the 4. On 3rd and goal Smith hit Crabtree for the score as the 49ers led 14-0. On the ensuing kickoff, Roby fumbled it, kicked it forward, and rather than fall on it tried to pick it up again. He fumbled again, and the 3rd Saints turnover of the first quarter gave the 49ers the ball at the Saints 13 as the opening quarter ended. The second quarter soon had the 49ers facing 3rd and 4 at the 7, where Smith threw incomplete. David Akers hit the 25 yarder as the 49ers led 17-0.

After a touchback, Brees hit Robert Meachem for 8 and Collins for 8 more. Brees found Colston for 20. Brees hit Sproles for 5 and it was ruled that Sproles fumbled for the 4th Saints turnover. Yet Sean Payton challenged the ruling and it was reversed. Brees then hit Colston for 11, and scrambled for 5. Brees then hit Graham for 7 and again for the 14 yard touchdown to get the Saints within 17-7.

The Saints got it back at their own 34. After offsides, Brees hit Colston for 13. On 3rd and 8 from the Frisco 46, Brees hit Arrington for 14 and Henderson for 7. On 3rd and 3 from the 25, Brees went deep to Colston with a perfect pass to the corner that had the Saints on the board again and only down 17-14. Both teams would have multiple chances in the final 4 minutes of the half, but the defenses held. The 49ers would punt early in the third quarter, and the Saints fumbled it for their 5th turnover. The 49ers took over at the Saints 26 but 3 plays netted only 3 yards. Akers hit from 41 to have the 49ers up 20-14.

The defenses took over after that until the Saints got it back late in the third quarter at their own 34. Brees hit Sproles for 12. Chris Ivory gained 5. Brees hit Devry Henderson for 10 as the fourth quarter began with the Saints at the Frisco 39. Brees hit Colston for 9 and Ivory gained 3. Yet on 3rd and 12 from the Frisco 29, Brees went to the end zone and it bounced off of Colston’s fingertips as the defender arrived. It should have been a touchdown, but instead the Saints settled for a 48 yard Jon Kasay field goal to trail 20-17 with 13 minutes left in regulation. Surprisingly, the 48 yarder was the longest field goal in Saints playoff history.

The teams again exchanged punts and the 49ers took over at their own 36. Frank Gore burst up the middle for a 42 yard gain. Yet on 3rd and 6 from the 18, a pass was batted around like a pinball and eventually caught for a one yard loss. Akers hit the 37 yarder to put the 49ers up 23-17 midway through the fourth quarter. All game long the defense had bottled up the Saints and prevented the big play. Yet the offense settled for field goals.

The Saints soon faced 3rd and 9 from their own 22. Brees calmly hit Henderson for 13 and Colston for 11. On 3rd and 1 from the Frisco 45, Sproles got the yard. On the next play Brees found Sproles over the middle, and the speedster split the seams and raced for a 44 yard touchdown. With 4 minutes left the Saints had overcome 5 turnovers and a 17-0 deficit to lead 24-23. Now it was up to the 49ers offense and the Saints defense to decide this game.

After a touchback, Smith hit Hunter for 13. Smith then went deep to Davis, and Davis came down with the bomb for a 37 yard gain. With 3 minutes left the 49ers were at the Saints 30, already in field goal range. Now it would come down to clock management. The Saints took their second timeout with 2:18 left and the 49ers facing 3rd and 3 at the New Orleans 23. A stop would give the Saints hope. A 1st down would let the 49ers take it much further down. At the worst possible time, the 49ers were called for 12 men in the offensive huddle. Now it was 3rd and 8. To make matters worse, the 49ers then burnt their second timeout. What happened next can only be described as stunning.

Smith rolled out, but the idea of a pass play in this situation would be insane. Smith simply kept it, rolled around the end, and raced down the sidelines for a 28 yard touchdown. It was the longest touchdown run by a 49ers quarterback in playoff history. The critical 2 point conversion try was a handoff to Gore, and he got stopped cold. The 49ers led 29-24 with 2:11 left, but the Saints would get the ball back. Everything would come down to the Saints offense vs the 49ers defense. All day Sproles had been bottled up on kickoff returns, and this critical return was no exception. Rather than take a knee, he was caught at the 12 yard line. The Saints had 2:08 to go 88 yards with one timeout and the 2 minute warning.

Brees hit Sproles for 10 yards at the 2 minute warning. A completion to Colston at the sideline went for 12 more. Then the play of the game happened. Brees fired over the middle to Jimmy Graham. Graham split 2 defenders and raced for the end zone. Graham stiff-armed one last defender inside the 10 yard line and carried him into the end zone in front of a shellshocked home crowd. On the 2 point conversion try, Brees hit Sproles. The Saints had the 3 point lead, but now it was New Orleans who may have scored too early. Kyle Williams returned the ensuing kickoff as the 49ers started out at their own 15 with 1:32 to play and one timeout.

Alex Smith was on the verge of being a hero but he could not help the machine that is Drew Brees. Asked to be a hero for the second time in 2 minutes was a tall order. With 44 seconds left the 49ers were still at their own 33. Then this game of miracles added another. Smith found Davis deep for a 47 yard gain with 31 seconds left. A short pass to Gore followed by a spike led to 3rd and 4 at the Saints 14 with 14 seconds left. The 49ers were within chip shot field goal position but Jim Harbaugh put his trust in Alex Smith to go for the win. Smith fired to the end zone. Vernon Davis and defender Roman Harper met at the same time the ball arrived at the goal  line and Harper blasted Davis.

Davis caught it and hung on for the touchdown. The 1981 season saw Joe Montana hit Dwight Clark for “The Catch.” The 1998 season saw Steve Young hit Terrell Owens for “The Catch II.” Now Alex Smith and Vernon Davis had “The Catch III.” When Owens made his catch, he cried his eyes out. Announcer John Madden pointed out that anybody who thinks football is only about money has no idea what football is about. Those were not dollar signs coming out of his eyes. Like Owens, Davis was crying his eyes out. He cried all the way to the sidelines where Jim Harbaugh hugged him.

In the 1981 season, the 49ers left almost one minute on the clock. The defense forced a fumble to win. In the 1998 season, the catch came on the final play. This catch by Davis came with 9 seconds left. The Saints would take over at their own 14. Even Brees could not move the Saints 86 yards on one play. The hook and laterals quickly failed, and the 49ers had the win.

Drew Brees threw the ball 63 times. He completed 40 of them for a ridiculous 461 yards. He threw 4 touchdown passes with 2 interceptions. Yet much maligned Alex Smith went 24 of 42 for 299 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Alex Smith was the # 1 pick in the 2005 Draft. He and Vernon Davis were both considered busts as they languished under Mike Singletary. They were both almost cut. Yet Jim Harbaugh came in and turned the team around. The 49ers do have a great defense, but the defense folded under pressure in the same way every other team facing the Saints has. The offense had to go and earn the win, and Alex Smith and Vernon Davis, no matter what happens next, are now a part of 49ers lore forever.

More importantly, they are in the NFC Title Game after winning what is an instant NFL Classic and one of the top playoff finishes of all time.  4 lead changes in the final 3 minutes was how the the guys from out West won. If ever the words of uber-announcer Chris Berman applied, this was it. That’s why they play the games. 36-32 49ers

Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots–On paper this is one of the bigest playoff mismatches of all time. Denver at 8-8 backed into the playoffs with 3 straight losses. New England was 13-3. A few weeks ago New England went into Denver, fell behind 16-7, and then throttled Denver 41-23. New England has lost at home in the playoffs the last couple years, and the big storyline is the heart of Tim Tebow vs the history of Tom Brady. Ironically, Evil Hoodie Bill Bellichick has a team very suspect on defense. Jon Fox has a tough defense with Von Miller leading the charge. This game comes days away from the 10 year anniversary of the Tuck Rule. So for the Raider Nation, Tim Tebow may be Little Satan but Tom Brady is the Great Satan.

New England exploded out of the gate from their 20 as Brady hit Green-Ellis for 8 and Rob gronkowski for 17 to midfield. Brady then found Anthony Hernandez for a 43 yard gain and Wes Welker for the 7 yard touchdown to have the Patriots up 7-0 less than 2 minutes into the game. Tebow would lead the Broncos from their 24 to a  2nd and 9 at the New England 37. Tebow was then sacked and fumbled, as the Patriots took over at their own 41. Brady hit Welker for 8, Hernandez for 9, Gronkowski for 16, and again to Gronkowski for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Patriots.

Denver would punt, and Brady would then get intercepted to give the Broncos a short field at the Ne England 24. On 3rd and 3 Tebow hit Thomas for 12. On the first play of the second quarter, Willis McGahee ran for the 5 yard touchdown to get the Broncos within 14-7. Yet an unnecessary roughness penalty on the offense after the score moved the ensuing kickoff back to the 20. After an exchange of punts, New England quickly ended the suspense.

From the New England 48, Brady hit Gronkowski for 9 and  Deion Branch for 10. Hernandez ran for 10, and on 3rd and 3 from the 12, Brady went to Gronkowski for the touchdown to make it 21-7 Patriots midway through the second quarter. With 2 1/2 minutes left the game was still manageable although the Patriots had it at their own 28. Woodhead ran for 11 and the Brady went for the kill. A 61 yard touchdown pass to Branch made it 28-7 just before the 2 minute warning.

Denver went 3 and out and a short 33 yard punt had the Patriots at their own 42 with just over one minute left in the half. Brady hit Welker for 8, Hernandez for 20, and Julian Edelman for 19 down to the 11 with 10 seconds left in the half. Brady went to the end zone and found Gronkowski for the touchdown. This game was over at halftime with the Patriots up 35-7. Tebow was a miserable 3 of 10 for 28 yards passing. Brady was 18 of 25 for 246 yards and an interception. Oh, and Brady also had 5 touchdown passes. Yes, this was only in the first half. The 5 touchdowns in the first half was a new NFL record.

The uneventful second half saw Denver quickly go 3 and out and the Patriots take over at the Denver 44. From the 34, Brady hit Welker for half of it and Hernandez for the other half as the Patriots led 42-7 only 3 minutes into the third quarter. Brady tied the NFL record with 6 touchdown passes. Yet in an odd change of pace, Bellichick did everything he could to prevent Brady from getting the record.

Down by 35, a Jon Fox decided to kick a field goal to make it 42-10. On the first play of the fourth quarter from the Denver 32, Brady went deep to Gronkowski for a 28 yard gain. Yet on 1st and goal at the 4, Bellichick called 3 straight runs. On 4th and goal at the 2, Bellichick went with the field goal. With 3 minutes left in the game the Patriots faced 3rd and 10 at their own 42. Brady lined up in the shotgun, and in a bizarre move, Brady became a punter. Bellichick decided to give his quarterback a try at punting. Brady kicked it 48 yards.

Brady finished 26 of 34 for 363 yards and  touchdown with 1 interception. Tebow finished 9 of 26 for 136 with 0 touchdowns or interceptions.After the game Tebow looked for Brady, and it seemed Brady deliberately avoided Tebow. The media followed Tebow around the field, and while there could be another explanation, it really appeared that Brady was purposely avoiding Tebow. Either way, the Patriots are at home next week in the AFC Title Game. 45-10 Patriots

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens-This is another game looking like a big mismatch. Earlier this year the 12-4 Ravens belted the 10-6 Texans 29-14. Houston and 3rd string quarterback TJ Yates have shown tremendous heart, and Gary Kubiak has a very impressive offense with running back Arriun Foster and all world wide receiver Andre Johnson. Yet Johnson has been hamstrung literally, with a bad hamstring. That is not the time to go into Baltimore and face the nasty defense of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, and Terrell Suggs. John Harbaugh has seen his team have to do it on the road in past years, and this year the bye week and the home field should be more than enough to get the Ravens to the AFC Title Game.

Houston got the first break of the game when Manning returned the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Baltimore 41. TJ Yates hit Andre Johnson for 11 and 5, and Arriun Foster gained 4. Yet on 3rd and 1 from the Baltimore 21, Foster got stopped cold. On 4th and 1 Gary Jubiak decided to take the points on the road. Neil Rackers hit from 40 and the Texans led 3-0.

From their own 23, Baltimore went 3 and out. Yet again special teams played a role as Houston fumbled the punt. Smith recovered it for the Ravens, who took over at the Houston 2 yard line. On 3rd and goal from the 1, Joe Flacco hit Wilson for the score as the Ravens led 7-3. Houston went 3 and out and a short 35 yard punt had the Ravens starting at their own 40. Ray Rice gained 6 and Flacco hit Anquon Boldin for 21 yards. On 3rd and 4 from the 27, Flacco was sacked and fumbled. However, Baltimore retained possession and Billy Cundiff hit a 48 yard field goal to make it 10-3 Ravens.

Baltimore would punt again, and Houston would fumble it again. This time they retained possession. From their own 23, Yates was intercepted immediately by Lardarius Webb. The Ravens again had a short field at the Houston 34. On 3rd and 9, Flacco hit Rice for 20 and Boldin for a 10 yard touchdown as the Ravens led 17-3 after the opening quarter. Yet in the second quarter, the possible rout turned into a tight game.

Houston took over at their own 26. On 3rd and 3 Yates hit Foster for 16 as the Texans began the second quarter just shy of midfield. Foster gained 19. On 3rd and 8 from the Baltimore 30, Yates hit Owen Daniels for 17. The drive would stall at the 10, but Rackers would hit a 33 yard field goal to have the Texans within 17-6.

Baltimore went 3 and out and the Texans took over at their own 14. Foster gained 28, and Yates hit Johnson for 12 more. On 3rd and 9 from the Baltimore 45, Yates hit Johnson for 13. Foster gained 14 more. On 3rd and 9 from the 17, Yates hit Foster for 12. Foster gained 4, and on 3rd and goal from the 1, Foster got in. The 12 play, 86 yard, 6 minute drive had the Texans only down 17-13 at halftime. In the third quarter the Ravens punted twice and the Texans once, as Houston took over at their own 22. Yates hit Johnson for 17 and Walter for 19. On 3rd and 6 from the Baltimore 32, Yates threw incomplete. Rackers came in for a 50 yard try to make it a one point game. His kick was dead center, but bounced off the crossbar no good.

After the miss, Baltimore took over at their own 40. Flacco hit Pitta for 16. On 3rd and 5 from the Houston 39, Flacco went to Lee Evans. Evans made a one handed grab with a defender on him for a 30 yard gain. Rice gained 5. On 2nd and goal from the 4 Rice fumbled the handoff. The Ravens retained possessed. On 3rd and goal at the 2 Rice came up just short. John Harbaugh took a timeout and decided to go for it on 4th and goal at the 1. Rice got the carry, and he got blasted. The Ravens are known for a vaunted defense, but Texans Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips has built a fantastic defense of his own in Houston. With 2 minutes left in the third quarter, Houston was backed up at their own goal line. They went 3 and out and Baltimore got it back at midfield. The Ravens began the fourth quarter by wasting the opportunity and going 3 and out.

Midway through the fourth quarter Houston faced 3rd and 12 from their own 48. Yates threw into double coverage and was intercepted by Lardarius Webb. Baltimore took over at their own 29. Flacco found Pitta for 13, Smith for 9, and Boldin for 14. On 2nd and 5 from the Houston 26, Houston took their 1st timeout with 3 minutes left in regulation. Baltimore offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, rather than force the Texans to use the rest of their timeouts, called consecutive pass plays. Flacco threw incomplete twice. Billy Cundiff would hit the 44 yard field goal but the Ravens had failed to ice the game. They led 20-13, and the Texans got it back at their own 28 with 2:44 to play and 2 timeouts.

Yates went to Johnson for 18 and again for 16 as the Texans had 1st and 10 at the Baltimore 38 at the 2 minute warning. Yates then went deep to Johnson for all the marbles. There was good double coverage, and old man Ed Reed did it again. The interception at the 4 yard line with 1:51 left appeared to end it. The Ravens needed one first down, and were in great shape when Rice gained 9 yards to set up 2nd and 1. Rice got the carry and got the yard. The Ravens were prepared to take a knee and end it. Yet the officials reviewed the spot and reversed it to set up 3rd and 1. The Texans used their final timeout. Vonte Leach got the carry, and he got stopped. The Texans had life. They nearly blocked the punt, and took over at their own 48 with 45 seconds left.

Yates hit Daniels for 9, but 2 more incompletions set up 4th and 1 from the Baltimore 43 with 20 seconds left. Yates scrambled around, and launched the Hail Mary. It was well thrown, and everyone had a shot at it. Yet again it was old man Ed Reed who knocked it down at the last second. Reed hurt himself on the play, and Ray Lewis helped him off of the field. Lewis and Reed are in the twilight of their careers, but they will have a chance to go out on top. It was a typical Ravens game. It was ugly, with just enough offense and a stellar defense. Like the 2000 team, it was good enough to get to the AFC Title Game. 20-13 Ravens

New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers–The Packers will be playing this game with heavy hearts due to the tragic death of the son of offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin. Philbin returned to the team and will be coaching in this game. Various coaches from Fred Belitnikoff to Tony Dungy have faced every parent’s nightmare, and the entire NFL family aches for Mr. Philbin. Yet while it is easy to say football is a game, it is also a job for the players, and both teams will be focused for the action on the field with  spot in the NFC Title Game at stake.

In 2007 the Giants under Tom Coughlin shocked the world by taking the # 6 seed on the road and running the table. That NFC Title Game saw the 10-6 Giants shock the 13-3 Packers. Brett Favre threw the overtime interception and the Giants won at Lambeau 23-20 en route to winning it all. This time the Giants are 9-7 and the Packers are 15-1. Aaron Rodgers is lighting up the scoreboard. Last year it was the 10-6 Packers who were the hunters as the # 6 seed as they also ran the table. Yet this year they are the hunted. The Giants gave the Packers all they could handle a few weeks go in the Meadowlands, but Green Bay won at the gun 38-35. Forget the storylines about history repeating itself. The Giants have a tenacious defense and Eli Manning has a new offensive playmaker in Victor Cruz. Yet Mike McCarthy has a phenomenal offense that scores at will. McCarthy was the coach when Green Bay lost in 2007, and this time Green Bay should continue their path to a dynasty.

Early on it was the Giants eating up yards and clock. Eli Manning was masterful on 3rd down conversions. On 3rd and 8 from their own 22, Manning hit Mario Manningham for 19 yards and Vicotr Cruz for 17 more. On 3rd and 10 from the Green Bay 42, Manning hit Cruz for 11 and Beckum for 10. Yet on 3rd and 5 from the Green Bay 13, Manning threw incomplete. Lawrence Tynes went from goat to hero in the 2007 season game, and his 31 yarder had the Giants up 3-0 after the 13 play, 78 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive.

Randall Cobb fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Giant recovered. Yet Mike McCarthy challenge the call, and on further review Cobb was down by contact. From the Green Bay 21, Ryan Grant ran for 19. Aaron Rodgers hit Greg Jennings for 10 and Jermaine Finley for 19. The drive stalled from there but Mason Crosby hit from 47 to have the game tied 3-3. The Giants got it back and soon faced 3rd and 11 from their own 19. Manning hit Hakeem Nicks for 15. On the next play Manning went to Nicks, who bounced off a tackler at midfield and outraced the defenders for a 66 yard touchdown to put the Giants up 10-3.

Tynes hit the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, giving the Packers the ball at their own 40. On 3rd and 5 Rodgers gained 6. Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson for 11 and Jennings for 6 more. After an offsides, Rodgers hit Jones for 16 to the 11. On the first play of the second quarter, Rodgers hit Kuhn for the touchdown to tie the game 10-10. Mike McCarthy called for a surprise onsides kick, and it failed. The Giants took over at the Green Bay 41. Manning hit Beckum for 12, but on 3rd and 2 from the Green Bay 21 Manning threw incomplete. Tynes came in for the 40 yarder and it was blocked by Jones to keep the game deadlocked 10-10.

Rodgers led the Packers from their 20 to a 3rd and 7 at the Giants 43. Rodgers threw incomplete and the Packers punted. Manning led the Giants from their 20 to a 3rd and 5 at the Packers 34. In long field goal range, Manning went deep and was intercepted. Green Bay took over at their own 25. 3 plays later from their 38, Kuhn fumbled and Antrel Rolle recovered for the Giants. Rolle returned it 9 yards and the Giants took over at the Green Bay 34. Manning hit Nicks for a 29 yard gain to set up 1st and goal at the 5. Ahmad Bradshaw gained 4 but on 2nd and goal at the 1 Brandon Jacobs was blown up for a 4 yard loss. Eli Manning then threw incomplete and again the Giants settled for a 23 yard Tynes field goal and a 13-10 lead with 1:56 left in the half.

After a touchback, Rodgers hit Finley for 14. With 54 seconds left in the half the Pacekrs faced 3rd and 6 at their own 38. Rodgers was sacked for a 5 yard loss and the Giants took their last timeout to get the ball back. The Giants got it back at their own 31 with 41 seconds left. Manning hit Bradshaw for 9 and then threw incomplete with 15 seconds left in the half. Tom Coughlin then surprised Green Bay with a running play, and Bradshaw ran around the end for a 23 yard gain with 6 seconds left. From the Green Bay 37, Coughlin decided against the 55 yard field goal try. Manning threw a Hail Mary to the end zone, and in front of a stunned home field crowd, Nicks came down with it for a miracle touchdown. The Giants led 20-10 at halftime.

Green Bay began the second half from their 20. Rodgers hit Jennings for 14. On 3rd and 10 from their 34, Rodgers scrambled for 15. On 3rd and 5 from the Giants 46, Rodgers hit Donald Driver for 16. On 1st and 10 from the Giants 30, Rodgers was sacked and fumbled. The Giants were smelling upset as they took over at their own 37. Yet on 3rd and 2 from their 45, Ware came up one yard short and the Giants punted.

Green Bay soon faced 3rd and 11 from their own 24. Rodgers hit Donald Driver, who willed his way to a 13 yard gain. Rodgers hit Starks for 12 and Starks then ran an end around 29 yards. Yet on 3rd and 5 from the 17, Rodgers threw to the end zone incomplete. Mason Crosby barely snuck a 35 yarder within the right upright as the Packers were within 20-13 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter.

While the Giants racked up 311 yards of offense in the first half alone, they managed only 24 yards in the third quarter. They would suffer an offensive holding penalty on their first play from scrimmage on the next drive and punt it back. Green Bay took over at their own 24. Rodgers scrambled for 10 as the Packers began the fourth quarter with 2nd and 6 at their own 39. Rodgers hit Nelson for 17. On 3rd and 6 from the Giants 40, Rodgers found a wide open Finley over the middle. It bounced off his fingertips. The receivers were dropping passes all day, including a potential touchdown on the previous drive. Mike McCarthy decided to go for it, and Rodgers was sacked for a 6 yard loss. The Giants took over at their own 45 with 13 minutes left in regulation.

On 3rd and 1 from the Green Bay 46, Manning hit Mannigham for 8. Defensive holding had the Giants in long field goal range. On 3rd and 5 from the 28, Manning fired over the middle to Cruz for an 11 yard gain. On 3rd and 5 from the 12, the pocket collapsed and Manning wisely took the sack rather than force a throw into coverage. Tynes again hit the 35 yarder as the Giants led 23-13 midway through the fourth quarter.

Green Bay quickly faced 2nd and 5 at their own 34. Rodgers hit Grant for 10 yards, and Grant was stripped of the ball before he hit the ground. Most of the players stopped as if the play was over but there was no whistle.  Blackburn picked it up at the Green Bay 44 and returned it 40 yards to the Packers 4 yard line. Surely the Giants would grind it out. Not this time. Manning fired to the back of the end zone and hit Manningham for the touchdown. The Giants led 30-13 with 7 minutes left as the 15-1 Packers saw their potential dynasty going up in flames.

Green Bay quickly faced 3rd and 10 at their own 24. Rodgers threw incomplete, but a dreadful personal foul call on the defense for a non-existent blow to the head kept the drive going. Osi Umenyiora clearly hit Rodgers in the shoulder, but the play was not reviewable. Rodgers then hit Cobb for 21, scrambled for 16, hit Starks for 8, and found Driver for the 16 yard touchdown. With 5 minutes left the Packers were down 30-20.

The onsides kick was a good one, but after a wild scramble Cruz recovered it at midfield for the Giants. Yet the Giants would soon face 3rd and 11 from their own 49 with 4 1/2 minutes left as the Packers took their second timeout. Another run and  punt would give the Packers the slimmest of hope. Instead Manning passed to Cruz for a 17 yard gain. On the next play Bradshaw was trapped in the backfield for a loss, but escaped, got to the sideline, gained 24 yards, and smartly stayed inbounds. Jacobs then lost 4 yards, but on the next play Jacobs got it again and ran around the end untouched for a 14 yard touchdown. With 2 1/2 minutes left, the lights were finally turned out in emphatic fashion.

Since 1993, at least one of the top seeds with home field advantage throughout the playoffs has gone down to defeat almost every year. The lone exception was 2009. The Giants did it the hard way as the # 6 seed in 2007 and ran the table. Then in 2008 as the top seed they were one and done by # 6 seed Philly. In 2010 Green Bay did it the hard way as the # 6 seed running the table. Yet in 2011 as the top seed they were one and done. The 2011 Giants are again trying to do it the hard way.

For all the talk about the Packers, some discussion of the Giants is necessary. Despite the magical 2007 season, some crazy Giants fans wanted to get rid of Tom Coughlin after missing the playoffs in a colossal regular season meltdown last year. Too many organizations act with haste, and the Mara and Tisch families prefer stability an continuity. They kept Coughlin, and have been rewarded for their patience. Also, for those who bought into the hype that the Giants were now the second best team in New York City, think again. Big Blue is still King of the City.

Some will say the Packers came out emotionally flat due to the tragedy in the Philbin family. Some will say that this proves in the rest vs rust argument that players should play all the games down the stretch. This is wrong. Giving the players clipboards is still the right move in that situation. Some will point to the miracle Hail Mary at the end of the half as a deflating moment for the Cheeseheads. Yet the real story of this game is the same one in 2007. The Giants defense simply came at the Packers offense and hit them in the mouth. Defense still wins championships.That’s why they play the games. 37-20 Giants

One week from today the Conference Title Games will be played.

AFC Title Game: Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

12pm PST on CBS

Two years ago Baltimore went into New England in the playoffs and beat the tar out of them. The Patriots want revenge. New England has the offense and Baltimore has the defense.

NFC Title Game: New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers

3:30pm PST on FOX

In the 2002 season, these teams met in San Francisco in the playoffs. The Giants led 38-14 in the third quarter before the 49ers came back and took a 39-38 lead. The Giants had a field goal try to win it on the final play. The snap was fumbled, a pass was thrown incomplete, and the 49ers got away with pass interference in a very bitter and controversial ending. The Giants and 49ers both have tough defenses.  Earlier this year in San Francisco the 49ers hung on late for a 27-20 win.

eric

Tebow vs Brady–If only they could both lose

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

On the day the Denver Broncos play the New England Patriots in an NFL Divisional playoff matchup, it is a shame that both teams will fail to lose. Tim Tebow is Little Satan, but Tom Brady is the Great Satan.

http://comadmin.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2012/jan/14/tim-tebow-vs-tom-brady-they-are-both-satan/

eric

January Hate Mail

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Time to open up my hate mail bag. 2012 brings new rantings from leftist and Ron Paul supporters, who for the most part are the the same people.

“Kenneth
[email protected]
You are a loser, fucking idiot.”

Analysis: His name is most likely Kenneth Marx. I wonder if he is related to Karl. He does not seem pleasant enough to be related to Groucho.

“Jake
[email protected]
Quick question, why are you such a moron?”

Analysis: I went to public school.

“skekVex (Who cares what my name is?)
[email protected]
You, sir, are a mindless, ill-informed, inflammatory blogger with no right to be anywhere near any sense of a journalistic community. Your article should have simply been shortened to "HAHA, Paul only got third place! That means he's finished because I say so! Suck it!". But no.. You prolonged your message taking every opportunity you could to assault everything the reader holds dear in the terms of words, the Washington Times, journalism, and human intellect and knock them down a few pegs.

The only peace that can be known from having perused this article and becoming aware that at least one person of such a deficient mentality exists in the world is the vague hope that next Tuesday, when Ron Paul takes at least 2nd place largely uncontested by any other candidate than Mitt Romney, you might realize the extent of your stupidity and work to enhance and open your mind through research and knowledge or, barring that, a bullet.”

Analysis: From start to finish, this fellow accurately reflects the Ron Paul movement. He starts out by saying his identity does not matter. So the question to “What’s your name” shall be answered with 2 possibilities.

1) Snoop Doggy Dogg.

2) Nobody cares.

He then concludes by recommending I take a bullet. So anybody disagreeing with Ron Paul should be shot to death. Now that is the spirit of liberty and tolerance that makes the Paulbots such warm fuzzy basket cases.

“Traci St. Claire
[email protected]
Just read your stupid article from Feb. 2011 regarding Paulbots and how we don't matter.  Guess we proved you wrong!

Have a fantastic day!”

Analysis: I wrote the column being cited almost one year ago. The reader finally stumbled upon it. Since then Ron Paul has competed and won absolutely nothing. So I was proven right. Then again, most Paul supporters also went to public school, explaining how they became mindless automatons unable to tell the difference between winning and coming in a distant second or third.

“kyle
[email protected]
IF you are such a comedian as your profile states you are, then why hasn't anyone heard of you and why are you not funny…  You probably hate Jon Stewart and Steve Cobert as well because they are Ron Paul supporting public figures. But then again, they are the ones with huge fan bases and oh yeah their own shows unlike you, and they are actually funny. So with that shut the fuck up with all of your slander and be possible. and in the future, if you are a news journalist, write actual news, you know… who what when where how. keep it classy.

sorry in advance for the insults

Hope to hear back from you.”

Analysis: This fellow thinks Jon Stewart supports Ron Paul. Jon Stewart has his head connected to Barack Obama’s (redacted) with as much passion as this commenter has his head up Ron Paul’s (redacted). The fellow also uses profanity while excoriating others to be classy. No wonder he supports Jon Stewart and Ron Paul.

Ok, everybody, say it with me again.

These are liberals, and Paulbots. This is how they behave.

eric

In defense of capitalism

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

Watching liberal academics pretending to understand the real world and how businesses work are parts of life that will never go away, such as insects and tofu.

What is unforgivable is those pretending to be conservative Republicans attacking Wall Street in general and Governor Mitt Romney’s work at Bain Capital in particular.

For me, this is not about Governor Romney. I am neutral in the GOP primary and have no idea who I will end up supporting. The person is less important to me than the beliefs. The very essence of capitalism is under assault, and defending it at all costs is the only acceptable option.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2012/jan/12/mitt-romney-bain-capital-and-world-gone-mad/

eric

New Hampshire 2012: The Granite State has spoken

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

The people of New Hampshire have spoken. Here is the New Hampshire Primary Recap.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2012/jan/11/2012-new-hampshire-primary-recap/

eric