Nobody 743
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Nobody # 743
Nobody Asked Me But:
In my stars I am above thee, but be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. – Shakespeare, Malvolio 2.5.140-143
Nobody Asked Me But:
Will Barack Obama be a great president? Wrong question. Since the word great implies a uniqueness that few possess, let me rephrase. Will Obama be an excellent president?
He has a very good chance. He seems to have the necessary qualities – intelligence, leadership, the ability to inspire. And he certainly faces the great challenges that are prerequisites for excellence. But he also faces the great unknown that confronts every new president which is how will he respond to these challenges as the person in charge?
Will Obama be an excellent president? Ask me in six months, and I will have the beginning of an intelligent answer.<<<
THE BRUINS PLAY BASKETBALL (Written 11-12-08)
They open their season tonight in the second game of a double header in the 2K Sports classic. Wins tonight and tomorrow will earn them a trip next week to NYC. Here are a few pre-season predictions:
Their regular season record will be 26-4 or 25-5.
They will win the PAC-10 record with a record of 16-2 or 15-3.
Jrue Holiday will be the PAC Freshman of the Year and either he or Darren Collison will be the PAC Player of the Year.<<<
Herb Score died Tuesday. Had his face and his career not been shattered by a Gil McDougald line drive in 1957, he would very likely be thought of as one of the great pitchers in Major League history. He had Sandy Koufax-like stuff. I was lucky enough to see him pitch a couple of spring training games in Tucson. He was incredible.<<<
I think the gay protests over the passage of Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that outlaws gay marriage in California, are probably counterproductive. But shouldn’t a 2/3 majority be required to amend any constitution?<<<
Here is a CNN.com question from last week along with the results.
Bailing out GM is:
Throwing good money after bad 68% 10384
Necessary to save the auto industry 32% 4819
Their choices were too absolute for me. I would answer that it is necessary, BUT ONLY with an absolute timetable for drastic improvements in mileage and limitations on the number of gas guzzlers they can produce and very harsh penalties for failure to comply.<<<
Governor Palin told Fox News last week that she wanted to make her own concession speech on election night in order to “brag him up’” (Senator McCain) and “do for John McCain what he just can't seem to do for himself.” I don’t know about you, but that sounds a bit dirty to me.<<<
And while on the subject of Governor Palin, trust Maureen Dowd to come up with the perfect nickname for her – Eliza Knowlittle.<<<
In a current case, the Supreme Court must answer the following question: Since the city of Pleasant Grove, Utah has a Ten Commandments monument in its city park, does it also have to display a Summun (a small religion) monument as well?
The mistake: this is being treated as a free speech issue rather than what is really is, which is a freedom of religion issue.
The probable outcome: Pleasant Grove will win. Clearly there is no constitutional requirement for the government to publicly display every variety of free speech.
On the other hand: if it were properly considered a religious issue, then under the establishment clause the city should be required to remove the Ten Commandments. At least that is how I would rule on it.>>>
From California: College tuitions are going up.
From Arizona: The state is looking at using $56.7M from tuition revenues to fix the state budget.
These are two examples of values turned upside-down.
When are we going to again treat a college education as an asset to the community and not a liability? In places like Ireland they “get it” and provide a free K-college education, which is one of the reasons why they are experiencing an economic and social renaissance.
Once upon a time America gave more than lip-service value to having a highly educated society. And we were the better for it. Now it is all “me.” We seem to have forgotten the power in “we.”<<<
THREE-CORNERED MUD-WRESTLING FOR THE REPUBLICAN SOUL
In this corner we have:
The Neos – A Pox Americana, peace through war.
In this one:
The Socials – A bible in every bedroom and constitutional amendments guaranteeing the sanctity of man-woman marriage and divorce.
And in this one:
The Traditionals – no taxation, not even with representation.
Who will win? I have no idea, but it should be fun to watch.<<<
Happiness is double-dipping. During basketball season I love to watch the Bruins win at Pauley and then, the next day, watch them again by DVR.<<<
And yes, I think Hillary would make an excellent Secretary of State – but a better Supreme Court Justice.<<<
Nobody # 743
Nobody Asked Me But:
In my stars I am above thee, but be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. – Shakespeare, Malvolio 2.5.140-143
Nobody Asked Me But:
Will Barack Obama be a great president? Wrong question. Since the word great implies a uniqueness that few possess, let me rephrase. Will Obama be an excellent president?
He has a very good chance. He seems to have the necessary qualities – intelligence, leadership, the ability to inspire. And he certainly faces the great challenges that are prerequisites for excellence. But he also faces the great unknown that confronts every new president which is how will he respond to these challenges as the person in charge?
Will Obama be an excellent president? Ask me in six months, and I will have the beginning of an intelligent answer.<<<
THE BRUINS PLAY BASKETBALL (Written 11-12-08)
They open their season tonight in the second game of a double header in the 2K Sports classic. Wins tonight and tomorrow will earn them a trip next week to NYC. Here are a few pre-season predictions:
Their regular season record will be 26-4 or 25-5.
They will win the PAC-10 record with a record of 16-2 or 15-3.
Jrue Holiday will be the PAC Freshman of the Year and either he or Darren Collison will be the PAC Player of the Year.<<<
Herb Score died Tuesday. Had his face and his career not been shattered by a Gil McDougald line drive in 1957, he would very likely be thought of as one of the great pitchers in Major League history. He had Sandy Koufax-like stuff. I was lucky enough to see him pitch a couple of spring training games in Tucson. He was incredible.<<<
I think the gay protests over the passage of Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that outlaws gay marriage in California, are probably counterproductive. But shouldn’t a 2/3 majority be required to amend any constitution?<<<
Here is a CNN.com question from last week along with the results.
Bailing out GM is:
Throwing good money after bad 68% 10384
Necessary to save the auto industry 32% 4819
Their choices were too absolute for me. I would answer that it is necessary, BUT ONLY with an absolute timetable for drastic improvements in mileage and limitations on the number of gas guzzlers they can produce and very harsh penalties for failure to comply.<<<
Governor Palin told Fox News last week that she wanted to make her own concession speech on election night in order to “brag him up’” (Senator McCain) and “do for John McCain what he just can't seem to do for himself.” I don’t know about you, but that sounds a bit dirty to me.<<<
And while on the subject of Governor Palin, trust Maureen Dowd to come up with the perfect nickname for her – Eliza Knowlittle.<<<
In a current case, the Supreme Court must answer the following question: Since the city of Pleasant Grove, Utah has a Ten Commandments monument in its city park, does it also have to display a Summun (a small religion) monument as well?
The mistake: this is being treated as a free speech issue rather than what is really is, which is a freedom of religion issue.
The probable outcome: Pleasant Grove will win. Clearly there is no constitutional requirement for the government to publicly display every variety of free speech.
On the other hand: if it were properly considered a religious issue, then under the establishment clause the city should be required to remove the Ten Commandments. At least that is how I would rule on it.>>>
From California: College tuitions are going up.
From Arizona: The state is looking at using $56.7M from tuition revenues to fix the state budget.
These are two examples of values turned upside-down.
When are we going to again treat a college education as an asset to the community and not a liability? In places like Ireland they “get it” and provide a free K-college education, which is one of the reasons why they are experiencing an economic and social renaissance.
Once upon a time America gave more than lip-service value to having a highly educated society. And we were the better for it. Now it is all “me.” We seem to have forgotten the power in “we.”<<<
THREE-CORNERED MUD-WRESTLING FOR THE REPUBLICAN SOUL
In this corner we have:
The Neos – A Pox Americana, peace through war.
In this one:
The Socials – A bible in every bedroom and constitutional amendments guaranteeing the sanctity of man-woman marriage and divorce.
And in this one:
The Traditionals – no taxation, not even with representation.
Who will win? I have no idea, but it should be fun to watch.<<<
Happiness is double-dipping. During basketball season I love to watch the Bruins win at Pauley and then, the next day, watch them again by DVR.<<<
And yes, I think Hillary would make an excellent Secretary of State – but a better Supreme Court Justice.<<<
posted by jmt | 9:14 AM
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