Arizona
I don’t think it’s fair to say Arizona’s new immigration law has gripped the nation because, it hasn’t. The new law has put a pillow over the face of the media and suffocated the American conscience. No one is safe from it. I have nightmares about watching the news and every station is talking about Arizona. There’s other stuff going on in the world and no one seems to care. Ten thousand people marched on Wall Street a few weeks ago and it was barely covered. Those people should’ve known better than to mess with Arizona!
Since I am part of the evil liberal media, I guess I have to establish my view on this law or some one is going to punch me in the testicles. So here’s my racist opinion….I don’t care because even if I lived in Arizona, I’d never be affected by the law due to my pale complexion. Simply put, Arizona and every other state has the right to enact its own legislation regarding illegal immigration. The problem with Arizona is that they tend to do crazy stuff like not celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The organization that helped write the new law has a few bad apples on (and by bad apples I mean UBER racists) its board of directors.
The content of the law has led some people astray. Most Democrats and a bunch of Republicans, including Tea Party darling Marco Rubio, say the law promotes racial profiling. Sean Hannity continues to make the point that no such profiling exists in the bill, and he’s right. He’s also right about how law enforcement cannot ask someone for their papers unless they’re doing something illegal. Hannity and other Republicans are going by the straight facts for once because, hell, they actually favor their view on something! Good job reporting the facts, Fox News.
There are other sorts of issues that this law presents, like…
- Like how Republicans can scream death panels during one debate and accuse liberals of not reporting facts on another. Republicans have to respect that Democrats have the same right to free speech as they do.
- Like how easy it is to commit racial profiling. I’m so pale I make Casper look like Wesley Snipes. I’d be shocked if any police officer accused me of being illegal. This law has to deal with illegal immigrants from Mexico, not from Canada. Arizona created a law specifically designed for one kind of person.
- Like how cops do pretty much whatever they want to do. I’ve been pulled over a bunch of times for “suspicion,” while delivering pizza because I was driving around the same area looking for the correct house. I wasn’t speeding or committing a crime. Do you think stuff like that won’t happen in Arizona? Trust me, a police officer will get his way if he really wants to.
- Like how this law’s polarizing effect will ripple through the electorate. George W. Bush is opposed to this legislation. Remember, his work with Hispanics helped him nab important votes away from Al Gore. Hispanics won’t vote for a Republican if they back this legislation, that’s why so many Republicans have issued statements saying they’re against the law. Republicans need every vote they can in November and can’t afford to lose a whole section of the electorate.
- Like how angry illegal immigration makes white people. True vitriol comes through when everyday Americans get on the issue of illegal immigration. Just check the comments section of any website that talks about the Arizona Law. Illegals make white people mad as all hell. For a group like the Tea Party, it just gives them another issue they can be furious about.
- Like how Arizona blames the federal government for the existence of the law. I started calling the law the “Piss Your Pants Law,” awhile back and it makes sense. That type of logic is the same logic someone would use to piss their pants if their boss didn’t give them more bathroom breaks. Don’t blame the government if you create a controversial law. Man up and just say “hey, we think this law is appropriate with our current circumstances.” Instead, Arizona just looks like a kid who pissed his pants because his mom wouldn’t buy him a new toy.
- Like how Republicans think Democrats want amnesty for illegals. They aren’t for amnesty; they’re for punishing the people who hire illegals before you punish the people themselves. Liberals blame the employer and conservatives blame the immigrant. The Republican base needs a more consistent view on this issue (and a few others). You can’t slam the person for trying to get work and let the dude who hired him get away scot free.
It’s Time to Replace Frechy with Jesus
Jeff Francoeur has been abysmal this season for the Mets. The only reason, I believe, the team is keeping him around is his personality. Frenchy breathes much-needed life into a leaderless Mets clubhouse. He’s always there for a good quote.
The thing is that Francoeur can’t hit. He’s probably going to set a career high for walks, which is a good sign, but he’s shown virtually no power and hits very few line drives. He might have a shot if Citi Field’s fences were moved in 200 ft. His cannon arm and defense prevents him from being a borderline useless player.
I’ve ranted on and on about how bad the Mets have been at developing players. As crazy as it sounds, Francoeur benefits from the Mets’ inability to develop outfielders. Fernando Martinez is the heir apparent, but he’s perpetually on the disabled list along with John Maine.
There is hope, however. Jesus Feliciano, a 30 year-old left fielder is hitting .403 for the Mets’ triple-A affiliate in Buffalo. Move over Frenchy, its Jesus time! What’s stopping the Mets from calling him up right now and benching Francoeur? He’s hitting .403!
Listen, I’m not dillusional. I know Feliciano won’t hit .400 in the majors, nor does anyone expect him to. What if he hits .280? Is that reasonable? Because if that’s what happens, it would give the Mets a 37 point boost in batting average from right field. Feliciano would give the Mets one more bottom of the lineup guy that opposing pitchers can’t sleep on. Rod Barajas has helped in that regard with his swing for the fences mentality.
Frenchy will still get at-bats, but with the Mets being only a few games out of the NL East, you have to put your best hitters in the lineup. Feliciano is a better hitter, therefore the Mets should play him.
What do they have to lose?
Blaming the Journalist
Rand Paul’s interview with Rachel Maddow was her asking the one question Paul didn’t want to answer for 20 straight minutes. It was simply fascinating how Paul maneuvered and evaded the question time and time again. Some people, like Sarah Palin and Jim DeMint, thought the interview was unfair, biased and designed to hurt Paul’s character. Paul himself said he thought the interview was fair.
Before I get into a journalism rant about how hard it is to ask someone a tough question, let me refresh your memory on which question Paul didn’t want to answer. Maddow asked him if he (Paul) thought if it’s right for the government to step into private businesses and impose racial equality, like the Civil Rights Act did.
Paul is a Libertarian, someone who believes the government should have very little say in what the private sector does. His comments on national public radio a few months ago suggested that he disagreed with the portion of the Civil Rights Act that dealt with segregation in the private sector. Paul believes that government shouldn’t meddle with private businesses, so the logic suggests that he thinks private businesses should have the right to deny access or employment to anyone they want to.
Maddow just wanted a clear answer; there was nothing hypothetical about it. Do you or do you not believe private businesses, like a gas station or a restaurant, should have the right to refuse service to African American patrons? Paul was trapped due to his ideology and couldn’t give a yes or a no answer because yes means he’s a racist and no means he’s wavering ideologically.
This is what he should have said. “In super extreme cases, it’s okay for the government to impose laws that affect private businesses.” Maybe he didn’t have to say super, but you get the point. His non answer has caused a sh$# storm that makes Rand Paul liberal public enemy no. 1. Just behind him at no. 2 is Arizona.
And what did FoxNews and the conservative media do? They blamed Rachel Maddow, the fairest interviewer around. Watch Maddow conduct an interview with a Republican and compare that to any of the interviews on FoxNews (make note of their interview with Barack Obama). Maddow lets her subject clearly get across his/her point with little to no interruption. She, however, will direct her interviewee towards answering the question if they, lets say, try to kill time by jumping around like Paul did.
Now compare that to how Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Meagan Kelly or Laura Ingram interviews a liberal. There’s nothing but yelling! Watch Brent Baier’s interview with Barack Obama and how Baier did nothing but talk over the president. It wasn’t just bad journalism, Baier literally obliterated every rule imaginable when it comes to interviewing someone. HE’S THE FRICKIN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES…LET HIM SPEAK! How can Fox honestly say it’s “fair and balanced,” when it can’t even respect the leader of the free world?
Fox can’t give Democrats 10 seconds to talk without someone screaming over them, yet Republicans are scared of Rachel Maddow? When you’re a prominent politician, running for office or constantly in the public eye you may say a few controversial things. It happens and people shouldn’t shy away from being candid because that makes politics exciting. The problem is that being candid doesn’t give you the right to be irresponsible. Someone will ask you a tough question and make you think; it’s just the way journalism works.
Slowly, we’re becoming a more divisive society. People can selectively follow news sources on Twitter and don’t have to be exposed to another side’s viewpoint on any issue. You can watch FoxNews if you’re a Republican and MSNBC if you’re a Democrat. I’m getting used to this “softball,” style of journalism where Bill O’Reilly refuses to ask Sarah Palin a remotely tough question. Ultimately, it’s a bad thing because we’ll never get to see these people think on their feet.
I want to see Rachel Maddow and Jon Stewart interviewing people and asking them tough questions. It makes for a much more informed society when we see two sides go at it. Katie Couric’s interview with Sarah Palin taught us something and so did Maddow’s clash with Rand Paul. What that is, I don’t know.
What we shouldn’t be doing is blaming the interviewer when the interviewee says something dumb, freezes or evades the question. Rachel Maddow was just doing her job.
Please Don’t Trade Jenry Mejia!
I keep hearing the Mets are good. What I’m seeing them do legitimately shocks me. After sweeping the Phillies and not giving up a run in any of the 27 innings of that series, the Mets are two games backin the NL East. Angel Pagan has been a revelation, hitting nearly .300 and Jose Reyes looks to be back with five straight multi-hit games.
The Mets are getting by with R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi, the latter of which hasn’t given up a run in the two games he’s started. Jonathan Niese is close to returning from an injured hamstring. Oliver Perez is buried in the bullpen and won’t accept a demotion to the minors.
What is clear is that the Mets need another starting pitcher. Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt are on the market just waiting to be had. The Mets have a depleted farm system and won’t trade Ike Davis unless they get a guy named Pujols in return. Jenry Mejia, a 20 year-old revelation with electric stuff, seems to be the guy that’s most likely to the centerpiece of a trade for a top-notch starter.
If you’ve read this blog you know how I feel about Mejia. I love studying pitchers and I personally feel that he’s going to develop into an ace. The Mets are engaging in cruel and unusual punishment by keeping him in the bullpen instead of in the minors learning how to be a starter. Mejia has been good as a reliever, but you can tell that he doesn’t quite know how to control himself in some of his relief appearances. It often results in him walking a guy and getting behind hitters. Simply put, he’d be better knowing that he was going to be out there another inning or two.
At 20 years old, Mejia has proven he can get major league hitters out. He produces a subtle grin when he gets ahead of hitters, as if he’s saying “I’m going to make you look foolish with this next one.” His cutter has been compared to that of Mariano Rivera, but Mejia throws it at 96 mph! His changeup is 88 mph and his two-seamer breaks like a slider.
WHY WOULD THE METS TRADE THIS GUY FOR ANYONE? The Mets are downright awful at drafting and developing players. Ultimately, that’s why Omar Minaya needs to lose his job. When you can’t develop players and don’t spend money in the draft your farm system is going to be dried up. Are the Mariners going to trade Cliff Lee for Chris Carter, Fernando Martinez and Bobby Parnell? NO! They’re going to want Mejia and rightfully so. The Mets won’t get lucky twice in trading crap for a CY Young winner like they did when they traded for Johan Santana.
Trading players is all about assets. The Mets have one prime pitching prospect and the Mariners have Cliff Lee. I feel like Mejia is worth waiting a month for. Maybe the Omar Minaya should hold a press conference and announce that they’re not going to enter the bidding for Lee, Oswalt or anyone else, but instead will send Mejia down to triple-A to get stretched out and will bring him up after the All-Star break.
I keep hearing Mejia is the Mets version of Joba Chamberlain. HE’S NOT JOBA! The Yankees actually used Joba as their 8th inning guy and Mejia isn’t used like that right now. The Mets have one foot in hot water and one foot in cold water. They don’t have a clue what their next move is. It’s time to sh%* or get off the pot.
Here’s my opinion. The Mets have two moves: keep Mejia in the pen or send him down and bring him up as a starter in a month. Notice how neither of those two things involved trading him for a great pitcher like Cliff Lee. Th Amazins’ would be too lefty heavy with Lee, Santana, Niese and Takahasi in their rotation.
People have been waiting for the next Doc Gooden for a long time. Is Jenry Mejia in that league? Probably not, but he’s so damned talented that fans might believe that he is. Imagine a matchup in late August that pitted Mejia against Steven Strasburg? Citi Field would be going bonkers with people who bleed orange and blue. The Amazins’ have a chance to be amazing again.
So, for the love of God. DON’T TRADE JENRY MEJIA!!!!!!!!!!
Who Does the Tea Party Represent?
***I apologize in advance for the controversial content of this article. Please do not read on if you love big banks, cheaters and fraud***
I think politicians and pundits need to stop using “stripper math,” to justify their own motives, and by “stripper math,” I mean polls because strippers use polls. Get it? Selectively using polls and saying “the American people want..” doesn’t help build a legitimate argument.
The reason I bring this up is because somehow the Tea Party has not just taken over the Republican Party, but they’ve convinced themselves that they represent the views of mainstream America. Sean Hannity talks about how President Obama has gone against what Americans really want and all he needed was a few sketchy polls to back him up.
Sean, can I ask you a quick question? Okay, I just did, but seriously. Sean, if the Tea Party represents the mainstream view in American society, then why do you and your followers hate mainstream media? Shouldn’t the mainstream media reflect mainstream American views? FoxNews, using simple logic, has become the mainstream media if you believe the majority of Americans are the Tea Partying sort. Sarah Palin would be happy if that was the case.
The truth is that the Tea Party only represents a small portion of the American conscience. Richard Nixon first used the term “silent majority,” to define a large portion of American people who didn’t express their political views. Just because you don’t see Democrats in the streets with signs doesn’t mean they have ceased to exist. No, it’s actually quite the opposite.
Democrats are a pretty angry sort, but the reason you don’t see them is because the media doesn’t show people protesting Goldman Sachs and Wall Street. Liberals are mad at people who used synthetic CDO’s and credit default swaps because those guys were responsible for destroying our economy. Tea Partiers need to read “The Big Short,” and “13 Bankers,” instead of books that claim Democrats and Obama are destroying our freedom and pissing on our constitution. If they had read those two books, they probably wouldn’t be so mad at Scott Brown (one of their darlings) for backing financial reform.
Its fine to believe Democrats are evil socialists that are trying to kill grandma, but it gets you nowhere in trying to solve the real problems that exist in society. The Tea Party is powerful, don’t get me wrong. Ultimately, they’re not a pragmatic bunch. We need to come together with intelligent ideas from both sides. Name-calling doesn’t solve anything. Why haven’t people realized this?
Why can’t the Tea Party understand who the real enemy is? After eight years of no regulation and lower taxes on the rich, where did we end up? The government bellied up and handed the doomsday button to corporations like Goldman Sachs, who capitalized on the strategy of convincing people to buy new houses they couldn’t afford and then hedged their bets knowing those people were going to default their mortgages. Why would anyone defend that type of behavior?
When the Tea Party defends free market principles and limited government, they’re inadvertently defending some of the most evil people on the entire planet. Guys like Rand Paul, who believe the government should stay out of the private sector, should take a stand against fraud. Cheating is wrong. Government can be limited and be effective. The problem with the Tea Party is that they don’t know who the bad guys are. You can’t hate bailouts without hating the companies that needed to be bailed out in the first place, but that’s what the Tea Party is doing.
Note to the Tea Party: the only way your views will be in line with the rest of society is if you start getting mad at the right people. Until you do, you’re just a bunch of sign-carrying hypocrites who don’t have a clue.
***I’m sorry I used name-calling just then, but yesterday I got called a communist by a Tea Party protester who hates his own daughter because she’s a Democrat. His daughter, he said, is in the Air Force. Mainstream Americans love and accept their children. It’s also rude to interrupt someone while their eating their lunch.***
Saving the World, and Print Journalism
Public relations guru Joe Favorito was asked a question by a young journalism student. His answer was ” you guys (meaning young people) are going to solve that problem, not me.”
The question…how are people supposed to make money off of the internet?
Recently I’ve been flooded with heroic imagery and that’s partly due to me seeing Iron Man 2 (a notch or two below Spider Man 2 and the Dark Knight in terms of superhero sequels), but a lot of it has to do with NEWSWEEK being put up for sale. It was a tragic sight watching Jon Meachem, a brilliant guy, go on the Daily Show and talk about how NEWSWEEK was to be sold to the highest bidder.
If Jon Meachem can’t save print journalism, then who can? This leads me to back to Favorito. It’s my job to save this thing.
Truthfully, I think young people have begun to solve this problem, but might be too afraid that their ideas might get stolen by some crotchety white guy. Oftentimes that is the case. Young people can’t get meetings with senior executives to express their ideas. The ideas themselves get sent through a filter and end up being unrecognizable by the time they’re implemented.
Young people would rather see the industry die than have their ideas get stolen. Clearly the internet is where all the journalism is headed and guess what? Young people helped shape and craft what the internet is.
Youthful visionaries accomplish things. A college kid invented Facebook. Theo Epstein turned the Red Sox (a cursed franchise) into World Series winners. Barack Obama, one of our youngest presidents, got meaningful healthcare legislation passed. These are not coincidences.
Print publications have slowly been dying off since the internet became more than just a novelty people that people used to watch porn on. Once people started getting their news online for free, a noose made its way onto the necks of every newspaper and magazine in the country. Since then, only a few publications like The Economist and Vanity Fair have managed to make money.
Newspapers made the initial mistake in trying to drive readers to the internet, thinking it was going to attract advertising dollars. Instead it just gave people the opportunity to cancel their subscriptions, allowing them to get their local news for free. I used to think that no one really gave a crap about local news, but they really do. People under the age of 25 don’t care about local news, but that’s because most 25 year-olds don’t own property and don’t worry about local/state taxes. You also pay less attention to local sports and education when you don’t have kids.
That leads me to my first solution. Newspapers should make people pay for local news on the internet. You want to cancel your newspaper subscription? Okay, but you’re not getting local news without paying for it. The newspapers could offer their subscribers the choice of paying an extra $1 or so per month for their website. Most media outlets cover national news, that’s why the New York Times’s foray into making people pay for editorial content didn’t work. Frank Rich’s take on something isn’t worth much in dollars if you can get an equally liberal guy’s opinion on the same subject for free. Most people wouldn’t know what good writing is if it hit them in the head with a sledgehammer.
Local news has more monetary value because there aren’t many local bloggers to take away readership. Most bloggers don’t make money or have the drive to do good reporting. Working for free sucks. Newspapers have the distinct advantage of being able to get local sports and news done the right way, with good writing and accurate reporting. Working for a newspaper also gives a writer instant credentials. Calling a local high school for an interview with their football coach is much easier when you say you work for a newspaper. Saying “hey, I’m John Doe from FantasticFootball.net” doesn’t have the same affect as saying “I’m John Doe from the Sherman County Gazette.”
Also, newspapers should start incorporating and support “user-driven” content. BleacherReport is such a popular website because anyone could go there, write an article and have it featured. Why don’t newspapers, especially weeklies, try doing something like that with their websites. Weekly local newspapers oftentimes don’t have enough content to support continuous site visits. They would if their readers could submit web-only content. Could you imagine if people could go to a local restaurant, review it and have it featured on their local website? That person would be bragging to all his/her friends and make them read the review. It’s instant web traffic and more traffic equals advertising dollars.
A successful live-chat goes a long way. I love what ESPN does with Baseball Tonight. The show is a treat to watch every evening. Baseball Tonight has evolved, allowing users to live-chat with their staff during games. Reporters and columnists will pop in and answer some questions while staffers, people no one has ever heard of, answer most of the questions. The allusion of involvement is fun for people at their computers. Chats are fun to be involved in as long as the people answering the questions are industry insiders.
Why can’t newspaper reporters do the same thing? Live-chat software is free and doesn’t have a lot of bugs. People want to talk to local reporters and columnists. Give the people what they want! Yes, it’s that simple.
I think it’s time for newspapers to bring the laughs and give humor a shot. Most people sit at their desk trolling the internet for either laughs or porn. We’re staring at boobs or watching pandas sneeze. Sometimes people want news. Newspapers could, theoretically, deliver two out of those three things.
Bill Simmons is so successful because he has fresh personality who actively tries to make people laugh. Could newspapers have one person on staff that does similar things? Heck, it could even be a freelancer. My standup comedy professor said that one big laugh in a movie is worth $7 million. I think newspapers need to find the humor and feature it on their websites, whether it’s a podcast or a column. If it’s web-only, then why not take a shot?
***
Magazines are a slightly different creature. Articles are generally longer, have more research behind them and require more access to the people they’re writing about. Neil Strauss’s book “The Game,” is a perfect example of this. Strauss is a Rolling Stone writer and likes to spend time with his subjects, studying their ticks and mannerisms while asking them challenging questions. It makes for a much more engaging piece of writing.
Also, magazines have longer lead times for their writers, meaning they have to figure out what the next big thing is going to be in three months. Newspaper reporters write on the now, not the future.
Magazines have to reexamine the identity of their audience. Ultimately, it’s the consumer’s choice whether or not they cancel a subscription, so you better give them what they want, even if it means sacrificing a few things. Magazines often look at things backwards, trying to find the next big story/stories. What they should be doing is trying to find the next big thing that is going to affect their audience. That’s what they’re supposed to do, but clearly aren’t doing it well enough.
The allusion of “inside information” can be the determining factor on whether someone pays or doesn’t pay for content. Vanity Fair manages to rope people in because they have access to people and places you don’t know about. ESPN Insider is free if you have a magazine subscription. Want to know the latest trade rumors? Well, you have to pay for it or get the magazine.
Don’t be afraid to be bold. This goes without saying; there’s no time to be tepid when you’re working in a dying industry. At a certain point, you just have to say “screw it, we’re running with this idea….I don’t care if we offend anybody.” There are tons of smart people out there, but not enough bold ones. Being bold means getting stuff done with gusto. Look at Sarah Palin, she doesn’t care who she offends and says whatever she wants. Print journalism needs more Sarah Palins’.
Go grass-roots. And by grass-roots I mean “Tea Party grass-roots” with big corporations telling townsfolk what’s in their best interest. It’s in people’s best interest to save newspapers and magazines. Start up a “Save Magazines and Newspapers” page on Facebook and allow publications to join. Setting up little fundraisers and parties can help spread the message. Sending representatives to high schools to give speeches is also another idea.
I mean, teachers are always looking for excuses not to teach and kids are always looking for excuses not to learn. It’s a win-win.
Bring on the Tasers
Steve Consalvi probably expected to be tackled when he ran onto the field during the eighth inning of a Phillies/Cardinals game. Consalvi wasn’t brought down by the force of a 250lb security guard; he was TASED…by a 250lb security guard.
Finally! Now fans who think about running onto the field have something to be scared of. This is not like the John Kerry incident where a student was tased after pleading for the security guards NOT to tase him. Consalvi wasn’t running away from the taser itself, he was running away from the people trying catch him.
Consalvi is 17 years-old, in shape and looks like an adult. The security guard was clearly overweight and had no shot at catching Consavli on foot. He’s part of the 2/3 of Americans who are either overweight or obese.
The boy’s age and the guard’s fitness levels are two important factors here. Does turning 18 mean that you enter some level of tasing consent? Are fat security guards allowed to use their weight as an excuse for tasing people?
Here are some things to consider:
- The guard had no way of knowing Consalvi’s age. He probably knew the boy wasn’t in his pre-teens.
- Are all MLB security guards issued a taser? What’s the rule on using them?
- Consalvi was trespassing and doing something utterly stupid.
- Usually when people run on the field, the guards use punishing take-downs. If the security guard had landed on Consalvi and broken one of his ribs, would the public deem that malicious?
- Tasers are dangerous and the electrical shock can make people soil themselves.
- The Hangover taught us that tasing people is funny…and that you survive on the roof of a Vegas hotel for two days without water or food.
Major League Baseball is going to issue some sort of statement in the coming days regarding the incident. Hopefully we’ll find out the answer to why the security guard had the taser in the first place and the rule on using it.
One thing is for sure, the Consalvi incident will be remembered as an MLB conduct policy revolutionary. Now fans will know whether or not they will be tased when running on the field. It might even set some sort of legal precedent. If Consalvi sues and the judge rules in favor of Major League Baseball, then any fan that gets tased on the field of an American professional sporting event, not just baseball, will be subjected to the Consalvi ruling.
With that being said, bring on the tasers!
Money Promotes Stupidity
Shortly after Barack Obama took his presidential oath, an engine started churning and a train was set in motion. The locomotive didn’t make a “choo choo,” sound, though. It sounded more like a cash register’s “CHA CHING!” Barack Obama was going to make a lot of people rich.
Michelle Malkin was the one of the first to cash in on the Obama presidency when she published a book called “Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks and Cronies.” The best seller was published six whole months after Obama took his oath.
Malkin is a passionate, talented writer and I give her all the credit in the world. Anybody who writes a book in that short a time-span needs to be given some sort of medal. I haven’t read her book, but I can surmise that she roughly detailed that some of the people in Obama’s cabinet, including Obama himself, did some shady things. I don’t doubt her research.
In September 2005, on my first day of college, my political science teacher said, “All politicians are like cats; they take a crap then cover it up.”
No political party is more or less douchy than the other…they’re all money-grubbing jerks who lie and deceive people. It’s their job to not tell the entire truth. Do you think Chris Christie would have won the NJ Governor’s seat if he said he was going to cut roughly $30 billion from education? Right now people in NJ are begging for John Corzine and his free spending Democratic ways. That’s beside the point, though.
Start up an extremist blog and say crazy things if you want to get noticed. Heck, you might even get on TV. A publisher might approach you to write a book based on the premise that if you keep over-exaggerating you could get rich.
Who needs to be respected when you can be noticed?
Guys like George Will are a rare breed. He’s extremely thoughtful person and a great writer. His book “Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball” is an extraordinary achievement. Will is also a Republican that all conservatives should look up to because he always brings the facts, which means he takes the time to find them unlike most people. Liberals hate that because we want conservatives to be dumb and racist.
Will exemplifies what I want to be in terms of being a cross-genre writer, though I’d prefer to do it from the other side of the political spectrum.
I agree with Will in that the quality of our political arguments is sub-par at best. Ten thousand people marched on Wall Street on Thursday and the media barely covered it, but when 1500 Tea Partiers protested Washington on tax day it was treated with a media bonanza.
Maybe it was because the guys marching on Wall Street have a few consistent ideas while the Tea Party constantly contradicts itself when they scream for lower taxes and deficit reduction. The Tea Party wants spending cuts, but doesn’t want cuts in public education, medicare, Medicaid, social security or defense. It doesn’t help that the Tea Party thinks the government is coming for their money, guns and freedom.
Maybe, like the Michelle Malkins’ and Keith Olbermans’ of the world, the Tea Party just wanted money and attention…it makes sense. They (meaning all of the prima donna pundits, bloggers, protesters, politicians and radio hosts) need to just sack up and admit it already.
Giants Stacked on Defense after Draft
How would you describe the state of last year’s Giants defense if you were say, drunk?
“Those frickin’ pansies couldn’t stop anyone. The coach, Bill…who gives a sh*& was terrible. NO EMOTION! Gotta play defense with emotion! C.C. Brown couldn’t cover a 9 year old girl with a sprained ankle. That uppity Osi Umenyour-a-baby lost a step. Hell must have frozen over because they sucked!”
The Giants used five of their seven draft selections on defensive players. Some fans were disappointed the Giants didn’t trade up to grab Rolando McClain, but all bets are off when the Raiders are on the clock. I’m sure they would have traded up if he had slipped to 11 or 12.
The G-Men instead took defensive-end and freak of nature Jason Pierre-Paul with the 15th pick. Clearly, the Giants were going with their perceived best player available, a boom-or-bust selection in Pierre-Paul. The Giants have four above average pass-rushers (Osi, Tuck, Kiwi and Sintim). Adding a fifth to the mix led fans to believe that Osi would soon be traded elsewhere.
According to Jerry Reese, Osi isn’t going anywhere. It makes sense if you remember the Superbowl against the Patriots. With Osi at one end and Strahan on the other, Justin Tuck was free to making a standing-rush at a helpless guard. Somehow I think new Defensive Coordinator, Perry Fewell, will try to incorporate that in 2010.
Make no mistake about it though, Fewell’s addition was the key move of the Giants offseason. He’s going to win these players over and get the best out of them. The players have been fired up for this season to redeem themselves. Fewell will throw gasoline on that fire.
The 2010 Giants defense will look like a Michael Bay movie, complete with opposing running backs getting blown up in the backfield and defensive ends that explode off the line of scrimmage. Pierre-Paul’s incredibly long arms will force quarterbacks to grow eyes in the backs of their heads because he could, at any moment, strip the ball away.
What will happen if the quarterback somehow gets the ball away? Well the Giants added safety Antrelle Rolle and have a healthy Kenny Phillips coming back. Both are athletic enough to be corners, but they hit like linebackers. Quarterbacks who throw the ball off their back-foot have to be careful that Phillips or Rolle don’t intercept it.
The Giants will open the new Meadowlands Stadium against the Carolina Panthers, a team that embarrassed them in week 17. Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen should be prepared to get knocked around.
Fixing the Mets
When the Mets called up first baseman Ike Davis they unofficially started the next era in their franchise. Davis will likely most of the starts for the foreseeable future. It was smartest move the Mets have made this season.
Fans would be delusional to think that Davis alone will carry them to the 2010 postseason. I think everyone can agree that this team cannot challenge the Phillies, Marlins and maybe even the Nationals. Jon Niese won’t turn into a Cy Young winner overnight and Mike Pelfrey is a good fourth starter at best, even though his 2010 start would make you think otherwise (he’s throwing too many pitches for a non-strikeout guy).
The Mets are broken, but they’re not as broken as people think. They can turn it around and become serious contenders in 2011 if they make the right adjustments. Adjusting who’s in the lineup and rotation isn’t going to be enough. The Mets have to remake their whole franchise from the ground up.
The changes should start right away.
Things to do right now:
Trade Jeff Francoeur while he still has value- I love Francoeur’s personality and demeanor. He’s a great in the clubhouse and teams want guys like that around. The problem is that Fernando Martinez is their future in right field. Why not trade Francoeur while he still has value? The Mets need a right handed starter who’s still fairly young.
Here’s a list of pitchers that might be had for Francoer.
- Brandon Morrow-Needs to put together a 150-175 inning season before I pay attention.
- Edwin Jackson-The Diamondbacks won’t bail on him now.
- Fausto Carmona-Seems to be getting over his inconsistency issues and gets ground balls.
- Chris Volstad-Marlins would want more than Fracoeur (hey that rhymed)
- Brad Bergesen-Not good enough. I’d rather take David Hernandez.
- Clay Buchholz-Would thrive in a division that doesn’t include the Yankees and Rays.
- Johnny Cueto or Aaron Harang-The Reds have a ton of starting pitching. Someone has to go.
- Gil Meche-Please don’t.
- Jeremy Bonderman-Injury risk
- Gavin Floyd-He needs a change of scenery, but no one knows it yet.
If the Mets do aquire a starter, that means John Maine will go to the minors where he belongs.
Stash Jenry Mejia in the minors-Mejia half smiled right before he threw his last pitch in the 20 inning game against the Cardinals. That last pitch resulted in a strikeout and Mejia knew the hitter couldn’t match him. Yes folks, Mejia is that good and he shouldn’t be in the Mets bullpen. Sending him to AAA would allow him to develop as a starter in time for the 2011 season.
Things to do in the offseason
Fire Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel-The Mets stupidly gave Minaya a four-year extension and should have fired him last season, but firing him would’ve cost them too much money. Minaya has to go because attendance figures are dwindling and the fans are downright tired of rooting for losers….that and he sucks as a GM. Jerry Manuel is a nice guy and he deserves better, but fans see him as being part of a losing regime.
It’s time to reach for the moon regarding a general manager and I’ve got a guy in mind that will blow your mind….
Billy Beane, yes Billy f$*@ing Beane.
I’m jealous of Oakland’s never-ending stream of good young starting pitching. Giving Billy Beane, a small market GM, $150 million in payroll would drastically change the Mets. Beane and his scouts would simultaneously reinvigorate their farm system and give them trading chips to improve the big club.
Spend Money in the Draft-The Wilpons hold most of the cards when it comes to spending and are to partly to blame for the state of the franchise. The Mets have signed a lot of big money free agents, but haven’t spent money in the draft. As a result, their farm system beyond a few players in AAA is weak. Signing draft picks is just as important as signing free agents. Ever since Theo Epstein took over, the Red Sox have spent more money in player development and, to no one’s surprise, have produced solid players. Remember, Hanley Ramirez was traded to the Marlins from the Red Sox.
Dump Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo-Both players will be entering the last year of their horrific deals. The question is can they be traded? Yes they can if the Mets decide to eat most of their salaries. Ruben Tejada would be a great fit at second for the Mets. He and Reyes could become a dynamic defensive combination.
Trade John Maine-Kris Benson is in the Diamondbacks roatation, which means John Maine should have some value. It would be gravy if they could get anything for him.
Put everyone on the trading block- Right now, it’s in the best interest of the team to start gauging the value of David Wright and Jose Reyes. When I watch Wright hit, all I see is a guy who strikes out a lot and has to cheat to get around on anything inside. Does he need a change of scenery or are his skills in decline? Turning around a franchise means examining every possibility, including trading away your most beloved players.
To quote Harvey Dent… “The night is always darkest before the day.”
2011 Opening Day Mets Lineup
1. SS, Jose Reyes
2. 2B, Ruben Tejada
3. 3B, David Wright
4. LF, Jason Bay
5. CF, Carlos Beltran
6. 1B, Ike Davis
7. RF, Fernando Martinez
8. C, Josh Thole
9. Johan Santana
2011 Starting Rotation
Johan Santana
Jenry Mejia
John Niese
Mike Pelfrey
Clay Bucholz or Johnny Cueto
GM
Billy Beane
Coach
Trey Hillman
