Nuke them before they nuke us

The bombing of hotels in Jordan reminds me of a thought as I wandered thru the Nascar crowd this past weekend.

I've begun thinking that we need to Nuke our enemies before they nuke us. If that means dropping a nuclear bomb on Tikrit to get rid of Zarqawi, then I'm beginning to think that'd be a good thing - at least better than the alternative - waiting on thugs like Zarqawi to have minions show up here and kill more innocent Americans.

Btw - on Fox News yesterday, there was a former Israeli Intelligence service guy that predicted a major terrorist even in the U.S. before the end of the year. Supposedly, this guy claims to have predicted the London and Madrid bombings. He now says that there'll be a coordinated event in the U.S., across multiple cities simultaneously in malls, mass transit, hotels, etc. - based on his sources in the Israeli intelligence community. I HOPE he's wrong.

Are Republicans doomed in 2006?

Elections this week suggest impending problems for the Republican party in the upcoming mid-term elections. I tend to agree and here's why.

The party could survive the apparent debacle in Iraq, if the party were holding true to its values back home. The party that believes in "small government" continues to spend and spend and spend - thus losing support from those like me that, unless proven otherwise, things any new or expanded government program is a bad thing by default.

Bush looked like a buffoon in the Miers nomination - costing him enormous capital with his conservative base.

High gas prices - Bush can't (and shouldn't) do much for this but it gets laid at his doorstep.

Without "moral" issues on the ballot, the "progressive" message (the government can and should do lots of things for people) sells well on TV.

The Republicans haven't sold the "our economy is in good shape" message very well.

Bush hasn't championed key Republican causes (social security reform, for example) while he's campaigned for "socialist" causes (eg. prescription drug benefit).

Katrina - Bush's hiring of buffoon cronies (Mike Brown) into key positions allowed the Katrina problems to be laid at FEMA"s doorstep instead of the local/state doorstep (see Florida's response to Wilma).

If the Republicans had delivered on "small" government, the base would be secure, and Republicans could use regional issues to bring the middle into the fold. As it is, I'll be looking for true Republicans to vote for (I still wouldn't vote for the Democratic alternative) and without that my ability to "sell" an independent voter on the Republican candidate is limited.

Big Oil hearings - political smoke screen/anti-American

The hearings yesterday in the Senate with execs from "Big Oil" are so typical of our government these days. Get a bunch of supposed bad guys in a room, and make a lot of speeches that you hope will make it onto the major news networks.

The bottom line, to me: How much profit is too much profit? If Microsoft were to make $10B in profit, would the government step in and take some of that so that people could have cheaper computers and software? If Cingular or Verizon were to make $10B in profit in a quarter, would the Feds step in and say the use of cell phones across the governments wireless bandwidth should be cheaper? If a regulated utility were to make profits, would the government step in and say you should lower your prices? (I know the answer to that last one is false and just the opposite occurs - TXU, a profitable enterprise, was just granted a 24% rate INCREASE beginning in January 2006 so politicians - and the PUC in Texas is POLITICAL - don't mind people paying higher electric and gas bills, I guess). If Krispy Kreme made $10 Billion in profits in a quarter, would the government demand a refund to the cops that consumed said donuts?

If it were right, and I don't believe it is, to place a windfall profits tax on the oil companies, WHO decides what other industries should be taxed and what the windfall level is.

American industry is SUPPOSED to be profitable!!!! That's what differentiates us from other systems. We should be patting the oil companies on the back for delivering value to their shareholders. The CONSTITUTION does not guarantee access to "cheap gas" (or free health care - but that's another argument).

And don't most people agree REDUCING American consumption as one key in independence from foreign oil. By raising the prices to a point that grabs the attention of the consumer so that their behaviour is modified, folks should be happy.

Typical politicians: Grandstanding instead of solving the core problems - creating an legal environment where people can get more domestic oil and/or stimulate creation of alternative energy sources.

BCS picture clearer (Miami beats VT) or is it?

Sure, Miami's win over Virginia Tech cleared things up by helping to ensure that USC and Texas meet in the Rose Bowl. But that's this week. What happens if by some "upset" (and this happens nearly every year) that USC loses to either Fresno State or UCLA.

That leaves Texas undefeated (their schedule just doesn't suggest they'll play a team that can "upset" them).

(I'm assuming Bama loses one as their schedule is very challenging - Auburn, LSU, and maybe UGA in the SECCG. But what if Bama remains undefeated - will the computers keep them ahead of Miami - the voters put Miami ahead of Bama this week (AP) so the computers would have to do it. Imagine the howling from the Capstone if an undefeated Bama is passed over by a 1-loss Miami or a 1-loss USC!! You think their hate for Fulmer and everything Orange is bad!!!)

Will the BCS argument rage if there are 6 or 7 1-loss teams competing for the Rose Bowl slot?
1-loss candidates could be: Virginia Tech, Miami, one or two of Bama/UGA/LSU, TCU, Fresno State or UCLA (if one of them beats USC), Penn State, Oregon, Texas Tech, West Virginia. Who's the most worthy?

Miami would be the popular pick as they just shellacked VT. Voters should remember that in the last 5 years, VT has started off undefeated through 7 and 8 games only to lose 2-3 games at the end so Miami caught them at the right time.

LSU could finish with wins over undefeated Bama, Arkansas, and UGA with their lone loss an OT loss to my intrepid Vols in September. With Katrina, etc. there'd be some sympathy for the Tigers.

Ditto for UGA (Auburn, Ga Tech, and SECCG win against Bama or LSU).

My point is - "not so fast my friend" on ruling the BCS controversy averted. Still lots of football left.

LSU - Huge regrets!!

How must those LSU Tigers feel when they look back at a season where they'd be an undefeated #3 team pressuring Texas for Rose Bowl had they only kicked a field goal before halftime against the Vols instead of failing to stop the clock and letting time run out.

They lost a 24-7 lead in the 4Q against a team that's now lost 5 games and one that hasn't scored more than 21 points in ANY game except the LSU game.

It may prove moot depending on their game against Bama this week but it must put a sick feeling in the stomachs of the Tigers. Sorry Tigers - I was glad when it happened thinking the victory might spark the season for the Vols. Obviously, it hasn't and it's too bad when a team that sucks (offense and special teams, not the Vol D which is great) ruins the season for one that doesn't.

Vols lose 4th in a row

Fall 2005 - officially deemed forgettable after this weekend's loss to Notre Dame, and will only become "memorable", in the worst sense of the word, if we lose one or more of the last three games against Memphis (unlikely), Vandy (50/50 after watching them lose in 2X overtime against the Gaytors), and Kentucky.

Attendance at the last two home games (Memphis and Vandy) may dip below 100,000 as I'd expect students to stay away in droves and paying fans choose to eat their tickets rather than show up.

Notre Dame:

This loss looked eerily familiar as mistakes and special teams continued to hound the Vols.
1) After giving up an opening drive TD to ND, the Vols fumble the kickoff return giving the ball to ND in Vol territory where ND promptly threw a 40+ yard pass to a covered TALL receiver in the end zone for a TD. 14-0
2) While in the midst of holding ND to 2 first downs spanning 7 drives (late 1Q thru late 3Q), the Vols punt to ND and have 2-3 guys in position to tackle the guy before he catches the punt, only to have him slip away for a 70 yard touchdown. 21-3
3) After tieing the game at 21 late in 3Q, on 3rd down Vols give up a 75 yard pass play to the tall white guy with long hair and too many consonants in his last name on a 7 yard pass that he runs for 75 yards. 28-21.
4) On a "simple" out pattern on the subsequent Vol drive, Ainge and WR miscommunicate and Ainge throws the ball to the ND defender while the Vol WR cuts the route downfield. ND gets a FG 31-21.
5) Vols punt with 10 minutes to go, and ND returns 30 yards into field goal range. 34-21.
6) Ainge throws pass under a little duress straight to ND defender who returns down the center of the field for TD (including missed tackle by Ainge). 41-21. GAME OVER!!!

Let's see - Defense responsible for 14 points. Offense (via turnovers) and special teams responsible for 27 points.

Thus endeth a synopsis of the game and the season.

FINAL commentary - there is little worse than watching your favorite team lose to ND on a game broadcast by NBC.

FINAL FINAL commentary - the tall white guy with long hair receiver for ND talks like Rocky Balboa!