The Case for Gary Johnson

We're a few days past the first presidential debate of 2016, also known as Fall Dumpster Fire #1.  For those of you who are trying to figure out which of these not so good options to vote for, I submit that these two are not your only choices.  There is another option who will appear on the ballot in all 50 states: the Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson.  Here are some things to consider with regard to Johnson's qualifications:

• He is the only candidate with government executive experience.  Johnson was a popular, two-term governor of New Mexico.  Likewise, his running mate, William Weld, was governor of Massachusetts.   Clinton has experience running the State Department from her time as Secretary of State, but she's never been a government CEO.  Neither has Trump.  There's something to be said for having experience running a government before, as Reagan and Clinton and Bush 43 had before they became president.
• He has business executive experience, too.  One of Donald Trump's primary arguments is that he has experience as a successful business executive, experience that will help him as the nation's chief executive.  Some would argue how successful of a business man he has actually been, given multiple bankruptcies, etc., but that's an argument for another day.  Gary Johnson also as experience as a successful business executive.  He built a small construction firm into one of the largest construction companies in New Mexico, with more than 1,000 employees.  And he did it without filing for bankruptcy.
• He doesn't have the baggage that come with Trump and Clinton.  Both of the major party candidates bring with them loads of baggage that has, in part, caused them to be the two least popular presidential candidates in decades.  Whether it's Trump's numerous controversial remarks or sketchy business dealings or Clinton's issues with emails and Benghazi, there are plenty of issues with both of them.  Johnson, on the other hand, has no such negative baggage.
• He's not a warhawk.  If you believe, like I do, that we need to spend less time and money trying to influence international affairs - especially since we have such a horrendous track record of it - Johnson is much less likely to meddle overseas than either Trump or Clinton.
• He fills a unique niche on the political spectrum.  Democrats are fiscally and socially liberal; Republicans are (nominally) fiscally and socially conservative.  Johnson's platform splits the difference - he's fiscally conservative and socially liberal.  There are a LOT of people who fit that description but who don't have a party that gives them both sides of that coin.  Johnson does.

Does Johnson potentially have some shortcomings?  Yes.  He's probably not as astute on foreign affairs as I'd like and I don't necessarily agree with his position on some social issues.  However, he is unquestionably head and shoulders above the two major party candidates when it comes to honesty and integrity and that should count for something.

I'm not telling you who you should vote for - that is a personal decision that only you can make.  I'm simply pointing out that you don't only have to choose the lesser of two evils.  There are other choices.  Also, if you are truly sick of the political cesspool and morass that is Washington, D.C., what better way to try to change that than by electing a third party candidate?  I encourage you to do your research and not just automatically ignore anyone who doesn't have an R or a D after their name.

Thanks for reading!

College Football Review (after 3 weeks)

After only 3 weeks of college football this season, I think it's fair to ask "Are any of these teams good?"  While I've said countless times that pre-season rankings are stupid, it's still amazing how many highly ranked teams have stumbled already this season.  Consider:

• The Oklahoma Covered Wagons, who were a pre-season top 5, have already lost two games and are essentially eliminated from playoff consideration.  They lost a neutral site game to the Houston Commuter School Cougars and then got throttled at home by the Ohio State Tree Nuts.  The derisively named "Big Game Bob" has lived up to his name.
• The Florida State Tomahawk Chops, also a pre-season top 5, looked to be the class of the ACC (especially considering the early season shaky play by the Clemson Fightin' Dabos), but then they got annihilated this week by Louisville.....again, we're talking about football and not basketball.
• The Notre Dame Angry Catholics, another pre-season top 10, have already lost two games which definitely eliminates them from playoff consideration, especially given their stubborn lack of conference affiliation.  Their first loss was an upset loss to the Texas Burnt Orange Menace, who appeared to potentially be able to replace Oklahoma at the top of the Big 12-2, until they lost to Cal late on Saturday.
• The aforementioned Big 12-2 is a mess.  In addition to the aforementioned losses by Oklahoma and Texas, the Fighting Mullets from Boone Pickens University lost a home game to a directional school from Michigan on a bizarre Hail Mary Hook & Ladder play that should never have happened but, thanks to the never ending stupidity of the NCAA, cannot be reversed.  The TCU Sweaty Garys already have one loss (to the Arkansas Big Mouth Bretts), so they would have to run the table from here on out.  The Coach Handsomes from Texas Tech can seemingly score at will - what else is new? - but they also couldn't stop a Pop Warner team from hanging 50 on them - again, what else is new?  Baylor has made it through their Annual Parade of Non-Conference Cupcakes unscathed, but they don't seem to be anywhere near as dynamic as in years past.  Iowa State and Kansas are horrible. In fact, Kansas is so bad that their student body - well, the 34 students who were actually at the game - rushed the field after they beat an FCS team.
• Speaking of FCS teams, the North Dakota State Fargodomes beat an FBS team for a 6th straight season - this time knocking off a ranked Iowa Birdheads team.  How long before an FBS conference tries to add North Dakota State?

The only teams that appear to be formidable are some of the usual suspects:  The Alabama Elephants, Michigan Khakis, Ohio State Tree Nuts and the Houston Commuter College Cougars, who are trying to crash the party from outside the so-called Power 5.  The SEC and Big 10+4 appear to be the best conferences.  However, if we've learned anything from the college football season so far, it's to expect the unexpected.  We'll check in again in a few weeks to see if any of these teams can rise above the teeming sea of mediocrity that seems to permeate college football this year.

Thanks for reading!

The Class of 2020

I was watching the Baylor game last weekend and noticed the "20" on the back of the Baylor Line jerseys.  (For those who are unfamiliar with it, The Baylor Line is the freshman spirit group that rushes the field before Baylor home football games and welcomes the Bears to the field.  Every member of the Line receives a Baylor Line Jersey that has a nickname and their prospective graduation year on the back.  For this year's Line, that 20 represents that this year's freshmen will graduate in 2020.)  If these college freshmen are the Class of 2020, that means that they were born in (gasp) 1998!  To put that into perspective, here are some facts about the Class of 2020 (or facts about 1998, if you will.)

• Google was invented in 1998, which means that these freshmen have never known a world without the world's most popular search engine.  Put another way, they've never known a world in which people didn't routinely use the world "Google" as a verb.
• Viagra was also invented in 1998, which means they've never known a world without TV commercials telling them to call a doctor if they have an erection lasting more than 4 hours!
• They were either newborns or in utero when Bill Clinton wagged his finger and denied "having sexual relations with that woman."
• They were either newborns or in utero when Seinfeld ended it's acclaimed, award winning run, which means they've only known Seinfeld as one of the old shows they show on re-runs at night.
• MP3 players were invented in 1998, so they've never known a world without digital music.  They've probably never even bought a CD.
• in 1998, Ken Starr was known for his role as the prosecutor investigating Bill Clinton's sexual dalliances rather than his failings handling sexual assault offenses committed by students when he was President of Baylor.
• Apple has always been a hot technology company that makes cool gadgets and never a bad joke of a company that no one thought twice about.
• Panasonic introduced the first portable DVD player in 1998, which means these young people likely have never known the horrors of a long road trip without the ability to watch movies in the car to help pass the time.
• They've always known Billy Ray Cyrus as Miley's/Hannah Montana's dad and never as that guy with the bitchin' mullet who sang "Achy Breaky Heart."
• Leonardo DiCaprio has always been a huge movie star (and heartthrob) and never the young guy cutting his teeth in art house films like "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" and "The Basketball Diaries."
• Robert DeNiro has always been a comic actor and never bad ass mobster or criminal.
• George Clooney was always a big time movie star and never just a member of a large ensemble on a TV show.
• They can never remember a time when Survivor (debuted in 1997) and American Idol (2002) weren't on TV.
• The Big 12 Conference has always existed.  The Big 8 and Southwest Conference mean nothing to them.
• Houston's football team has always been the Texans and Nashville has always been a two sport city.
• The Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques never existed; the Grizzlies have always been in Memphis and the Rams being in Los Angeles is a new thing rather than the return to an old thing.
• Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan have always been veteran NBA stars, while Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Patrick Ewing have always been retired.
• 62 is a meaningless number where baseball is concerned, because they can't remember 70 or 73.
• They never saw Brett Hull wearing the blue note or The Great One on the ice at all.
• Britney Spears has always been a pop star and never on The Mickey Mouse Club.
• They can only remember Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé as solo pop stars and never as members of a singing group.
• They can likely never remember a time when there were more than two living Beatles.
• The likely only know Darius Rucker as "that black country singer" rather than as "Hootie" (even though, contrary to common belief, he is NOT Hootie)
• Plymouth is a place in Massachusetts and Eagle is a bird, not brands of automobiles

Personally, 1998 wound up being a great year from me.  I moved into my own apartment for the first time (without roommates), re-connected with my best friend from college, and - most importantly - I met the beautiful woman who would become my wife.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the world of the Class of 2020.

Thanks for reading!

I Believe

• I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who died to take away our sins.
• I believe that I am incredibly blessed to have a wonderful wife and two great kids.
• I believe that I am also fortunate to have a good job that allows me to provide for my family without having too much undue stress.
• I believe my dog Yadi is the cutest dog in the world.
• I believe that many of Donald Trump's supporters are xenophobic bigots who have fallen for his politically incorrect campaign because it coalesces with their narrow-minded, warped view of the world.
• I believe that many of these same people would support an overtly fascist candidate if they thought it would put the "illegal aliens" and minorities in their place.
• I believe that Donald Trump doesn't actually believe much of what he says; it's a sham that may also be a frightening sociological experiment.
• I believe that Hillary Clinton will be the next president of the United States.
• I believe that Stan Musial is the most underrated baseball player in major league history.  7 batting titles, 3 MVPs, 3630 hits but the average baseball fan knows next to nothing about him.
• I believe that South Carolina and New Mexico have the two best state flags.
• I believe that everyone should visit the beach and the mountains at least once during their lifetime.  Few things can make you feel so small and marvel at the wonder of creation as much as looking out at seemingly endless waters or up at soaring mountains.
• I believe that The Object of My Affection may be the worst movie I've ever seen.
• I believe that the Warren Commission is a crock and that Lee Harvey Oswald did NOT act alone.
• I believe that I am extremely lucky to have two terrific parents who raised me the right way and put me through college so that I can have the aforementioned job.
• I believe that people should be treated with respect regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation.  Rather, people should be judged and treated according to their actions and how they treat others.
• I believe that people should be hired, fired, promoted or demoted based solely on their knowledge, skills and abilities as opposed to their gender or the color of their skin.  As such, I believe Affirmative Action programs should be ended.
• I believe that those who wish to defund Planned Parenthood are misguided.  While Planned Parenthood is the leading provider of abortion (something I abhor), they are also the leading provider of education and contraception that helps to prevent unwanted/unplanned pregnancies in the first place.
• I believe there are no bigger hypocrites alive than those Republicans who demonized Natalie Maines and The Dixie Chicks for criticizing President Bush in 2003 while themselves constantly criticizing President Obama a decade later.
• I believe that most people are fiscally conservative and socially liberal and that we need more people to represent those views in politics.
• I believe that we will never "fix" government in this country until we vote out all of the incumbents and replace them with new blood.  I believe mandatory term limits can help accomplish that.
• I believe that Turnpike Troubadours are the best, most talented country artist/band of the last 25 years.
• I believe that most of what passes for "country music" today is watered-down pop/rock drivel.
• I believe that there will be a rebirth of true country music within the next 5 years.  It happened in the 1970s (in response to the overly polished Nashville Sounds).  It happened in the late 1980s/early 1990s (in response to the popified country pitched by the likes of Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap).  It's long overdue to happen again.
• I believe that we are also overdue for a rebirth of rock-n-roll.  It's long past time for the suburban teenager to be blasting rock music on his/her way to school rather than rap or hip-hop.
• I believe that everybody has a friend who will always be their friend, even if they haven't spoken in years; someone with whom they can start up a conversation as if those years apart never happened.
• I believe that the photo ID requirements for voting and the allegations of voter fraud are merely thinly veiled attempts to suppress voter turnout among a population that doesn't vote the way some people want them to.
• I believe that Colin Kaepernick has every right to sit or kneel during the National Anthem if he wants to do so; that is his right.  I also believe that the people who are upset by his actions have every right to say so.
• I believe that people who choose to send their kids to private grade schools and high schools should not complain about how expensive it is.  No one held a gun to your head.  You made the choice - which is your right - so stop whining.
• I believe that my daughter will wind up following in the steps of her mother and grandmother and become a teacher.
• I believe that all cops should wear body cameras at all times, less to infringe on their rights and more to protect them from the false accusations made by criminals.
• I believe that most cops are good people who are only trying to do their jobs and keep us safe.  However, I also believe there are some cops who are bad people and who chose that profession for the wrong reasons.
• I believe that John Oliver is the funniest man on TV.
• I believe that the Chicago Cubs will somehow manage to not win the World Series this year, even though they are by far and away the best team in baseball.
• I believe that people need to start taking responsibility for their own actions and stop waiting for the government to take care of them.
• I believe that the government could spur such responsibility-taking by citizens if it stopped incentivizing bad behavior via government handouts.
• I believe that the U.S. needs to stop nation-building and paying for the infrastructure of other countries when we have so many infrastructure needs at home.  
• I believe that I have probably said something in this blog post that you disagreed with or that upset you. Deal with it.
• I believe that I will probably do a post similar to this one in the future.
• I believe that I am going to wrap this up now because I need to go to bed.

Thanks for reading!