Projection

Unless things fundamentally change in the next week, Romney will win the popular vote but lose the electoral college.

Battle of the Unbeatens

The Cadets' 2012 campaign hits I-16 this week for a Friday night showdown against #5 Vidalia. What seemed to be a David and Goliath situation mere weeks ago is now looking like a legitimate contest for what could end up being the region title. Yes, it is true, the Cadets really do have a chance to knock off a ranked opponent and, in so doing, return to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school football rankings for the first time in a decade and-a-half. 

The last time BC was ranked?  You'd have to go all the way back to October of 1998. The Cadets were #15 (yes, back when the AJC included "teens" in the weekly poll) the night Glynn Academy (our most heated rival at the time) and Antwan Andrews upset a homecoming crowd at Memorial Stadium our sophomore year.

I'm pumped about our chances on Friday and hope everyone can make it.  If I can drive three hours, I don't quite understand how everyone else can't drive just one.  This is by no means the best team BC has ever had, but if the Cadets are able to pull out a W in a territory as hostile and competitive as Vidalia, it will go down as one of the key accomplishments and a benchmark in BC's slow but steady return to greatness under Britt.

Hut one, hut two.

Artsy Fartsy

Simply Stunning

It's Not You; It's Me.

Listen, BC, we need to talk. This is really difficult for me, so I'm just gonna come out and say it. I think we need some space. I just feel like our relationship has gone as far as it is gonna go. Don't get me wrong, I still want to be friends, if that is okay with you. We'll still see each other at games and alumni events, so I hope it won't be awkward. I have really enjoyed these past six years, but it is just time for me to move on. Well, I guess that's all I have to say. See ya around.

The Week Ahead

First off, congratulations to Hank on his engagement over the weekend.  Lots of costs and additional overhead come with decisions like this so obviously Hank knows what he's doing or at least thinks he does.  Changing gears, we've got a lot going on over the next 5 days and I will not allow this blog to die, so here I am, as usual, bringing things back to life while everyone else sits on their ass.

The Republican National Convention.  Clearly Romney's opportunity to effectively bridge the likeability gap by communicating a narrative about who he is personally.  If you look at current economic conditions, there is traditionally no way the incumbent party wins this election. 

Yet both Obama and Romney remain tied at 46% in most polls.  The reason is two-fold  First, people simply don't like Romney.  Second, there are a lot more Hispanic and black voters than there used to be, and they really don't like Romney.  These groups will continue to vote for Obama simply because Obama looks like them and speaks their language and because, let's face it, rich people like Romney are evil and aren't promising to give them free goodies like the Democrats are.  

The solution is for Romney to continue expanding his lead among white voters, particularly independents and Reagan Democrats in states like Ohio, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Michigan, etc (kiss Nevada and New Mexico, states Bush carried in '04, goodbye).

BC.  The 2012 Cadets open up with Effingham County in Springfield Friday night.  So far as I know Effingham is the only high school that still plays Dixie as their fight song, and that alone is reason enough to make the trip. 

But believe it or not, there is another reason:  BC football is back and we could be looking at the best squad in a decade.  Way too soon to tell so let's not jinx anything but clearly the program is headed in the right direction. 

Effingham has been down the last couple of years; not precisely sure what their outlook is for this season, but clearly we have a chance to beat a large AAAAA team which will help make a statement in the papers, especially after SCPS's loss to Jenkins last Friday.

Georgia.  Who knows, who cares, everyone gets arrested, has dreadlocks, etc.  Don't really care what happens this season unless I have money on it.  

Anyways, later.  

The Perfect Pick

Yankee #%$HOLE!

This confirms my strange suspicion that many Yankees are a bunch of liberal jerks bent on making our world as miserable as possible.

"The government is all powerful and I will prevent our citizens from obtaining more jobs and enjoying deliciousness because I disagree with the fast food owner's personal convictions!

Time To Step It Up

I realize I'm probably not speaking for the majority with this post, but I like Mitt Romney.  He's bright, has proven himself in countless endeavors, understands the economy, and is what many greedy Wall Street Journal Republicans like myself have been waiting for for a long time:  a libertarian capitalist who doesn't really waste time on the social stuff.  Ten times better than McCain and probably better than Bush too.

Having said that I think he's running a shoddy campaign right now.  He's letting the Obama people write the narrative and is reacting to everything.  Playing defense for the next three months simply ain't gonna work when half the electorate is already black, hispanic, or stupid.

The truth is that Bain Capital and firms like it are incredibly productive for our economy.  Creative destruction boosts productivity by buying up inefficient companies, destroying the wasteful jobs there, and replacing them with ones that actually create value.  As callous as it sounds, outsourcing is very good for the economy as well.  It lowers costs and frees up resources at home.  We need a candidate who can articulate these things.  And unlike Bush and McCain, we actually have one this time around.  The trouble is he's been too timid thus far to enunciate these points.

Good VP pics:  Marco Rubio, Chris Christie
Bad VP picks:  Condi Rice and anyone associated with the Bush Administration

Hayek: Relevant Now More Than Ever

The Great Lie

Obamacare stands. The Supreme Court upheld the law not because of the commerce clause, but because it’s being administered as a tax. Justice Roberts pronounced the Courts cannot bar the Federal Government from levying a tax on its citizens. Obama lied to us by saying the healthcare penalty was not a tax, when the Supreme Court now upholds the law soley on the fact that Obamacare is a tax. Not sure why people believed Obama when the penalty itself is collected through Form 1040 by the IRS.

But, there is a problem for Obama. A major part of the success to the implementation of Obama is for Medicaid expenditures funded by the states to increase. The Supreme Court ruled Obama cannot penalize the states for not participating in increased Medicaid spending by denying Medicaid funding from the Federal Government to those states. Many states are unlikely to comply, especially considering their already stretched deficits.

Hopefully this ruling will energize the right wing base enough to repeal the law after the November elections.  

RFI '01

Courtesy of CDT/LTC FBZ '01

Celebrity Look-A-Like

Who does the Michelle O'Bama look like the most? I can't decide.

A Klingon?

A Wookie?

Busy Week

Sunday - Wednesday: Vegas

Friday - Sunday: Wedding in Jacksonville.

Sidenote: first time since 2001 I've missed the G-Day game.

Ring Day

"There are two types of men in this world: B.C. Men and those who wish they were."

Party at "The Field" this afternoon. Ryan is going to shave his head again.

Good List

8 Insulting Ways People Act "Irish" on St. Patrick's Day

Spring Break '12

Ok bros, it's time to find your oversized sunglasses with the neon stems, your zinc oxide sunscreen for your nose and your ironic '80s t-shirt. It's Spring Break 2012! Instead of Destin or PCB, I thought this year, we would call on the port of Savannah. I hear they throw one helluva party for St. Patty's Day. So, prepare to get "River-faced on Sh*t Street." All the ladies at Wet Willie's wil be shakin' their shamrocks, if you know what I mean, bro-dog. WOOF WOOF!

Can I Make Pat Cry?: Returning Soldiers Edition

I asked a lot of our misanthropic friend in my first attempt. Not only is the subject matter and presentation of "Dear Zachary" a rough experience, but it also demanded ninety minutes of his invaluable time. Though his reply could have been constructed just by reading the movie's Wikipedia page, I choose to believe he actually did watch the whole thing. I say that mainly because the last time I talked to him on the phone, he said he doesn't get any channels on his TV and just watches Netflix on his laptop in his warm and inviting and not at all creepy apartment.

Here's an indisputable fact about JPH: he's a Republican who loves America. Though he's always extolled more of the conservative economics of the GOP than any war hawk attitude, I'm sure he's at least kind of a sucker for a good ol' fashioned, rah-rah, G.I. Joe, armed forces lovefest.

I'm putting that to the test today with a three-part compilation of soldiers returning home and doing non-emotionally-charged things such as surprising their kids at school and being immediately recognized and loved on by their dogs. This attempt makes for a more quick and efficient groin kick to Pat's tiny, tiny heart than an hour and a half movie that really puts a strain on his restless leg syndrome. The short length also leaves him more time to put $50 on Southeast Missouri State tonight, and for that maybe he'll be in a more receptive mood.

Spotted: Election Sunday

The SMN seems to be drawn to me and Mike on Election Sunday.

2012 Election

2008 Election

Timmy's Our Man

Timmy's our man.

He'll ably represent the whole Irish clan.

He'll lead the best parade in the land,

As only he can.

We salute Timmy, our man!