Highbrid Nation » Need to Know

MY BAD: Been Crazy Busy But I Haven’t Forgot about The Nation

2013-02-27T03:57:10Z

My bad y’all. Please forgive me. I recently was accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and while its an unbelievable opportunity to exponentially grow Highbrid Media, its a ton of work. I’m committed to the Nation and I aint going no where. Please bare with me.

Officer Fired For Ignoring 911 Calls In Favor of Shopping and Canoodling With Women

2013-02-07T06:04:19Z

I love my cops, always protecting and serving. Well this Miami officer was certainly serving or shall I say servicing. Inner city police have long been accused for their failure to respond to the scene of a crime in a timely manner. Well in this instance, the officer had an excuse why…although she… wasn’t a good one.

The Daily Mail is reporting that an entire Miami Dade police squad was disciplined after being caught screwing around with chicks, shopping, drinking coffee, all while the community was in need of their services. On numerous occasions, it was alleged, Dispatcher’s calls were ignored causing them radio for help from police further away from the crime scene which obviously slowed response times.

All in all, Dario Socarras, Jose Huerta, and Sgt. Jennifer Gonzalez were all fired in September 2012 following a 2 year investigation, according to MDPD Internal Affairs. Socarras was accused of ignoring the emergency calls for an unconscious five-month-old baby. Gonzalez, Socarras supervisor, was even recorded catching up on some shopping at Target while calls were being made.

I think its safe to say that Police officer across the country feel they’re able to get away with more than the average man, whether its running a red light or talking on the cell phone while driving. This air of invincibility however bleeds over, often times, and permeates beyond scope of the job. Officers feel they can get away with more and this is a classic case of God complex. The problem however is there are real lives at stake here. Its a job to many officers but unlike in most jobs, getting fired could be the best of possible consequences. People die. SOUND OFF: Do you believe officers should have the right to conduct personal business while on the job?

Would the Repeal of the Second Amendment Put An End to School Shootings?

2013-01-29T16:25:30Z

Forgive me if you feel we’ve already beat this dead horse but I’ve been really thinking on the topic a lot lately in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Yesterday the State of Connecticut held hearings to discuss whether tougher gun laws should be enacted to prevent future such shootings. Neil Heslin, as you’ll see in the video above was badgered by heckling Gun Rights enthusiasts in the audience.

With its close proximity to New York I have had an opportunity to spend some time in Connecticut and am very familiar with its very conservative society and “Hands Off” approach to legislature. Motorcyclists aren’t required to wear helmets for instance. As you ride through the little townships you’ll see signs that say “settled 1640.” These are communities far older than our Nation and hence our constitution and our freedoms. So there’s no wonder that many who live there for its colonial ancestry feel opposed to changing the laws that put them there in the first place. In fact, they’d prefer the opposite. Everyone from teachers to students should pack the four-fifths to protect themselves and let that serve as the deterrent for violent acts against sitting duck, innocent victims.

So as you’ll see in the video, the hecklers shout “SECOND AMENDMENT!!!” This is the defense they use for refusal of stronger gun control legislation. But lets dissect the actual text.

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”

What jumps out at me is the militia part. Like so much of the Constitution, and hence the Bill of Rights, its context is vague, genius by design leaving it open for interpretation through the hands of time. But we as 21 centurions (not the correct usage I admit but sounds good) recite the 2nd Amendment simply as “The Right to Bear Arms.”

Thrown into this discussion has become the an individuals righst to hunt and to collect weapons as hobby. NONE of this is protected nor guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment or the Constitution, simply the right to keep and bear arms as necessary for the security of the state. Now we can argue that the two clauses, security and right to keep and bear, are mutually exclusive. HOWEVER, as has been the case, none of these school shootings have the firepower been “financed” through the larceny of a militia stockpile. Rather instead its been through the over-extension o,f the 2nd Amendment through gunshow background check loopholes, kids raiding their parents under protected arms collections etc.

Secondly our RIGHT to keep and bear arms has to be tempered correct? Or are ALL Americans guaranteed that “freedom?” How about homicidal criminals. Hell the 2nd Amendment says we can’t infringe on their right but we do without question in order to keep US, WE THE PEOPLE, safe. What about those 2nd Graders? Hell we should arm them right? Of course not, we wouldn’t arm 6 year old kids. We create STRONGER laws on a State by State level to ensure we have an appropriate age limit.

My point it our RIGHTS as guaranteed through the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were intended to give us a guideline upon which we color within the lines. Should there be debate? Absolutely! However to think that the purpose of the 2nd Amendment was simply to give every American a weapon is being silly and is a logical fallacy.

Does It Surprise You Too that the New York Knicks are the Most Valuable NBA Franchise?

2013-01-25T16:34:51Z

I know we generally don’t do very well with sports related posts but I saw this and thought it quite interesting. For the headaches and turmoil that have surrounded the New York Knicks franchise in recent years from salary cap problems to the Isiah Thomas regime to a very overhyped Lin-sanity to Carmelo / Amar’e chemistry I am shocked to learn the topped Forbes annual list for “NBA’s Most Valuable Teams.”

With an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion, the Knicks supplanted the Los Angeles Lakers, who topped last year’s list. The franchise’s value rose 41%, due to a $980 million still-yet completed renovation of Madison Square Garden, the teams home. However, that makeover resulted in an NBA-leading $243 million in revenue last season while they raked in an operating income of $83 million, leading all NBA teams.

I would have figured the Lakers and maybe the Bulls would have been above the Knicks. The former, worth $1 billion, increased its value 11% from last year. The Lakers and Knicks are the first NBA teams to be in the billion dollar club. On the flip side the Milwaukee Bucks, as expected, as small market team were the least valuable. My home team and Jay-Z’s pet project the Brooklyn Nets ranked at #9 with a whopping 48% increase.

CNN’s Don Lemon Snaps on Will Cain’s Newtown ‘Mental Health’ Excuse, Rants on Assault Weapons

2012-12-18T16:33:03Z

For the first time in America for as long as I can remember America is engaged in a real debate over gun control. The NRA’s power over politics has prohibited us from having this debate in a serious forum. However the murder of innocent AMERICAN children on AMERICAN soil pretty much trumps genocide, slavery, AIDS and any other social issue. Hell its even got our resident gun enthusiast, Malcolm scratching his head. But what happened on CNN Monday was nothing short of unusual.

During a segment discussing the aforementioned with CNN regulars Soledad O’Brien, Carol Costello, Will Cain, LZ Granderson, Don Lemon flew off the handle when Will Cain suggested this was an issue solely about mental health. Quite unusual for a station journalist to become so passionately opinionated about a topic that didn’t have to deal directly with a political party.

The deaths of 20 elementary school children and six adults in Friday’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School really has people shaken up. Previously gun conservative lawmakers are shaking an angry fist, voicing outrage, demanding stricter controls.

This is all going to come to a head and the NRA STILL has yet to issue a statement. In the words of Malcolm Gladwell, we’ve reached The Tipping Point.

Obama Newtown Speech Preemption of NFL Causes Racist Twitter Revolt

2012-12-18T16:16:10Z

Ahhhhhh the Shandy Hook compassion clock was what about 48 hours? By Sunday morning Americans were over it and ready for FOOTBALL! We were back to not caring too much and treating each other like shit by the 4PM games and by the NBC Sunday night game, the racist tweets were a welcome return. God forbid President Obama inturrupt the regularly scheduled game between the PATRIOTS… and 49ers to pay tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook elementary school shootings.

How dare this “Nigger” right? Well that’s at least what some had to say. No, I won’t call a special session of the RDC, no need. This is an open and shut case but boy the insensitivity. In fact, one tweets fired of by a University of North Alabama (UNA) football player ended his career.

Bradley Patterson tweeted, “Take that n****r off the TV, we want to watch some football.”

After Patterson’s tweet, Mark Linder, the school’s Athletic Director, sent out one of his own saying, “Thx 2 everyone who brought to our attention. @UNAAthletics does not condone. He is no longer a member of the team.”

But he was right wasn’t he? Obama is a “nigger” and what’s wrong with football? Hmmmm….

SOUND OFF: Should Journalist Have Documented The Impending Death of A Man Struck By NYC Subway Train?

2012-12-05T22:41:52Z

When this story first broke I tried very hard not to address it with the Nation at the risk of being too narrowly focused…New York biased if you will. I’m kicking myself now because all of the points I would have addressed have now become part of a national debate surrounding the unfortunate death of a man pushed in front of an oncoming subway train in New York earlier this week.

Ki-Suck Han died when struck by a train, an occurrence, that believe it or not, is not as uncommon as you might have thought. Statistics show close to 100 New Yorkers are struck by subways annually. I myself had a run in with a drunken Ryan Beauchamp earlier this year at a bar. It wasn’t more than minutes after being kicked out for harassing me and other patrons with his racial commentary that he would get in to a similar fight on a train platform nearby which spilled over on to the tracks killing 20 year old Joshua Basin.

Fact is, unfortunately its common. But the photo? How did it get taken? Well New York Post freelance photographer R. Umar Abbasi took the photo while waiting on the train. But why shoot the photo instead of helping save the 58 year old’s life?

“I just started running, running, hoping that the driver could see my flash,”

And there in lies today’s question. Did Abbasi have a greater responsibility to try and help this man or was he too enamored with the sensationalism of the impending death of a man? Was he really only flashing his camera in attempt to help alert the conductor and if that is the case why did he sell the photo? Was he too far away to help? And perhaps the most important question…WHY DID THE POST RUN THE PHOTO? SOUND OFF!

Pops Pimps Daughter As Scantily Clad Model for Used Car Photos on Ebay

2012-11-29T19:03:36Z

I was still bothered by the video in the Craigstlist Girl Trafficking post from earlier. I can’t understand what it is about our effed up psychy that would allow someone to physically snatch the innocence from our youth. I don’t want to waive a major flag here but its astonishing. Then I again became grounded and remembered the good old American common denominator…MONEY.

There is no better way to obtain it than through sex. Sex does sell. Its one of the few absolutes in this world. Shoot my advertising industry remains relevant today because of a man and women’s innate longing to be together. So should we then be so surprised that a father would pimp his daughter as a scantily clad model in photos for his used cars business in Oregon?

Kim Ridley, owner of Ridley’s Rides in Eugene, Oregon has been pimping his barely legal daughter Lexxa (20) in his ebay post in hopes they’ll generate a better response and equate to better sales.

“If I felt bad about it, I wouldn’t do it,” father Ridley told AdFreak.

Lexxa’s doing here thing in the photos no lie but I’m torn between checking out the the car and checking for her. I guess that’s kind of the point. We as Americans have little descretion. I’m not mad. I mean if this is how Kim chooses to parent his adult child, I’ll elect to farm my own land. I wouldn’t but I’m also sure Lexxa didn’t have a gun to her head when she took the photos. What happens is we don’t know or don’t care where the line is and far to often go about crossing it with little regard for human rights. This one gets a pass, the last one… By the way Ridley’s Rides gets a 100% positive feedback on Ebay. Good Customer Service is sighted in many of the responses.

Just How Did This Palistinian / Isreali Conflict Get Started?

2012-11-19T16:12:27Z

The U.S. government often refers to our conflict in the Middle East as one of the longest wars in American History. That may in fact be true but when you consider how long the Israeli/ Palestinian land conflict has been going on, its seems but a second in time. Its kind of hard to trace back the exact start of the beef but its safe to say there has been friction between the two groups dating back to biblical times. One would assume there is some historical relevance as both Judaism and Islam both date their roots back to the same Abraham who had sons Issac and half brother Ishmael, born to his mistress Hagar. The Jewish linage is traced back through Abraham’s favorite son Issac while the Muslims recognized Ishmael as the ancestor of several prominent Arab tribes and ancestor of their most important profit Muhammad. Since the birth right was given to Issac and not first born Ishmael, its caused friction between the two groups since only God knows when (literally.)

However, for both religious groups they land of their forefathers has a historical and religious significance and both have laid claim to the land. Along the way the Palestinians were booted by ancient Romans. In the 1800′s there was upheaval during the Ottoman regime.

But the modern beef started in 1947 when the UN gave a large part of Palestine to the Jews now known as Modern Israel. Most recently in 2007 the upstart Hamas faction took control of a small strip of land in Israel called the Gaza strip and the two have been trading rockets ever since.

Honestly, one could spend a life time studying the nuances of this conflict which means that those who are fighting the war don’t entirely know why they are. Kind of sad if you think about it.

Conservatives Watchdogs Cite 100% Obama Support In Black Districts as Proof of Voter Fraud

2012-11-13T16:13:27Z

Its now been a week since election day and the dust is starting to settle. Its business as usual in Washington. Lets see we have congress at each other’s throats pointing figures at the opposition blaming them for threatening a fiscal cliff. We have high ranking top secret CIA officials embroiled in sex scandals that could have compromised national security. Sounds like Fall in the Nation’s capital.

Oh and while Malcolm wasn’t able to accurately predict the Presidential outcome, he was correct in outrage over election results. There have been reports of petitions being filed in 20 states of outraged voters requesting their states actually succeed from the union. There is another group however led by Glenn Beck‘s The Blaze that is reporting 59 precincts in Philadelphia and 9 in Ohio where, Mitt Romney failed to garner single vote in what they’re calling proof of voter fraud. Claims of voter fraud are actually quite common following elections especially those that are close and in fact, some conservative radical groups used this myths as a scare tactics to quell interest among fringe liberal voters.

All in all, Obama beat Romney 94%-6% in the National black vote and despite the districts in question being historically black, a unanimous vote in any one county of significant population regardless of demographic makeup is sure to raise eyebrows especially in a key state like Ohio.

Even looking historically, the all-Obama Cleveland precincts weren’t feeling McCain and Bush either to the tune of single digit votes as well. 57 Philadelphia divisions selected Obama unanimously in 2008 while only five shut out George W. Bush in 2004. (Keep in mind John Kerry is not black. lol)

I’m a cynic so I’d like to believe something devious happened here but if there wasn’t think how fascinating that is. What it means is African American’s and those living in these largely African American voting districts are so incapable of thinking beyond race that political policy or platform isn’t even a remote factor in how they vote. Unfortunate yes. Unfathomable? Not at all.

Election Day Roundup

2012-11-06T20:22:45Z

If you logged on today looking for me to post a blog reminding everyone to vote you probably don’t belong here. I hope everyone has the ability to get to the polls today and is exercising their rights one way or another. Our friends in the Nation from across the pond, we welcome you to take part in the process from a far.

I have received a few texts and emails from some of you, thank you regarding some issues at the polls. As our resident political expert, Malcolm has pointed out on numerous occasions, there are a lot scams out there and other forms of voter suppression. Here are a few links you can use to report them and some other links that might be of use on this election day. Please feel free to email me your questions, comments and even photos of you at the polls to jperez at highbrid dot com. If I get enough I’ll be sure to post them tomorrow for the Nation to see.

For the Informed Voter:

Take a moment to double-check your Voter ID with Advancement Project.
See your ballot ahead of time with TheBallot.org.

Take care of your Nation and make sure everyone in your community can vote:

Report voter suppression with 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
Make sure your friends vote with Vote With Friends.
Use your cellphone to report voter suppression with Video The Vote.

Election Day isn’t without its issues

A touchscreen machine that won’t let you vote for Obama. Gizmodo
Polls in Coney Island are being run by police academy recruits and are missing machines and check-in books. NYO
New York City is running low on stickers. Gothamist
Jeff Flake (REP) is accused of sending robocalls telling Democrats to vote tomorrow, and at the wrong sites. Gawker

Did Jay-Z really go there?

If your havin’ world problems, I feel bad for you, son/ I got 99 problems but…Mitt…ain’t one. YEP! NewYorkMagazine

SOUND OFF: One More Day or Four More Years?

2012-11-05T16:00:19Z

Tomorrow is election day contrary to what you might be reading on websites, emails or cleverly placed signage. While the pundits and politico gasbags will say they know what is to happen, the truth is the election is too close at this point to determine. The lastest polls have the President narrowly ahead with a 277 delegates leaning his way or firmly in his camp with 270 being the magic number. Florida, remains the biggest mystery and perhaps prize with the candidates in a dead heat for its now 29 electoral votes. While New York, New Jersey and Connecticut project to be blue states, at least local, senatorial and state elections will be effected by projected low turnout due to displaced, distracted and confused voters in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

So their guess is as good as ours would be. Being completely objective and not along with how you plan to or have already voted who wins? SOUND OFF!

20-Year-Old Brazilian Girl Auctions Off her Virginity for $780K and Claims to Donate Proceeds to Chartiy

2012-10-26T13:17:37Z

How much did it cost you to lose YOUR virginity? Oh, I forgot we’re all virgins right? For the few heathens among us, we were paid in subpar sexual experiences and countless regrets. For Catarina Migliorini she stands to make $780,000…sort of. The 20-year-old Brazilian woman has ebaying her virginity online and the winning bid came from a man known as “Natsu” from Japan.

However unlike many stories of this kind, Migliorini will, says she plans to donate as much as 90 percent of the auction price a charity that will build homes in her home town of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Natsu fought off five other bidders in the final day when the rights to Migliorini’s virtue rose $190,000 in a 24 hour period. Conversely, her homeboy Alex Stepanov, who also sought to do the same only raked in $3,000 from a woman in Brazil named “Nene B.” I hope that’s not the NBA Basketball player.

INDECISION 2012: Being An Undecided Voter This Late in an Election is Unamerican

2012-10-23T14:52:07Z

About 15 or 20 minutes into last night’s Presidential debate I began to ask myself a question. A question that I don’t believe is unprecedented but one that bares asking anyway. What sort of moron needs to rely this completely scripted snoozefest of a performance in order to determine who will lead this country for the next 4 to 8 years.

Most people I encounter, whether they’re announce their allegiance via bumper sticker or not, know exactly who they’re voting for. But yet and still, we see the “Florida Undecided Voter Dial” meter on the bottom of the screen trending up and down like the Dow Jones. If you believe the polls, this election will be decided by the independent voters. Those who don’t simply vote along party lines. I for one, tend to be one of them however, have the common sense to make my decision far before 2 weeks in advance of an election. But polls still have this election very tight and its these indecisive individuals that may tip the scales one way or another.

What exactly are the basing this decision on however? The debates? I can understand many undecided voters using it as a tool but after the President came out with the anniversary sex hangover in the first, I’d imagine most decided on Romney taking with them some fringe Obama supporters. But to wait until the third debate? Hell some polled STILL couldn’t make up their mind? What now?! The flip of the coin?

But yet its these same voters that pride themselves on making an independent decision based on facts that will kill a politician for not having decisive action, not pushing the economy faster, not trickling down fast enough, not reducing the deficit quick enough, not ending the war with enough efficiency, not showing a dip in unemployment. If they can hold them to this high standard to show and prove isn’t it our responsibility as AMERICANS to be more decisive in who we want to guide this country? As a New Yorker, it probably doesn’t matter who I vote for, my state’s going blue, too many liberals in the city and not enough people upstate. However, in Florida, in Ohio, this lethargic pussyfooting could swing the election. Could determine wars, lives, jobs, healthcare and we’re too busy to be bothered to make a decision. Hell its not like you have a job to worry about or pension to manage.

So let me help y’all undecided’s out there with a recent line from Chris Matthews.

“Do you want to have an auto industry or do you want it to go bankrupt. Do you want to have the government tell you what to do with your body if you’re a woman or do you want to leave it up to the person?”

Sure its simplistic, but so’s the choice. These are two very different politicians. SH*T or get off the pot.

#JAYZ Challenges White Power Brokers Using His Name in Vain With Auction of His ‘Carter 4′ Nets Jersey

2012-10-18T18:40:16Z

I go to a lot of functions for businesses in Brooklyn and recently everyone is talking Jay-Z. Following his concert all the Business world’s movers and shakers from the Borough President down the line are using references like “Hov”, “Jigga” (not really knowing the origins) and “Brushing their shoulders off”. I’ve never seen so many old Jewish lawyers into Jay. Well we all know the game. And now Jay-Z is flipping that exploitation on its head.

10 “Carter 4″ jerseys, will be auctioned via Auctions.NBA.com beginning Wednesday, Oct. 17, with the sale ending Oct. 31. Proceeds will go to the Shawn Carter Foundation, which aids students facing economic hardships. Hopefully some of these rich white dudes using his brand for gain will pitch in a few hundred thousand.

#PLEASEPROCEED: Candy Crowley Assists in Obama’s Counter Attack on Romney

2012-10-17T17:28:55Z

Last night’s Presidential debate was interesting for a number of reasons, most of which I’ll leave you to become nauseatingly exhausted by mainstream media. Perhaps the most interesting was the point in which Governor Romney tried to catch the President in a lie about identifying the Libyan Embassy attacks as terrorism. While we can debate semantics or perhaps specifics (as conservatives are choosing to call them) I’ll leave that for the aforementioned cooler kids in politics. The exchange, to me, was far more interesting.

Here you have the successful but less eloquent businessman turned politician, hoping on hope that the President (who himself, in this very debate) praised his own “consistency” would some how contradict himself. But getting too excited for the “GOTCHA” he didn’t let it materialize. I equate it so a quarterback who sees his wide receiver breaking free from the defense but is too anxious he doesn’t sell the play action fake. ROMNEY HAD OBAMA ON THE ROPES BUT DIDN’T SELL THE FAKE.

On the other hand you have the savvy defensive back in Obama. Been getting burned recently but relied on his experience to see the trap and not to fall for it. Instead goes on the counter-offensive asking simply for the Governor to “please proceed.” Hoping upon hope that Romney would fall into the trap.

Republicans and Democrats spin doctors will debate today whether the CNN Moderator Candy Crowley, (whom I guess leans left?) actually gets an assist on the stat sheet for helping the President’s “act of terror” identification thus sealing the Alley Oop. The reason why I feel it to be irrelevant is because life and this election, isn’t fair. So why should the debate? An ambassador being killed in a raid isn’t directly the President’s fault but he has to deal with it. We expect that he take that responsibility…he’s the President. We also expect intelligence and savvy from our Commander in Chief and to use his resources. He knew he avoided a land mine but if timed correctly with the help of friendly face in Crowley he could flip this turnover in to points for his team. He did that. Should we be mad a Crowley for getting to involved? Only if the President wasn’t strategic in luring her to do so. Lets face it, we don’t want a President that only plays by the rules but one that will do anything within reason, ethics and the SPIRIT of the rules to keep us safe and on top as the undisputed Best Country in the World. Advantage Obama.

CAPTION THIS: Racist for Romney Say: ‘Put the White Back in the White House’

2012-10-15T18:16:19Z

SOUND OFF: Can a Grin Decide the 2012 Presidential Election?

2012-10-12T15:58:22Z

I will just assume all of you watched last night’s debate instead of the Titans vs. Steelers, Orioles vs. Yankees or Tigers vs. A’s. If you didn’t well, I’ll include it below when I finish typing. To put it blunt it was battle royale. I didn’t watch much analysis or spin but from the looks of it, Paul Ryan did a good job of holding his own and weathering the tide. He was well prepared and at times seemed very scripted (a la his closing remarks…hillarious.)

Independents, undecided voters? They didn’t gain anything from either side from this debate. Hell, if they indeed are independent or undecided were they going to be making their decision based on who to vote for based on the deputies? Probably not.

This debate to me was all about Vice President, Joe Biden. Would he have one of his signature gaffs or give the pundits ammunition upon which to further debilitate their real opponent, Barack Obama. Unfortunately for them he didn’t have one of those. Instead he managed to piss off just about everyone with his brash, no-nonsense style calling out inconsistencies in Ryan’s argument as he saw them, often not waiting until his officially allotted time in which to express them. This to me was a well orchestrated pep rally for the Democrats who felt defeated behind last week’s Sleepy Obama performance. But what about that smile?

Right after the debate I quickly jumped between the various news outlets and his grin was front and center? Along with his “Milarky” quote, it seemed to be the single most memorable characteristic from the debate. It clearly irritated those on FOX News with pundits calling it disrespectful and smug. So while I haven’t seen the final tally’s I’m sure the networks are leaning right citing a smile as the reason.

This of course isnt’ the first time the Repubican supporters have criticized the Democratic ticket for releasing too many endorphins. After last week’s debate, a new RNC Ad attacked Obama for his smirking.

But really what is that? Why are we so ticked off by someone smiling while we make a point. Are they mocking us? Do they know something we don’t know? Are they about to counter-attack with a bombshell? Perhaps its just the uncertainty of what created that reaction? Its interesting, because we see it all the time in emcee battles. Do they still have Freestyle Fridays on 106 & Park? Remember how the defending champ would always smile while his opponent did his best to lyrically disparage him with the opening attack? It was a vote of confidence, a realization by the incumbent that this wasn’t going to be as difficult as he thought. Was this the dynamic we saw during the debates? Who knows but one thing is for certain come Tuesday, November 6th at around 10PM there will only be one side smiling.

Guard Assigned to Nuclear Football Leaves It Unattended To Go Take A Piss

2012-10-12T15:10:39Z

A good friend of mine turned me on to the Dan LeBatard podcast…well podcasts in general. Its really just the recording oh his ESPN radio show from Miami which for geographical reasons I can’t hear live. I’ve seen an amazingly bizarre mix of just enough Sports that its head-beating mixed in with the real life grown up talk sprinkled with obnoxiousness. OH SH*T! I just realized its Highbrid Nation on the Radio. I’ve found it to be my compliment to my commute, to, from work and the various different meetings I have in between.

Today, however on my return home I happened to catch Dan’s interview of Michael Lewis, author of The Blindside and Moneyball, both of which would later become movies. Recently, Lewis was granted unprecedented access to “hang out” with President Obama. He shared some really interesting stories about his extended time with the man in a recent article for Vanity Fair. Lewis was on with Lebatard sharing his experience including how he was given an All-Access lapel pin giving him the back stage pass to all that is Barack Obama.

Lewis very reluctantly shared an absolutely fascinating story and one I as well as the show’s host believe might have gotten someone in the white house and/ or secret service canned. Apparently while wearing that pin one day and watching the President play in one of his well documented pick up basketball games, the guy who we see in the President’s entourage all the time with the briefcase attached to him had an uncontrollable urge to use the bathroom. As Lewis tells it he left the Nuclear Football unattended within arms reach of the journalist while he went to the bathroom.

Now, this might not seem like a big deal on the surface. After all, had Lewis decided to do something stupid, there would have been hundreds of agents ready to shoot to kill, not to mention the security codes he would have needed to activate the damn thing. But it speaks to the human nature of the job. Conservative pundits might point to this perhaps as an epic security failure and point again at Obama’s ineptitude but for me it kind of makes it all real for me. These are REAL people, doing REALLY important jobs. The President will no longer be Barack Obama. He will be followed for the rest of his life no matter where he goes by a dude in a black suit and sunglasses. Regardless of what happens in 3 week he won’t be able to just go to the bodega and pick up a Bacon, Egg and Cheese. These people working for in these positions do have to urinate. They do have kids, real problems, get sick, are fallible. We sometimes lose sight of that with our political attacks of the opposition, criticism of the job they do, quick to right them off. They’ve excepted the very difficult job of protecting our freedom, we owe them at least the respect of at worse trying to understand just an ounce of what they go through. [Off my soapbox.]

Blood Will Be Spilled on Thursday Debate

2012-10-09T19:48:07Z

If you saw the debate last week between Mitt Romney and President Obama, you already know that the Obama campaign is in trouble.

Political pundits have come up with a wide variety of excuses for the President’s poor performance, including…

… the altitude… the president was lacking energy because he just flew into denver.

… John Kerry… he played Romney in debate prep, and he should have been tougher

… Jim Lehrer… as moderator of the debate, he should have stopped Mitt from cleaning Obama’s clock

Probably the best post-debate joke came from a morning talk radio host who said

After the debate, David Axelrod was overheard telling the president ‘show me on the doll where the bad man touched you.

All around the internet, liberal bloggers are going crazy right now, afraid of the polls, disappointed with the President’s debate performance, and worried that the election might be slipping away.

That was last week. This week, we have round two: Paul Ryan verses Joe Biden.

The ‘conventional wisdom’ is leaning Biden, since he has more experience debating and because his longer experience in the Congress gives him a larger knowledge base on which to work.

Personally, I think the conventional wisdom is wrong.

Instead, I’ve got the feeling that Ryan is going to come on strong, and may well beat Biden into the ground.

If this happens, the Obama campaign will be in SERIOUS trouble. The next debate between the President and Romney is on October 16th, and the topic will be foreign policy, which is not the President’s strongest suit.

In order to turn things around, Biden MUST come on strong. Insiders are already saying that he WILL come on strong. But will it work? And will it be enough?

Ryan’s style (and probably his debate performance) is like a switchblade. Just when you think things are going your way, he pulls it out and slits your throat.

Biden should be VERY careful of what he says, especially if the topic turns to the budget.