Oblogatory

Midterm Elections Prediction #1

2010-10-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

Here is my first post regarding my thoughts on the fall Midterm Elections.

1. Tea Party

Recent polling shows that more and more Americans have an unfavorable viewpoint of "Tea Partiers." But the Tea Party has managed to defeat several GOP candidates in primary elections, giving the Dems a better chance come November. Here's an example: for months Harry Reid couldn't even poll above 30% in his quest for reelection, but is now leading. I think this effect will happen in half a dozen more races giving the Dems some wins on November 3rd.

2. Messaging

The Democratic Party is always bad at messaging. I mean, we're liberals, what do you expect (have you ever read my blog?)? But now, more voters are paying attention and messaging becomes crucial. The Democrats need to show a stark contrast between themselves, a party that has kept this country from dipping into a Depression, and the Republican Party of "No."

3. Money

According to many accounts, Democratic candidates and the Party itself have sizable financial advantages over their opponents (thank you Michael Steele!). And although this may not save every candidate from losing, it could help create a firewall.

Overall, I expect the Democrats to lose the House of Representatives, but hold on to the Senate. I put the chances of this scenario at 75% due to recent generic ballot polling. There are, however a myriad of variables which come in to play that make this election cycle different from 1994.

Edited by John O'Connor

Turn Around and Make a Left

2010-07-13T08:42:00.001-05:00

A new poll published yesterday shows that 58% of Americans have little to no confidence in President Obama's decision making ability. Putting aside the fact I hate these kinds of polls, I do think there is something wrong with President Obama's approach: he talks a lot, and accomplishes very little.

For example, on the financial reform fight, a change that many people supported, Obama seemed to not be actively involved in pushing an agenda, or at least promoting his activities during the legislative battle. The end result was watered-down legislation that many progressives and liberal voters do not approve of.

I am of course happy that President Obama has managed to push through health care reform and financial reform, but what I truly want is job creation. The White House's current political strategy -- deficit reduction over job creation -- is eroding his approval ratings. Instead of catering to people who will not vote for him anyway, the President needs to start pushing job creation and get the economy back on track.

Edited by John O'Connor

A Review of Obama

2010-05-27T11:03:00.000-05:00

Let us review President Obama's Accomplishments:

Stimulus Bill that saved the country from going into Depression
Healthcare Reform
Credit Card Reform
Financial Reform (about to pass)
The Repel of DADT (about to pass)
2 Supreme Court Justices
New Arms Treaty with Russia

So far I can not complain about voting for him, he still will be doing immigration reform and climate change.

Where is Obama?

2010-05-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

Is anyone else concerned by the fact that we haven't been given full disclosure regarding the Gulf Oil Spill? B.P. still hasn't release all the footage of the oil spill, nor has it disclosed the true amount of oil currently leaking from the ocean floor. Now add to that the fact that B.P. and the US Coast Guard have been turning away reporters investigating and reporting on the incident, this whole thing starts to smell like a cover up.

President Obama ought to order B.P. to release all information pertaining to the oil spill into the public domain and allow the press to full access to that information. Instead, President Obama has stood on the sidelines and allowed B.P. to continue to destroy the Gulf of Mexico.

Edited by John O'Connor

Ahhnold and the Arizona

2010-05-20T13:17:00.003-05:00

Say what you will about Arnold Schwarzenegger, the actor slash governor of the Hollywood state of California. The guy is hilarious. Have you heard what he said during his Emory commencement? Coming from a Republican governor his joke about Arizona's illegal-immigrant policy is a pretty big deal. Over the last 3 years I've worked with two 2nd generation citizens and two people studying in America on visas. What I've come to learn is that there are many opinions on immigration as well as the illegal immigrant status. Arnold certainly has an opinion about the immigration issue, not only politically as a state governor, but no doubt personally as well considering he too immigrated to America.

Note that I am not endorsing nor arguing the Arizona policy on illegal immigrants, I'm just bringing up the topic for another perpetual discussion, and not a minute too soon I might add. Because, in the words of Joe Biden -America's hero and my future speech writer- this is a big fucking deal.

Sports and Politics

2010-05-20T09:49:00.000-05:00

I had an interesting conversation with a friend the other day about the role sports teams play in politics after the Phoenix Suns wore "Los Suns" jerseys to protest Arizona's new immigration law. My friend contended that sports teams should stay out of politics, not taking stands on one side or another of political issues, while I countered that they are private citizens, entitled to their own speech rights.

The last time I checked, sports teams are private companies and as such are allowed to take a stand against a law. It's no different than taking a public stance against drug testing in sports or certain business related taxes. Sports teams such as the Phoenix Suns have a certain fan base and as such are driven to represent them. You may not agree with the Suns, but the contention that they should stay out of politics is foolish and limits free speech.

What criteria should we use for allowing corporate entitities to enter the political arena? Major League Baseball is a private company and as such is allowed to question laws. That doesn't mean MLB is allowed to break the law, but it should mean that it has the right to question a law's legitimacy.

Afternoon Delight

2010-05-18T14:11:00.000-05:00

May Five-th

2010-05-05T12:03:00.002-05:00

Cinco de Mayo, Cinco de Drinko, Drinko de Mayo... it's the fifth of May, which is a historic Mexican holiday that was named after the popular mini-beer tour at Old Chicago restaurants.

So for today, what is your favorite Mexican beer? How many Mexican beers can you name? Or, what is your favorite Mexican alcoholic beverage?

Why can't Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick's Day fall on weekends more often?

100 Posts . . . and Tom Says Nothing

2010-05-03T10:28:00.002-05:00

Today marks a small, but important milestone for us here at Oblogatory. Unfortunately in his post this morning, our lead author failed to recognize it. Always one for theatrics, I now bring you, our faithful readers, Oblogatory's one hundred first post.

As Oblogatory's Editor, I can certainly say that the past 100 posts have been stimulating. We are clearly still in the nascent stages of our development, but we are developing. While things have slowed down over the past couple of months, I can assure you that our authors are hard at work looking for new content to respond to with our unique perspectives.

So what would I say Oblogatory is, today? In a nutshell, Oblogatory has become an amalgam of Midwestern editorials, featuring political and sports commentary, pop culture notes, and a healthy dose of snark. And frequently, our authors' rants.

Thank you to all of you who have been reading so far. We look forward to growing with you in the future!

- Jack

Bye Bye Gulf

2010-05-03T09:16:00.001-05:00

It's difficult to read the coverage on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Experts' latest estimates say the oil could gush between one week or several months. The financial and environmental impacts of this disaster will be felt for years, maybe never recovering.

But at the very least, I hope that out of the darkness of this event, new hope emerges for alternative fuels. As a nation (and world), we are slowley killing our planet with our oil addiction.

To help with the cleanup

Oil Vision

2010-04-30T09:13:00.002-05:00

Today my Facebook feed featured an interesting conversation about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The conversations addressed the fact that (1) this was a freak accident; and (2) asked what I thought we should be using for fuel other than oil. Let me address both of these points in turn:

1. Yes, this is a freak accident. Oil platforms aren't exploding all over the place. But freak accidents don't mean we shouldn't still reduce offshore oil drilling. An accident like this could cost billions of dollars to clean up, destroy industries (i.e. fishing), and obliterate an ecosystem. The problem with the assertion that this is a freak occurrence and should not discourage continued offshore drilling efforts is that there is still something wrong with the drilling process. As drilling expands, the probability of accidents happening increases.

2. Oil is of course the main source of energy we currently use, but that does not mean its primacy should continue. A concentrated effort on using and developing alternative energy (solar, wind, and hydro) would reduce our dependence on oil. And in addition, if we enhance public transportation systems, we can easily reduce the use of oil.

It is easy for us Midwesterners to feel far away from this problem, but for a moment, imagine what an oil spill would do to Lake Michigan, and see if your perspective changes.

edited by John O'Connor

The F?

2010-04-27T14:14:00.002-05:00

After receiving hundreds -nay, thousands of emails over the past few weeks wondering where the posts have been on the O-blog, well, you've been heard. We've all had broken legs, been sick, had to work, our cars broke down, and our computers died temporarily. I, in particular, have been riding my motorcycle for the past 3 weeks straight, and when I tried to write a post, my desktop fell off the handlebars, which I guess was for the best since my LAN had a horrible internet connection anyway.

So what will this post be about, anxious reader(s)? I guess you'll just have to wait until tomorrow, but here's a hint: the best comment will determine the subject!

Walrus Wonders: WTF were the Eagles thinking?!?

2010-04-08T15:16:00.000-05:00

Ohr Ohr!

So my Walrus Wonders question about McNabb was answered this weekend by . . . The Redskins?!? An Eagles intradivisional opponent?!? Let's try to wrap our heads around this whole thing, and see who got the better end of this deal:

Eagles Got: 2010 2nd round pick; and either 3rd or 4th round pick in 2011

The Eagles received 2 picks early picks for an aging quarterback. They clearly think Kevin Kolb is McNabb's heir-apparent. But the Eagles could still use some immediate help -- They've got free agents leaving and their team isn't as young as it used to be. At first glance, this trade seemed like a ridiculous idea to me, but it's possible they got just enough from the Redskins to make things work.

I also heard in the posted clip that the Eagles wanted to trade McNabb to a destination where he felt comfortable. That, my friends, is classy. There really aren't many organizations that care enough about player trade demands to honor them. I'm thoroughly pleased the Eagles did what they could to take Donovan McNabb's wishes into account here.

Redskins Got: Donovan McNabb

The Redskins gave up two early round draft picks to bring another QB into the mix. Looking at the Redskins' roster, they now have 3 All-Pro RBs and 2 All-Pro QBs. Not even Mike Shanahan is going to be able to fix this train wreck Snyder's created. Unless Washington plans to run some kind of super-wildcat offense, I think the Redskins may have gotten worse in an effort to improve.

So to me, it seems that the Eagles, in releasing McNabb, may just have been a very, very smart decision. I'm still not comfortable with intradivision trading, but great move Philly!

The Danger of Words

2010-04-01T11:34:00.001-05:00

Throughout the health care fight, Republicans have used increasingly sharp rhetoric. Conservative party members have thrown about emotionally charged terms to energize their base against progressive health care reform. But inflammatory rhetoric, including references to reloading instead of "retreating", and the passage of health care reform as being tantamount to armageddon, has caused some rather frightening results. Threats of violence against Democractic leaders might have been expected, but now even Republicans seem to be at risk. This week, Senator Eric Cantor (R -Virginia) announced that an anonymous shooter fired a shot through a window at his Richmond, Virginia campaign office.

I was not surprised to see so many Democrats receive death threats, nor was I surprised by the fact that people vandalized Democratic Congressional offices in these first days following the passage of healthcare legislation. But what I think Republicans do not understand is that when conservatives ratchet up their rhetoric to the point where listeners begin inferring an endorsement for violence, crazies on both the left and right will answer the call. I'm by no means trying to imply that all Republicans have inferred that a violent reaction is an appropriate reaction in this case. John Boehner (R - Ohio) has decried the violence and threats against members of Congress. But I am saying that there is a great irony in the fact that those on the Right have implicitly encouraged violence and threats through their rhetoric, regardless of their public position regarding the results engendered by their words.

It is the responsibility of all elected officials to represent their entire district, state, and country, not just the sector they think is most likely to reelect them. But how can conservative members of Congress members claim to be responsible when they don't speak out against violence and threats until after inciting these acts?

Edited by John O'Connor

Walrus Wonders: NFL "Off" Season

2010-03-25T14:37:00.002-05:00

With all the recent signings of released NFL players, it seems there are still many top tier prospects left to be signed or traded. So I ask you: where do you think the following players will end up?

Donovan McNabb

and

Brandon Marshall

My hopes: Either player lands in San Francisco with my 49ers!

Today's Post

2010-03-24T11:35:00.003-05:00

Reiteration of the Tom

2010-03-23T13:51:00.003-05:00

Define Irony. Tom is currently seeking medical attention after his 4+ hour long erection for the signing of the new Health Care Reform Bill. Will his treatment be covered? You bet it will.

Actually, Tom is right. This is a pretty big deal. Vice President Joe Biden thinks so too.

This is a big deal. A big fucking deal.

Was it a gaffe? Or was it just a bit of over excitement in the proximity of microphones? I actually think Joe should have just stated it plainly into the mic.

Happy Tuesday! It's LOST day, motorcycle-weather day, Health Care day, and whatever else is exciting today.

Tom's Too Busy to Post Right Now . . .

2010-03-23T11:28:00.002-05:00

But here's a link to The Story of the Day.

Walrus Watch: UFC Live in "Denver"

2010-03-23T08:16:00.005-05:00

Ohr Ohr!

Hello all! It's been a while, but I am back and ready to post!

My first order of business? UFC--Live--Versus Network--Broomfield, CO. The event as a whole was something else. From the scantily clad women and testosterone fights in the stands, to the dudes jacked up on steroids, I could have easily spent my time people-watching without seeing a single fight and the night would've still been awesome. I didn't buy ringside seats (which sold for a hefty $300), but my seats were definitely worth the $75 I paid. Just being in the same arena as the fighters I watch every month was pure joy.

And now, on to the fights!

It turns out that the real action at the live events are the undercards. This event's main card only carried four fights. The undercard, however, carried seven. And on top of that, three of the undercard fighters train in or around Denver, adding to the excitement during the the undercard fights. Three of the first four fights didn't make it out of the first round, which pretty much set the tone for the rest of the evening. Only one fight ended in a submission, but plenty of elbows and fists were thrown, leaving everyone in attendance happy. Two fights were lackluster, but I still had a great time overall.

The next time UFC comes to Denver, I'm there.

In other news, the UFC is holding another Pay-Per-View event this weekend, featuring GSP versus Hardy, so fans should be pleased that two titles will be on the line this weekend. I know I am.

Prediction: UFC comes back to Denver soon. GSP retains his title in a very entertaining fight.

Edited by John O'Connor

Thank You: Part Two

2010-03-22T12:00:00.016-05:00

Last night, I noticed something more emphatically than ever regarding the Republicans' political philosophy. The Republican Party truly has become the "Party of No." Of all the votes taken in committees and in both chambers regarding health care reform, only two Republicans ever voted in its favor. I understand that Republicans will likely run their campaigns this year on the basis that health care reform ought to be repealed, but they have to understand that it's impossible. Social legislation, such as the House passed last night, becomes engrained in the political and economic framework of America once enacted. Case in point: Medicare.
So even if the Democrats lose their majorities in both the House and Senate, they still have something to show for their efforts: legislation which helps 30+ million Americans. Can the Republicans say the same when they were in power? Ironically, the answer is No. The metaphorical Republican mantle is filled with the Iraq War, Bush Tax Cuts, and No Child Left Behind. A party has to stand for an ideal, whether that ideal is states' rights over the federal government or social change. The current Republican Party, however hard it might try, does not stand for ideal. It simply stands for "No."

Edited by John O'Connor

Thank You: Part One

2010-03-22T09:07:00.001-05:00

Over the last year, we've all seen and learned a lot during the healthcare debate: that tea baggers really are bigots and racists; what the CBO is; and finally, that our government can effect a lasting change.

The legislation passed by the House last night is the first major social legislation to pass in over 50 years. It will provide insurance coverage to more than 30 million Americans, end the corrupt and immoral practices of health insurance companies, and lower the deficit. The bill (now law) may not be perfect, but it's a start.

Today I will be writing a three part entry to cover the wide range of feelings I am having toward this closing chapter.

I would first like to focus on President Obama. Many of you know that I am a staunch Obama supporter (some of you have even said I "drank the Kool-Aid" -- I did. It was refreshing), but even I was beginning to waver. But Obama ultimately displayed what it is a President needs in this polarizing political environment: patience. It may have taken a year, but President Obama has managed to convince Congress to pass two major pieces of legislation: economic recovery and health care reform. Now include among these accomplishments a jobs bill and future job creation bills, and President Obama might, and I stress might, go down as one the most successful first-term presidents in U.S. History. While he may not have changed the political environment in Washington, I don't think one man can. But he did put everything on the line last night and won. Thank you President Obama.

Edited by John O'Connor

TV Thoughts

2010-03-19T13:44:00.002-05:00

Maybe I'm lazy. Or maybe I have too much free time during the evenings, as I wait for the weather to get warm enough for me to ride my Harley-Davidson regularly. Or, maybe I just like TV.

Alright, I admit that I tend to watch TV quite a bit. But, I'm not just a channel-surfer. Actually, I am "in to" a number of shows. Or, rather, I may just be a fan of the line-ups of ABC's Wednesday nights and NBC's Thursday nights. Either way, the shows are kind of like motion-picture books to me, where I enjoy finding out what happens next. (I'll stay away from the root of all this, which is my obsession with LOST [which shall always be in full caps], a show - nay, event - that cannot be experienced without keeping up with it)

Ok, what's my point? That there is a LOT of good TV programming right now. Once big-time hits like Scrubs and The Office are a bit past their prime but are still chugging along. 30 Rock seems to get better every week, and ABC's Wednesday line-up is all fairly new, but American Family and The Middle are at least catchy takes on family sit-coms. To me, it seems like the game shows and reality shows on the major networks are starting to take a back seat (again) to the half-hour sit-coms, the hour long suspense series like 24, and The Forgotten, and celebrity talent shows like Dancing With the Stars. Yes, there is still the Bachelor, but does anyone still watch Survivor? Is it still on? And what about Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? Last I heard was that it may make a comeback, but still, the majority of the popular reality shows are on cable networks like Discovery, History, Bravo and the Travel and Food Networks.

Before I ramble on any further, I just wanted to say that this is all just a little interesting to me. It seems like the half-hour comedies (Office, 30-Rock) and hour-long events (LOST, 24) are beginning to regain popularity over the likes of reality shows or depictions (Survivor, Apprentice, Top Chef) and especially the likes of game shows (Millionaire, Deal or No Deal).

Or, maybe it's just me and my demographic, and the networks know exactly how to suck me in.

Vote No?

2010-03-19T09:59:00.000-05:00

Why as a Democrat would you vote no against the bill?

Bye Bye CNN

2010-03-17T08:55:00.000-05:00

As I have stated before I rarely watch cable news. Thankfully, these news corporations keep reinforcing it with actions like these. How and why is this guy on TV?

A Massa Problem

2010-03-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

I have to admit I have not followed the Rep. Eric Massa saga, but it seems main stream media has taken a liking to it. Understanding that new details emerge daily on Massa, he can offer no credible evidence back up his claim that he was forced out. What disheartens me is the need for the media to create a story here. Massa began the media frenzy by claiming outrageous lies, which of course the media felt compelled to report on.

I would ask the media why is Massa so important but there are two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq barely getting any reporting. Just look at CNN and their Department of Jihad, that is news right? This is why I stopped watching on all news stations awhile back. They are not in the business of reporting credible stories just creating them.