It's Good to be a Cheesehead

Wisconsin is known for a lot of great things, including cheese curds, Friday night fish fry, and Miller beer.  Based on the past few years, it should also be known as a state with great sports teams.  I'm talking about the Badgers in football and basketball, Packers in pro football and -- new to the list -- the Milwaukee Brewers in baseball.

2011 began with the Wisconsin Badgers going to the Rose Bowl to play TCU.  While we didn't win the game, (lost19-21) I still love celebrating New Year's Day with Bucky in Pasadena, CA.  After winning a share of the Big Ten conference title and hitting 70 points or more three times during the year, the Badgers are primed to win the conference again with an outstanding offense featuring Russell Wilson, Monte Ball and Nick Toon.  In addition to big games against Ohio State and Minnesota, the Badgers will play Nebraska this weekend in their first conference match up since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten Conference this year.  It's bound to be our biggest game of the year, and hopefully sets us up for an undefeated season and a possible National Championship

 

Apparently ESPN's Game Day feels the same way, since it is the featured game of the weekend.  The last time the "World Wide Leader in Sports"  came to Madison, our under-appreciated team beat number 1 ranked Ohio State, 31-18.  I'm hoping for the same result from the Badgers, which currently lead the Big Ten in scoring offense (48.5 points per game) and scoring defense (8.5 points per game).  I realize it's only the non conference schedule, but regardless, that IS impressive.  And everyone else in the conference is playing similar opponents.  What it shows is that the Badgers are taking care of business and showing the rest of the country how good they can be.

I'm excited for the Badgers this year, and the years to come as recruiting is getting better and the Wilson-effect (at quarterback) is changing us from a team that runs the ball to one that can throw the ball, as well.

There's not much room for improvement when it comes to the Packers, who won it all last year with a victory in the Super Bowl, defeating Pittsburgh, Chicago, Atlanta and Philadelphia along the way.

This year, they are out to a 3-0 start, behind excellent play of Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson.  Currently leading the NFC North Division with the Detroit Lions, the Packers are trying to become the latest NFL team to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles.  It's a difficult challenge, but it shows how far we've come.  No longer are we satisfied with winning more than just our division.  Now we're disappointed if we don't get back to -- and win -- the Super Bowl.

This team is fun to watch with their explosive offense and no huddle attack, which reminds me of the St Louis Rams when they were know as the Greatest Show on Earth.  And our defense, which is led by defensive coordinator Dom Capers, seems to be flying all over the field.  Sometimes it's an all out blitz, other times they will fall back into a zone.  Either way, the opposing teams are left wondering where we will be attacking from next.  And we have the personnel to get better, as draft after draft brings in younger and better players.

Who are the Packers going to have to worry the most about?  I would say the Detroit Lions in our division and probably New Orleans in the conference.  We've already beat them once, but it was by the slimmest of margins, when the Packers stopped them on the one yard line with no time remaining.  What an awesome game!  As for who we will play in the Super Bowl.... well, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.  The NFL is as tough as ever, and there's a reason why so few teams make it much less repeat back-to-back.

What can you say about the Milwaukee Brewers?  Few gave us a chance to win 90 games this year, much less win the NL Central Division over St Louis and Cincinnati.  Despite having a tough time with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays during league interplay, the Brewers currently hold a 94-66 record which includes a 55-24 record at home.  This is the best home-away record in the majors, and a big reason why the Brewers are hoping to finish ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are likely to be their first round playoff opponent.

 

So how did the Brewers, who finished last year with a losing record, turn things around this year?  Primarily with better pitching, in particular pitching from their top three -- Yovanni Galardo, Zack Greinke, and Shaun Marcum -- and an excellent closer in John "Axe Man" Axford, who finished with 46 saves in 48 attempts.  The Brewers have also gotten All Star performances from Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder who have hit 78 homers, 230 RBIs and somewhere around a composite .300 average.  The combination has been one of the best in baseball for the past two years, and has been great to see, with both drafted by the Brewers and coming up through their minor league farm system.   It's easy to say that they have turned into a modern day version of Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, who won so many games as part of Bambi's Bombers in the early 1980's.

Now if they can just get us to the World Series.  Which will mean beating Arizona and probably the Philadelphia Phillies, who have owned the Brewers in 2011.  Either way, it has been a fabulous year.  I remember taking my son and wife to a game this year against the Chicago Cubs during a stretch when the Brewers won something like 23 out of 28 games.  Miller Park is fun no matter what, but it was especially rewarding to see the Brewers take down one of their most hated rivals.  This has been a magical year, one that may be hard to duplicate next year without Fielder in the line-up.

As I have sung so many times at a Badger event, the song "On Wisconsin!" remains the same.   And while it was written for the college game, it still applies in spirit to the Packers and Brewers this year, as well.

On Wisconsin!  On Wisconsin!
Plunge right through that line!
Run the ball clear 'round Chicago
A touchdown sure this time.
On Wisconsin!  On Wisconsin!
Fight on for her fame
Fight!  Fellows! - fight, fight, fight!
We'll win this game.

On Wisconsin!  On Wisconsin!
Stand up, Badgers, sing!
"Forward" is our driving spirit,
Loyal voices ring.
On Wisconsin!  On Wisconsin!
Raise her glowing flame
Stand, fellows, let us now
Salute her name.

At the Super Bowl last year, Greg Jennings said "It's a great day to be great!"  For me -- now in my fifth decade as a sports fan -- it's a good time to be from Wisconsin where the Packers, Brewers and Badgers are on their way to being great.

Good Movies and Music, But Bad Politics 1.2

Last June, I wrote a blog called "Good Movies and Music, But Bad Politics," which chronicled the stupid things musicians and movie stars say when it comes to politics.  Well, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to add two more stars to the list.

Unfortunately, they are two of my favorites:  actor Morgan Freeman and singer Tony Bennett.  Let's take a look at Morgan Freeman, who was on CNN tonight talking to Piers Morgan about President Obama.

Piers Morgan -- "Has Obama helped the process of eradicating racism, or has he... made it worse?"
Morgan Freeman -- "Made it worse.  Look at, look, the Tea Partiers, who are controlling the Republican Party, stated (that their policy) is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term.  What's what does that, what underlines that?  Screw the country.  We're going to do whatever we do to get this black man, we can, we're going to do whatever we can to get this black man outta here."
Morgan -- "But its that necessarily a racist thing?"
Freeman -- "It is a racist thing."
Morgan -- Does it unnerve you that the Tea Party are gaining such traction?"
Freeman -- "Yes.  It just shows the weak, dark, underside of America.  We're supposed to be better than that.  We really are.  That's why all those people were in tears when Obama was elected President.  Ah, look at what we are.  Look at how, this is America."

For someone like Morgan Freeman, who is such a good actor, and comes across as such an intelligent man, to say something like that just blows my mind.  Wanting President Obama to lose the next election is no different than any other Democrat who's ever been in office.  One term is more than enough.

Freeman's reaction is like most liberals who think we need to apologize for our standing in the world, and who think America is where they are today because they threw the poor, homeless and unfortunate aside.  Rather than being a country of opportunity, dreams and hope, America is weak, dark and unforgiving.

As I've mentioned before, Obama is destroying this country with his socialistic policies, his hatred for America's rise to the top, and his wish to tax the rich.  And did I mention we're over 15% in real unemployment, and almost $14 trillion in debt?

Mr. Freeman, are you kidding me?  Not once have I mentioned Obama's race.  I've always believed that the people who look at someone's color are those who are so obsessed with race that they are constantly bringing it up.  And that's the Democrats, not Republicans.  White, black, red or green -- it doesn't matter.  Anyone who is causing this much damage to America and our future needs to go.

And go now.

It really hurts me to bring up Tony Bennett, because the guy is one of my favorite singers, in fact I was just about to download some of his "Duets 2" album from ITunes.  "Steppin' Out With My Baby,""Body and Soul," "The Lady is a Tramp," and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" are some of my favorite songs from his era.  On a show with Howard Sterns (what's a classy guy like Bennett doing on Sterns' show anyway?) he had the following conversation:

Stern -- "You gotta eliminate war, but what do you do with these terrorists who blew up the World Trade Center?"

Bennett -- "Who are the terrorists?  Are we the terrorists, or are they the terrorists?  Two wrongs don't make a right."  He continued that we didn't agree with the common knowledge that those who attacked started the conflict.  "They flew the plane into the building, but we caused it.  We were bombing them, and they told us to stop."

Later, Bennett added -- To start a war in Iraq was a tremendous, tremendous mistake internationally."

Bennett has said that he is a pacifist, and believes that violence begets more violence.  I can appreciate his sentiments about war, and having never been to war myself, maybe I'm in no position to argue -- but his views on avoiding conflict has nothing to do with blaming the United States for causing the terrorists to fly into the World Trade Center buildings.

Who are the real terrorists?  Don't ask Tony Bennett.

Our foreign policy with the Middle East -- supporting the apostate regimes of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan and the Gulf States -- surely made enemies with al Qaeda.  As did our support of Israel, a military presence in Saudi Arabia and sanctions against Iraq.

But taking the jump from opposition to our foreign policy to condoning the death of almost 3,000 innocent lives is a distinction that is lost on Mr. Bennett.  I can disagree with someone without killing him or her.  Apparently Osama bin Laden and his holy jihadist cannot, because prior to the attacks on 9/11 numerous bombing attempts were made including:

1993 bombing of World Trade Center
1995 attempts to take over Bosnia
1996 Khobar Towers are bombed
1996 marines are sent to guard US embassy in Albania
1997 bombing of Holland and Lincoln tunnels thwarted
1998 embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Kenya are bombed
2000 USS Cole is attacked in Yemeni port of Aden

Pacifists seem to think that if we can avoid conflict the world will be utopian and wonderful.  "Just don't make them mad," "Give them what they want," and "Turn the other cheek," have been uttered as ways of appeasing the terrorists.  Until the more aggressive side takes more and more, at which point singers like Bennett and actors like Freeman will be the first to be denied their freedoms, rights and eventually their very lives.

And the jump in logic from Bennett is truly stupefying.  Disagreements never justify violence, but it does happen.  Blaming us for the death of 3,000 people on 9/11 is like justifying the actions of every madman throughout history who was eventually stopped by someone (or country) who got in their way.

Since his original comments, Tony Bennett has since posted a statement on Facebook to clarify the comments he made on Stern's show, and to apologize if they were misconstrued.

I wonder if his apology has anything to do with trying to sell his new album.

Turning Green (and Feeling Sick)

This week will be remembered for President Obama's stump speech where he said, "If you love me, you will pass this bill!"  Considering his popularity is in a free fall, it's safe to say this "jobs bill" won't be passing anytime soon.

Also making the news is the announcement that Solyndra, a California-based solar panel manufacturer, will file for bankruptcy and lay off more than 1,000 people.  This despite being promoted by President Obama as the poster child for his administration's push into green technology (to the tune of a $535 million federal loan guarantee). This news might actually be shocking if it had produced the level of electricity originally claimed.  As it is, the only jolt coming from this discovery is the continued belief by the Obama administration (and its supporters in the media) that think heavily subsidized technologies like ethanol and solar/wind will ever be successful alternatives to oil and coal.

Solyndra:  Not so hot

(Alright to be fair, solar and wind energy may someday be a viable alternative, but to what extent?  And why must Team Obama use our money to promote alternatives few people want or can afford today?)

But now the Solyndra news is getting worse.  Uncovered emails indicate that the loan was made after pressure coming from the company itself and the White House.  U.S. Rep Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, suggests that Solyndra's situation represents the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  He said, "There are billions more of this exact kind of spending that came out of the stimulus that will produce these results we fear.  This is misguided policy and crony capitalism at its worst.  (The U.S. Government) shouldn't be picking winners or losers... we should be setting the conditions for economic growth so that the private sector can create jobs."  Ryan concluded, "Washington is not good at picking winners and losers."

It was just 3 months ago, that Time magazine's Michael Grunwald was saying "As for Solyndra, I can report to the Republicans who seemed so concerned about the company's viability that it no longer seems to be on the verge of a humiliating collapse.  I'm sure they will be relieved."  Yeah.  That's how I'm feeling today.  Relieved of more than $500 million dollars that was pissed down the drain leaving me -- and other American taxpayers -- holding the bill.

And now we're being told that the taxpayer is second in line to get their investment out of this failed experiment, thanks to Obama who worked with private investors to put them first.

Isn't it frustrating to think that Obama is enjoying our misery?

Some of you are thinking that I'm being too harsh.  But think about it -- his environmental policies kick us once by adding to our debt by spending taxpayer money on green technologies, then kick us again by restricting the availability of currently viable resources like oil and natural gas.

No more drilling
AP photo/ The Washington Post

Millions of acres of untapped oil and gas are subject to environmental laws and restrictions that make drilling prohibitive.  Much offshore oil recovery is limited or off-limits to U.S. producers, while foreign countries like Cuba, Brazil, Mexico and Russia are aggressively drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.   Where laws don't prohibit oil drilling, regulations and overly complicated environmental studies make oil production very difficult and unprofitable.  And if producers don't engage in these costly studies, they end up in court being sued by environmental groups like the Sierra Club, a big buddy of the Obama Administration.

The result?  The cost of natural gas and oil is driving the cost of heating our homes, filling up the car and buying groceries through the roof.  The cost of a gallon of gas is more than a dollar more today than it was just last year (about $3.75 here in Wisconsin).  No wonder supporters of alternative energy say solar and wind energy is dropping in price while oil and gas continue to go higher.  Not to be conspiratorial, but Obama did say that he wanted the price of gas to go up, he just wasn't happy with how quickly is got there.

Oh, and our taxes are going up too.  And our kids' taxes, and their kids' taxes....

Another exasperating example is the Volt car, being produced by General Motors.  We all know that the Obama Administration -- sorry, the American taxpayer -- bailed out General Motors at a cost of more than $58 billion dollars.  As a result, Obama has placed himself into the middle of the development of an electric car called the Volt, available to anyone willing (or able) to pay $41,000.  For that amount of money here's what you get:

.  No return on investment in gas savings
.  Very limited production and availability (no one wants it)
.  Not appealing to people with long commutes
.  Big, expensive li-ion battery
.  Can you plug in?
.  Very expensive.  Did I mention $41,000?


Once again, our government is providing subsidies to help American consumers buy these vehicles.  The Volt, like solar energy, wind power and ethanol cannot compete on its own merits.  Without a $7,500 rebate, who could afford to buy it?  For someone in the Obama Administration, affordability isn't a deciding factor.  Is it good for the environment?  Does it encourage conservation?  And does it free us from our dependency of foreign energy?  That's what Washington wants.

Government Motors at work

All good ideas, but is it commercially viable, practical and something that the average consumer can afford?  Not likely.  Once again, I have to ask, why is Washington involved in running an automobile company?  They can't balance their own check book, much less General Motors'.

I can hear my older son saying, "But Dad, these are good ideas.  Someday we will need some kind of alternative.  Our current resources are limited and we need to do something before it's too late."

While I may agree that our resources are limited, I don't agree on how quickly, and I don't understand the reasoning behind a government that forces consumers to abandon perfectly GOOD, AFFORDABLE and WORKABLE solutions to our energy needs.    Are people really ready  to buy mercury-filled light bulbs, solar panels that work only half the time and cars that cost far more than they save?  I don't think so.

Our current energy situation reminds me of a book I'm reading called "The Forever War" by Joe Halderman.  The book won numerous science fiction awards for its futuristic depictions of  fighting and war's effect on the military / bureaucracy involved.   In "The Forever War," Halderman envisions a world dramatically different for his main character, William Mandella, who returns to Earth after years of inter-stellar fighting.    Due to various governments' attempts to control society -- population growth, food production, and energy availability -- home is nothing like the place he left.  Instead, there is high unemployment, dangerous mob attacks and violence, and a hyper-inflated cost for food, habitation and weapons.

I'm not suggesting that Washington is trying to give us the equivalence of "The Forever War," but I am saying that by pushing their environmental agenda, Obama and others in Congress are slowly, but surely taking away our freedoms and liberties. Using words like "eco-friendly," "sustainability" and "organic" doesn't change the fact that our lives are being impacted by these authoritarian and restrictive policies.

Unintentional consequences, perhaps.  But undesired consequences, nonetheless.