Happy Monday

All Hail Kobe Bryant

At the end of this season, Kobe Bryant is retiring from the NBA. The time has come, as he is not the player he once was, and it is obvious. In his letter, "Dear Basketball," he alludes to his fading physical abilities. His Lakers are having another rough season, and he can see the writing on the wall.

Kobe is one of the best five players I have ever seen play, along with Jordan, Magic, Duncan, and LeBron. I don't even begin to try and rank these guys, because they all had different strengths and weaknesses, though Kobe is usually compared with Jordan. His five championships in LA make him one of the Lakers greats, though where he rates in Lakers lore is still an open question. Still, five titles, basically on two different teams, a top five points total in league history, and the way he brought back "showtime" to LA makes Kobe an undisputed star in his day.

I'm sure we'll hear a lot of negativity thrown towards Kobe in the next week by people who didn't like him or the Lakers all these years. You won't hear that from me. I remember watching him at Lower Merion High School in the state playoffs, and being amazed at how good he was. Two decades later, he proved that was the truth. Tomorrow night will be his final time playing basketball, back here in Philadelphia. It should be quite a scene.

My Thoughts on College Football

Next weekend will be the final real weekend of the college football season. Sure, after that we still will have the Heisman Trophy presentation, and Army-Navy, but that's all going to be basically after we know who is still alive to go to college football's playoffs. After a wild weekend in week 13 of the season, we know that Clemson, Alabama, Iowa, and Michigan State pretty much control their fate. We know that Notre Dame is dead. We know that Oklahoma has won their conference and now waits. We know that Ohio State is done, and waits. We know that Stanford remains alive, for now, and has to win next week.

If I was in charge of ranking these teams, I'd rank them:

1. Clemson- A well-earned undefeated regular season earns them this spot. If they do their job, and win this week against UNC, they are in.
2. Alabama- Since the Ole Miss loss, I think they've been the best team in the country. Beat Florida, win the SEC, and go to the playoffs.
3. Iowa- You can't argue with undefeated, even if you have trouble believing it. I'll be pulling for the Hawkeyes this weekend, but I'd be surprised. If they win, they deserve to be in.
4. Michigan State- You beat Ohio State and Michigan in conference, Oregon out of it, and you deserve this chance. With one loss, they can't lose to Iowa and get in, but I'd put them in right now and we'll see what happens.
5. Oklahoma- I'm not a believer. They lost to Texas. With that said, they won a power five conference with just one loss, and they torched Oklahoma State on the road last week. I'm not saying they get in when one team loses the Big Ten, i'm putting them here as a holding spot until we know a little more.
6. Ohio State- They have one loss, to Michigan State no less. They won the title last year, and beat Alabama on the road to it. They've lost three games in three years, won a title, beat just about everyone in that time, and are being penalized for playing Michigan State late. If Iowa wins, it's really hard to put them in, since they lost to Michigan State. If Michigan State wins, I'd consider jumping them over Oklahoma. I think they're a more threatening team.
7. Stanford- They have two losses, so i'm really not in favor of them getting in. If they win the PAC-12 though, and all hell breaks loose this week, they deserve to be in position to capitalize after beating Notre Dame and potentially USC to finish.
8. Notre Dame- Unfortunately, even two close losses eliminates them. They would need Clemson, Alabama, and Stanford to lose (as well as the inevitable loss by one of the Big Ten finalists) to have a shot. That's a mountain too high.
9. Florida State- They just dominated Florida, but they also are a little too far out. A fluke play against Georgia Tech did them in.
10. North Carolina- I'm not sure if I believe in them yet, they did lose to South Carolina. I do want to see how they do with Clemson.

So that's my rankings. This weekend though, we settle championships on the field. It's conference title weekend, and so I'm putting forward my picks for those games too-

• MAC- I'm taking Northern Illinois to surprise a very good Bowling Green team. They've been there before.
• AAC- I'm taking Temple to go on the road and surprise a Houston team that has been repeatedly silencing their doubters. 
• Conference USA- I'm taking Western Kentucky to get it done against Southern Mississippi.
• SEC- Florida will hang in better than expected, but I think Alabama wins a lower-scoring affair, and the conference.
• Mountain West- I'm taking San Diego State to get the job done in a thriller with Air Force.
• PAC-12- I'm calling the upset. USC stuns Stanford to win the conference title in a year their coach got fired.
• Big Ten- I think Michigan State gets the job done and ends Iowa's dream season.
• ACC- Clemson out shoots UNC to win the ACC in a thriller.

So, if that plays out, I have Clemson, Alabama, and Michigan State in. That would bring it down to Oklahoma and Ohio State for the last spot. My guess is that Oklahoma will get the spot. I'd probably vote for Ohio State. So that means, my "major" bowls would be-

• Cotton Bowl-Semi-Final- Alabama vs. Michigan State
• Orange Bowl-Semi-Final- Clemson vs. Oklahoma
• Rose Bowl- USC vs. Iowa
• Fiesta Bowl- Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
• Sugar Bowl- Baylor vs. Florida
• Peach Bowl- Florida State vs. Temple

That's just my picks. I also took some upsets at the conference title level.

I'm also taking Derrick Henry of Alabama to win the Heisman, by the way.

Yes We Must- Stand Against All Terror, Foreign AND Domestic

After ISIS attacked Paris, we stood pretty much united as Western Civilization against the acts of terrorism, condemning them and debating how to respond. While we questioned why we didn't respond as united, no one disagreed that the terror attacks in Beirut and Baghdad around the Paris attacks were terrorism that needed a response. They were politically motivated acts of violence, intent on spreading fear throughout society. That is terrorism. Whether it's ISIS, anti-abortion gunmen and bombers, militiamen, or some anti-government loners, terrorism is terrorism. The kind of person carrying it out does not matter. The specific breed of politics does not matter.

Which leads me to the Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs. This is an act of terrorism. That Robert Dear was a pro-life, white, Christian American does not make his shooting spree any less of an act of terror than what happened in Paris or Beirut. He carried out an act of violence with the intent of forcing other people to change their behavior in society out of fear. When you seek to use violence, rather than the ballot box, as a means of changing political decisions, you are a terrorist. When you seek to use violence to change the behavior of the public, rather than the civil means within our society, you are a terrorist. What exactly set Dear off on this shooting spree now is not important. His intent was to spread fear and change behavior through violence. He is a terrorist.

There is no place for people like Robert Dear. I don't care if they wish to set up an Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, end abortion in the United States, or stop the government from "over-reaching," when people do what Robert Dear did, we have to stop them. We have to stand against them. We have to fight that way of thinking. Now, this doesn't mean we should send U.S. Marines in to invade white, Christian communities here, anymore than we should re-invade Iraq right now, but we have to combat this strain of society. We should use the full line of tools at our disposal to do so. We can't ignore this type of terrorist, just because they are a white American.

Marco Rubio is Still an Idiot

Marco Rubio should never have been elected to any public office, let alone his current attempt at the Presidency:

Well, one of those candidates, Rubio, recently professed his belief that the United States is governed by “God’s rules,” not the Constitution: “We are clearly called, in the Bible, to adhere to our civil authorities, but that conflicts with also a requirement to adhere to God’s rules. When those two come in conflict, God’s rules always win. In essence, if we are ever ordered by a government authority to personally violate and sin, violate God’s law and sin, if we’re ordered to stop preaching the gospel, if we’re ordered to perform a same-sex marriage as someone presiding over it, we are called to ignore that. We cannot abide by that because government is compelling us to sin.” In other words, he believes that any Constitutional right given to Americans that he thinks goes against “God’s rule” should be ignored – because “God’s rule” supersedes Constitutional law.

I won't blame Rubio for some lunatic shooting up the Planned Parenthood, at least not directly, but when these kind of freaks hear talk like this, they react. This is lunatic talk, and not the kind of talk that a President should be spewing. We are a civil country, and civil law trumps religious law here. If you want religious law, there are other countries in the world with that, but we have no state religion. With no singular religion here, how would we even govern under Rubio's rhetoric? Which religion's laws would we use? Beyond all that, this is just crazy talk, the kind that incite people to think they can violate the law of the land. Rubio is no less nutty than the Trumps and Carsons, but possibly less intellectually capable.

It's That Bad

The Sixers are 0-17. They are last in the very light Atlantic Division, the pretty light Eastern Conference, and in an NBA that encourages non-contenders to lose. The worst team, period, probably in all of professional sports. They are far worse than the MLB-worst, 99 loss Phillies. They are much worse than the pathetic, already quit for the season Eagles. They are worse than the non-contender Flyers. For reference though-

• They are one loss from tying the all-time worst NBA start of 0-18. 
• Their 27 straight losses going back to last year is a North American sports record losing streak. 
• They are the first team to start back-to-back seasons 0-16. 
• Their highly touted #3 overall pick, Jahlil Okafor, has made news this week for knocking a guy out at a Boston bar, having a gun pulled on him, and getting pulled over going 108 miles per hour.
• Their highly touted #3 overall pick from last year, Joel Embiid, hasn't played an NBA game yet.
• Isaiah Canaan is still the starting point guard on this team. Not just on the team, but starting. Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten haven't stepped on a basketball court yet.

So yeah, things are as bad as they seem. This team was never a playoff caliber team, but I did think we'd see the team pass the 20 win mark this year. That ain't happening. This team will be the worst team in the NBA by a lot. Even so, this year was about evaluating a few players who either could be cornerstones or role players in the future. Even by that standard, things are rough.

• Okafor's off-court issues are starting to become rather scary, while Nerlens Noel is still rather up-and-down. Neither has played really poorly, but i'm not sure they fit together. 
• Stauskas has had his ups-and-downs, but hasn't yet played quite up to a #8 overall pick.
• Guys like Jerami Grant and Robert Covington have had their moments, but Covington has battled injuries, and frankly these guys are only potential role players. 
• Marshall and Wroten haven't even stepped on a court yet.

Even with nothing really going right so far, it's important to not yet abandon all hope. The plan has always appeared to have been about next year's team showing improvement. They have four first round picks- their almost certain high lottery pick, the top-three protected Lakers pick, and the picks of Oklahoma City and Miami. Add onto that the arrival of Dario Saric, maybe Joel Embiid, and enough cap room to sign a major free agent or two, and the Sixers should have a much different roster next season.

Or that's what we're supposed to think. So far, not enough of the picks have panned out for me to say for sure this is going to work. I'm getting very nervous about Okafor off the court, and whether or not Embiid will ever be on it. I don't know if they can convince free agents to come here. It's hard to shake the stink of a team that is this disgraceful. I hope I'm being over pessimistic, but I have my doubts.

Happy Friday

So the Eagles Fell in Detroit, And....

....It's fair for you to stop caring.

The Eagles are a joke of a football team in 2015. They are inconsistent. Their talent is questionable. Their effort is not stellar. They are a bad team. They are a fitting 4-7, and that record is going to get worse, quickly. The only gift we got from them playing at Detroit yesterday is that they won't play Sunday. With games against New England, Buffalo, Arizona, Washington, and New York left, there is a legitimate chance the Eagles do not win a single game the rest of the season. It's absolutely possible they go 4-12.

Don't tell me how they are only 1.5 games back of the Giants right now- I really don't care. This team is not capable of competing with the NFC's best for three straight weeks in the playoffs, let alone a fourth game in the Super Bowl. In fact, the best thing that can happen is they don't win again. Getting a higher pick will allow the Eagles an opportunity to rebuild this thing a little bit faster, and perhaps get the franchise quarterback they so desperately need.

Many of the same people who cheered Chip Kelly all off-season with their "in Chip we trust" crap, are now burying him for this team. They didn't bury him for cutting Evan Mathis for no reason. They didn't bury him for trying to sell us that DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews would be better than LeSean McCoy. They didn't bury him for the insane rumors about chasing Mariota in the draft, or for trying to sell us that Sam Bradford might be the upgrade we needed at quarterback. They didn't bury him for trying to sell us that Kiko Alonso would be healthy and awesome either. They didn't bury him for drafting Agholor, or anything else Chip did. I remember being called a "downer" for questioning those moves. No doubt, even I thought it would be better than this, but it was clear to any objective fan that Chip Kelly the GM had no idea what he was doing all along.

And so now they play out the string. After taking a beating from Detroit, there is little reason to hope the Eagles win another game. Should Chip Kelly come back? That is a complicated question that is partially driven by the two years left on his deal. I thought that Chip the GM had made some bad moves, but I figured Chip the coach would keep them winning games at least, and I'm surprised at how he's lost the team on the field. Lane Johnson criticized the fans last week, then got caught on camera taking downs off yesterday. That's symbolic of the team on the whole. Given the poor effort by the players, I'm not sure Chip is the guy to fix it. Of course, I never thought he should have been hired as head coach, let alone given complete control of the team. His blend of control over everything and attempts at reinventing the wheel always lined up for a total disaster. In a purely football driven world, I'd send Chip packing for USC, LSU, or wherever else his heart desires, on the first plane I can find.

Anyway, here's hoping for 4-12 and a top five pick. That's the only way to start digging out of this mess.

A Few Final Thanksgiving Football Thoughts

Yesterday was an epically beautiful day on College Hill in Easton, a perfect day to sit and watch local high schools Easton and Phillipsburg play a football game in front of a packed house at Lafayette College. Yesterday was the 109th time the two schools have played, but it was nice to see the game back on Thanksgiving after the postponement to Saturday last year. The game should always be on Thanksgiving. I do understand why major snow storms sometimes delay the game a few days, unfortunately modern civil liability rulings understandably scare college administrators, but in a perfect world that would not matter. This game being on Thanksgiving is a tradition worth keeping.

A few thoughts on the Rovers 26-0 victory, the two towns, the tradition, and some of the other Thanksgiving traditions in this area-

• The old saying seems to hold true- if there is no strong favorite, Easton is the favorite. Phillipsburg rolled in at 9-1, bound for their state championship game next weekend against Middletown South, and left bruised and beaten. Easton's defense stifled the Liners in the 26-0 victory, and never really let them get going. As seems to be the case most years that Easton wins, their defensive linemen beat Phillipsburg off the line all afternoon, and never let their running game get going. While this is a "down" year for Easton, most schools would be thrilled to go 9-4, and make the playoffs and beat their arch-rivals in one year. The Red Rovers seniors should be quite proud of how they did this season.
• Phillipsburg wasn't nearly as bad as a 26-0 score suggests. They did not give up an offensive touchdown in the 26-0 loss. Their offense gave up scores, their special teams gave up scores, and their defense tried to bail them out all day. I'm hardly shocked that a proud Phillipsburg defense would show up to play on Thanksgiving Day. They will be decided underdogs against Middletown South, New Jersey's best team, next weekend at Giants Stadium, but Phillipsburg has won games like that before.
• Up the road in Northampton, another rivalry was playing it's 93rd game. The Northampton-Catasauqua Thanksgiving Day rivalry game is the most underrated game of it's kind around here. While Easton and Phillipsburg are going to play their 110th game next year, this rivalry is just a few years behind that great one, and they will play their 100th game is slated to be played in 2022, and if they stay at the schools for that one, it would be at Catty. I hope they see it through. In an age when many people would ask what the value is in a non-league game scheduled during playoff season, I'd remind them that there are a lot more lessons to be learned by teaching the values of tradition, community, and spirit than are learned in chasing medals.
• Since it's out there, a lot of internet chatter in Easton since Saturday's district playoff loss to Parkland has been negative towards Easton's coach, Steve Shiffert. The most unfair criticism of Shiffert is this myth out there that "a good coach would have won several state championships at Easton." That severely underrates how hard it is to win a state championship. It is true that Easton has been close before, but not one time were they really a favorite to win a state championship. With the exception of 1993 and 2009, I can't think of a single time they lined up across from the state champions and really put them on the ropes. It's hard to win in a state as large as Pennsylvania. If you watch the finals each year, those teams are usually Catholic schools, sending several kids off to college as major D-1 recruits. They are not public schools that are providing an extra-curricular activity to their community's students. I'm not saying Shiffert hasn't made some mistakes in big games, or that Easton can't ever break through and win one state title, or even that the frustration of being in the district playoffs 20 times in the state playoff era and coming up short each one shouldn't bother fans at some level. I'm just saying get real, we don't have a recruited team of super-athletes, so this pipe dream that some great coach would bring in a half dozen state titles in a decade is stupid. We'll be very fortunate when we win one.
• By the way, Northampton beat Catty 40-26 yesterday. For two teams who had really tough seasons, and fought a lot of injuries, it seems to me that they went out and laid it all on the line yesterday. That kind of back-and-forth, high scoring game may not be as good as the Easton-Phillipsburg game was, but it's a lot of fun. 
• In another aside, somewhat related to the thought about Easton in state playoffs- I'd rather Easton play on Thanksgiving forever than give that up to win a state championship. No state playoff game would draw a crowd like yesterday. No state playoff game would unite communities like yesterday. A lot of people not from Easton and Phillipsburg question why we care about a non-league game on Thanksgiving more than winning states. They clearly never experienced anything like this. The PIAA has tried to kill off Thanksgiving rivalry games for no good reason whatsoever, other than their desire to grow their playoffs, and their revenues. Frankly, i'm much happier paying my money for a football ticket to the Easton and Phillipsburg School Districts.
• So up until yesterday, I had totally forgot that East Stroudsburg South and Stroudsburg got rid of their timeless Thanksgiving Game rivalry battle for the Little Brown Jug. Both schools also recently got rid of their head coaches of roughly 40 years a piece. These are proud old programs, but I guess their administrators think playing a game in September is the same as playing a game on Thanksgiving. This could be why their programs aren't on the same level as an Easton or Phillipsburg too though- there is no organizing principle by which to get players to buy in 12 months a year, and to put in the work, knowing that they will have their big day every November. Their lack of regard for tradition, for uniting their communities behind a big day, and for loyalty to their legendary old coaches is kind of sad. Their excuse is that the game was "just and exhibition," and that the new people who moved into their community don't care about the game. So, rather than integrating the community's new members into the traditions, they just moved the game to some random night in September. They won't find that this helps them compete with the better programs in the district. It probably will actually hurt them.

Thanksgiving Football Predictions

It's Thanksgiving. That means football. Yes, it means football first. I know there's a holiday and all, but it's all about the pigskin. Without any delay, my football picks-

• Easton vs. Phillipsburg- If you read no further, that's fine, because this is what matters today. It's game #109 in the historic high school rivalry that has went on over a century and been featured on ESPN. Since 1915, the game has been played on Thanksgiving, pitting two of the most historic programs in their states. Phillipsburg is #1 in wins in New Jersey history. Easton is #2 in Pennsylvania, and in the top ten in the nation. This year Easton is 8-4, but coming off of a brutal playoff loss to Parkland. Phillipsburg is 9-1 and will play against New Jersey's #1 team, Middletown South next week. On paper, the Liners are favored to win their second straight, and I've pretty much thought they would since last weekend. I'm having a bit of second thoughts though. The favorites are never really favored in this game, and many years the team that is done in playoffs comes out and plays a better game in this one. If this game was played last week, i'd have picked Phillipsburg by two scores. Today? Easton 24-14
• Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions- The Eagles have to win this game. At 4-6, things could get ugly if they do not win this game. If they win, they go to 1/2 game back in the division. On the other side, the 3-7 Lions have won three straight, and are playing good football right now. The Eagles are not. On a short week, playing poorly, I don't like the match-up much. Yes, the Eagles won last Thanksgiving. They've stunk ever since. The Eagles may need this one, but I doubt they get it. Detroit 24-20
• Northampton vs. Catasauqua- This is the most under-appreciated rivalry in the Lehigh Valley. In just a few short years, they will be at 100 games too. They don't get the ESPN games and local media coverage, but these two schools have built a neat little rivalry. In recent years, at least since 2008, Northampton hasn't been so good in the Lehigh Valley/Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Catty plays in the smaller school Colonial League, and they have their good and bad years there. Almost every year, the bigger Northampton is still favored. This year, both schools had a tough season, and have a shot to redeem themselves tomorrow. Northampton is always the favorite in this one, unless Catty is great. Catty is not great. Northampton 24-7
• Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys- Are the Panthers really this good? Yes. You don't go 10-0 in the NFL and not be that good. They are the real deal. Are they going to go 16-0? Not likely. Is a short week normally bad for Tony Romo at this age? Yes, but he had two months off before last Sunday. This game is in Dallas, and last Thanksgiving they were humiliated. They have to win this game to stay in playoff contention really. Dallas 28-24
• Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears- This is an old, historic rivalry game that belongs on Thanksgiving night.While this year the Packers are a lot better than their neighbors from the south, you never know when these teams play. The truth though is that Green Bay is retiring Brett Favre's number,  they're a better team, and they have something to play for. Gotta take the Pack. Green Bay 31-10

Easton-Phillipsburg Football History, in my Lifetime

2014: Phillipsburg, 19-15- Really well played game, won on a 4th quarter punt return by Stephen Friedman. It was the third time the game was moved because of snow, and Phillipsburg won them all.

2013: Easton, 16-7

2012: Easton, 35-18- My cousin Brad Wilkins threw five touchdowns in this game, a record for the game.

2011: Easton, 24-8

2010: Phillipsburg, 3-0- This game was played in the snow, and is in fact the only overtime game in the history of the rivalry. Easton won the district that season, two days later against Whitehall. On this day though, Phillipsburg won on a field goal.

2009: Easton, 26-10

2008: Easton, 35-14- This is the only Easton team this century to not make districts, but they destroyed a state championship Phillipsburg team.

2007: Easton, 17-6

2006: Easton, 21-7- This was the 100th game in the series, played on ESPN for a national audience. Phillipsburg's nearly two year winning streak ended that day.

2005: Phillipsburg, 17-0- For Phillipsburg, "the undefeated team" shut out the Rovers with a historically good defense. They are the only undefeated, no tie team the Stateliners had since 1949.

2004: Easton, 31-0- Both teams came into this game in contention for state titles. The Rovers simply rolled the Liners that year, making every mistake hurt.

2003: Phillipsburg, 26-23- This game came down to the final play, with the Rovers rallying and trying to score at the end, but the Liners held them out.

2002: Phillipsburg, 25-0- Phillipsburg snapped a four year losing streak by 

2001: Easton, 28-7- Easton capped off an 11-1, MVC Championship season by beating the State Champion Stateliners pretty handily on this day.

2000: Easton, 17-14- "The Comeback." Easton was down 14-3 in this game, but rallied over the final six minutes and got some huge defensive stops in there to win.

1999: Easton, 41-7

1998: Easton, 24-0

1997: Phillipsburg, 26-6- In Bruce Smith's final game as head coach of Phillipsburg, they went out and handled Easton to give him a win.

1996: Easton, 27-7

1995: Easton, 25-13

1994: Easton, 34-6- The 6-5 Rovers returned the favor for 1993, beating the 9-1 Liners commandingly. Tyrone Randolph, the game's MVP, played at Phillipsburg the season before.

1993: Tie, 7-7- This game brought about the "Replay Game" a few years back. Easton very nearly won a state championship that year, but on Thanksgiving it was a tie.

1992: Easton, 29-0- Easton great Juan Gaddy's final game before moving on to Temple University. He crossed the 5,000 career yard mark that day.

1991: Easton, 24-15- The "Libiano game," where the Easton great actually took the ball out of the hands of a Phillipsburg receiver as the Liners were driving for the win, and ran it back to end the game.

1990: Phillipsburg, 28-0- Phillipsburg clinched the East Penn Conference by blowing out the District 11 Champion Rovers.

1989: Phillipsburg, 21-12- This game was moved to Saturday because of snow, one of only two times that has happened in my life.

1988: Phillipsburg, 20-15- The first high school football game televised nationally, ever. Phillipsburg won on a last second touchdown.

1987: Phillipsburg, 18-10

1986: Easton, 20-10

1985: Easton, 14-7

1984: Phillipsburg, 14-12

1983: Phillipsburg, 14-7

Apparently the Pathway to Higher Office Runs Through Easton

In times past, Northampton County Government has not been much of a stepping stone. Some of it's largest figures in recent past have gone nowhere. I can't name the last Executive who moved on to any office after that. Same for Council. You go to Northampton County Government to govern, and you generally stay a while. At least in the past.

Right now, everyone is rumored to be running for something. District Attorney John Morganelli for Attorney General. County Executive John Brown for Auditor General. Councilman Glenn Geissinger for Congress. Judge Emil Giordano is rumored to be a probable candidate again for statewide judge in 2017. Several Democratic judges may have interest in the Commonwealth or Superior bench. Even just within the county government, several members of council are rumored to want to be Executive, or just ran for Controller. Everyone is ready to move up.

I think this is actually a good thing, as it will make many of the local officials accountable to the public, because they want promotions. There is nothing wrong with a little ambition in government, provided that it causes the elected officials to be pro-active at doing things in their current jobs. Northampton County really could benefit from all of this movement.

Bethlehem Should Bulldoze Martin Tower and Build a Third Downtown

I remember when this re-development would "ruin" Bethlehem too.

There, I said it. Not because I mean it, necessarily, but because it's the only legitimate idea out there. Downtown Bethlehem is an absolute jewel of a place, the business owners there do a great job running businesses, but between them and the NIMBY types who complain about all development in Bethlehem, now crying that the sky will fall if Martin Tower is redeveloped, I've simply read enough. Yes, the developer wants you to shut up and go away, because you're not really productive here. Perhaps the developer's idea does suck, that I don't dispute. It's still something.

A few points-

1. Martin Tower is an eyesore that is not going to be filled on it's own, period. No corporation is going to move into an old tower. Especially one with asbestos. The idea that the old glory of Bethlehem Steel will be restored with some new corporation in there is idiotic.
2. This is the perfect candidate for a CRIZ. It's a piece of land that used to produce big-time tax dollars and now just rots away. If you want someone to re-develop it, you need a distinction like this. You can fight the idea that the government is going to play a positive role in creating jobs and wealth by being involved in the economy, or you can embrace it. 
3. While I get that the normal people who speak out against all redevelopment at Bethlehem City Council meetings hate this idea, there's very little political opposition to this. Mayor Donchez supports the re-zoning. Councilman Reynolds supports it. They ran against each other for Mayor. I guess if you want to say that developers donate to them both, you can play that low blow, but nobody was saying that about the Mayor before, or Willie for that matter, because they aren't "pay-to-play" types. The fact is that a change in zoning is the right move, even if you disagree in this change.
4. For those who are saying they wanted to see a plan before the re-zoning, that is idiotic. That's against the entire process, and if the city had done that, you'd be crying foul about how they are re-zoning property to fit a major donor and developer's plan to make money. The Zoning Board has to make the changes first. Then a plan is submitted. After that, you can approve it. This isn't different than any other new development.
5. The City has absolutely underwrote the downtown's success with public money. No, it should not have been slammed in the face of the Hotel Bethlehem's chief, or any other business leader at a public meeting. That it wasn't brought up artfully doesn't make the point less right. I get that, like any other businesses, the ones in downtown don't want competition, and fear competition from a "third downtown" on the West End. I think they are being too fearful, they run wonderful businesses that I love frequenting (like I did last night). I also think they are being a bit hypocritical, as the city has played a big role in their success.
6. Many of the same people coming to the City Council meeting crying and complaining about the fate of Martin Tower also came and complained about the redevelopment on the South Side, the project that brought Sands Casino and Steel Stacks, amongst other things. That was the single greatest decision the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has made in my lifetime. It's an unassailable success, and these same types opposed that. You are supposed to lose credibility when you are badly wrong.

For me though, all of those points aside, the most important thing is that this comes down to problems and solutions. The problem here is that you have a large piece of land that used to supply thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues, and now it supplies no jobs and no tax revenue. It sits there and rots. That is a major problem. Now you may say that the zoning ordinance in front of City Council is a bad solution. I am not claiming that it is necessarily a great idea, because I haven't read up enough on it to say that. It is a solution though, one that some people think can do some good in fixing the problem. The critics of this solution are offering nothing at all. They are offering to leave the zoning of Martin Tower's property "as is." That is an idiotic solution. Unless they have a company ready to move into an old tower, with asbestos, right now, then they have no solution. They aren't offering an alternative plan for change. They are simply shilling for a fantasy past that isn't coming back. This is as moronic as hoping that Ingersoll-Rand in Phillipsburg will be filled with industrial jobs again, or that Bethlehem Steel will rise from the grave to come back to South Bethlehem. If they aren't going to put forward a constructive plan, and their track record of opposing development isn't good, then just give them their worst nightmare and detonate Martin Tower and put all retail on the grounds. Of course that's a moronically simpleton idea from me, but frankly it's a lot more thought than the critics seem to be putting into what to do with the land.

Thanksgiving Flashbacks- 2012 Easton-Phillipsburg Game

From the Saint Cecilia EP- The Neverending Sigh

Hillary Leads on Protecting Us From Terror- Because More People Are Smart Than Not

Not shockingly, Hillary Clinton leads all of the Republicans with the public on fighting terrorism. Even after wasting millions of tax dollars trying to create a Benghazi "scandal," and complaining about her tenure as Secretary of State, we find that the public thinks Hillary Clinton is qualified to do the job of protecting America.

The closest gap is with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is within the margin of error of Clinton, with Clinton at 46% and Bush at 43%.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll out Monday asked Americans if they would trust Clinton or one of five Republican candidates more. She led Trump 50% to 42%, Carson 49% to 40%, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz 47% to 40%, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio 47% to 43%.

This tells us a couple of things. The most obvious thing we learn from this poll is that the public still likes candidates who can articulate their strategy to fight terrorism, candidates who can give a coherent speech. It also tells us that while hard-line base voters in primaries don't like this, the public at-large likes their candidates to be qualified. I'm surprised that Rubio did as well as he did, but it's also still primary season, and his insane rhetoric about a civilization war hasn't settled completely in yet.

The poll also tells us that there are a few more people who are smart than not. 

The Joke's On Us

Amazing....

“But I’m particularly impressed with Thomas Jefferson, who seemed to have very deep insight into the way that people would react and tried to craft our Constitution in a way that it would control people’s national tendencies and control the natural growth of the government,” Carson said.

The problem: Jefferson crafted the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. In fact, Carson noted Jefferson’s absence in his book, “A More Perfect Union,” writing that he was “missing in action” during the birth of the Constitution as he served abroad as ambassador to France.

Carson's latest gaffe comes after a week in which he used an analogy likening Syrian refugees to dogs and had his foreign policy acumen questioned by advisers to his own campaign.

Now, before you go saying it's an honest gaffe (on the right) or that he's irrelevant and can't win (on the left), just stop for a second. About a fifth of one of our two major party's voters are telling pollsters they are going to go to the polls and vote for this guy. This guy who gets basic government and political facts wrong, but wants to be President. I'm starting to be puzzled on how a man who can practice surgery on a brain perfectly would be unable to learn really basic facts, but that's kind of the point. He's a great surgeon, he may even be a smart man, but he knows nothing about the job he's applying for. The Presidency is a job for people that know and understand government. The GOP base is trying to vote for anything but that.

I have no use for the current GOP, except to say that I live in America, and they are a major political party here, one that controls most of our legislatures in the nation. I may find them to be a joke, and they are, but that joke is starting to be on us. We have to live with the results of elections where Ben Carson supporters vote. That is alarming to me.

I Made Sure to Get the Red Cup

Last night, I was in Stroudsburg's Starbucks, and I decided to get one of the Christmas flavored lattes, because it was controversial, of course. When the barista asked me what size, I said the big one, of course, until she reached for a white cup. I think I just about jumped through the ceiling. I then calmly said, "no, no, the next size down." I got my red cup.

I guess I just did my part in the "War on Christmas."

From the Saint Cecilia EP- Savior Breath

From the Saint Cecilia EP- Iron Rooster

Thanksgiving Week- Flashback to the 2010 Easton-Phillipsburg Game

I'm Swearing Off 24 Hour Media

We're weird. I'm not talking about Democrats or Republicans, I'm talking about people who consume too much cable news. The 24 hour news cycle, the constant spin, the "crisis style" reporting we watch, it effects our very view of society and the world we live in. It makes us believe weird things, things that aren't true. It makes us "over-interpret" things that are true, and perhaps read too far in them. More than anything, it makes us less and less capable to talk to the general population about things that matter, because our interpretation of reality is not the same as their's.

If you watch too much cable news, you start to believe the best of your own, and the worst of others. Republicans are irrational racists who want to turn over our country to corporations and Christian idealogical loonies, make women get back in the kitchen bare-foot and pregnant, and want every psychopath in America to have a gun. Democrats want to hand money out on the streets to lazy people, force your daughter to have an abortion, force your son to have a gay marriage, close your church, make you house members of ISIS, and elected a non-citizen who might be a terrorist to be our President. No one rationally says they believe these things, but when you listen to what many politically active, cable news driven voters say, it's clear that it's internalized in them. When you walk the streets of New York right now, you see people going about their lives, living happily and not fearfully. When you watch cable news, everyone is on some state of high alert, scared to death that ISIS is in every alley way and subway car. Every "crisis" in Washington is proof of how our government doesn't work, our country is screwed, and the end times are near if we don't win that next election.

I guess at 32, I'm just tired of living in a reality that doesn't really exist. We live in a great country where most things work every day. Our people usually get along, our cops, fire fighters, sanitation workers, and civil servants go to work, do their job, and try to help people. Our roads get driven on, our schools teach, and our hospitals heal. People go to work, then come home and watch sitcoms, have dinner with their families, maybe have a few nights a week they go out and get entertained, and try to live happy lives. More people are decent, caring individuals than not.

I'm not trying to lay all of the blame at the feet of the 24 hour cable news channels, or all at the feet of the tens of thousands of communications professionals in Washington and their talking points and messages, or at the feet of the public. It's a mix how we got here. Our political culture though is fairly toxic. Are there problems? Sure. Can we have clear-cut views on right and wrong in our political debates? Yes. I guess for me, it's just become much. The America that most of the public lives in, the America that is in front of me when I go out, is not nearly as ineffective, divisive, or in crisis as the one we debate about, see on TV, and imagine in our political debates. I want to live in that real America.

This is not to say that I'm not going to watch any political TV, I am. I'm just not going to have it on all day. Not MSNBC, not FOX, not even Bloomberg, as much as I love them. It needs to stay off most of the day. Part of the reason I think our grandparents generation was so capable of compromise and negotiation was their news came once in the morning and once at night, and in between they lived real lives. I'm never going to live in that world, but I'll at least try to de-compress the world the 24 hour news cycle gives us, as best I can.

From the Saint Cecilia EP- Sean

A Phillies Roster Update

The Phillies made some of the tough decisions that mark an off-season last week when they chose who to protect from the Rule 5 Draft, and who not to. Jimmy Cordero, Edubray Ramos, and Roman Quinn were added to the 40 man roster, and will be protected. Carlos Tocci and Alberto Tirado, both widely considered top 30 prospects for the team, were not. Eastern League MVP Brock Stassi, AAA catcher Gabriel Lino, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, and former top prospect Tommy Joseph were amongst the players not protected, and all could be picked in this draft.

With the additions of Ramos, Cordero, Quinn, waiver pick-ups A.J. Achter and Danny Otero, and the trade for Jeremy Hellickson, the Phillies have added six players to their 40 man roster since the end of the season, and now have 37 players on the 40 man roster. By my estimation, they still have a need for at least one reliever and an outfielder or two. They must have an open spot to make their first overall selection in the Rule 5 Draft in December. They currently have the room to make the moves they need.

My current roster outlook-

• Starting Pitchers (5)- Hellickson, Matt Harrison, Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, and Adam Morgan are the current front-runners. Alec Asher, David Buchanan, Severino Gonzalez, and Joely Rodriguez are all likely headed for AAA, as is non-roster invitee Chris Leroux. Jesse Biddle is headed to the 60-Day DL, which will free up a roster spot. LeRoux and Rodriguez are likely to be considered relievers.
• Relievers (7)- For the time being, Ken Giles has a grip on the closer role. After that, Luis Garcia, Jeanmar Gomez, and Elvis Araujo enter as solid favorites, while Achter, Otero, Dalier Hinojosa, Hector Neris, and Mario Hollands make up the leaders of the pack hunting for the last three spots, while non-roster invitees James Russell, Frank Herrmann, Leroux, and Reinier Roibal also will contend. Nefi Ogando, Colton Murray, Cordero, Ramos, and Rodriguez will all likely be assigned to the minors to start.
• Catchers (2)- Cameron Rupp and Carlos Ruiz will make the team. Jorge Alfaro will start out in AA. 
• Infielders (6)- Maikel Franco at third, Freddy Galvis at short, Cesar Hernandez at second, and the Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf platoon at first are all solid, while Andres Blanco is likely to be the utility man. Expect Darnell Sweeney to go to AAA. Emmanuel Burriss and Ryan Jackson are long-shots to make the team, going in.
• Outfielders (5)- Right now, Odubel Herrera, Aaron Altherr, and Cody Asche would all make the team, and there are two spots open. Expect Roman Quinn to start in the minors.

The Sixers Stink, but I Remain Hopeful

At 0-14, there's not much to get too happy about. Kendall Marshall, Robert Covington, and Tony Wroten haven't really played though, and while none of them is LeBron James, they would probably represent the third, fourth, and fifth best players on the current Sixers rosters, sandwiched between the Okafor/Noel front-court and Nik Stauskas. That's a lot of fire power to be missing, and the Sixers are not good enough to miss it and prosper. Not when their best two players haven't played two combined seasons in the NBA. Not when they don't have a starting point guard capable player. Not with the team they have right now.

So while I'd like to see them win a game, i'm paying more attention to the progression of Okafor and Noel, or Stauskas, at this point. It's about the younger guys turning into NBA starters and showing they can possibly grow into a title contender. I'm enthused by the play of both young big men so far, even if there are some serious questions on the offensive end-

The problem is it’s hard to evaluate Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor as a front line because of the terrible play around them. Make no mistake, they have not looked good together — when Okafor and Noel are on the court together, the Sixers have an offensive rating of just 80.7 points per 100 possessions, and they are getting outscored by 25.7 per 100. The spacing is terrible, but then again the Sixers’ spacing is terrible in general because of the lack of quality guard play and shooting.

Make no mistake, there's room for improvement. It's an open question if these two can play together or not, but it's only November and they really do have most of the season to show there is hope. Okafor leads all rookies in scoring, and frankly isn't getting enough credit because of the usual ridiculous New York over-hype around Kristaps Porzingis. Noel is a work in progress, but a good one on his own. I'm remaining hopeful here.

I'm also remaining hopeful because we have yet to see Joel Embiid or Dario Saric from last year's draft, because of the injuries this team has, and because of the four first rounders they possess in next year's draft. I absolutely have my doubts about "the plan," like most fans, but it hasn't yet really had a chance to be judged. Clearly the team is not as far along as I thought they were before the season started, and that is a concern, but there are 68 games left for this team to show something. I didn't want them in the playoffs yet, and clearly i'll get my wish. I just still believe we'll see some progress this season. 

The Eagles Really Stink

During the off-season, I had a lot of Eagles fans arguing with me because I said they were not a real Super Bowl contender. Mind you, I spent most of the time saying they would win 9-11 games this season, and maybe even the division,  but I was being called a downer. How could I not see the brilliance that was Chip Kelly? Why was I not buying in.

So then yesterday happened, and the team lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team who had the worst record in football yesterday. Their top overall draft pick, rookie QB looked like Tom Brady against the Birds. They ran the ball at will. Their defense had three interceptions and a touchdown. The Eagles anemic offense looked lost and confused. The team MVP was the punter. The fans booed for a while, then they just left. The team fell to 4-6. It was an ugly sight to see.

Sure, the Eagles are one game back of the 5-5 Giants in the division, though if you've watched both teams all year you'd think it's more. They also are only one game better than the Cowboys, a team who didn't have Tony Romo for two months. There really isn't many rational reasons to be hopeful about this team, unless that's just what you want. Chip Kelly's scheme and culture shtick from the off-season appears to be failing, as his scheme has been figured out by the league, and it turns out that culture doesn't beat talent.

This is sad to watch. I never was a Chip believer, but I thought this team was better than this. I thought they'd at least be a respectable, playoff caliber football team. They are not that. Sure, Detroit is next, and Detroit hasn't been good, but they've won three in a row and this game is there. On a short week even. The Eagles will probably lose this game. This season will probably go off the rails. At this point, it's best to view things as they are, and not as you hope for them to be. If you're an Eagles fan, it's time to jump off the "ChipBot" train, and come to grips with reality. This team will probably need an overhaul, again, and to be a lot worse before they get better. In other words, welcome to Philadelphia and join the club.

Of Course You're Not Happy

Profits over people. Ugly results follow.

You work harder than your parents did. You don't feel like you make as much. You feel like your paying more in bills. You feel like you're less secure than your parents were. You feel like things are stacked up against you. And they are.

For the last 30-40 years in this country, we have been kneeling at the altar of corporate culture, preaching increased productivity, less regulation, less consumer protection, lower taxes, and lower wages. Not shockingly, it has mostly benefitted the wealthy, the well connected, and those in the best position to game the system. Most of us aren't becoming millionaires. Most of us are struggling to make ends meet. During this period, right up until the 2008 crash, we made up for the decline in earnings with cheap and easy credit, but we found that to be a terrible idea too after our economy almost melted down. We have subjugated ourselves to the ridiculous idea that not only should companies make profits every single year, but they should make a bigger profit than last year too. We've even set public policy to help insure such for them. As a result, the public feels like their government doesn't work for them. What the public of course misses is that they continue to vote for these policies every time they get suckered in by some stupid social issue, or some debate about the fictional idea of the government coming to take their guns, or put a terrorist in their home, or whatever other wild-eyed conspiracy they believe in. You are doing this to yourself.

If you feel like the deck is stacked against you, it is. It absolutely is. You can vote that mindset out, but you have to decide you want to. We can stop writing the tax code to shield corporate profits. We can stop de-regulation. We can start raising the wage of millions of workers. These things can work, they do work. You just have to want them again.

No, Our Society Can't Go On Like This- The Tax Problem We Must Solve

You live in a great country, and I don't mean that in some abstract, patriotic way. We aren't born special, we're not "closer to God," or anything like that. We're a great country in a more grounded, real way. We have a high standard of living. We have a military that is the envy of the world. We have a public school for everyone, paved roads, clean and running water, and even safe food to eat. Unemployment for people seeking work is closer to 5%, and only about 10% of our population doesn't have health insurance now. We have police and fire fighters that keep us safe, and we almost all have housing. Our culture is one that people around the world seek, and our entertainment options are plentiful. We have great cities, tall skyscrapers, beautiful mountains and plains, and glorious shorelines. We live in an amazing country. It is arguable, but I would argue that it is the best in the world. Not because it was born as such, but because Americans made it such.

Great countries cost money to maintain though, and there are cracks on the horizons. Crumbling infrastructure, bad housing policies, climate change concerns, cyber-security fears, and many more major issues are in our future, and we will need to have the money to fix our weaknesses in those areas. America does not have high taxes, but our middle-class, consumer-class, earners are paying too high of a share of the load. Sure, we all understand why the poor don't pay, and no one's arguing for that. The rich probably get away with not paying enough, but the raw dollar amount they pay is still pretty high, and this problem could be fixed with a few simple fixes. For decades though, we have bowed at the altar of low corporate taxes, and I don't see why. Oh yes, we have a high "corporate tax rate," but that is incredibly misleading. After applying all the loopholes, many companies not only pay some of the lowest rates in the world here, they actually make a profit on us. Companies- General Electric, Verizon, Boeing, Bank of America, CitiGroup, FedEx, Pfizer, Merck, and others- actually sometimes get tax returns in the billions, and owe nothing on their profits. Their actual marginal rates generally end up well below 35%, and they end up paying a much smaller share on their billions than the general public does.

This has to stop. Our nation cannot continue to be great without the revenue to do so, and we can't keep asking the middle class to pay all of that revenue. For those that say asking corporations to pay more will kill our economy, I remind you that history says otherwise. We once had responsible corporate citizens in this country, and they not only paid their share, but we all prospered. It can be done.

A Little Truth on the Refugee Screening Process

This is from the Arab American Institute. Check it out.

From the Saint Cecilia EP- Saint Cecilia

What 90 Year Old Bobby Kennedy Would Tell Us On Refugees

On November 20th, Robert F. Kennedy would have turned 90 years old. He was famously assassinated 47 years ago in June as a young man running for President of the United States. Rather than looking sadly at his death, I think America could use a little bit of the positivity of his life right now. We should remember what Kennedy, and our nation, stood for at that time.

Right now we have political leaders in this country that are calling for America to turn it's back on Syrian Refugees seeking shelter from a brutal civil war at home. They say the risk to our people is too great, despite the rigorous process refugees go through to get here, and it's nearly perfect historical record. They say we should be fearful of people who are fleeing fear- fear of ISIS, of a government that slaughters them, and yet other bad people who are fighting in a civil war that is void of many "good" guys. They say we should turn our back on them, and protect ourselves. The world is a bad place, a scary place, after all. The real solution is to bomb them in Syria, or go back in with ground troops, they say.

RFK's life had many contradictions, but the man that died in June of 1968 had become the moral voice of a generation. He had risen up to take on the Johnson Administration on Vietnam, becoming the voice of the millions who wanted the unjust war to end. He fought for the freedom and dignity of people around the world in need. Most importantly though, I look to the moral leader he had become on the dignity of people here, and Civil Rights. On the night of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a night in which peoples' better instincts went by the wayside in many cities across our nation, Kennedy spoke in Indianapolis and called on peoples' better angels to prevail, despite the fear and despair they were feeling. He asked people to look beyond the fear of the moment, and look to the world they wanted to live in.

In the wake of the scary, terrible events of Paris, many of our political leaders are calling on us to live in fear. Fear the refugees, and reject their entry to our nation. I don't believe RFK would be agreeing with them. For a man who remained so hopeful, even after the brutal killing of his brother in the service to our nation, I don't think he'd tell us to reject a founding principle of our nation in the name of fear. I doubt he'd say let's "pause" the working refugee system because it *might* not be good enough, despite evidence that it is. RFK would not have lived in the fear that many of our leaders do today. Not everyone can be RFK all of the time, I do understand that. It would be nice if our leaders at least aspired to though.

The Day America's Best Died

My understanding of government and politics is statistics and reason-driven, not overly emotional, and yet when it comes to the Presidency of President John F. Kennedy, all data and reason is thrown aside for emotion. For me, John F. Kennedy represents all that is good in this country, and I say that knowing all about his failings at this point. It's not so much what he did, it's what he stood for, and what people came to believe about him. While I idolize his brother Bobby, I recognize that it is JFK who gave people hope for the future, for a fleeting moment in our history. He was a new generational leader, a young President who had served in World War II, but represented the hopes and aspirations of a peaceful people. He represented the blue-collar Boston voters in the House and Senate, and came to represent their brothers and sisters across the nation.

Yesterday was the 52nd anniversary of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. I don't like to compare that with MLK or RFK's assassination in it's impact, other than to say that JFK's murder was probably more shocking to people who lived through it at the time. All the hope that had followed Kennedy into office would soon die with him, as Vietnam, the assassination of MLK and his brother, Nixon and Watergate would all soon follow. A lot of people ask what if? I still want to ask why not? It's my hope that we can still be the country that Kennedy made people aspire to. 

The Best Week of the Year in This Town

One of the earliest sporting events that I remember being at was the 1988 Easton-Phillipsburg "ESPN Game" on Thanksgiving with my family, when Phillipsburg won in the final moment. My whole family were basically Phillipsburg alums (at least the ones there), and that wouldn't really be an issue until 1990, when I was a first grader that wanted the Rovers to win. That issue would persist through the next 27 years, when either my uncle and grandfather (Phillipsburg season-ticket holders) or myself and the other grandkids (all Easton students) would thoroughly not enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner because our team lost. Even worse than the losses though were the ties. No one liked the ties.

I wouldn't have it any other way, even on the years Phillipsburg won, because it's what I grew up with. Traditions like this are increasingly rare, and worth treasuring. Up the road, the East Stroudsburg South-Stroudsburg rivalry has endured, but barely and with a few breaks. Northampton and Catasauqua have an impressive rivalry of their own too, one that will join the century club too soon (like a decade), but it doesn't get the fanfare of the Easton-Phillipsburg rivalry for some reason (my guess is being in different leagues for most of their existence did that, but I digress). The rivalry week brings people together, from older people who come back, to the players who bond over the experience, to the senior class that sleeps out and throws a bonfire. Lifelong friendships are forged over the events, even amongst people who don't care much about football, because we do things as a community this week.

I don't know who will win Thursday. Easton has a solid 8-4 squad, but Phillipsburg is a one loss squad that will play for a state title next weekend. I do know though that i'm looking forward to seeing a lot of people I won't see the rest of the year. You just can't beat a week like this.

Welcome to Thanksgiving Week- Flashback to the 2000 Easton-Phillipsburg Game

Happy Friday, November 20th, 2015

Happy Thursday

For My Conservative Friends

Several corrections for my conservative friends-

1. Despite what conservative media sites reporting, the President did not say he doesn't care if "America wins." You should watch his unedited statement. Like many things reported by Fox, or other conservative news sources, it's doctored.

2. No refugees have been arrested for aiding ISIS in the U.S. None. If a site is saying otherwise, that site is incorrect.

3. All refugees go through an in-depth vetting. It takes 12-18 months in most cases. There is no need for "more." We do an excellent job at that now. There have been no arrests on domestic terror charges by a refugee in the last 750,000 cases. The U.S. does a much better job than even most European nations at vetting refugees, and it's insulting actually that the fine people who work at this are being questioned by Congressional failures.

4. Christians commit plenty of acts of terror, as do all religious groups. I would point to the Charleston shootings this year, or the Oklahoma City Bombing. We don't try to keep out Christian refugees though, nor should we. This entire debate is idiotic. We don't do religious tests in America. We took in thousands of Muslim Bosnians in the 1990s and early 2000s, and that was the right thing to do. Let's not become a bunch of bigots now.

5. Please stop celebrating Vladimir Putin's "toughness." That's great that he says he'll kill ISIS. He's also actively supporting a dictator who is massacring his own people by the thousands. Being tough and stupid is not a virtue, it's a failing.

Happy Thursday, November 19th, 2015

Happy Wednesday

President Obama, Summing It Up Best

White House photo of the President and the French Foreign Minister

This pretty much nails it:

Obama also argued that he "cannot think of a more potent recruitment tool for ISIL than some of the rhetoric coming out of here in the course of this debate" than the idea of discriminating against Muslim refugees.

"ISIL seeks to exploit the idea that there's war between Islam and the West," Obama said. "And when you start seeing individuals in position of responsibility suggesting Christians are more worthy of protection than Muslims are in a war-torn land that feeds the ISIL narrative, it's counterproductive. And it needs to stop." 

Take notes from a pro, Marco Rubio and friends. 

No Republican Candidate is Qualified or Capable to be President

The Republican answer is always to talk tough. Even after the great failure that was the Iraq War, this hasn't changed. They want to talk tough with Iran, tough with North Korea, tough on Syria, tough on ISIS, and even tough on Cuba. They want sanctions, wars, bombings, and covert operations all over the place. The default answer is tough. It doesn't matter what the question is. It doesn't matter who they're talking about. They want to go down the same failed road. We've spent most of the last fifteen years trying to fight terrorists through war- it hasn't worked. That hasn't moved these people at all.

Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz are calling for a religious screening test, to only admit Christians fleeing Syria. Marco Rubio is calling for a "clash of civilizations," also known as a war against Islam. Mike Huckabee can't name any non-Muslim terrorists. Ben Carson wants to build a coalition to fight ISIS, but can't name any partners. Chris Christie would even ban "orphans under five" from coming here as refugees. Donald Trump would end the discussion of bringing in refugees.

These guys don't get basic facts right, and have some of the most half-baked plans to deal with Syria, ISIS, and the refugees that I've ever seen. Let's touch on a few facts-

• Since we're talking coalitions and fight against ISIS, it's important to note that there is a coalition, which France is part of. This idea that there needs to be an Arab coalition is a fight over things already done. If this is about the Saudis getting involved, don't hold your breath. If this is about the Iranians, they are already there, on the side of Russia and the Syria Government, against ISIS and others. We are not on that side.
• Even George W. Bush didn't want a "clash of civilizations." He carefully made sure to note we weren't fighting Islam. Marco Rubio would not be so careful. He'd like to re-hash the crusades.
• The U.S. has taken 745,000 refugees since 9/11, and none of them have been arrested on domestic terrorism charges. We certainly could take children in with little fear of letting in "terrorists." The government does a great job at this.
• For Jeb, he should look to recent history in regards to letting Muslims in. In the 1990s and into the early 2000s, the U.S. took thousands of Bosnians into the United States. Bosnians are Muslim, traditionally. There's no record of them being terrorists.

No one running for the Republican nomination is qualified or capable of running this country. None of them would make a good President. None of them is really capable of doing a good job. Hopefully none of them win.

Happy Wednesday, November 18th, 2015

I Wish I Wasn't a Crappy Hockey Fan

If you read me regularly, you probably wonder why I write about all the Philadelphia Sports teams but one, the Flyers. I love hockey, in fact I put it only second to baseball live (and that's because baseball is outside in the Summer). I think it's a great sport and I think it's a lot of fun to watch, but I don't write about it. That's because I don't really know much about it. Don't get me wrong, I get some of the rules and what a goal is, i'm not an illiterate, but I never played it. I never even played it on a playground or something. It's a sport I got more into later on in life, and so I don't even have the years of reference to write about it. Top that off with me going to more Phantoms games than Flyers games now, and I just don't make a fool of myself. While I'd love to give you my opinions on the Flyers, I know better than to wade into a pool of fans who know their stuff. So, I write less about it.

Hopefully after I go to my next game though I'll have some cool pictures.

Behold- Wolves In The Wild

Happy Tuesday

Refugees Should Not Scare You

I understand that people are afraid. ISIS is a scary group. Terrorism is scary in general. We all remember 9/11. We've all seen these guys behead people. I understand the reaction of fear, and I don't blame people for it.

None of that fear is a good reason to abandon our values though. We have always been there to support those distressed people in the world who need asylum. Just around two decades ago, we took thousands of Bosnians in during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. It is who we are. It is who we should be. To not be that nation is to let the terrorists win.

It's also quite safe for us to live up to our values:

Refugees apply for resettlement at American embassies or through the United Nations. If they pass that first hurdle, they are screened by outposts of the Department of State all over the world. They undergo investigations of their biography and identity; FBI biometric checks of their fingerprints and photographs; in-person interviews by Department of Homeland Security officers; medical screenings as well as investigations by the National Counter-terrorism Centre and by American and international intelligence agencies. The process may take as long as three years, sometimes longer. No other person entering America is subjected to such a level of scrutiny.

Refugee resettlement is the least likely route for potential terrorists, says Kathleen Newland at the Migration Policy Institute, a think-tank. Of the 745,000 refugees resettled since September 11th, only two Iraqis in Kentucky have been arrested on terrorist charges, for aiding al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Asylum-seekers have to navigate through a similar bureaucratic tangle. The decision to grant asylum is made by a Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer. If that officer finds that the applicant did not make his case convincingly, he receives a “Notice of Intent to Deny” (NOID) as long as his immigration status as, say, a tourist or student is still valid. He is then allowed to submit further evidence to bolster his case, though such decisions are rarely reversed. If the applicant’s immigration status is no longer valid, he is placed in deportation proceedings before an immigration court. The applicant then has a second chance to make his case in court while a government lawyer argues that he should be deported. In March this year, USCIS had 82,175 asylum cases pending. Last year each immigration judge handled, on average, 1,500 cases a year, double or even triple the caseload of other judges.

In other words, there's nothing to be afraid of. Let's be America, not let our fear make us give in to ISIS.