BlitzBlog

I am disappointed at what has now become known as the steroid era. I believe that there is a certain tipping point that gets passed, and that is here “looking for advantage” becomes cheating.

There are those who say it’s not cheating if it’s not in the rule book. There are those who keep saying there was no rule against steroids in baseball’s rule book until 2003, but this is patently false. There were rules about illegal drugs and performance enhancing drugs. Though these weren’t mentioned by name, the fact is, possession of steroids was illegal (US Law) without a prescription, and thus were against baseball rules.

But this isn’t about the Rules. Any 10 year old knows the Rules. There are certain things you don’t do. You don’t hit girls. You don’t stiff-arm your friends in the face. You stop the game when your friend needs to tie his sneaker. And you don’t take drugs, especially to make you better than you really are. If you want to get better, you practice, eat your veggies and get enough rest. Maybe work out and have a coach teach you. But you work with what God gave you and whatever knowledge you can learn.

Steroids were cheating when the East German women swimmers showed up at the Olympics looking like Russian weightlifters in 1968, and it’s cheating now.

But what I find more outrageous about steroids is the question of why, especially in this economic climate, are our tax dollars being spent on investigating or prosecuting ball players? Is this something that is really under the purvey of the US Congress? Aren’t they supposed to be making laws and stuff like that? Why are we spending millions of dollars on listening to ballplayers and trainers testify in front of Congress?

If we’re worried about the artificial enhancement of our ball players, because it sets a bad example for our young boys, why don’t we start worrying about our daughters too? Why aren’t we hauling all these breast implanted actresses before Congress, so we can rail against their artificial enhancement and setting of ridiculous standards of beauty, which causes our teenager girls so much angst and suffering?

Yes, I know it would start looking like a GoDaddy.com commercial, but who’d you rather see testify? Sammy Sosa and Mark Maguire, or Carmen Electra and Pam Anderson?

We flipped channels all night, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC. My 16-year old son sat with the laptop, IM-ing and texting his friends, arguing politics. My 13-year old daughter watched also until Ohio was declared for Obama, and once I told her that pretty much sealed it, she went up to bed. My wife was feeling confident and had preceded her.

At some point, MSNBC’s Keith Olberman summed it up best, once it was apparent that Obama was going to win, that this was one of those “Man-on-the-moon” nights, where people will remember where they were when the USA elected its first African American President. A few minutes before 11pm, we were tuned in to ABC, and we watched Charlie Gibson virtually count down to the closing of the West Coast polls, take a beat, and then say that “ABC News predicts that Barack Obama will be elected the 44th President of the United States.” I was surprised at the swiftness of the announcement, coming a few seconds after 11pm, but I didn’t doubt its truthfulness for a heartbeat.

For the next hour, we watched as pundit after pundit, both Black and White, spoke of the greater symbolism of this momentous day. Of what it means to America, and just as importantly, what it says to the rest of the world. We were shown people dancing in the streets in Kenya and other places around the globe.  It was if the world’s trust in us had finally been restored. That Americans aren’t just a bunch of middle-class idiot cowboys who want to be led by a rich idiot cowboy. That we could now rebuild our leadership position in the world, not because of our economic and military might, but because of our moral high ground. Because of what we stand for.

Obama “got it” last night. He knew the eyes of the World were upon him. He knew this was that “Man on The Moon” moment that people will talk about for generations. He was eloquent and low-key. He was inspiring and awe-struck. He was, and is, the embodiment of America (except a lot smarter). Multi-racial, up-from-the-bootstraps, self-made, hard-working, family-valued, patriotic.
He said all the right things, and what we will find in the next few months and years is that the divisiveness that began with ‘94’s Newt Gingrich Republican Revolution is coming to an end. Obama will not abide a Pelosi-led legislature that is mean-spirited and punitive to the opposition party. This will be a git-’er-done time for the government, the likes of which we haven’t seen since statesmen like Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill worked together. And at the end of his term(s), I hope- so deeply hope- that we can re-establish the USA as a true leader of the free world, and not just the military/police of it.

And yes, while we all know how well-spoken and eloquent Barack Obama is, when they showed Jesse Jackson standing there in tears, I did sort of miss his brand of preaching eloquence. But when Obama began that great Yes We Can riff, it went just far enough to be preacher-inspiring, but not so “Black” as to scare those who are still on the fence about this historic figure.

So now what? I don’t know who Obama will choose for his cabinet, but I am sure it’ll reach across party lines. Maybe a Dick Luger or Colin Powell for Defense. Maybe John Corzine for Treasury. Or Warren Bufftet. Maybe Al Gore for Energy or Interior. Or even T. Boone Pickens. How about Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?

As for the White House, what a great example for all the broken homes of African Americans to live up to. A traditional nuclear family, extended to 3 generations, complete with new puppy, as a living example of what we all strive for, regardless of skin color. Not a sham marriage with a philandering husband and power-mad wife. Not a spoiled rich-kid with drunken daughters and a Xanax’ed out zombie wife. No, this time it’ll be a pair of self-made, brilliant people, who with the help of their families and friends, are raising two sweet kids while holding down two demanding jobs.

Sounds familiar.

The funny fantasies I had while watching the tube on election night were:

1. John McCain gives his concession speech, turns to Sarah Palin, slaps her smack on the ass, grabs her hair, and plants a long smooch on her hockey mom mouth.

2. During Obama’s speech, as they pan the crowd, and show Jesse Jackson standing there, tears streaming down his cheeks, one of those MTV thought bubbles pops up saying “It shoulda been me!”

3. When Obama first walked out to make his victory speech, he came out in the full FUBU. Fitty hat sideways, oversize throwback jersey, giant Diesel jeans and unlaced yellow work boots. “Chicago wassssaaaaaapp!? Homeboyz in Da White Hooooooooouse!” Would scare the crap out the country. Then peel it off like a costume to reveal the suit and tie. “Just kidding.”

Well, it’s about 10:30EST on Election Night, and it looks like Obama’s heading for victory.

But this post isn’t abut Obama. It’s about Election Day.

I know it’s US Law that Election Day is the first Tuesday in November. I believe this is wrong. First of all, why do we either need to take time off from work, or have to get up early or rush home after work to vote? This is crazy.

I have a better idea. Election Day in July. Tax day in July, too.

Income taxes are due on July 2. Election Day, is now a national holiday, is July 3. And we celebrate on July 4th.

Just think how different our representation would be if we elected our leaders on the day after we pay our taxes. Just think how we’d celebrate our freedom to choose our leaders on a great summer 2-day vacation.

Just a thought.

Oh, and as for President Obama, HALLELLEUJAH!

My prediction: 55%