Reporter's Private Notebook: Superbowl XLVI

Monday, February 06, 2012

Super Bowl XLVI?

During the pre-game show, NBC Sports ran a graphic on the political connection between the eventual winner of the Superbowl and the outcome of the last two Presidential Elections.

In 2004, the New England Patriots (AFC) defeated the Carolina Panthers (NFC) and President George W. Bush won reelection. In 2008, the New York Giants (NFC) defeated the New England Patriots (AFC) and then Senator Barrack Obama won the White House. Now that the Giants have defeated the Patriots in Superbowl XLVI, if Obama wins reelection, in four more years, this blogger predicts NBC Sports will dust off this rather absurd political connection. But then again, Rush Limbaugh did attend the big game as a special guest of Patriot's owner Robert Kraft.

Here's another prediction: It will be tough for Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City to host a ticker-tape parade for the Giants and delay a parade for Iraq Veterans. Indeed, if the country could find the money and the resources to fight two different wars, why not two different parades?

Waiting until military operations end in Afghanistan to salute the conclusion of America's involvement in Iraq is a mistake. First, by not acknowledging the differences between Afghanistan and Iraq, it sends the wrong message, at the wrong time, to the Iranian leadership. For the last ten years, Tehran has perceived itself as being encircled by U.S. Forces. Since 1979, no Administration (Republican or Democrat) has had the political will or courage to diplomatically engage the Iranians. Even during the Cold War, American leaders knew this country needed to interact with the Soviet Union. The global consequences for doing anything less were too high. Unlike North Korea, which Beijing keeps on a short leash, there is no economic, political or military counterbalance to the regime in Tehran. Libya is not Egypt, Syria is not Libya, Afghanistan is not Iraq, and Iran continues to be Iran.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, it delays the healing process for a nation that's been at war for over ten years. Once again, to hold a parade for the winners of a football game, and not the troops who served this country in the game of life is just plan wrong. It just doesn't pass the common sense test.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

"A country, like a car, is the sum total of all its parts. Remove the tires or the spark plugs and see how far a driver gets down the road." ~ Self

CBS News
The Big Three's dramatic U-turn?
In 2011, "Ford was up 11 percent. General Motors: up 13 percent. And Chrysler was up a whopping 26 percent."
Read More...

Update: Superbowl XLVI Commercial
"This country can't be knocked down by one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is gonna hear the roar of our engines."
~ Clint Eastwood

Karl Rove ‘offended’ by Clint Eastwood’s Chrysler ad?
Read More...
Clint Eastwood’s Manager: Chrysler Ad ‘Not a Political Thing’?
Read More...

Why discover a new economic truth when it's politically more comfortable to continue to wrap oneself in the rhetorical status quo?
Can you say," Cost-benefit analysis"?
Read More...