Senator Obama will preside on Election Night over the third of his outdoor spectacles.
The first in Berlin on July 24 was the culmination of his Grand European Tour. Originally proposed for the historic Brandenburg Gate, it was moved at the request of German Chancellor Merkel to the Tiergarten, where it drew 200,000 wild and enthusiastic Germans.
Critics accused him of acting like a celebrity.
His response was at the Democratic National Convention, where he moved his August 28 acceptance speech to Bronco Stadium (Invesco Field) in front of fake Greek columns. His soaring oratory elevated a crowd of 55,000 in the Mile High City.
And now comes the victory celebration in Chicago’s Grant Park before a jubilant crowd of 60,000-70,000 at an estimated cost of $2 million.
Once happens.
Twice may be a coincidence.
Thrice is a clear pattern.
The Senator exults in the adulation of the crowds. Watch his face as he soaks in their vibes. He needs acceptance, mass acceptance. That is a scary proposition. I leave the amateur psychology to you.
Other acts and statements further hint at a high need for acceptance, fear of rejection, a thin skin, and desire not to invite criticism.
Senator Obama voted “present” 129 times (3% of his votes) in the Illinois Senate. He ducked formal votes on controversial issues. That’s not leadership. His intent was either to avoid criticism, or he was looking forward to his run for President.
His answer to Reverend Richard Warren at the Saddleback Church debate is illuminating. When asked when “does a baby get legal rights,” the Senator responded “That’s above my pay grade.” He’s running for President of the United States, and ducked a question of great moral, personal, and religious significance to most Americans.
By way of contrast, whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, Senator McCain gave a direct answer: “At the time of conception.” You know where McCain stands on that issue.
Professor Obama intentionally took a non-tenure track position at the University of Chicago Law School, thereby avoiding the obligation to engage in scholarly and creative work. The Senator has undertaken no leadership positions, and hence has avoided upsetting any major voting blocs.
While the Senator has consistently voted on the left side of issues, thereby securing his political base, he has no written trail, thereby offering a tabula raza for all of us to imprint our hopes and dreams on.
The Senator has consistently singled out FoxNews, Sean Hannity, and Russ Limbaugh for their criticism of him. That is telling, so expect the “Fairness” Doctrine, censorship by another name, to be reimposed on the media. He has stated that he would be winning by a wider margin if it weren’t for FoxNews. Of course, if the mainstream media had flyspecked his record as they did with Governor Sarah Palin, or even Joe the Plumber, then he would not have won the Democratic nomination.
Just a few days ago the Obama campaign kicked three reporters off the campaign plane. Regardless of the explanation proffered, the fact is that in all three cases their employers, the Dallas Morning News, New York Post, and Washington Times, endorsed Senator McCain for President. This act may simply reflect hard nose Chicago politics, but considering that almost every major newspaper endorsed Senator Obama for President, it looks petty and vindictive.
Lashing out and retaliating against critics sends a bad omen for his Presidency. President Obama will actually have to make difficult decisions and face hostile criticism from an increasingly disappointed public.
He insisted certain subjects should be off-limits, including his middle name, his wife, and even Reverend Wright. When you are running for President, nothing is off-limits, no matter out distasteful and unsavory the attacks may be. Michelle Obama has been publicly campaigning for him, and in a moment of exultation uttered a statement that seemed, out of context, to be un-American. That is newsworthy, eventhough my take is that she was so excited because her husband had secured the Democratic nomination that she meant to say “This is the proudest moment of my life as an American.” An even prouder moment will be on January 20, 2009.
Yet, the statement in context with Reverend Wright, Father Pfleger, and Bill Ayres is fair game.
Senator Obama is praised for his “coolness.” He’s “unflappable.” He never seems to panic. But he never lets any observers, including reporters who have been following his campaign for an extended period, see behind his mask. We don’t know who the real Obama is.
But we do, if we look and listen carefully. The “coolness” hides the reality that he is not doing anything. He is leaving decisions and the hard work to others, thereby preserving his popularity. Indeed, during the recent bailout bill, Senator McCain was criticized for suspending his campaign for a day and a half to help out in Washington, but Obama was praised for not doing anything. Technically, Senator Obama said “He would monitor developments.” Wall Street was collapsing, any legislation would affect his Administration, and he would “monitor” events. That is not leadership!
Senator Obama will become on January 20, 2009 the President of the United States, the leader of the Free World, and the most powerful person in the World. Events will force him to make decisions. Acts, not rhetoric, will be called for.
Vice President Elect Biden said President Obama will be tested in the first six months. Wrong! He will be tested from Day I, domestically and globally, by friend and by foe, allies and enemies, challenged by Pelosi and Reid to advance Congress’s agenda, and by the left, his old friends, for their agenda. The AFL-CIO and the Sierra Club will be collecting favors. Vice President Biden will do the bidding for the Trial Lawyers.
The economy is hanging by a thread; the wrong decisions could send us into the Great Depression II, but failing to act or procrastinating, will only compound the problems.
He will soon test leadership against popularity. That’s always a dangerous trap for Presidents, especially those who have never served in executive positions. President Obama will find that his options are limited because talk is cheap when you do not have to make the decisions.
Rightly or wrongly, President Bush decided to ignore popular opinion and “do the right thing.” He’s willing to let history judge.
I worry about President Obama and the American Republic.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Charitable Poverty of Our Compassionate , Selfish Liberals
Some talk the talk, others may walk the walk, and a few do both well. Thus, we should judge people by what they do as well as what they say.
Let me start with a few caveats.
First, my initial inclination was not to use words like selfish. However, Senator Obama recently referred to Senator McCain and Governor Palin as “making a virtue out of selfishness.” One who understands capitalism and the human spirit will understand that selfishness is just another word for ambition and drive, this time in the economic arena rather than the blind ambition present in politics.
Second, a different dynamic was at work with Barack and Michelle Obama in their early years. We should no more question their public service over a decade than Senator McCain’s patriotism.
The two Harvard educated lawyers have four Ivy League degrees between them. They could have easily earned a fortune practicing law for the big firms in Chicago. Yet, they clearly dedicated their lives to public service and the community. No cattle futures for them!
However, once their annual income reached $200,000 they remained frugal with charitable contributions. 2004 is a typical year. Only $2,500 was declared as charitable contributions on a reported income of $207,647. In 2002 they donated only $1,050 on income of $259,394.
This frugality with charitable giving is common with our compassionate liberals.
A look at the tax returns of our political candidates reveal a stunning reality about the Democrats. They may express compassion for the middle class and down trodden, but when it comes to actual charity, they are selfish. We know this by looking at their deductible charitable contributions.
Studies show that conservative households on average give 30% more to charities than liberal households, although the average household income of the conservatives is 6% less than that of the liberals.
The Obama’s income jumped to $1,655,106 in 2005; their contributions rose to $77,315, and continued in 2006 and 2007. Their charitable contributions hovered around 6%. Income was $4,139,965 in 2007 and $983,826 in 2006. Charitable deductions were $240,370 and $60,307 respectively. $27,500 went in both 2005 and 2006 to Reverend Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ.
By this time though, Senator Obama has decided to run for President and probably wished to avoid the embarrassment suffered by Vice President Gore during his run at the presidency.
And then we have the Joe Biden, the “common man,” who seems to have forgotten his roots except in elections. The Bidens earned between $210,797 and $321,379 in the ten years from 1998 through 2007. The most they claimed in charitable contributions was $995 (of which only $595 was cash) last year. Other than that it ranged from $120 to $380. Their contributions during this time totaled $3,690.
Both Obama and Biden have been more generous, believe it or not, than Al Gore. The Vice President, living in the Vice President’s Mansion, reported income of $197,729 in 1997, and only managed charitable contributions of $353, for an effective giving rate of .19%
Gore was positively munificent compared to Senator John Kerry, the same John Kerry who has twice married rich. Although he donated $44,000 on income of nearly $400,000 in 2003, the year before he ran for President, he sometimes did not claim even a penny in many years in the 1990’s.
Governor David Patterson of New York earned $269,815 in 2007, but donated only $150 in the form of old clothes to the Salvation Army.
By way of comparison, the Vice President and Lynn Cheney donate all the royalties from their books to charity, amounting to almost $8 million since he became Vice President.
The Palins had income of $166,080 in 1996 and $127,869 in 2007. Their charitable contributions last year were $4,880 and $3,325 in 2006. Either year exceeds the total cash contributions of the Biden’s this decade.
Senator John McCain, who reports separately from his wife, earned $386,527 in 2007 and donated $105,467. He gave away $96,333 in 2006 on income of $338,809. Since Cindy McCain only released the first two pages of her last two returns, we do not know what her contributions were. She did claim total deductions of $569,737 on income of $4,551,901 in 2007.
As with the Vice President, Senator McCain donates his book royalties to charitable organizations. That has amounted to over $1.8 million.
The logical explanation for the liberal parsimoniousness is that they believe that the government should make these decisions whereas the conservatives know they have a personal obligation to help. Conservatives believe in the individual, and with that belief comes personal responsibility – the duty to give back.
Liberals leave it to the government. They believe the government is the answer to all problems, and hence should decide who should be the recipients of largess. The government will decide by taxing the earners to redistribute the income to those the government deems more worthy.
Let me start with a few caveats.
First, my initial inclination was not to use words like selfish. However, Senator Obama recently referred to Senator McCain and Governor Palin as “making a virtue out of selfishness.” One who understands capitalism and the human spirit will understand that selfishness is just another word for ambition and drive, this time in the economic arena rather than the blind ambition present in politics.
Second, a different dynamic was at work with Barack and Michelle Obama in their early years. We should no more question their public service over a decade than Senator McCain’s patriotism.
The two Harvard educated lawyers have four Ivy League degrees between them. They could have easily earned a fortune practicing law for the big firms in Chicago. Yet, they clearly dedicated their lives to public service and the community. No cattle futures for them!
However, once their annual income reached $200,000 they remained frugal with charitable contributions. 2004 is a typical year. Only $2,500 was declared as charitable contributions on a reported income of $207,647. In 2002 they donated only $1,050 on income of $259,394.
This frugality with charitable giving is common with our compassionate liberals.
A look at the tax returns of our political candidates reveal a stunning reality about the Democrats. They may express compassion for the middle class and down trodden, but when it comes to actual charity, they are selfish. We know this by looking at their deductible charitable contributions.
Studies show that conservative households on average give 30% more to charities than liberal households, although the average household income of the conservatives is 6% less than that of the liberals.
The Obama’s income jumped to $1,655,106 in 2005; their contributions rose to $77,315, and continued in 2006 and 2007. Their charitable contributions hovered around 6%. Income was $4,139,965 in 2007 and $983,826 in 2006. Charitable deductions were $240,370 and $60,307 respectively. $27,500 went in both 2005 and 2006 to Reverend Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ.
By this time though, Senator Obama has decided to run for President and probably wished to avoid the embarrassment suffered by Vice President Gore during his run at the presidency.
And then we have the Joe Biden, the “common man,” who seems to have forgotten his roots except in elections. The Bidens earned between $210,797 and $321,379 in the ten years from 1998 through 2007. The most they claimed in charitable contributions was $995 (of which only $595 was cash) last year. Other than that it ranged from $120 to $380. Their contributions during this time totaled $3,690.
Both Obama and Biden have been more generous, believe it or not, than Al Gore. The Vice President, living in the Vice President’s Mansion, reported income of $197,729 in 1997, and only managed charitable contributions of $353, for an effective giving rate of .19%
Gore was positively munificent compared to Senator John Kerry, the same John Kerry who has twice married rich. Although he donated $44,000 on income of nearly $400,000 in 2003, the year before he ran for President, he sometimes did not claim even a penny in many years in the 1990’s.
Governor David Patterson of New York earned $269,815 in 2007, but donated only $150 in the form of old clothes to the Salvation Army.
By way of comparison, the Vice President and Lynn Cheney donate all the royalties from their books to charity, amounting to almost $8 million since he became Vice President.
The Palins had income of $166,080 in 1996 and $127,869 in 2007. Their charitable contributions last year were $4,880 and $3,325 in 2006. Either year exceeds the total cash contributions of the Biden’s this decade.
Senator John McCain, who reports separately from his wife, earned $386,527 in 2007 and donated $105,467. He gave away $96,333 in 2006 on income of $338,809. Since Cindy McCain only released the first two pages of her last two returns, we do not know what her contributions were. She did claim total deductions of $569,737 on income of $4,551,901 in 2007.
As with the Vice President, Senator McCain donates his book royalties to charitable organizations. That has amounted to over $1.8 million.
The logical explanation for the liberal parsimoniousness is that they believe that the government should make these decisions whereas the conservatives know they have a personal obligation to help. Conservatives believe in the individual, and with that belief comes personal responsibility – the duty to give back.
Liberals leave it to the government. They believe the government is the answer to all problems, and hence should decide who should be the recipients of largess. The government will decide by taxing the earners to redistribute the income to those the government deems more worthy.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Michigan and Purdue Meet in an Epic Battle in the Bottom Ten
Number 4 plays number 9 in West Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday. Yes, you read it right; 4 plays 9 for the bottom of the Big Ten. Number 4 Michigan in the Bottom Ten plays at Purdue, Number 9 in the Bottom Ten. This classic game may never be played again.
By NCAA rules, someone’s got to win
Saturday at Purdue either the Purdue Boilermakers or the Michigan Wolverines will have to win.
Joe Tiller has coached Purdue for since 1997 with a wonderful record of 83-54 through last year with 4 wins in 6 bowl games.
This is his final year. The goal was to retire in glory.
Unfortunately, the football fates have spoken. Purdue is 2-6, having lost 5 games in a row. Not how Joe intended to finish his great career. He deserves better.
Rick Rodriquez has an equally great coaching record. This is his first year at Michigan, looking forward to carrying on the great tradition of the University of Michigan football program, joining Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, and Bo Schembecher in the Michigan pantheon of football greats. Unfortunately, the football fates have spoken. Michigan is 2-6, having lost 4 in a row.
From the salad days of Top Ten teams, Michigan is now in The Bottom Ten. Not how Rick intended to start his Wolverine career. He will do better.
Michigan must run the string of the remaining 4 games, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Ohio State to be bowl eligible. Anything’s possible this year, but don’t bet the Big House on it.
Michigan showed signs of life last week against Michigan State, but 5 fumbles and 2 interceptions were par for the course.
The defense still has a propensity to give up big plays, but the killer is, consistently on third and long, to allow completion of a longer pass. Third and 15 become 20 yard receptions. Teams watch the films and know where Michigan’s pass defense is mediocre (Think the corner backs who couldn’t get the job done last year). The pass defense has let many an opposing QB play like an All-American this year. Fortunately for Michigan, Purdue’s QB Matt Painter is banged up and may not start. The backup was a running back last year.
Purdue’s offense is more anemic than Michigan’s. It has scored in single digits in three of the last four games, and didn’t reach the endzone in two of the games.
If true to form, Purdue’s offense will have a breakout game.
The last four games at Purdue have been split 2-2, with a total of 11 points deciding the four games.
Did I mention that Joe must really want this game bad. Shortly before the National Letter of Intent Day last February, Rick signed Roy Roundtree, who had previously orally committed himself to Purdue. Tiller complained about the violation of a gentlemen’s agreement not to poach. Funny, no other Big Ten coach professed to know anything about it.
Tiller called Rodriquez “a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil.”
Apparently, they have kissed and made up, because both laugh about and profess true friendship.
Let’s cancel the game, have the coaches and teams meet at a sports bar, and then engage in a boilermaker drinking contest.
Go Blue.
By NCAA rules, someone’s got to win
Saturday at Purdue either the Purdue Boilermakers or the Michigan Wolverines will have to win.
Joe Tiller has coached Purdue for since 1997 with a wonderful record of 83-54 through last year with 4 wins in 6 bowl games.
This is his final year. The goal was to retire in glory.
Unfortunately, the football fates have spoken. Purdue is 2-6, having lost 5 games in a row. Not how Joe intended to finish his great career. He deserves better.
Rick Rodriquez has an equally great coaching record. This is his first year at Michigan, looking forward to carrying on the great tradition of the University of Michigan football program, joining Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, and Bo Schembecher in the Michigan pantheon of football greats. Unfortunately, the football fates have spoken. Michigan is 2-6, having lost 4 in a row.
From the salad days of Top Ten teams, Michigan is now in The Bottom Ten. Not how Rick intended to start his Wolverine career. He will do better.
Michigan must run the string of the remaining 4 games, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Ohio State to be bowl eligible. Anything’s possible this year, but don’t bet the Big House on it.
Michigan showed signs of life last week against Michigan State, but 5 fumbles and 2 interceptions were par for the course.
The defense still has a propensity to give up big plays, but the killer is, consistently on third and long, to allow completion of a longer pass. Third and 15 become 20 yard receptions. Teams watch the films and know where Michigan’s pass defense is mediocre (Think the corner backs who couldn’t get the job done last year). The pass defense has let many an opposing QB play like an All-American this year. Fortunately for Michigan, Purdue’s QB Matt Painter is banged up and may not start. The backup was a running back last year.
Purdue’s offense is more anemic than Michigan’s. It has scored in single digits in three of the last four games, and didn’t reach the endzone in two of the games.
If true to form, Purdue’s offense will have a breakout game.
The last four games at Purdue have been split 2-2, with a total of 11 points deciding the four games.
Did I mention that Joe must really want this game bad. Shortly before the National Letter of Intent Day last February, Rick signed Roy Roundtree, who had previously orally committed himself to Purdue. Tiller complained about the violation of a gentlemen’s agreement not to poach. Funny, no other Big Ten coach professed to know anything about it.
Tiller called Rodriquez “a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil.”
Apparently, they have kissed and made up, because both laugh about and profess true friendship.
Let’s cancel the game, have the coaches and teams meet at a sports bar, and then engage in a boilermaker drinking contest.
Go Blue.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Obama and Biden Will Not Change the Culture of Corruption in Washington
Senator Barack Obama stands for change. If you missed it the first time, change, change, change! The mantra of his campaign is that he will bring needed change to Washington
The public wants change in the economy, change in the Presidency, and change in politics as normal.
The most critical change should be in the culture of Washington, the culture of corruption, the culture that brings us scandal after scandal, disaster after disaster, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Unless we change the culture of Washington, the more things seem to change, the more they will remain the same.
There will be no change because Obama and Biden are of the corrupt class of political favoritism.
Corruption is an equal opportunity, non-partisan vice. Incumbent parties have more opportunity for corruption, and hence are likely to fall prey to it, and then get the onus when caught.
The Republicans, as the majority party from 2000-2006, certainly have their share of corrupt bums: Jack Abramoff, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Robert Nye, readily come to mind, with others under investigation. Ted Stevens was just convicted as I write this post.
Let us not neglect the Democrats, who gave us the two bankrupt and corrupt mortgage lenders.
Senator Obama’s Record
While still in the Illinois Senate, Senator Obama received a sweetheart deal on a Chicago house, saving $300,000 on the asking price, courtesy of Tony Rezko, a principal fundraiser and cog of the Chicago machine, and now a convicted felon.
Obama’s campaigns received large contributions from Rezko such that earlier this year his Campaign Committee donated $150,000 to charity in campaign contributions linked to the felon.
Senator Obama never once in his years in Chicago politics took on the political machine. Not one line on his CV suggests “reformer.”
When Illinois Senator Obama was elected to the US Senate in 2004, the University of Chicago Medical School promoted his wife from Executive Director for Community Affairs to Vice President for Community and External Affairs and nearly tripled her salary from $121,910 in 2004 to $316,962 in 2005.
Her husband, now the United States Senator, returned the favor by earmarking $1 million in 2006 for a new hospital pavilion at the University of Chicago Hospital.
To be fair to the Senator, he earmarked sums, often larger than $1 million, to the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Chicago State University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Loyola, City Colleges of Chicago, and Southern Illinois.
Indeed, he was so generous with taxpayers’ money that in less than four years, he delivered almost $1 billion in earmarks throughout Illinois. He was on pace to quickly catch up to the kings of pork, Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska and Robert Byrd of West Virginia.
From 1998-2008 the largest receiver of campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut with $165,400. The third largest recipient was Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts with $111,000.
The second largest, having only been in the Senate for less than 4 years, was Senator Barack Obama with $126,349.
Freddie Mac doled out $10.2 million in campaign contributions to politicians, Fannie Mae $9.4 million, and AIG $9.7 million.
Senator Obama drank deeply from the Washington trough.
Senator Joe Biden
Biden’s son, Hunter, graduated from law school, and immediately received a 5 year consulting contract from MBNA, the large Wilmington, Delaware credit card company, since acquired by the Bank of America. The contract was rumored to be for $100,000 annually. Hunter was promoted to Senior Vice President of MBNA in 1998, and later left the company.
Senator Biden, against the wishes of his Democratic colleagues, fought hard in Congress for an anti-consumer bill pushed by the credit card industry. The Bill was enacted in 2005.
We know, because the Senator keeps reminding us, that he is for the little guy. Not though when it comes to carrying the water for the credit card industry. The late MBNA has been one of the largest campaign contributors to the Senator, giving $214,050. Bank of America has carried on the tradition of donating heavily to Joe.
SimmonsCooper is a Madison County, Illinois law firm specializing in asbestos litigation. Madison County was a toxic hell hole for defendants until tort reform essentially shut it down a few years ago.
The firm then moved much of its caseload to the suddenly friendly State of Delaware. Biden’s other son, Beau, handled many of the cases in Delaware. Beau has since been elected Attorney General of Delaware, funded in part by $35,000 in campaign contributions by SimmonsCooper.
The firm also invested $1 million in the purchase of a hedge fund by Hunter Biden and Joe Biden’s brother, James.
The Illinois law firm has contributed $196,050 to Biden’s campaigns since 2003. It also spent over $6.5 million in Washington lobbying expenses.
Biden has successfully repaid SimmonsCooper’s largess by blocking adoption of an asbestos reform bill.
Friends of Angelo
Angelo Mozillo was the Chair of Countrywide, the largest mortgage issuer in the United States. Countrywide was also the biggest supplier of mortgages to Fannie Mae.
As it went under a few months ago and was acquired by the ubiquitous Bank of America, we discovered that Angelo had his friends, who received special consideration from Countrywide on mortgages. The list was bipartisan, but Democratic names mostly spring to the top.
Senator Chris Dodd is the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee. Countrywide shaved points off his mortgage on a D.C. townhouse and Haddam, Connecticut residence. The bank also waived those miscellaneous “garbage” transaction fees that often add up to thousands of dollars.
The Bush Administration tried to impose toughened standards on Fannie and Freddie in 2004. Dodd blocked reforms, stating the mortgage market is “one of the great success stories of all time.” .
Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, had points waived on the purchase of an 8 unit apartment building, when Countrywide would not normally issue mortgages for more than 4 units, and on beachfront property, a million dollar home, in Delaware.
Both Senator Conrad and Dodd claimed they were ignorant of any special favors.
Former Fannie Mae Chief Executive Jim Johnson received over $10 million in preferential loans from Countrywide. Johnson was originally scheduled to head Senator Obama’s Vice Presidential Search Committee, but was dropped when the Countrywide scandals emerged. Johnson earned $21 million in 1998, his last year at Fannie Mae. Johnson had been campaign manager for Walter Mondale’s 1984 Presidential campaign.
Other Friends of Angelo included Donna Shalala and Richard Holbrooke from the Clinton Administration and Alphonso Johnson, who was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Bush Administration.
Friends of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Prominent Democratic politicos received plush jobs with the two bankrupt mortgage companies.
Jamie Gorelick, the former Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Administration, was appointed Vice Chair of Fannie Mae and served from 1997-2003, earning over $26 million in the six years. Prior to the appointment, she had no training or experience in finance. She received a $960,149 refinancing at 5% interest from Countrywide in 2003, 40 days after Franklin Raines refinanced $982,253 at 5.125%. The prevailing rate at that time was around 6%.
Franklin Raines, White House Budget Director in the Clinton Administration, was Chair of Fannie Mae for 4 years, earning over $50 million. He resigned in December 2004 because of $10.6 billion in “accounting irregularities” under his and Jamie’s reign. He settled the subsequent lawsuit for $3 million, paid for not out of his pocket but by insurance.
The Democrats, led by Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, blocked substantial reforms of Freddie and Fannie.
Franklin received over $3 million in sweetheart loans from Countrywide.
Obama had sought advice from Raines.
Fannie Mae Chief Operating Officer Daniel Mudd was fired when Fannie Mae went under. He refinanced a $2,965,000 mortgage at 4.25% in August 2003, replacing a 6.5% mortgage from Countrywide.
The House Members
Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts heads the House Banking Committee. He vigorously, and successfully, opposed measures by President Bush, Senator McCain and even President Clinton to increase regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Herb Moses, Frank’s partner and roommate, was an exec at Fannie Mae from 1991-1998, which raises questions of conflicts of interest on the part of the Congressman, who also received large campaign contributions by the two companies. Barney and Herb broke up in 1998.
Congressman Frank stated in 2003 that he wanted “to roll the dice” on the two companies.
Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House ways and Means Committee, has a number of ethical issues. The Committee writes the tax laws of the United States.
For the past 20 years Rangel failed to report $75,000 in rental income from a property in the Dominican Republic. He blamed “cultural and language barriers” for the mistake, even though half his district is Hispanic.
The developer also waived the mortgage interest for at least half of the 20 year mortgage.
The Congressman leased 4 apartments in a rent controlled building. New York City and state law limit rent controlled units to only one per person, and in any event, it must be used as the principal place of residence. One of the units was used as his office. The monthly rent for the apartments was $3,864, substantially less than the prevailing market price of $7,465-8,125.
Rangel has received over $700,000 in campaign contributions from real estate developers since the 2004 election cycle.
Congressman Alan Mollohan of West Virginia was elected to congress in 1983. His law firm was losing money at the time. By the end of 2007 he was worth between $6 and $24 million. Indeed, from 2000 to 2004 his worth grew from $565,000 to over $6 million.
We also have the legendary, indicted Congressman William Jefferson of New Orleans, who had $90,000 in cash in a freezer, and was caught on a video camera receiving $100,000 in bribes.
Elsewhere in the Senate
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada was poor, literally dirt poor, when he graduated from college. Now he’s made a lot of money in real estate, including property in Las Vegas that he had not previously reported owning. He paid $750,000 cash for a D.C. condo in 2001. Senator Stevens was convicted for non-disclosures on his ethics statement.
Reid paid $400,000 in 1998 for a parcel of land outside Vegas. It was zoned residential at the time, but after getting it rezoned commercial, he resold it for $1.1 million in 2004.
The Los Angeles Times reported on January 31, 2007 that the Senator paid less than 1/10th of the assessed value on a tract of Arizona land. It had been owned by a pension plan controlled by a long time friend.
The story is often said that the most dangerous place to be in New York is between Senator Charles Schumer and a camera. The Senator has been very quiet lately.
IndyMac Bank failed because of a run on the bank. The run was caused by a letter Senator Schumer released to the press stating IndyMac was in trouble.
The Wall Street Journal reported two weekends ago that a few major donors to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, chaired by the Senator, had looked over the books of IndyMac as a possible investment. They decided against investing, but expressed an interest in acquiring individual pieces of IndyMac. In other words, they were acting as vultures willing to cherry pick.
That’s when Senator Schumer released the letter. It may simply have been a coincidence.
The question for the incoming Obama Administration is if the Obama Justice department will pursue Democratic corruption as assiduously as the Bush Administration prosecuted Republican corruption. Reports are that attorneys in the Justice Department have contributed $150,000 to the Obama campaign. That is their right, but it should not cloud their judgment.
We should have a grand jury empanelled to investigate the relationship between the mortgage companies, investors, and legislators, as well as any sweetheart deals between Countrywide, legislators, and the Freddie/Fannie officers.
The public wants change in the economy, change in the Presidency, and change in politics as normal.
The most critical change should be in the culture of Washington, the culture of corruption, the culture that brings us scandal after scandal, disaster after disaster, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Unless we change the culture of Washington, the more things seem to change, the more they will remain the same.
There will be no change because Obama and Biden are of the corrupt class of political favoritism.
Corruption is an equal opportunity, non-partisan vice. Incumbent parties have more opportunity for corruption, and hence are likely to fall prey to it, and then get the onus when caught.
The Republicans, as the majority party from 2000-2006, certainly have their share of corrupt bums: Jack Abramoff, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Robert Nye, readily come to mind, with others under investigation. Ted Stevens was just convicted as I write this post.
Let us not neglect the Democrats, who gave us the two bankrupt and corrupt mortgage lenders.
Senator Obama’s Record
While still in the Illinois Senate, Senator Obama received a sweetheart deal on a Chicago house, saving $300,000 on the asking price, courtesy of Tony Rezko, a principal fundraiser and cog of the Chicago machine, and now a convicted felon.
Obama’s campaigns received large contributions from Rezko such that earlier this year his Campaign Committee donated $150,000 to charity in campaign contributions linked to the felon.
Senator Obama never once in his years in Chicago politics took on the political machine. Not one line on his CV suggests “reformer.”
When Illinois Senator Obama was elected to the US Senate in 2004, the University of Chicago Medical School promoted his wife from Executive Director for Community Affairs to Vice President for Community and External Affairs and nearly tripled her salary from $121,910 in 2004 to $316,962 in 2005.
Her husband, now the United States Senator, returned the favor by earmarking $1 million in 2006 for a new hospital pavilion at the University of Chicago Hospital.
To be fair to the Senator, he earmarked sums, often larger than $1 million, to the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Chicago State University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Loyola, City Colleges of Chicago, and Southern Illinois.
Indeed, he was so generous with taxpayers’ money that in less than four years, he delivered almost $1 billion in earmarks throughout Illinois. He was on pace to quickly catch up to the kings of pork, Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska and Robert Byrd of West Virginia.
From 1998-2008 the largest receiver of campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut with $165,400. The third largest recipient was Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts with $111,000.
The second largest, having only been in the Senate for less than 4 years, was Senator Barack Obama with $126,349.
Freddie Mac doled out $10.2 million in campaign contributions to politicians, Fannie Mae $9.4 million, and AIG $9.7 million.
Senator Obama drank deeply from the Washington trough.
Senator Joe Biden
Biden’s son, Hunter, graduated from law school, and immediately received a 5 year consulting contract from MBNA, the large Wilmington, Delaware credit card company, since acquired by the Bank of America. The contract was rumored to be for $100,000 annually. Hunter was promoted to Senior Vice President of MBNA in 1998, and later left the company.
Senator Biden, against the wishes of his Democratic colleagues, fought hard in Congress for an anti-consumer bill pushed by the credit card industry. The Bill was enacted in 2005.
We know, because the Senator keeps reminding us, that he is for the little guy. Not though when it comes to carrying the water for the credit card industry. The late MBNA has been one of the largest campaign contributors to the Senator, giving $214,050. Bank of America has carried on the tradition of donating heavily to Joe.
SimmonsCooper is a Madison County, Illinois law firm specializing in asbestos litigation. Madison County was a toxic hell hole for defendants until tort reform essentially shut it down a few years ago.
The firm then moved much of its caseload to the suddenly friendly State of Delaware. Biden’s other son, Beau, handled many of the cases in Delaware. Beau has since been elected Attorney General of Delaware, funded in part by $35,000 in campaign contributions by SimmonsCooper.
The firm also invested $1 million in the purchase of a hedge fund by Hunter Biden and Joe Biden’s brother, James.
The Illinois law firm has contributed $196,050 to Biden’s campaigns since 2003. It also spent over $6.5 million in Washington lobbying expenses.
Biden has successfully repaid SimmonsCooper’s largess by blocking adoption of an asbestos reform bill.
Friends of Angelo
Angelo Mozillo was the Chair of Countrywide, the largest mortgage issuer in the United States. Countrywide was also the biggest supplier of mortgages to Fannie Mae.
As it went under a few months ago and was acquired by the ubiquitous Bank of America, we discovered that Angelo had his friends, who received special consideration from Countrywide on mortgages. The list was bipartisan, but Democratic names mostly spring to the top.
Senator Chris Dodd is the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee. Countrywide shaved points off his mortgage on a D.C. townhouse and Haddam, Connecticut residence. The bank also waived those miscellaneous “garbage” transaction fees that often add up to thousands of dollars.
The Bush Administration tried to impose toughened standards on Fannie and Freddie in 2004. Dodd blocked reforms, stating the mortgage market is “one of the great success stories of all time.” .
Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, had points waived on the purchase of an 8 unit apartment building, when Countrywide would not normally issue mortgages for more than 4 units, and on beachfront property, a million dollar home, in Delaware.
Both Senator Conrad and Dodd claimed they were ignorant of any special favors.
Former Fannie Mae Chief Executive Jim Johnson received over $10 million in preferential loans from Countrywide. Johnson was originally scheduled to head Senator Obama’s Vice Presidential Search Committee, but was dropped when the Countrywide scandals emerged. Johnson earned $21 million in 1998, his last year at Fannie Mae. Johnson had been campaign manager for Walter Mondale’s 1984 Presidential campaign.
Other Friends of Angelo included Donna Shalala and Richard Holbrooke from the Clinton Administration and Alphonso Johnson, who was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Bush Administration.
Friends of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Prominent Democratic politicos received plush jobs with the two bankrupt mortgage companies.
Jamie Gorelick, the former Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Administration, was appointed Vice Chair of Fannie Mae and served from 1997-2003, earning over $26 million in the six years. Prior to the appointment, she had no training or experience in finance. She received a $960,149 refinancing at 5% interest from Countrywide in 2003, 40 days after Franklin Raines refinanced $982,253 at 5.125%. The prevailing rate at that time was around 6%.
Franklin Raines, White House Budget Director in the Clinton Administration, was Chair of Fannie Mae for 4 years, earning over $50 million. He resigned in December 2004 because of $10.6 billion in “accounting irregularities” under his and Jamie’s reign. He settled the subsequent lawsuit for $3 million, paid for not out of his pocket but by insurance.
The Democrats, led by Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, blocked substantial reforms of Freddie and Fannie.
Franklin received over $3 million in sweetheart loans from Countrywide.
Obama had sought advice from Raines.
Fannie Mae Chief Operating Officer Daniel Mudd was fired when Fannie Mae went under. He refinanced a $2,965,000 mortgage at 4.25% in August 2003, replacing a 6.5% mortgage from Countrywide.
The House Members
Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts heads the House Banking Committee. He vigorously, and successfully, opposed measures by President Bush, Senator McCain and even President Clinton to increase regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Herb Moses, Frank’s partner and roommate, was an exec at Fannie Mae from 1991-1998, which raises questions of conflicts of interest on the part of the Congressman, who also received large campaign contributions by the two companies. Barney and Herb broke up in 1998.
Congressman Frank stated in 2003 that he wanted “to roll the dice” on the two companies.
Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House ways and Means Committee, has a number of ethical issues. The Committee writes the tax laws of the United States.
For the past 20 years Rangel failed to report $75,000 in rental income from a property in the Dominican Republic. He blamed “cultural and language barriers” for the mistake, even though half his district is Hispanic.
The developer also waived the mortgage interest for at least half of the 20 year mortgage.
The Congressman leased 4 apartments in a rent controlled building. New York City and state law limit rent controlled units to only one per person, and in any event, it must be used as the principal place of residence. One of the units was used as his office. The monthly rent for the apartments was $3,864, substantially less than the prevailing market price of $7,465-8,125.
Rangel has received over $700,000 in campaign contributions from real estate developers since the 2004 election cycle.
Congressman Alan Mollohan of West Virginia was elected to congress in 1983. His law firm was losing money at the time. By the end of 2007 he was worth between $6 and $24 million. Indeed, from 2000 to 2004 his worth grew from $565,000 to over $6 million.
We also have the legendary, indicted Congressman William Jefferson of New Orleans, who had $90,000 in cash in a freezer, and was caught on a video camera receiving $100,000 in bribes.
Elsewhere in the Senate
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada was poor, literally dirt poor, when he graduated from college. Now he’s made a lot of money in real estate, including property in Las Vegas that he had not previously reported owning. He paid $750,000 cash for a D.C. condo in 2001. Senator Stevens was convicted for non-disclosures on his ethics statement.
Reid paid $400,000 in 1998 for a parcel of land outside Vegas. It was zoned residential at the time, but after getting it rezoned commercial, he resold it for $1.1 million in 2004.
The Los Angeles Times reported on January 31, 2007 that the Senator paid less than 1/10th of the assessed value on a tract of Arizona land. It had been owned by a pension plan controlled by a long time friend.
The story is often said that the most dangerous place to be in New York is between Senator Charles Schumer and a camera. The Senator has been very quiet lately.
IndyMac Bank failed because of a run on the bank. The run was caused by a letter Senator Schumer released to the press stating IndyMac was in trouble.
The Wall Street Journal reported two weekends ago that a few major donors to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, chaired by the Senator, had looked over the books of IndyMac as a possible investment. They decided against investing, but expressed an interest in acquiring individual pieces of IndyMac. In other words, they were acting as vultures willing to cherry pick.
That’s when Senator Schumer released the letter. It may simply have been a coincidence.
The question for the incoming Obama Administration is if the Obama Justice department will pursue Democratic corruption as assiduously as the Bush Administration prosecuted Republican corruption. Reports are that attorneys in the Justice Department have contributed $150,000 to the Obama campaign. That is their right, but it should not cloud their judgment.
We should have a grand jury empanelled to investigate the relationship between the mortgage companies, investors, and legislators, as well as any sweetheart deals between Countrywide, legislators, and the Freddie/Fannie officers.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Lessons From the 2008 campaign
America has come a long way on the road to equality with gender and race
Government funding of elections is on life-support, if not terminal, as Senator McCain was hoisted on his own petard
Organization is the key
Organization in caucuses trumps name recognition
A disciplined, focused campaign can beat an unfocused, undisciplined campaign (Clinton 1992 v. George H. W. Bush)
Do not bypass Iowa or New Hampshire (Giuliani)
As usual, the pre-primary frontrunners failed to win the nominations
A tsunami drowns out all other issues
External events, the totally unexpected, often control campaigns
October surprises may have increasingly less significance in light of early voting
The mainstream media is still more powerful than talk radio, but talk radio can level the playing field
The New York Times does what it does because it can
Money doesn’t always buy electoral success (Giuliani, Connally, Forbes)
Open primaries can give a party a nominee unwanted by the party faithful
Polls are still bunk
Anger trumps reason
Snake oil sells, and voters may be seduced, even for relatively few dollars
Never underestimate the power of a free lunch offered voters in taxing economic times
Vice Presidential candidates can make a difference
It’s difficult to run with the aura of an unpopular incumbent draped around your neck (Gore 2000, McCain 2008, and partially Ford 1976)
Whether McCain or Obama wins, Governor Sarah Palin is the future of the Republican Party, just as Ronald Reagan emerged from the ashes of the 1964 Goldwater campaign
Government funding of elections is on life-support, if not terminal, as Senator McCain was hoisted on his own petard
Organization is the key
Organization in caucuses trumps name recognition
A disciplined, focused campaign can beat an unfocused, undisciplined campaign (Clinton 1992 v. George H. W. Bush)
Do not bypass Iowa or New Hampshire (Giuliani)
As usual, the pre-primary frontrunners failed to win the nominations
A tsunami drowns out all other issues
External events, the totally unexpected, often control campaigns
October surprises may have increasingly less significance in light of early voting
The mainstream media is still more powerful than talk radio, but talk radio can level the playing field
The New York Times does what it does because it can
Money doesn’t always buy electoral success (Giuliani, Connally, Forbes)
Open primaries can give a party a nominee unwanted by the party faithful
Polls are still bunk
Anger trumps reason
Snake oil sells, and voters may be seduced, even for relatively few dollars
Never underestimate the power of a free lunch offered voters in taxing economic times
Vice Presidential candidates can make a difference
It’s difficult to run with the aura of an unpopular incumbent draped around your neck (Gore 2000, McCain 2008, and partially Ford 1976)
Whether McCain or Obama wins, Governor Sarah Palin is the future of the Republican Party, just as Ronald Reagan emerged from the ashes of the 1964 Goldwater campaign
Why the Hatred for Palin
Why the intense, often visceral and perhaps pathological, hatred for Governor Sarah Palin?
She is a woman
Latent sexism
Pro Life
A mother’s place is in the home
She’s a Pentecostal
Governor Palin is telegenic
She’s attractive, a former beauty contestant
She’s a refreshing change from politicians as usual
The Governor is a threat to politics as usual
A natural
She connects
Sarah Palin is the voice of the future for the Republican Party
She was not educated at an elite university
Sarah is not of the elite
The nominee is from a small town
The Governor is the mother of 5, including a child with autism
They’re scared
She’s a threat
Take your pick!
She is a woman
Latent sexism
Pro Life
A mother’s place is in the home
She’s a Pentecostal
Governor Palin is telegenic
She’s attractive, a former beauty contestant
She’s a refreshing change from politicians as usual
The Governor is a threat to politics as usual
A natural
She connects
Sarah Palin is the voice of the future for the Republican Party
She was not educated at an elite university
Sarah is not of the elite
The nominee is from a small town
The Governor is the mother of 5, including a child with autism
They’re scared
She’s a threat
Take your pick!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Does Sparty Have it in Him?
Does Sparty Have What it Takes?
Michael Hart, Michigan’s great running back, referred to the Michigan State Spartans last year as Michigan’s “Little Brother.”
Michigan has won one national championship in the last half century. Little Brother has won 3 under two great coaches, Biggie Munn and Duffy Daugherty. It also received success with two other coaches, George Perles and Nick Saban (Yes, that Nick Saban).
And yet its most famous, or infamous, hero is Bob Stehlin, aka “Spartan Bob,” the clock keeper in East Lansing for the November 3, 2001 game in which he froze the clock at the end of the game to give Michigan State just that little extra time it needed to score the post last second, winning touchdown, 26-24.
Sparty needed that edge for he has lost the last 8 games in Ann Arbor, and has run out of gas in numerous games and seasons in recent years.
Even MSU’s last win in Ann Arbor, 28-27 in 1990, is tainted. Michigan scored a touchdown at the end of the game and went for two for the victory. The Spartan’s defensive back, Eddie Brown, tripped Michigan’s great Desmond Howard in the end zone, and the pass bounced off Desmond’s chest. The referee did not call a penalty and the Spartans won.
One of the greatest wins in the Big House came four years ago when MSU was up 27-10 with 8.43 minutes left in the game. Michigan won in triple overtime, 45-37.
The indomitable Mark Dantonio was hired a year ago to change the status quo in East Lansing. The Spartans last season led by 10 points with 7 minutes left in the game. Someone forgot to tell Sparty that he was supposed to win, as once again defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory, losing 28-24. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The game means more for Michigan State than Michigan, since the Wolverines’ greater rival is Ohio State. Bragging and recruiting rights are at play in Michigan though, as Bo discovered in 1969. He may have beaten Ohio State in 1969, the greatest win in the history of The Big House, but he lost to Michigan State. It was a cold Michigan winter that year for Bo.
MSU’s biggest football loss did not even involve their team. Michigan and Ohio State played to an epic 10-10 tie in 1973. Michigan was expected to receive the Rose Bowl bid since Ohio State had gone the previous year.
To everyone’ surprise, and to the dismay of the Wolverine Nation, the Big Ten athletic directors voted 6-4 to send the Buckeyes to Pasadena. The deciding vote for Ohio State was by the MSU Athletic Director.
The problem for MSU is that it was trying to convince the state legislature to approve a law school for the University. Opposition existed with proposals to establish two new law schools at other universities located outside the Detroit-Ann Arbor-Lansing Triangle.
UM-MSU may be bitter rivals on the playing fields, but it’s still the state of Michigan against the state of Ohio. The vote for Ohio State cost MSU a law school at that time, and the AD was fired within a year. MSU had to purchase an existing law school, the Detroit College of Law, two decades later and move it to East Lansing.
This year Little Brother is 6-2 and Big Brother 2-5. Michigan has an inconsistent offense and a solid, but unspectacular, defensive line and a porous secondary. Fortunately for Michigan, the Spartans have a one dimensional offense, Jevon Ringer. Javon, a Buckeye born and bred, tried and true, was academically denied admission to Ohio State. He clearly qualified for Michigan State. Speaking of Ohio State, MSU never got up to speed last week as the Buckeyes blew them away 45-7.
The Wolverines showed signs of life last week as they played a wonderful first half, leading at the half. But just as the Spartans would collapse in the second half of the season, the Michigan team we have unfortunately come to know this season came out after halftime. No interceptions, but five fumbles, a blocked punt, a safety, and no points as Penn State won 46-17.
Nor does this year’s team have the great receiving corps of four years ago: Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant, and Steve Breaston. It also lacks explosiveness on the line and with the linebackers. Alan Branch, Prescott Burgess, Shawn Grable, Chris Graham, David Harris, Lamarr Woodley, and Pierre Woods have moved up to the next level.
So does Sparty have what it takes? If not this year, then when?
Go Blue
Michael Hart, Michigan’s great running back, referred to the Michigan State Spartans last year as Michigan’s “Little Brother.”
Michigan has won one national championship in the last half century. Little Brother has won 3 under two great coaches, Biggie Munn and Duffy Daugherty. It also received success with two other coaches, George Perles and Nick Saban (Yes, that Nick Saban).
And yet its most famous, or infamous, hero is Bob Stehlin, aka “Spartan Bob,” the clock keeper in East Lansing for the November 3, 2001 game in which he froze the clock at the end of the game to give Michigan State just that little extra time it needed to score the post last second, winning touchdown, 26-24.
Sparty needed that edge for he has lost the last 8 games in Ann Arbor, and has run out of gas in numerous games and seasons in recent years.
Even MSU’s last win in Ann Arbor, 28-27 in 1990, is tainted. Michigan scored a touchdown at the end of the game and went for two for the victory. The Spartan’s defensive back, Eddie Brown, tripped Michigan’s great Desmond Howard in the end zone, and the pass bounced off Desmond’s chest. The referee did not call a penalty and the Spartans won.
One of the greatest wins in the Big House came four years ago when MSU was up 27-10 with 8.43 minutes left in the game. Michigan won in triple overtime, 45-37.
The indomitable Mark Dantonio was hired a year ago to change the status quo in East Lansing. The Spartans last season led by 10 points with 7 minutes left in the game. Someone forgot to tell Sparty that he was supposed to win, as once again defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory, losing 28-24. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The game means more for Michigan State than Michigan, since the Wolverines’ greater rival is Ohio State. Bragging and recruiting rights are at play in Michigan though, as Bo discovered in 1969. He may have beaten Ohio State in 1969, the greatest win in the history of The Big House, but he lost to Michigan State. It was a cold Michigan winter that year for Bo.
MSU’s biggest football loss did not even involve their team. Michigan and Ohio State played to an epic 10-10 tie in 1973. Michigan was expected to receive the Rose Bowl bid since Ohio State had gone the previous year.
To everyone’ surprise, and to the dismay of the Wolverine Nation, the Big Ten athletic directors voted 6-4 to send the Buckeyes to Pasadena. The deciding vote for Ohio State was by the MSU Athletic Director.
The problem for MSU is that it was trying to convince the state legislature to approve a law school for the University. Opposition existed with proposals to establish two new law schools at other universities located outside the Detroit-Ann Arbor-Lansing Triangle.
UM-MSU may be bitter rivals on the playing fields, but it’s still the state of Michigan against the state of Ohio. The vote for Ohio State cost MSU a law school at that time, and the AD was fired within a year. MSU had to purchase an existing law school, the Detroit College of Law, two decades later and move it to East Lansing.
This year Little Brother is 6-2 and Big Brother 2-5. Michigan has an inconsistent offense and a solid, but unspectacular, defensive line and a porous secondary. Fortunately for Michigan, the Spartans have a one dimensional offense, Jevon Ringer. Javon, a Buckeye born and bred, tried and true, was academically denied admission to Ohio State. He clearly qualified for Michigan State. Speaking of Ohio State, MSU never got up to speed last week as the Buckeyes blew them away 45-7.
The Wolverines showed signs of life last week as they played a wonderful first half, leading at the half. But just as the Spartans would collapse in the second half of the season, the Michigan team we have unfortunately come to know this season came out after halftime. No interceptions, but five fumbles, a blocked punt, a safety, and no points as Penn State won 46-17.
Nor does this year’s team have the great receiving corps of four years ago: Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant, and Steve Breaston. It also lacks explosiveness on the line and with the linebackers. Alan Branch, Prescott Burgess, Shawn Grable, Chris Graham, David Harris, Lamarr Woodley, and Pierre Woods have moved up to the next level.
So does Sparty have what it takes? If not this year, then when?
Go Blue
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