State of the Union - The Good, The Bad, and the Socialist

OK I don't have a ton of time but let's be fair. I have not made up any facts or figures. This is all taken directly from the transcript or other news outlets.

He said some good things. He said some stupid things. I've laid out the most important to me here. If you don't like it, too bad. But feel free to comment! I love a good debate.

Pros:

• Allowing Gays in the military. Fine. Great. I'm all for equal rights. The gays I'm friends with have no desire to be in the military! But for those that do, I say go for it. Let them marry, let them get dogs, let them have joint bank accounts, whatever. Gay rights: cool with me.
• Budget Freeze: Doesn't make much sense to me, considering he's the one who's made our budget completely out of control in the 1st place. Maybe he's trying to reverse course a little. But its a small step and I'll take it.
• The Bail-Out. He's right, we all hated it. But he's also right in saying it was necessary. And if you read the transcript, he tried to "blame" the previous administration (SHOCKER!) but he actually gives them credit. Kudos.
• Share of the blame: In my little drinking game I said "chug" if he actually takes responsibility for something. I took a half chug here because he only took a "Share of the blame" for not explaining the Health Care bill more clearly. Well, its only a share, but again, we'll take it.
• Energy and Climate bill. All for it. Let's save our planet.
  
• Jobs: Yes we need to create jobs. Actually YOU need to create jobs. Why wasn't this your #1 priority when you took office???
  

Cons:

• Let's pick up where we left off. Jobs. I knew he would talk about it last night because he HAD to talk about it. Because he hasn't done anything to help create jobs. He's been so wrapped up in this awful health care bill to think about anything else. This country needs jobs, Mr. President. Thanks for taking 372 days to finally talk about them.
• Railroad. Really? That's what this country needs, a railroad in Florida?? What year is it?? This isn't the wild west, Mr. President. No one takes the rail anymore! The Railroad industry is failing. Who's brilliant idea was it to build a new railroad in Florida. Really glad my taxpayer dollars are going into that.
  
• What is this college loan thing? Does that mean we're off the hook? So if you take out a loan and wait 10 years you just don't have to pay it back? That should help our banks out. Good one.
• Health Care. He explained it perfectly. I'm glad he took some blame for not explaining it, but quite frankly I think the problem is we all get it too well. It sucks. It does absolutely nothing for most people besides raise our taxes and force us to pay for other people to have health insurance. Why do I have to pay for it? Luckily no one, even his democratic congress, wants this bill. I think its time he puts his pride and ego aside and realize he's lost this one
• 95% of working families got tax cuts. REALLY? 95% That's 9.5 out of every 10 people. I've asked old people, young people, families, couples... not one person I spoke to had their taxes cut. This is just a blatant lie. Show me a stat that proves this.
  
• The deficit: He blamed the previous administration for the $1 trillion deficit. Guess what it is since he took over? $3 trillion. Hmmmmmmmm......
• Trying terrorists in civilian courts. Come on man. Military courts for war criminals. Ever heard of the Geneva Convention? Why are we reading terrorists Miranda rights and allowing them to be tried in civilian courts???
• Keeping our country safe: What have you done? You say you're working on "responding faster to bioterrorism" Why aren't you working on PREVENTING it?? A bipartisan panel just gave your administration and F on this very subject this week. You should try reading that.
  

State of the Union Drinking Game

OK here it is. Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas and to the Huffington Post (and Dave Brown) for letting me steal some as well.

1) Every time Obama pauses to read the teleprompter - DRINK until he starts talking again
2) Any time Obama takes responsibility for an issue, CHUG and restart your heart from the shock.
3) Obama mentions Health Care, DRINK
4) Obama mentions a campaign promise that is no where near fruition, DRINK (ex: Closing Guantamo, creating jobs, closing the partisan gap, the list goes on and on so use your discretion)
5) Obama says "reform", DRINK
6) Obama says "jobs" DRINK
7) Everytime he says "the previous administration" DRINK and throw things at the television
8) Obama says "change" DRINK, then ask "WHERE IS THIS FREAKIN CHANGE YOU PROMISED??"
9) Obama says "let me clear" DRINK
10) Joe Biden nods-off/laughs inappropriately/starts talking before the speech is over, DRINK
(thanks Huffington Post)
11) Nancy Pelosi's surgically altered face cracks from smiling, DRINK and roll around on the floor laughing.
12) When you hear the word "bailout", DRINK, then immediately purge.
13) If Obama says "i'm working hard to keep this country safe" take a sip, then spit it out as you crack up laughing
14) If Obama says "i'm fighting for you" take a shot. If you actually believe him take 2 (thanks again Huffington Post)

The Championship Hangover

I haven't ranted in a long time. Almost 2 years. But recently a lot of friends have asked for my obnoxious, outwardly-opinionated-self to restart. I've had trouble coming up with something to rant about that wasn't political so I've avoided it.

Until now.

I need to rant some sports a little bit. Everyone knows I'm a huge Yankees and Giants fan. My father is both, and thus I really had no choice in the matter. But I'm so thankful for being a fan of both teams, so thanks Dad! But I'm also a fan of sports in general. I love sports. I get sports. Sports bring cities together, they bring people together. Black/white, male/female, young/old: none of that matters when you rally around your team.

I've been blessed in my short time on earth to witness my teams accomplish some great things. The Yankees won 4 world series in 5 years, including 3 straight from 1998-2000. They also went to the WS in 2001 and 2004. And of course they just won again this past season.

The Giants have won a Super Bowl in every decade of my life thus far. 1986 I was too young to remember. 1991 I was young but I clearly remember it. in 2000 they went and lost but of course I was still proud to be a fan. And we all remember 2007 when they were underdogs throughout the playoffs and beat the 18-0 hated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. That may have been my greatest sports moment. I hope I get to experience that again one day.

So, I've been blessed to witness my teams win championships. Isn't that why we watch every game? For that shot to be the last team standing? We all know going to into a season that the our teams have a far greater chance of NOT winning it all. I've seen my teams do a lot of winning, but I've also seen a lot of losing. But we watch every pitch, every pass, every play until we know for sure they won't be crowned champs at the end of the season.

I know what it is like to be a fan and know that feeling of a championship. And I wish that every fan out there could experience it at least once. Hey if Red Sox fans can feel it, EVERYONE should!! After the Yankees won the World Series a friend of mine said to me "I hope I can experience that champsionship hangover at least once in my life." Unfortunately he's a Mets and Raiders fan so its not looking good! But I really truly hope he does. Again, every fan should.

And this brings me to my point: The Jets. I know a lot of Jets fans. It ain't easy being a Jets fan, and I can appreciate that. In fact most Jets fans are by default Mets fans, so their entire sports fandom is a miserable existence. And like I said earlier, I feel so blessed that I've experienced my teams winning multiple championships in my lifetime and I'm confident that I'll experience more in the years to come. And I really hope that Jets fans get to experience it too. Maybe this is their year. Maybe not. But I do hope that one year soon they get to experience it, because EVERYONE should (have we noticed the theme of this rant yet??).

I have one Jets-fan friend in particular who thinks because I'm a Giants fan, I automatically hate the Jets. That is so completely and utterly untrue. The Jets play for my city and my friends too, just like the Giants. And I'm rooting for them! They're a great story and I'd be very happy for my friends, (like Rich Verde) who've long suffered, to feel that high. Sure its fun to banter with friends. Who's team is better, which team will get further in the playoffs, etc. We've all had these arguments. But at the end of the day, I hope that as sports fans, we can appreciate the feeling of winning, and be happy for the fans of the team that did.

I love being a Yankees fan and a Giants fan and I love that I've witnessed a championship for each team over the last 2 years. We all want to win every year, but that's impossible. So sometimes other teams have to win.

To all the Jets, Mets, Cubs, Browns, Eagles, KNICKS, etc fans out there: I really hope that you all get to experience what my friend Dave calls "the Championship Hangover." It's like no other feeling in the world. And as a fan of Sports, I wish you all the best.