Nascar's Race Problem

Nascar is one of America's most popular sports enterprises. But does Nascar have a serious race problem? Many of us have suspected for years that it does. This article from Portfolio.com sheds some more light on the issue:

Nascar's Race Problem

"With growth stalled, a multibillion-dollar sports business looks to diversity for a jump start. But some Fortune 500 would-be sponsors fear that supporting minority drivers could set off a rebel yell.

Marc Davis was doing what Nascar drivers do all the time—getting even.

With 10 laps to go in a tight 200-lap race at Hickory Motor Speedway, Davis, then 16 years old, was fighting hard for the win when a rival tapped his rear bumper and sped around him as he tried to recover. On the next lap, Davis repaid the favor by thumping his competitor and causing him to spin out. Both ended up at the back of the pack. For the drivers, this was no big deal. Retaliation is part of the sideshow that gives Nascar its edge. But this episode had an extra element: Davis is black, and his rival, also a teenager, was white.

And Hickory, 50 miles northwest of Charlotte, North Carolina, is Nascar bedrock, America’s oldest continuously operating motor speedway and the hallowed minor-league track where such legends as Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty cut their teeth. It attracts a hardcore following, an overwhelmingly white crowd that was perfectly happy when Nascar was just a backwater redneck sport. So though Davis had already proved his Nascar mettle by winning six races at Hickory that year, his tangling with a white driver caused an uproar among about a hundred fans, who stormed a fence surrounding the track, some of them chanting, “Go home, nigger!” Several were ejected from the stands..."

Full article here.

Saddam Lied About WMD's

CNN.com Article: Agent: Saddam made world think he had WMDs

This is one of the most underreported stories of the year. Its been out for a few weeks now, but now the news media is finally giving it some attention (although probably not as much as it deserves).

Bottom line. Saddam didnt have weapons of mass destruction, but he wanted everyone to think so. He never expected the US to innvade. In a case of political brinksanship gone very bad, the US did invade and Saddam's miscalculation was costly -- to him, and to many others too.

Why is this a big story? It indicates what many of us have felt all along -- that President Bush has been unfairly maligned all along for his decision to go to war with Iraq. This seriously undermines the far left's position for all these years. Bush didn't lie to get us into a war for oil, or so he could control the Middle east, etc. He went because we had good reason to believe there were WMDs in Iraq. And now it turns out Saddam himself has said he worked hard to make everyone think he had them.

This is a measure of vindication for our President and all those who felt like he made the correct decision then, based on the information we had at that time. This is good news, in a sense, a good day for truth. Too bad that bad news spreads fast, and good news spreads slowly. The damage has already been done. America's reputation, and George Bush's reputation have taken a hit because of all this.

But sometimes its better for the truth to come out late, than never at all.

Bad News In The Motor City?

I've known of and read of Detroit's decline over the years, but these numbers I came across really stunned me:

"Detroit had nearly 1.6 million in 1930. It had just below 1 million in 1920. The estimated population as of 2005 was 887,000 (so it's roughly where it was during WWI) and dropping at roughly 13,000+ per year. Some social theorists estimated it will bottom out at around 300,000 or so within the next 20 years (although at the current rate of decline, it will take 40 years."

Kwame Kilpatrick, the young, self-described "hip hop mayor" has been a disappointment to say the least, embroiled in scandal after scandal. The decline of the auto industry has hit the city hard. The crime rate remains high. People have been leaving in droves. A great American city is falling apart right before our eyes. Very sad. I don't see any reason to believe that things will turn around there any time soon.

And on a political note (yes, I had to inject my political view into this)... why does it seem that all of the worst run American cities are ALL run by Democratic administrations? And I mean ALL of them. Detroit, Washington DC, New Orleans, Newark... right down the list. Not to say that Republicans would necessarily have all the answers, but I cant help but think that a Republican small government, fiscal conservative style might help turn some of these cities around. Fact is though, the demographics of most of these cities is so solidly Democratic that it would be extremely tough for a Republican to ever get a chance to try to turn things around.

Well, as someone once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over an over and expecting a different result". So the madness continues...

By the way, I'm curious... if Marion Jones will do 6 months in jail for lying under oath, should the Mayor of Detroit be any different?

In Memory Of A Friend

Some More Of My Favorite Songs

Some Of My Favorite Songs...

Al-Qaeda's white army of terror

By Richard Elias

HUNDREDS of British non-Muslims have been recruited by al-Qaeda to wage war against the West, senior security sources warned last night.

As many as 1,500 white Britons are believed to have converted to Islam for the purpose of funding, planning and carrying out surprise terror attacks inside the UK, according to one MI5 source.

Lord Carlile, the Government's independent reviewer of anti-terrorism legislation, said many of the converts had been targeted by radical Muslims while serving prison terms.

Security experts say the growing secret army of white terrorists poses a particularly serious threat as they are far less likely to be detected than members of the Asian community.

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/AlQaeda39s-white-army-of-terror.3667425.jp

CNN Poll: Obama, Clinton would beat any Republican

It's starting to look more and more like we'll soon be saying "President Clinton" or "President Obama".I guess the numbers simply speak for themselves here...

CNN POLL: CLINTON OR OBAMA WOULD BEAT ANY REPUBLICAN
Sat Jan 12 2007 20:13:41 ET

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
Interviews with 1,033 adult Americans, including 840 registered voters, conducted by telephone on January 9-10.

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters'
Choice for President

Clinton 50%
McCain 48%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts


QUESTION: If Hillary Clinton were the Democratic Party's candidate and John McCain were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL January 9-10
Registered Voters'
Choice for President

Obama 58%
Huckabee 39%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and Mike Huckabee were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters'
Choice for President

Obama 49%
McCain 48%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and John McCain were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters'
Choice for President

Clinton 56%
Huckabee 42%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Hillary Clinton were the Democratic Party's candidate and Mike Huckabee were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
REGISTERED VOTERS
Would Definitely Vote Against That Candidate in November

Romney 62%
Giuliani 55%
Huckabee 52%
Clinton 43%
McCain 43%
Obama 38%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
REGISTERED VOTERS
Would Definitely Vote For That Candidate in November

Clinton 37%
Obama 30%
McCain 22%
Giuliani 19%
Huckabee 15%
Romney 13%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Intentions If Clinton Wins the Nomination

Definitely vote for 37%
Consider voting for 19%
Definitely vote against 43%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Intentions If Obama Wins the Nomination

Definitely vote for 30%
Consider voting for 32%
Definitely vote against 38%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Intentions If McCain Wins the Nomination

Definitely vote for 22%
Consider voting for 35%
Definitely vote against 43%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Intentions If Giuliani Wins the Nomination

Definitely vote for 19%
Consider voting for 25%
Definitely vote against 55%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Intentions If Huckabee Wins the Nomination

Definitely vote for 15%
Consider voting for 31%
Definitely vote against 52%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Intentions If Romney Wins the Nomination

Definitely vote for 13%
Consider voting for 25%
Definitely vote against 62%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: For each of the following candidates, please tell me whether you will definitely vote for that person in November if they won their party's nomination, whether you might consider voting for that person, or whether you will definitely not vote for that person in November. Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Rudy Giuliani John McCain Mitt Romney Mike Huckabee

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Opinion of Political Parties

Democratic Republican

Favorable 55% 41%
Unfavorable 34% 48%

Sampling error: +/-3% pts

QUESTION: We'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people -- or if you have never heard of them. The Republican party The Democratic party

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Opinion of Hillary Clinton

Now Sept.

Favorable 53% 53%
Unfavorable 47% 39%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Opinion of Barack Obama

Now Sept.

Favorable 55% 49%
Unfavorable 28% 27%

Sampling error: +/-3% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Opinion of John McCain

Now Sept.

Favorable 54% 47%
Unfavorable 29% 32%

Sampling error: +/-3% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Opinion of Rudy Giuliani

Now Sept.

Favorable 46% 54%
Unfavorable 39% 32%

Sampling error: +/-3% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Opinion of Mike Huckabee

Favorable 38%
Unfavorable 30%
Unsure 32%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Opinion of Mitt Romney

Favorable 31%
Unfavorable 39%
Unsure 30%

Sampling error: +/-3% pts

QUESTION: We'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people -- or if you have never heard of them. New York Senator Hillary Clinton Illinois Senator Barack Obama Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee Arizona Senator John McCain Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney The Republican party The Democratic party

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters'
Choice for President

Clinton 50%
McCain 48%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Hillary Clinton were the Democratic Party's candidate and John McCain were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Choice for President

Obama 49%
McCain 48%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and John McCain were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Choice for President

Clinton 55%
Giuliani 42%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Hillary Clinton were the Democratic Party's candidate and Rudy Giuliani were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Choice for President

Obama 56%
Giuliani 40%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and Rudy Giuliani were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Choice for President

Clinton 58%
Romney 40%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Hillary Clinton were the Democratic Party's candidate and Mitt Romney were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Choice for President
Obama 59%
Romney 37%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and Mitt Romney were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Choice for President

Clinton 56%
Huckabee 42%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

QUESTION: If Hillary Clinton were the Democratic Party's candidate and Mike Huckabee were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

CNN/OPINION RESEARCH CORPORATION POLL
January 9-10
Registered Voters' Choice for President

Obama 58%
Huckabee 39%

Sampling error: +/-3.5% pts

(...from drudgereport.com)

Oh Yeah, Baby!!

I'm in a very, very good mood right now.
Why? Real simple: LSU 38, Ohio State 24.
Enough said.

It's 2008... And Here We Go Again.

Well, I paid close attention to this exactly one year ago. Pat Robertson's 2007 prediction of a terrorist attack causing mass killing did not take place. Well its 2008, and we have some new predictions from Patty Boy. Lets see how he does this time.

I actually do believe strongly in the gift of prophecy and other spiritual gifts... but guys like Pat Robertson really give the gift of prophecy a bad name. Lord help us.

NORFOLK, Va. — Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson predicted Wednesday that 2008 will be a year of violence worldwide and a recession in the United States, followed by a major stock-market crash by 2010.

Sharing what he believes God has told him about the year ahead is an annual tradition for Robertson.

On Wednesday's "700 Club" broadcast, the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network predicted that evangelism will increase and more people will seek God as the chaos develops. Robertson said, "We will see the presence of angels and we will see an intensification of miracles around the world."

Last year, Robertson predicted a terrorist act, possibly involving a nuclear weapon, would result in mass killing in the United States. Noting that it hadn't come to pass, Robertson said, "All I can think is that somehow the people of God prayed and God in his mercy spared us."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,319728,00.html

Moments from Death...

The big story of the past week has been the death of Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto --clearly a tragedy on many fronts. I was actually looking forward to Bhutto gaining power in the planned January elections in Pakistan, if only to see if she could make a difference politically in that troubled nation. The existing political situation there has just seemed unstable and unsustainable for so long, and clearly it's looking a lot worse since her sudden passing.

But on a spiritual level, I was just struck by how quickly things can change in our lives. One moment Bhutto was waving and smiling to her supporters, as in the above photo. Moments later she was gone; and her supporters, many of whom were looking forward to her inauguration, were left to start planning her funeral instead. Truly life is a gift, and at the end of the road what will matter the most is what we have done with this gift of life God has given us.

For non-Christians, every day they wake up is another chance God gives them to get things right with God, and accept His plan of salvation. Even for us Christians, we certainly have to reflect on our lives from time to time. How many people have we led to the Lord, directly or indirectly? How many lives will we impact on this earth, before we pass through life's curtain?I guess its good to reflect on these things sometimes.

(Psalm 39:4) : "Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am."

(Psalm 90:10)The length of our days is seventy years-or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

(Psalm 90:12): "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

(Acts 2:38): "...repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. "
---

P.S.
Happy New Year, everyone!