2008: The Year In Pictures

Talent RIP

RIP

Heisman 8


Jail

Mavericks Mr.President

NOLA!

RIP

$3,000!

Heros.

Maverick?

Jail Jail?

Father?

Jackpot!

RIP

RIP

RIP

Farewell

Juiced

Steakmatters!

Have A Happy New Year!

--G

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…

With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore and/or Henry Livingston, a look at what Christmas Eve was like at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue this year....






‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
All the family was stirring, including POTUS.
The presents were stowed in the basement with care
in advance of delivery by me and FLOTUS.

The prince and princess were running the floor,
With visions of hippos coming through the front door;
And mamma in her boots, and I in my sweater,
Had just settled down to read the Christmas letters.

When out from the basement there arose such a concern,
I sprang from the couch to see what I could learn.
Away to the stairs I flew like a flash,
Tore open the door and ran down to the stash.

The light on the concrete of the landing so far
Gave the luster of liquid flowing over my car,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a basement of water, from far and from near,

Like Joe the Plumber, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment I had to hop on the stick.
Like rapids of rivers I knew what to do
And I whistled, and shouted, and called for them two;

"Come father! Come brother (in-law)! Get buckets and hose!
Move presents, Move Boxes, move paper and MORE!
To the top of the table! to the top of the stair!
To high ground! to high ground! to high ground I SWEAR!”

As they shuttled the presents, including the Wii,
I went to the pump and got on my knee.
With hands in the water, I looked for the leak
and splashed around to find out what could be.

So up the stairs the presents did fly,
And wadded in the water, with my hands and my eye
to fix the sump pump and make the place dry.

With the Wii and the toys safely removed,
and water levels lowering, I made my move.
To the cabinet with liquor and bucket of ice.
I poured myself a drink both warming and nice.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the well
The gurgling and slurping of each pumping swell
As I drew up my hand, and wiped off my head
I knew that St. Nicholas certainly wasn’t dead.

With Christmas saved, and the loin in the oven
I knew it was time for some Christmas Eve lovin’.
To the mistletoe I went and grabbed my FLOTUS
And planted on her lips a HOT Christmas kiss.

With stomachs so full of beef tenderoin
We put out the presents bought with the holiday coin.
In the morning the kids came, both the princess and prince
And opened their presents without even a wince.

As we finished unwrapping, I looked at my Dear,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good year!”

POTUS

Happy New Year!

--G

31-0

Not that anyone reads anymore, but I want to apologize to all my Browns-fan friends who had to endure their second straight shut out. This Browns team might even be worse than the 0-16 Detroit Lions. At least after tomorrow you'll be rid of both Romeo and Juliet (Savage).


Lest you feel slightly jealous about my beloved Stillers making the playoffs as the number 2 seed--have no fear...we'll lose to either the Colts or Chargers in our first playoff game.



--G

Your Union Dues At Work

Sorry for the lack of posts. I just haven't been motivated enough to opine. Reading this article on Foxnews did light a fire, however. I hope you find this as unsuprising as I did.

Autoworkers Union Keeps $6 Million Golf Course for Members at $33 Million Lakeside Retreat
Friday, December 26, 2008

Even as the industry struggles with massive losses, the autoworker union's bosses continue to own and operate a $33 million lakeside retreat in Michigan, complete with a $6.4 million designer golf course and it's costing them millions each year.

The United Auto Workers may be out of the hole now that President Bush has approved a $17 billion bailout of the U.S. auto industry, but the union isn't out of the bunker just yet.
Even as the industry struggles with massive losses, the UAW brass continue to own and operate a $33 million lakeside retreat in Michigan, complete with a $6.4 million designer golf course. And it's costing them millions each year.

• Click here to see photos of the UAW's $33 million retreat.

The UAW, known more for its strikes than its slices, hosts seminars and junkets at the Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center in Onaway, Mich., which is nestled on "1,000 heavily forested acres" on Michigan's Black Lake, according to its Web site.

But the Black Lake club and retreat, which are among the union's biggest fixed assets, have lost $23 million in the past five years alone, a heavy albatross around the union's neck as it tries to manage a multibillion-dollar pension plan crisis. Critics call it a resort for union leaders that wastes money from union dues.

It's their members' money that they're spending on this thing," said Justin Wilson, managing director of the Center for Union Facts, a union watchdog group. "The union has bigger issues at hand than managing a golf course."

Managing the course may become a burden for the union. The UAW covers costs for the Reuther Center from the interest it earns on its strike fund, according to tax documents, but massive losses in the past five years have forced the union to make heavy loans to keep the center afloat. Critics call it a poor investment for a group with over $1.25 billion in assets.
"Unions certainly have had real estate investments in the past, but investments are supposed to make money, not bleed money," said Wilson.

The UAW did not return calls from FOXNews.com, and a spokesman could not be reached for comment.

The Reuther Center is open 11 months of the year to offer courses on leadership, political action, civil rights and other topics; it hosts nearly 10,000 visitors annually. The UAW says it sends workers there to "learn, experience unionism (and) commit to labor's cause," according to their Web site.

The center was purchased in 1967 and underwent massive renovations in the '90s under the careful watch of former UAW president Steve Yokich. "Today's Black Lake might not exist if not for Steve Yokich," said union member Bob Reidt, whom Yokich appointed as Black Lake's director. "Yokich is responsible for rebuilding Black Lake."

The UAW erected a monument to its longtime president Walter Reuther — the center's namesake — which bears an inscription of his words: "There is no greater calling than to serve your brother. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well."
But Reuther, who died in a plane crash en route to the center in 1970, never knew the satisfaction of Black Lake's "well-groomed fairways," a course that Michigan Golf Magazine called a "stunning visual marvel."

Union members can play golf at discounted rates on one of the country's top 100 courses, designed in 2000 by famed course architect Rees Jones at a cost of $6 million.
The center has a storied history. Reuther had his ashes scattered at the site, and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz honeymooned there in 1940, well before it was bought by the UAW.

"It's funny that they call it an education center — it's a resort," said Wilson. "If I was a union member, I would prefer that they rented out a room at the Ramada Inn."

--G

Jones-Kelly resigns; Others ditched

Helen Jones-Kelly has resigned. She was scheduled to return to work on Monday after being suspended for 1 month after authorizing an unsubstantiated check of Joe “The Plumbers” background. The Dispatch reports that her two cronies in crime have also be left – one by firing and the other by resignation.

Kelly is quoted as saying, “This decision comes after having a time of pause, in which I realize that I continue to be used as a political postscript, providing a distraction from urgent state priorities."

Hey Kelly, you got off easy! 30-day suspension for snooping!?! The real story was your ON THE TAXPAYER’s STATE DIME FUNDRAISING for the Obama campaign. Under normal circumstances, you would have been investigated for theft in office for using state equipment for political purposes.

I don’t care how good a job you did for ODJFS. If you are dumb enough to do your political hackery on the TAXPAYER’s dime, using TAXPAYER resources, you deserve to be political pre AND postscript.

Good riddance.

POTUS

Jaws of life

We almost lost Ron Jawarski today. Jaws just happened to be in the Cleveland Federal Building when a fire broke out. Ignoring the initial alarm, Jaws lollygagged for several minutes before heading to the fire escape.

Boys and Girls, let this be a lesson to all of you, especially new SteakMatters reader Pup, “When the fire alarm goes off, get the ‘F’ out of the building!”

Jaws proceeded down some 20 flights of stairs only to get closer to the expanding fire and its smoke, which required the evacuees (near causalities) to exit their fire escape for another. Jaws reported that some of the folks (those who haven’t seen a stairwell since their parents let them out of the basement) were huffing and puffing, while others had to be carried out by emergency personnel. I’m reminded of what the Tornado once told me about government while waiting for an elevator in a public facility, “The Federal Government: Employing the unemployable for 200 years!”

Jaws glad you made it out alive. We couldn’t bear losing you. It would cut our readership by 10%.

POTUS

PS - Let’s hope the Terrorists weren’t watching today’s activities unfold. The water main goes out (diagrams are available on-line) and the fire department can’t get water pressure to fight the fire in the federal building, or I would imagine anywhere else for that matter.… Remember Scouts, you must always be prepared because if this federal bailout has demonstrated anything, the Gov’t (local, state or feds) isn’t going to be there to help you sorry ass out.

The Difference between Government and Free Enterprise

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” – as engraved on the James A. Farley Post Office building at 8th Avenue & 33rd Street in New York, New York

So this morning in Cleveland, there was a breaking (literally) story – a 42-inch water main ruptured spilling millions of gallons of water on city streets. As I drove into to town on the East Shoreway, I could see torrents of water flowing down the roads leading in the marginal road, and a waterfall of Cleveland’s finest and freshest flowing down an embankment onto the eastbound shoreway. Well it was obvious that water service was going to be interrupted, but how disruptive was yet to be known.

Once I got into the office, I was informed that we couldn’t drink the water, couldn’t make coffee (thank the poker gods I got a big cup on the way in), and that we could expect little water pressure in the bathrooms. All of this results in an inconvenience, but the day went on and work got done, expect for one place – the US Postal Service.

I was shocked, shocked I tell ya, when I saw the sign on the Post Office that it was closed due to the water main break. WTF!?! I’m sorry, I didn’t know that water was an essential part in the receiving and delivering of the mail. I mean come on, you don’t even have to lick stamps anymore. Their frickin’ self-adhesive.

And here-in lies my comparison with free enterprise. Directly across from the closed US Post Office is the open Caribou Coffee stand. Now Caribou, which makes coffee couldn’t, yet they were still open selling bottled drinks, pastries and other sundry items. Do tell, please Mr. Jack Potter, why it is that a business that relies on water is open, yet your store which does not, and which is a distance of over 2 miles, and 40-plus blocks away, is closed?

Ah yes, the difference between government and free enterprise. May the poker gods help the banks, financial institutions (and eventually the Big Three) of whom the government has their claws into already.


- POTUS

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Congrats to Padraig Harrington for winning PGA Tour Player of the Year honors. It was much deserved after becoming only the fourth player to win the British Open and the PGA Championship in the same season. And for those of you that think Tiger should have won it. You are wrong. Remember, golf is a little different, but it is still a sport and you have to be healthy to compete. We would never give the MVP award in basketball to someone who played great for half a season, but couldn't compete the rest of the year. So, congrats Paddy on an outstanding year!
Lefty

Rush Has it Right

I don't usually make a habit of quoting Rush Limbaugh--he's a little pompous for my taste, but damn if the guy isn't usually right (pun intended). As a conservative, I'm paying for having sold out and voted for McCain. Granted, Palin made it a little easier for me, but it was a tough pill to swallow, nonetheless. I justified it as a fellow veteran voting for another ( funny I didn't draw that same conclusion with John Kerry).

Anyway, many of you may not be as inspired by the following words as I was--but indulge me here. Colin Powell needed to be put in his place, and Rush does it with ease here. I mean really--who is this guy to tell Republicans what to do and who to listen to? He friggin voted for Obama.


RUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank all of you for your e-mails of support regarding this interview that Colin Powell did on CNN yesterday. The whole thing wears me out. It's nothing new except now it's coming from ostensibly the Republican Party. Now, Snerdley is livid, many of my staff and friends are livid. To me, it's not that big a deal. I think Powell's premise -- and I understand what's going on -- I think Powell's premise is all wrong. The Republican Party needs to stop listening to me. Basically, what that means is the Republican Party's gotta throw you overboard; the Republican Party can't win as long as it is defined by people like you and me, those of you in this audience. The simple fact of the matter is, folks, what makes this funny to me is that the Republican Party's not listened to me in the last two years. And you might even say in matters of policy and so forth, the Republican Party hasn't been listening to me for the last six years. And you might even say that the Republican Party is in the situation it's in precisely because of the people like Colin Powell and John McCain and others who have devised this new definition and identity of the party which is responsible for electing Democrats all over this country. So I think it's actually somewhat funny. I really do.

They're not listening to me, and I don't do this program for these people to listen to me. They misunderstand the whole point of this program and what we do here. The Democrats and the liberals always have, and I guess McCain and Colin Powell are showing their true colors. Here is Colin Powell telling the Republican Party what to do after he voted for Obama! I know what really has Colin Powell upset, it's because I said his endorsement of Obama was about race, and I'm not supposed to say those things.

These things are supposed to go unsaid. The Republican Party nominated Powell's perfect candidate. The guy's going after moderates, independents, Democrats, a guy who is not conservative at all, McCain, didn't stand up for much conservative, and he's out there now saying he won't support Palin if she seeks the presidency again, or he might not. Colin Powell, ladies and gentlemen, insists that conservatives and Republicans support candidates who will appeal to minorities like I guess McCain who led the effort for amnesty. He insists that conservatives and Republicans move to the center like McCain, who calls himself a maverick for doing so. General Powell insists that conservatives and Republicans provide an open tent to different ideas and views, like I guess McCain, who repeatedly trashed Republicans and made nice with Democrats. I mean, their tent's big, they just don't want us in it.

John McCain is and was Colin Powell's ideal candidate. All these moderates, Bill Weld, all these moderates that crossed the aisle and voted for Obama, they got their ideal candidate, and they got their ideal campaign in McCain. Once McCain was nominated as the Republican candidate, largely by independents and Democrats voting in Republican primaries, Colin Powell waited 'til the last minute, when it would do the most damage to McCain and the Republicans and endorsed Obama. And when I said it was largely about race, that's what set 'em all off, you're not supposed to say these kinds of things. This is supposed to go unspoken.

So if we try to understand Powell's thinking, which is difficult since it's incoherent, we should have all voted for McCain in the primaries, and once he was nominated, we should have voted for Obama for president. That's what we should have all done, if you listen to what Powell said on CNN yesterday. There's something interesting -- and Snerdley picked up on this -- he said that Powell in the CNN interview is talking to Republican leaders about tossing me out, when I'm not in. (laughing) This remains to me to be the funny thing here. It would be one thing if Republicans were listening to me and going down in flames, but they're not, and they haven't for the longest time. So Powell is talking to Republican leaders about tossing me out of the party, and people should stop listening to me and helping Democrats with any legislation that might be aimed at taming talk radio. This is what Snerdley thinks he meant by virtue of what he said in that interview. He did say he's talking to the leaders -- leaders of what? The Republican Party? He's getting together to talk with the leaders about me? When was the last time I was on a ballot? When was the last time I raised money? When was the last time I wrote a plank in the party platform?

I wish my parents were alive. I say this at least once a week. They wouldn't believe, here we are, ladies and gentlemen, in the midst of an economic crisis, an automobile potential bailout, now we got this Bernard Madoff thing that's happened, and this is fascinating, this is overwhelmingly fascinating to me, when you understand what happened, all of this going on, we got reporters in Baghdad throwing a shoe at George W. Bush and the Drive-By Media here in this country is very excited about it. Fact of the matter is, ladies and gentlemen, this incident shows that we have succeeded in Iraq. Had this guy thrown his shoe at Saddam Hussein, he would have been shot five minutes later. This guy is still alive to be made a star by the Drive-By Media around the world. Long live freedom; long live democracy.

What's going on here with this Colin Powell thing is that the Washington establishment -- Powell's not a Republican. McCain's not a Republican. These guys are not even mavericks. They are Washingtonians. Washingtonians have their own culture and their own desires, and it is to matter. They don't care who's in power, they just want to be closely associated with whoever is. That's the name of the game and they want press adulation. They want to be loved and adored by the media, they want fawning treatment, they want to be thought of as something special, unique, dignified and so forth, and that's the Washington establishment. These guys are Washingtonians. And what is a Washingtonian? Who are these people? Ladies and gentlemen, they have driven this economy into the toilet. Washingtonians are tone deaf in terms of how you and I actually live and the things that matter and are important to us. Washingtonians are grabbing as much power for themselves right now as possible. Washington does not live in the rest of the country, does not live in the same world we do. What they're doing now is looking for ways to silence opposition. They don't care about the timid ineffective opposition. They like Republicans and conservatives who are ashamed of their views and their fellow citizens. What they want to do is silence people like me because they can't abide debate or opposition or challenges to their status and their authority. So General Powell, let me explain something. The fact is Republicans did not listen to me. They listened to you. They have not been listening to me for years. The Republican Party nominated your ideal candidate.

They nominated your guy, a moderate, who's willing to buy into an endless array of liberal causes, from global warming -- there's an AP story out today that says we are cooling this year, and by the way, record lows in Denver, we have record lows in Montana. We actually have a story on global warming from the AP today, and in the last couple paragraphs it says -- Rachel, you'll love this, because I know you think Algore is a genius -- it says here that this cooling perfectly illustrates how the world is warming. Folks, we got more problems than you can possibly imagine. That's just lunacy. That is just insanity. And that's modern journalism. We're freezing our butts off. We have our fifth cold front that went through here, and we normally haven't had the first one yet. Five cold fronts! Cold for us, but I mean look it, weather is weather. Record lows in Denver. And all of this freezing cold points out how the world is so rapidly warming, it perfectly illustrates it, the guy says. He quotes a scientist here that says species are going extinct like never before, and I've got a story about 70 brand-new species discovered in the Mekong Delta.

We can't trust anything that we see in the media anymore. It's all agenda oriented, and it's all oriented toward the agenda of Washingtonians. As long as you are a Republican, but you buy into an endless array of liberal causes, global warming to amnesty for illegals, and somebody who has the same fetish for compromising principles that you do, then they are going to love you. Then you turn around and you stab this person in the back by endorsing the most liberal Democrat candidate ever nominated days before the election, General Powell? You want to lecture me about how the Republican Party needs to stop listening to me when they are not? They are listening to you. I also have to question something here. How can he say he's a Republican? He gets the perfect Republican nominee, exactly the kind of candidate he wants, it's McCain, and then he sabotages McCain a few weeks before the election by endorsing Obama. How can you even claim to be a Republican, General Powell? When have you ever stuck your neck out for Republicans and conservatives? Never. I mean sabotage George W. Bush with the Armitage leak and Scooter Libby, that's just one thing, but Ronald Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 all helped advance General Powell's career.

Now, there are exceptional military men and women throughout our nation who could have served as national security advisor or chairman of the chief joints of staff, to quote Rita X, many ex-military people who could have been the secretary of state. Hell, Hillary can do it, anybody can do it. I'm sure you did a good job, General Powell, certainly nothing exceptional, you're no George Marshall. But I can't think of a single occasion where Secretary Powell stepped up to the plate for the Republican Party or the conservative movement. I think of many times when he has not done so or even worse. I've noticed on the one hand General Powell claims to stand above politics as a big claim to fame. Yet, on the other hand, he jumps in from time to time, but only to attack the conservative base of the Republican Party. When's the last time, the first time, when is any time he has let loose or criticized a liberal Democrat on any issue?

Now, here's the problem. General Powell, and folks, this problem I think is systemic in the Republican Party in Washington. People like General Powell seek to ingratiate themselves with the people who despise the Republican Party and despise the conservative movement. They're out there preaching moderation all along the way, when instead you should be preaching principle. Principle is what got you where you are. Moderation is what keeps you where you are with this great reputation, great image but no substance, no principles, no core belief. If somebody had to tell you who Colin Powell is, what would they say? What does he stand for? What does General Powell stand for? What does John McCain stand for? You don't know. There aren't any core beliefs you can go rat-tat-tat down the list and say, yep, this is who they are.

Was Abraham Lincoln great because he saw compromise during the Civil War or was he great because he insisted on total and complete victory? Great people take stands on principle, not moderation. Some of us think that individual liberty, limited constitutional government, and increased support for the military by civilians are principles worth defending. Maybe General Powell can enlighten us, since he's failed to do that so far on the great liberal or moderate Democrat principles that seem to intrigue him. What is it about Obama that intrigued him? What are these principles? Or was it the way Obama speaks? General Powell says we need to reach out to Hispanic, blacks, and Asians. Well, how do we do that? What kind of message does he suggest? I never hear the "how" to do it. I just hear we need to do it. And in my mind, we already have the blueprint for how to do it. We have done it successfully. We abandoned the blueprint. It's called individual freedom, liberty, and not seeing them as Hispanics and not seeing them as Asians and not seeing them as blacks or minorities, but rather seeing them as Americans, human beings.

Liberals look at people and groupify them and then think of them with contempt. I mean are all black people identical thinkers, if we understand what one of them thinks we know how to get to all of them, is that true? Same thing with Asians? Same thing with Hispanics? General Powell has no vision. He is not in touch with the public in any meaningful way. He's a Washingtonian. He's not in touch with the public. He lives in a bubble so he doesn't have to expose himself to contrary arguments. He just has to accept accolades from the people he treasures and values most, his buddies and the media. He doesn't add anything to the public discussion. What has he added to the public discussion? What has he done to advance a principle? He is constantly peddling his identity and his reputation rather than anything substantive or insightful.

I'm sure he's a delightful person with his friends and I'm sure he's charitable with his time and his money, but he has no idea what he's talking about when he presumes to dictate how Republicans and conservatives should build a governing majority.

One of the things he said is he resents Sarah Palin because she kept talking about small towns. He said nobody lives in small towns and that's why they're small. "I'm from the Bronx. Something wrong with my values?" he asked. What is this hatred for conservatives and small town people and Sarah Palin? It's because they are effective. They represent challenges to the Washingtonians' control of the Republican Party. I know a lot of people that are from the Bronx, General Powell, and if you think the values there in the Bronx today reflect the ones you grew up with, take a trip back and see if the street corners and the activities there are the same as when you were growing up, General Powell.

Quick time-out. I spent more time on this than I intended to because we got other things to do.

--G

What's On G's iPod

I want to get back to sharing one of the things I love most in life--music. If you remember, I shared with you a song by Shinedown some time ago. In that post, I bragged on how powerful of a singer the lead singer, Brent Smith, was.

Aaron Lewis is just as good--if not better. This is just a great, great song--and it's playing now, on g's iPod.

Before I get the comments, no, that is not ME singing, despite the resemblance.

--G

AFC North Champs

Iraqi Reporter Throws Shoes At Bush

Unbelievable. Bush showed some moves. The Browns could use someone with moves like that!

--G

And The Heisman Goes To...

Congrats, Sam. A year after Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman, Bradford becomes the second. More importantly, for Buckeye Nation--and specifically Archie Griffin, Sam keeps Tebow from joining Archie as the only two-time Heisman winner in NCAA History.

--G

What else Is There To Talk About?!

We came pretty damn close to burning out on politics over an 18-month presidential campaign. The embitterment of my temperment was compounded by the fact that I knew my guy (begrudgingly) was bound to lose.

Recently, however, there have been some pretty interesting stories to share. What else is there to talk about?! Right. Sports and Food.

Now, since we're in the middle of December, I'm not doing much grilling. That leaves BCS Bowl games, the unveiling of the Heisman trophy on Saturday, the Cavs and LeBron, the NFL (and fantasy football) and MLB winter meetings, where the tribe (and others) are trying to get right.

Yea, there's Hockey, too, but I can't friggin' skate. I can fight, though--but I can't fight on skates (evidently neither can this guy)--so Hockey's out.

Oh, and evidently there is Golf going on in Austrailia. Had it not been for Big John Daly's latest blow-up, I never would have known.

Have a good weekend.

--G

Love It

LOVE it...hope he stays healthy. POTUS--to which Saint should I pray?

--G

Sign the Apocalypse is Upon Us

I knew the world was going to shit, but this just puts the icing on the proverbial turd. Former star of the T.V. show, the Nanny, Fran Drescher, has thrown her hat into the ring to replace the junior U.S. Senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Unlike the current holder of the office, at least she is FROM New York. Man, I hope she gets the appointment! Mista Sheffield!

--G

Crook County

Yes, I borrowed the title of this post from Drudge, but it was so perfect. Actually, this whole Blagojevich scandal is just too easy.

I'll just leave you with this: David Axelrod, Obama's most senior advisor said the following on November 23rd--"I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."

Today, with the light of day shed on the entire criminal enterprise, Obama himself said the following--“I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening. ”

Chicago politics, meet America. America, meet Chicago politics. When it's all said and done, we'll be longing for the days of Bob Taft, Eliot Spitzer and Marc Dann. I love it . . .

--G

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day belongs to Dan Patrick on his nightly radio show.

DP was opining on whether or not Tim Tebow would win Heisman trophy number two (putting him in the company of famed Buckeye Archie Griffin as the only two-time winner of the coveted award). DP thought he would, by the way, as long as the Gators beat the Sooners in the BCS National Championship.

As the discussion evolved, DP wondered aloud if Tebow, a junior, would leave college early for the pros. Most think he will, but Patrick suggested that once he realized he'd probably be drafted by the hapless, winless Detroit Lions, Patrick deadpanned, "he'd probably rather do circumcisions in a third world country than play for the Detroit Lions right now."

Classic.

-G

On the J-O-B

SteakMatters was on the J-O-B this week for you lovers of beef. Here’s a photo montage of my roadtrip to DC with Captain Dan.

Dinner at the Historic Jean Bonnett Tavern, in Bedford(falls), PA. Wing night. Need I say more. Hot and spice. Chicken Caesar wasn’t bad either. (What, I’m trying to eat healther.) Do you see a ghost in the photo? The place is haunted.

Big 3 Bailout: I had a meeting on the Senate side of the Hill on Thursday morning, the day of the Senate Banking hearing on the bailout. As you know, the pubstunt, after the pubnightmare of flying the corp jets to DC originally, was to drive from Detroit to DC. Are you kidding me? What a joke! Anyhow, I’m watching CNN and they are right outside the office I’m having a meeting in. So I stroll down to see the Chevy Volt and Chevy Malibu Hybrid (driven in by GM CEO Rick Wagner). I gotta admit. I really like the Volt. It’s sharp. Let’s hope GM can bring down the cost and competitively price the damn thing. We’ll be building ‘em in Lordstown if they can.

The Capital Christmas…ah, Winter Solstice…er, Holiday Tree was lit prior to my arrival. You can see it here, along with the Presidential inauguration platform (under construction) behind it. The White House Christmas tree was lit on Thursday night, but I had a reception and was unable to attend.

The Capital Visitor’s Center: Gotta love Sen. (Dirty) Harry Reid’s comments as posted by GOTSOO. But finally you can see the north side of the Capitol. Capt Dan and I were going to go in, but he had food in his bag, which was not permitted. So a photo montage will have to wait.

And finally, this is how we roll in the Land of SteakMatters: As mentioned, I drove into DC this week. It’s a long story, but let’s just say flight schedules and costs didn’t make the cut, so driving was the only option. I was a bit worried about the weather and needing to get back for a Friday morning meeting, I intended on renting a full-size car. Since they didn’t have any in stock, E-Prize set me up with an H3. I really enjoyed the truck, but I gotta tell ya, at just under 17 mpg highway, it’s no wonder GM’s looking to dump the brand. Make it a hybrid and you got a buyer.

POTUS

What's more painful?

In honor of today's two activities - the Browns' game and the decoration of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - I pose this question: What's more painful, watching a Browns' game or hanging Christmas lights on the Christmas tree? Vote now.

- POTUS

Cleveland Catastrophy

There are not enough adjectives to describe the terrible performance by the Browns this Sunday. I don't even know where to start.

Romeo Crennel has to go--he's a terrible coach.

Down 28-9 with 8 minutes left in the game, the Coach finally decides to do what this blogger suggested early last week--let Josh Cribbs QB. His first pass, a 44 yard completion to Braylon Edwards? Oh, wait, no it wasn't. Why? Because the refs called him out of bounds. Reply shows Braylon clearly had both feet in...but did Romeo challenge? Nope. Results? Another of 12,000 punts on the day.

The guy should be canned immediately---so he can stop thinking about Arby's during the game and actually go. Sad, sad, sad team.

--G

Happy Birthday to the Prince

With full love to Jackie Moon, this shout out:

Today we celebrated the Prince’s birthday. The whole family was in the house and Prince’s buddy AJ too.

Of the many birthday parties I attended as a kid, the ONE and ONLY one that I remember was a Jackie Moon birthday. We went sled riding in the MetroParks. I even remember sitting in the jump seat of the Moon’s green station wagon. Even today, I can see the steam wafting from my snow pants as we headed back to the house for lunch.

And what was for lunch, you ask? I’ll tell you what – MAKE YOUR OWN PIZZAS! I remember stretching the dough, spooning the sauce, adding the pepperoni, and covering it all with mozzarella cheese. It was something I remember nearly thirty years later as if it were just yesterday.

So today we celebrated the Prince’s birthday with make your own pizzas and a batch of sauce (sausage, hand-made meatballs, and Romano cheese). The kids loved their pizzas and we made a couple more as appetizers.

A tip of the SteakMatters platter to FLOTUS for putting together another wonderful birthday for one of our kids. The spread, the gifts, the attention to detail. Great job!

Thanks for the idea Jackie.

POTUS

The Canary

With a wink and a nod to OH pundits from SteakMatters.

Picture of the Day

No kidding--guy on the left is Jon Favreau, President-elect Obama's head speechwriter. Write your way out of this one, kiddo.

-G