quickly now.

just a quick blip.  

If you don't vote, you can't complain.  Plain and simple.  If you don't take part in your democratic right, how am I suppose to value any opinion you have on the next four years?

I can't.

politics and athletes

Listening to At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash.  It is a fantastic live album, probably the best one I own.  

I watched a segment of First Take on epsn this morning.  They were debating whether or not athletes (they also mentioned musicians and actors) should openly support politicians.  A few football players from the Cleveland Browns organization have been to McCain rallies and a few have been to Obama rallies.  These players have also come out and are quoted in news papers as to supporting those candidates.  Of course they have the right to do so, but I'm on the fence on this.  

Historically speaking, Ohio is huge when it comes to the election, everyone knows that.  A big swing state, plenty of electoral votes.  The fact that the Browns are in Ohio, I think, is one reason why this can be important.  If these athletes are popular amongst the fans, some may vote for who the athlete supports.  Of course basing your vote on someone else's opinion is ridiculous.  So there is that, but still, that could be a lot of votes for one candidate or the other.  Imagine the presidential election being decided in Ohio, the election being close, and this kind of story being out there.  

This could be nothing, just a slow sports news day.  I highly doubt anything will come of this, and if it were taking place in a state like Minnesota or Colorado, it wouldn't be worth talking about.  It all has to do with location, and this time it is Ohio.  

Mike and Mike

I was very excited about Mike and Mike in the Morning this morning because they had Barack Obama on the show today.  Yes, I will be paying more attention to Obama on a sports talk show than going toe to toe with McCain in a debate.  

So I TIVOed (I think that is a word now in the English language) the show because he wasn't going to be on until eight in the morning.  I'm watching and listening right now, and I cannot vote for Barck Obama.  It isn't some policy I don't agree with, it isn't his stance on any hot button issue....

...I can't vote for him because he is a White Sox fan.  Yes, it is true.  He is not getting my vote because he rocks a Sox cap while watching baseball.  Sorry kids, it's true.  

(okay, not really.)

...and all that political bullshit

I've determined that all this political bullshit and none sense needs to go away. I know that nothing would get done in the scenario I am about to suggest, but it would ease up on all this political positioning almost an entire year before an election takes place: Just alternate. Think about it. Every six years go to another political party for president. Extend the years in office from four to six years that way something might actually get done (HA) and kick them the hell out and let the other party take over for six years.

And to completely do away with all the campaigning, make the previous president pick two candidates, both from the opposite party. These two candidates would be approved by congress and senate and then the people would vote. Because politicians are egocentric, they are going to want to be known as 'the president who picked two good candidates' not the guy who is best known for 'picking those two guys that were horrible'. This would also bring the political left and right closer together because the previous president would (I assume) try to pick someone just like him to get more of their agenda done, but because he would have to choose from the other party, that candidate would have to be close to the former on the political scale, so they would get closer and closer to the middle. Make sense? I hope so because that isn't getting explained again.

I just can't stand people who walk in on voting day and vote based on political party. It doesn't make any sense, but they are blind and stupid if they vote straight ticket. This kind of system would make people stop and think about who they vote for. It doesn't matter to some people if a candidate wants to burn down all the schools or put babies on rotisseries, they would vote for them because they are part of their political party.

Stop and listen to what politicians are really saying, not what they are spoon feeding you. And don't be afraid to look to the left or the right when considering your options.