McCain's Misquotes and "Dirty" Tactics Lead to Ambiguity

Tonight’s four candidate Republican debate ended up being a two-man show. In their best attempt at replicating the heated exchange between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the last Democratic debate, John McCain and Mitt Romney continuously spoke over one another, exchanged blows, and refused to let Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul get a word in during the hour and a half broadcast.

Mitt Romney, normally robotic in his responses during such debates, showed, dare I say, emotion when John McCain offered a dated quote implicating Romney as a proponent for a timetable for leaving Iraq. “What does that even mean?” Romney repeated several times over McCain, as if in a last ditch effort to stop the negative slander that was being fed into the public before his very eyes. The exchange between McCain and Romney over this “Iraq Timetable,” in a sense, did not completely bury Romney.

Before today, Senator McCain was framed as a man who was respected by all of his opponents in the race for the GOP Presidental nomination. This was further enforced earlier this afternoon when former opponent Rudy Guliani pledged his support to McCain. The outflow of support for McCain did not stop with Guilani however, CNN’s Anderson Cooper reported, just before the beginning of the debate, that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was due to pledge his support for John McCain as early as tomorrow afternoon.

It really makes be wonder why someone like McCain, who has so much going for him at this point during primary season, would stoop to using “dirty” tactics against Romney. It was weird for me to feel bad for Mitt Romney. Personally, I think that he is the coldest candidate on both Democratic and Republican cards. Not to mention that the New York Times hit the nail on the head when its poll named Romney the least likable Presidential candidate. However, after McCain’s attempt to use “dirty” tactics against Romney, viewers cannot help but feel the same ambiguity that I spoke about earlier. By the end of the debate... were they really feeling bad for Mitt Romney? The tactics and misquotes that littered McCain's debate tonight did more harm than help for the Arizona senator.

Will Rudy and "The Governator’s" endorsement of John McCain overshadow his attempts to burry Romney with dated quotations and misquoted statistics? Only time will tell. At the close of tonight's GOP debate, despite no indication of a clear-cut winner, it was blatantly apparent that John McCain was a loser.

Giuliani's Evil Alliance Should Mean More to Yankee Fans

The Red Sox are a team that knows what coming from behind for the victory is all about. This was the general tone in New England over the past couple days when presidential hopefuls campaigned in New Hampshire and Massachusetts in preparation for their respective primaries. The theme of the “underdog” was evident when Barack Obama addressed several Massachusetts voters yesterday evening. Receiving a full endorsement from Gov. Deval Patrick, the lone African American United States Governor, Obama did not attempt to lure voters by pledging his support for city’s favorite sons: the Red Sox.

In fact, Barack Obama spoke of his undying love of different colored Sox: those of a white variety. The Senator from Illinois reasoned with the crowed who quickly began booing him after he pulled no punches on his baseball allegiances by asking if they wanted a President who flip-flopped on issues like rooting for sports teams.

Baseball allegiances have provided a concrete mainstay during any political interviews, debates, or general talk. For this reason, Barack Obama’s no-holds-barred approach to his lack of love for the Red Sox also provided a shot at his competition: Senator Hilary Clinton. Senator Clinton, a native of Illinois, flip-flopped at the concept of her Chicago Cubs facing off against her New York Yankees in the 2007 World Series. Fortunately, for Senator Clinton, both the Yankees and the Cubs were both bounced in the first round of the playoffs in 2007, giving her at least another year to pledge her undying support to either franchise.

Hilary Clinton’s waning support for the Yankees is something that Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is very familiar with. Giuliani, a self-proclaimed life-long Yankees fan, was outspoken in 1999-2000 when, then-First Lady, Clinton donned a Yankee cap at the White House when the pinstripes visited for a photo op with the President and First Lady. In fact, during the 2000 World Series, seeing Hilary Clinton wear both a Yankee and Met cap, depending on which was the home team of course, was not all that unfamiliar. On the other hand, there sat Rudy Giuliani in the front row at Shea Stadium during games three, four, and five wearing the same pristine navy cap with white interlocking N-Y sitting prominently at the forefront.

If there was one thing that New Yorkers could rely on, it was Rudy Giuliani’s devotion to the greatest franchise in sports and entertainment history. However, that all changed on October 23, 2007. While campaigning in New Hampshire, Giuliani announced to a crowd of supporters that he would be rooting for the Red Sox to defeat the underdog Colorado Rockies in the World Series. While the crowd erupted in cheers of joy for Giuliani’s pledged support, the residents of New York dropped their collective jaws in complete and utter shock.

Could this have really happened? Did the same man who openly ridiculed Senator Clinton for not knowing about the history and tradition of the Yankees really pull the ultimate no-no? As the saying, for all Yankee fans, goes: “I root for two teams, the Yankees and whoever’s playing the Red Sox.” Has Giuliani really lost touch with the great New York Yankee fan base, or has the “nation” in Red Sox Nation convinced him that he could obtain more votes around the country by supporting the most hated rivals of his “beloved” Bronx Bombers?

Giuliani is someone who has attempted to bully his competition at every Republican Debate by citing their propensity to flip-flop on issues ranging from gun control to tax cuts. Despite the light humor surround sports allegiances, Giuliani’s flip-flop regarding his undying support for the Yankees provides a rather significant metaphor for voters. If Giuliani is willing to turncoat on something as important to him as his Yankees (he “bleeds pinstripes,” you know…), then what would he be willing to do on issues not as close to his heart as gay marriage, foreign policy / wars, the economy, and social justice in America?

Fantasy Champion!

BRONX, NY --It was a glorious day. The New York Jets led by Chad Pennington and Thomas Jones trounced the always-fun-to-beat Miami Dolphins. And most of all, Team Fadds claimed the most coveted crown in sports and entertainment today: The Done-Save-Done Championship.

"It was absolutely unbelievable!" exclaimed team GM Brian McFadden, "The feeling that ran through my veins knowing that I beat the beatable is indescribable." After phoning Mike Antineou, the most unstoppable force in sports today, to thank him for a high-octane match-up, McFadden released a letter to the press:

"Mike is a good friend and a great competitor. I have the utmost respect for him as he not only beat, but tanned my ass twice in regular season play. I would also like to thank Matt "McLovin" McDonough for having the most overrated team in the history of fantasy baseball. If it weren't for him, I would have never attained the status of 'Underdogg' going into the play-offs against crazy good teams like Bassett, Coyle, and Umammas. Special thanks to Lou Barricelli for telling me after every pick that I was making the worst picks in the history of baseball drafts. Justin Shackil for looking like Adam LaRoche. And last but not least Bobby Coyle for consistantly telling me that Team Fadds was the most overrated team in the league. Thanks guys."

At 11:00 PM, champaigne bottles popped, brews were cracked, and Nick Swisher took out his favorite bong, "Wesley Pipes," for Team Fadds were the champs! "I am so happy right now," said game MVP Jacoby Ellsbury, "when I got the call on Sunday night, I couldn't contain myself... I actually called Carl Crawford, asked to speak to his groin and thanked it over the phone."

"I made that phone call too," said catcher Mike Piazza, "and by phone call... I mean I went to have a face to face with it mid-week." Crawford sat on the trainer's table across the lockerroom, bottle in hand, ear-to-ear grin on his face, knew that the championship run began with him, the team's first round selection way back in March.

"Carl gave us a great pre-game speech," said Brett Myers, "It inspired me to do something that I've never done before-- save more than one game per week!" This Myers was a different man from the one reporters had seen earlier this week. After Robert "Bobby" Coyle made comments about the teams luck, Myers began to waver. Visibly shook up by the "Future G.M.'s" harsh words, Myers was used until his arm fell off by McFadden, who wanted to "have Myers 'man-up'."

Jermaine Dye and Ichiro Suzuki sat in the corner alone. The were their usual quiet selves, despite a championship win. "I just want to thank Mr. McFadden for relying on me week after week," said Dye, holding back tears, "I know it was a struggle for me this year and..." Ichiro, finishing Dye's tear soaked response: "...he's very happy."

Breaking up the sob fest was Danny Haren, who stumbled into the reporters with a bottles of Grey Goose and Miller High Life in each hand. "Yeeeeahhhh! CHampppiooons BABY!!!! HAHAHa," eclaimed a visibly drunk Haren as he chased a shot of Goose with the champaigne of beers. Coming to his aid was Jamal Lewis (randomly) saying, "Man's gotta get his Goose on," as he followed Harn carrying an semi-automatic.

The scene was a hectic one, but if this reporter can sum up Team Fadds' championship run in only a few words they would be these:

Ezekial 25:17. The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepards the weak through the valley of darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengence and FURIOUS anger those who attempt to poison and destory my brother. And you will know my name is the Lord, when I lay my VENGENCE UPON YOU!