Gadhafi

Libyan rebels were successful today in their hunt for former Libyan dictator Moammar Ghadafi. Ghadafi was captured alive after being found in a sewer CNN.com reports he died in a crossfire between his loyalists and Libyan rebels.

While this day is being hailed as a victory for the Free World. I wonder about the implications this may have for embattled president Barack Obama. The President is less than 14 months away from Election Day and Republicans have gone after him and his economic policies that have failed to pull the nation out of its recession.

While the phrase, "It's the economy, stupid," has resonated throughout the United States since the 1992 Presedential Election when Democratic Candidate Bill Clinton delivered it on the stump, Obama may have inadvertantly stepped into some good political fortune over the past six months. Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SeALs on the first week of May. Now Ghadafi is another feather in Obama's cap.

Let me be clear: Finding Ghadafi was a team effort between French warplanes, a U.S. drone and other resources provided by NATO. It was not the work of the United States alone. However, the hunt for the mastermind behind the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland is dead. He is the second neutralized threat to the United States and other democracy-seeking and loving nations during the Obama Administration.

Republican Presidential candidates have been debating for months. All who are running for the GOP nomination have never missed an opportunity to attack the President and his economic policies. What they cannot argue against is victories that have been scored against Al Qaeda terroists and a Libyan dictator.

Take them out of the Beer Game

The World Series starts tomorrow night and talk throughout these parts are still centered on September and beer. Only in New England.

The "Days of our Sox" Saga continues today with a story from the Boston Globe where Jon Lester attempts to dial down the drinking in the clubhouse issue to, "a ninth-inning rally beer." Lester also goes on to say, "Nobody played video games."

There is a saying: If you're in a hole, stop digging. the antics of Lester (15-9, 3.47), Josh Beckett (13-7, 2.89), and John Lackey (12-12, 6.41) have taken on a news cycle that everyone from clubhouse to front office wishes would just go away. The Red Sox failed to win a third of their games in the final month of the season and led to an awkward exit of a manager who failed to win 90 games just once during the eight seasons he was in charge.

Offseasons are difficult enough for team executives without the drama of an epic collapse. This isn't just a shot of whiskey before an elimination game at Yankee Stadium. These are three players making over $38 million combined during the 2011 season. While the rest of the team was fighting for their playoff lives, the Chicken Men were in the clubhouse as if they were college students on a Friday Night.

On top of this, your general manager has taken off for a job in Chicago.

John Henry has had a fairly easy tenure as owner of the Boston Red Sox. He has two World Series Championships and has been to three League Championship Series. It has been fairly smooth sailing at Yawkey Way for the Red Sox ownership and the players. It is time, however to see the mettle of Henry and his lieutenants. There was more chaos and drama than needed in 2011. The Red Sox have a great chance to corral their personnel with the right manager and general manager in 2012. If Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino can run their business, they can weed out the problem players and get a team made up of players who are more concerned about winning than fast food tabs. If that means fans don't deserve the opportunity to see Tim Wakefield chase a record, I think the fans can live with that.

Illegal Immigration Bill misses mark and oppurtunity

A story on cbsboston.com reports on a proposed bill that would result in jail time for any business owner that knowingly hires illegal immigrants. The bill, proposed by Ryan Fattman of Sutton, calls for a minimum of six months in jail if an employer is caught for a third time.

Fattman, according to the article, "said employers that hire illegal immigrants need to be held accountable."

While I agree there needs to be a tougher stance on illegal immigration, I don't agree with Representative Fattman's solution. Someone who hires someone who is in the country illegally should not be put in a place designed and reserved for murderers and rapists.

Instead, there is a better solution to deal with these scofflaws: impose fines and don't wait until the third offense to do it. Fining a business owner would get them where it hurts. It would also help raise money in a time where doing such a thing is difficult for Massachusetts. Impose a fine of $1,000 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second offense and $10,000 for the third offense. This is a more reasonable solution. You are bringing more money into the state and not wasting a jail cell or tax dollars on a non-violent offender.

Representative Fattman should amend his own bill and turn it into something that could truly help Massachusetts and its citizens.