President Barack Obama welcomed the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins to the White House Monday. Of all players on the Bruins' roster, only two (Goalie Tim Thomas and Defenseman Steven Kampfer) are American.
A championship team visiting the White House is routine. It makes for a nice photo op for the President and the team but that's about it... until one of the players decided to decline the invitation.
Thomas was not present at the ceremony. He released a statement that was available through many sources including Facebook and nhl.com saying, "the federal government has grown out of control threatening the rights, liberties and property of the people."
Thomas' snub as well as the subsequent reporting and commentary throughout the newspapers and talk radio at a time when the Bruins appear to be on their way to another Stanley Cup Final. Currently, only two team in the NHL have more points than the Bruins (64). As a whole, teammates are not commenting publicly on the matter. The Bruins chose not to have Thomas present at a charity event in Washington D.C.
Thomas' actions and explanations have created an off-ice story. I believe he was within his right to not attend. He doesn't agree with the direction the country appears to be headed (Who does?). He didn't call a press conference about it. He didn't go to the White House and make a scene. He simply declined an invitation and, when questions arose, he explained it.
Many people are calling for Thomas to move to Canada. Many people think he should leave the country if he doesn't like it. Thomas never said he doesn't like the country. He simply stated he felt the American Government was too bloated and was not happy with the actions and inactions of the people elected by the people to get things done for the people. This is not incendiary rhetoric. It is someone who believes what he believes and later offered an explanation when people asked about it.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Mitt Romney and the Message
I know this post is going to label me as a Liberal. But if you accuse me of being a Liberal, you obviously haven't been paying attention to what I write.
Last night, Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire Primary Election. His speech proclaiming the victory at a relatively early hour had all the hallmarks of a GOP presidential candidate: The country is suffering because of Barack Obama. People are frustrated because of Barack Obama. The country is going to Hell in a handbasket because of Barack Obama. Barack Obama has failed.
It hasn't been all Barack Obama. He's received some help from the other side of the aisle but you can't admit that when you're trying to unseat the man.
Mitt Romney accused Obama of everything in last night's speech from "job-killing regulations" to "[turning] America into a European-style entitlement society," and "[taking] his inspiration from the capitals of Europe."
Wait just a minute there!
Mitt Romney would love to have you believe everything in America was going just fine until Barack Obama entered the Oval Office. Things were far from fine four years ago. The economy was in shambles. America was in the midst of fighting a two-front war. Since then, the economy has improved somewhat. There isn't a chicken in every pot but no one, not even a Presidential challenger can say there has been no improvement.
Romney's speech last night also accuses President Obama and no one else of losing the country's AAA credit rating. This is not true, unfair and absurd. The President tried to work with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell on the debt ceiling. McConnell and Boehner refused to budge on issues and had hands in the Nation's credit rating being downgraded. This did not happen because of Barack Obama alone. Don't let Mitt Romney convince you otherwise.
There's more (Pay attention, Rick Santorum): Republican candidates have been barnstorming across the country about "values" and how they will restore them in this country. The truth is "values" is a buzzword candidates like to throw out there to get people to side with their beliefs. The truth is people don't have the same "values" and it is ridiculous to think someone can convince everyone to share the same ones. People have different beliefs. They have and they will and continuing to use values as a campaign platform will further divide the country despite what MSSRS Romney, Santorum, et al pontificate.
Mitt Romney's tactics are working because he is speaking to one, centralized audience: Registered Republican voters who wouldn't re-elect Barack Obama if he rescued everyone from a burning nursing home. If Romney gets the nomination, he will be forced to present, defend and justify his views to a string of undecided registered independent and even Democratic voters. Attacking the incumbent at a partisan rally is one thing. Pushing that message to millions of others who don't share your "values" is completely different.
Last night, Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire Primary Election. His speech proclaiming the victory at a relatively early hour had all the hallmarks of a GOP presidential candidate: The country is suffering because of Barack Obama. People are frustrated because of Barack Obama. The country is going to Hell in a handbasket because of Barack Obama. Barack Obama has failed.
It hasn't been all Barack Obama. He's received some help from the other side of the aisle but you can't admit that when you're trying to unseat the man.
Mitt Romney accused Obama of everything in last night's speech from "job-killing regulations" to "[turning] America into a European-style entitlement society," and "[taking] his inspiration from the capitals of Europe."
Wait just a minute there!
Mitt Romney would love to have you believe everything in America was going just fine until Barack Obama entered the Oval Office. Things were far from fine four years ago. The economy was in shambles. America was in the midst of fighting a two-front war. Since then, the economy has improved somewhat. There isn't a chicken in every pot but no one, not even a Presidential challenger can say there has been no improvement.
Romney's speech last night also accuses President Obama and no one else of losing the country's AAA credit rating. This is not true, unfair and absurd. The President tried to work with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell on the debt ceiling. McConnell and Boehner refused to budge on issues and had hands in the Nation's credit rating being downgraded. This did not happen because of Barack Obama alone. Don't let Mitt Romney convince you otherwise.
There's more (Pay attention, Rick Santorum): Republican candidates have been barnstorming across the country about "values" and how they will restore them in this country. The truth is "values" is a buzzword candidates like to throw out there to get people to side with their beliefs. The truth is people don't have the same "values" and it is ridiculous to think someone can convince everyone to share the same ones. People have different beliefs. They have and they will and continuing to use values as a campaign platform will further divide the country despite what MSSRS Romney, Santorum, et al pontificate.
Mitt Romney's tactics are working because he is speaking to one, centralized audience: Registered Republican voters who wouldn't re-elect Barack Obama if he rescued everyone from a burning nursing home. If Romney gets the nomination, he will be forced to present, defend and justify his views to a string of undecided registered independent and even Democratic voters. Attacking the incumbent at a partisan rally is one thing. Pushing that message to millions of others who don't share your "values" is completely different.
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