UFC 118 Predictions: Edgar vs. Penn 2

Posted: August 22, 2010 by John Brodigan in Mixed Martial Arts, Predictions
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The UFC is shipping off to Boston this Saturday, headline by a rematch between Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn for the lightweight title. Edgar shocked everyone by defeating the champ in the first place? Can he do it again? More importantly, can I break at least .500 with predictions this time?

PRELIMINARY CARD
I like Joe Lauzon over Gabe Reudiger and Andre Winner over Nik Lentz

UNDERCARD
I’m sure Demian Maia wants to make up for his now infamous loss to Anderson Silva. Because of that, I see him beating Mario Miranda.

It hasn’t been announce as a “#1 Contenders Fight,” but you can easily see the winner of Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard fighting the winner of the main event. This fight should be close, but I find it difficult to ever vote against Florian. I see “Ken Flo” earning his THIRD title shot.
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Romney on the Economy: Fix It

Posted: August 18, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2012 Watch, Mitt Romney, Politics, Politics, Politics
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It’s time for another Mitt Romney “chair shot” editorial where, just like in pro-wrestling (which politics seems to be faker than), he runs in when no one is paying attention, wacks the President with a chair (proverbially), and leaves through the audience.

And I have to be honest, I’ve never wanted to be hit in the head with a chair so much before in my life because if I hear the word “mosque” one more time…I’ll have something snarky to say aboot it on the Twitter.

It’s also welcome because, while August is traditionally the “silly season” of politics, the economy and jobs (or the lack there of) are still kinda important. Unemployment is at 9.5 % (1.5 % higher than the Obama Campaign said it would get if we passed their stimulus) and small business, which are struggling in the first place, are afraid to move with the threat of tax increases and other anti-business rhetoric coming from the White House.

Mitt, whatcha got for us?

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Education Reform: Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush Stylee

Posted: August 17, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2010 Watch, Marco Rubio, Politics, Politics, Politics
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“Marco Rubio understands that God has given every child the ability to learn.” - Jeb Bush

We had a little scare in the Florida Senate race where Marco Rubio lost his lead over Charlie Crist. Thankfully now that the Gulf oil spill is getting cleaned up and people are reminded that Crist is an un-ideological tool, things are back to normal. Rubio was back to a five point lead in Rasmussen, and while I don’t necessarily trust Ras on its own, it was backed up with a six point lead in Mason Dixon.

We can now return to vital social issues n’ stuff, like education. Florida was a home to the education reform movement thanks to former Governor (and the man who should have been 43) Jeb Bush, and while the current Gov, recently vetoed Florida’s education reform bill, the former appeared with Marco Rubio recently as he unveiled his plan to reform the education system.

Some of the highlights…

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David Malpass: Bring on the Tax Revolt

Posted: August 17, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2010 Watch, NY in '10, New York, Politics, Politics, Politics
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“Right now. We could create 300,000 jobs in the six months.”

I found it slightly amusing to hear David Malpass say a “tax revolt” is coming. That’s exactly what happened last year with our county executive race here in Nassau County (where Bruce Blakeman was originally from, before moving into his ivory tower on the upper-east side of Manhattan). We had an actual “Tax Revolt” ballot line, which delivered enough votes to put the under funded longshot challenger Ed Mangano over the Tom Suozzi, the incumbent with a ridonkulous amount of money.

Hmmm…a longshot challenger defeating a well funded incumbent. Interesting…

David Malpass is uniquely qualified to discuss taxes, because while everyone with an (R-State) after there name tried to lay claim to the legacy of Ronald Reagan, Malpass actually helped engineer the Reagan tax cuts while at the Treasury Department. And he took his tax-revolt message to (no sleep ‘til) Brooklyn recently…

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Song of the Day: Best of You

Posted: August 17, 2010 by John Brodigan in Entertainment, Music, Rock and/or Roll
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Paul Ryan: Flimflam Sauce? Seriously?

Posted: August 9, 2010 by John Brodigan in Politics, Politics, Politics
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When I read that left wing hack Paul Krugman dedicated a column to attacking Paul Ryan and his “Roadmap for America’s Future,” I almost squirted my Pabst Blue Ribbon out of my nose. It’s your usual New York Times editorial: “Anyone who has a different political opinion than me is an idiot, and here’s why.” Though instead of accusing Ryan of hate mongering or racism like many of his colleagues at the Times, he accused him of being a flimflam man covered in flimflam sauce.

(And before anyone says it, yes I realized Krugman won the Nobel Prize. He won it with the same qualifications and reason Barack Obama won it, a) he’s hyper-liberal, and b) he isn’t George W. Bush.)

Admittedly, I’m not an economist. I also usually rely on libertarians as referee’s when it comes right vs. left issues, so I’ll let smarter people like Reason Magazine and Megan McArdle critique the specifics (McArdle also points out the Krugman, “…could easily have gotten answers to his questions if he had wanted them.)” Instead, I’ll just shill for Paul Ryan and let him defend himself…

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David Malpass and the Fiscal Insanity of Washington

Posted: August 6, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2010 Watch, NY in '10, New York, Politics, Politics, Politics
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I’m not entirely sure when this happened, but apparently this week the Democrats passed another spending bill, this time to give a financial bailout out to states that have proven to not be good with money in the first place. Surprisingly, New York was in fact one of those states. I know, and we’re usually so fiscally solvent too.

Of course, our two Senators (or one Senator and his marionette) have been celebrating the money we’re getting, using baseball analogies and claiming to have jumped up with joy and did a dance when the bill passed. Setting aside the fact that you would have to be beyond naïve to believe this money is going right to the schools as opposed to the Democrat party’s benefactors in the teachers unions, with most of this debt spending…at what cost is it coming to the tax payers?

Here comes to quote from David Malpass…

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Song of the Day: We Are One

Posted: August 2, 2010 by John Brodigan in Entertainment, Music, Rock and/or Roll
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Another Post on Paul Ryan vs. the GOP

Posted: August 2, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2010 Watch, Politics, Politics, Politics
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It’s getting tiresome writing aboot the same thing over and over, but as long as it keeps pissing me off…

It would appear that while Paul Ryan has recently scrapped with left wing ideologues like Ezra Klein and liberal hacks like the 2008 Douchebag of the Year winner Chris Matthews, his fiercest opposition to actual budget reform seems to be coming from within his own party.

The attitude seems to be to shy way from thing like “ideas” and “reform,” out of fear that shouting anything other than “Repeal! 10th Amendment! Ham Sandwich!” will be used against them. Apparently the GOP as a national party hasn’t a) learned from Chris Christie’s popularity, and b) learned from their past mistakes.

But what are they actually afraid of, losing…or winning? Hmmm…

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UFC 117 Predictions: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen

Posted: August 1, 2010 by John Brodigan in Mixed Martial Arts, Predictions
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Anderson Silva upset a lot of people – and his boss – in his last fight. Chael Sonnen is a fighter who, from what we’re being told, won’t allow any boredom or show boating from Silva. Your UFC 117 predictions begin now!

UNDERCARD
The Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves is the one I’m most looking forward to. Fitch beat Alves in their first fight, but Alves isn’t the same fighter he was then. He also hasn’t fought since recently under going brain surgery. I’m still going to take Alves here, most likely setting uo Alves vs. Fitch III as the main event of an Ultimate Fight Night some time next year.

Clay Guida vs. Rafael Dos Anjos is a coin toss, and one where Guida beat Anjos six time to four. Yes, I actually flip a coin. Guida wins.
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Song of the Day: New Strings

Posted: August 1, 2010 by John Brodigan in Country Muzik, Entertainment, Music
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It Begins! Upstate NY Calls on Blakeman to Drop Out

Posted: August 1, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2010 Watch, NY in '10, New York, Politics, Politics, Politics
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I touched on this a little bit while kibitzing on the NY-1 a few months ago, but as much as I appreciate primaries and honest debate that strengthen the party…money still matters. This is especially true in New York (at least statewide) where starting off with a scarlet letter “R” after your name already starts you at a disadvantage. That said, as of the end of June…

David Malpass – $2,300,000.00 on hand
Bruce Blakeman – $236,247.00 on hand

Que the calls for Blakeman to drop out in 5…4…3…2…
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Frank Scaturro: On The Radar with the NRCC

Posted: July 26, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2010 Watch, NY in '10, New York, Politics, Politics, Politics
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I’ve expressed my preference for Frank Scaturro in the NY-4 both with an endorsement as well as questioning why the local establishment GOP would inexplicably go with someone else. Apparently the NRCC agrees more with me…

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has officially announced Frank Scaturro as an ‘On the Radar’ candidate, an important first step in its Young Guns program…The Young Guns program is designed to assist Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives achieve goals and benchmarks throughout the election cycle focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign. By achieving ‘On the Radar’ status, Scaturro has already proven his ability to build a successful campaign structure and achieve important fundraising goals.

“The NRCC is committed to working with Frank Scaturro as he continues to meet the rigorous goals of the Young Guns program,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. “Frank is a respected attorney, academic and activist with practical experience in government and civic service. He is ready to create jobs, rein in government spending, and fight for traditional American values”

Great job Frank!

Can Newt Gingrich win in 2012?

Posted: July 26, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2012 Watch, Newt Gingrich, Politics, Politics, Politics
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Newt Gingrich said last Sunday on “Fox News Sunday” he was going to decide if he was running for President or not in February, which of course now makes his annual speech at CPAC that much more eagerly anticipated. We’ve heard this from him before, but my question isn’t if he will run…but should he run?

I think he’s running this time. Quite frankly, if he doesn’t do is this year he never will. However I was at a Young Republican brunch yesterday, and a member of our Contrarian Caucus (who is also a member of the Shut Up and Govern Caucus) went off because if he runs, the Dems/media will destroy him. They pretend to like him now as an analyst, but once he runs they’re going to break into the vault of opposition research they have on him, roll a few fat ones, and have a Luau.

My friend is probably right, and I’m not necessary saying that I would support Newt once we know who our candidates are (this month I’m in the Mitch Daniels camp). I still want him to run though because, quite simply, all throughout 2011, I want the debate.
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David Malpass on Financial Reform

Posted: July 23, 2010 by John Brodigan in 2010 Watch, NY in '10, New York, Politics, Politics, Politics
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The most recent poll (I don’t feel like looking it up) showed that more voters would prefer someone other than Kristen Gilligan than they would Kristen Gilligan (hey, that’s what my Blackberry calls her). While voters haven’t warmed up to any of the Republicans running against her yet, it does leave the opportunity. Enter David Malpass.

Some people just don’t like her playing Fozzy the Bear to Chuck Schumer’s Frank Oz, but for me it’s the lack of authenticity. This was the formerly proud, gun totin’ Blue Dog Democrat who upon being “enlightened” by New York City liberals has turned into an allegedly progressive leader. That’s just the type of gal she is this week.

Malpass? He made a lot of money on Wall Street. Instead of pretending he didn’t or playing the role of some faux populist (like others), he embraces it because it’s that experience that the people of New York need, no matter how much the Democrats look to demonizing anyone who makes more money than you.

And it’s that experience that allows him to come out strongly against the President’s alleged “financial reform” and know what he’s talking aboot…

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