Detroit Tigers, The Budget, and “The Confession”
by Barry Bauer
Wow, the Detroit Tigers are leading the Central division in the American league and it’s after the All-Star game! Before you get too excited they’ve done that before only to fold up the tents and go home mentally before the end of the season.
They’ve got some talent but most of it isn’t home grown. The notable exceptions are Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello and Alex Avila. When I was a kid I always kept tabs of their minor league teams to see who was hot knowing they’d come up to the big leagues pretty soon. An occasional trade back then gave hope that it would make them a better team. Nowadays there are still trades but today they have free agency to get better players. The talent doesn’t have to be home grown anymore.
I like Jim Leyland but he’s a terrible manager during the second half of the season. I think he over manages and makes too many mistakes when he does. He likes to bring in so and so from the bullpen in the later innings and of course they’re only good for one. Then he’ll bring in another so and so and we all know is this so and so is going to have a bad night.
Hopefully, this year is different and they hang on to win their division. That would be a nice surprise for the fans.
* * *
I’m still confused about the budget process. I always thought it was the president who submitted a budget to Congress and not the other way around. Well it turns out that there was a Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 that states that the president shall present a budget to Congress for approval every year. It was that way until 1974 when the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act was enacted and the Congressional Budget Office created. That happened during Nixon’s second term when Watergate was consuming the country’s and his administration’s time.
Presidents after 1974 still presented a budget until now so while Obama goes golfing, or entertaining at the White House, or on vacation with Michelle, daughters Milea, and Sasha, he expects Congress to do his job. He will do his best to make the Republicans look bad just as he’s blamed Bush for everything that’s wrong with the economy.
When does it become this guy’s fault? After he’s reelected? I hope not.
The president also has the Office of Management and Budget at his disposal so what the hell are they doing if the president doesn’t present a budget?
One thing for sure, both sides are playing politics with our country. They’re trying to position their party for the 2012 presidential elections and nothing else seems to matter to them. Not even us.
* * *
I finally finished my first and last (I think) hardcover book this year. From now on it’ll be books downloaded on my Kindle reader. “The Confession” by John Grisham was a great read. It started out slow like most books do whose author has to spend time setting the stage before really getting into the story. A young black man is scheduled to be put to death for the sexual assault and murder of a young white girl.
Is he found innocent or will he be put to death? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
* * *
A few thoughts:
I’ve become aware that presidents have been some of the biggest liars in the country. Johnson lied about Vietnam, Nixon lied about Watergate, Bush 41 lied about “no new taxes”, Clinton lied about sexual affairs in and out of office, Bush 43 lied about 9-11, and Obama lies today about the economy and the budget.
Am I ever glad that the NFL has settled its contract dispute and the training camps are open again. I haven’t heard how many exhibition games they will play but the most important thing is, there will be a full regular season schedule. Can you imagine no pro football games on Thanksgiving Day? I couldn’t even eat my turkey.
This is the worst president and worst Congress in my lifetime. And we thought Jimmy Carter was bad.
Do people still use starch in their laundry?
Until the next time . . .