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1.12.2002 11:51 PM With Daniel Snyder's yearning for Steve Spurrier, I see no chance of current coach Marty Schottenheimer coming back next season. I know I wouldn't be too happy if my boss was looking for my replacement while keeping me on the payroll. "Redskins again seeking Spurrier" Sean Hackbarth | 11:47 PM It seems 24-hour news channels crave scandal so much that they're willing to create one in the case of President Bush and Enron. There has been no evidence or accusation that Bush or any of his staff did anything wrong, unethical, or improper. It looks like the media wants to balance things out for going after Bill Clinton and Whitewater. Former Clinton counsel, Lanny Davis warned his fellow Democrats not to use Enron for political points. "Democrats have to avoid using innuendo as a surrogate for fact. This is not payback time." "Enron Collapse Likened to Whitewater for Bush" Sean Hackbarth | 1.11.2002 6:55 PM Andersen, Enron's accountant, is being dragged down because of their poor practices. I have no sympathy for them. It's not the first time they've helped cook a company's books. "Andersen's Future at Stake After Enron" Sean Hackbarth | 6:38 PM At the root of this story about Enron is that neither Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil, Commerce Secretary Don Evans, nor Treasury Under Secretary Peter Fisher aided the now bankrupt company. They were asked, but no help was given. In fact, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin did more to help Enron than any Bush official. Millions in campaign contributions didn't help them. [NOTE: I'm still an Enron shareholder, and will be for at least a little while longer. The NYSE halted trading while waiting for more details about the sale of its energy trading operation.] "Treasury's Fisher Felt Enron Asked for Help" Sean Hackbarth | 12:07 AM This is weird. You need a ticket to get on the viewing platform overlooking Ground Zero. "Tragedy and Its Vendors" Sean Hackbarth | 12:03 AM Sure, I'm biased, but Stephen Hayes makes the case for a 4th MVP for Brett Favre. And I'm still ticked about him giving Michael Strahan that sack. "There's Something About Favre" Sean Hackbarth | 1.10.2002 11:52 PM Democrats out to get Bush over Enron will probably claim Arthur Andersen is part of the Vast-Right Wing Conspriacy for destroying many documents. The accounting firm says the destruction was "required in certain circumstances." "Auditor Says Enron Documents Gone" [via Drudge] Sean Hackbarth | 11:12 PM Instead of wasting time on investigations of Enron and Major League Baseball, Congress should look at Arafat's role in the boat-load of weapons Israel captured. Did Arafat know about the smuggling, and when did he know it? "U.S. Turns Up the Heat On Arafat Over Smuggling Affair" Sean Hackbarth | 10:56 PM I may have been wrong about the winner, but I'm glad a good guy won Survivor Sean Hackbarth | 5:28 PM In a few hours the Survivor winner will be known. I'm putting my bet on Tom. Sean Hackbarth | 5:26 PM Because a French court ruled that a disabled child had a right "not to be born," doctors there won't use ultrasound on pregnant women. They fear future lawsuits. The law of unintended consequences slapped France right in the face. TheBlueButton.com put it succinctly: "The French are idiots." "Scan Strike by French Doctors" Sean Hackbarth | 4:38 PM Enron's bankruptcy will only play a minor role in the Democrats' attack on President Bush. Here's their strategy: make a big fuss over Enron's collapse and its financial tricks. Then bring up all the Enron head honchos. Ask a few questions about the accounting schemes and then move on to the juicy stuff: Texas politics. Democrats will try to portray Bush's governor's office as a corrupt institution that doled out government favors for campaign contributions. CBS Marketwatch's David Callaway gave it all away when he wrote, "Enron, the company, will soon be gone. But Enron, the symbol of how big business and big politics sometimes conspire to fix the game, is just starting to dawn on the national consciousness." Let me stay on Callaway's article a little longer. He writes:
How did Enron executives get Bush's "economic plan" (i.e. tax cuts) passed? Why would it be in the interests of Enron executives to drain away the budge surplus? Callaway doesn't show any link. It's just anti-Bush prattle. He can't go after him on the war front because we're winning, so he has to find another route. "Enron is not Bush's Whitewater; It Will be Worse" [via Reductio] Sean Hackbarth | 4:20 PM This op-ed is delusional. Bob Herbert spews class-warfare rhetoric ("Enron was a bonanza for — whom else? — the folks at the top of the pyramid.") and makes a vague claim that Enron got government goodies simply because top executives contributed to campaigns. Herbert does admit there's no hard evidence that Enron did anything illegal, yet he still tries to splatter mud all over the Bush administration. It seems that if it doesn't look like a Whitewater scandal, liberals will just convince themselves that it is. "Joined at the Hip" [via Reductio] Sean Hackbarth | 3:41 PM Tom Wolfe notes that New York was changing before 9.11. Modern art and architecture is bankrupt; Asians are the fastest growing ethnic group; and women are pursuing men instead of the other-way-around. "The New New York" Sean Hackbarth | 3:14 PM Due to Blogger's illness, yesterdays posts are now available. Sean Hackbarth | 2:49 PM Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) is sticking his Congressional nose where it doesn't belong. He's calling for Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig's resignation because his Milwaukee Brewers got a loan from a company owned by another baseball owner. The only things that makes professional baseball anything close to interstate commerce--an area Congress constitutionally has domain over--are the cross-country travel and the national broadcasts. Even if Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce, that doesn't mean it has to in every case. For the most part professional baseball is a group of private businesses. Many teams do receive big subsidies like the stadiums they play in, but the federal government has and should have little involvement. Minnesota Congressman, Bill Luther chimed in by saying, "the best interests of baseball are not served by having a team owner serve as commissioner." Fine, Bill. Then get your own team and vote to remove Selig. It isn't the role of Congressmen to dictate who should or shouldn't run a private organization. When team owners hired Selig as commissioner, they knew he was an owner, but they felt comfortable with his leadership. They made their bed, and they'll have to lie in it. Back to Conyers. He also thinks contraction is part of a dark conspiracy to improve the Brewers. According to Conyers, "Brewers stand to double their television revenue if the Twins are eliminated." The congressman doesn't know much about the Midwest sports scene. If the Twins go away, Minnesotans won't jump to the Brewers. They're not fans of any Wisconsin teams. Minnesota is a state where they don't support a tax payer-funded baseball stadium. If baseball leaves, they'll move on to other sports. "Selig Asked to Back Off Contraction" Sean Hackbarth | 1.9.2002 1:48 PM One of the greatest coaches in college hockey history, Wisconsin's Jeff Sauer will retire after this season. "Sauer Will Resign from UW Hockey Post" Sean Hackbarth | 1:44 PM Wisconsin Republicans have a rather unique way to fix the gaping hole in the budget: freeze spending. "GOP Fix: Clamp Down on Spending" Sean Hackbarth | 1:20 PM If you think your public school is already too confining in its teaching, then hope your local school doesn't implement Minneapolis' "Small Learning Communities." Ninth graders there are forced to choose a career which will let administrators determine what school they should attend. While it is possible for a high schooler to switch their major (in high school!), they will have to wade through an already sluggish bueauracracy. "Minneapolis 9th Graders Told to Choose Career Path Now" Sean Hackbarth | 3:38 AM Scott wonders about using deceit to save lives. When it comes to abortion, sometimes it has to be done. We live in a culture of death. In too many instances when a woman gets pregnant, abortion is seen as the only solution. Lying to a pregnant woman in order to stop her from killing her child doesn't violate anyone's rights. Sure, the Supreme Court (incorrectly) allows abortion on demand with limited state restrictions, but that doesn't mean a woman's rights are violated if she doesn't undergo the procedure. Lying to prevent abortion is unseemly, but in no way does it violate rights, as would be the in the case of shooting an abortion doctor or blowing up a clinic. Sean Hackbarth | 2:56 AM The National Organization for (liberal) Women is despicable. After the 9.11 attacks, they want statistical gender equality in the rebuilding of New York. If too few women aren't getting contracts, then they'll release the hounds--I mean lawyers. But other than legal fees and increased fund raising from all the attention, Wendy McElroy doesn't answer how NOW could get any of the relief money. "NOW Grabs For WTC Relief Funds" Sean Hackbarth | 2:44 AM Fuel cells as a real technology won't happen unless companies think there's a way to make money with them. No amount of tree hugging environmental talk will do it. GM thinks that by replacing the internal combustion engine with a fuel cell they can expand the world-wide car/truck market from the 12% that currently own them. "GM Veers Towards Fuel Cells Cars" Sean Hackbarth | 2:34 AM Bill Gates on the Xbox:
"Gates Opens Windows to Wireless" Sean Hackbarth | 2:20 AM I was waiting for David Horowitz to toss in his two cents on the West-Summers affair. I really liked it when he wanted West to bolt to Princeton because then Harvard's Afro-American Studies Department "would be even better." "Harvard Prof, Involved in Political Flap, Labeled 'Intellectual Lightweight'" Sean Hackbarth | 1.8.2002 2:03 PM More on Michael Strahan's cheap record-breaking sack: Packers coach Mike Sherman didn't seem too thrilled about Brett Favre giving away the sack. "I don't believe you give anybody anything in this league; everybody has to earn what they get. I've always felt that way. You people pretty much know what I stand for," said Sherman. Other Packers think it was a set-up. The Journal Sentinel story says that "even some of his own teammates merely smiled or smirked at the notion that he had deviated from the play called in the huddle for some other reason than to allow Strahan to sack him." The NFL is letting this bit of pro wrestling stand by not taking away Strahan's (and Favre's) sack. I demand an asterisk! "Sack Still Stirs up Giant Hornet's Nest" Sean Hackbarth | 1:57 PM An old man like Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) isn't a serious terrorist threat. If I were on a plane with 150 John Dingell, I would feel pretty safe. I would definitely feel safer with Dingell on board than some 20-year olds from Marian County, Califorinia. What the screeners did to Dingell was ridiculous. Call it limited profiling or call it what it really is: common sense. "Boxers or Briefs? Rep. Dingell's Airport Exposure" Sean Hackbarth | 1:45 PM Milwaukee County supervisors are livid that top county officials could get millions of dollars in pension money. They're calling for resginations, but the supervisors shouldn't be left off the hook. The pension plan was part of a bill passed by them late last year by a 20-5 vote. A few people forgot to read the details. "Pension Authors Under Fire" Sean Hackbarth | 3:37 AM This review of Berard Goldberg's Bias echoes my feelings. "Telling the Whole Story" Sean Hackbarth | 3:28 AM What Tiger 03 did in Afghanistan is WAY more impressive than watching bombs drop into the windows of Iraqi buildings during the Gulf War. The kill ratio of that Green Beret team is over 70 to 1. "1,300 Enemy Men Killed by Handful of Green Berets" Sean Hackbarth | 3:20 AM Virginia explains the concept of marginal cost better than any econ professor I had. She's prettier too. "Often, Basic Concepts in Economics Are Taken for Granted" Sean Hackbarth | 1:45 AM Wisconsin is one state that's facing a huge hole in its budget. Tax revenue increased throughout the booming 90's but government spending grew even faster. The American Legislative Exchange Council notes that this isn't limited to the Dairy State. "Watchdog Group: Higher Spending Comes Back to Haunt States" Sean Hackbarth | 1:30 AM It's NFL Players Week on Wheel of Fortune this week. In a press release, Pat Allen of Players, Inc. said, "NFL Players are not only skilled athletes, but community leaders as well." Ok, but can they spell? Packers' Ahman Green to Appear on Wheel of Fortune "NFL Players Week" Sean Hackbarth | 1.7.2002 1:44 PM Fred Barnes concludes the Ambrose copying affair. This story moved fast. The speed of the Internet disemenated the story quickly. Pundits and quasi-pundits (like me) examined it with some care. Then Ambrose apologized two days after the story broke. This process may have taken days to weeks a few years ago. "Ambrose Apologizes" [via InstaPundit] Sean Hackbarth | 1:24 PM Steve Jobs wanted the new iMac to look like an sunflower. It looks more like an art deco piece. Can the chrome extention between the flat-panel screen and the computer handle abuse? It looks a little fragile. "Apple's Latest Fruit" Sean Hackbarth | 1.6.2002 11:27 PM James Q. Wilson links the decline of marriage to Enlightment ideas. Since it's a cultural problem, Wilson sees little government can do. "Why We Don?t Marry" Sean Hackbarth | 10:43 PM Rich Galen combines Enron with Lanny Davis. The moral of his story: "Sometimes what looks like an excellent strategic move just doesn't work out. The best course is to admit it and move on." I'm betting that there's something left of value in that shell of a company. "Form 10-Q" Sean Hackbarth | 10:17 PM I love how the Journal Sentinel editorial page is more concerned about the conditions of the worst prisioners in Wisconsin, than the victims they harmed. "Good Boscobel Prison Deal" Sean Hackbarth | 10:11 PM The Journal Sentinal editorial page knows that the investigation of Enron (I'm still part owner) could turn into a partisan weapon. So, "to prevent a real circus" they recommend a joint commitee. Sounds reasonable to me. "Investigating Enron Corp." Sean Hackbarth | 10:07 PM The paleo-libertarians at the Mises Institute critique 200+ years of American Presidents. "Reassessing the Presidency" Sean Hackbarth | 10:02 PM There's a poll (to the right of the story) on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website. The question is, "Should the Packers have given Michael Strahan the gimme sack?" As of this moment, the no's lead 55.5% to 44.5%. Sean Hackbarth | 8:35 PM Stephen Ambrose had admitted his copying in The Wild Blue and will make changes in future editions of the book. His other books should still be looked into, but this embarassment should be enough punishment. However, it does put a cloud over all his future books. "Ambrose Sorry for Copying Phrases" Sean Hackbarth | 8:21 PM Clark Judge knows Favre gave Strahan a gift, but doesn't care.
That's bogus!! Strahan is only deserving of the record if he actually earns the record. Ahman Green had a great season for the Packers. What he didn't do was become the first Packer to rack up 2000 yards in total offense. According to Judge's logic, the NFL should just give him that honor because Green "had a heckuva season." But Green didn't do what it took to get 2000 total yards, so he doesn't deserve the honor. By the same reasoning, Strahan's gift shouldn't count toward his sack total. Without Favre's flop, the not-as-big-a-story would be how the Packers shut out Strahan and kept him from breaking the record. At the very least, the sack should be split between the two. Then Favre probably would be the first (and only) quarterback to ever record a sack. "Gift or Not, Strahan Deserved the Record." Sean Hackbarth | 8:08 PM Michael Strahan had an outstanding season. He should be considered in the voting for NFL MVP, but the sack that gave him the NFL record was a gimme. Brett Favre's teammates thought he was going to hand off the ball. Instead, Brett rolls out right into the shadow of Strahan. Brett doesn't try to stiff-arm him or roll away from his grasp. He just slides to the ground giving up the record-setting sack. That's not sport; that's pro wrestling. Unfortunately for Strahan, an asterisk should go beside his record. He had a couple of legitimate chances to get Favre, but that last one shouldn't count. What ticked me off as much as Favre's gift was the ineptitude of Fox's sideline reporter Pam Oliver. She interviewed Strahan right after the game and never asked if he thought Favre let him sack him. Did it even come to her mind to ask? "Strahan Breaks Gastineau's 17-year-old Record" Sean Hackbarth | 1:39 AM
With that sentence, President Bush drew a line in the sand and took the same stand as his father while in office. If he keeps his word, he'll be re-elected, if not, he's doomed--just like his father. "Bush, on Offense, Says He'll Fight to Keep Tax Cuts" Sean Hackbarth | 1:25 AM Lord of the Rings took an early lead in Oscar contention by taking the American Film Institute's award for best picture. LoTR is a wonderful movie, but I'm leaning toward the original and provocative Memento as my pick. "Lord of the Rings Earns AFI's Best Picture Honors" Sean Hackbarth | |
ABOUT When I'm not pondering the fate of the universe, I'm reading, writing, or selling books. Here you'll find comments on politics, culture, books, and music. Not necessarily in that order. MAILBOX sean--at--theamericanmind.com  Support democracy and human rights in Iraq! 
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