Go Ahead, Veto My Day

In a put up or shut up world, excessive talk and complaining is as boring as it is ineffective. Finally, however, it seems the tide is turning. The Senate has, after over four years of blind following and cowardice, called out the bully president.

The Senate passed the bill that calls for a timeline for troops to pull out of the mess that is the former nation of Iraq. Bush has threatened for quite some time now that he will veto any such bill.

Well, Mr. President, it's time now for you to put up or shut up.

And this is what makes it so grand a moment. Sure, the veto will provide Bush with a momentary victory -- his thoughtless and tragic war in the anarchic wasteland he's created gets to continue. However, it will be the catalyst that leads to the death of this round of conservative thinking in our country.

This veto will eliminate any chance of a Republican winning the White House in 2008. And the Democratic-controlled Senate and House will only increase in power -- perhaps to the point where the GOP won't even possess filibuster power.

While I distrust both parties, my political views (as anyone who's read me will attest) certainly is more closely aligned with the Democrats. And though I believe the power provided to the Dems after '08 will ultimately corrupt them as it has the Republicans these last few years, we desperately need this change. The country needs a big eraser to try to wipe the slate of this administration and George W. Bush's veto will provide just that.

This war is horrible and should stop as quickly as possible. We all know that this administration will simply not let this happen. In truth, we are stuck in Iraq until the last vestiges of the neo-cons have left the executive branch. The Senate cannot change that.

But they may have just secured our future.

So please, George. Veto that bill.

The Most Important Thing

Billy Crystal, in the movie City Slickers, held up his finger to Jack Palance. They were discussing the one thing, that most important thing. The point is that everybody's one thing is different and only you can understand your one thing.

My one thing is raising my son.

I've written before about parenting. It's a subject that, as my son grows, is nearly always on my mind. His well-being and his nurturing are more important to me than breathing. Those of you with children of your own know what I mean. Nothing is more important to me than Jonathan.

I want to prepare him for adulthood -- essentially, that is what we parents are supposed to do. We are to love our children, nurture them, and make them the best people that we can. The best I can do for Jonathan is exactly that. I work to instill in him certain characteristics and traits that, in concert with his hereditary makeup (both positive and negative traits passed on to him by Claudia and me), will lead him on a course toward a fulfilled life.

Because of this, I have strong ideas on how I want him to develop. I want to prepare him for the harsh realities of life. I try to set him on a course toward self-fulfillment.

And what does that mean?

Of course, there is the obvious, that he is a kind soul who treats others with the respect they deserve. But it means so much more. It means that he is capable of taking risks -- not foolishly, but courageously. It measn he can make decisions for himself. It means that he recognizes that it is OK to lose provided he doesn't lose the lesson. It means he is the kind of person others look to for advice and leadership. It means he is a complete person -- one who is strong mentally, physically and spiritually. It means he knows that the only real failure is quitting.

Everything I do with him is in some way focused towards this goal.

I'm a dad. It's what I do.

Vacation Dues

To be able to go on a vacation, one must work extra hard to tie any loose ends before going away. That way, in your absence things will run smoothly.

The problem is when you return, you have to work twice as hard to catch up.

I will be answering emails until my next vacation, it seems.

At least we had a wonderful time away. We went to Walt Disney World (I do have a seven-year-old) and spent a day at Universal Studios. Even as an adult, I don't tire of Disney. It offers a great escape from the darker side of reality. It provides a sense of hope that everything is going to be OK.

I think more of us could benefit from a little Disney right now. We were away for the massacre at Virginia Tech. I could only imagine the terror and sorrow on that campus. We were also away for the most recent bombings in Baghdad. And for everything else that happened in the past week.

We were nestled in Fantasyland as the reality of these tragic events unfolded. We were strolling through the Environmental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) as today became another nighmare.

I'm not sure what to make of everything right now. Frankly, I'm confused. The wonderful world of Disney can do that to a person. That is not necessarily a bad thing.

There still is hope. Even if it comes from a small rodent.

And The World Series Champs Will Be...

I had begun a division-by-division analysis, but life got in the way. So instead of such minutiae, let's stick to the important things. Yes, like who is going to win it all.

To get there, we will need to first discuss many key topics for the year. So, here they are:

• Yes, the Yankees will win the AL East. This is a no-brainer. They made improvements where needed and have the best lineup in baseball. Plus, having guys like Melky Cabrera and Miguel Cairo on the bench gives them added strength. Unlike some recent seasons, the Yankees will win 2007 going away.
• No, The Red Sox won't make the playoffs. Not a chance. This supposed amazing rotation consists of an aging veteran (Schilling) who came into spring in terrible shape -- something a man his age won't be able to handle, an inconsistent Josh Beckett and Dice-K. Let's be realistic, few players live up to the hype. He had a great WBC. Once AL hitters figure him out (and it won't take long) he will be another tremendous disappointment. Dice-K will be a Mariner in '08.
• The AL Central rules. Four teams in this division have a legitimate chance at winning the World Series. In my eyes, only one other division has more than one (NL West). The ultimate winners in the battle among the Twins, Indians, Tigers and White Sox will quite possibly raise the flag.
• The Dodgers are back. And, yes, they are for real.
• Barry Bonds' rape of the records will continue. Number 756 will fly into McCovey Cove this summer, taking with it any meaning to baseball numbers. And, sadly, ESPN will say it's a great event.

Now, to the predictions (wildcard team with an *):

AL East

1. Yankees
2. Blue Jays
3. Red Sox
4. Orioles
5. Devil Rays

AL Central

1. Tigers
2. Twins*
3. Indians
4. White Sox
5. Royals

AL West

1. Athletics
2. Angels
3. Mariners
4. Rangers

AL Champs: Minnesota Twins

NL East

1. Mets
2. Phillies
3. Braves
4. Marlins
5. Nationals

NL Central

1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Astros
4. Reds
5. Brewers
6. Pirates

NL West

1. Dodgers
2. Padres*
3. Diamondbacks
4. Giants
5. Rockies

NL Champs: Los Angeles Dodgers

And the 2007 World Series Champions will be...

The Minnesota Twins