Saturday, May 10, 2008

Why Chris Matthews Loves Barack Obama














Chris Matthews studied economics at UNC Chapel Hill. As a result, Matthews agrees that there are 57 states.

Do We Want a President Who Thinks There Are 57 States?















Well do we?

We Need a McCain-Obama-Clinton Sit-Up Contest

The Web is abuzz with Barack Obama's embarrassing mistake(see John Amato's Crooks and Liars post here and Michael Goldfarb's Weekly Standard post here , hat tip Larwyn). Mr. Obama said that there are 57 states. Just prior to his confused statement he had attempted to smear Mr. McCain by suggesting that Mr. McCain had "lost his bearings", due to his age. But it is Mr. Obama who is less mentally and physically fit.

I am not a wellness fanatic and even wrote a small book years ago attacking the idea of wellness programs in labor-management administered Taft Hartley Plans. But I base my prediction on a 2007 wellness report in Seek Wellness.com, which asks whether as a smoker Mr. Obama is qualified to be president:

For the record, Senator Obama claims to be a "moderate" smoker who wants to quit. That's good. He has stated many times that he HAS quit, often, but tends to lapse, due to insufficient resolve. A member of AA might suggest, "That ain't quitting." The candidate made this statement in an interview published by the Chicago Tribune: "It's an ongoing struggle. I've been chewing Nicorette strenuously." Well, chew on this, Senator: We all have ongoing struggles. Lose the smoking habit!...Americans haven't elected an unabashed, out-of-the-closet cigarette-smoking president since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The matter ought to be resolved with a sit-up and push-up contest. Instead of televised debates that skirt important issues, the three candidates should be lined up to compete to see who is physically younger. Chronological age can be quite different from physical age. My prediction:

Sit ups: McCain: 550, Clinton 80, Obama 14
Push ups: McCain: 40, Obama 18, Clinton 2
Jogging: McCain: 1 hour, Clinton 1/2 hour, Obama, 8 minutes.

Let the contest begin!

Friday, May 9, 2008

President Michael S. Garrison of UWV Should Resign

The Chronicle of Higher Education (paid access) reports that Governor Joe Manchin's (D-WV) daughter, Heather Bresch, has been busted for having received an MBA degree that she did not earn:

"At around the same time last October that officials of West Virginia University were awarding Heather M. Bresch, daughter of the state's governor, an executive M.B.A. that she had not earned, they were also considering her for appointment to at least two advisory committees whose primary role is to raise money for academic divisions of the university."

The Chronicle states that Ms. Bresch had a high profile on campus and had been treated, according to an independent report, in an "unusual and unique manner".

The story indicates that Ms. Bresch claimed an MBA in a promotion announcement and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette made inquiries. She had been put forward for the two campus committees soon after she received the improper MBA.

The Chronicle writes of President Garrison and Ms. Bresch:

"The two have long been acquainted. Mr. Garrison worked directly with Ms. Bresch a few years ago, when he was a lobbyist representing her company, Mylan Inc. Mr. Garrison also told the panel that Ms. Bresch had called his office several times on the first day that her degree credentials were called into question by the Post-Gazette."

The appearance of impropriety is sufficent to warrant a university president's resignation. As well, there should be inquiries as to whether West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin was aware of the situation. It would seem possible that he did. If so, there should be an investigation of his administration.