Academy of Local Politics

Politics and Sports, especially baseball, have much in common.

Not just the games they play, but the people who play the games. I have high admiration for most of the participants in both. Most of them.

Which ...  brings me to a sports column written by Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News.

NOBODY WANTS to be booed. That goes without saying.

At the same time, a big-league player is expected to perform under pressure. So you have to wonder whether some have become a bit thin-skinned because of the enormous salaries and the legions of people who are always there to take care of their every need and the fawning coverage they get from all the media outlets that have business partnerships with the teams.

Royals outfielder Jose Guillen is in the first season of a 3-year, $36 million contract. He's also batting .176. Here's what he had to say about being booed at Kauffman Stadium: "It doesn't bother me to the point of carrying it to the field. But it [ticks] me off. I'm a home guy. So why should I be getting booed? You should be supporting the team."

And here's what reliever Jason Grilli, who was routinely booed at Detroit's Comerica Park, said after being traded to the Rockies this week: "The only thing I have against some Tigers fans . . . is that they should be pulling for your team, no matter what."

Well, boo-hoo . . .

First of all, fans support a team by buying tickets. Period. They are under no obligation to blindly cheer if the performance doesn't warrant it. And if they don't think the product on the field is worth spending their hard-earned money on, that's their right, as well.

Players who think the fans owe them something have it backward.

Politicians who think taxpayers owe them something, also have it backwards.

Would anyone care to leave a comment naming a political figure(s), who you believe thinks the taxpayers owe them? And why?

My nomination would be any Wisconsin State Representative who has been in office longer than 10 years that has never taken a "sick day". Because my guess is they probably have been, but they would rather double dip it.

That issue still irks me.

I very seldom write about national politics because, I am the Local Government Pontificator. But, today is Presidential Primary day!

I really support Mike Huckabee because of his position on the Fair Tax. Taxes has been my major issue for years. Not just the amount we pay, but the unfair system that is used from the Federal Income Tax down to the locally charged Property Tax. It's a mess. He wants to change it. But, Mike Huckabee doesn't stand a chance of winning.

John McCain? I have a really hard time getting over McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform. What a joke. Also, what's the point? He has the nomination sewed up.

So, it comes down to Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama. I live in the real world and fully realize that whoever wins the Democrat nomination has a better than 50-50 chance of winning the Presidency. The way George W. Bush and the Republicans have governed, they have left much to be desired.

Barak Obama can really give a speech. But, his record is non-existent. The man has done nothing of importance. Even Juan Williams from NPR called him an empty suit!

Hillary Clinton is Hillary Clinton. I can fully realize the hatred that many people have for George W. Bush, because I had that amount of intense hatred for Bill and Hillary Clinton. They are a team. If elected we will be getting two for one.

It sounds like a difficult decision for me. But, it isn't.

My intense, irrational hatred for "The Clintons" dictates that I vote for the "Empty Suit". If I can help put one of the final daggers in the political hearts of "The Clintons" then my duty has been done today.

I believe that Presidential candidate spouses should be hidden away until after elections. And after that, only allowed to speak every now and then. No, I'm not talking about former President Clinton. It is that extremely naive Michelle Obama.

Mrs. Obama claims that politics is not a game. She somehow has this convoluted thinking that if you play politics nice, it isn't a game. She said ...

We have to stick to the issues...we have to run WITH Hillary, not against her. If Hillary runs a positive campaign based on who she is and what her vision is, then great -- then, may the best person win.

DUH!!!

Pontificator to Michelle...If someone wins, and someone loses, it is a game.

Your husband can play the game different than he thinks it has been played in the past, but it is still a game. 

Muzzle them all!

Building a new library is tough. Lots of cities would like to build a new library. The internet has not diminished the need for libraries at all. In fact, circulation is up many places. But, getting the money for a new library is tough.

It really got under my skin when I read from the Hudson Star Observer, that Hudson, WI was going to be getting $150,000 of federal pork, to purchase land for a new library.

WHY?

Why, can't the federal government stop this addiction to earmarks?

Local libraries should be funded locally. No favorites from Big Brother.

No more election chest pounding, how much "free" money officials brought home.

It is an addiction. It needs an Intervention.

Two-thirds of US adults admit to being in the dark about political issues outside the United States, and only a third are well-versed in US politics, the results of a poll published Tuesday showed.

Does this surprise anyone? Certainly not me. But, this is what really concerns me about these percentages.

Take an issue, any international issue. Oh heck, let's take the Iraq war. Polls show shifting beliefs if the war was the right thing to do at the time and what we should be doing now.

Now, if two-thirds of the pubic openly admit they are "in the dark about political issues outside the United States" how can their votes count as much as someone who does follow international politics? Or, any political issue? The pollsters are asking questions to people who are admit they are clue less?

The Edwin Starr song "War" asked the question "what is it good for"?

The same can be asked about polls.

Mayor Al