CBS Sports: NFL 1984- Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears: Fourth Quarter

Source:The New Democrat

Here’s and example of why the Bears-Packers rivalry is so great. The Packers didn’t even make the NFC Playoffs in 1984. I think they finished 8-8 under their first-year head coach Forrest Gregg. The Bears were 10-6 and got to the NFC Final where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, who were the eventual Super Bowl champion that year. And yet the Packers come into Chicago and not only beat the Bears, but beat them in dramatic fashion at the end of the game. Costing the Bears 2nd place in the NFC and forcing them to win at least one playoff game on the road to get to the conference final.   

The Packers not only beat the Bears in Chicago, a game the Bears needed to win, but they beat them without their starting quarterback Lynn Dickey. Who was a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback for the Packers in the 1970s and 80s. And beat them with a third-string quarterback. Now of course the Bears didn’t have Jim McMahon or even Steve Fuller as their quarterback for this game. But they still had their 46 Defense and were healthy there. Playing a Packers team that didn’t have any great players on offense, other than maybe wide receiver James Lofton.

NBC Sports: Green Bay Packers & Chicago Bears: A Rivalry Through the Years

Source:The New Democrat

Similar to the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry or the Steelers-Browns rivalry or the Raiders-Broncos rivalry, the Bears-Packers rivalry is not as great as it use to be. For one thing, the Packers have dominated this rivalry really the last twenty years or so when the Packers became a regular playoff team and divisional champion, as well as Super Bowl contender and champion. The Bears have been in, well hibernation (pun intended) really since they fired Mike Ditka in 1993. And have not found that one head coach who can not only make them consistent winners again, but champions as well.

But even with the Bears lack of success on the field in the last twenty years or so, because of all the games they've won in their history, including championships and of course with all the success that they Packers have had the last twenty years and throughout their history and with all of the history between these two great franchises, you'll have a real hard time finding a better rivalry in the NFL and probably a better rivalry in pro sports in general. I mean we are talking about Michigan-Ohio State as far as all of the history, games and championships won between these two great franchises

The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson: Da Coach Mike Ditka (January, 1987)

Source:The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson- Chicago Bears Head Coach Mike Ditka, on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1987.

Source:The New Democrat

"1986 Tonight show with Johnny Carson. Super Bowl winning coach Mike Ditka discussing the Chicago Bars Super Bowl. Mike Ditka & Johnny Carson."

From The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson

Here’s a great comedy duo for you. Da Coach perhaps better known as Mike Ditka the former head coach of the Chicago Bears in the 1980s and early 90s. And of course The King of late-night Johnny Carson. In January of 1987 and I only know that because they were talking about the upcoming the Super Bowl 21 between the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. The Bears sort of had a disappointing season in 1986 which is why they weren’t back in the Super Bowl that season.

Johnny Carson seem more interested in at the time Bears quarterback Jim McMahon than anything else. And of course Coach Ditka’s famous temper as a head coach. And not talking about the Bears 86 season where they didn’t even get back to the NFC Final that year and instead lost the divisional playoff to the Redskins. I think Ditka pretty much nailed it when he said that “it is not that Jim McMahon doesn’t like him personally, but that Ditka is the coach and McMahon doesn’t like authority figures at all”. And Ditka was McMahon’s head coach that McMahon was directed by.

Real Time With Bill Maher: 'Penn Jillette Explains His Libertarian Philosophy'

Source:Real Time With Bill Maher- Comedian Penn Jillette, on Real Time With Bill Maher back in 2011.

Source:Real Life Journal

"From Real Time With Bill Maher, October 14, 2011."

From Real Time With Bill Maher

If you listen to the Republican Party in recent years, like the Tea Party movement, you might think they are the individual freedom, limited government, anti-government political party. "Let free people live their own lives and be free, we shouldn't spend more than we take in. And should only spend more than we need to". Unless you focus on social issues like marijuana, abortion, gay marriage, practice a non-Christian religion or no religion at all, sleep with or pay a prostitute, sell yourself for sex, gamble your own money have an adulterous affair, because you aint getting enough at home, check out pornography etc.

And if you have a pretty good understanding of American politics you might think, actually they sound more like an authoritarian big government party to me. What happened to the limited government individual freedom of choice party. If you listen to the Democratic Party at least the activists in the party except for the Progressive Caucus and their allies you might think they are the individual freedom, limited government party. "Let free people live freely and live their own lives". If you hear their positions on gay marriage, immigration reform, civil rights, anti-war, drug reform, decriminalization of Marijuana.

All issues I tend to agree with the Left and Right on as a Liberal Democrat. Until you get to the Progressive Caucus and their positions on economic policy with all the tax cuts they want to repeal and new taxes they want to pass to double the size of the Federal Government. Take away our freedom of choice in health insurance if not health care all together, as well as all of the high taxes they would impose.

If the Progressive Caucus/Progressive Party bringing their version of what progressivism is building a Great Society through government and high taxes people "don't worry about living your own lives and making it on your own. We'll do that for you by taking your money away and giving you back what we feel you deserve" ever got into power and you may say to yourself, again if you follow American politics. "Wait a minute these Progressives aren't big believers in individual freedom, limited government, freedom of choice either".

At least not on economic policy, I don't like big government socialism either. And if you're a Liberal such as myself or a Libertarian, you take the positions that you get to keep most of the money you earn. Smoke a joint, be in love and marry someone of the same sex. Defend yourself, watch a porno flick, pay someone to have sex, sell yourself for sex. Without your big Uncle Sammy getting on you about it and grounding you and locking you in a room until you learn your lesson.


If you're a believer in individual freedom and freedom of choice, great we have a big club, but we are always looking for new members. Membership is free and you won't have to pay taxes on it, as long as the Progressive Caucus is not in power and you won't have Uncle Sammy breathing down your neck because he thinks you might be a terrorist because you support Individual Freedom, as long as long as Neoconservatives aren't in power either.

Uncle Sammy has already been banned from our club anyway, we just have one rule though and you have to pass a test first. You have to know what limited government and individual freedom are before you can join the club.

Reason Magazine: Nick Gillespie: The 2000s, Worst Decade Ever

Source:Real Life Journal

I'm going to try to get through this blog without sounding like a partisan hack which will be difficult. Because if you're on the Right and ideologically disagree with me, you're probably going to disagree with this blog. Call it a hunch, but think about these facts for a minute, I know thinking for a whole minute thats like 60 seconds how do you get through that sober, but think about these things for OK 60 seconds and then take a deep breath.

When we close out the 1990s (and yes you're correct if your thinking 20th Century) America was at peace, we had a booming economy of something like 5% economic growth and a 4.5% unemployment rate, record low poverty level in the United States of around 13%, we just balanced three straight Federal budgets. The first balanced budget since 1969 and we haven't balanced one since. Our Federal Government only spent around 18-19% of GDP, instead of 25% like today. (A number I would like to get back to in a future blog)

The stock market hit 10K for the first time in American history I believe in 1998 and as powerful as Monica Lewinski was, she wasn't able to stop any of that success. We got through a Gulf War, the Balkan Wars, the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 by an Anglo-Saxon Christian man, not by a Middle Eastern terrorist that was stereotyped. The 1995 Federal Government shutdown, deficit reduction, two East African embassy bombings and America remained the Land of the Free, unless you were gay or smoked or sold pot.

Now lets move ahead to a completely new century and decade which sounds like forever right, actually move ahead from December 31, 1999 to January 01, 2000. You can literally get their in a second where we have a presidential candidate whose famous thanks only to his father in George W. Bush and the other presidential candidate who on paper looks like has the qualifications to be President of the United States. But can't beat the guy who had to cheat off the person who could barely speak english to graduate high school. (Paper doesn't win elections candidates and incumbents do)

Better known as Bush V. Gore or Gore V. Bush you get the idea and we were treated to new phrases like hanging chads, dimple chads, over-votes, under-votes, not knowing who the next President was going to be a month after the election. A 50-50 Senate in 2001 basically favoring Senate Democrats, a divided Congress with a Democratic Senate and a Republican House from 2001-03. Two unpaid for tax cuts, two Middle Eastern wars where we've borrowed all the money to pay for them now 2T$ and counting, a 500B$ Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit again all borrowed money.

Kerry-Bush in 2004 where again a schmuck for a President who locks himself out of his own Oval Office who declares Mission Accomplished and Victory in Iraq, just one problem there. President Bush was 8 1/2 years early, ah damn I forgot about 9/11, the Republican Party losing Congress in 2006. Thanks to the Afghan and Iraqi Wars all this happening in ten years and there's more. I disagree that the 2000s are the worst decade of all time or either in my lifetime, I believe the 1970s was worst even though I was only alive for four years of it. And actually only remember 1978-79 parts of it because I started nursery school then.

But the 2000s if I wasn't a political, current affairs and history junky I wouldn't want to relive or go through another decade like that because we've paid a heavy price for it and have had some of our individual liberty taken away from us. With things like the Patriot Act and is a decade that we'll be paying for at least another decade if not two decades with all of the money we've run up on the national debt card.

CBS News: Mitt Romney & Barack Obama: No Difference

Source:Real Life Journal

Trying to tell the difference between "RomneyCare" and "ObamaCare" is like trying to tell the difference between a couple of lemons. You have to feel each of them, look closely, get into the details. But on paper they are essentially the same plans. Expanding private health insurance through tax credits, patient protections and requiring that all Americans pay for their share of their health care.

But other than health care reform, telling the difference between Mitt Romney, depending on which Mitt he decides to be based on what day it is, how the wind is blowing, how the weather is, which clone he decides to be that day, it can be very difficult without x-ray vision. They are very different on Iraq and Afghanistan and Iraq. Mitt believes we should stay there, Barack believes we should get the hell out.

Mitt and Barack are different on deficit reduction. Mitt apparently believes that we can cut the debt and deficit, raising taxes on the poor and focusing on around 15% of the Federal budget. Or 555B$, he doesn't want to eliminate all of that by the way. Thats the non-defense and entitlement parts of the Federal budget. President Obama believes everything should be on the table, except raising taxes on the poor.

They are different on growing the economy. Mitt believes in more tax cuts and subsidies for corporate America and rich people. I don't have a problem with the tax cuts, if it comes with eliminating tax loopholes. Which Mitt views as tax hikes, apparently Mitt believes that if you eliminated all taxes on the wealthy and corporate America. And then eliminate all of the tax loopholes as well, Mitt would call that tax hikes, because you would be giving them less money. (Talk about fuzzy math)

 I believe thats what would come under George W. Bush's definition of "Fuzzy Math". The President believes the way to grow the economy is to rebuild the country, its public infrastructure, infrastructure investment. Developing a national energy policy that would expand and create new energy industries in America. Putting millions of Americans back to work, as well as incentivizing people to spend money in the country. Including tax cuts for the middle class that need tax relief. Here a few areas where Mitt and Barack unfortunately are similar and why I'm disappointed with President Obama as a Liberal Democrat and it relates to social issues and civil liberties.

Mitt and Barack both support the Patriot Act, indefinite detention and the War on Drugs. You expect Republicans today to take these Big Government positions. If Mitt Romney was truly a Liberal as critics in the GOP call him and if he's a Liberal, the majority of people living in the Bible Belt are Muslims. If this was the case, then Mitt Romney would be against these things. If Barack Obama was a real Liberal and not a Moderate Liberal he would be against these things as well. And this is where the President has been disappointing and why Liberal Democrats are taking a look at Gary Johnson the Libertarian Party nominee for president.

There's plenty of differences between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama that Ray Charles could see. I just wish there were a hell of a lot more. So to call them twins or clones, is inaccurate. Mitt Romney already has a clone but his name is Mitt Romney as well. And thats the only twin or clone that he needs.

FORA-TV: P.J. O'Rourke- Conservatives & Fiscal Responsibility

Source:FORA-TV- political humorist P.J. O'Roruke.

Source:Real Life Journal

What is fiscal responsibility, well to me that means spending what you have and can afford and nothing else. You don't have to be a Conservative to believe in that, just have common sense. Just like you don't have to be an American to like apple pie, but if you are an American you probably have more access to apple pie than lets say if you're a Chinese living in, I don't know lets say China just to use as an example. But you would think Conservatives would believe in fiscal responsibility, because how often they preach about responsibility. But of course New Gingrich has preached about family values in the past, haven't heard one of his sermons lately, no idea why. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact he had an affair with one of his staffers when he was Speaker of the House.

Well the right-wing will say that President Bill Clinton had an affair with a White House intern. But Bill Clinton doesn't preach about family values, kinda the way Fidel Castro doesn't preach about the need for democracy in Russia. His consistency would be severely lacking there for obvious reasons which gets me to the point about the current Republican Party, the Party of Reagan. Low taxes, economic liberty, individual responsibility, they use to be the party of fiscal responsibility. Until they woke up and realized they had a Republican President and Congress back in 2003.

Then the Republican Party decided who needs fiscal responsibility, Congress has the authority to borrow at will. "If its legal, then it must be the right thing to do". Kinda like someone using the logic "everyone else is doing it, (fill in the blank) it must be all right". Well if all these people (not everyone literally, I hope) stuck knives up their noses until they were massively bleeding, would you do that to. Sometimes you have to use your own judgement and not play follow the leader like a six-year old.

By the way the Republican Party woke up again in 2009 and noticed that there was a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress with a 10T$ federal debt and a 1T$ deficit and decided, "oh boy (or something to that effect well they are republicans, perhaps they did say oh boy) now we'll be the party of fiscal responsibility and blame Democrats for the problems we created! Thats our ticket back to power"! Or at least some power and it worked. The GOP won back the House of Representatives in 2010. In case you've been in a coma for a year, or vacationing in a cave in Afghanistan, if you were doing those things, I hope you have some pictures or brought back some kabob. Or even survived the experience, I heard there's a war going on over there or something.

I'm not saying the Democratic Party is innocent here, even though I'm a Democrat we have what's called the Progressive Caucus made up of a bunch of 21st Century Socialists and want to move America to Sweden. Well actually design our Federal Government around the Swedish Government and double the size of our Federal Government. And if you think you pay too much in taxes right now, move to Sweden because your taxes would be lower there if the Progressive Caucus/Party ever came to power in America.

What was great about America back in the day lets says 1980s and 90s, is you had a real Conservative Republican Party in the classical sense and a real Liberal Democratic Party again in the classical sense. And of course you had your whack jobs, that would escape from the mental institution or get released by a drunk doctor and run and get elected to Congress. But those people weren't in charge, the adults in both parties were. Today the whack jobs in both parties have enough power, that if you don't do exactly what they want.You may lose your job and face a primary challenge which is why almost nothing gets done anymore because the adults in both parties don't have enough power to do what they want to do. And are afraid to work with the other side and if you're a believer in limited government like myself thats not always a bad thing. The least the Federal Government does, the more power the people have.