Jay Kersting's Blog

Jefferson City Jays fans, a little bit of bad news.  Adkins Stadium will not be ready to open on 12 September 2008 for the game against Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The good news is that the games doesn't have to move far.  It will now be held at Lincoln University, so it will now be played literally across the street. 

The problem is the track that wraps around the field is not complete yet.  Our wet weather has been the source of blame.

Look for a true home opener on 19 September 2008 against Columbia Rock Bridge.

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Last night, we loaded a 26' rental truck full of my mom and dad's stuff.  (Out of respect, I will not use the George Carlin terminology....besides, you never know what you could inherit.  Even Lamont Sanford knew this.)

Dad, Alex, Ben, David Gaines, neighbors Randy and Dalton, and I did the bulk of the work.  Kathleen had a school meeting, so she missed a lot of it.  I am sure she is upset over that.

Anyhow, here is the point I am getting at.  First, thanks to everyone who helped.  Second, after I take part in some physical activity or a long drive, I need time to wind down.

So, I first sat outside with Dad to chat and eat some yogurt.  (No big secret, just love yogurt.)

Finally, I went to bed.  I turned on the TV.  I was too tired to bother changing the channel.

It was on John McCain's speech.  

So, I heard some of it.  

John McCain does not deliver a speech with the vigor of Barack Obama, nor the enthusiasm of Sarah Palin.  But he is not as bad some like to portray.

Content wise, he hit on some decent points.  Education as the civil rights issue of the 21st Century is one that could be a winner.  Need to hash the details out on that, but it is a concept that makes sense.  I especially liked the line about helping BAD teachers find another line of work.  Wish that had been done 25 years ago.

But what struck me most was that John McCain FINALLY talked during this campaign about how his experiences as a Prisoner of War shaped his life.

Having read "Faith of my Fathers" and having heard John McCain read it to me in the audiobook version, I already knew the stories.  But to hear him tell it again to the thousands in the audience who hadn't heard it.  And the millions at home who hadn't heard it.  The camera cutting away to Bud Day in the audience wearing his Medal of Honor gave me chills up my leg.  (AGAIN, I put links in for a reason, if you do not know who Bud Day is, please check out the link.)

I know he fought to NOT talk about it, but I think he needed to.  No matter that that IDIOT former BAD President Jimmy Carter said.  I think a nuclear engineer who couldn't convince people of nuclear energy safety has little to advise others on.  

And calling Jimmy Carter a pinhead is an insult to those who have heads that come to a point, therefore, shaped like a pin.

BUT, I am off track here.  John McCain has resisted talking about his very personal experiences as a Prisoner of War.  He viewed that as a failure because he did not hold up to the standard that he set for himself.  His own father told him that he did more than most anyone could have.  Bud Day told him the same.  The late James Stockdale did as well.

When you run for political office, I think you need to share with people the stories of the events, experiences and people who have impacted your life.  It illustrates for people not so much where you are coming from, but how you got to where you are in position AND in your values and views.

And that may be why I think looking at the cast of characters that surround a politician is something that people need to look at.

If a candidate has surrounded himself or herself by the type of people you'd cross the street to avoid, you might want to reconsider voting for that person.

Just a thought.

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Have a great weekend!! 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keeping true to my position of NOT watching political conventions, I did not watch Governor Sarah Palin's speech last night.  I felt that I would have been justified in breaking my position, you could call it a flip-flop, because of my long standing support of Governor Palin (again, documented back to at least 9 February 2008).

Every morning before I leave for work, I walk across the bedroom in the dark to give Kathleen a kiss on her head.  Most mornings, she tells me to have a good day.  It is our routine.  This morning, I asked if she watched the speech.  Her reply, "yes....Home Run!"

This morning, as I type this, I am watching some of the video excerpts and listening to the entire audio of her speech.

Sure, the hockey mom comment was pretty damned funny.  But I thought the line about talking the one way in Scranton and another in San Francisco had more long term bite.  It further paints Barack Obama as the 2008 version of a "finger in the wind" poltician in the mold of Stephen Douglas.  It helps show that John McCain is, despite his many faults, consistent in what he tells folks no matter the make up of the audience.  (Joe Biden is the same and that is worth noting.)

The selling the state jet line, the one about putting it on eBay, is true.  In fact, it took more than one time to sell it on eBay.  I'd have to double check, but I want to say it was three times.   

I also liked that she showed her understanding of foreign affairs via energy policy.  That only tells me MORE how much she gets it.  Energy is the issue, it impacts the economy, in impacts the balance of world power.  And she then went on to express what would be pushed for from the White House starting in January if the McCain-Palin ticket wins.  

Now, make sure that the people understand that ENERGY drives everything else.  Once the people understand this, the other issues fall into their proper place.  

When she went on the attack toward Mr. Obama, she did so in a mostly factual way.  Sure, she got in some jabs (parting the waters and healing the ill was a theme she used) but that is what the person in that position is supposed to do.  Pointing out how Barack Obama still cannot admit that he was wrong on the surge, is a theme that needs to be used IF Obama and Biden try to continue making it an issue this fall. 

I agree with my wife.  She hit a Home Run!

The questions that remain.  Will this level of performance continue?

And will the highly biased media get the beat down that they deserve?

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Speaking of media beat downs, Us Weekly is a rag that I have never read.  I think of it as a poor woman's version of People.  Most people probably read that crap when it is about seven months old and they are waiting for the hygienist at the dental office.

They did a hatchet job on Sarah Palin and her family.  The cover didn't reflect the content of the story and the story left things out.  Remember the outrage, justifiably, from The New Yorker cover that didn't reflect the content on the story about Barack Obama? Where is the outrage?

Well, Megyn Kelly took it to a senior editor of Us Weekly yesterday on Fox News Channel's America's Election Headquarters.  

Megyn Kelly hit the guy over the implication that the word "Lies" could be inferred by someone in the checkout lane that Governor Palin lied, when the story was about lies told ABOUT her.  She hit him on their lack of mentioning that Todd Palin's DUI came when he was 22 years old, 22 years ago.

The guy was trying to defend the indefensible. Megyn Kelly, an attorney, was in full prosecutor mode and tore this guy apart.

But the dude didn't get it.

As Bernie Goldberg pointed out in his book "Bias"...they don't get it when they live inside their bubbles.

Nice to see that the feminists are stepping up like they did for Paula Jones.

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Oh, for those who haven't noticed, I am almost as "in the tank" for Sarah Palin as Chris Matthews, Keith Olberman and the rest of the pinheads at MSNBC are for Barack Obama.

At least my person has a record to run on.  And I did say ALMOST.  No one is as bad as the staff at MSNBC.

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Have a great Thursday.

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Congratulations to my parents who celebrate their 42nd Anniversary today!!

Oh, and Welcome Back to Missouri!!  We all like the house.

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Things maybe right with the world now.  Georgia played a no-one and despite winning they slipped out of the top spot in both College Football polls.  Who took over the top spot?

The University of Southern California Trojans, who dismantled a team of wannabes at the University of Virginia, 52 to 7, at Virginia.

Scheduling counts and it should.

Georgia will play a very rare non-conference game OUTSIDE the Southeast when they go to Arizona State later this month.  But the rest of their non-conference schedule is less than impressive.  They beat Georgia Southern, the play Central Michigan this week and they close the regular season with Georgia Tech.

Are you impressed?

Now, USC played at Virginia.  Next, they host Ohio State.  And finally they take on Notre Dame in the nations biggest interesectional rivalry this November.  The Pac 10 plays every one, every year, so they do not have a fourth non-conference game.

That is a bit more impressive.

Oh, and I think my friends back in Tennessee will quit talking about how weak the Pac 10 is.  

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I did not watch the convention last night.  I will not watch it tonight.

Though, I will admit that I sort of want to see how Governor Sarah Palin does.  I think anyone who has been reading this blog, or chatted with me, or has listened to the show, understands why I might have an interest in how she does.

All of that said, I wonder how Barack Obama will handle his children if he gets elected.  Can he be a good father and a good President at the same time?  Will his beautiful little girls suffer from potential neglect from their father or from being thrust into the spotlight?

Does that sound ridiculous?  Good.  It should.

Because those are the same kind of questions that circle all female candidates for political offices.  And they are as ridiculous.

What is even more sad, if not just pathetic, is the fact that WOMEN in the media are asking these questions.

Don't drink the Kool-Aid the media serves up.  And that includes me.....and I am honest enough to tell you that.  Because I want you to check me on what I tell you.  Not because I am wrong, but because it is possible that I do not have all of the facts and that can skew my opinion.

In other words, believe nothing you hear and half of what you see.

And if you are going to question a woman about something, be willing to question a man!!!

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Have a great Wednesday.  Again, Happy Anniversary to my parents, Peggy and Bernie Kersting!!

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gustav caused quite a bit of damage, but not to the level of Katrina.  THIS is a good thing.

My Tennessee Volunteers appear to be damaged by a lost quarterback and offensive coordinator.

If you heard that a quarterback threw FOUR interceptions in the FIRST HALF, you would probably guess that his team lost.

You would be wrong.

Jonathan Crompton had the deer in the headlights look last night.  BIG TIME!  I am not convinced that new Volunteers Offensive Coordinator Dave Clawson did much to help out.

The bruins scored on a blocked punt where I think 11, 12 or 17 of them made it through the Vols offensive line to take part.  I have NEVER seen such a piss poor setup used for punts.  NOT a tight formation to prevent defenders from getting through.  NO, not this one.  It is more open than what you'd see on a spread offense run by someone like Mizzou.  AND THEY DIDN'T ADJUST LATER ON.

The Vols had to come from behind to tie the game with a field goal.  Kicker Daniel Lincoln missed two earlier that we well outside his range.  

In overtime, the bruins weren't able to get any offense going and had to settle for a field goal.  Gave me SOME good thoughts for a bit.  Then the inept play of Crompton had the Vols peter out with eight yards gained.  Then Lincoln missed the 34 yard chip shot.

I stayed up late for that crap.  WHAT IN THE HELL WAS I THINKING????

ESPN was talking about what a great game it was.  It was an ugly, sloppy and horrible game.  Exciting?  Sure.  Kept me up three hours past my bedtime.  

I should have bowed out for a rerun of "Burn Notice" and gone to sleep.

Disappointed would be an understatement.

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Bristol Palin is five months pregnant.  I'd be pretty sure that the McCain campaign knew about this.

What is sick and absolutely disgusting is the left wing blogger floating rumors out there that Trig Palin, born in April, is not really Governor Sarah Palin's son, but Bristol's son and that Governor Palin was raising him as her own. 

Can anyone explain the point of these scumbags floating rumors like this out there?  What do they have to gain?  Does this help Barack Obama some how?

Barack Obama was pushed by reporters to comment.  Had he commented without being pushed, AS WAS PORTRAYED by some media outlets, I would have said he stepped in a big steaming pile of...  well, you get it.  I am still critical of him for saying his wife was off limits and then not denouncing a Democrat attack ad on Cindy McCain.  But he is right, families should be off-limits.

So, does this revelation about Bristol Palin help Barack Obama?  I can't see how.  But I can see how it helps Senator McCain and Governor Palin.

How can a baby ever hurt a marketing campaign?  But, she is not due until late December.....so, the images will be limited to a pregnant teenager.  But the vibe will help.

And I doubt adding the title of Grandma will hurt Sarah Palin's resume.

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This does go to a bigger issue.  And that is the hive of scum and villany that is the left wing blogosphere.

For years and years, the Democrats tried to put the label of "mean-spirited" on ALL Republicans.  And the willing media helped frame that as a widely accepted truth.

But simply put, it is not true.  In fact, if you want to look at things statistically, conservative people tend to be much more generous to charities, their communities, to their co-workers and to their employees.  And conservatives tend to also be more likely to be supportive of their family both emotionally and financially.

I am not saying this without anything to back it up.  Peter Schweitzer look in to this in his latest book.  "Makers and Takers" is an interesting look that Schweitzer has well documented.

Now, this is not to say that ALL conservatives are good and that all liberals are bad.  NO!  NOT TRUE!  But good luck getting a liberal blogger to say that ANY conservative has any redeeming values.

So these scumbags will jump on a story, twist corrupt and lie about it to tear down someone.  Even if, and maybe especially, it involves a 17 year old girl.

Avoid those sites.  They have no redeeming value.  Nothing can be gained by visiting them.

I thought about posting links to the sites, but I will not dirty this website with such links.  If you want to know which ones I am talking about, shoot me an e-mail and I'll tell you who they are.

And let me be clear.  I have a lot of friends and family who call themselves liberal.  They are good people.  Misguided politically, but good people.  (Remember that I post ALL signed comments.  You CAN get me back.)

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I was chatting with my friend Ethan Mayers yesterday afternoon.  He had just gotten back from 23 days in New Zealand and Australia.  He told me many interesting things, but this is the one that I wanted to share because it was amusing to me.

He told me that he had gotten some of the news from the US and specifically from the world of politics.  Joe Biden's selection as the Dem nominee for VP, Obama's speech at the DNC, and the pick of Sarah Palin as the GOP nominee for VP.

That was what was amusing.

His girlfriend Jamie said she didn't know who Sarah Palin was.  Ethan told her thatshe was the Governor of Alaska but had no idea how he knew that.  As we were talking, Ethan realized that I was the one who had informed him of her.  

Funny where you pickup pieces of information.

Back when I was in seventh grade, I was asked in school geography question.  You are in West Germany.  You need to get to the Soviet Union and you can only go through one country.  Can you do this and if so, which country would you go through?

I knew it was possible and the country was Czechoslovakia.  The teacher was impressed.

How did I know this?  I had seen the movie "Stripes" more than just a few times.

Yeah, funny where you learn things sometimes.

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Have a great Tuesday. 

Posted by Jay Kersting at 05:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WOW!!

All I can say is WOW!!  WOW!!!!

Have you seen any of the coverage and commentary that has come out since Friday's big announcement of Governor Sarah Palin as Senator John McCain's running mate????

Even Mort Kondracke, who is normally pretty fair and mostly moderate with a good handle on things, made a really silly comment about the selection of Palin.  I do not have the exact quote, but he went in the direction of her experience as being limited.  THEN, he explained how Barack Obama has much better experience because he has been running for President for nearly two years.

So, to use Kondracke's logic, Pat Paulsen would have been the most experienced man prior to his death in 1997.  

A lot of ideology has been exposed since Friday.  Mainly by people with an agenda, but also by some who, like Kondracke, I thought didn't have one.

Well, as you well know, I like the pick.  I really like the pick.  I floated her name back in February over at Bernie Goldberg's website.  I first mentioned her name on this site back on 4 June 2008.  There are many reasons why she is a great choice.

But too many people have their ideology, or maybe Governor Palin's appearance blinding them.

Don't even get me started on that pinhead at NBC, Mrs. Greenspan.

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This leads me to another thing.  Listen to the people out there who are getting "credit" for bringing up Governor Palin's name.  

Rush Limbaugh is bragging about her pick.  I heard part of his show on Friday, I do not listen to him much any more, but really HE did this.  

And Fox News was drooling over Bill Kristol for suggesting him back in July.  WOW!!  I am SOOO NOT impressed.  In fact, I yelled out while in the studios on Friday afternoon, "Your a HACK, Kristol!" so that my program director, Brian Wilson,  could hear it. 

What am I doing?  Well, I am not bragging that I got it right nor that John McCain actually listening to me.  What I am bragging about was that I was able to look at the shortcomings of CANDIDATE McCain and find someone who could counter them.

So yes, I am bragging about the insight that I had into the potential that Governor Sarah Palin had as a Vice Presidential candidate.

I know that I am not a genius.  I know that I am also a bit of a hack.  But I think that my analysis was spot on back in February and others took a little while to see it.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I may have gotten lucky in getting the Match Game Super Match with Senator McCain.  Even if I had gotten it wrong, it was still a good suggestion based on the criteria that I said was important.  So, I set the standards for myself.

In other words, this is not a big win for yours truly.  It is what it is.

But, if Senator McCain was to give me credit, don't think for a SECOND that I wouldn't take it.

Which is why until he does that, and he won't nor should he, no one else should take credit as an individual.

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I want to offer an apology and explanation to all of the Jefferson City Jays fans.  And I want to offer my praise to Jet Roberts for his action while under fire on Saturday.

The fine folks at McCluer North left us hanging on our broadcast.  We knew that we wouldn't have a phone line, but we had a cell phone coupler that would allow us to run.  What we didn't know was that they could not even provide us power.

Luckily, or so I thought, I brought my DC to AC inverter.  But it could not provide ENOUGH power to run our equipment.  

So, Jet called the game via his cell phone.  I was able to get my phone charger some power AND I was able to help the folks from Springdale, Arkansas with there video camera.  They promised to help us this upcoming weekend.

That said, we did our best and wanted you to know it.  Jet also had to deal with an obscured view and me feeding him information from time to time.  

Thanks to Jet and I apologize to anyone who was disappointed with our presentation.  We will do better as the season goes on...and we get cooperation from the folks when we are on the road.

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Have a great Labor Day!

Posted by Jay Kersting at 06:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)