It needs to be Romney!

So,we begin one of my favorite seasons.  I know, most people hate it but I absolutely love the election process for President in this country.  Just a little over three years ago we went through one of the most important elections in the history of our country.  Now we embark on the next which will be even more important.  Like him or not this President is a failure.  His spend spend spend mentality has done nothing to improve the economic conditions in this country.  In fact, 2011 will be the worst year EVER for home sales.  Not a good thing when you rely on home sales for your income like I do.  America is about hard work, capitalism and growth.  We have a President that believes in sharing the wealth, punishing those who achieve, and inciting ill towards those who have worked hard and earned their money.  These principles that he pushes have failed since the very beginning of this country and will fail ever time they are tried.  There should be one goal from the Republicans in this election cycle, and that is making Barack Obama a one term President. 

In full disclosure I have supported Mitt Romney since 2008.  I voted for him then and will vote for him again.  I know that there is a huge "anybody but Romney" segment in the Republican party.  It is time for those people to suck it up and vote for a man who will defeat Barack Obama.  Romney has his faults.  Every person running has their faults.  The pure and simple fact is Romney will have the better shot of defeating Obama.  In fact, if things stay the way they are now I believe he will defeat him in a landslide.  I will state a few of the reasons I believe so.

1.  Mitt Romney will be able to defend his so called worst feature.  Obama will attack Romney relentlessly on the Massachusetts health care law that was passed when he was Governor.  Don't think that Romney is not ready for this.  I believe him 100% when he says that he looks forward to debating this with Obama.  The state plan was indeed what it is.  A STATE PLAN designed for them.  The facts are if the people do not like it they can elect people to get rid of it.  A federal mandate is a very different animal.  States should shape and choose health coverage for what fits their region and costs.  A one sized fits all federal mandate is ridiculous for a country with the size and diversity of ours.  Romney explains in his book the details of how this came about.  It was to stop the freeloaders who would go to emergency rooms for their health care and then let the state pay for it.  Most of these were young single men who most likely could afford to provide for themselves but chose not too.  When the emergencies hit the state ends up paying for it which actually means the tax payers of the state pay for it.  In Alabama that means you and I pay for these situations.  This is one of the main reasons for crazy high health care costs.  This is not just an issue for Romney either.  Don't forget that Newt Gingrich supported mandates for health insurance.  He will not have an easier time with this than Romney.  In fact, it will probably be worse for Newt since he was Speaker of the House and not a Governor.

2.  Romney will compete in and win states that Gingrich (and others)  cannot.  The South and normal red leaning states will most certainly go Republican this time around.  Just as we pretty much knew last election was a Democrat year, this will most likely lean Republican.  The economy points in that direction and it will take a miracle at this time to change that.  Romney will win those states easily.  Doubters will tell you that his Mormon faith will hurt him.  That may be true in the primaries but it will not be an issue in the general election.  Romney is a family man with about 1400 grand kids.  That will go over well in the family oriented "Red States".  Romney is popular in the Northeast.  He WILL win New Hampshire in the general election. (A state Obama won in 2008).  He will also be competitive in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.  All solidly democrat states.  If he wins even one of those reelection for Obama is almost impossible.  Many do not know that Romney's father was a very popular Governor in Michigan for years.  Romney will have a real shot at winning there.  I firmly believe Romney will win over 300 electoral votes if he is the nominee. (It takes 270 to win).

3.  Romney is steady, calm, and collected in his campaign.  Newt Gingrich is the most likely to beat him for the nomination.  Gingrich will be painted as unstable and a hot head.  The Obama campaign will have the video tapes of Gingrich to back it up.  Newt says things sometimes that he shouldn't.  He is much more likely to have a "defining moment" that makes him look bad and unelectable.  Romney's worst flaw in this area is that he comes across as "robotic".  Even David Letterman (A super liberal)  said a few nights ago in an interview,  "If the worst thing they can come up with about Romney is that he is "robotic" how bad can the man be".  I believe people will gravitate towards calm steady leadership at this time in history.


4.  Romney will fare better in a debate with Obama than Gingrich.  I'm not saying Romney is a better debater than Gingrich.  The key here is expectations.  I have heard from the time Gingrich became the front runner that people cannot wait for Gingrich to debate Obama.  The expectations are already way too high and will only grow if Gingrich becomes the nominee.  If Obama even does a decent job in the debate it will be viewed as "that wasn't so bad".  The same thing happened with George W. Bush and John Kerry in 2004.  Kerry was expected to destroy Bush because of his superior intellect.  Bush held his own and was pushed into a second term.  Kerry could not live up to the expectations.  Obama is very smart.  He will not come across as an idiot.

5.  Romney's "businessman"  image will go over well in our current economic conditions.  Romney is a much better alternative than Gingrich who is considered a Washington politician.


I could list several more reasons and I might in the future.  If you really want a greater look at who Mitt Romney is I encourage you to read his book "NO Apology The Case for American Greatness".  It solidified my beliefs that he is the person to lead this country back to what it used to be.  I know many will disagree with me, but my intent is clear.  We need to get rid of Barack Obama.  I believe Mitt Romney is our best hope.  If you agree with me I encourage you to go to MittRomney.com.  Make a small donation or find ways to help.  You would be surprised how much you can get involved in a Nationwide campaign.  Then you will know you've done everything in your power to keep America great.  God Bless America!

Kevin

A September to Remember

Everybody has one of these.  Especially if you were born before 1990.  What I mean by "one of these" is a story.  Your story of September 11th.  Every person's story is different and yet they are remarkably the same.  You've probably told it over and over.  I know I have, but as the anniversary approaches I've got to tell it again.

It seems almost impossible that it has been 10 years.  I can still remember it like it was yesterday.  It was one of those days that you dream about after going through a summer in Alabama.  Some cool fall air had arrived and I don’t think the sky had ever been bluer.  I was 21 and since I didn’t have to be at work until 1:00 pm, I had slept in.  I very rarely watch TV in the mornings and since this was well before the social media sites on phones and the internet, I was clueless to the events that had been unfolding in our country.  I was going to help a friend move a couple of refrigerators in an apartment complex that he owned so I got in the truck and drove.  I was meeting him at his parent’s house.  It was only about a 45 second drive from where I lived and I didn’t bother to turn the radio on.  No one had called to tell me the news.  It was just another day for me.  I got there and waited for him to arrive.  When he got there he asked how I was doing.  A strange question I thought, but I said in a very upbeat tone, “Good man, how are you”?  He had to be thinking that I was the most insensitive guy in the world.  He poured a drink in the kitchen and began to try and turn on the TV.  He said “Hey, do you know how to work this thing”?   I said “Yes, what do you want to watch”?  He said “CNN”.  Again it struck me as kind of a strange thing that he wanted to watch TV when we were supposed to be moving the refrigerators.  Nonetheless, I turned the TV on and began strolling through the channels to CNN.  When I passed one of the channels a plane flying low over a city caught my eye.  “What was that”?  I said and turned back to the channel.  My friend looked at me in disbelief.  He said, “You’re kidding me, right?’  I had no idea.  I watched the first plane fly into the first tower as he told me the whole story, the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the field in Pennsylvania, the towers falling.  It was all too much to take.  I sat down and cried after seeing that first plane hit.  It seemed like a terrible dream and that I would surely wake up at any minute and start the day all over again.  We went on with the moving and I remember watching the President speak on a cracked TV at the Faith Rescue Mission.  Every eye in the place was glued to it.  No one said a word.  There was nothing to be said.

If I close my eyes and go back I can still feel the numbness of that day and the days following.  We went on with life, but so many things felt futile.  Car rides were quiet, except for the radio giving updates on the events.  Conversations were low key.  There was no laughter because laughing seemed inappropriate.  I remember the first joke that was told several days after on a late night talk show.  I laughed, it felt good to laugh, but then I felt guilty.  Sometimes you would catch yourself or others in blank stares as they were thinking about the attack, and about life itself and how fragile it now seemed.   I remember getting a small American flag and tying it to the antenna of my truck.  I knew that it didn’t do a damn bit of good, but I had to do something.  Many others did the same type of things.  That’s how everyone felt.  They wanted to do something so bad, but there was nothing that could be done to take away the pain.  Probably the strangest feeling I’ve ever had was going home that night of September 11^th.  As you know all planes were grounded that day, but as I got out of my truck two fighter jets flew over my house.  For the first time ever our jets were flying over our own country to protect us.  In fact they flew right over me.  Before this day, for my generation, war had always been something fought in far away lands.  Talk about a strange feeling, but at the same time I knew we were more than adequately taken care of. I will never forget the eerie feeling of that moment.

I have never been one to show my emotions.  Most guys do not.  I am not ashamed to say I cried several times that day.  Not usually in front of people, but when I got away emotions got the best of me.  I’m sure it did for millions.  I’ve cried many times since.  Sometimes you see the images on TV and it takes you right back.  Sometimes just a random thought will take you back and the tears flow again.  I cried writing this article, because it brought me again right back to the raw emotions we all felt.  It is amazing how something ten years ago can be so fresh in your mind.  I am not ashamed to say it because, like all Americans, the tears never came from weakness.  They were simply tears of sadness.  Sadness for lives lost.  Sadness for the families of victims.  Sadness because of the loss of innocence.  Sadness that evil actually exists. An evil that I cannot and will not ever understand.  Those tears always turned to determination.  Determination that a bunch of thugs were never going to take away my lifestyle, no matter how evil they were or how many times they attacked us.  Luckily we don’t have to understand evil.  Our mission is simply to have the resolve to defeat it, so that those who come after us may not have to go through what we did.  I will end with a quote from President Bush which I think sums it up best.

The terrorists never won. They may have thought they won. They inflicted terrible damage on people’s lives and our economy. But they were never going to beat America. They just didn’t understand us. They didn’t know we are a nation of compassionate, kind people who are very courageous and would not yield to their barbaric attacks.---George W. Bush

God Bless America

Kevin

It's In The Air!!!!!

Ok, I know it's still 105 degrees outside, but we are inching closer and closer to the start of college football.  SEC dominance over the last five years has the rest of the country seething for another champion.  Can the SEC make it six in a row, and if they do will they hire Tommy Tuberville to come back and raise the six fingers?  The SEC will be strong and once again it will be very tough for a team to make it through without a loss.  I can't imagine a one loss SEC  team jumping an undefeated team to the championship game.  This is because I think the rest of the country has SEC fatigue.  Alabama was picked to win the SEC, but they were last year as well.  Can another team come out of nowhere and take it all like Auburn did last year.  I don't see that in this conference, but that's why they play the games.  Below is what I think about each team and their chances for the year.

Western Division

ALABAMA:  The defense should be absolutely phenomenal.  Nine returning starters from a unit that was pretty darn good a year ago.  With a new quarterback they will have to rely on the defense early in the season and possibly throughout the year.  If the quarterback play is good this team could be special, and if the offensive line has learned how to block running back Trent Richardson could be the key to going all the way.  Alabama is always best when they play great defense and run the football. 


Arkansas:  Bobby Petrino has already done far better at Arkansas than I ever thought he would.  A Sugar bowl berth last year was a huge step for the Hog program.  Defense is still the problem just as it was for Petrino in his earlier couching gigs.  The early schedule is very weak and will give this team a chance to jell. 
If Petrino ever puts together a strong defense he could do some special things in Fayettville.


Auburn:  The expectations for this team have been lowered so much that anything above a 6-6 regular season is going to seem like a huge success.  Five total returning starters on both sides of the ball does not bode well for the SEC.  The schedule is not favorable with road games to Clemson, South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia.  But Chizick has done better in each of his first two seasons than anyone thought possible.


LSU:  Loaded with talent.  The key to each LSU game is Les Miles.  The man can flat out coach when he wants to.  The problem is sometimes he seems like he took the week off.  He is often called the luckiest coach in college football and you got to have a little luck to win it all.  Never underestimate the "Mad Hatter".


Ole Miss:  I've always thought Houston Nutt was a great coach.  He is just in a very tough place to coach.  Ole Miss went 4-8 last year after back to back Cotton bowl victories.  This could also be a rough season for the Rebels.  (Or Bears)  Maybe they should be the Rebel Bears.


Mississippi State:  This team could be really good.  Dan Mullen is the real deal and I still can't believe Florida didn't hire him.  15 returning starters.  If State can win 9 games it would be the first time in their history that they won 9 games or more in back to back seasons.  I think it is a good possibility they do it.



Eastern Division


Florida:  The first year with a new couch usually has it's difficulties.  There is plenty of talent.  Offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss will be key to this team.  Only three returning starters on defense could be trouble.


Georgia:  If Georgia has another rough season this could be Mark Richt's last year.  The Easern division has been way down and there is no reason Georgia shouldn't be dominating it.  A win against Florida could save his job.  They have South Carolina at home in another pivotal division game.


Kentucky:  This team will struggle.  A bowl berth would be a huge success.  Don't worry though, Basketball starts in November.


South Carolina:  If Spurrier ever has a right to be cocky (get it?) at South Carolina this is the year.  Lattimore is legit and having a fifth year quarterback isn't too shabby either.  They should be improved from last year and the East is still rather weak.   The road games might be detrimental, but if Lattimore can run the ball effectively they can win enough of them.  Defense returns 7 starters.


Tennessee:  Eight home games will help the Vols, but I don't know if that is enough.  They have talent, but it's young talent.  They need to give Dooley a few more years for him to have a fair chance.

Vanderbilt:  Who really cares?  Keep those grades up boys.  That's why you're here. 



All in all I can't wait.  It's the most wonderful time of the year.  Roll Tide!

A Blog about nothing............or something

This is what you've all been waiting for.  I know each and every day goes by and you think to yourself, "Man I wish Kevin would start a blog.  He's the most interesting man in the world."  Fortunately for you that day is here.  Seriously though, I kid, I kid.  I know that the last thing many of you want to do is read another blog, but this gives me an outlet for all the thoughts that go through my head each day.  Some are deep and profound.  Some are stupid or silly.  This blog is going to be about whatever is on my mind.  I hope that by blowing off some steam that it will help to keep me a little more sane.  That is a hard task in out current world.  For those that don't know me I will share a little about myself.  First off I am a Christian.  Not something that I always live out like I should but I am not ashamed to say that I am saved by grace.  Thank God for that because I could never be good enough on my own to please God.  I love the little things in life and I have a very strange sense of humor.  I love getting to know people and how they think and live their lives.  I think that I read people very well and have a pretty good sense of what type of person they are soon after meeting them.  I work for myself and love it.  Starting a business was the best decision I ever made.  My nickname is Bob (thus the title of the blog).  Anything else you will just have to learn by reading.  As they say Stay tuned!