Tiger Wood's Real Challenge, Not Nicklaus, But Growing Up

After Accusations, Sex Scandals, Car Crashes, Divorce, Injuries, and 30 months of losing, Tiger Woods has finally won a golf tournament, but that was the easy part. While the surface layer of the golf world can now credibly discuss Wood's hunt for Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major tournament wins, even that monumental challenge will be far easier than redeeming his place as one of the greatest sports athletes that ever is/was. The reason for this is simply illustrated. Ali's greatness had to do with his boxing skill, coupled with the man he grew to be, both while boxing, but well after he hung up his gloves for good. You can't separate the person's impact from their professional accomplishments.

Tiger is a golf champion, no doubt, but he is a poster child for arrested emotional development. He has done little or nothing over the last thirty months to signal to people that he is on any comeback as a man, if he was ever there to begin with. And for the record, building yourself an estimated sixty-million dollar bachelor pad (here), is a big step in the wrong direction to growing up (IMHO).

James C. Collier

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Democrats Square Off Against Obama On Indefinite Detention

Today, two Democrats, Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Congressman Adam Smith, (D-Wash.) presented a bill that will repeal indefinite detention of US citizens, on US soil. This effort is squarely at odds with Obama, regardless of the spin/rhetoric put into the air. (here)

Last year, on December 24 to be exact, President Obama signed NDAA 2012, which notably included, at the White House's insistence (threat of veto), indefinite detention of US citizens. Now, there is a Democratic plan afoot to repeal the inclusion, thereby acknowledging that no president, even a cool one, or branch of government is above the US Constitution dictate, protecting due process and the right to speedy trial.

The White House will try to keep this low-key through the election - but many Democrats should worry about looking un-American in their home states, while supporting the President's ill-advised and un-constitutional power grab.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Democrats Square Off Against Obama On Indefinite Detention, NDAA, Mark Udall, Adam Smith, Section 1021, Acting White

Is Obama Good For African-Americans?

Finally, someone is getting around to asking the reasonable question, even if black voting support for Obama is already locked up for Decision 2012.

If you ask the Congressional Black Caucas for their honest answer to Obama's impact on the status of blacks, they would say little or none. (here) Congresswoman Waters makes it clear that perception is blocking reality when it comes to black voters and the president.

The short answer to the question goes like this...Republicans don't want black votes, Obama has done little for blacks, but he is still the only hope the group sees, so hope wins.

Conventional wisdom would say that Obama is very good for 'immigrant-minded' blacks, as he demonstrates what one black man can do for himself, and family, if he puts his mind to the task and utilizes all of the available resources here in America.

So I guess the answer is - it depends.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Is Obama Good For African-Americans?, Congressional Black Caucas, Maxine Waters, Black Voters, Racism, Acting White

Obama Attempts Backing Off Indefinite Detention Law

I'm sure readers will recall my recent rail (here) against the president for tearing down the Constitution, via the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), on Christmas Eve of 2011. Obama insisted that the NDAA give his office the power to indefinitely detain US citizens for alleged acts deemed terrorist and occurring on US soil - in direct violation of the first, fifth, and sixth constitutional amendments. (here)

As of February 28, 2012, the White House now says, "Section 1022 does not apply to US citizens, and the President has decided to waive its application to lawful permanent residents arrested in the U.S." Problem here is that this waiving and promising applies, not to indefinite detainment law, but rather WHO is doing the the detaining - the military or civilian authorities. Frankly, that ain't the part that should worry us.

So, why go through this bit of seemingly meaningful-less political slight-of-hand? Obama is simply attempting to camouflaged the election bulls-eye, in the NDAA, that he placed on his own backside, uncertain whether Romney is competent to understand and challenge him on it (probably not). Also, the Executive Branch fears the military as much as it also needs them to stand ready in times of unrest, so this posturing is inevitable.

Of course, NDAA as law is still on books and ready for enforcement in full-weight, whenever the President, whoever he/she may be, sees fit. So, thanks but no thanks! Bad law, get rid of it, except if you think the country is headed for anarchy, then maybe it's okay...recall that Europe is still teetering on the financial brink, world debt crisis still looms, China bubble could burst, Afghanistan is killing us, Syria, etc.

If the Occupy Movement et al ever catches any real steam, look for 'rumors' of terrorist-group funding to pop-up, because this is all that is needed to start locking protesters up - indefinitely. And in this case, the White House will be doing some waiving for sure - bye-bye to the First Amendment trouble-makers.

It's tough walking the hero-traitor tightrope, in these challenging times.

James C. Collier

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Distorted Reality: Steve Jobs, Barack Obama et al

Much is being made about Steve Jobs, and his penchant for 'distorting reality'. This includes contributions from FBI interviews, when he was alive. Not that he needs defending - and I never personally worked for him - but I have worked closely or directly for five CEO's and feel I have good experience from which to speak.

Distorting reality is such a consistent feature of CEO's, it's almost ignorant to proper it as a negative, or dis-qualifier. I submit that the ability to do it well, however that's defined, makes it a prerequisite to extraordinary results, good and bad. Who is to say that distortion is not required in order to go places, where no one has gone before. I'm sure people thought Einstein was distorted.

The better question is if this distorted leadership is taking us someplace good - particularly in the case of our political leadership on both sides of the aisle. In this case, and whether each knew it or not, at the end of his life Jobs was definitely the teacher, Obama the student.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Distorted Reality: Steve Jobs, Barack Obama et al, FBI Interviews, Bomb Threat, Mental Health, Leadership, Acting White