Bush Haters Beware

If you hate George W. Bush and are content to hate him based on erroneous and biased reporting, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! Karl Rove was there from the beginning. He explains all that happened in a reasoned way. He gives the explanations that were not forthcoming from the president at the time. Unlike our current president W. felt that it was beneath the dignity of the office of president to get in a spitting contest with every critic on the public airways.

Rove admits there were mistakes. He does however strongly defend the choices that ended up with war in Iraq, including reminding the short memories of those who forgot all those who agreed with Bush when the choice was made.

He explains Katrina and the way decisions were made and not made. For example, in Mississippi and Alabama, two states that had capable leadership in place, the help from FEMA was excellent. Rove explains the battle between the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisana and how that affected the help the Feds could offer. Unknown to many, FEMA couldn't just take over. They either had to be invited to do so by the governor, who wouldn't give the invitation, or by declaring Louisana in a state of insurrection which Bush was hesitant to do.

He explains the 2000 election dispute with Gore. He reminds us that when the count was in Bush won. When the recounted Bush won. When the Florida supreme court went against Florida law and called another recount, Bush won. The supreme court of the US voted 9-0 that the Florida Supreme Court overstepped its bounds. In a second vote it voted in favor of Bush 7-2. In the third vote,it voted in favor of Bush 7-2. And finally the vote to stop all the recounting, was 5-4.

Later after all the votes were in, all the chads as far as possible examined, it was decided that Bush won the election. So why are there still those that say Bush cheated to win? Because they hate George Bush and they want to believe that.

This is a great look at inside the Bush whitehouse, by someone who was there. Read it. I highly recommend it.

UTAH TO THE PAC 10 (12) or Could I possibly be a Utah Man, Sir?

Well I hope Utah isn't about to fade into National insignificance. HUH? How can you say that Rodger when they are now in the Pac 12? Well, for those not under the influence of Ute Mania, who can look objectively at the situation, a glance at history would tell them there are hazzards ahead.

In the first place, the last few years, since the Urban Meyer years, have been an aberration in MWC/WAC football. From 1962-1999 Utah never won the WAC championship. They shared a title with New Mexico and Arizona in 1964 and a four way tie in 1995. In the 11 years of the Mountain West Conference Utah has won the title only 3 times. They are not quite a yearly powerhouse.

Compare their record with Arizona and Arizona State. Many of you young UTE fans my not remember that they were members of the WAC with Utah from 1962 to 1978 when they left to make the PAC 8 the PAC 10. In the last 10 years they were in the WAC with Utah, BYU, New Mexico and the others, Arizona and Arizona State won or shared the conference championship 9 times. That is 9 of 10 years. 90%. In the 32 years since joining the Pac 10, Arizona State has gone to two Rose Bowls, Arizona none.

During Whittingham's tenure, the Utes are a mediocre 4-3 vs PAC 10 teams. And besides football, a peek at the conference champions in other sports shows that Utah is mediocre in the MWC. (They are national powers in Women's gymnastics but that isn't a MWC sport.) These other sports will likely struggle in the PAC 12.

Don't misunderstand. I think this is a great opportunity for Utah and I am very happy for them. As far as athletics goes I think BYU would have been a better choice, but I am glad they didn't get the nod. And I realize that more than Athletics is involved in the choice.

While I hate to lose Utah as a Lobo opponent, I will now be free to root for them, and I will. Go Utes! I am not quite ready to sing I am a Utah man sir, but I look forward to seeing the big boys come to town.