Enough Is Enough

I do not know if anyone caught George W. Bush’s State of the Union Address the other night. I admit that I had better things to do. And honestly, after a couple of minutes of listening to Bush speak (or at least try to speak) I get bored. Unless, he is really making a fool of himself then I just laugh.

I do know that one of topics he spoke on was the war in Iraq. First of all, I never quite understood why we were over there in the first place or for so long. We captured/executed Saddam finally. I think that the biggest reason why this war needs to be over is that the people in Iraq are not the ones who knocked down the Twin Towers.

Bush says he will not end the war in Iraq. Instead, he will do the exact opposite. He is sending more troops to Iraq. Is our President stupid? Well, yes. Instead of focusing on the important issues like the economy, gas prices, unemployment...need I say more? Bush is obsessed with Iraq for some reason. The problem is that he got in too deep and he knows it. He cannot pull out now, what else will he do or talk about his remaining two years in office?

All I know is that the next two years better go by fast because Bush needs to be out of office for our country’s own good.

Despite causing a lot of controversy with their statement, the Dixie Chicks were very right a couple years ago when they said they were ashamed of the President. I am ashamed too. I think that enough is enough.

It's About Time

Steroid use in Major League Baseball has been an ongoing issue for sometime now. It has always been known that several major league baseball players have used steroids to enhance their performance on the baseball field. Many players have also denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs. However, reports say something different. It never used to be illegal to take steroids until 2002, so players have gone unpunished. That is until recently.

The 2007 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees were announced last week. Mark McGwire was not voted in, and he was not even close to being voted in. McGwire is one of the players that reportedly took performance-enhancing drugs during his career. When he went in front of Congress a couple years ago to discuss steroid use in baseball, he avoided the question about his own use. His response was, “I am not here to talk about the past.” Well, voters made it loud and clear that McGwire does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame despite his 583 career home runs.
I agree with the voters. McGwire and every other player who took/takes steroids deserve to be punished. And in my opinion, not getting into the Hall of Fame is the worst kind of punishment. Voters are basically telling McGwire that all of his accomplishments do not mean anything if he cheated by taking performance-enhancing drugs.
I believe taking steroids is considered cheating, although many people will probably disagree with me. Let’s say McGwire never took steroids. Would he still have been as successful as a home run hitter? I am not saying he would have been less successful, but we will never know. It is sad to think that many players might have had very different careers if they did not take steroids. Unfortunately, we will never know how talented these players really are.

I also believe that these players set a bad example. They are telling people that it is ok to take steroids in order to be stronger and more successful in a sport.
The voters last week sent out a very loud message. I think it is a great message. Their message also tells me that it is unlikely McGwire will ever be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Disgraced player Barry Bonds does not have much chance either after he retires.

I hope this also can be a lesson to some players that the fans do not and will not forget.

After all these years, it looks like steroid use/cheating has finally caught up to these professional athletes. These players have been getting away with steroid use way too long and now the punishment is coming. All I can say is: It’s about time.

Rosie and Donald Both Need To Shut Up

Yet we have another celebrity feud that everyone is talking about these days. In the past month, comedian and co-host of The View, Rosie O’Donnell, and Donald Trump have been going at it in a war of words. The feud all started when O’Donnell disagreed with Trump’s decision to not say “you’re fired” to Miss USA Tara Conner who apparently has a drug and alcohol problem.

Since then, they have repeatedly attacked one another to the point where it is laughable. Trump and O’Donnell remind me of recess time in elementary school. A couple of immature children who have nothing better to do than insult each other. I think they have a contest on who can hurt each other the most. Or who can act more immature than the other.

Honestly, I think they both need to shut up because I do not care for either one of them. Why don’t they just both get in a boxing ring and go a couple more rounds? That ought to be fun to watch. And let’s face it. They are both right about each other. O’Donnell is a bully who used to be the “Queen of Nice,” but for some reason has turned into the exact opposite. Trump does have a bad combover who has a thing for young women. However, it has gotten to the point where it is obvious that both of them are just doing it for the headlines.

Well, Trump and O’Donnell, you two received the headlines, now please shut up.

American Justice System vs. Iraq Justice System

I am sure everyone has heard by now, former Iraq leader, Saddam Hussein has been executed for the crimes he committed over several decades. Hussein was sentenced to death in November after his conviction, and was executed on December 30. This leads me to the question: Why does it take so long for the American justice system to send a convicted criminal to the death penalty?
When criminals in our system are sentenced to death, by the time their appeals run out, 20 years or more have passed since their conviction. If justice is not going to be served right away, then why give a jury the option of punishing someone by death? The convicted criminals are rotting away in prison like they were given a life sentence anyways.
Look at Scott Peterson. He was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering his pregnant wife Laci. However, Peterson will probably not be put to death in another 20 years after his appeals are exhausted. Another example, Richard Allen Davis, kidnapped and murdered 12-year-old Polly Klaas back in 1993. Davis was sentenced to death for the crime, but has yet to be executed. He sits alongside Peterson in San Quentin State Prison. Davis and Peterson both have no remorse for what they have done and deserve the ultimate punishment sooner rather than later.
Why is our justice system so slow? I understand that convicted criminals have the right to appeal their conviction, but justice finally being done several years after the crime is committed is ridiculous. Iraq did not waste time in executing Hussein, which is good. Hussein was a monster whose capture was actually long overdue in my opinion. He should have been captured back in 1991 during the Gulf War.
I think if we are going to take forever to execute someone who has been sentenced to die, then what is the point of the death penalty?