The World Series gets underway tomorrow, with your Texas Rangers taking on the San Francisco Giants. Advantage Giants on home field - no wait, the Rangers prefer to win away from home. Advantage Rangers on hitting. Advantage Rangers on starting pitching. Advantage Giants on bullpen. Even on Managing. Advantage Rangers on defense. There are a lot of GREAT Giants fans who have waited a long time for World Series title and this could be their best shot in years. That said, this Ranger team is crushing the ball and their starting pitching has been stellar. I'm an NL guy, and won't complain about a Giants win. However, on paper I'd have to say Rangers in 6.
Election Day is next Tuesday. Sure, the GOP is going to get control of the House again. The issue is by how much. The conservative estimate is 55-60 seats swing the GOP way. That's too low. There is some real anger out there, and its going to show at the polls in unprecedented ways. Republicans gain 70-80 seats - or more - this time around. Even so, its going to be tough for them to gain control of the Senate. If West Virginia ends up Republican, then maybe Washington does too. The GOP wins Arkansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Illinois - and maybe Colorado. Hard to see Boxer losing in California, though the GOP just dumped $3m bucks into that race. Delaware and Connecticut are safely tucked away as Democratic holds. I'm going to say it ends up 50-50. The wild card is Alaska - it could go Democrat with Republicans splitting their vote in an intra-party war. Whatever happens, GOP celebrants should be careful; its always easier to critique than to govern, and their mid-term success doesn't mean that they will enjoy the same in 2012, as the 1994-96 election cycle shows.*
Can Texas beat Baylor this week? Hey, I'm not sure Texas can beat Florida International. OK, yes on both counts. They will be bowl eligible. I will make three predictions however: a) if Baylor wins, a Texas coach will be fired before the season ends; b) if Texas reaches 8 wins, I'll be pleasantly surprised; and c) there are going to be a LOT of tickets available for UT home games over the next several weeks. This team can't beat Missouri or Oklahoma State. They can beat A&M, but by then I'm not sure it will matter to Texas, in which case A&M wins for the simple reason that it ALWAYS matters to the Aggies.
A Pastoral Caution on Politics -
Excessive gloating or mourning about political outcomes, or basing fellowship with people on tax policy, is unbecoming to the Christian. Whatever political views you may hold, don't imagine that your party is altogether righteous and just and the other guys altogether wicked and corrupt. There's plenty of corruption to go around, and there are also good people on both sides of the political divide. I can NEVER vote for pro-abortion candidates. NEVER. I earnestly hope I can persuade others to take such a position as well. That isn't a matter of party; its a matter of principle that transcends all such temporary labels. First things first folks.
And so let us pray for all candidates and their families, and seek the Lord that he would be pleased to have mercy on us and direct the hearts of all who govern to his precepts and ways.
*When it comes to political analysis, I like the work of the people at Politico and Real Clear Politics. The Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, and The Economist are often very helpful too. If all you're doing is watching FOX, MSNBC, or other channels that major in shouting matches you will miss the real hard numbers.
2 comments:
On politics - I've decided that I can no longer support politicians that only campaign on issues that they either plan to do nothing about, don't have the power to do something about, or should not have the power to do something about.
This includes the many statewide politicians that are trying to campaign on the anti-Obama sentiment. They are not earning my vote just because they don't like Obama or because their opponent does.
Whenever we elect people based on emotion or non-issues, we give them license to govern without consent and worse to govern for their own gain.
I was thinking about your pro-life statement; I have always believed that we should vote for the most pro-life candidate. OTOH, I no longer see it as morally superior when in fact the “pro-life” politician brings up the issue only to win votes and party approval. It is just this idea that we only vote pro-life that these politicians use to get the automatic vote from us so they can continue with other chicanery. It seems to me that using the issue for political gain while planning on doing nothing or little about it is worse than being pro-abortion. I certainly respect the position, and generally will continue to vote for the more pro-life candidate, but they are going to have to show me more than just checking a box.
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