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Nationalized Health Care
First of all, we do not have 47 million Americans who can't get health care, as the advocates of a Canadian/British system would have you believe.

Approximately 10-15 million of our citizens make over $50,000 a year and choose not to buy health care for a variety of reasons, including stupidity. Some 12 million or so are immigrants who entered illegally in the first place and don’t qualify. Another 10-15 million are youngsters between 18-25, who live on their own, think they are indestructible and/or truly can’t afford it.

Add the fact that many who are currently without insurance can qualify for Medicaid benefits if they would bother to do the paperwork. In other words, we, the taxpayers pick up the tab when they get sick. For example, those currently on welfare receive Medicaid coverage and prescription drugs free of charge.

Having said that, I do believe there are problems with our current system, including the doctors’ main complaint that we need to curb the amount of lawsuits that are filed, which in turn drive up the cost of doing business.

And I do have compassion for those who truly don’t have health insurance, those between jobs, the elderly that get hammered with rising drug prescription costs, etc…

My solution?

Sorry. I’m not qualified to provide any answers other than to state the obvious – the government isn’t set up to provide a public option that works. If it did, that would be a first.

Have you checked out the Post Office's multi-billion $ a year deficit?

I do see some sort of health care bill eventually passing Congress this year. It will likely be a very watered down version. The President will claim victory. But the private sector will remain in charge overall of health care – as it should be.

The bottom line is those who have a decent job and a health care plan in place complain about the cost but generally are pleased with their overall coverage.

Meanwhile, those without work, between jobs, or have low-paying jobs are one serious car accident away from being ruined financially because they have no coverage.

Some sort of Catastrophic Health Insurance should be made available to Americans who need it. Yes, I would pay a little more in taxes to make sure families going through tough times aren’t ruined because mom needed four weeks in the hospital to recover from emergency surgery.

I just don't know how we do it. It's not my area of expertise.

North Korea & Iran
For some reason, we are currently tailing a North Korean ship carrying illegal arms to Burma but we aren’t likely to board it.

So why tail it if you don’t plan on checking out the cargo?

Plus, if we do board it, the nut jobs in North Korea might start firing missiles south – where we have 28,000 soldiers stationed in South Korea.

It’s like owning a gun. I was told several years ago – never point a weapon at someone unless you are willing to fire. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

One thing is for certain, the dictators around the world will continue to screw with the new, young President. That’s what you get when you don’t even use the term “war on terror” anymore, send terrorists to Bermuda for permanent R & R and think your persuasive skills can convince thugs to negotiate in good faith.

Think about it - if you went from state office to Senator to the most powereful man in the world in just over four years, you would think you could walk on water too.

That's a potentially dangerous mindset to possess unless Obama has some strong adults around to keep it real.

As for Iran – better late than never. Obama has finally publicly accused the Iranian regime of terrible behavior in repressing public criticism of its elections returns.

Initially, he didn’t want to “meddle.”

I’m not going to rip Obama on this one. This country, in the past, has given moral (verbal) support to folks who rose up against repressive regimes, only to stand by and watch those democracy seekers bleed in the streets after the crackdowns.

Sara Palin
I was also asked to comment on the Alaskan governor. No, she won’t be a serious candidate for president in 2012, even though her followers believe that to be the case.

Her detractors – mainly the media – have succeeded in marginalizing her to the point where I can’t see her ever getting 50+% of the vote. That doesn’t mean I don’t like her politics or her looks for that matter. She simply has too much of an uphill climb and is damaged goods.

Sorry Sara.

No, I don’t have a front-runner yet.

NBA Draft
I haven’t seen many of these guys play enough to comment on who will make it in the pros and who will flame out. That’s just a fact.

I do know this – the Cavaliers need an impact post presence – on both ends, and a young, tall wing player who can defend and run the floor. Neither of these needs will be filled with the 30th pick overall however.

It’s time for Danny to wheel and deal again.

When you get beat, you need to get better. It’s that simple – even if you were the best team in the league during the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs.


Look for Andy V. to be involved in a sign and trade. The Cavaliers need a very skilled player up front. AV is one of their few bargaining chips. This corner has been in his corner for several years. However, with this team, at this time, I would rather put $8 million a year or more toward a better all-around player than someone who has no offensive skills.

Besides, I was wrong. AV has proven he is better served coming off the bench. I can’t pay a role player, albeit it a unique one (AV), that kind of cash when I have other pressing needs.

One last look back at the Orlando series reinforces my belief that Mike Brown and his staff gagged badly. LJ should have been put on Hedo T. – which would have wiped that smirk from his face and slowed down Orlando’s offensive efficiency.

Secondly, Z should have played minimal minutes at best. That happened in game #6 – which was too little too late. He simply could not keep Howard from dunking on him at a ridiculous rate.

It was like watching a quality DI post player take on Thiel College’s best interior presence. Thiel is in PA, for those of you who did not work for me during your youth.

I would have played Ben Wallace more and gritted my teeth with him at the offensive end of the floor.

The fact remains that the 6-9 Hedo T. will make a lot of money this off-season thanks in large part to the Cavaliers putting a 6-3 guard (West) on him most of the series.

If I had a midget on me, at the age of 30, I would be smiling also, along with going anywhere on the court I pleased. Hedo was not nearly as effective against a taller and more athletic Laker perimeter presence.

As for Howard, he was exposed by the Lakers as being a freak physical specimen lacking real post skills – which is what we called him during the Cavs’ meltdown against the Magic.

Even Charles Barkley, who normally “gets it” when it comes to basketball talent, overreacted during the Cavs-Magic series. He claimed LeBron and Kobe better watch out because Howard has joined the club - or something to that affect. No – not yet Charles.

Pat Riley
The Pat Riley to Cleveland rumors are intriguing, even though I doubt this guy, who has lived in LA, New York and Miami would want to spend the next few winters in Cleveland – even if LBJ decided to stay.

One of my sports commandments has always been – you don’t fire a manager/coach unless you can clearly upgrade. Riley would be an upgrade. However, no owner has the stones to can a coach the same year he wins 66 games and is named NBA Coach of the Year. It simply has never been done. But it makes for interesting conversation.

Manny
I occasionally turn on SportsCenter. And it seems, the network has gone from covering Mark Sanchez’s every move in the Big Apple to Manny’s every BP swing as he prepares for his re-instatement after turning up a cheat.

Who gives a %$#@?

Indians
If you want to know why the Indians have been out of the post-season in seven of the last eight years, just look at their top draft picks since 1998. Only CC, a first-round 10 years ago, has made a splash. Many of them barely had a cup of coffer with the parent club.

In fact, if you analyze the “young” players Mark Shapiro and company have been touting since 2000, most of them are #4 starters –at best, and fourth outfielders. Those are just facts.

Yes, Wedge will be gone soon, but Shapiro needs to also be held accountable. He knows, in this market, he just hasn’t had a good enough batting average. And it’s not because the owner has been cheap. No, Dolan hasn’t given him a blank check, but Shapiro needed to do more with $80 million – the current team salary in 2009.

We are already on record as wanting Grover back. He knows the town, the farm system and is the only manager who had sustained success here since the 50s. Those are also facts.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Buddy Bell back in the dugout as well. If Grover doesn’t want to manage anymore, he can run the show from upstairs and Bell can call the shots in the dugout.

Yes, I want Indians running the Cleveland Indians this time around. I believe in the Bo Shembeckler philosophy – “A Michigan man will coach the Wolverines!”

By the way, I can’t see the Tribe dealing either Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez this season. That would send a message to fans they are light years from competing again. It’s simply bad logic. As bad as this team is playing, no one can guess who will win this division in 2010.

I though this team would win between 85-88 games based mostly on the fact they play so many games (19) against their mediocre divisional mates. I was obviously wrong. However, it won’t take much in this division to get competitive again if you hit for a high batting average in the off-season.

In case they are looking – which I’m sure they are- someone tell the Dolans I’ll work relatively cheap and only seek a one year deal.

Hopefully, it was worth the wait.