Is this leadership?

President Bush outlined his "Victory in Iraq" PR strategy today. Seems about time, since our soldiers were sent in two and a half years ago. Today more than 2,000 of them are dead, thousands more have been injured, and approximately 160,000 soldiers (that's about two and a half Metrodomes filled to capacity) remain the target of insurgents and face the possibility of being blown up at any moment.

Most Americans have concluded we shouldn't be there and the world was lied to by the most powerful "leaders" in the world, but we're beyond that discussion now. But while now many skeptics are pushing for immediate withdrawal, I'm not anymore convinced we should pull out than we should stay.

I'm so sick of hearing about "staying the course." I want action and to hear about actual progress. That could come with actual proof or evidence that Iraqi troops are stepping up to task. Today, Bush said about 200 Iraqi army and police battalions are ready to help or already in service. That's one measly number considering how long we've been in the country and beyond that, where the heck are they? Iraqi forces are the key to success, and it must be a top priority with daily improvement that will lead toward the official handover of power. The Iraqis need to learn fast how to provide security to themselves. An impetus could be having us set a date to leave. Iraqis, Democrats, and even some Republicans seem to even agree on this point. Yet for now, I see no proof to suggest the Iraqi soldiers are any more important than "our little brothers" who try to help put silverware on the dinner table while we cook the dinner. They're clearly in no shape to secure the country if we leave now. At this pace, it won't be happen, period. I believe it's a near certainty that the country will erupt in civil war, no matter we leave tomorrow or in 10 years. The country's ethnic base is too divided and bound to split into smaller governments. I just see no point in jeopardizing the lives of good Americans any more than those who have already made the sacrifice.

We learned this lesson in Vietnam -- and we're heading in the same direction. We are creating more insurgents by the day and more Islamic radicals seem to be rallying more and more around the world, threatening the U.S. in new ways and planning or implementing more attacks. Forget Iraq, the U.S., and Afghanistan, the world is not safer than we were before Sept. 11. I'm sick of hearing that we are, simply by fighting terrorists abroad so we don't deal with them here. We're fighting a never-ending battle. I say give an approximate date of departure, refocus attention on securing our borders and ports, and let's start promoting discussion without carrying guns in our hands. Let's change our reputation.

A change in philosophy just might be the first ticket to actually changing hearts and minds -- not some 30+page book about strategy that's more than two years late and undoubtedly filled with empty words and lack of vision. It's just one more sign that the President refuses to listen to those who voted him into office, and calls those who disagree with him "un-American" and "un-democratic." Sounds like Bush has forgot how important dissent is to a democracy. You'd also think after five years in office, he'd get better at your job. Let's recap: No link between Al Queda and Saddam, WMD weren't in Iraq, Harriet Miers wasn't fit to be on the Supreme Court, the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts were far from adequate, the adminstration caused the CIA leak scandal, the deficit has grown substantially, Bush's job approval rating continues to drop, and your oil-buddy Dick Cheney is like a slimy mob boss. What a presidency. When is the President actually going to follow through with something? How is this representation?

Back to Work

I'm back in the working world. I am now an editor at Internet Broadcasting Systems, an internet company that operates hundreds of TV news station websites across the country. The company will be running NBCOlympics.com and about 180+ localized Olympics websites for individual NBC affiliate stations. Confused yet? I'm still on training wheels at my new desk but am looking forward to the challenge of running these sites for stations in cities that I've never been (or in the case of Casper, Wyoming will never visit). I'd love to show you a mock-up of the websites but I had to sign a contract that I wouldn't share this confidential info. You will however see the product at our launch date on Dec. 15.

Favorite Moment of Monday: Watching Monday Night Football and seeing an overview shot of downtown Green Bay. In most major cities, you'll see skyscrapers, mountains or cool monuments. In Packer-land, you see flat land and smoke stacks billowing into the air. Which makes me ask -- how the heck did the NFL ever put a football team in this place?

I received tragic news this morning. Sammy is dead. I barely knew you and now you are gone. I will always have our memories.

The Big F-ups

Did you see the whole mess about Gopher hockey team members who were caught drinking on tape? This report is one of the least ethical and most poorly reported TV news stories that I have ever seen. When will TV news realize this is why people hate watching local news and that these shoddy efforts at real reporting jeopardizes the credibility of all news orgazations, including newspapers?

This idea couldn't fly, but I wish there was a way to create a national accredited journalism organization made of the best journalists, who had the authority to set standards and discipline others who hurt journalistic credibility. Of course that little thing called the Constitution makes sure it's so we have a free press, a critical element to democracy that keeps our leaders accountable (eg, the CIA leak) and seeks the truth wherever it may hide.

Regardless how bad this story was reported, it did uncover wrongdoing that should be dealt with. This state is in love with its hockey and players, and the public demands wins. Like many top hockey campuses, players are treated like celebrities and do receive preferencial treatment. Few will contest this goes on, but people should not blind themselves by their anger at Fox 9 and forget about the fact that indeed, the pucksters are ignoring the law and -- perhaps more importantly to them -- breaking eligibility rules of the NCAA. You may not be concerned over a drinking ticket, but is drinking a beer at 18 at a popular campus bar worth your scholarship?

I'm also sick of excuses. Athlete or not, people start bitching as soon as the law catches up to them. I can almost guarantee these guys are spouting out about injustices around town right now with statements like, "everybody at college drinks before they're 21" or "nobody cares about that law" or "you'll never get busted for this."

This is clearly a story worthy of coming out in the media -- but not in a three-part, sensationalistic, unnecessarily undercover report meant to drive up ratings during sweeps week. If I was the news director, I'd recommend no more than a one day story focusing on preferential treatment given to all athletes, highlighting the underage drinking of all students. To focus solely on hockey players while you know much more rampant law-breaking is occuring is unfair and gives viewers a sense that the station has a gripe against the players.

Regardless, this is no different from freshman busted on the sidewalk with a backpack full of beer, a off-campus party that's raided by the cops, or a fight outside a bar, these fellas put themselves in this situation. They should own up to it. As for all you fire-breathing Gopher fans (including myself for some sports), you should have realized this story was going to come out eventually.

But damn, Fox 9, you guys suck at telling stories in a way that is helpful for the public and not solely driven for a ratings hike. You should all question why you are at this station if this is the kind of crap you want to shout to the world.

Go Orlando

Hiddy-ho boys and girls. Interesting trip to Orlando last night. So you know, I'm the proud "caretaker" of a 2005 Chevy Trail Blazer. It's not mine of course, but merely the only rental car still available last night at 1 a.m. What's the deal with car rental agencies anyways? Without a reservation, I hopped between 4 or 5 agencies. I was shopping prices and car models, only to wait essentially for 30-45 minutes at each one (though only 3 or so people were in line). So I finally find one with vehicles and the clerk tells me it's going to be $85/day for minivans. I said YES!

So I head outside to the lot to find a minivan and the parking guard tells me to snag an SUV. They charge more for them, but customers swap em for SUVs all the time without problem he said.

Finally after finding my way out of the airport, and stopping at several annoying 75-cent toll stops I found my hotel room. Find my modest room (as people were clearly enjoying an hour-long sex romp next door) and crashed. Good times.I'm headed out to the sun now.

The Earth is Flat

You can see a lot of things from an 11th floor hotel room in Fargo, one of the flattest and least populated cities in the country. Actually it's so flat, you can see the curvature of the Earth. It's a far cry from any major metropolitan area I'm use to. It's fair to say the Radisson is at least twice the size of any building. I hear the Fargo population is about 90,000 and though I would have doubted it if that would have come from the mouths of some of my native-Fargo cohorts. People do live there, you can indeed see a wide vision of lights across the horizon at night. Little did I know electricity is alive and well in arguably the lamest state in the union.

So why go to Fargo? I had a nice two-day tryout at the Forum, the official newspaper for the Fargo-Moorhead (Minn.) area. I've been looking for reporter gigs for awhile, and I do think it could be a great first step in what will be a tremendous career.

P.S. --> Here's the hard-hitting story to prove college was worth over $50,000. CLICK HERE.

For now, I'm still unemployed but this week is full of optimism and job interviews. I've got a solid beat on a reporting gig in Fargo, two community weekly rags, an Internet broadcasting company and Golfweek Magazine. The golf magazine's sending me to Mickey Mouse-land tomorrow. I can promise I will be sipping coronas a few hours from now in shorts with my feet up. Savor that thought in your cubicle earning your paychecks.