Redemption Day for Team USA

This Olympics began with tragedy for Americans abroad. Two weeks ago, Todd Bachman, the father-in-law of Hugh McCutcheon, the coach of the U.S. men's volleyball team, was stabbed to death by a Chinese man. McCutcheon's mother-in-law, Barabar Bachman, was also stabbed and hospitalized. She remains in critical condition.

Throughout the games, team members marked their shoes with the initials of Todd and Barbara Bachman as a gesture of sympathy and support. On the very last day of the Olympics, the U.S. men's volleyball team took home the gold, beating the world champion Brazilians in the gold medal match.

Also on the final day of the Beijing Games, the USA men's basketball "Redeem Team" took home the gold, beating Spain 118-107 in the gold medal game. The team, led by star players Kobe Bryan, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Coach Mike Krzyzewski, came to Beijing, to "redeem" the losses suffered by previous U.S. men's basketball teams at the 2004 Athens games and in the world championship games.

It truly was a day of redemption for Team USA. And, the United States had the most overall medals in the final medal count: 110 total medals. While China had the most number of gold medals (51 to the United States' 36), the host nation did not win the overall medal count, falling short by 10 medals, with 100.

What a great 2 weeks in Beijing. Michael Phelps clearly stole the show, but Team USA also proved to be the best all-around nation in the summer games, once again. "USA! USA! USA!"

Michael Phelps: A Ron Paul Revolutionary?

Ok, the Ron Paul Revolutionaries are getting a little giddy this week that Michael Phelps might be a Ron Paul supporter. Why? Well, Check out this article in the Baltimore Sun.

Apparently one of Phelps' best friends, Olympic swimmer Erik Vendt (pictured with Phelps above at the U.S. Olympic trials in June), is a $200 donor to the Ron Paul campaign. Phelps’ coach is a conservative and is a McCain supporter. So, it seems with this influence, Phelps must be leaning towards freedom, though the article says he is pretty much “completely non-political.”

More about swimmer Erik Vendt and his support for Ron Paul:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/specialevents/blog/2008/02/odds_and_ends_from_columbia.html

Video: School choice? "That's preposterous."

School choice?

"That's preposterous. You can't expect parents to make these choices. I mean how on earth would parents know which schools are best?"

This and more in this cut from a British sitcom which is "required viewing" on school choice.

Order Your Copy of My New Book About Obama!

I co-authored a book! It is titled: Who is the REAL Barack Obama? For the rising generation; by the rising generation. Two of my good friends, Steve Bierfeldt and Brendan Steinhauser, and myself, wrote this book, which just released this week. There is also a full website where you can learn all about the book and read daily posts from us, the authors. The website is: http://www.whoistherealbarackobama.com/

Links from the website will direct you to how you can order the book.

I encourage you to support us by buying a copy. And, if you like it enough, I encourage you to tell your friends and family and encourage them to buy copies.

More importantly, if you are still contemplating whether or not to vote for Barack Obama (or know someone who is), I encourage you to read this book, which may help you decide if he is worth your vote. This book is NOT a long editorial, but based on the facts, as they are. The primary target audience is the "youth vote" (18-29 year olds). But, we believe it will also be highly useful to all voters.

Also stay in touch with the website to learn about any and all press coverage we receive, as well as speaking engagements we pursue. Already, we have a number of requests to speak on college campuses and various venues. Thank you again for your support!

While the French talk smack, the U.S. deliver one

"The U.S. men's 4x100m free relay team won gold Monday in the most exciting, most record-breaking, most amazing, thrilling, unbelievable relay anyone could ever imagine," NBCOlympics.com reports.

Did you see this? I watched it live last night. I wasn't feeling terribly well this past weekend, and I really needed to get some sleep, but I stayed up to watch the Men's 4x100m free relay to see if the U.S. men just might do it. If you missed it, you have to watch the replay here.

It wasn't looking good for them to take the gold, but they were fairly secure to get the silver. Just 50m left in the race, the French looked unbeatable. But then... Jason Lezak did the unthinkable. As one report said, "People always step up and do things out of the ordinary at the Olympics." Lezak's 100 m leg was the fastest split in relay history - 46.06 seconds.

The top five teams in this race all BROKE the world record. The U.S. team SHATTERED it, coming ahead a full 4 seconds of the world record, and just 0.08 seconds ahead of the second place French team. It's amazing what the power of competition produces.

Days ahead of the race, when asked about the American team, French swimmer Alain Bernard replied: "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for." Well to give him credit, perhaps Bernard didn't think the Americans could finish a full 4 seconds ahead of the previous world record time. But, it was Bernard who was so far ahead on that final leg. Perhaps some of his smack-talking got to his head.

In the end, it was the American team that won the gold. That's now 2 individual golds for Michael Phelps in his quest to become the greatest Olympian ever. Whatever happens during the rest of the Olympic games, it is clear the U.S. mens swimming team didn't come here to talk smack, but rather to shatter records and take home some gold. In sports, you do your talking on the field of play (or in this case in the water).

Experts: GOP to retain control in Florida

Did you really doubt it? Free-market ideas are flowing across this state like never before. And the GOP is the more free-market oriented party in the state these days. Organizations like The James Madison Institute and the Americans for Prosperity-Florida chapter are growing and getting stronger.

Meanwhile, in the actual political world, great leaders such as outgoing Speaker of Florida's House of Representatives Marco Rubio and his "100 Ideas" are helping create effective conservative leadership in the state of Florida.

According to the liberal Gainesville Sun, experts expect the GOP to retain its nearly 2-to-1 advantage in the Florida House and Senate. Current and future legislators should pick up where former Speakers Allen Bense and Marco Rubio left off - leading the state by limiting the role of government and helping Floridians find solutions in the free-market. Their leadership shows that when conservatives lead from principle, they win. Hopefully conservatives in the rest of the nation will look to Florida as a model to emulate.

President Bush having a ball at the Olympics

If you watched the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics on NBC (whose coverage sucks by the way - I think there's more commercial time than actual event time), you may have noticed NBC continue to pan over to President Bush as he and Laura sat in the stands. At times, he looked almost bored during the parade of nations, slouching back in his seat, rolling up his program, and acting like... well, one of us.

But then, when the USA team poured into the stadium, the President and the First Lady lept to their feet and waved their U.S. flags.

The President got a little more into the action yesterday and today, as he attended women's basketball, caught some cycling, and even hit around a few volleyballs with the U.S. women's beach volleyball team.

Read more here, with a full slideshow of President Bush sportin' it up in Beijing.

U.S. women sweep medals in fencing; take first U.S. gold

The 2008 Olympics in Beijing have begun! And what a fantastic start with probably the most amazing opening ceremonies ever! While China displayed its pride as the host of the 2008 Olympic games, the United States women's fencing team got off to an early start today, winning the gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Mariel Zagunis stood proudly atop the podium, the first American to win a gold at these Olympics. Former president, George H.W. Bush was in the front row as three red, white and blue flags were rising to the rafters., with the U.S. national anthem being played proudly on Chinese soil.

Before the fencing medals were awarded, the Americans had been shut out of Olympic medals, trailing the likes of Cuba, North Korea, Taiwan and Uzbekistan in the overall standings. Then the saber trio went to work, moving the U.S. to the top of the table with three medals. Read more here.

Olympic athletes plan displays of faith in China

It's pretty well known that in communist countries such as China, religious practices are banned. The almighty State does not want competition. But, no matter how far the State goes to ban religious practices and enforce other totalitarian policies, the one thing the State can't take away is someone's faith - that inner call to holiness.

Some Olympic athletes plan public displays of faith during the Beijing Olympics. U.S. track star Sanya Richards is one of them. According to the Washington Post, Sanya Richards envisions 91,000 fans at Beijing National Stadium and millions more on television watching her cross the finish line first in the 400 meters later this month. Immediately afterward, Richards said, she plans to kneel, say a quick prayer and then point skyward in spiritual appreciation.

"It's important because I want people to know that I'm not the best because I'm Sanya Richards," the American 400 champion said at last month's U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore. "I'm the best because of God. I truly believe we can't will ourselves to win. I hope people see the same thing I see." Richards is among the athletes who openly display their faith on the playing field, and feel the two are inextricably linked.

Read more.