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Huskers Squeak By Texas A&M 5-3 In Big 12 Tourney Opening Round

It was hardly the dominating game I was hoping for, but a 5-3 win, is a win, is a win. Tony Watson was hardly overpowering in his 5 and 1/3 innings pitched, allowing 7 hits and walking 4, but he was able to gather himself every time he got into trouble and ended up allowing just 2 runs. Matt Foust relieved Watson in the 6th inning and finished the game, pitching the final 3 and 2/3 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 walks, and 1 earned run. Faust also struck out 4.

Texas A&M starter Clayton Ehlert didn't fare very well in his start, lasting just 2 and 2/3 of an inning, and was pulled by Former Nebraska Pitching Coach Rob Childress when he got into trouble by loading the bases with just one out. Childress's move proved to be the right one, as the Huskers didn't manage another hit that inning.

The oddest scoring play of the game came in the bottom of the 8th inning, after 3rd baseman Craig Corriston singled, and outfielder Andrew Brown walked, both runners advanced a base, then another, including Corriston coming home on back-to-back balk calls.

Balks are certainly more prevalent in the college game than they are in Major league baseball, in fact I don't remember the last time I saw a balk get called in MLB, but back to back balks on any level is almost unheard of, and always unpopular, as it is usually a judgment call entirely based on what the umpire thinks he sees.

The extra run was proved to be not needed as the Foust was able to get through the 9th without allowing a run.

It's certainly a good start for the Huskers; a 0-1 start would almost certainly have put them under the gun. Texas has been rolling along in the Big 12, and if the Huskers want to have any chance to win their pool, they'll need to be undefeated when they meet Texas on Saturday.

The Huskers will next play tomorrow at 7:30 pm against Kansas State (33-22, 10-16 in Big 12) with Johnny Dorn most likely going to the hill.

Bush Misses the Point, Again

In a speech President Bush gave at a Coast Guard Academy graduation ceremony, he pointed to declassified intelligence that says Osama Bin Laden thought about sending a top lieutenant to Iraq in 2005. But he's missing the point.

Bush said:

There's a reason bin Laden sent one of his most experienced paramilitary leaders to Iraq. He believes that if al Qaeda can drive us out, they can establish Iraq as a new terrorist sanctuary.

But there are a few things the President fails to realize:

1. While Bin Laden may have discussed sending this lieutenant to Iraq, there is no evidence to support he followed through with that plan. Exactly how many pieces of intelligence information has the United States compiled on people who thought about doing something, but didn't? And what other time in our country has that been held up as rationale for actions?

2. Bush and the media glossed over the fact Bin Laden discussed sending this lieutenant in 2005 -- two years after the U.S. had invaded Iraq. Would this not also be a shining beacon of proof that Bin Laden's organization was not in Iraq before we invaded? Should that not be pointed out early and often?

And finally:

3. Isn't it possible the chaos we created in Iraq would have made the country a more attractive terrorist breeding ground? And using that logic, wouldn't any attack we receive from terrorists stationed in Iraq be our own fault?

The president also made a comparison between Iraq and the Vietnam War, saying, "There are many differences between the two conflicts, but one stands out above all. The enemy in Vietnam had neither the intent nor the capability to strike our homeland. ... The enemy in Iraq does."

No Mr. Bush, as you already admitted, Bin Laden did not send his lieutenant. He's had no success in setting up an operation that could strike the U.S. from inside Iraq.

Although the White House rejected suggestions the revelations were timed for political purposes, Bush's address coincided with a push by Democrats in Congress to force an end to the U.S. military presence in the region.

Throughout May, 81 U.S. military personnel have died in the Iraq war, bringing the total to 3,432.

Who's the Biggest Douchebag in Congress?

If you guessed Tom Coburn from Oklahoma, then you win the prize. Today it came out that Coburn has erected two parliamentary holds on bills intended to honor Rachel Carson on the 100th anniversary of her birth (one bill to name a post office after her in PA, and a resolution honoring her)

Carson is the author of "Silent Spring" a book which illustrated how synthetic chemicals like DDT accumulate in water, soils, fish, and animals, including birds. Coburn is apparently a huge DDT enthusiast, so much so that he believes that Carson's claims lead to deaths of hundreds of young people in developing country's.

Coburn's office makes no attempt to illustrate how that might have happened, or why claiming a proven carcinogen like DDT is harmful qualifies as "junk science"

To make matters worse, Coburn's staff has tried to blame Harry Reid for allowing the parliamentary holds to so far, stay in effect, saying:

"[Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid could easily break this hold with procedural votes. The sponsors should ask Senator Reid why he won’t put it on the floor if this is a vital effort,"

Hart wrote in his e-mailed response to media outlet questions about the holds.

You want more evidence of Tom Coburn's douchebaggery? Special Thanks to Bubba World.com for compiling, and sharing this list

Example #1:

Dr. Coburn proudly proclaims he is 'pro-life' and that 'all life is sacred'. He has also said that the death penalty would be acceptable for those who perform abortion, and the real hook, is that he himself has performed abortions. Does he have a death wish?

Example #2:

While representing Oklahoma's 2nd District in Congress in Coburn protested NBC's airing of the historically significant movie "Schindler's List".

Coburn said in airing the movie NBC had taken television "to an all-time low, with full-frontal nudity, violence and profanity". He also said the broadcast should outrage parents and decent-minded individuals everywhere.

Conservative super-stars William Bennett and Jack Kemp took Coburn to task for those remarks, with Kemp calling Coburn's remarks "a huge mistake" and Bennett calling them "very unfortunate and foolish".

Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, Republican Senator from New York said of Coburn:

"To equate the nudity of Holocaust victims in the concentration camps with any sexual connotation is outrageous and offensive. I'm particularly embarrassed they were made by a member of my own party."

Example #3:

At the same town hall meeting in Altus, OK Coburn was tape recorded saying:

"All right, listen, I know the tribal issues. I was a congressman where most of the Indians are in this state. The problem is that most of them aren't Indians. The average Cherokee quantum is 1/512. All right, most people in this room have more Cherokee in them than the Cherokee..."

Coburn also went on to say:

"I mean this is a joke. It is one thing for us to keep our obligations to recognize Native Americans, but it’s a totally different thing for us to allow a primitive agreement with the Native Americans to undermine Oklahoma’s future…"

Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, in response to Coburn's views stated:

"I’m a Republican and it is hard to understand why Tom Coburn takes pride in dividing Oklahoma and ridiculing people. If you disagree with him, you are evil. There’s no discussion, no room for understanding.".

Bill Johnson, Tulsa and Washington county representative on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council said:

"I’ve been a Republican all my life and Tom Coburn is an embarrassment to the Republican party. Comments like these are why I keep seeing ‘Republicans for Carson’ signs popping up everywhere.".

In reply to Coburn's claim that the Cherokee Nation had given $150,000 to his opponent's campaign, Cherokee spokespersons stated that the Cherokee Nation had not given a single dollar to Carson's campaign.

So the real question is, how delusional are republicans in Oklahoma that this man was elected? And I thought Nebraska was bad.