Election Day '09

This Tuesday, is Obama going to help claim the seats for two democrat gubernatorial elections in states in which he won? He has campaigned in both Richmond and Trenton and most recently in Camden and Newark, New Jersey. Both dirty races, yet without some miracle for the Democrats, an already Republican won Virginia, it looks as if the Dirty Jerz is going to be the race to watch Tuesday night!
According to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, with 1,533 likely voters, it shows Chris Christie with 42% to Gov. Corzine's 40%, falling within the poll's 2.5 percentage points. Following in third is Independent candidate Christopher Daggett with 12% and leaving the remaining 6% undecided. If you look at in relation to sports it is easy to see how one win or loss can effect the outcome of this race. This past weekend, the state has been divided not by politics, but by team affiliation that divides the state between NYC and Philly NFL and MLB teams. The race between the Eagles/Phillies, Democrats, versus the Giants/Yankees, Republicans, is a nail biter, all dependant on tonight’s game to see if the Republicans can pull through, even with the Eagles victory. The Independent, Jets/Mets, loss Sunday did not take away percentage points from the main contenders and the non-sports fan pulling in as the undecided vote is a small percentage within the state.
Corzine seems to be holding strong in a Democratic state having Vice President Biden and Former President Clinton campaigning, in addition to the President stopping in both North and South Jersey this past Sunday. With the event being held at Camden, it proved to be a traffic nightmare with more important matters for Jersey residents, the Giants versus Eagles game at 1 pm in Philadelphia. For his sake, I hope the race stays neck to neck and the outcome of his election doesn't prove to be the same as the outcome for the Giants. Most recently Newark has received a lot of national attention on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Even though Newark Mayor Cory Booker has since publicly forgiven the comedian for the jokes surrounding the city, O'Brien was only poking fun at the reality of it all. People not from the area would not know why Corzine/Obama picked these two geographical locations, yet those from the area understand the true reason why they picked the two most predominant crime ridden cities within the state, along with the most amount of non-voters. Sound familiar?
On the flip side Republicans are coming out to show support for Christie in the most unexpected places. South Carolina? U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina), urged support on his visit to Morristown Sunday, the same man who accused the President of being a liar during a joint session of Congress earlier this year. I wonder what a southerner supporting a Yankee in a town known for their bar scene in the Morris county seat minutes from million dollar mansions, prestigious golf courses and equestrian farms thought of his surroundings?
Will New Jersey voters forget Corzine's failed track record these past four years because a President with a not yet seen record asks them to go out and vote? He is a Nobel Peace Prize winner after all.

Let's Go Yankees! Finish off the Series tonight...

Check Him Out!

Now I have run my fair share of marathons in the past, including this past MCM, and have seen some crazy running costumes, but this takes the cake. How someone could run 26.2 miles in that thong, without getting butt chafing is beyond me.
In all seriousness, congratulations need to go out to the winners of this race. First in the Woman's race, Ethiopian Derartu Tulu, who at 37, mother of two, can now add this marathon medal to her trophy case containing her Gold Medals for the 10,000 meter in 1992 and 2000, solidifying her as one of the greatest distance runners of all time! In a close second place, much praise also needs to go out to Russia's Ludmila Petrova, who at 41 had a solid race.
Now to the men's race... For the first time since 1982, an American won the NYC Marathon! Wearing his USA singlet, Meb Keflezighi, 34, defeated runner-up Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, a four-time Boston Marathon champion, by 41 seconds. To add icing to the cake, because the ING New York City Marathon and USA Men’s Marathon Championships were held concurrently for the first time since 2001, he won the first two marathon titles of his career in a single race. Also to be noted, American Ryan Hall finished second for the USA and 4th overall.
As for the rest of the crowd, congratulations for competing and finishing in the 40th addition of this famed marathon! I think it may be my turn once again next year...

Coffee, Sunday Times and Kids?

I was all excited this morning to wake up and open my door and see my Sunday Times laying there. I recently moved into my new house and last weekend at the Marine Corps Marathon Expo I decided to sign up for the 50% discount off the Sunday Times. The Sunday Travel and Style sections have always been my guilty pleasure, between the exotic locations and travel deals in the one to the fashion articles and wedding announcements in the later. I decided to head to my new local coffee shop on the Hill and drink my coffee and eat what Washingtonians think is a bagel, flipping through and picking the articles I am interested in. I notice that the person across from me is silently reading his Times as well. The normal crowds walking in and out do not cause disruption, until a family of four decides to sit at an open table in between all of us solo readers when there is a whole section in the back wide open. While the parents of these noise makers sit and continue to eat and read the Post, all of us annoyed readers make eye contact with one another, as the two young daughters run around the table and talk excessively loud about nothing. Parents of small children need to understand one thing, no one thinks your children are cute angels except you and when people tell you they are, they are lying. I left my once reader friendly chair and headed home with my coffee and Times, half unread, only to enter my home and realize all that needed to be accomplished this Sunday. Hopefully I will have time this evening to sit down and read the rest while watching the World Series. There is always next week to try again to forget reality and get lost in the Times.
Why can’t more people just own a dog?