A few random thoughts on a Tuesday starting with Pete Caroll, recruting scandals and ending with politcal primaries and Senator Obama.

I read a profile of Pete Carroll by one of the best jounalists in America today J.R. Moehringer. I've never been a huge Carroll fan due to the over-the-top nature USC is usually presented by the sports media. It really has nothing to do with him as a person nor is it really SC's fault for that matter. From what I've heard Carroll is a good guy and lives life and subsequently his football program the right way. The article is really interesting because it shows how one of the biggest sports stars in L.A. isn't too big to spend time with people who don't have much going for them. Very refreshing in a city where the majority of the non-native Angelenos think only about themselves, their image and their financial standing.

Too bad for Carroll he couldn't keep Reggie Bush from doing some stupid things while he was at SC. HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel did a story on Jan. 22 about Bush and the family friend who was giving money to Bush during his college years. Very convincing that Bush is guilty on all charges and should be punished accordingly. If this means losing the Heisman and/or SC forfeiting games then so be it. College athletes are not above the rules and neither are the universities they attend. While the NCAA may be wrong with the way they handle some things (such as the ability for athletes to use their non-NCAA talents to earn money and sponsorships ie. Jeremy Bloom) the NCAA should continue to police situations like Bush's.

I have no sympathy for football programs doing things illegally. CU accepted scrutiny and was short-sided by the media during my time there. We took punishment for things that did happen and moved on. I hope SC does the same and realizes that no matter how good the players it recruits are, the program is not above the rules.

The primary season is as interesting as any sports saga or celebrity gossip right now. A few thoughts on the things that have caught my eye.

I read a comment from Bill Simmons about how he doesn't think he could vote for Barack Obama because he is/was a smoker. First, Barack quit smoking before he decided to run for office. Second, I hope things like this as well as Barack's middle name (Hussein) do not hinder him from becoming president. I hope that if he loses it will be because he is not the best candidate or because the American public doesn't feel he is experienced enough, not for some other superficial reason. I think we have so many issues to deal with as the American public that we can't waste time worrying about material and petty things such as these.

Another thought on the 2008 primaries: I wish John Edwards was more of an "electable" candidate for the Democrats. It seems unless your are black or a woman there is no way you have a shot in this election. He has maybe the best mix of ideas, experience and desire for change by far of anybody in the race, Republican or Democrat. It is just a shame that more people don't believe in him. I think American would be very fortunate to have him as a VP to whomever wins the nomination in August.

I read an article on Al Gore possibly running for president. I don't think he will run nor do I even think he will endorse any of the major democratic candidates. Al is the one person that I have no doubt would handle to biggest issues in my mind: climate change and the way the U.S. is viewed worldwide. Although, he might not be able to turn things in the right direction with a uniting presence that is so necessary right now, he would set us in the right direction and he would do it without hesitation. Is there really any question our country and the entire world would be a better place had AG been elected in 2000? I think the answer is pretty clear.

This all being said, Barack is the best possible candidate and the person who can and will do the most good for our country in a time when we are in a desparate need of something new. When I say something new I don't mean that our counrty or our government are doing poorly. It takes a lot for a country as powerful as ours to do "poorly". Instead we need "change". As cliche and repetitve as the term has become, things need to be done different in a large number of subjects and fields. We don't need more of the same. New ideas and people need to be in power in Washington. I feel that Senator Obama has a genuine desire to run our government a different way. Different from the things we have grown so used to or have become so fed up with during the past two decades.

One main thing that makes Barack so important and relevant is his ability to bring people together. He has experience and history with this more than other candidate. The feeling of "you are either with us or against us" has become too strong in recent years and has created a division between too many people. In my opinion the polarization in politics and parties was actually created because Republicans didn't like Bill Clinton's personal behavior during his time in office. This divide between the way people think and feel about government actions was taken to a whole new level by the current administration. 9/11 was a devastating ocurrance (regardless of the administration's alleged knowledge of important facts leading up to the attacks) but GW used the attacks to create fear in all Americans in the days, months and years after. When we could have been united on the war on terror ie. Afghanistan, we became divided by entering a war that we should have never started ie. Iraq. My point being that Barack wants to work to create the best America, and has no desire to create enemies across the aisle in politcal affiliation. He doesn't care who you are or what you stand for. In his opinion our goverment and society are based on our ability to come together to make things happen.

Barack has the knowledge and experience that will help him reduce poverty. He is competent and concerned enough about the climate crisis that he will not sit back and watch, when our world and environment have no such luxury. He is a person that will make logical, well thought out and researched decisons on behalf of the American people. He has no intentions of pursuing personal agendas to please party, family or his own ego. A quote I heard from Barack the other day, "I want to surround myself with people who will not be afraid to say no to me. They will not be people who say yes to me no matter what." He is of course referencing those that surround the current president and think his decisions are correct no matter the consequence or the intention.

Barack is a symbol of our what our country is; a complex mix of race and cultural affiliations. He cares about America's standing in the eyes of the world. Electing someone from such a background would go vast distances in improving these relationships and begin to mend this facet of politics that has become the most damaged over the past eight years.

I've heard the comparisons between Barack and JFK from several news outlets. While I know these comparisons are doctored by Barack's campaign managers, it is difficult not to see him as a dynamic person that will do great things for our country (just as JFK was). I read this article on a possible Clinton Obama ticket for president and vice president. The author didn't think such a task was probable for a number of reasons. But his thoughts on Barack's momentum were well said. Roland Martin says, "when you have the children of elected officials putting pressure on their parents (Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill is one example.) to support this guy, you know he is touching people in a place others haven't in 40 years. The role of a VP is to be supportive of a presidential candidate, not someone who overshadows them." When I told my mom that she should vote for Barack the other day I also fell into this category. Senator Obama is gaining great momentum as we speak and is bringing something out in people that hasn't been present for many, many years. I hope he can maintain it.

There is one fact above others that makes Barack stand out and note should be taken. He is getting by far the most support from people who have never been engaged in politcs, or who have had no reason to care about politics for the past 20 years because of relative peace, prosperity and lack of new faces. He also gets great support from young people such as myself who have never felt the need for something new in politics. These new faces in support of Senator Obama believe that he will be the agent of something new and better for us as Americans, and for the world we live in.