US MNT Call Ups

Today, U.S. MNT Coach Bob Bradley will unveil a 19 man roster of players he will invite to a training camp in Colorado in advance of a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday November 19 against Guatamala. Expect that this roster will be largely MLS players no longer involved in the playoffs. Since next week is an inernational break, some European based players will be called in, but don't expect it to be the U.S. First Team.

Here are the players I would like to see called into camp:

Keepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Matt Reis (New England). I would love to see Jon Busch or Will Hesmer called in later depending on which team, Chicago or Columbus doesn't make it to the MLS Cup final.

Defenders: Marvel Wynne (Toronto), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Danny Califf (Midtjylland), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Ramiro Corrales (San Jose), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Michael Parkhurst (New England), Neven Subotic (Borrussia Dortmund), Jonathan Boornstein (Chivas USA),

Midfielders: Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Stuart Holden (Houston), Matt Taylor (TUS Kobolenz), Ricardo Clark (Houston), Danny Szetela (Brescia), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Mo Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Clyde Simms (DC United), Santino Quaranta (DC United)

Forwards: Kenny Cooper (Dallas); Landon Donovan (L.A. Galaxy), Edson Buddle (L.A. Galaxy), Charlie Davies (Hammarby); Jozy Altidore (Villareal); Jeremiah White (Aarhus), Abdus Ibrahim (Toronto FC)

Of course, not all these players will get called in, but I hope some do, if for no other reason that to give Bradley and the American coaching staff a look at these players. I don't expect to see many of them on the pitch.

While this upcoming game doesn't mean anything for the U.S. to advance to the next round of qualifying, this game means a lot to Guatamala. In order for them to advance to the next round over Trinidad & Tobago, Guatamala must win and then hope the Cubans win over T&T on the same day. If the U.S. win or draw against Guatamala, then then T&T advance to the hexagonal.

San Jose Earthquakes--Man What a Ride

This is the third in a series of posts about the MLS teams that did not make the playoffs.

The San Jose Earthquakes. The expansion team that almost did it, the Earthquakes were knocking on the door of the playoffs after a spectacular late summer run. From July 12 to September 20, the Earthquakes did not lose a game in MLS play, going 5-0-5 in the 10 league matches during that time. The Earthquakes, playing under a coach who was flatly rejected by the "Super Club" that is the L.A. Galaxy--Frank Yallop--who is having the last laugh now. The only reason why San Jose finsihed below L.A. in the Western Conference is because of their head to head match ups. In the rest of the soccer world, San Jose would have finished above L.A. due to a better goal difference. San Jose is a -6 and L.A. a -7 goal difference.

San Jose, the team who was ranked fourth in the league for the fewest goals allowed (38). Only Houston (32), Chicago (33) and Columbus (36) allowed fewer goals that San Jose.

San Jose, where Frank Yallop made some spectacular mid-season acquitisions, almost go the job done. While I am a dedicated DC United fan, I have to tell you I was rooting for the 'Quakes during their run. Hats off to them since expansion teams are almost always the whipping boys.

So, a debut season (sort of), what can and should we expect from the Quakes 2.0 in year 2.0? The standouts.

Frank Yallop. Say what you want about Sigi Schmidt or Dommick Kinnear, for my money, Yallop is Manager of the Year. He took a team that just about everyone pegged to end up with something like 20 points and had them knocking on the door of the playoffs. Had the Quakes won two of their last three, against Chivas, Houston and Kansas City, we would be seeing the Quakes in the playoffs and not New York. That is now close it was. The man responsible for that is Frank Yallop.

Darren Huckerby. The best Englishman playing in the MLS. Huckerby is the definition of "impact signing." Huckerby came in mid-season and in just 14 games, lead the 'Quakes in scoring (6 goals) and was second in assists (4) only to Ronnie O'Brien who had six assists. Most foriegn players take a while to settle in the MLS (See Guillermo Barros Schelotto in 2007) before making an impact. Huckerby came, threw the 'Quakes on his shoulders and carried the team. That is impact. Huckerby is, hands down, my Newcomer of the Year.

Joe Cannon. What the hell were L.A. thinking when they let Cannon go in favor of Steve Cronin. I bet that Bruce Arena would have done everything but sacrifice Landon Donovan, Beckham or Edson Buddle to get Cannon back. Cannon played in every game for the 'Quakes, and tallied an impressive 1.27 Goals against average and nine shutouts. For a team with just 8 wins, that is a pretty impressive season long performance. Only four MLS keepers had a better GAA, Hoston's Pat Onstad (24 games, 1.03 GAA), Chicago's Jon Busch (30 Games, 1.10 GAA), Columbus' Will Hesmer (29 games, 1.14 GAA), and Colorado's Buona Coundoul (17 Games, 1.24 GAA). Only Colorado is not in the playoffs.

Ronnie O'Brien. Another quality player who carried this club for the first half of the season. Bobming up and down the right flank like he was ten years younger than he is, O'Brien made the most consistent contribution to the club all season long. He may only have one, maybe two years left in his playing career, but he will continue to be a role-model for the Quakes.

So what does San Jose need to do for next season. Yallop did a very good job trading around and making moves to bring in players during the July Transfer Window to address his immediate needs--goal scoring.

Defensively there is not much to argue with here. They could use a little more speed on the flanks, but I don't think that it is a vital need. Ramiro Corrales, when healthy, is a quality left back. I think Yallop found some good defenders who did their job well. Yallop had the organzied, compact and effective. I wouldn't make a lot of changes here.

Offensively, I think San Jose still needs some help. I don't think Scott Sealy is the type of target striker that San Jose needs. Sealy is a fair player, but doesn't command the middle of the park like he needs to in order to accept the service of Huckerby and O'Brien.

What I think San Jose really needs is a field general; someone who provides a link between O'Brien and Huckerby, who can control the ball and dictate the pace. I wouldn't go for a DP signing in this place as I don't think it worth that. San Jose doens't need a Marcello Gallardo or Schelotto. They need a leader, yes, but they don't need an overwhelming presence, which is within Yallops budget.

I would expect Yallop to acquire some more central midfielders and some additional flank players (Huckerby and O'Brien don't have a ton of years left in the tank). But I think what Yallop will want to do is exhibit some patience, I think the San Jose fans will give him that, so long as they don't hit a massive sophomore slump.

Previous Reports
L.A. Galaxy
D.C. United

Fulham Best Newcastle at Craven Cottage

Jumping to 10th place on the table as a result of Sundas's 2-1 win over Newcastle, certainly looks good for the Whites in this season's campaign. Andy Johnson scored his third goal of the season and Captain Danny Murphy slotted home a penalty in the second half to give Fulham all three points.

Fulham are playing some quality football, passing the ball around, dominating possession for long stretches of the game and playing much better defensively. Last year's Fulham curse of conceding points in the final minutes of matches seems to be a thing of the past, which is certainly good news. Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes are looking solid in central defense, providing a stability that was lacking last year.

But the Cottagers have a new problem this year--finishing. No one is more guilty of the problem the off-season acquisition Zoltan Gera. Whether it is a combintation of bad play and bad luck, but the Hungarian international simply is not converting the chances he gets (and the beneficiary might just be Clint Dempsey--but more on Dempsey later). Early in the first half, Gera has two quality chances for goals. First, he beat two defenders in the air to get on the end of a Simon Davies cross, only to head the ball wide. A few minutes later, Gera saw a fairly open net, only to see his not particuarly strong header cleared off the line.

Gera has hit the post and cross bar a fair number of times this season and that is troubling. Andy Johnson as well, brought into score goals, took eight games to get on the score sheet and while he has three goals this season, the partnership between Johnson and Bobby Zamora doesn't seem to be gelling as they regularly looked out of sorts. Zamora is acting like a target striker, but Johnson doesn't seem to be reacting well to the big man's efforts.

Clint Dempsey came into the match in the 63rd minute and made a quick impact, making the pass that sprung Johnson in on goal which resulted in the penalty. Dempsey showed fine form in his 30 or so minutes and may be making a case himself over Gera. The two have the same number of goals in League Play (1), but Dempsey has gotten his with about 1/4 of the playing time of Gera. I wouldn't not be surprised (and I am hopeful) that Dempsey can get a start against Tottenham next week.

Tottenham hot their third result in as many games against Manchester City. Tottenham are riding of a fair amount of luck since Harry Redknapp was named manager so Fulham will need to play well next week.

After Tottenham, Fulham will travel to Anfield against Liverpool and Villa Park to face Aston Villa (a team that has dropped two games against Newcastle and Middlesbrough--games they should have won).

The league is incredilby tight thus far. Only three points separates Fulham at 10th (with a game in hand) and West Brom in 20th. Liverpool and Chelsea are six points clear of Arsenel for the top three spots and Man United has only one point over Aston Villa (who if they had won those last two games would be sitting third in teh table) and the team that just won't go away, Hull City who now sit sixth behind Aston Villa on goal difference.

Red Bulls Upset Houston to Advance in MLS Playoffs

I would not have predicted this and I am sure the Dom Kinnear didn't either. But New York certainly looked like they wanted it more.

Dane Richards was on fire. Danny Cepero probably just replaced Jon Conway in net for New York as the starter. Cepero kept NY in the lead and made some outstanding saves and corrected his own mistakes (pulling the ball off Ching's head after he got chipped was superb).

So there will be a new MLS champ. My money is still on Columbus, but both New York and Real Salt Lake put everyone on notice that they are not to be taken lightly.

But only one of those teams can advance as they will face each other in the Western Conference final in Salt Lake. At least they won't be playing on astroturf with throwball lines on the pitch.

It is an Odd Number but....

101 Great Goals has the best 53 goals scored this year in the MLS. Check it out.

Alexi Lalas Speaks

About the Galaxy, about David Beckham and about Landon Donovan. Los Angeles Times' Grahame Jones has the collection of quotes.

The good:

"I'm a little hesitant to talk about it because I don't want it to appear self-serving or bitter," Lalas told co-host Rob Stone.

"I believe in accountability and I believe in responsibility, and as the president and GM, regardless of what the circumstances were, I'm responsible for it. I paid the ultimate price and I accept that."

I am glad that Lalas sees that it was his responsiblity and his price to pay.

The eh, on Landon Donovan going to Europe:

"If Landon wants to go, he should go," Lalas said. "He's a great player. A lot of people would love to see him. And guess what? The Galaxy can survive without Landon Donovan. He's a wonderful player. He will be a difficult player to replace if he goes.

"I think the bigger question is: What does Landon Donovan cost on the open market? Because what MLS thinks he costs and what the rest of the world thinks he costs might be two different things.

"So just because he wants to go doesn't mean he will be allowed to go."

Lalas is right, I think it is entirely possible that MLS and Donovan will have a very differnt take on his worth than Europe. Donovan and MLS will no doubt want a Jozy Altidore ($10 million trasnfer fee) type of deal, but I am not sure that he will command that kind of price. Altidore is young and if he improves in a way that most people expect he will command a larger transfer fee later one, making a profit for Villareal. Donovan on the other hand, this is probably his biggest contract time (he is 26). If he signs a four year deal, he will be thirty for his next deal and probably won't command a massive transfer fee.

The bad: on Beckham:

When you talk about David Beckham, it's about so much more than what he is on the field, for better or worse," Lalas said. "He's a great player. I think he helps whatever team he's playing for, whether it's the Galaxy or AC Milan.

"The reality is, he's going to do whatever it takes to play with the [England] national team. That's fine. I was a little disappointed with the way that it all came down with him and his folks. I mean, hello, a courtesy telephone call, a little bit of respect to call the coach so that [Arena] knows what's going on, knows that you're being shopped around. But sometimes the tail wags the dog."

Here is where Lalas doesn't admit to culpability. He created the Beckham mania and problem. I think Beckham the player is a straight up guy, but Lalas allowed Beckham's people to run roughshod over the Galaxy and that created more problems for Lalas and ultimately now for Bruce Arena.

Still, interesting.

Reason 142 to Homeschool

Man this is just disgusting. Look, I applaud the discussion of Presidential elections in the classroom, but this kind of behavior is not the proper way to do it.

Pettiness On Capitol Hill--So Much for the Era of Post Partisanship

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is looking to remove Connectict Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) as committee chair based on Lieberman's support of John McCain in the Presidential Race.

My goodness, how petty can we get. Lieberman is the one consistent person on Capitol Hill with enough profile to actaully get something done in a truly bipartisan way.

If Reid does this, he is just being petty even though he and his party won big on Tuesday. What does this get Reid.

Oops!! French Keeper Major Misstep

I am pretty sure this goes without saying kids, but if you are the goalkeeper, don't walk into the goal with the ball in your hands.

Learning Moment for Soccer Players--How Not to Act When Getting a Yellow Card

Brazilian side Botafogo was facing Argentianian side Estudiantes in a Copa Sudamericana match in Buenos Aries. Botafogo defender Luis Andres received a yellow card for what is described as persistent infringment. (that is repeatedly committing fouls or having a whole team foul the same player.

Match referee Carlos Chandia showed Andres the yellow card, which sent the mercurial defender into a rage. Then Andres did a bad, bad thing--he snatched the yellow card from Chandia's hand.

Well, Chandia, who looked shocked for a second, promptly reached into his back pocket and showed Andres the red card and sent him off. Which of course only enrage Andres furhter. Had it not been for the rest of the Botafogo squad crowding around Chandia, I wonder what would have happened. One Botafogo player had to physically grab Andres and get him off the field.

Ives Galarcep has the video.

So let this be a lesson for you kids out there. Never, ever, ever, never, snatch something from the referee's hand. I don't care if you are 6 or 26, you are going to get sent off.

Californians ban same-sex marriage

Proposition 8 Passes.

what does that say about a state that went heavily for Obama?

California voters Approve Bullet Train Bond Intitiative

Now that is an good move. But will a high speed system get built?

The system of bullet trains (200mph trains) will linke Los Angeles, Anaheim, Fresno and San Francisco. It may also cover Oakland and Sacramento as well.

I don't think a bullet train is needed for a San Franscisco, Oakland, Sacramento link, but more trains could help in the area.

‘I’m Unleashed’: Oprah Celebrates Obama Victory With ‘Hope Won’ TV Special

You have got be be kidding me. I never really like Oprah, but now she is going to be absolutely insufferable for the next week and the week of the inauguration.

'Impeach Obama' groups pop up on Facebook

Impeach Obama?

Really, why?

I may not like the man's politics, but he hasn't done anything to my knowledge to even consider this idea.

Why is it that crackpots have to get their knickers in a twist.

Congress Wary of 1994 Repeat

The last time the U.S. had a Democratic President and a Democraticall controlled Congress was in 1994. Both branches of government got a big head and started down a path that most American's were ready to follow. The result, an electoral drubbing in 1994. This time it looks like Democrats are worried about 2010 being a repeat of 1994.

The result for all those liberal worshippers of Obama will be that they won't see all of those things he promised actually come true. That middle class tax cut and the "increase on taxes" on the rich? Well, that last part may come true, but that first one will be quietly toned down. All those promises of help for poor America and the middle class, will become victim to the ever popular $700 billion bailout that has climed to somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.2 trillion or so.

So we will see campaign promises meet budgetary reality. So what will that mean for Obama and Congress in 2010? Who knows, but it may not be pretty.

Micheal Crichton Dies

One of my favorite authors, Michael Crichton has died at 66. I am pretty sure I have read every novel he published and the list of topics and subject matter he has covered is impressive:

Jurassic Park of course
Disclosure--sexual harassment
Rising Sun--the growth of Japan
Airframe--airline safety and accident investigation
State of Fear--global warming (that got a lot of press attention)
Andromeda Strain--his first novel published while in medical school dealing with unknown disease
Timeline--time travel and quantum physics


But Crichton was also the creator of one of the most successful shows on TV--ER, which has been on the air for damn near forever.

His creative force will be missed.

David Beckham Has Galaxy Escape Clause

Grant Wahl is reporting that David Beckham doesn't really have a five year contract with the MLS, what he has is a three year guaranteed deal and an option for two more. In essence, Beckham has an escape clause that HE controls. As Wahl writes:

But Beckham can opt out of the last two years if he so desires, according to a previously undisclosed clause in his contract.

And that is news. Big news.

That Beckham holds that option is an important distinction, one that has never been acknowledged publicly by MLS, the Galaxy or Beckham's reps -- all of which refused to comment to SI.com regarding Beckham's contract. (In MLS contracts, which are owned by the single-entity league instead of the individual teams, the league usually controls the option years, not the players.)

Wahl doesn't say if there are conditions on Beckham's ability to exercise his option, but you can bet that if the Galaxy have another disasterous year in 2009 with Beckham in the side, he won't be back in 2010.

Beckham's desire to be in teh England squad for 2010 World Cup is no secret and barring a mircale resurgence, the Galaxy may very well not make the playoffs again.

What is interesting is that this deal between Beckham and the MLS is very Beckham friendly. Now, I don't begrudge Beckham or his lawyers who negotiated this deal, that is just smart deal making for them. But the MLS got stars in its eyes and handed Beckham an out.

There is no doubt that the MLS would sell Beckham if the price is right at any point, particularly if Beckham wanted to go. But there is a different market price for Beckham if he has one year or only player controlled option years on his contract versus two years left or league controlled options. In short, if Beckham had two years left on his contract, the transfer fee would have to be somewhere north of $12 to $15 million. But with only player controlled option years, that transfer fee could be as little as zero. That is a huge mistake by the MLS.

Altidore Faces Loan

Although I am not quite sure why this is considered news, but it is true that Jozy Altidore may get loaned out in January. Of course, everyone expected him to get loaned out when he joined Villareal, but with the Yellow Submarine's injury woes up top, he was kept around. But aside from the Cope del Rey (which Villareal is now eliminated from), Jozy is not getting significant playing time for Villareal. He is making the dressing squad pretty much every week, which says a lot about the young man on a team like Villareal.

Perhaps the only thing that would save him from a loan deal is demonstrating a quality teaming with Guisseppi Rossi in attack or scoring every couple of minutes when he is on the field.

In the end though, I think a loan deal will be a good thing for Altidore. What he needs more than anything else is playing time, even if he is getting 70-75 minutes with a relegation bait team this year, that is more time than he is getting with Villareal and he won't be relegated.

Jon Busch--MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

Not unsurprising.

Beckham Speaks About His Loan To AC Milan | TheOriginalWinger.com

Utter dross. The Galaxy won't see him back, I just don't believe it.

Barack Obama Doesn't Love the United States

Yesterday and today has seen a flurry of political posts, not long after I said I have not posted a lot on the election. Well, that is the fickle nature of how my head works.

I have been thinking a lot about an Obama presidency and I while I am certain I will not like many, or probably all, of the Obama Administration policies (or for the matter a McCain Administration), I will say that there is one troubling aspect that truly bothers me about Obama. For the longest time, I really couldn't put my finger on it, until, unfortunately, last night and here it is:

I don't think Obama believes that the United States of America is the greatest nation ever on the Earth.

That is a big problem. I can honestly say, that every man who has been President in my lifetime and in the histories I have read of other Presidents, that each one of them, to a man, believed that this is the greatest country ever--full stop. There was no equivocation, no doubts--not even Bill Clinton. I truly believe that each of those men, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter even, really believed in the specialness (?) and uniqueness of the United States and her place in the world and world history.

I don't believe that about Obama. Call it the Reverend Wright influence or the pandering to the world population (See Berlin) or his general elitism, I just don't think or believe that Obama believes in the fact that the United States is the greatest nation ever.

That is what bothers me the most. I can forgive a President for espousing policies I consider abhorrent because I have trust in that President's belief that he was doing what he felt best for this nation. I can agree to disagree with a man who truly believes that what he is doing is right because he loves this country with all his heart and soul. But without that foundational belief that our new President believes fully in the greatness of our country, I am not sure I can forgive a President whose policies are, in my mind, wrong.

I hope I am wrong about Obama on this score, I really do. But am I?

Biden: “I never make any big, big gaffes”

OOOKKKAAAYYY!!!

The Ad McCain Should Have Run

Here. Thanks to Mary Katherine Ham

Jim Geraghty points out that Obama statements should come with an expiration date.

This was perfect fodder for McCain, yet I never saw anything like it.

Althouse: Dont'

Ann Althouse links to an NPR stroy of an immigrant real estate speculator saying:

Don't give this man or anyone like him any of our tax money. Why should he be helped to live in a $1.5 million house? Try to picture the collection of characters NPR considered before deciding Njoku was the one to do a big human interest story about.

But here's the thing, Njoku a black, Nigerian Immigrant is just the sort of person who will get help from an Obama administration and the government. And that is the problem.

Sex on TV and Teenage Pregnancy

There appears to be a link.

Teenagers who watch a lot of television featuring flirting, necking, discussion of sex and sex scenes are much more likely than their peers to get pregnant or get a partner pregnant, according to the first study to directly link steamy programming to teen pregnancy.

The study, which tracked more than 700 12-to-17-year-olds for three years, found that those who viewed the most sexual content on TV were about twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy as those who saw the least.

"Watching this kind of sexual content on television is a powerful factor in increasing the likelihood of a teen pregnancy," said lead researcher Anita Chandra. "We found a strong association." The study is being published today in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

There is rising concern about teen pregnancy rates, which after decades of decline may have started inching up again, fueling an intense debate about what factors are to blame. Although TV viewing is unlikely to entirely explain the possible uptick in teen pregnancies, Chandra and others said, the study provides the first direct evidence that it could be playing a significant role.

"Sexual content on television has doubled in the last few years, especially during the period of our research," said Chandra, a researcher at the nonpartisan Rand Corp.

Is there a link--probably. But let's be careful, it is not likely to be causal link (I haven't read the entire study yet).

I find it very troubling as a parent that the incidences of sexual behavior is on the rise in programming aimed a teenagers.

A quick person story. My wife and my mother-in-law took my two young daughters to see High School Musical 3 at teh local theaters. My wife said that my mother-in-law that it was odd that the were was almost no hint of the hormones that would raging between the two teenage lead characters or their peers dealing with the high school prom or even a scene taking place in a treehouse (yes a treehouse). While I can see it, I have to say that I appreciate Disney going to great lengths to present a healthy teenage romance that does not depend on overt sexual behavior. The most we see is hugging and very little kissing. And there is nothing wrong with that kind of depiction.

Now, as for this link between TV sex and teenage pregnancy, I will admit that link probably exists, but there are also huge other factors involved.

1). I can almost say with certainty that today's teenagers have their own TV and their own computer in their room with cable service, meaning they can watch such shows in the privacy of their own rooms--no parental controls.

2). There is very little parental oversight on what these kids are watching and certainly no discussions of what is seen on TV.

3). There is almost certainly no discussion as to the importance and impact of some of the choices that TV characters make.

I don't completely blame TV for the state of affairs, they are in a market driven world and the market wants these kinds of depictions. However, to my limited knowledge (I spend a lot of time watching soccer) there is probably no discussions of the downside of sex, i.e. the potential for pregnancy, STDs, or even the psychological/emotional damage of engaging in sex too early, too often or too indiscriminantly.

George W. Bush is Still George W. Bush

Although most of the world and a very signficant portion of American, including Republicans (but not this one) consider George W. Bush to be one of the worst Presidents of all time, and certainly in the past 50 years, you have to admire the fact that the President is still comfortably with who he is, regardless of how the world sees him. From the Washington Post (who are finally magnanimous with the lame duck president):

Aides say privately that Bush long ago made peace with his low approval ratings, which have persisted despite significant improvements in Iraq, the original source of his polling woes. Some current and former aides argue that Bush's unpopularity has made it easier for him to push ahead with difficult decisions, such as a series of dramatic interventions into the financial markets that have angered conservatives over the past two months.

"You're more liberated to act when you've internalized those low approval ratings," said Pete Wehner, a former top Bush adviser. "This is a White House and a president that are in some ways galvanized by a crisis."

There is little outward sign of irritation from Bush, who has maintained a sense of good cheer in many of his less-formal public appearances this year. During a celebration honoring Theodore Roosevelt's 150th birthday last week, Bush joked: "People ask me, 'Do you ever see any of the ghosts of your predecessors here in the White House?' I said, 'No, I quit drinking.' "

That enduring, frat-boy enthusiasm is exactly the sort of thing that riles his detractors, but supporters say Bush's optimism has been central to his political survival. "When you're inside, and the president is so optimistic, you're not paying as much attention to the noise outside," said Candida "Candi" Wolff, a former White House legislative affairs director. "It keeps everybody focused."

To a certain extent, Presidents have to be comfortable with who they are and what they believe. But I think it is the rare man who can maintain good cheer in public and semi-public despite the constant drumbeat of negative. It is difficult to imagine Bill Clinton like that.

Short term and immediate history will judge George W. Bush harshly, mostly because all we see are the immediate, the now. But I think that in 20, 30 or 50 years will be look back and see a President who did the right things and believed they were the right things at a time when everyone else was saying he was wrong.

If McCain Wins....

Some of my more conservative friends (that is more conservative than me) are worried that even if McCain wins, the GOP loses and America loses.

Let me be clear about one thing, I don't think Obama will be a good President. I firmly believe that he will be a flop in terms of protecting American interests abroad since he is more interested in American looking good in the eyes of the world than in being consistent in his positions. I believe that Obama's domestic, economic policies will mean it will take longer for the economy to rebound in full. I worry about individual freedom and collective freedoms, i.e freedom of speech and press.

But those are long term concerns.

If Obama wins, I worry about the somewhat uniquely american tradition of rioting in celebration.

If McCain wins, I worry about chuckleheads like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson getting on TV and crying about racisim and voter disenfranchisement, setting back race relations in this country even more. I worry about riots because Obama lost.

Exit Polling, Reliability and Predicting a Winner

As american head to the polls to pick a new president, a though occurred to me today regarding the reliability of exit polling in this race in particuar, particularly as it applies to Democrats.

The fundamental concept of exit polling is that it is reliable since pollsters are asking voters to answer the questions immediately after exiting the polling place, with the notion that a) people will remember what they just did and b) there is little concern now about the impression one makes with one's voting choices.

But is that really the case now.

Consider this scenario: Voter A, a registered Democrat with strong views in support of the military goes to the polls and crosses party lines to vote for McCain. Now this person is stopped by the exit poll taker. One of the first questions asked is the voter's party affiliation. Next comes the question of who they voted for. Does this voter say "Obama" or "McCain?" If they say McCain, do they worry about the line-crossing issue or the race issue?

See for the past three weeks, the constant drum beat we have heard among the media elite is about the "historic election" where a black man could become president. Also for the past couple of weeks, the tracking polls have shown Obama to hold a lead between 6 and 11 points depending on the poll you consult. My problem is that I think that 6-11 points is probably closer to 3-7 points because of this racial fuzziness. Contrary to what you may think, many people are still "race conscious" and will want to respond favorably to Obama, even if they have no intention of actually voting for Obama, even if their vote against Obama has absolutely nothing to do with Obama's ethnicity.

Which leads us back to the fundamental question. Exit polls have, to a certain extent been somewhat unreliable in the past couple of election cycles, whether through methodology or the over-reliance on exit polls by the mainstream media. So given the racial factor, will exit polling be even more unreliable this time around?

We shall see.

Update 11/4/08 10:29 AM: James Joyner makes a couple of really good points as well, without the conspiracy overtones my thoughts have:

Bill McInturff, McCain’s pollster and my wife’s employer, makes the same point and adds additional points:

1. Historically, exit polls have tended to overstate the Democratic vote.

2. The exit polls are likely to overstate the Obama vote because Obama voters are more likely to participate in the exit poll.

3. The exit polls have tended to skew most Democratic in years where there is high turnout and high vote interest like in 1992 and 2004.

4. It is not just the national exit poll that skews Democratic, but each of the state exit polls also suffers from the same Democratic leanings.

5. The results of the exit polls are also influenced by the demographics of the voters who conduct the exit polls.

So, the results will skew Democratic and give very wrong impressions. In 2000 and 2004, they incorrectly pointed to Democratic wins. In 2008, they will likely incorrectly point to an Obama landslide — or at least exaggerate the margin of victory in states that barely swing Democrat.

Fulham Drop All Three Points At Everton

an 87th minute goal by former Fulham striker Lousi Saha, cost Fulham all three point as Everton topped Fulham 1-0 at Goodison Park. I suppose the worst thing about the whole matter is that Fulham struck the woodwork twice in this match, had a couple of good chances go to waste and had Tim Howard make a couple of fine saves to keep the Whites out of the net.

I didn't see possession stats, but it seemed to me that Fulham had the majority of the possession by a little and Everton had some additional good chances, a couple of which made sure that Mark Schwarzer earned his paycheck. Fulham were, for significant times, moving the ball around well, making use of the 4-4-2 that Hodgson is liking. But the finishing is well off. Both Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora had their share of chances, clear opportunities that got blown. Zamora had probably the howler of the day, missing a chance from the top of the goal area after Howard saved Jimmy Bullard's 25 yard free kick. Zamora hit the post on a, well not quite wide open net. But from that distance, he needs to score.

Zoltan Gera was simply unlucky at about the hour mark. I thought his header was simply beautiful, hitting the crossbar in just the right way to bounce out of teh net and not in. A matter of an inche or two lower and it would have been a goal and a lovely one at that.

Fulham are playing well, with some solid football, creating chances and making life difficult for opposing sides. What Fulham need now is to convert a few of those close ones and they could start stringing together some wins. Fulham was unlucky to have not come away with at least a point.

Fulham will face Newcastle United this upcoming weekend followed by Tottenham, who are flying high with a draw against Arsenel and a win over Liverpool in the past two matches. Tottenham are looking much improved since sacking Juande Ramos.

Altidore Scores for Villareal

Jozy Altidore got his first La Liga goal just seconds after coming into the match which was all but done and dusted.

Still, a nice strike on his first touch of the game.

Voter Turnout and the Efficacy of the System

ABC News is wondering, can the voting infrastructure handle a massive turnout election?

A fair question, but let see if we actually have a massive turnout. Keep in mind, voter turnout predictions have been wrong in the past, and burnout among voters is a real possibility. Even I, a political junkie, have not exactly been engaged in this election. Neither candidate inspires me. The constant attention on inconsequential things like Sarah Palins' wardrobe versus Michelle Obama's wardrobe costs just don't get me engaged. With both sides pandering and offering little more than soundbites, it really is hard to see what is what in this election. So if I am getting burned out, imagine how the average voter feels.

So lets take a look at the turnout first. With the advent of early voting, I would think that a number of states won't have the problem of a flood of voters. Also keep in mind the stories that will come from the media, i.e. "turnout is really heavy" as they report from one polling place in the early morning hours when commuters head to the polls or late at night when last minute voters get in line. Turnout is a fundamentally hard thing to gauge before the actual day.

Will there be glitches and problems? You bet, with tens of thousands of pollling places, tens of thousands of poll workers and the glare of the media, mistakes will happen and it will get ugly.

Obama Accepting Untraceable Donations

Haven't seen an awful lot about this story. To a certain extent it is inside baseball, a process matter that for the most part only applies to political junkies, campaign finance guys and, right now, conservatives.

Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign is allowing donors to use largely untraceable prepaid credit cards that could potentially be used to evade limits on how much an individual is legally allowed to give or to mask a contributor's identity, campaign officials confirmed.

Faced with a huge influx of donations over the Internet, the campaign has also chosen not to use basic security measures to prevent potentially illegal or anonymous contributions from flowing into its accounts, aides acknowledged. Instead, the campaign is scrutinizing its books for improper donations after the money has been deposited.

The Obama organization said its extensive review has ensured that the campaign has refunded any improper contributions, and noted that Federal Election Commission rules do not require front-end screening of donations.

And of course, the Obama campaign is right. Obama's campaign finance lawyer is one of the best, Bob Bauer. He knows the law.

Under the law, if a campaign receives a contribution is thinks might be illegal or otherwise suspect, it is supposed to segregate it in a separate accounting, make a good faith determination if it is indeed illegal or suspect, and refund it if necessary or if they can't make a determination. The problem, of course, as noted in the article is that it is almost impossible to keep up with the flood of contributions coming in via the internet, and it is impossible to tell if the card being used is a prepaid gift card, debit card or standard credit card.

Therein lies the problem. With the flood of money, and the advances in technology, it is not really Obama's fault. Yes, they could take some security steps that apparently the McCain campaign has taken. But teh fact of the matter is, that the FEC regulations regarding fundraising are a creation of the the 1970's with an update to account for credit card contributions. But they were never designed to deal with the age of internet contributions. And when FEC reports, even on a monthly basis, are tens of thousands of lines long in teh electronic filing format (i.e. one contributions per line), it is impossible to check everything from the viewpoint of suspicion.

On a slightly different note, even my mother, no campaign junkie to say the least, was wondering where Obama is getting all this money and whether it was legal or not. So it is creeping out there in the dialogue and certainly making people wonder.

2008 Done and Dusted for DC United

Second in a series of posts on the MLS Also-Rans.

After last night's loss to Marathon in the CONCACAF Champions League Match, DC United is done and dusted for 2008. The season for me is a mixed bag of matters. The highlights must include the U.S. Open Cup, which guarantees some international play next year, i.e. qualifying round for the Champtions League. Who knows about Superliga since MLS keeps changing the rules on that one, for all I know L.A. Galaxy will be in it. When not injured, Marcello Gallardo was putting in some solid performances and at $1.75 million a year, he should. Got to get him healthy. Some players stepped up and showed some real promise this year, Marc Burch, Santino Quaranta, Clyde Simms and Louis Crayton. A lot of young developmental players showed some promise as well.

But there are some darknesses as well. First and foremost--no playoffs. Second, lousy international play (Soehn looked like he didn't even care at times). Third, injuries that kept Gallardo, Peralta, and Olsen on the bench for long periods of time. Fourth, a very streaky offense; Emilio was nowhere near his MVP status, Francis Doe didn't do as much as hoped, and Fred was AWOL for long periods of time. Fifth and finally, poor player acquisition decisions in the front office, i.e. Zach Wells as a starting goalkeeper for way too long, Franco Niell, Jose Carvallo, etc. Really a bad year in the player acquisition market.

So what does DC United need to do for the next year?

Front Office Matters

1. Don't fire Tom Soehn--yet. Yes, some of Soehn's tactical decisions at the start of the year were questionable, but this is his first head coach job, give him a little time. Yes, Soehn looked like he was phoning it in on the international play, but by the time that got started in earnest, Soehn's squad was reeling from injuries, suspensions and poor play from leading players. I don't want to make excuses from Soehn, but DC United came close, i.e. withing four strikes of the woodwork in the final match against Columbus, of making the playoffs despite all the crap that happened this year. He has earned a chance to see if he can right the ship next year, well, at least half a year anyway.

2. Shuck some dead weight. Rod Dyachenko, don't let the door hit you on the butt on the way out. Ditto for Zach Wells. Fred? Sorry, time for you to find employment elsewhere. Ivan Guerrero, you are a nice guy and you work hard, but unless you can play somewhere else on the field, we need a left back with more pace and better service skills. Buh-Bye.

3. Restructure some contracts. As a DC United fan, these next two things hurt to say: Jaime Moreno is a good man, a great player, but a player whose production, pace and presence has diminished. Sorry Jaime, a pay cut for you but with incentives (I know Moreno got to double figures in goals and assists, but really, a lot of those goals came from the penalty spot). Ben Olsen needs to either a). retire if his ankle doesn't improve dramatically, or b) take a big paycut (I am talking at least 50% of his $215,000 salary). I don't mind a big incentive laden contract, founded on appearances, minutes, etc., but Benny is taking up lots of cap space and played like what 15 minutes this year. Gonzalo Peralta, same story. Gonzalo Martinez, yep-you too. Dominic Mediate--nice guy, but if you can't play, even your tiny salary and more importantly your senior roster space has to go to someone else.

4. Give the following people good raises. Clyde Simms--DC's iron man, deserves more than his $59,000 a year salary. March Burch certainly deserves more than his minimum salary. Quaranta's incentive laden contract will get him a raise. Joe Vide, Ryan Cordeiro, Craig Thompson, and Greg Janicki all deserve bigger pay and at least Vide, Cordeiro and Janicki have probably earned senior roster spots.

On the Field Matters.

1. Build some depth on the back line. DC United's problem this year wasn't necessarily an inability to score goals, well it wasn't their problem all year long. But the one problem they had all year long was the back line. Defensively, DC looked terrible. The first couple of games I chalked up to new players getting used to each other and a keeper who couldn't command the box. But as the year went on things didn't improve. DC conceded the second most number of goals (51). Some of those goals are the result of poor goalkeeping, but most weren't. Soehn and Kevin Payne need to find two more center backs, one to play everyday with Gonzalo Peralta and one back up. Gonzalo Martinez might be better off moving to right back or even more forward if Soehn is willing to try a 4-2-3-1 type of set up, with Martinez and Clyde Simms playing in those two defensive midfield posistions. Many times this year, they looked in synch and it might work well and take a little pressure off of Gallardo in the center of midfield.

2. Find some wingers. I don't know if Quavas Kirk has the pace and service to be a winger. Quaranta made a solid effort on the right, but he is not really a winger--but could be. I don't see anyone else on this squad is who ready to fill that role and DC needs it.

3. Get a target forward. Francis Doe, Thabiso Khumalo, Luciano Emilio--what do all these players have in common? Smaller size, decent pace, better at going at defenders and less capable of working in the box with their back to goal. Soehn and Payne need a target man, someone who can knock the ball down to one of these guys.

4. Get a better backup keeper. James Thorpe impressed me in his 30 minutes last week in the Champions league, he made some good saves. Is Thorpe the guy to be Crayton's back up? Maybe, but right now I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Thorpe has earned a continued spot on the developmental roster, but I think Soehn/Payne need to find a quality backup.

In reality, DC's woes stem from the defensive third of the field. If United can short that up, they can do much better next year.


Previous Episodes in this Series.
L.A. Galaxy

Fulham 2-0 Wigan

Fulham's Andy Johnson propelled the Cottagers to a 2-0 win over Wigan at Craven Cottage last night.

With the Premier League scheduling a full slate of matches in mid-week this week, and Fulham facing four lower, lower table teams in the next three matches, Fulham have the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone in the coming weeks.

Johnson's two goals, early in each half, gave Fulham the full three points against Wigan, who were sitting 15th on the table coming into the match, with Fulham sitting 17th. Johnson made up for his howler against Portsmouth on Sunday, which could have given Fulham a win at Fratton Park. Fulham leapfrogged Wigan to claim 14th on the table with the away match at #12 Everton up on the weekend. Everton won last night as well, 1-0 over Blackburn.

But If It Were Obama It Would Be a Hate Crime

The LA Times is reporting on an effigy of Vice Presidential Candidate and sitting governor Sarah Palin hanging by a noose in West Hollywood.

But Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said the mannequin sporting a beehive hairdo, glasses and a red coat does not rise to the level of a hate crime because it was part of a Halloween display...

Sgt. Kristin Aloma of the Sheriff's Department's West Hollywood station said that since Sunday she had received five to 10 calls from residents offended by the display. Officials are monitoring the house to make sure the situation doesn't get out of hand, she said.

West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang said although he recognizes residents' right to free speech, he found the display problematic and felt it should be removed.

"While these residents have the legal right to display Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin in effigy, I strongly oppose political speech that references violence -- real or perceived," Prang said in a statement. "I urge these residents to take down their display and find more constructive ways to express their opinion."

Whitmore said that potential hate crimes are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If the same display had been made of a Barack Obama-like doll, for example, authorities would have to evaluate it independently, Whitmore said.

"That adds a whole other social, historical hate aspect to the display, and that is embedded in the consciousness of the country," he said, adding he's not sure whether it would be a hate crime. "It would be ill-advised of anybody to speculate on that."

See, and therein lies the difficulty of hate crime statutes. If Barack Obama, a black man, was hanged in effigy instead of Sarah Palin, we would not be talking about a free speech issue, we would be talking about a hate crime. Just because Obama is black, he is, by definition, a member of a group protected by hate crime legislation.

It seems to me that hanging anyone in effigy is evidence of a "hateful" intent, regardless of one's race or the effigy victim's race. When people all over the world protest against America, they routinely have Uncle Sam or the President burned in effigy. It sends a very power, very pointed message--i.e. death to America. Doesn't the same thing apply here, regardless of party or candidate? (BTW, you can be the Secret Service has looked into this or will be doing so to determine if there is a threat).

Admittedly, hanging Palin in effigy is in bad taste, whether part of a Halloween display or not. I don't think it is smart, but it is speech and as political speech probably protected. But because Palin is white, she is not defined as a class of people against whom a "hate crime" can be targeted. That is a level of protection that Obama has which generates a difficult position for opponents of Obama.

MLS Losers--L.A. Galaxy

Over a series of posts in the next few days, I hope to take a look at the six teams that did not make the MLS playoffs this year, the L.A. Galaxy, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, DC United, and Toronto FC and noodle on what needs to be done to get better and move forward for a more successful year next year. Today, I will start with the L.A. Galaxy.

The Galaxy went 8-13-9 this season and had no international competitions that they played in. In 30 games the Galaxy were massivly dominant in teh goal scored department, netting 55 times led by Landon Donovan, the leagues golden boot winner, who found the twine 20 times in 25 appearances for the Galaxy and Edson Buddle, who came in third in goals scored for the Galaxy with 15 goals in 27 appearences. LA scored more goals than any other team, five better even that the Supporter Sheild winners Columbus Crew.

But here is the problem, they allowed more goals than anyone else--62. That is fully eleven more than the next most porous defense, DC United (51) and 30 goals more than the stingiest defense in teh league, Houston (which allowed only 32 goals this year). Certainly, their mid-to-late season winless run made their appearance in the playoffs difficult to impossible. Their June to September run of 12 games and getting only six of a possible 36 points killed their hopes.

Landon Donovan is going to Europe, Bruce Arena has to accept that. Now MLS will probably get a pretty decent transfer fee and L.A. will save some $900,000 of salary cap space. That means that Arena will have some salary cap space, some allocation money and allocation spots to acquire some players that he will need and not have to pay them almost half of his salary cap space.

David Beckham is probably on the verge of dishonoring a contract for the first time in his career. I know a lot of people believe Beckham will come back, but Beckham desperatly wants to play in the 2010 World Cup and he won't be able to impress England manager Fabio Capello in L.A. He can get some playing time with AC Milan (although not much with a squad that boasts Kaka, Ronaldihno and a veritable list of all stars). Thus far Capello has brought Beckham into the England squad for fan appeal, for "leadership" and little else. To stay in the hunt for a World Cup squad spot, Beckham has to be playing better--hence AC Milan. Don't be surprised to see Beckham's loan deal become a purchase deal with a hefty price tag.

So what is Bruce Arena to do with his two name stars heading for the door. First, what does Arena have that is worth something and he can build a squad around.

Here are the players that I think Arena can build a squad around:

Edson Buddle. If Buddle has a year next year similar to the one he had this year, then Arena will probably only have Buddle for another year, two at the max before Buddle finds his way to a European League. So here is the main goal scoring threat for L.A. The problem is that Buddle is more of a poacher than Donovan and doesn't have that creative flair that Donovan brings. Buddle is also not a big guy like Alan Gordon, so is not much of a target striker. Buddle will need a big striker to work off of to be a good threat. But you can't argue with the man's nose for the goal.

Eddie Lewis. Steady Eddie probably has only one year left in his body, but he can provide the necessary leadership. Arena and Lewis know each other well from the U.S. MNT time together and Lewis can be the on-field general for Arena and implement Arena's system from there.

Chris Klein. The MLS iron man looks in good form and has been bombing up and down the touchline with Beckham all season long. Klein is also experienced in this League and can help develop younger players, like:

Sean Franklin. To me Franklin is a contender for rookie of the year. Quite literally thrown to the wolves, Franklin acquitted himself well, earning playing time. However, he has been misused by playing in central defense. It may be time to switch Klein to the center and FRanklin out to the right back and let Franklin use some of that speed he has.

There are other plays, Ante Jazcic, Joe Franchino and Brandon McDonald that have proven their worth on occaisions and will be helpful in building a team.

Healthy, these seven players can provide a solid core for Arena. But Arena is hurting all over the place and unless he is ready for wholesale roster changes (and I think he might be), here are the three areas he needs to focus on, no suprises though--the focus will have to be on the spine of the team, right down the middle.

Goalkeeping. Arena needs two everyday goalkeepers. Steven Cronin is not it. Josh Wicks is not a bad backup, but I don't know if he has the chops to play every week. So who is Arena going to get. My money is on Matt Pickens. Pickens played for the Chicago Fire and spent some time with Queen's Park Rangers in the English Championship League before being released back in May. The 26 year old Missouri native is currently unattached and has the experience necessary to command the box and run a defense.

Central Defense. Even with Franklin and Klein in the back line, Arena is going to need a strong, commanding central defender. Arena is probably going to have to go outside the MLS to find one, probably in South America or Africa. What Arena will need is a player with size, speed and most importantly experience, who has the personality to direct a defense. Since defensive cohesion, shape and compactness are at the core of Arena's style, this is will probably be the most important off-season job for Arena. In all likelihood, he will need two of these players. If Arena gets two good central defenders, I would see which of Kleing and Franklin have a good left foot crossing and put these two on the outside back positions.

Central midfield. Arena needs two central midfielders, a playmaker, someone who can control the pace of the game, dictate the attack and create, create, create for the Galaxy; and a holding midfielder. L.A. has been without such a player for some time, and no Beckham is not that guy. Arena needs a holding midfielder because, let's face it, the Galaxy need all the defensive help they can get. Christian Gomez from Colorado might be a good target, since he is not getting anytime with the Rapids and could fill either role, although I think he is more of a playmaker. As far as a defensive midfielder, I think Arena needs to look for someone like Pablo Mastoeni, whose contract is over for Colorado. The problem is that mastroeni is looking to close out his career in Europe. Yes, he is a little old for such a transfer, but a solid Serie B team might be a destination.

Ives Galarcep suggested prayer and I can't disagree with that notion. But next year is a rebuilding year for L.A. and any thoughts otherwise are dreams at best. Can L.A. make the playoffs next year? Yes, but not until they close up the defensive holes.

Alaska Senator Stevens Convicted

Good. I know it may seem odd for a Republican to say that, but based on the evidence that has been spoken about, Stevens was guilty and should have been convicted.

The behavior Stevens engaged in not only corrupted him, but everything he did for his state and this country. This is the kind of activity, whether Republican or Democrat, that should be stopped.

You Can Wear A Shirt Like This

that Gateway Pundit displays, but that same girl would not be able to wear an Choose Life Shirt to school.

I am not saying that she wore this shirt to school, but she probably could and get away with it.

Cleaning Out the Notebook

Well, it was a crazy week last week at work and so the updating of this space had to make way for dispositive motions practice (lawyers will understand). It was a week that fairly screamed for blogging activity, particularly in the soccer world, but that is life as a part time blogger.

Here are the stories that I missed:

Major League Soccer (or as I call it Mickey League Soccer) is looking at expansion, with seven cities submitting bids for 2011 and 2012 expansion. Ives Galarcep looks at the candidate cities. My preferences would be St. Louis and Atlanta. A Barcelona backed bid in Miami will attract attention, but I don't want one there because everyone will say that Barca got them going and MLS needs to get the business going themselves.

The Offside has two views on teh whole David Beckham to AC Milan story. In the end, I don't think Beckham will come back, making the first time he has ever broken a contract. If Beckham wants to continue playing high level football, the L.A. Galaxy (the worst team in MLS this past year) is not the place to do it, and that is obvious. Honestly, aside from Becks promise to help raise the game in America, I have to say he should go. The L.A. Galaxy need to get rid of Becks and Landon Donovan. I will have a piece on this a little later.

The Barclay's Premier League has a financial problem and at least writer makes a case for why the Premier League might lose supporters. The fans they lose in England will be made up for in fans worldwide. Fine and all, but clubs make a significant penny and pound on matchday. The problem is that transfer fees and payroll is eating up budgets and the Premier League would do well to look at the lessons of the causes and events leading up to the National Hockey League lockout. I am not sure what the percentage of club budgets are eaten up by payroll, but it has to be approaching the 76 percent ration of NHL clubs. Not a good sign.

I will spend more time cleaning the notebook later.

Oil Prices in a Free Fall

Oil prices fell yesterday as investors worried over demand.

Oil prices fell to their lowest level in more than a year Monday before rebounding to just above $63 a barrel as growing evidence of a global economic slowdown had investors betting on a further drop in energy demand.

Traders undeterred by OPEC's sizable production cut late last week also appeared to be taking their cues from world stock markets, which slumped again Monday with the Nikkei index in Japan closing at its lowest in 26 years, down 6.4 percent. Hong Kong and European markets followed suit, closing or trading substantially lower.

Wall Street was wavering in morning trading, with the Dow Jones industrials down about 22 points, or 0.27 percent, at the 8,355 level after having fallen more than 100 earlier.

There is some speculation that oil could fall to the $40's.Gas prices at my local station continue to plummet and are down well over $1 dollar in the past several weeks.

Obama Redistributionist Ideas

Would this video have made a difference if aired two weeks ago? Maybe.

Will it make a difference now? Maybe.

Here is the thing, most of Americans know the economy is in the toilet. Most Americans could use a little help and would probably take that help from the government if from no-one else.

However, I do believe that most Americans don't really subscribe to a total "Robin Hood-style, steal from the rich to give to the poor" mentality. I do believe that most Americans want to at least have the promise of a better time ahead and a certain segment of the population is willing to suffer the bad times for the short term in order to see better times in the long term.

But the larger issue is whether enough people will understand what this means and how it informs how Obama thinks and feels about the role of government in our lives.

Obama looks at the Constitution as a document of negative rights, i.e. it lists the things government can't do to you. Fine, in so far as it goes, but Obama says the document doesn't say what government may do for you. Well, that is also true, to a certain extent.

What Obama is forgetting is that the Constitution, and the state constitutions as well, were written from a viewpoint of limited government, i.e. these are not only the things government can't do to you, but this is the list of the things government is permitted to do.

What has happened through the mechanism of the spending power and the commerce clause, is that the federal government has taken what was supposed to be a very limited scope of power and expanded it to encompass just about anything it wants. How did that happen, oh, yeah, the Courts. Including, I might add, the Warren Court.

Interesting listening though.

This Is Just too Cool: Nuns Part Owners of Soccer Team

Nuns buy shares of Croatian team. Does this mean they get an unfair advantage? A little help from on High?

Santino Quaranta Anniversary

Back in June, I noted the story of Santino Quaranta, his battle with drugs and alcohol, his rehab and rebirth as an everyday player for the DC United.On October 23, 2008 Quaranta celebrated his anniversary of sobriety with family.

In the wake of the suspensions of Jon Conway and Jeff Parkes of the New York Red Bulls for using performance enhancing drugs, it is good to see a story about a player who, with the help of soccer and the MLS, kicked a destructive habit and may finally be blooming into a player.

The only question in my mind would be, will Bob Bradley call him into U.S. Training camp in January? I hope so. It would be a big boost to Quaranta, although, right now, I just don't seem him in the U.S. regular squad.

Good News for Bob Bradley: Subotic Can't Play for Germany

Borussia Dortmund's Neven Subotic, that Yugoslav born, American raised striker, who has been on form for his club and expressing regular interest in playing internationally for Germany (and having interest for Joachim Loew) has been rule ineligible to play for Germany as a naturalized citizen. Subotic had appeared for the US as a U-17 international, but some sort of falling out occurred between Subotic and U.S. Soccer such that Subotic has not been open to calls from Bob Bradley and U.S. Soccer about playing for the Red, White and Blue. Chris Courtney writes:

The basis of the decision is that in 2005, Subotic had played in a U-17 match for the USA. So, after first participating in an international competition, he is ineligible to play only for countries of which he was already a citizen; Serbia or the USA (or possibly Bosnia). Once he plays in a full international match for one of these three countries, he is only eligible to play for them for the rest of his career.

So, will Subotic decide to line up alongside Oguchi Onyewu in central defense for the Stars and Stripes who appear to be cruising toward World Cup Qualification? Will Bob Bradley call him in for the USA's next World Cup qualifier against Guatemala on November 19th?

Or, will he decide to cast his lot with the White Eagles, currently in a 4-way tie for second in a tough qualifying group which includes France, Romania, Austria, and current group leader Lithuania? We may find out soon if coach Radomir Antic calls him in for the November 19th friendly against Bulgaria.

Okay, Bob Bradley has some real thinking to do in the next two weeks. Should he campaign to bring in a player who has spurned the U.S.? I think so.

But here is the problem. Subotic won't see much time for the U.S. in the next couple of years. At 19, he will probably be eligible for the U.S. Olympic team (U-23) for 2012 and is more likely to be a regular come the 2014 World Cup. Bradley has all but penned in his starting back line of Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, and Pearce for the 2010 World Cup and certainly for the next round of qualifying. Will Subotic, who regularly sees 90 minutes of time for Borussia Dortmund, be willing to take a back seat for the next four years to Gooch and Boca?

To be sure, I think that there will be some lobbying for Subotic in the next couple of weeks. If Subotic is called in against Guatamala, Bradley's two goals will be to 1) win against the Guatamalan in Denver and 2) cap tie Subotic just like Bradley did with Jose Torres against Cuba.

Duece to the Rescue

Clint Dempsey came in off the bench and got an 87th minute goal to give Fulham a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Fulham, winless in their last six matches had dropped to near the relegation zone after starting the season in good form. Now with 8 points and a game in hand (against Manchester United), Fulham sit 16th on the table, just over Bolton on goal difference.

What really sucks is that Andy Johnson pulled a howler in the 85th minute or so that could have equalized but he couldn't really get around on it and it went over the bar. Things were desperate in the final minutes and quite honestly a little luck played a part since I think at least one of those fouls in the penalty area should have been a penalty kick. But with Duece's late goal, the Whites salvaged a point on the road.

Fulham host Wigan on Wednesday in a mid-week game at the Cottage. At this point, Fulham need a full three points, and their performance might very well have given them the boost to get the win at home. Wigan sit 15th on the table, besting Fulham only on goal difference. Three points will help as Fulham start a four game stretch against lower half of the table sides with Wigan (15th), Everton (14th), Newcastle (19th) and Tottenham (20th) the next four matches on the schedule. The key, as everyone will tell you, to avoiding relegation battles is to get points against teams around you in the table. Wins over these four sides will put distance between Fulham and those teasm, distance that can be important in seven months time. Only the Everton fixture is away, so I hope that Fulham can net all 12 points, but I will be happy with 8 of 12 points, preferably with wins over Newcastle and Tottenham.

Real Salt Lake's Andy Williams and his Homefront

Too often we look at footballers as just that, forgetting that they are people with real lives and often real challenges at home. RSL's Andy Williams has had a good year for his club, but not a standout one. This story tells you why.

Often when we think of footballers' wives, we think of WAGs, the glamour, the shopping, the papparazzi. But given the story of Marcia Williams, maybe we should take a step back and remember that footballers are humans with a real life beyond the pitch, training ground and personal appearances.

On the plus side for Williams, looks like he is going to learn to cook and wash towels (how does a footballer not know how to wash towels? Cooking I get, but washing towels? Surely he has used a few in his career).

My prayers are with Andy Williams and his family.

Check out www.soccerunitesutah.com which is raising money for Marcia Williams' treatment. Consider dropping a little scratch to help them out.

Young Voters, Get Mad

Robert J. Samuelson: Young voters get mad!

You're being played for chumps. Barack Obama and John McCain want your votes, but they're ignoring your interests. You face a heavily mortgaged future. You'll pay Social Security and Medicare for aging baby boomers. The needed federal tax increase might total 50 percent over the next 25 years. Pension and health costs for state and local workers have doubtlessly been underestimated. There's the expense of decaying infrastructure -- roads, bridges, water pipes. All this will squeeze other crucial government services: education, defense, police.

Cruz Azul Defeats D.C. United; Both United Keepers Ejected

In general the DC United performance in the CONCACAF Champions League has been shambolic to say the least. However, last night, the whole episode was shambolic to say the least. While DC United fell 2-0 to Cruz Azul in Mexico, the results should have, indeed could have, been far worse.

Where to start? First, DC traveled with just 15 players, (that's four possible subs for those of you keeping count): GOALKEEPERS: Louis Crayton, James Thorpe; DEFENDERS: Pat Carroll, Mike Zaher, Marc Burch, Devon McTavish, Gonzalo Martinez, Bryan Namoff; MIDFIELDERS: Ryan Miller, Craig Thompson, Ryan Cordeiro, Quavas Kirk, Clyde Simms; and
FORWARDS: Thabiso Khumalo, Francis Doe. While all these players but Thorpe has seen first team action this year, it would hard to classify this as DC United's first team. But since DC United were all but eliminated form the competition before last night's game, did it really matter?

Let's talk James Thorpe--the second back up--made his first team debut and looked good. He made some good saves and picked up a yellow card for dumping a Cruz player outside the box. He deserved that yellow card. However, in the 31st minute, Thorpe was setting up for a goal kick and then decided to move to the other side of the goal area. Referee Robert Moreno handed Thorpe a second yellow and sent Thorpe off for what appears to have been unsporting behavior for taking too much time. To say it was a soft yellow card would be generous in the extreme. I didn't think Thorpe was taking that much time and to give the second yellow in such a circumstance is simply inexcusable for a such an infraction. But sending off a player for that is just wrong (and that is the referee in me speaking). Would DC have one with Thorpe in net? Maybe not, but he was putting in a good performance and I hope we see him some more so that we can get a better bead on his abilities.

Okay, so Louis Crayton comes in, cold, and just 10 minutes later, Cruz goes up 1-0 before the half. To be honest, it was a good goal and well taken. No shame in that.

The second half gets under and DC is playing a man short. But the young-uns are making a go of it. There were more than a few solid opportunities for goals and Marc Burch launched a rocket that almost found the equalizer. DC didn't look too shambolic, but then in the 88th minute, it all went pear-shaped again.

Around the 87th minute, Gonzalo Martinez took a ding and was on the ground in what looked to be some serious pain (Marinez can act when necessary, but this one looked real). Instead of being sportsmen and playing the ball out of play so that Martinez could get attention (being a goal and a man up, Cruz should have been sporting) Cruz's Pablo Zeballos struck a shot from outside the penaly area and scored. Crayton was livid and charged referee Moreno who promptly tossed Crayton. I didn't see if Crayton touched Moreno and it didn't look like Moreno was anything more than extemely upset, but Crayton got tossed nonetheless.

With no other goalkeeper on the roster, Quavas Kirk (normally a midfielder/striker) donned the keeper's jersey and played 12 or so minutes in net for the United playing on 9 men.

The aftermath is that DC is done in the Champions league after an absolutely dismal showing.

But on a larger scale, the refereeing last night is an example of why most of the rest of the World looks at CONCACAF as a joke confederation. The quality of officiating has generally been poor and there really is no justification for Moreno last night (that is both the United fan and the referee in me speaking). I don't make excuses for DC's play in other Champions Leauge matches, the last night the young-uns did the best they could in circumstances that would rattle even the most seasoned professionals. That they acquitted themselves well in the face of such adversity is a testament to them.

Beckham and Soccer in America

Clemente Lisi writes about a recent appearance by Ruud Gullit in which Gullit said:

"David is more than just a football player and I think he does extremely well to give football here a lift," Gullit told Reuters. "I think [American soccer organizers] are afraid of football because it's so popular everywhere around the world. I think they will just control it so it doesn't become more popular than their American sports.

"I have my doubts if they really want to make [soccer] popular. Some sports already have had a bit of a dive so they don't want American football to become less popular, or basketball or baseball."

I am not here to debate Beckham's qualities as a player (which are considerable, though waning). What I would like to say is that soccer in America is plenty popular, as a youth sport. There is no other sport in America that has more kids playing and in fact, I believe there are more kids playing soccer than throwball (American football), baseball and basketball combined. I don't have a citation for that, but I read it somewhere and given what I know of the game in America, I believe it to be true.

The problem is that professional soccer, for so long, has tried to emulate other professional sports leagues in America instead of letting the game grow in a more organic fashion. There has long been professional soccer in America, just not in a format that is as readily popular as other leagues. But let us remember, in the early days the baseball leagues, basketball leagues and throwball leagues, there were fewer distractions seeking a consumer's money and these leagues were of poor game quality as compared to today. The same is true in American soccer as well.

Now, David Beckham is but one man, a high profile, brand name man in the world of soccer. He could exert considerable influence in the game, but let's face it, right now the powers that be in the top levels of American soccer have little to do with the development of the game, believing that its grassroots support will eventually carry the day. They maybe right, but that is a waste of Beckham's high profile. Here are three things that U.S. Soccer/MLS could be doing with David Beckham, instead of letting him train with AC Milan over the MLS offseason:

1). Coaching and player clinics. No David Beckham is not a coach, but he has been coached by some of the best men in the game like Sir Alex Ferguson. Beckham can help coaches in American soccer, arguably the weakest link in the sport, become better. Beckham can use his star power to attract the best coaches in the world to come to the U.S. and conduct coaches clinics and camps for several weeks at a time. Then Beckham, the guest coaches and the American coaches can apply what they have learned to player clinics.

2). Work with the U.S. Soccer Federation (U.S.S.F.) and MLS to improve the management of the federation. Beckham has inroads at the English FA and while the English FA may not be the perfect model for American soccer, the FA is quite accomplished at helping the game develop in England.

3). Talk to American sports fans. Not soccer fans, they have already been converted, but to American sports fans in general. In May Gordon Bradley passed away, an icon in American soccer, but the one thing that Gordon Bradley was, above all else, was a cheerleader for the game. Bradley could explain the most intricate aspects of the game and the simplest, in terms that anyone could understand. He loved the game and he loved teaching people about the game. Beckham loves the game, he has lived it in all its glory (minus a World Cup), he should be helping American sports fans to appreciate the game, its physical demands, its emotional highs, lows and the excitement of a game that most Americans would love for both its simplicity and its complexity.

Beckham, when he came to America, said he wanted to grow the game in America. Size is not our problem, advancement is. Beckham needs to focus on that, more than anything else.

Danny Cepero Debut

Who? To be honest, I had never heard of Danny Cepero until he started for the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, but what a debut. In addition to getting his first start, thanks to the stupidity of Jon Conway, who is now serving the first ever drug suspension in MLS history, Cepero got his first win AND scored the first ever goal for an MLS keeper.

Cepero replaced Conway when the latter suffered the first performance-enhancing drug suspension in MLS history. Cepero responded with the fist goal by a keeper in league history, an 80-yard score that sealed a 3-1 win over Columbus; and the Baldwin (L.I.) native didn't even see his landmark tally.

"I just put it in the general area with no intention of scoring. I just hit it up somewhere where my teammates could do something with it,'' Cepero said. "I didn't even know it went in. I had to ask Kevin (Goldthwaite) did that just go in? He said "yeah.' I said "Do I get credit for that.' He said "Absolutely."

The win for Cepero and the Red Bulls put them back in the playoff hunt. The Red Bulls are now tied with Kansas City at 39 Points (KC leads with a better goal difference) and if the season ended now, NY would be in teh playoffs. However, New York has one more game to play. At this stage, NY more or less controls their destiny, a win and they are in the playoffs. A draw might get them in to the playoffs with a little help. A loss and NY might get in, but they would need a lot of help.

Fulham Return With 0-0 Draw Against Sunderland

The return of Premier League football this weekend, after the international break with a pretty enteraining 0-0 draw with Sunderland. This puts the Whites in the familiar spot of occupying 17th on teh table.

More later.

Oops

A computer error by a Cleary Gottlieb associate is the subject of motions in teh Lehman borthers deal.

Above the Law was the first to report the error. Its story said the mistake happened at around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 18 when a second-year associate asked a first-year associate to reformat an Excel document of critical Lehman contracts to be assumed by Barclays.

This is why having associates work insane hours is very often a bad thing.

Bobming Laywers

Two recent stories involving bombs/explosions and lawyers. First in St. Louis:

John Gillis, 69, was bloodied and burned by the blast, which occurred at about 11:15 a.m., but is expected to survive, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He is a senior counsel at Armstrong Teasdale, a 270-attorney international law firm headquartered in St. Louis, where his practice focuses on corporate and securities matters.

Authorities said they don't know whether Gillis was an intended target of the bomb, which was contained in a package left next to his car. When he picked it up, it went off, the newspaper reports.

An in Dalton, Ga:

An explosion at a personal injury law firm in downtown Dalton, Ga., has resulted in multiple injuries--and, it appears, one death.

"A body has been found behind the law firm where an explosion took place this morning and a police officer saw a man run behind the building just before the explosion," reports the Chattanooga Times Free Press in a just-posted article. A Dalton police spokesman also says that someone at the law firm made a 911 call about a disturbance just before the apparent attack.

District Attorney Kermit McManus blamed a bitter lawsuit for the explosion, saying that he considers it “an assault on the judicial system.” He named Lloyd Cantrell as a suspect in the bombing, but doesn't give any details about who Cantrell is, according to the Daily Citizen.

"Witnesses said the blast at about 10 a.m. Friday blew out the windows at the McCamy Law Firm. They said at least one person had his clothes burned off and was taken to the hospital," reports the Associated Press. Four other people also are being treated for burns.

The ABA Journal is following both stories.

Chief Justice Roberts In Dissent

With a spin.

Smaller Banks "Punished for behaving prudently"

This story hit me yesterday (but I was too busy to comment)smaller, community banks are worried that they, the only real prudent financial institutions around are going to get sucked into the nationalization of the banking industry.

Community banking executives around the country responded with anger yesterday to the Bush administration's strategy of investing $250 billion in financial firms, saying they don't need the money, resent the intrusion and feel it's unfair to rescue companies from their own mistakes.

But regulators said some banks will be pressed to take the taxpayer dollars anyway. Others banks judged too sick to save will be allowed to fail.

The government also said yesterday that it will guarantee up to $1.4 trillion of private investment in banks. The combination of public and private investment is intended to refill coffers emptied by losses on real estate lending. With the additional money, the government expects, banks would be able to start making additional loans, boosting the economy.

President Bush, in introducing the plan, described the interventions as "limited and temporary."

"These measures are not intended to take over the free market but to preserve it," Bush said.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers from both parties praised the plan and scrambled to take credit for writing provisions into the law passed almost two weeks ago that allowed the government to switch from buying bad loans to buying ownership stakes in banks.

the Post had this quote from a local banker:

Peter Fitzgerald, chairman of Chain Bridge Bank in McLean, said he was "much chagrined that we will be punished for behaving prudently by now having to face reckless competitors who all of a sudden are subsidized by the federal government."

At Evergreen Federal Bank in Grants Pass, Ore., chief executive Brady Adams said he has more than 2,000 loans outstanding and only three borrowers behind on payments. "We don't need a bailout, and if other banks had run their banks like we ran our bank, they wouldn't have needed a bailout, either," Adams said.

Indeed.

Common sense on a smaller scale. Maybe if more banks acted like these community banks, who make decisions based on objective criteria like credit-worthiness and risk, rather than simply on what will make them the most money quicker, we might be in this situation.

But these executive are right, the federal government forcing banks to take government help is intrustive and wrong. My guess is that if you talk to these same small bankers, you will find that to a person each would say that the banks who made bad decisions should be allowed to fail, regardless of size. I would agree, it is the best and fastest way for these insitutions to learn their lesson.

The Obvious that Hasn't Been Mentioned Enough

From Instapundit: "I note two insider-Senators spending most of their time running against 'Washington.'"

And that is why this campaign sucks. Can I write Sarah Palin in as my candidate for President?

Use RICO on ACORN

Cries the DC Examiner:

It’s getting steadily more difficult to detect differences between an organized nationwide criminal conspiracy to commit voter fraud and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). Thus far in the 2008 campaign, state election officials representing both major political parties in 15 states, including such key battlegrounds as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, have accused ACORN of various schemes involving widespread voter fraud. The pattern is so pervasive - and the danger to our electoral system so dire – that it demands federal intervention.

The Justice Department’s indictment in 2005 of the Milberg Weiss class-action securities law firm under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) did not involve charges of mob involvement. Ultimately, the firm plea bargained and several of its senior partners now reside in federal prisons. Likewise, ACORN’s repeated abuses don’t include mafia links, but the pattern matches the organized criminal conduct RICO was passed to combat.

Yeah, if Obama is elected it probably will get quashed even though it shouldn't.

Stephen Green on Congressman Mahoney "Sex Scandal"

Wait, you didn't know about that? Stephen Green will tell you why as well as some good questions and answers.

Democrats Mull $300 Billion Stimulus

That didn't take long. A few weeks ago, I noted that Nancy Pelosi has suggested another $150 billion dollar stimulus package. Well, that number as doubled.

Can McCain Exploit "Joe the Plumber" Mindset

Who knows, but the McCain camp is running out of time.

Trinidad & Tobago 2:1 US Men's National Team

Last night in Port of Spain Trinidad, the U.S. dropped not only their first game in 2010 World Cup qualifying but their first game to T&T in 24 years. T&T's first goal was the result of lucky bounce off Brad Guzan's back and the second the result of a penalty kick.

The good thing is that the U.S. is already through to the Hexagonal round. Bob Bradley took the opportunity to try out a young team. You wanted young and here is why playing just young players, no matter how talented, in meaningful games is not always a good idea. The game was meaningful to Trinidad since their victory, combined with a Guatamala loss to Cuba, means that T&T is in the driver's seat to advance to the Hexagonal, they control their own destiny come the final round next month. The group now looks like this:

USA 12 Points
T&T 8 Points
Guatamala 5 Points
Cuba 4 Points

Trinidad faces Cuba in the final match and a draw or a win means they advance. Guatamala has to win to have a chance to advance and T&T has to lose. I am not sure how the tie breakers work.

But the U.S. didn't look great and I think there are three reasons for that beyond simply youth. On the youth matter, the starting 11 had and average age of 23.6 years of age. Take old men Frankie Hejduk (34) and Danny Califf (28) out of the mix and you get an average age of just 22. That is a young squad to field and while I think Bradley had to get these players into get them experience, and many of these players play and have played at the highest levels of professional and youth national team play, they don't have that much experience and that makes a difference. I know that the youngsters need expererience and the only way to get that is to play, but last night demonstrated the reason why the most successful teams on earth have a mix of youth and experience. But as I said, there were three other reasons, other than youth, for their poor performance.

First, the team didn't play well because they haven't trained together. There were several instances where it was obvious that this team has not played together, players were getting in each others' way, passes weren't completed because runs were moving in a different direction than expected, communication was lacking and so forth. This team had been together as a squad for just two full training sessions and game day. Most of these players had not been called in regularly to the national team squad in the past six months and many of these didn't even play together at the Olympics. The results of their lack of comfort together or even knowledge of playing styles were obvious.

Second, it may seem unfair, but this squad knew the result of this game was meaningless for the U.S. Conversely the game was of great importance to the T&T side and it showed in the level of experience that T&T fielded--clearly their first team. I am not saying this team tanked the game, but there were times when the urgency just didn't seem to be present.

Third, Bob Bradley's tactics did not fit this team and this is where the coach is a fault. With this squad on the field, Bradley used essestially his bucket 4-4-2 with the variation of having Adu withdrawn for a sort of five man midfield and that did not suit the talents of this squad. Jose Torres is an attacking midfielder and should not be lining up as a withdrawn midfielder. Sacha Kljestan is not a winger, he is a good midfielder, but not a winger since he lacks the speed and the crossing ability to play a true winger. The midfield was too bunched up with Torres, Adu, and Edu in the middle and Beasley and Kljestan pinching in too far if they are supposed to be wingers. As a result, Heath Pearce and Frankie Hejduk were called upon to do too much on the outside and while Pearce is stepping up, Hejduk's crossing skills looked poor last night.

Bradley should have fielded a different set up than this bucket 4-5-1. A 4-1-4-1 with Edu as a holding midfielder would have been smart or a 3-2-4-1 with a back line of Pearce, Califf and Hejduk and a second line of Orozco and Edu would have put as many players in the midfeild as possible, but freeing up Torres and Adu to work as a striking pair. Even something like a 3-2-3-2 would have looked solid with Adu pushed a little more up top and Torres in the middle. But Bradley likes that four in the back and I don't think it was necessary in this game. This was a squad of attack minded players so let them attack.

Having said all of this, I think the U.S. side did acquit themselves very well despite the above conditions. The first T&T goal was a bit of bad luck, but the team showed character and kept playing. The penalty sucked, but it was a legitimate call. Altidore knew and I think has learned his lesson, a shirt pull when on offense gets a free kick, but the same foul in your own box costs you a game.

Two things I saw last night that I liked, Altidore/Davies and possession. If only for a few minutes, Altidore and Charlie Davies worked well together, combining on the goal, yes, but even at other times. Davies and Altidore are both very fast, quite strong and both are good in the air. With this pair up top, it forces defenses to be more aware of both men, which has the chance to open the defense a little more. This could be a striking partnership for the U.S. that could bring success.

There were many times when the U.S. showed great possession and ball movement, switching the ball from side to side quickly, spreading the defense out and creating the opportunities for more chances. I think that if this squad were to train more together, I think those chances would become real shots on goal.

Player ratings

Guzan--6
Hejduk--5
Califf--6
Orozco--5
Pearce--5
Beasley--5
Torres-7
Adu--6
Edu--6
Kljestan--4
Altidore--6

Subs
Davies--7
Szetela--6
Rolfe--N/A

Congressman's $121,000 Payoff to Alleged Mistress

Brian Ross has the story of Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL) making a settlement with a former aide with whom he alleged had an affair, for $121,000 in order to avoid a lawsuit.