Why I voted for Barack Obama

1. Saying NO to Special Interests: Special Interests and Lobbyists have become too powerful. It has gotten so bad that lobbyists are now writing legislation for Congressmen to act as sponsors. Of course if your job relied on having enough money to be re-elected, it would be hard for you to turn that money down. Obama is the ONLY candidate not to take money from specials interests or lobbyists. Therefore he will be accountable to those who are funding his campaign - individual citizens!
2. Hope: Obama energizes younger and traditionally downtrodden people with his energy and optimistic outlook. I agree with Obama - this country can live closer to its ideals if ALL of us are part of it.
3. Judgment and Vision: Obama has the vision to see what can be and is courageous enough to stand up for what he believes. Today that is clear is his (correct) stand against the gas tax holiday, which will decrease prices for a few days, increase demand, and take the prices back up, with that additional revenue going to the oil companies, not to our roads in disrepair. But on a far more important issue Obama took a far less popular stand in 2002:
   

Kudos to Coach Crean!

"Our staff is going to ensure that anyone who attends this university and wears the Indiana uniform will make this privilege among their highest priorities and not treat the opportunity as an entitlement. We fully expect our student-athletes to accept the responsibilities academically, athletically, and socially that come with representing one of the top programs in college basketball history.

There was a culture of entitlement in this program. And that had to stop."

- Tom Crean

And stop it did. On Friday new IU basketball coach Tom Crean announced the dismissal of DeAndre Thomas and that Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis would not be reinstated. This comes on the heels of Thursday's announcement that Eli Holman would also be transferring. Of course, on his way out he allegedly threw a potted plan in Crean's office, leading to campus police being called.

With the exception of Bassett, the other players were all Kelvin Sampson recruits. He sure knows how to pick them. Of the eight players he recruited to IU, two were kicked off the team, one threw a plant while informing the coach he was transferring, and one was suspended for 3 games during his only season. Only two of the eight will suit up for IU next year.

IU will be lousy next year, but I don't care. For the first time since the Knight era, I really feel like IU is doing everything the right way. From bringing in good kids, to playing by the rules, to going to class, to being well-coached on the floor, the IU basketball that I loved is on its way back.

Thanks Coach Crean!