Rhubarb Report: Episode 29

There has been a barrage of rhubarb lately. When there are so many tasty morsels of it, there is a real problem focusing on just two or three. With that said, I am up to the challenge and present to you Episode 29 of the Rhubarb Report.

In our world these days, there are plenty of constant reminders that truth is stranger than fiction. They are all around us, and these days there should be no surprise that they are readily apparent in politics and sport. Here are three more not-so-subtle reminders for your reading pleasure.

1. Let’s keep this one simple: the BCS must go. Really, seriously, without question – please leave the building that is college football. You are, quite frankly, ruining college football for the players and the fans. It has become a beauty pageant more than a show of skill, strength, and finesse. When the #3 team in the country has more wins against top 25 teams than the #2 team, but still doesn’t get the opportunity to play for the national championship, something is very wrong. Apparently the #2 team wears a prettier dress or has more friends or, well, you get the idea. Shades of high school, indeed.

There is no doubt that a 16 team playoff would not only prove far more equitable but also more entertaining and probably more lucrative over the long term. If the regular season was 11 games like it used to be, there would be plenty of time to get a 4 week playoff in by mid-January.

I will soon release the 4th annual December Delirium, my 16 team playoff for a true national championship. If a Canadian in Texas can do it, then surely someone in the NCAA can figure it out. If you need help, call me.

2. The circus, err, Republican presidential primaries, are coming to a location near you. Every candidate appears to have had their moment in the sun … everyone except for Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman. The Republican faithful can’t seem to remember what their core values are other than “defeat Obama”. It shows in their polls, which seem to fluctuate wildly from candidate to candidate. Who is hot today? Indecision 2012, indeed.

This whole circus is becoming more like reality TV and less like actually getting a platform for the 2012 election. You know there has to be something seriously wrong when Donald Trump is moderating a Republican debate. What makes Trump qualified to do this? Herman Cain put his presidential campaign (read: book tour) on hold dues to alleged adultery, yet the people seem to be just fine with Newt Gingrich’s “family values”. Ron Paul sounds brilliant one moment, yet follows it up with a mish-mash of words that barely form a cohesive sentence. Romney smiles and smiles and, well, smiles some more. Is Bachmann still running?

The key word here is: incomprehensible. This has all become simply hard to swallow, hard to understand, hard to believe. This isn’t about being pro- or anti-Republican; it is all about the people having intelligent options for a presidential candidate and political platform in 2012.

3. I have said it once and I will say it again: there is a separation of church and state in this country. But with that said, leave it to none other than Governor Rick Perry to push his religious agenda time and time again. His latest effort is this:

This type of approach just insults my intelligence. It insults those of us who believe in the separation of church and state and the core values of this country. It is inflammatory at best, and utter vitriol and hatred at worst: a  hatred being hidden under the veil of religion and “family values”. Don’t forget to take a look at the number of “likes” and “dislikes” on the video – I think you will find that there are many that agree with me.

I suspect that when you have little to no platform on which to run, you play the cards you have. Desperate times call for desperate measures – so play the fear and hate cards, right?

Photo credits: Wikipedia