I just did one of these yesterday, but it seems that so much has happened in the news since then, so it seemed like a good idea to do another of these.
First and foremost....
The Third (and Final) Presidential Debate
Tonight, the final debate was held in Boca Raton, Florida. It focused on foreign policy, and there was some question as to how much this would actually impact the race, or even how many people would tune in, since it competed with both Monday Night Football, and a Game 7 showdown in baseball to see who represents the National League in the World Series.
I think that perhaps the most memorable aspects of the debate were the one-liners, particularly from President Obama. He criticized Mitt Romney for calling Russia is America's biggest foe. Obama responded by saying, "The Cold War's been over for twenty years....The 1980's are calling to ask for their foreign policy back."
Yet, the most famous one, the one that will most likely live on the longest, was Obama's response to Romney's claim that we have fewer Navy ships in the waters. "Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, Obama said, "We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines."
He went on to conclude that the military "is not a game of Battleship."
Obama was far and away the more aggressive of the two men today. He pulled a lot of zingers and one-liners, and seemed the clear cut winner. I heard on the radio one interesting analysis, which was that Romney seemed to feel that the debate that truly mattered was the first one, while Obama's team seemed to take this as the rubber match, breaking the 1-1 tie (as they see it, at least) between the two debates that took place beforehand.
The Romney camp, in the meantime, did not seem to have focused so much on this debate, and seemed content with their performance in the first debate, which took his troubled campaign and breathed new life in it.
Initially tonight, Romney seemed to want to fight allegations that his approach seemed hawkish, and that he was a warmonger. He congratulated the President on his successes, and specifically singled out the elimination of Osama Bin Laden. But, he said, "We can't kill our way out of this mess."
Romney kept returning it back to a domestic agenda, although the debate was supposed to focus on foreign policy. He seemed to suggest that once the ship was righted here, then America's strength would show inevitably outside. He kept reiterating his assertions that poor domestic policies compromised America's credibility and leadership elsewhere.
Obama was quite aggressive, and emphasized inconsistencies, making Romney look like a flip-flopper, like someone who would say anything to get elected.
According to CNN polls, most people felt that Obama had won the debate, by a margin of 48% to 40% for Romney.
As an aside, Donald Trump also made headlines, claiming he has a very major announcement about the President, and that he will reveal it on Wednesday. This guy seems to grab every opportunity to make headlines, and to try and get his name in leading stories in the news. Wish we could collectively "fire" him. What a self-obsessed, narcissistic ass!
Around the World
South Africa - Once again, the situation seems to be escalating in South African mines. AngloGold, the world's third largest producer of gold, has given the striking miners an ultimatum: go back to work, or lose your jobs. They have joined some of their competitors in this hard-line stance. They said that the workers must return by noon on Wednesday, and those that do will receive increased pay.
Jimmy Carter- While on a tour with other members of The Elders, he stated that Israel's policy under Prime Minister Netanyahu is not committed to a two state solution, and that, as a result, prospects for real peace in the Middle East is "vanishing". He cited Israeli settlement in the West Bank as hugely revealing, and claimed that what is happening now is "catastrophic"
http://news.yahoo.com/jimmy-carter-says-mideast-peace-vanishing-155117602.html
Jordan - a major terrorist plot was foiled, authorities announced. According to Jordanian intelligence, the plot targeted "shopping areas, residential areas, diplomats, and foreign nationals".
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/21/world/meast/jordan-terror-plot-foiled/index.html?hpt=wo_c2
Turkey - Press freedoms have harshly criticized the Turkish regime
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/22/world/europe/turkey-press-freedom/index.html?hpt=wo_c2
Uraguay - the Senate here voted to legalize abortion.
Lance Armstrong
The huge news in sports today concerned Lance Armstrong, who was officially stripped of his seven consecutive Tour de France titles. He had won a record seven titles in straight years, from 1999 until 2005. But now, he officially has not won any.
I don't remember anybody falling from grace so quickly or completely as Lance Armstrong has done. Perhaps the New England Patriots, following their Super Bowl loss in what was almost a perfect season, but that was mostly because of their on the field failures (although they were famously accused of cheating early in the season).
But this was a man that seemed to embody something truly special. Here was a cancer survivor, who came back to not only compete in the Tour de France and complete it, but to win it. Then win it again. And again. Seven times. What an inspiration! He became a symbol of perseverance, and conducted himself with such class and character. He was someone that everyone could be proud of.
Now? We have found out that there was more, far more, than meets the eye. Suddenly, we find that he went to extraordinary lengths to hide from possible scrutiny, in what seems like a world of secrecy. Not only that, but he also evidently pushed others to take performance enhancing drugs, with the purpose of gaining personal glory for himself. Also, he went to great lengths to attack those who cast doubt upon him, who kept claiming that he was doping. He lied to officials here, after swearing an oath to tell the truth, and it will be interesting to see if he will face punishment for that, and what that would be.
Sports
Lance Armstrong would normally fall under sports, but that story seemed to have taken a life of it's own, and far transcends sports, simply.
The San Fransisco Giants absolutely pummeled the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 in San Fransisco, to clinch another World Series appearance, their second in three years. They will meet the AL Champs, the Detroit Tigers.
The Chicago Bears defeated the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, and thus secured themselves the third best record in the NFL, behind the undefeated Atlanta Falcons (6-0) and the Houston Texans (6-1). They remain a half game ahead of the Minnesota Vikings (5-2) and put some cushion between them and their hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers (4-3), who seem to really be coming on as of late. In the meantime, by virtue of this loss, the Detroit Lions have seemingly dropped out of the division race already, and look in danger of slipping into this being a lost season. They have talent, but they just cannot seem to seal the deal, so far.
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