Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Only in Dallas, folks. Only in Dallas...

I have to admit I'm somewhat underwhelmed by the whole T.O. saga. I mean, what's really going on here? Did Owens really try to kill himself? Personally, I doubt it.

According to the report - and by his own admission, T.O. had taken 5 Hydrocodone tablets. Now, as an addict myself (Hydrocodone is the generic name for Vicodin), it's very possible that if he indeed took five, then it's not unreasonable to believe he became unresponsive. Hydrocodone is usually prescribed in 5mg with 500mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol), 7.5mg/750mg, or 10mg/325mg. Let's assume he had been prescribed the 7.5mg tablets. That would mean that in taking 5, he would have consumed 37.5mg of Hydrocodone AND 3750mg of Acetaminophen!

Now granted, many of us have taken 3 Tylenol's at one time or another, but 5 at one time can cause considerable discomfort Now add 375mg of a rather potent narcotic and, voila - he becomes catatonic.

In the 6 years that I've been taking Vicodin (originally after my spinal fusion, but regularly now for Reumatoid arthritis), I can't remember any time that I took more than 15mg in a single dose - and that was when I developed a blood clot that was the most painful thing I've ever experienced (and that says a LOT). After the initial relief, it ended up giving me an upset stomach and it really dulled my senses. So if T.O. took FIVE of those suckers, there is no way he knew what he was saying when asked if he meant to hurt himself.

On top of that, there is no way that the Dallas hospital would release him a day later if we was suicidal. I don't care who he is. The financial liability alone would keep the hospital from doing so.

So I have to say that I believe him. Maybe I'm saying that because as T.O. goes, so goes the Cowboy's season. But I don't think so.

I wonder if the wonderful Philadelphia fans will throw empty pill bottles at him when the Cowboys play there (October 8th). Man, will it be loud then.

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Kudos to the 7-11 corporation (formerly known as The Southland Corporation) for dropping their alliance with Citgo gasoline. While I truly feel sorry for Citgo's American work force, I like the move, especially after Chavez's hack job on the President. Unfortunately, because we are so dependent of foreign oil, it just means that instead of lining the Venezuelan president's pockets, it will just go to some anti-American/anti-Israeli despotic kingdom's pockets instead. However, while I thought changing the name of french fries to 'freedom fries' was just plain silly, this move by the slurpee makers has some real bite to it.

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Maybe it's me, but I don't blame Bill Clinton for not eliminating Osama bin Ladin when he had the chance. Sure, in hindsight, it would have been right. But the reality was that before 9/11, we weren't prepared to deal with any fall out that would occur. If we took him out and the Jihadist movement would have taken to the streets violently, can any of us - especially Republicans - not vilified him for it.

Of course, what I don't understand is why the Democrats blame Bush for not doing what Clinton didn't do. Now that we live in the post-9/11 world, you would think they would understand what Bush is trying to do better. I have absolutely no doubt that if a Democrat were in the White House and he was doing exactly the same that Bush has done, he would be a hero to his people.

Most of us seem to forget that although Clinton was disliked by the GOP, he was given his due and respect for being the President of the USA. In my entire life, I have never seen such unhinged hatred of a President by the opposition party. Never. I remember how the Left disliked "Tricky Dick" Nixon and I remember the animosity towards Reagan. I also recall how how embarrassed the country was by the 1979 hostage crisis and Clinton's "intern trouble".

But never have I seen it this bad.

I honestly believe that as long as the Democratic platform's main initiative is to destroy George Bush - at the expense of any other idea or belief - the Democrats will never, and I mean NEVER, win the general election again. And should they somehow, but whatever fluke of nature, do win, I'm certain that it will be an anomaly and not the start of any cultural revolution.

Face it. The Democrats' plan since at least 2000, has not been better education, stronger defense, improved social security, fair taxes or universal health care. Those may be their talking points, but they have no good ideas to bring them to fruition. No, the only single-minded objective the Democrats have is to win the White House. No matter what the cost.

That's not a formula for success - it's a formula for disaster. Think about it - since the Kennedy assassination in 1963, has any Democratic president been a success? And in light of how secure Clinton had left us, even if you want to credit him for anything (if you claim he should be credited for turning around the economy in 1992, then you must blame him for the disastrous plummet in 2000), you can't say he left us in too great shape.

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