The Oscar for Best Actor goes to Tiger Woods

Ok, I just watched Tiger's apology from yesterday.  A couple of things I took from it.  First, that was the weakest apology I've ever heard.  By reading it basically word for word and looking at the camera the entire time, Tiger made it seem all staged.  He swallowed hard several times, but was that just to show emotion, right Kobe?  Second, saying he did it because he felt entitled is a cop-out.  Yes, you have money and fame.  It does not mean you can break the vows of marriage and cheat on your wife.  Tiger is just like every professional athlete who does something wrong they feel like they were above the rules of society.  Do you want to see how to look like a husband, go talk to Phil Mickelson, he left the tour to be with his wife and family while she battled cancer.  Third, the fact he brought his good deeds into it really bugged me.  Its like he's saying "I did this wrong, but look at the right thing I did."  Tiger, they don't balance out.  Fourth, the addressing "questions" from the media.  Again, Tiger was trying to take the blame off himself.  There was no need to talk about the media, or drugs, or the accident.  By telling the media to stay away from your family will make them go after them more.  Fifth, the favorable room.  It felt like the CEO addressing the shareholders of his company, not an apology.  The fact that press could not be there and not ask questions bothered me.  Look what Mark McGwire did this week.  He walked out and basically said "I'm here, come get me."  and answered all the presses questions.  Now, McGwire is not a big story anymore.  He took it head on.  Finally, I'm glad Tiger's turning to back to religion in a time like this, but again, it seems typical of if a person is in trouble, they turn to religion for help. In my opinion, this public apology hurt Tiger more then it helped.  He came off cold and not very heartfelt with the prepared statement and looking for the camera.  By not taking questions and basically yelling at the media, he created a firestorm for him and his family.  I hope he gets his life back on track, but with yesterday's "apology" I don't know.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Trouble for Democrats?

The announcement this week that Indiana Senator Evan Bayh was not running for a third term has sent ripples through the National Democratic Party.  Bayh was twice a finalist for the vice president position and known as a Democrat who could work both sides of the aisle.  This plus the election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts takes away two strong Democratic seats.  Bayh's last minute decision hurts his party, because they don't have the time to properly search and advertise their candidate for the seat.  Bayh was running unopposed in this primary.  This decision also hurts the Republicans too.  Yes former Senator Dan Coats is running for the Republican seat, but he's been out 12 years and worked as a lobbyist during that time.  After that, its a mix of unknown or little known names behind him, none with any type of cred.  This may be a blessing in disguise for the Democrats.  They can hand pick the successor for Bayh while the has beens and unknowns duke it out for a chance at November.  The Democrats can pick the candidate and use all their resources to to get their person elected.  In the end, Bayh's decision does hurt his party and his state.  Maybe in a few years he decides to come back and make a run at it.  Washington will be a poorer place without him there.