In our continuing series of columns meant to fill space until the start of training camp, it appears the Chicago Bears have reached the political spotlight. The following is by Art Brodsky (wonder where that name's from?) over at The Huffington Post.
COACHING UP OBAMA DA BEARS WAY
by Art Brodsky
This week, the Senate will vote on a new bill to authorize new intensive wiretapping on less rigorous legal grounds than we have now. For Sen. Barack Obama, the vote comes at a most dangerous part of his campaign. He's in the midst of what might be called the second transition. The first was when he broke out of the pack into his one-on-one with Sen. Hillary Clinton. Now, in a second major transition, he has to adjust to being the Democratic nominee with all of the attention on him.
There are lots of people who could give advice to the Obama team, and do. But for Obama, David Axelrod and the rest of his Chicagoland crew, perhaps the best voice of experience is Buddy Ryan. Ryan was the defensive coach who led the Chicago Bears' NFL team to greatness in the 1980s. He did exactly the opposite of what the Obama campaign is doing now.
Even coaching the defense, Ryan played aggressively to win. Obama and his advisers, by contrast, appear to be playing not to lose. It looks from the cold stands in Soldier Field that they think they have a lead and can sit on it as the clock runs out through November with enough margin to win by a couple of points at the end of the game.
It's the tactic far too many coaches follow, and it drives players and fans crazy. It even has a name -- the "prevent defense." The "prevent" defense trades time for yardage. Rather put pressure on the opposing quarterback, the defense rushes only a couple of players and tries to prevent long pass plays that tick down the amount of time left in the game. The strategy fails much of the time, in part because a good quarterback given enough time can pick apart any defense.
So it is with Obama, as he appears to have gone into a defensive crouch since became the survivor of the primaries. Rather than standing strong with the people who won him the nomination and try to persuade others of the strength of his arguments, Obama has continually appeared to yield ground to Sen. John McCain and the Republicans on issues ranging from the war to faith-based programs to the surveillance bill that would give telephone companies immunity from what they may or may not have done in illegally wiretapping American citizens to eliminating the most basic requirement for a warrant.
So, WWBD? What would Buddy do? Turns out, Buddy answered the question, in a September 20, 1992 broadcast when sportscaster Bob Costas remarked to Ryan, "You are not a fan of the prevent defense, but most coaches go to it."
This was Buddy's answer: "I don't know why... because, you're scared. If you've been beating them by blitzing them, blitz them. If you've been beating them by man to man, you've been beating them by zone, do whatever you did earlier to win the game. Don't change the philosophy."
What got Obama this far was a philosophy that asked people to join together to find the best in themselves and in their government, whether it was ending the war or protecting the country. It was a platform of progressive change and of hope for the future, coupled with tying McCain to the last eight years of economic distress, special-interest government and general incompetence. That worked well before against a conservative opponent as it wooed voters and helped to raise money across the country in unheard-of amounts from unheard-of numbers of donors.
By backing off and sitting back, Obama has given the press a ready-made story line the Republicans are all to eager to exploit. Just as Al Gore, once considered an Eagle Scout of rectitude, was morphed into a say-anything liar by reporters who carried the Republican line in 2000, now Obama will be allowed even less latitude to refine positions, much less change them, without being seen as a say-anything politician -- the role Sen. Hilary Clinton played in the recent primary.
Obama's answer to his supporters on the wiretapping bill is more Billy Flynn (see Chicago, the musical) than Buddy Ryan. It's a classic play-it-safe move, couched in justifications, trying to gain the "respectable" compromise rather than stick to what many of his supporters saw as a perfectly reasonable position that has been sufficiently savaged as "left wing" by conservative commentators and politicians to scare most of the Senate.
The Chicago crowd should follow Buddy's advice and get over the rough transitional patch. Now is not the time to lay back or to play scared. Now the time to make the case with all the strength and fervor Obama and his campaign can muster. And when the time comes, send the Fridge across the goal line with the ball to seal the deal.
#2 jdawg said . . .hoo boy.
follow-ups should be a doozie.
nothing like mixing sports and politics.
What would John Paul II do?
July 7, 2008
#3 Pissed Off said . . .oops, almost forgot:
first!
July 7, 2008
#4 jeff said . . .Jeff, who are you voting for? Who do you favor? I cant tell? You must be on the fence. Either way I'm not getting into it. This should be a site for football. Or mix in some politics, whatever, but I dont think you should be putting yourslef in one candidates corner. Some people will dislike you for that. Politics alone has changed the mind of many as to what one may think of another causing someone to see another in a completely different and negative light forever. Weird how just politics can do that. Some people are very passionate about political issues.
Quick sidestory. Barack Obama has been campaigning in ND twice now, both times in Fargo I believe. Anyway I dont remember exactly how the story went but some kid from here in ND (which is Viking and Packerland, but mainly Vikes) asked him what team he was a fan of or something and he said "the Bears, arent you?" or something along those lines and then Barack also asked what are most people here fans of and the overwhelming response of course was Vikes and Pack to which he replied "I guess you fans in North Dakota need to get educated."
July 7, 2008
#5 More Waffles Than An IHOP For Both Candidates said . . .i'm voting for barack obama strictly because he is a chicago bears fan. so it's football related. doesn't anyone else consider it relevant to have a bears fan in the white house?
July 7, 2008
#6 What Obama Should Have Done About Those Issues Is said . . .They both keep filling their plates with them. The article is pretty accurate. He is caving and playing it scared, not to lose. His saving grace is McCain is even worse at it, by far, caught between kissing the conservative base's ass and appealing to the Independents and Conservative (Reagan) Democrats that they thought they had a kindred spirit in. I just hope Obama isn't completely full of it and doesn't raise out taxes too much because he is getting my vote. The McCain of '08 scares the shit out of me. What the hell happened to him?
The Brewers just got CC Sabathia. Cubs should get another starter because the Brewers will make a nasty push now.
I really hope the Vikings don't get #4. That would blow to0. I hope if he comes back, he stays with the Pack or gets traded out of our Division and hopefully the Conference. If he stays green and gold hopefully we keep handing it to him and Rodgers gets so pissed he won't sign again after '09 and they are really screwed. Keep using them picks on QB's Pack.
July 7, 2008
#7 Al In WI said . . .On the war he should've said he would pull out 1 or 2 shit even 1 to 4 combat brigade every other month and be constantly re-examining the impact that has on the ground. Start slow and build it up fast if it is going smooth. You can still do your 2 a month if things are going great and can slow it down to 1 every other month if it seems less certain without the flip-flop. Not as shiny and exciting as saying they will all be out by March or June but much more realistic and safe (which has been a big talking point for him) and smart. Yeah it would take 15 to 30 months to do but the steady return of our troops would be uplifting for the country and would be a good reason to initiate some job creation programs just for these men and women alone. If the ideas work, expand them as much as possible. You never want to commit to only a rigid response to a fluid situation that can constantly continue to change. His plan would still be better than McCain's and would give him flexibility within it without flip-flopping. He still would have beaten Clinton and I think would look smarter and wiser for not saying he knows what he would do exactly about a situation he needs a lot more information about. Just make it clear that the pull-out would begin and continue unless there was significant problems arising and harm to us or Iraq. By the way, they have 10 billion in extra oil profits just sitting around, why aren't they paying for their own reconstrction like we were promised would happen. That's OK I'll just start teaching my daughter to speak Chinese so she can relate to out economic masters in 20 years. But as long as the good ol boys companies are making billions the hell with our country and its economy.
Even for community service, the government (State) should not be funding religious organizations (Church), see Separation of. If the government wants to give $$ for more charitable stuff, set up a new sub-division in health and human services and then they can control where it goes and how its spent.
The telecom immunty is the one I would play politics with. He should either say he is voting against or not voting (the famous present vote) for it because of something else he disagrees with in the bill that is safer to oppose or because he feels we need to fully investigate if it was illegal wire-tapping (seems pretty obvious that it was), who authorized the breaking of the law and to what extent and (here is a novel idea), punish them. This should stall his commiting to a side of this until after he is elected. He might be able to combine the new warrants with less proof necessary issue in here too. If not, no Democrat or Republican should be taking away our freedoms for more snooping ability (fishing for info on crimes). I could do my job better if I get to change the rules too. Shit can the Bears have another player on the field while we are at it. No because it isn't fair or moral. Our burden of proof has worked pretty good so far. Do we really need Big Brother listening to even more of our private lives? Are we in imminent danger of a domestic terrorist attack (the McCain camp is already suggesting '09 will probably be the year, fear mongering fucks)? Make the FBI and Justice Dept. earn their pay, they have enough power. Give the CIA more $$ and freedom to cause mischief on the foreign front if you have to do something but stay off my mail, phone line and internet connection fuckers. I would say my library records too but I haven't been to one in a long time. Kids stay in school.
Sorry but Jeff brought it up.
July 7, 2008
#8 Al In WI said . . .Wow, I guess I don't need to keep reading DADNC blog for a while.
And no I'm not going to vote for a complete idiot because he may or may not be a Bears fan. Who knows at the rate he is going he'll be a Eagles fan if he needs to do better in PA.
I thought after the first political post this crap would stop, as Obama was pretty well exposed as just another left-wing wacko. And typical politician, aside from the fact that he's first guy with direct ties to an out and out racist to run seriously for president since George Wallace. So I guess in that since he's new.
I also wouldn't have much to do with comparing Buddy Ryan's agressive manly defense to a guy who's goal has been to lose a war.
I should note at this point that I'm not exactly a fan of McCain's either. This is the worst matchup for president since 1976. That year the race was between an old washed up moderate republican with no clue about economics, and a grossly inexperienced ultra liberal novice with flat out childish views on foriegn policy. Back to the future I guess.July 8, 2008
#9 jdawg said . . .By the way the huffington post is a hate filled website that features a bunch of kooks. They routinely cheer when conservatives or republicans become ill or get diagnosed with cancer or something of that ilk. Real class acts that crowd.
You may want to consider that when give them standing like this.July 8, 2008
#10 KentuckyBearsFan said . . .hmmm....
Hey Al, are you expecting anyone to say "megadittos"?
Oh Jeff, prepare yourself, for Crossfire has arrived at the site.
I would prefer Buckley and Vidal, but Buckley's pushing up the daisies and Vidal can't stand up anymore.
July 8, 2008
#11 jeff said . . .jeff, you've got a great fansite, but my gut reaction to the politics post is *FACEPALM* ...not enough to avoid the site, it just seems weirdly out of place.
Democracy and politics are MESSY. Caring about fan affiliation of the next leader of the free world belittles how complicated the President's job really is. A President's policies will be attacked on all sides - his own party for not going far enough, opposition party for having the wrong policy entirely, and media regardless. The President deals with this constant [*rabble*rabble*rabble] ala South Park. EVERY PRESIDENT AGES TWO YEARS FOR EVERY YEAR IN OFFICE. That's gotta mean there's a hell of a lot to worry about CONSTANTLY.
As far as informed political opinions, I read ThomasPMBarnett's (naval grand strategist) blog who is a Democrat http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/ as well as the weekly article by military intelligence consultants Stratfor off of Bill O'Reilly's website http://www.billoreilly.com/blog?categoryID=5
Stratfor makes CNN and major newspapers look as weak as the National Enquirer.
But seriously, Buddy Ryan = Karl Rove??? Put the crack down, jeff. Neither McCain nor Obama want to say anything too revealing to fix their policy positions because something that sounds smart now might seem incredibly stupid in 4 months if some crazy catastrophe hits the fan. They don't even want to announce their VP yet.
/undecided independent voter
July 8, 2008
#12 Shady McBears Fan said . . .jdawg, why do you think i put this up? i'm just surprised that no one else finds it funny that a political commentator on a major site wrote an entire piece about buddy ryan.
make me laugh. i like it. and you know what? until this site makes me one red cent, i'm gonna keep putting up whatever floats my boat.
July 8, 2008
#13 shonbear said . . .If Obama were a TRUE Bears fan, he'd have the convention at soldier field - not Investco Stadium...
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/07/america/campaign.php
July 8, 2008
#14 Megan said . . .people have been clamoring for the t-shirts, you can make some money that way. The shirts should say something political like: "Vote YES on Rex", "Vote NO on the Turnover resolution", "Hester, THE WMD of the Midway".
July 8, 2008
#15 Megan said . . .AAAaahhh. Free speech at its best.
Nothing like mixing things up a little bit.But this being a Bears fan site-and not so much a political site I will refrain from opinion. Partially because I have not educated myself enough on either candidate, another part-because suddenly Obama has been flip-flopping and I want to see how he plays that out and MOSTLY because I am chicken shit when it comes to my opinion, politics and a public forem.
Neither candidate has lit my fire enough for me to go getting on any soapboxes anyway..
July 8, 2008
#16 Rancid said . . ."forum" not "forem" .. sorry
July 8, 2008
#17 Pissed Off said . . .jeff - I think this post was merited based on the fact that it used the 85 Bears as a comparison to a current political situation. It probably draws the ire from some readers since the last time you went political it was to make an all out endorsement. Given the fact that we're mired in the "nothing to talk about" offseason, I'll go with it. You started the damn blog, do what you want with it. It's like free market economy in the blog world. If we don't like it, we can leave. If you started using racial slurs or degrading women, most of us would, so why is this any different? As long as you own this thing and you're the guy pressing "enter", do what you want. Then it's up to each of us whether we stick around or not. I'm sticking around. Just forgive me if I don't care to read everyones 5 paragraph political diatribe (like#6).
I hate politicians, but I could carry on a good conversation with a real Bears fan regardless of his level of political dedication. I could talk Da Bears to Obama all day, if he wouldn't mind associating with an ignorant commoner like me. And I'm sure few in here will like my opinions politically so I'll keep 'em to myself. Other than to state that the last vote I cast in a Presidential election was for Pat Buchanan. There's no politician running in this election that gives a rats ass about any of us.
July 8, 2008
#18 jdawg said . . .Another point we should all remember is that this isnt Jeffs article, he just posted this which was written entirely by another person. It doesnt neccessarily reflect Jeffs views either but kudos I guess for putting something like this up.
July 8, 2008
#19 mikebdot said . . .I wasn't poo-pooing the post, but AI's post seemed like it could really tip this.
Anyway, let freedom fries ring!
July 8, 2008
#20 jonathan said . . .Megan: Don't fall for all this "flip-flopping" nonsense. The media ALWAYS paints the democrat as the flip-flopper. Even when the Republican candidate is much worse. And yes, the media paints the picture of the facts. Same way with sports. See Grossman, Rex (the worst QB ever!). See Manning, Eli (will never get it done - > best ever!). See Manning, Peyton (can't win the big one - > best ever!).
God forbid the media do research. Blah.
July 8, 2008
#21 KentuckyBearsFan said . . .seriously folks, it's the dead of summer and there's jack shit to write about.
why the hell not start a flame-fest? beats actually working, right? and there was some tenuous connection to the bears....
that said, i'd be pissed if I saw an article like this during the season, totally different story. there's much more important stuff to talk about then...
July 8, 2008
#22 KentuckyBearsFan said . . .Brodsky sounds like an idiot. Buddy as head coach had some decent Philly teams, but he never got back to the mountaintop. Karl Rove or James Carville are more like NFL GMs putting a team together, not a head coach or defensive cordinator anyway.
...
A much better article, this close to the 4th of July, would have been why DITKA = George Washington.July 8, 2008
#23 Phil from SATX said . . .Brodsky sounds like an idiot. Buddy as head coach had some decent Philly teams, but he never got back to the mountaintop. Karl Rove or James Carville are more like NFL GMs putting a team together, not a head coach or defensive cordinator anyway.
...
A much better article, this close to the 4th of July, would have been why DITKA = George Washington.July 8, 2008
#24 Viva said . . .Back from vaca - news from the great northwoods was difficult to get about the Bears sans internet. The good news up there is you get to buy thin but still timely Chicago Tribs for only a small (66%) surcharge. So I got to see that the only big news is about signings - now everybody signed but Chris Williams. Now that's great news Bear fans! I assumed it would happen but it sure seemed to start slowly.
Now the bad news - I read that Lovie says no free agent RB's needed? Hello? If he's to be believed, that means we're one sprained ankle away from having AP as our starter again? (and no I'm not suggesting we have yet another discussion about AP).
These guys continue to confound me in the offseason. It's like, if it makes too much sense, OF COURSE we're not doing it - never even considered it!
If the offense falters next year, and if the offensive line and running back positions are at least in part to blame, I will know who to blame for this. And it's not Lovie - I think he's just an order taker here. Jerry, you are walking on very thin ice with your two major non-moves - no free agent or draftee guard and no veteran backup for Forte. To me it smacks of more of the same from your MO previously - ignoring the line, not signing a veteran RB last year, going with the same old guys, then being forced to deal with your backups when they go down or underperform. Well it didn't work out too well last year did it? From either the line or the RB perspective. Fast forward one year - you replaced one of the two holes on the line, but not the other. Why? After cutting Ced, it's looking like your preparing to make the exact same move as last year - no FA RB veteran. Why? This should be fool me once, fool me twice stuff.
I know, we're not done with the offseason, more cuts will be made by other teams, hopefully both holes will be filled. But I am really doubting that now.
If Forte can stay healthy, I think Jerry can skate on one of those decisions. That's a big if though. If the line works with Williams and St. Clair (I'm not even mentioning Metcalf here), he'll be vindicated in the other decision. But if the line is not good enough again, and Forte goes down forcing us to either rely on AP/Wolfe or, more likely, to run out and grab whoever's sitting on their couch at the moment, than Jerry will have to be held accountable for these (formerly) risky (now) bad decisions.
I sincerely hope it works out. But even if it does, the RB decision is still an unneeded, unduly risky non-move.
Sorry if this has already been covered in my absence, I still haven't caught up with all I've missed.
July 8, 2008
#25 jdawg said . . .Bye the way...
Did any of you hear that the U.S. has removed 550 metric tons of yellowcake uranium from Iraq. Give this a read:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080706/D91O8E100.html
July 8, 2008
#26 Luke said . . .oh for Christ's sake, you've got to be kidding me. I can see where this is heading.
July 8, 2008
#27 Pissed Off said . . .This hurts...this really hurts. It really rubs it in that we still have no football to watch. Politically, I would have to say that even the article itself was boring and I get into that kind of thing. But hey, it won't be too long now. Training camp starts soon and I live in the Bourbonnais area so my fix will start sooner than most. It makes my job a lot easier knowing I'll probably be meeting some Bears at work in a few weeks because believe it or not, the bears love steak n shake, though I don't believe they're even supposed to eat the filth. I remember meeting Kyle Orton after his rookie year. I said to him, "Hey, I know you." and he didn't say anything, he just kinda blushed and turned away. I hope he didn't think I was being condescending because I was pretty damn happy with his performance the previous season.
July 8, 2008
#28 Shady said . . .You were?
Did anyone see Greg Olsen on Cold Pizza this morning. They were trying to pry out of him who's going to be the QB. He wouldnt budge but they B.S.ed with him and showed clips of him singing at a cubs game and talked about how his dad is a HS football coach in Jersey, and how he's like w0n his last 40 or something and hasnt lost since 2004.
They also asked him about Favre coming to Chicago and his response was exactly what any real Bear or Bear fans response should be. He said it aint gonna happen, they're happy with Rex/Orton.
July 8, 2008
#29 minnie Mad Dog said . . .18. "poo-pooing the post" haha that's good stuff.
23. I think we're on the same page here Phil. Angelo NEEDS to make a move. The team (defense/st) is primed to win NOW and he needs to make a move to help the offense not bring the team down. Look at Hendry and the Cubs. Soriano. Lilly. Derosa. Fukudome. HARDEN! Point is, JA has gotta step up and make a move otherwise this running game and "bus" could going nowhere again this year.
24. mmm yellowcake.
26. No shit. I was an INTERN for Steak 'N Shake. "In sight it must be right!"
Doesn't Aaron Rodgers seem like a good fit for the Bears? I mean, who hates Brett Favre and the Packers more than Rodgers? I hope Favre's text-messaging ass DOES come back so the Bears can help him retir some more.
July 9, 2008
#30 minnie Mad Dog said . . .I agree with the many who don't like politics added to our beloved Bears site. However, I also agree with the right to do it if Jeff wants, and will support that 100%. Anyway, it is boring season in terms of fooball. Also fun un to see all the political opinions -- seems like a lot of Bears fans are "undecided". Me too for now.
One question, though. Is there any real evidence that Obama actually knows anything - or honestly gives a shit --- about da Bears? I know he has a hat and wears it campaigning in Illinois. So what? My wife has a Bears jersey and occasionally wears it in public. But she doesn't know the difference between the Bears and the Cubs.
Also. What happened to Afro-Celt? He doesn't seem to be on the site anymore and I thought he was one of the most seriously knowledgeable fans of our entire lot. Just my opinion but I hope he is still around.
July 9, 2008
#31 jdawg said . . .I agree with the many who don't like politics added to our beloved Bears site. However, I also agree with the right to do it if Jeff wants, and will support that 100%. Anyway, it is boring season in terms of fooball. Also fun un to see all the political opinions -- seems like a lot of Bears fans are "undecided". Me too for now.
One question, though. Is there any real evidence that Obama actually knows anything - or honestly gives a shit --- about da Bears? I know he has a hat and wears it campaigning in Illinois. So what? My wife has a Bears jersey and occasionally wears it in public. But she doesn't know the difference between the Bears and the Cubs.
Also. What happened to Afro-Celt? He doesn't seem to be on the site anymore and I thought he was one of the most seriously knowledgeable fans of our entire lot. Just my opinion but I hope he is still around.
July 9, 2008
I'm sure he knows his Bears, but in all honesty I think he's much more of a Bulls fan.
July 9, 2008
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.