Individual Liberty — Individual Responsibility 

Seahawks Lose, to the worst team in the division.

The Seahawks played well near the end of the first half, bringing the score to within three points with under 40 seconds remaining. They managed to stop the Cardinals on the next drive. After the Cardinals' three and out the Seahawks had 8 seconds left to go.

In the second half, the Seahawks tenacity served them well, giving them the lead -- until Mack Strong fumbled the ball and the momentum shifted in favor of the Cardinals.

During the Seahawks' last drive, Arizona managed to sack Hasselbeck for a big loss. On 4th and 20 the Seahawks managed to come within inches, or two feet, depending on your viewpoint for making a first down. After a booth review the call on the field stood. After a couple of knees, the game was over, 27-21 Arizona.

The Seahawks fall to 8-5, and the Cardinals rise to 4-9.

Penalties and poor execution were the story of this game, and the Seahawks deserved this defeat. Maybe next week they'll learn to hold onto the ball, to block, and to make tackles.

We can only hope.

Cross posted to NWBloggers.com

Seahawks vs. Cardinals

The Seahawks won the toss and elected to receive. The Seahawks went three and out on their first possession, with the Cardinals defense putting tremendous pressure on Hasselbeck, and a 10 yard offensive holding penalty.

After a long punt return, the very next play was a long pass caught for a touchdown. Marcus Trufant fell down, leaving Bryant Johnson with nobody to stop him when he caught the ball.

The Seahawks second possession wasn't any better than their first. Matt Hasselbeck had the ball stripped and the Cardinals recovered. Another offensive holding penalty was called and declined, and the Cardinals took over with good field position.

The Cardinals next play was marred by a false start. That didn't seem to stop them though, as the Seahawks defense still doesn't seem to know how to tackle. Only five minutes had passed in the game, and the score is 7 to nothing, with the Cardinals were at the 25, third and one. Just as it looked totally bleak with yet another Cardinal first down, Seattle came up with the ball inside the 10

Of course the Cardinals threw the red flag. Watching the replays, it seemed that it wasn't really an interception. The officials let the ruling stand though. Seattle came up with the ball. I'm happy with the result, but I think it was a bad call by the officials.

Maybe the Seahawks will get it together now. Trading turnovers and stopping the Cardinals from capitalizing on Hasselbeck's mistake is a good thing.

That's a start. The Seahawks started getting first downs after that. But the Cardinals' defense wasn't having much of that, knocking the ball loose and recovering the fumble again. Two plays later and they were in the red zone. The Seahawks defense still can't figure out how to make tackles though, and it cost them another touchdown. The first quarter wasn't even over and the score was 14-0.

The Seahawks may have a good record, but play like this simply shows that they're a poor football team. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, but luck doesn't last forever.

It's really hard being a Seahawks fan these days...

Update: Just as I posted this, the Seahawks managed to pull their heads out of their backsides, and with a couple of really spectacular plays tossed the ball downfield, resulting in a touchdown. On one of them, the television commentators thought the ball had been intercepted, then they were amazed that it was caught. I was amazed too.

Like LSU says, one of the things the Seahawks do have going for them is that they don't give up. That's why I'm still a Seahawks fan despite their sloppy play.

Cross posted at NWBloggers.com

Louisiana: The State That Loves Corruption

The state of Louisiana has shown that they don't care whether they send a corrupt legislator back to congress. Corruption seems to be a way of life in Louisiana. Now, the Washington Post reports:

NEW ORLEANS -- U.S. Rep. William Jefferson easily defeated his fellow Democratic opponent in a runoff election Saturday, despite an ongoing federal bribery investigation.

In complete but unofficial returns, Jefferson, Louisiana's first black congressman since Reconstruction, received 57 percent of the vote over state Rep. Karen Carter, who had 43 percent.

Carter was unable to capitalize on a scandal that included allegations the FBI found $90,000 in bribe money in Jefferson's freezer.

Yes sir, the voters in Louisiana aren't interested in ending the "Culture of Corruption" in Congress. They just proved that.

Linked to Basil's Blog.

What does a tree have to do with religion?

A Seattle Rabbi threatened to sue the Port of Seattle over Christmas Trees that have decorated the entrances over Sea-Tac airport every Christmas season for the last 25 years.  So, after one complaint (coupled with threats) they took them down. From the Seattle Post Intelligencer:

There will be no more Christmas trees at Sea-Tac Airport this season after the Port of Seattle received at least one complaint about them.

For more than 25 years, the airport has celebrated the holidays with Christmas trees over its entrances. But overnight, the Port of Seattle ordered all 15 trees removed.

...

"It's a Christmas tree! It's not like they were displaying crucifixes or menorahs or anything religious, but Christmas trees that have been around here for years," said an airport employee who asked not to be identified.

The Port of Seattle said it had little choice. It said a Seattle rabbi with the Central Organization for Jewish Learning hired an attorney and threatened to sue if the airport did not erect an eight-foot menorah to balance the message of the Christmas trees.

One complaint and the trees are gone. Christmas is an official National Holiday. Hanukah isn't. The Christmas tree isn't a religious symbol either, and a menorah is.

The first Christmas tree was decorated in the 16th century. Long after the time of Christ. There are some stories that link the Christmas tree to pagan festivals, and others that claim that it was the invention of a monk in Germany in the 7th century, still long after the time of Christ.

The ACLU would be proud. I'm offended.

Trackposted to Is It Just Me?, Perri Nelson's Website, The Random Yak, 123beta, Madman Returns, Stuck On Stupid, The Bullwinkle Blog, The Amboy Times, The Uncooperative Blogger ®, Pursuing Holiness, Outside the Beltway, third world county, The HILL Chronicles, Woman Honor Thyself, The Uncooperative Blogger ®, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, and Culturetastic, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

UPDATE: The Seattle Rabbi that threatend Sea-Tac with the lawsuit is shocked and appalled at the results... Yeah, right!