I've been spending the last few days wondering what I was going to write to kick off the new year. Dismayed by the prospect of another twelve months filled with the vocal stylings of Pariah Carey and the snappy repartee the Carson Dalys and Ryan Seacrests that litter our airwaves, and not wanting to knock off the obligatory best of '05 list, I searched for a sign. A glimmer of inspiration from my muse who took the holidays off. Then, low and behold . . .
As I leave my office on Wednesday evening, I look to the west, shielding my eyes and start my drive toward Pasadena. I realize, that what I had thought was the distant sunset, was instead an orange glow emitting from the Rose Bowl, lighting the western end of Pasadena, blocking the last of the day's sunlight. Fifty-thousand (give or take) University of Texas fans, all wearing orange, there to root their team on to victory against the University of Southern California. Both teams undefeated for the season. Numbers one and two in the polls. Virtually matched, statistically. USC trying for their third National Championship. The last time UT won was 1970 - the first college football season, I can remember following.
My friends, who are USC fans, tend - unintentionally - to be a bit smug when it comes to the dominance of their teams, I will say only this — 41 to 38. I take this as a sign. 2006 may be a good year, after all.
Tonight, I learned that Texas Congressman; Majority Leader of the House; would be criminal — Tom DeLay — has abandoned his bid to reclaim his position as Majority Leader, promoting House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California to say that DeLay's departure will fix nothing.
"The culture of corruption is so pervasive in the Republican conference that a single person stepping down is not nearly enough to clean up the Republican Congress," Pelosi said. My question is, where was this insight five years ago? Oh yeah, 2006 is gonna be fun — keep you hands inside the car and pull the safety bar down tight. Here we go again.