First and foremost, Sarah Palin remains the barracuda to everyone else’s guppy. Her endorsement of Joe Miller in the Alaska GOP Senate race was crucial in his . . . → Read More: Sarah Palin. Politics. NASCAR. What more could you want?]]> In looking at the results of this past Tuesday’s primary elections in assorted states, a few things are clear. To those who have ears to hear, as the Scripture says.

First and foremost, Sarah Palin remains the barracuda to everyone else’s guppy. Her endorsement of Joe Miller in the Alaska GOP Senate race was crucial in his upset win over incumbent Lisa Murkowski despite her heavily outspending, plus enjoying far greater public recognition than, Miller.

While it can be safely argued Palin’s support of Miller stemmed from her preferring his far more conservative political stance than that evidenced by Murkowski, this falls by the wayside when one considers she also supported the highly unpopular among conservatives John McCain, who crushed J.D. Hayworth in what many had thought would be a much closer Arizona GOP Senate primary than turned out to be the case. Granted, Hayworth was a bit of a clown. Actually, more than a bit. Yet despite this, he was highly favored among those who have labeled McCain the symbol of all that is evil in the Republican party. The opinion of voters strongly indicate otherwise. It should also indicate to those who blame McCain for everything under the sun that maybe they should get over themselves and their precious litmus tests. The enemy of your enemy may not be your BFF, but they sure ain’t your enemy either.

Anyway, an even stronger message was proclaimed in one of the Arizona GOP House primaries, where cyberspace sweetheart Pamela Gorman came in fifth with Dan Quayle’s son Ben taking the win. Ouch. For the record, Palin never endorsed Gorman despite her, on the surface, being everything one would want in a mama grizzly. Why?

Palin is seldom given credit for her political savvy. Or much of anything else, even by more than a few of her most ardent supporters who have become so enraptured by her aura they fail to see the person behind them. Palin is not addicted to pleasing those who measure everything by their aforementioned private political litmus tests. She pays little attention to pundits, professional or amateur, on either side of the aisle. Instead, time and again she has demonstrated pragmatism without sacrificing principals. Palin has never failed to explain her choices for those she endorses. When she doesn’t endorse someone… again, as the Scripture says wisdom is proved right by her children. More than once — Gorman, prior to that Chuck DeVore in the California GOP Senate primary — Palin has withheld an endorsement, in the case of DeVore endorsing a candidate (Carly Fiorina) who ostensibly should have been the last person to receive a nod, let along a wink and a smile.

Let’s break this down a bit.

When ostensibly solid candidates turn into dots on the horizon when the ballots are tabulated, the question of why naturally arises. Sometimes it’s due not to their being disliked, but rather to the opposition being more preferred. However, more often than not it’s due to the losing candidate, regardless of how in many cases they generate tremendous enthusiasm among the faithful, running a terrible campaign.

Bringing in one of my favorite topics, namely NASCAR, the parallels being succeeding in it and succeeding in politics are numerous. Examples, you say? Sure.

Race the track. A winning driver in NASCAR is running not so much against the other drivers as they are running against the track, and to a degree themselves. Each track in NASCAR is unique, with its own characteristics brought about by an assortment of factors: length, shape, degree of banking, configuration of turns and so on. How well you negotiate each track determines your success far, far more than how the other drivers are taking care of business. If you do your job well, you do well. Period.

Similarly, in politics, especially a primary, a successful candidate spends far more time defining themselves than running against or so much as acknowledging the other candidates. You can’t be the best of the people running in the primary and leave it at that. You have to be the best person for the job period. Using another sports analogy, running full bore against the other people in your party is the equivalent of a starting pitcher laying it all on the line… in the pre-game warmup.

Next, stay focused on the local. There isn’t a NASCAR driver out there who’s turning laps at a short track like Martinsville while thinking about their strategy for the upcoming race at a restrictor plate track like Talladega.

Far too many candidates are becoming bedazzled by the bright lights of social media and nationwide attention. While it’s definitely important to effectively use social media as part of your campaign efforts, devoting too much time and energy toward making appearances with, and winning acclaim from, the more popular practitioners of preaching to the choir generates tremendous applause from said choir. And nothing from the overwhelming majority of those who will actually be going to polling places where your name appears on the ballot.

Social media goes only so far. It doesn’t reach all that many people compared to traditional methods, and especially in politics is primarily received solely by those already in tune with the given message and its backing philosophy. They’re already voting for you. At least, the tiny number of people eligible to do so will be doing so. The old-fashioned way of shoe leather and direct local contact still rules. Think global? Sure. But campaign local.

Every driver is identified with their crew chief. While the driver is the one mashing pedals and turning the steering wheel, at every race the crew chief is the one who gets information from the driver about how the car is responding. From this, they prescribe what changes, if any, need to be made to the car during the next pit stop.

The person or persons who oversee a candidate’s campaign efforts are very much in the same vein as a NASCAR driver’s crew chief. If they are a hired gun, a carpetbagger whose apparent loyalty extends solely to padding their resume, you’ve got problems.

The best crew chiefs, even when directly questioned, talk up nothing and no one but their driver. Same deal goes for campaign managers, strategists and everyone else. Anonymous. Assistance. Always. Anyone who says “look at me” while ‘helping’

Is not helping. Period.

Substance first, style second. A driver might connect wonderfully with the fan base based on different factors — looks, mannerisms and the like. But if they can’t drive, they won’t be around for long.

Taking this to politics, kitsch makes for horrible advertisements. We’ve had some doozies this year. The unifying factor behind them all? The candidate who made them got smoked. Issues, issues, issues. Not machine guns.

Sell yourself, but not solely yourself. Have a personality, but it must be mainly demonstrated through policies and practices. Substance.

And that’s how NASCAR and politics work together.

By the way, Sarah Palin is a huge NASCAR fan.

Marc Borland wrote a few different blogs, most prominent among them one named Full Throttle that was devoted to auto racing. He was a true pioneer of the sports blogging genre, starting his in 2002 at a time when blogging in general was a generally unknown quantity to the world . . . → Read More: Memories of a fellow blogger]]> A personal note about a colleague, gone far too soon.

Marc Borland wrote a few different blogs, most prominent among them one named Full Throttle that was devoted to auto racing. He was a true pioneer of the sports blogging genre, starting his in 2002 at a time when blogging in general was a generally unknown quantity to the world at large. Sports blogging? Unheard of. Yet there was Marc, posting away about not only sports, but a sport many don’t so much as consider to be one.

He was a individualistic man of singular vision and purpose. Marc was a pure blogger; always old school in a new genre. He could and would become more than a tad cranky when he didn’t receive the acclaim he felt his work deserved. Yet any and all offers to go pro, as it were, were quickly rebuffed. Marc enjoyed being the master of his domain, and nothing would take him away from his chosen task. Full Throttle was his and his alone, a place on which he would comment at length on the individuals and events that together formed the sport he loved.

Marc was a walking encyclopedia of racing knowledge, which he would both generously share and bash over the head of anyone who expressed opinions contrary to his own. Woe unto any who dared argue with him without first arming themselves to the teeth with facts. Marc would chop the ill-informed down without a shred of mercy. Sometimes it came off as arrogance. But it never was, really. It was passion in action.

Marc was a Navy man, who after serving his country settled in the Philippines where he married and raised a family. If you ever wanted to turn the self-professed crusty curmudgeon into a bag of mush, a simple inquiry about his two daughters would do the trick. Marc ofttimes was thought of as being fierce. In fact, he was fiercely loyal to those who saw past the gruffness into the thoughtful, caring man that lived underneath a hardened surface.

Marc passed away earlier this month. It took several days for word to reach those of us who knew him online. When it did, those of us who’ve been around a while drew closer, comforting and consoling each other as the painful realization sank in. Our circle had once more drawn closer. One of our own was gone, an irreplaceable voice stilled.

There are certain fellowships for which membership is available only to participants. We’re familiar with the brotherhoods of cops and firefighters. Bloggers who center around the same theme also know this fellowship, especially if our chosen topic is anything but fashionable. We reach past the mechanics of what we write about into the whys of our subject matter. Which leads to who we are and how this leads to our writing. Which leads to bonds of friendship that, while seldom spoken, are always present. Yes, we still argue about things. But that disappears in a heartbeat as we genuinely care about, and for, the people behind the opinions.

It’s hard to accept that Marc is gone. Yet there it is.

Farewell, blogging buddy.

(Cross-posted at Examiner.com.)

ADDENDUM: Clance’ McClannahan shares her memories.

BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Doublemint Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 21, 2010 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

This past Saturday’s Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway . . . → Read More: Kyle Busch sweeps Bristol as NASCAR fails to deliver promised fireworks]]>

BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Doublemint Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 21, 2010 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

This past Saturday’s Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway was one of the greatest non-events in NASCAR history.

Leading into the evening, all who watched were led to believe this would make UFC look like a tea sipping contest. Tempers were hot. Tensions were high. Bumpers were being triple-reinforced with titanium, all the better for bashing anyone in the way. Everyone had a grudge against, a score to settle with, everyone else. Call-outs were more popular than hot dogs at Martinsville. This was going to be old-school stock car racing, the kind NASCAR had been intimating would take place since before the season started when it said in so many words have at it, gentlemen. Instead of robotic corporate spokespersons it’d be Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots. The brawl to end it all.

So what happened?

Forty-three bunnies quietly hopping along, with nary a Bugs to spice up matters.

Thrillsville.

The lead poseur desperately striking an image as a cottonmouth water moccasin, yet on the track becoming Peter Cottontail, was Kyle Busch. He accomplished the hitherto unknown feat of whipping up on lesser competition in both the truck and Nationwide series, then negotiating his way through Sprint Cup en route to winning in all three series at the same track in an extended weekend. Busch is a first-rate driver and third-rate third-grade schoolyard bully, the one who continues to run his mouth for the sole reason no one can seemingly be bothered to shut him up.

It’s not that the desired outcome was a demolition derby. However, with the sole exception of Juan Pablo Montoya taking out Jimmie Johnson, all the pre-race blather about how this driver was going to get revenge against that driver who had done him wrong was revealed to be so much hot air. The on-track action wasn’t. It was Alphonse and Gaston. Instead of saying “clear” the spotters were reminding their drivers to mind their manners and say excuse me whenever they went by someone. The end result was a race that stultified rather than sizzle.

Thanks for not much of anything, boys.

(Cross-posted at Examiner.com.)

Namely, abject failure.

There will always be a fringe, living in its own private madhouse, that will never accept truth regardless of how it is presented. . . . → Read More: Of President Obama, Lunatic Fringes and Media Failures]]> The present brouhaha concerning President Obama’s beliefs, or lack thereof as some accuse, reveals far less about what he does believe than is being again unveiled about both his defenders and detractors.

Namely, abject failure.

There will always be a fringe, living in its own private madhouse, that will never accept truth regardless of how it is presented. There are three primary motivations at work in such individuals. The first part of this unholiest of trinities is blinding pride, an inability to accept anything other than ones own perception as truth no matter how flawed are the conclusions drawn from same. The second descends from this, that being a mixture of validation and ego gratification by convincing others to join in the crusade. Finally, there is the third element, which is also a result of the first: if you work it right, personal madness pays. A prime example of this is Andrew Sullivan, who routinely rants how Trig Palin cannot possibly be Todd and Sarah Palin’s son despite overwhelming evidence stating this is the case. For this he draws a tidy sum from the Atlantic magazine’s online version, for its part being more than happy to facilitate Sullivan’s babble as long as it brings site visits translating into advertising revenue.

The freak show duly noted, there is tremendous danger in dismissing all opposition as crackpot inanity, perpetrated by those infused with cracked insanity. This conveniently provides an excuse to doing the work needed for uncovering, verifying and presenting facts. “You’re nuts for believing that and I’m not going to waste my time proving you wrong” is no more a stand on the side of truth than “hope and change” coupled with “yes we can” is a policy platform.

Setting aside the aforementioned fringe, which can and will never be satisfied, on the right we have an angry mob utterly disinclined to believe Obama’s professions of faith based on how in its interpretation, his words and deeds reflect anything other than Christianity. On the left we have a media so deep in its naked worship of Obama it has and continuously fails to perform basic journalistic duties; i.e. learn the facts and report them. It also is individually and collectively so utterly ignorant of Christ and Christianity it wouldn’t know the facts if Jesus smacked them across the face with His nail-scarred hand. The are very, very few Elijahs present in this debate. Instead of listening to the small still voice, we are enveloped in a cacophony of shrill small voices. Small in quality of message, that is. In all other aspects, they are louder than God, or at the least doing their best to drown Him out.

Which isn’t a good thing.

Obama has repeatedly evidenced that should his faith influence his political beliefs, said beliefs are firmly rooted in socially liberal theology. Being a Catholic who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the latter part of the ’60s, I am quite familiar with the tenets of this schema. It promotes the notion of Jesus as a revolutionary, One Who directly challenged the social and political system on behalf of the poor. In this view of things, the implementation of His teachings concerning His command to tend to each others needs ought to be manifested on a level far beyond simple, direct charity. It should be a societal mandate. In the most extreme extension of this philosophy, namely liberation theology, active resistance to oppressive governments, including armed insurrection, is not only acceptable but mandatory. This should be known to the media, but since it hasn’t covered radical priests or lesser variants since the Vietnam war it’s most likely escaped their attention.

The overriding theme of Obama’s agenda has been, and continues to be, the implementation of forced societal equality. Unlike classic liberation theology, however, he has chosen to attempt this change via governmental dictum rather than through radical opposition to government.

So does this mean Obama isn’t a Christian?

No.

A difference in theology is not an automatic signal someone has either deviated from faith in Christ, or has none despite any and all protestations to the contrary. It does make one wonder what kind of instruction in the faith the person received to be so addlepated in regards to what Jesus taught, though.

So yes, there is failure on both sides to grasp the nature of Obama’s faith. He has stated more than once he is a believer in Jesus Christ, and there is no reason to insist it isn’t so. The lack of knowledge about where he’s coming from in regard to his faith? The media bears the greatest amount of blame for this information gap. And all the sniping and whining about those crazy right-wing nut jobs won’t obscure the truth. No matter who chooses to believe it.

Or whatever anyone chooses to believe.

Earning his fifth victory at Auto Club Speedway, Jimmie Johnson crosses the finish line in the No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2010 Auto Club 500. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Dustin Long, one of the very best journalists covering NASCAR, has pieced together from assorted press releases what is most likely . . . → Read More: 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule slowly coming into focus]]>

Earning his fifth victory at Auto Club Speedway, Jimmie Johnson crosses the finish line in the No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2010 Auto Club 500. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Dustin Long, one of the very best journalists covering NASCAR, has pieced together from assorted press releases what is most likely the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule. It must be noted this isn’t official, as NASCAR itself has yet to release its itinerary for 2011. Instead, it is generating maximum publicity via a string of press conferences and PR bulletins by individual tracks, rolling in on pretty much a daily basis. Well played, NASCAR, well played. But I digress.

Here’s what we know as of now. Confirmed dates are in bold type.

Feb. 12 — Bud Shootout (Daytona)

Feb. 20 — Daytona 500

Feb. 27 — Phoenix

This date is in lieu of the February race at Auto Club. Hopefully it’ll enjoy better weather.

March 6 — Las Vegas

Much to dismay of many and the delight of their employers, this remains the only visit to Sin City for purposes of auto racing.

March 13 — Off

March 20 — Bristol

March 27 — Auto Club

The whiners get their wish — only one race at the track formerly known as California. Because, you know, the racing at all the other cookie-cutter tracks is so much better…

April 3 — Martinsville

April 9 — Texas

April 17 — Talladega

April 24 — Off (Easter)

April 30 — Richmond

May 7 — Darlington

May 15 — Dover

May 21 — All-Star (Charlotte)

May 29 — Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)

June 5 — Kansas

See? This will be WAY better than Auto Club! Especially if the track turns into a road course halfway through the event when a tornado cuts it in half.

June 12 — Pocono

June 19 — Michigan

June 26 — Sonoma

July 2 — Daytona

July 9 — Kentucky

Okay, Kentucky. You got your Sprint Cup race. Better make it a good one with sold-out grandstands to boot.

July 17 — New Hampshire

July 24 — Off

July 31 — Indianapolis

Aug. 7 — Pocono

Aug. 14 — Watkins Glen

Aug. 21 — Michigan

Aug. 27 — Bristol

Sept. 4 — Atlanta

Sept. 10 — Richmond

Sept. 18 — Chicagoland

And the Chase now starts… at a cookie-cutter. Running opposite Da Bears. That’ll drive up fan interest…

Sept. 25 — New Hampshire

Oct. 2 — Dover

Oct. 9 — Kansas

Oct. 15 — Charlotte

Oct. 23 — Talladega

Oct. 30 — Martinsville

Now the kids can go trick-or-treating for hot dogs!

Nov. 6 — Texas

Nov. 13 — Phoenix

Nov. 20 — Homestead

INDIANAPOLIS – JULY 24: Paul Menard, driver of the #98 Mastercraft/Menards Ford, in his car on pit road during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Earlier today, the announcement was made that Paul Menard would be leaving . . . → Read More: Paul Menard to join Richard Childress Racing in 2011, as if it matters]]>

INDIANAPOLIS – JULY 24: Paul Menard, driver of the #98 Mastercraft/Menards Ford, in his car on pit road during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Earlier today, the announcement was made that Paul Menard would be leaving Richard Petty Motorsports at the end of the season to become the fourth driver in Richard Childress Racing’s stable starting next year.

The most remarkable element of the announcement by all parties concerned was the ability to keep a straight face throughout.

Menard’s continued employment has precious little to do with driving ability. Between Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series, going into this weekend he has made 291 races. Wins? One. In Nationwide. At Milwaukee. In 2006. Yeah, sign ‘em up.

No, Menard has a guaranteed job because his last name is Menard. As in the son of John Menard Jr., founder of Menards home improvement centers. When Daddy is willing to pony up the big bucks so his kid can have a 1:1 scale slot car minus the slots, it’s amazing how accommodating team owners can be in these economically-challenged times.

Menard is nowhere near the quality of driver that his new teammates are, namely Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer. It’ll be interesting to see how the team dynamic works, if in fact it works at all. The Big Three at RCR are all about wins and championships. Menard gives every impression of someone postponing stocking shelves at the old man’s store as long as possible. That said, retail shouldn’t be an issue for him when his racing days are done. He’s already used to working weekends.

(Cross-posted at Examiner.com)