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Bully Goal

By John Batchelor on September 5, 2010 at 10:30 AM in Current Affairs

Catch Larry Johnson on John Batchelor’s syndicated radio show TONIGHT at around 10:05 to 10:35 p.m. ET. Larry informs us that John Batchelor is on holiday, and that Larry won’t be on the show tonight. Check here next Sunday for Larry’s next appearance.

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The Magnus Effect.

News from researchers in France puts forward a peer-tested explanation for the “Impossible Kick” by Brazilian Roberto Carlos in a 1997 match of Brazil vs France.

The spin on the ball brings it back into line just as if it was a slider or curveball from a flamethrowing pitcher.

The effect is pronounced because of the distance, about 35 meters, or 110 feet.

Carlos kicks the ball with his left foot at an amazing 130 mph, which is about 30 miles faster than the flamethrowers.

Over this distance, the Magnus Effect takes hold profoundly, much more so than in the shorter distance between pitcher and batter (60.5 feet).

One side of the ball is moving faster than the other side relative to the air it moves through, and this makes the ball move to the faster side and create an arc.

But the resistance of the air eventually slows the ball down and pushes it into a tighter spiral — the effect of falling off a table, or in the case of the “Impossible Kick,” it just floats into the corner of the goal — in line with the kicker.

Roberto Carlos kicked a hanging curveball. The goalie never moved.

Goal! The French researchers worked this out using balls in liquid, which substituted for the air; and there is now a formula to explain the flight path.

What Political Lesson?

Never assume. Never wait. Go to the ball.

Part of the GOP House is now attacking, part is playing defense. POTUS does get as many free kicks as he wants, that is the nature of the Bully Pulpit. POTUS can and will use the Magnus Effect, and the court media can and will give him the goal.

What the GOP has for a defense is a colorless lot of appartchiks who have spent the last two decades as ingenues, bridesmaids and bagmen. POTUS does not have to hold the House — all he has to do is make the case that the House is the game.

This will take a few seats from the GOP in places where it could have won; it will also prepare the White House for spectacular headlines when the 112th convenes. “POTUS to House, Drop Dead! Put Up or Shut Up! Lay Your Cards Down! Cut Social Security Over My Dead Library!”

The Magnus Effect works. All this palaver will win back the partisans, who correctly vote from fear and not greed. The GOP must go to the ball — unlike the French goalie who just stands there, watching the magic.

The only defense is to attack, attack, attack, from all angles, all sides of the field. Many voices on attack, new attacks every day. Attack on taxes, on spending, on entitlements, on healthcare, on social security, on energy, on education, attack, attack, and especially attack on the war, national security, the Chinese cadre sneaks, and then go back on the attack on taxes.

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UPDATE: John Batchelor is off tonight, and Larry Johnson will not be appearing. Check back next Sunday for Larry’s next appearance.

Larry Johnson is a regular on the “experts panel” every Sunday night on John Batchelor’s syndicated radio show that airs nightly from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. ET. You can listen live to every show via iTunes, and you can also listen to podcasts of previous shows.

~~Check today’s schedule (not up yet) for topics and co-guests during Larry’s appearance and for the full four-hour broadcast.~~ If there’s no schedule, you can usually count on hearing Larry between 10:05 and 10:35 p.m. ET.

Here’s how to listen to the live show, using iTunes:

Click Radio.
Double-click News/Talk Radio.
Scroll down and double-click WABC-AM.

Tony Stark

In short, your advice to the GOP is never underestimate your opponent, even if he looks weak.
Patience

Yes, take nothing for granted and attack attack attack. There are plenty of targets.

The stage is being set to declare anything less than a mid-term tsunami as a loss for conservatives. Offset this by lowering electoral expectations and being seriously and humbly willing to work hard to solve our nation’s problems — mainly the problem of getting people back to work.

The POTUS/Democrats have the advantage money-wise PLUS they can count on their ever-faithful allies in big media. Expect to see more “reporting” that points fingers at Republicans even though Democrats have controlled Congress for FOUR YEARS. Republicans are blamed even when they’re the minority, i.e., the “Party of No”. Tweak that epithet to the party of “No To Bigger Government” and wear the badge proudly.

Have a prioritized plan to steer the nation to the proper course and pledge to work hard and earnestly to implement it. It will be easy to contrast this with the perpetually-vacationing/campaigning POTUS and the bureaucracy-building, spendthrift Congress. America can’t afford the lottery payoff they act like they’ve won.

Learn from opponents’ mistakes like the juvenile, arrogant and unforgettable statement, “We Won”. Mature, competent, hard work is in order — Americans are sick of whining, sick of window dressing-like bureaucracy that bloats government while failing to solve problems, sick of partisan self-dealing, and sick of the denigration of our nation.
Ferd Premium Saltine Berfle

I agree, Patience, so long as those doing the attacking AIM first. Over the course of the last two years we’ve seen the left attack indiscriminately (look at the comments of any obamatroid). The right and center don’t want to engage in same.
Patience

I also think Republicans should, as a good faith measure if elected, promise to cut their salaries, staff and perks by at least 15%.

They should propose across-the-board spending cuts except when it comes to health and safety. Businesses and individuals have had to tighten their belts these last couple of years – government should too.

They should seriously consider a payroll tax holiday for 6 months to spur hiring. Hell, the Keynesians are crying for more spending and breezily dismiss concern about deficits, so they’ll have no justification for complaining about any short-term deficit spike to allow for the tax holiday.