It's Only Okay if You're an OBEDIENT Republican...

So, over the weekend Politico.com quoted some anonymous Republican establishment people to the effect that, immediately after the election, said establishment was going to begin moving heaven and earth to prevent Sarah Palin from getting the Presidential nomination in 2012.

NRCC chairman Michael Steele came out today against Politico, saying:

If you are not willing to put your name with your comments, then there is not validity to it... Put your name next to your quote and then have a conversation with Sarah Palin. Until then, leave it alone,

Yeah. This from the chairman of the national Republican party, which is not only benefiting massively from anonymous speech, but looking to double down on it for 2012.

So, it's OK to be anonymous... so long as you're doing what the Republican Party wants you to do. If you speak badly of a Republican, though, then- and only then- are you a coward or a liar.

It's Only Okay if You're an OBEDIENT Republican...

So, over the weekend Politico.com quoted some anonymous Republican establishment people to the effect that, immediately after the election, said establishment was going to begin moving heaven and earth to prevent Sarah Palin from getting the Presidential nomination in 2012.

NRCC chairman Michael Steele came out today against Politico, saying:

If you are not willing to put your name with your comments, then there is not validity to it... Put your name next to your quote and then have a conversation with Sarah Palin. Until then, leave it alone,

Yeah. This from the chairman of the national Republican party, which is not only benefiting massively from anonymous speech, but looking to double down on it for 2012.

So, it's OK to be anonymous... so long as you're doing what the Republican Party wants you to do. If you speak badly of a Republican, though, then- and only then- are you a coward or a liar.

Stupor Bowl updates...

OFF THE LIST:

Duke upset Navy for their second win, 34-31.

Marshall likewise upset conference opponent UTEP, 16-12- a game which, by all reports, ought to qualify for Stupor Bowl honors itself, including a UTEP two-point conversion attempt that was intercepted and returned all the way down the field to score two points for MARSHALL.

Bowling Green got their second win against equally awful Central Michigan, 17-14.

In a matchup of Stupor Bowl contenders, North Texas beat Western Kentucky 33-6. The Hilltoppers' opponents for next week, Florida Atlantic, also got off the list by defeating nearly-as-bad Florida International, 21-9.

Finally, New Mexico State and San Jose State met... and very nearly cancelled each other out with their suck. New Mexico State finally won 29-27, and thus got off this list.

Here's the rankings of the remaining Stupor Bowl contenders.

1) AKRON (0-8)
2) NEW MEXICO (0-8)
all others with 1 win

3) WASHINGTON STATE (BCS school, win against I-AA, no close defeats) (unchanged)
4) UNLV (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, no close losses) (up 2 spots)
5) MEMPHIS (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 1 close loss) (up 3 spots)
6) MINNESOTA (BCS school, win against I-A, 2 close defeats) (up 4 spots)
7) SAN JOSE STATE (non-BCS school, win against I-AA team, EXTREMELY hard schedule, 2 close losses) (unchanged)
8) WESTERN KENTUCKY (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 2 close losses) (up 3 spots)
9) EASTERN MICHIGAN (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 2 close losses) (up 3 spots)

DE-LISTED (last week's rankings)
4) DUKE (BCS school, win against I-AA, 2 close defeats)
5) NEW MEXICO STATE (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, no close losses)
9) MARSHALL (non-BCS school, past history of excellence, win against I-A team with winning record, 1 close loss against Top 25 school)
13) NORTH TEXAS (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 2 close losses)
14) FLORIDA ATLANTIC (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 2 close losses)
15) BOWLING GREEN (non-BCS school, past history of excellence, win against I-A team, 3 close losses)

THIS WEEK'S GAMES TO WATCH (and laugh at):

Akron at Ball State (Sat., 12:00 Noon Central)
Wyoming at New Mexico (Sat., 5:00 PM Central)
Florida Atlantic at Western Kentucky (Sat., 3:30 PM Central)
Utah State at San Jose State (Sat., 7:00 PM Central)

Stupor Bowl updates...

OFF THE LIST:

Duke upset Navy for their second win, 34-31.

Marshall likewise upset conference opponent UTEP, 16-12- a game which, by all reports, ought to qualify for Stupor Bowl honors itself, including a UTEP two-point conversion attempt that was intercepted and returned all the way down the field to score two points for MARSHALL.

Bowling Green got their second win against equally awful Central Michigan, 17-14.

In a matchup of Stupor Bowl contenders, North Texas beat Western Kentucky 33-6. The Hilltoppers' opponents for next week, Florida Atlantic, also got off the list by defeating nearly-as-bad Florida International, 21-9.

Finally, New Mexico State and San Jose State met... and very nearly cancelled each other out with their suck. New Mexico State finally won 29-27, and thus got off this list.

Here's the rankings of the remaining Stupor Bowl contenders.

1) AKRON (0-8)
2) NEW MEXICO (0-8)
all others with 1 win

3) WASHINGTON STATE (BCS school, win against I-AA, no close defeats) (unchanged)
4) UNLV (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, no close losses) (up 2 spots)
5) MEMPHIS (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 1 close loss) (up 3 spots)
6) MINNESOTA (BCS school, win against I-A, 2 close defeats) (up 4 spots)
7) SAN JOSE STATE (non-BCS school, win against I-AA team, EXTREMELY hard schedule, 2 close losses) (unchanged)
8) WESTERN KENTUCKY (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 2 close losses) (up 3 spots)
9) EASTERN MICHIGAN (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 2 close losses) (up 3 spots)

DE-LISTED (last week's rankings)
4) DUKE (BCS school, win against I-AA, 2 close defeats)
5) NEW MEXICO STATE (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, no close losses)
9) MARSHALL (non-BCS school, past history of excellence, win against I-A team with winning record, 1 close loss against Top 25 school)
13) NORTH TEXAS (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 2 close losses)
14) FLORIDA ATLANTIC (non-BCS school, win against I-A team, 2 close losses)
15) BOWLING GREEN (non-BCS school, past history of excellence, win against I-A team, 3 close losses)

THIS WEEK'S GAMES TO WATCH (and laugh at):

Akron at Ball State (Sat., 12:00 Noon Central)
Wyoming at New Mexico (Sat., 5:00 PM Central)
Florida Atlantic at Western Kentucky (Sat., 3:30 PM Central)
Utah State at San Jose State (Sat., 7:00 PM Central)