M90 superstar Ralph Maxwell rips Romney a new one with poem
Ralph Maxwell chats with Barack Obama in undated photo.
Weiner stresses that he didn’t put out this release as USATF Masters Track media chairman, but as an independent PR person:
After outlining Romney’s “You flip flop almost ev’rywhere” including heath care, gun control, women’s choice, immigration, global warming, minimum pay, stimulus, gay rights, education, and taxes, he cites stanzas about “plundering” at Bain but “walked away a zillionaire,” hiding tax returns, shipping jobs overseas, now he’d “feed the greed of the richest few” and “take an axe to millionaire’s tax,” among other issues.
The poem is 3½ minutes by this brilliant and insightful ex-judge. He ends with a rising repeating crescendo calling for “Four More Years!” The title of the poem is “Wherefore Art Thou, Mitt Romney?”
Here are links to Maxwell’s video recitation of the poem with Maxwell in his World War II uniform that the 92-year-old still fits into (poem 2:26 into the video, preceded by biographical info including his statement he has “six children so far”), the masterful text of the poem, a recent photo of Maxwell leading a pack running, a picture with President Obama and Ralph’s wife of sixty-five years, Liz, a head shot, and a biography.
Maxwell asked Robert Weiner, a fellow runner and public affairs consultant who spoke with Maxwell at this month’s USA National Masters Track and Field Championships in Lisle, Illinois where Maxwell won several events, to release the video and information.
VIDEO: Ralph Maxwell “Obama Four More Years” Original Poem Written & Recited by 92-year-old Judge-WWII vet-World Champion Masters Runner — Poem recitation begins at 2:26, Biography material from 0:00 to 2:26;
(POEM BEGINS AT 2:26)Text of Poem: • “Obama Four More Years,” Poem Written By Ralph Maxwell | (DOC) URL: http://weinerpublic.com/20120816.html (Poem title “Wherefore Art Thou, Mitt Romney”).
WHEREFORE ART THOU, MITT ROMNEY?
By Ralph MaxwellO, Romney-O, Romney-O,
Wherefore art thou, Mitt Romney?
You flip-flop here, you flip-flop there,
You flip-flop almost ev’rywhere.You ballyhoo what you’re gonna do
And then you pull a switcheroo;
You now malign what you found fine;
Seems like you’ve got a jellyfish spine.Obamacare, by you begun,
Now you’d trash it on day one.
Gun control you did extol,
But now you’re preaching decontrol.O, Romney-O, Romney-O,
Wherefore art thou, Mitt Romney?
We’ve got no clue what you will do
Or what new view you’ll pander to.Time was you championed women’s choice,
But you no longer heed their voice;
On gay rights, too, guess you withdrew
Support they once enjoyed from you.Global warming, EPA,
Immigration, minimum pay,
Roe V. Wade, also fair trade,
All joined your flip-flop cavalcade.O, Romney-O, Romney-O
Wherefore art thou, Mitt Romney?
So many things that you were for
You’ve turned against and slammed the door.Stimulus and cap and trade,
Education, foreign aid,
Campaign reform, tarp rescues, too,
All victims of your switcheroo.You take your stand on shifting sand,
We never know where you will land;
You vacillate, you fabricate,
A wishy-washy candidate.O, Romney-O, Romney-O,
Wherefore art thou Mitt Romney?
As gov’nor you let taxes rise,
Now ev’ry tax you demonize.You say regardless of the facts
You’d take an axe to millionaire’s tax;
You’d feed the greed of the richest few
The poor and middle class you’d screw.Your tax returns you hide from view
What evil lurks there we’ve no clue;
If they’re not bad why hesitate?
Or is it they incriminate?O, Romney-O, Romney-O,
Wherefore art thou Mitt Romney?
At Bain you plundered with a flair
And walked away a zillionaire.You shipped off-shore, good jobs galore
To China, India, Singapore;
A job creator you are not.
To boast you are is tommyrot.Romney’s a fraud, he’s got no peer;
What we must do is crystal clear:
Let’s give Obama four more years!
Yes, it’s Obama – four more years!
(chant)
FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!
Related posts:
- Khalid Mulazim, Thad Wilson, Ralph Maxwell claim WRs at Berea
- Ralph Maxwell adds to legend with world records in M90 decathlon
- Breakfast of Geezerchamps? Ralph Maxwell shares mush recipe
- Ralph Maxwell, Nolan Shaheed named USATF Male Masters of Year
- Ralph Maxwell going where few hurdlers have gone before: past 90
90 Responses
100% of Mastertrack.com audience enjoy the news about master athletes and their accomplishments on track and field events. However, by introducing politics, whether pro-Obama like this post or pro-Romney in this site, you are going to piss-off approx half your audience. Can we have one enjoyable area of our lives where we can escape national politics?
The liberal site Daily Kos is fueling the YouTube traffic:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/18/1121614/-Hilarious-poem-about-Mitt-Romney-by-92-Year-Old-Retired-ND-Judge-WWII-Vet-needs-to-go-viral
Fantastic! What a wonderful man. And thanks Ralph Maxwell for the reminder:
1. If it serious – do it with humour.
2. If you want it to stick – do it in verse.
This is your site Ken….but this is not masters track……things must be slow. I hope we don’t have to read more if this going forward to the election.
I agree with Gary Dixon. Ken, this is a track website and should focus on track-related issues. Let’s keep politics off this site! If we want political positions, we have plenty of other sites to visit.
Bad enough I have to listen to political crap all day on every news station. If this is what I have to look forward to with my morning coffee I’m done.
It’s your website, so post whatever you like. But I come to your website to be informed and inspired by masters track performances, not for politics. First time I’ve read something like this here and I hope it’s the last time.
I also agree with Gary and Stephen. I come here for news about track, not political opinions.
This is Ken’s blog, he is free to put up whatever he likes. Those who disagree with Ken’s politics are free to not read the entries they dislike.
Much blood has been shed protecting our constitutional rights – including the right of free speech and a free press. I hope that those who criticize Ken for posting a political piece in HIS BLOG will remember this when they vote this November. Without these rights we are but a step away from civil wars and bloodshed that we see daily in the news in many parts of the world. Men and women like Ralph Maxwell risked their lives to protect our freedom. That includes the right to hold views you may not like. And it includes Ken’s right to post whatever he likes on his blog.
I also agree with the posters who think politics are out of place. But since u have seen fit to publish quite a lengthy attack on Romney lets just shed a little light on what Obama did when he first took office.
As a candidate Obama promised the GOP a seat at the table on healthcare, negotiations televised on CNN and promised to end the divisive partisan politics.
Once elected he, to use Ralphs words “FLIP FLOPPED”
and literally allowed the GOP to be locked out of negotiations and went back on his promise of televised open debate. Later in an interview he responded “Tough Get Over it, We Won”
then in a speech he said “The Republicans can go along for the ride, but they are gonna have to sit in the back of the bus”
So much for ending the partisan divide…
I apologize for bringing politics here but it would be unfair to let someone’s blatantly biased attacks stand without any response.
Two sides to every story Mr Maxwell, I respect your opinion no matter how ill informed and hateful i perceive it to be. I hope you & Ken can understand that other people do not share your views and find them to be distasteful and disrespectful.
Obama himself as a candidate said something along the lines of when you have no plan yourself, that is when you attack your opponent’s character instead of talking about what you will do.
If you want to support Obama fine, tell us how great he is instead of personal attacks on his opponent. Too bad in your 90 years on this earth you choose to approach things in such a negative way.
@Mary
My Bad
i did not know this was a personal blog
I thought it was a website for masters track & field where all people were welcome.
While I certainly respect Mr. Maxwell’s right to express his political opinion, doing so in a military uniform is a highly inappropriate action. As a Vietnam era veteran I can tell you that the military always has pursued a strict policy of remaining apolitical in this country. The military uniform should not be used as anyone’s political prop.
@Bob – Ken is the one who puts the stuff on the Blog – it is his blog about masters track and field. It is not your blog, or my blog – and I agree Ken welcomes all people – including you and me – and those who agree and disagree with his views.
Sorry to disappoint you – it is NOT a open blog where you can post a blog entry – the entries that are on this blog are those that Ken allows to be on it. He controls the content of the blog.
Like many blogs – Ken allows comments -comments are not the same as blog entries. So you can write a comment and so can I. But neither of us can post an entry without Ken’s permission.
And Ken can remove a comment if he wishes – I have found that through the years of this blog – Ken has been very tolerant of criticism -but some commenters have not been tolerant of Ken’s choice of items to post.
This is a very contentious election and political tolerance has just about disappeared in the United States. The venom expressed by people is amazing. Perhaps this blog is not the best place to post a comment by a democrat – but it is still a free country – so far – and we still have a free press – so far – and I support Ken’s right to post whatever he pleases. If it displeases you – it is your right to say so – and my right to tell you I disagree with you.
Lets have Romney and Obama compete in a masters track decathlon. Winner becomes President.
While Ken generally posts stories and information that are germane to masters track and field, he also posts human interest stories about masters track and field participants. Ralph Maxwell has a certain renown as a competitor, and his video has received much attention outside of this blog. I applaud Ken for bringing it to my attention.
While I don’t know Ketrell Berry, he is well known to many competitors in his age group, especially those on the west coast. His story, while being distasteful, is also unfortunately a common news story in many parts of the US. Ken has posted his story since it is of interest to many of the people that know Ketrell, and also because he is a masters competitor.
Ken provides an excellent forum for masters track and field news and information, even though we may not like or agree with every article he posts.
Ken is getting desperate for people to come to this site. He needs advertising ‘hits’ to fuel income. Though he likes track, thinks he can contribute to it?(obviously not as a participant), he is putting stuff like this out to get ‘hits’ to generate income…What was becoming a value to the Masters community’ as he so ademantely speaks so often about’ he has lowered himself to journalistic buzz. Shame on you Ken.
(Let’s not forget the L. Berry articles he has posted!!)
Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Vets Championships have been in full swing, for several days now, with great performances, including a number of world records.
Results service at: http://www.evacs2012.com/en/starters/
It’s not as if there’s no news about, is it?
Number 16 is ridiculous.
No matter what your politics, you have to admire the liveliness and creative talent of an amazing 92 masters hurdler/pole vaulter/long jumper/sprinter.
Thanks Ken for bringing this delightful piece to our attention.
Thanks Tom!
“Obama himself as a candidate said something along the lines of when you have no plan yourself, that is when you attack your opponent’s character instead of talking about what you will do.
If you want to support Obama fine, tell us how great he is instead of personal attacks on his opponent. Too bad in your 90 years on this earth you choose to approach things in such a negative way.”
Bob couldn’t have said it better. Let’s follow up on Tom Phillips’ post. Thanks Tom for the link!!
GOD BLESS YOU RALPH FOR EXPRESSING YOUR FEELING, I’LL ALWAYS LOVE AND RESPECT YOU NO MATTER WHO YOU’RE SUPPORTING FOR PRESIDENT. THANK GOD THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT A PERSON SAYS, YOU WOULD AND YOU DID PROTECT THEIR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Really?!!…a poem?…this is an eye roller right up there with Ted Knight as Judge Smails in Caddyshack reciting his poem before christening his boat ‘The Flying Wasp.”
I found the video manipulative, and saddening. I’m sorry I came here today.
As long as we are going to introduce politics into masters track and field, I hope this web site will balance the ledger by posting a similar poem about President Obama. Who wants to write such a poem?
Otherwise, please keep the postings to topics related to track and field.
Why have we become so venomous when we disagree? Mary’s post, #9, is correct. We should celebrate our freedom. We’re not in school and this is not required reading. Ken is free to post whatever he chooses and we are free to read it or not—and comment. That makes me happy not angry.
And come on…Ralph looks great in that uniform and we should all agree on that!
Wow, folks lightin’ the heck up! Thanks Ken for posting Mr. Maxwells poem. I am not sure who I will be voting in November but I find joy in reading about positive stories one of our own, particulary those that are in their 90′s, don’t hate, celebrate!
I come to this site for track, not politics.
I find the posts suggesting it may be inappropriate to post such a politically charged item on this blog to be amazingly restrained and mature. I know there are readers just chomping at the bit to tear that video to pieces but are restraining themselves not wanting to do themselves the same thing they are criticizing. Nobody is suggesting Ken Stone isn’t free to post it,or that Mr. Maxwell didn’t have a right to make it, so how about we put that straw man away. To Ken’s credit he isn’t afraid to post messages critical of his decision to run the story.
To Mr Weiner and the grandson: maybe next time you want to trot ol’ boy out there in his uniform again for a propaganda piece you sit down with his military records and make sure his uniform matches his story….just sayin.
I agree with Rick Riddle, Liz, etc. Spoiled my visit to a web site i frequent. Although, most likely not as frequently in the future.
Ralph isn’t alone in the clever poem department. A masters track friend, inspired by Ralph’s effort, wrote this in less than a half-hour today:
The Flip Flop
by an old Republican high jumper
When I took up high jumping at a golden age
The Fosbury flop was all the rage
When I gave it a try and I soon found
that the flop was only part of the bound
With back to the bar I flipped my butt to the sky.
Otherwise I didn’t get very high.
If you are a high jumper on your way to the top,
It’s important to have a good flip flop.
In the world of science it’s the protocol
to find out the very nature of it all.
A theory is set out as to how things might be,
and then it is tested just so see.
A theory usually needs some correction,
so the scientist is quick to change the direction.
If you are a scientist on the way to the top,
It’s important to have a good flip flop.
To err is human; it is how we learn.
If we do something wrong, we make a turn.
A wise man is said to learn by mistake
and change direction for progress sake.
Trial and error is our proven way
to find a better path another day.
If you are an ordinary human on the way to the top,
it’s important to have a good flip flop.
But, if you are a politician, that is a different fare.
If you change your mind you had better beware.
If you take a position on a political issue
and later learn that you made a miscue
there is no good way to take it back.
and if you do you’ll be under attack.
If you are a politician on the way to the top,
there in no such thing as a good flip flop.
You really only need to ask yourself one question are we better off than we were 4 years ago–Obama said himself if I can’t fix it I’ll be a one tern president-He should step out of the way and let someone else have a shot-but politians always somehow forget what they have said and never honor what they say-is anyone in Washington really representing the American public-not lately-we would all be put in jail for the things done in Washington each and everyday-it’s sad but we have lost so much of what made this country great-If you buy the load of crap Obama is selling I would have to question your intellence level and if this guy get’s in for another 4 years heaven help us all(sorry to anyone I offended with this post, but I had to post my point of view)
we need to keep politics out of masters t/f..it’s b.s.
Until this morning, I had only read the poem itself and all of the charged comments. Once I actually listened to the video, it sounded like the man is copying Dr. Seuss with the way he reads it. Don’t be so hard on the guy, he is quite funny. Having said that, this has nothing to do with masters track and field, which is what I thought “masterstrack.com” was.
Too bad both candidates are poor representations for what needs to be done in America. One is far left and the other is far right. Neither will stand for anything that will improve our country. Ron Paul was only person that spoke the truth but b/c he looks like a whimply weasel he had no chance. The “sheeple” of America will always vote for the rock star look. We are very politically uneducated in America. Ken has the right to post whatever he wants and so does Mr. Maxwell. In my opinion they are both wrong in their political viewpoints. A pro-Romney viewpoint is also incorrect. Too bad those are our choices.
I have always considered Masters Track & Field close to a color blind and apolitical world . Mr.Maxwell has every right to write his poem . He should have sent it to the letters to the editor column of his local paper and that’s who should have printed it .
Bert Bergen
Just skip topics you are not interested in or where you maybe disagree. I skip topics like this, because it is about just one country. But when I saw 32 reactions, well, see what is going on. Free speech it is.
Greetings from Zittau!
It isn’t clear that Ralph intended his poem to be presented (or is happy that it was) on this website, so I suppose by adding it to his site Ken is actually expressing his own feelings. Despite their politics, I still respect both Ralph and Ken, but hope they re-think how they express themselves in the future. Ralph is still a great athlete and Ken is still a great advocate for masters track.
I have enjoyed the comments more than the article.
Politics and religion… always dangerous.
Thankfully, the sport of Track & Field is the great equalizer. You can’t bet any more democratic than that.
Disgraceful!! This posting has no merit to be listed in any “blog” so identified as MastersTrack. Period. You have now become nothing more than another Sunday morning political hack, and have disgraced yourself by posting an editorial commentary on the upcoming election. This should be removed immetiately. Otherwise, it’s just another biased opinion and effort to sway voters, on a site supposedly dedicated to masters athletics. What B.S. Shameful.
Actually, for a European outsider this is very interesting.
I can not honestly believe people are complaining that this does not belong on a track and field website because it deals with politics…So if I’m understanding this correctly visitors opinions of appropriate blogs – they’re the ones who are correct but for Ken (who actually runs the site) his opinion that he wanted to post this, he’s incorrect?
Its funny reading post #4 “… hope we don’t have to read more if this going forward to the election.” Hey Buddy! NO ONE made you read this. You chose to read it and then had the nerve to get bothered by it. YOU saw the article on the home page, you saw it was politically based, you were able to briefly read it over and decide it wasnt your cup of tea and move onto the next article….But you didnt and thats Kens fault??
Post #37 – I’m sorry but if this blog could sway ANY voter that voter is an idiot to begin with. Its a poem from a 92 yr old veteran who disagrees with Romney, if that makes anyone reconsider their vote for the President of the United States of America then that should help explain why this country is in the state it is in.
And NO, I’m not a fan of Romney OR Obama but I am a fan of choice and I chose to read it. I chose to not read the article on the gentleman who is on trial for molesting a 16 yr old. You know why, because as a father of 2 beautiful girls that type of stuff just sickens. The guy could be 100% innocent or 100% guilty and you know what?!?!? I dont care so I moved on….Something that some of you need to learn…..(As a 35 yr old) In all due respect its a darn shame I have to address my elders like this..
Keep it up Ken, I truly enjoy your articles and the ones I might not, its ok….Thank goodness we’re in America!
Initially all I did was come to this website today looking for masters track information. I didn’t actually listen to the video until today but decided to out of curiosity. For some funny reason, I got a gut laugh out of hearing the poem read because it sounds like he was reciting Dr. Seuss. The same cadence…it’s kind of funny if you listen to it. Having said that, I do only come to this site to stay in touch with masters people and hear their usually uplifting stories and get the results. So why is the author putting an anti Romney piece out there of all things? What’s the point?
To all of you who seem to hate our president, go listen to AM radio where you will find lots of company. One of our country’s biggest problems is that of intolerance. The far right claims Christian values but seems to disdain anyone or thing different from themselves. Where is Christ in all of your hate? I don’t care who will now have a problem with me because of my views, because now, I’ll know that you shouldn’t be a part of my life anyway.
This is Ken’s site. He can post anything he likes. If you don’t want to read the article, then skip it. He invests huge amounts of time and effort to produce the news that we all read on a regular basis. I produce both the official Canadian Masters News and my own Masters Enews. The ‘official’ site is strictly track….the ‘unofficial’ news has the odd mention of Atheist, tree-hugger, left wing propaganda when it suits the writer.
I LOVED IT.
There is nothing wrong with this video. We celebrate the lives of athletes here, births, marriages and support each other when tragedy occurs. This is Ralph. Ralph is Ralph. He is a dynamic and important part of Masters Track.
After reading through these comments, I’d like to elaborate on my #5.
First, clearly this is not a freedom of speech issue. This is Ken’s site. He can post whatever he wants.
Second, I do think this is a marketing issue for Ken. His target audience is interested in masters’ athletes and their performances. To include a piece that is purely political is not consistent with what most of us believe to be this site’s “market segment.” I dropped my subscription to Masters News when it stopped focusing on track & field and became a distance-running publication. And I expect many readers of Car & Driver would drop their subscriptions if the publisher began running articles on Jeff Gordon’s views on the presidential race. My point is: Ken–you jeopardize losing some of the audience you’ve worked hard to attract when you venture away from your reader’s primary interest in your site.
Finally, I believe there is a journalism issue. I don’t think most people come to this site for OpEd pieces. Ken, you’re a journalist by profession. As such, I believe you have an obligation to maintain objectivity. Reproducing the Maxwell poem doesn’t meet that test.
So what if it is a marketing issue, its obviously working, you’re here for track and field only articles yet came back around for a 2nd comment in a politically related article – that you’re not interested in….?
I dont understand for the life of my why so many people in this country continue to make a conscious decision to involve themselves into things they do NOT like that may offend them for whatever reason. However as I point a finger I also admit that more are pointed back at me. With that in mind I think its best that when I read these article/blogs I should just make my own comments without paying attention to what others have said, its just to ridiculous.
Fred B, people make a conscious decision all the time to, as you put it, “involve themselves into things they do NOT like.” They want to know what others are thinking, test their own ideas against those with which they disagree, and so forth. In addition, blogs, newspapers, etc. help to form public opinion.
When one sees something with which one disagrees, it’s a good thing to offer a counterargument rather than just walk away. After all, why should other people have the only message that reaches the public’s attention?
Surely you do not think that people should read only those things with which they agree. How sheltered that is, and how dangerous. History tells us what happens when people stick their collective heads in the sand.
During the 1960s I was in New Orleans and decided to take a look at the ads in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. What stood out for me was the line “No colored need apply.” And yet I read it and may have searched for others with the same message.
Why? I was involving myself in something with which I disagreed, which in your view is ridiculous. It’s not, Fred B. None of us should confine ourselves to reading only that which flatters our own beliefs and philosophy.
Ref. the Fred B. rants. O.K. now I’m getting confused who, according to you, is free to express their opinions? Just the blog author and those who defend his decision to post? The blog author and those who defend his RIGHT (which appears to be just about everybody) to post? anyone with an opinion? Or is it just Ken, Ralph and you?
BTW, in the 3rd paragraph of your comment #41 where you say “if this blog could sway any voter that voter is an idiot to begin with.” I think you meant to ref. post #39 not #37. So, it’s not meant to sway anyone, than what exactly is it? One person can watch it and see an old timer who still is healthy, vibrant and creative and engaged. Someone else can watch it and see it as the same thing as putting little Bobby’s crappy art work on the refrigerator…condescending…..Oh look! Grampa made a poem. Then there’s the exploitation angle,the political sympathizer who doesn’t care if it’s a work of art or not but calculates that it’ll “have traction” based on the gentleman’s age, military record, personal background and amazing athletic accomplishments etc.
Hopefully Mr. Maxwell doesn’t bother too much with why it’s received so many hits and is satisfied that he got his message (which he obviously feels strongly about) out there.
Obama and his relationships with Reverend Wright, Bill Ayres, his views on gay marriage etc.
Talk about a flip flopper! lol
@ Peter Taylor – Excellent point hands down and being guilty of not being specific enough I totally understand your point. Do I believe people should read only things related to what they already believe in or agree with – No. Theres nothing to learn that way. Also I do not think its ridiculous you wished to involve yourself with something you disagreed with I think its ridiculous for some of the people leaving comments in regards to this particular article/blog. Thats just my opinion. Its a poem from a veteran who disagrees with Romney.
@ Troy Dietz – EVERYONE is free to express themselves, period. I apologize for coming across otherwise however stand by my comment #41(yes I should have referenced # 39 not #37). Even if this was meant to sway a voter I think thats a dumb idea but ok lets assume that was the intention. If it is successful in doing so I do believe that particular voter is an idiot. Its a poem and if anyone is swayed when voting for the President of the United States based on a poem (thats not even from one of the candidates), I’m sorry, they’re an idiot to me.
Fred B. Posts #41, 48 & 52. Fred, I’d like to personaly thank you for the amazing depth, professionalism and respect you have shown in response to comments………..that you appear to neither comprehend, reference by mistake, or fail to accept as divergence of opinion. The arrogance of your “Something that some of you need to learn…..(As a 35 yr old) In all due respect its a darn shame I have to address my elders like this..”, only shows how immature and lacking in perspective you are. The constant use of name calling like “idiot”, “dumb”, etc. etc. reinforces this assessment of immaturity.
Political ad’s, blogs, postings, etc. etc. are posted for any number of reasons……some being to enjoin the “hosts” particular views, others to sway a potential (undecided) voter…..any number of other factors. Is it your contention that the 20%+ of undecided voters, a number of them registered independents are all morons and stupid???
Stay focused on the issue Ken……the majority of readers don’t think this belongs on the MastersTrack “blog”. I didn’t expect this kind of commentary when I logged in today or any other time I’ve checked into the site – that I do regularly. And a great number of the people posting comments feel the same way. It does not belong here.
And finally, I have no qualm and will present no argument for or against this gentlemans espoused belief in the current knucklehead in the White House. Free speech 100%. He can believe and say whatever he wants. But take it to the appropriate venue…..radio talk show; YouTube; send it to his congressman/woman…….it does not belong on the MastersTrack site.
Bravo!
Bravo to Ralph Maxwell !!!!
I’ve learned a lot more about my friend and fellow competitor Ralph Maxwell on Ken’s blog here this week. And though I may not share all their views, I applaud them both for what they have created – a conversation (55 responses to date) that exceeds in volumn most postings on the Masters Track and Field site. My hope is that this will leade to more in-depth discussions of the main reasons we come here as the current issue subsides. I feel that this has been a valuable diversion, and look forward to the future with Ken, Ralph and others on this site, on the track and in the field! FINIS
You guys crack me up!
Such a shame. I have always enjoyed your site till now. We get enough politics on the news channels. This used to be a refreshing read of athletes keeping the spirit of competition. I hope this is the first and last insertion of politics on the site.
I have nothing important to say. I just wanted to be #60 on this post.
Missed it by one!!!!
I don’t get into politics directly I just dig T&F and basket ball.
Hey Ralph, You’re looking great and I’m glad to hear that you are doing well. You make me proud to say I that know you and that you are my buddy.Keep burning then up on the track.
That last line should have read” Keep burning THEM up on the track.
Hey!! I guess I am #60.
@ Tucker – “Is it your contention that the 20%+ of undecided voters, a number of them registered independents are all morons and stupid??? ”
Actually no….,those are the smart ones.
Hey brother Nolan, I too did not have much important to say. I too wanted to be the #60 too. Man, you are always winning!
Hey,guess what, you were on to something with the #60. Here is a bit of confusion… “THE NUMBER 60 is the value of the Fifteenth Letter Samek, which literally denotes to uphold, help, or support.” Maybe it would have been just as well for all of this to stop at the #60.
Hi Brother Horace.
I really though it would end at 60 but….
Great to hear from you though.
Speaking of 60, You turn 60 in 4 months.
#49, Peter Taylor: Well said, sir. Thank you.
ha ha i decided to add one more thing.
I always respected track & field fans because people appreciated ALL the athletes. You might have a favourite but basically people rooted for the athletes versus the watch or tape measure. I think this applies to life as well. Cheer on those you support instead of booing your opponent.
Ken & Ralph have given me a new perspective. It is now appropriate to cheer AGAINST someone. What an enlightened view. I think at the next meet where Ralph or Ken are entered i will boo them, call them names. Up until now i thought that to be inappropriate behaviour but since they condone and practice negative expressions toward others i think i will embrace the uncivil. Maybe when i see Ralph i will say something like “too bad you made it to this age i hope you die soon” Is this the kind of world we live in now? Is free speech bounded by good taste? It used to be, the way i was raised. But if people like Ralph & Ken decide to engage in bad taste why should i stifle myself?
If you want civility in society, practice what you preach.If you want to express yourself completely be warned that others will do likewise and you might be surprised at the result. The law supports hateful tasteless speech but do we really want to go down that road?
I think post #53 is brilliant in the way in which the poster has analyzed some responses. And he has chosen to do it in a civil, respectful manner. That he points out the way some posters choose to denigrate others but refuses to engage in such behaviour himself needs to be revisited by some here. Mainly the person to whom he was responding. I had a Psychology professor in college who was a practicing psychiatrist. He was very liberal and open minded in his thinking but very conservative in other ways. He said something along the lines that he usually disregarded any broad generalizations of society but one was very applicable. People basically come in two groups, those who approach life in a positive manner, they get gratification by their accomplishments, they start businesses, charities, help people and society by their actions and accomplishments.
They are the builders.
The second group builds their self esteem by trying to tear down what the first group has accomplished or revel in that groups failures. Schadenfreude.
these are the destroyers.
Society only succeeds when the builders outnumber the destroyers.
think about it and which one are you really?
Post #66: What’s positive about calling the President of the United States ” a knucklehead” ? ( See last paragraph of Post 53).
Ilene: I think Bob (#66) was referencing the disrespect and denigration from one posting individual to another – not necessarily the opinions of the writer about a particular topic. Referring to another poster/commentary as “idiot” or “stupid” is where a line can be drawn. Whether the original source of this running commentary (the video poem) should be posted here on the MastersTrack site, I believe got this whole ball rolling. Secondly, the video was at best, a slight directed at Romney, and clearly a plug (“OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA”) for the current “knucklehead in the White House” (my opinion). That’s fair game and fodder for the debate. But personal attacks on the posting individual…………..well, when ya got nothing else to say or add to the debate……..that’s where some people go.
I’m referring to ALL insults. Let’s have the discussions, the debates, and the disagreements without nastiness and name-calling. This IS a lively debate and we CAN have it in a mature fashion. Let’s talk about issues and ideas and agree that we will undoubtedly disagree. But we can do it civilly.
Nothing important to say. I just wanted to be post #70.
Hey, have you noticed that most of the people who thought it was inappropriate to use this blog as a political forum, expressed themselves in a political way?
Nolan maybe the reason people ended up expressing themselves in a political way was because they did not wish the original content of the piece,(which was incredibly one sided)to stand without challenge? The fact that people thought it inappropriate for a site known as “masterstrack”, is not in conflict with pointing out what they feel are inaccuracies in the subject of the article.
and i agree you had nothing to say
Thanks Bob. I can accept that.
God…..some people just can’t follow the conversation and debate. They need to insert themselves around a word or phrase that had nothing to do with the debate or points being made.
The President is a “knucklehead”……….or, maybe you’d like imposter, phoney, amature, unqualified, incompetent……………but in my prior comments, I specifically noted that I was not engaging in that debate. Although, this happens to be my opinion of this clown. I did attempt to engage comments without insults directed towards other people posting on this site. Certainly everyone is free to express their opinion regarding topics of the current election, President or Romney, but leave the derogatory comments directed at others out of the context. If you can’t follow this discussion or posts between my self and others, maybe you should just stay out of the fray. Thank you.
On a similar topic, what kind of a guy would LIE about his marathon time? A republican… Paul Ryan. But hey, he only stretched the truth by an hour…
http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/08/31/paul-ryan-says-hes-run-sub-300-marathon/
well william i am not going to make excuses, but sometimes people misspeak. He is not a marathoner, he ran it over 20 years ago, i guess he had more important things on his mind the last three decades than something he probably did on a whim.
Kind of like Obama saying he visited all 57 states.
But keep hanging on to the important things like recollection of a politican’s marathon time from 1990 and completely ignore a PRESIDENTS statement from Feb 2009
“a year from now people are going to see we are starting to make some progress…if i don’t have this done in 3 years it’s gonna be a one term propostion”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmRgaKfWMPA
I guess some of us just have different priorities.:)
On a side note Congrats to Ken on a brilliant strategy to post a political statement on what appeared to be a nonpolitical forum 77 comments is far more than anything else i remember here. Maybe you should do this once a week to increase traffic? Make it “Bash each other Sunday’s” then people know ahead of time some they can avoid it. C’mon all let’s kill each other verbally it’s all good. Let the country go down the tube while we focus on important issues like running times!
oh what the heck let’s go for 78
Hey william V, did u care when Bill Clinton lied and said “I never had sex with that woman?”
what kind of a person lies about having sex with a woman who is a material witness in a sexual harrassment case against him? Was that just a teenie bit more relevant than not knowing your times from 20 years before and i bet it did not concern you as much as Ryan’s statement. So was Bill Clinton a good president William? Even though he lied about something that had serious legal complications, not just sex? What does Ryan’s statement compromise? His character? His intellect? Did it do the same for Clinton or Obama? or is it only when the GOP tells a fib that it is important?
Well! again I have nothing to say but I just want to be post 80 before this blog goes into the archives.
Well I made it again. #80
Nolan, you made me laugh so hard above that I have decided to hold the 46th Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile on the 19th of January, 2013 here in Ithaca, NY so that I get to see you in person again soon. Keep on truckin’, Tom . . and, I like a number of squares . . . 81 the north/south interstate which gets Philadelphia masters runners up to Ithaca.
Tom, that Hartshorne race sounds like a good one. Am I invited? OTOH, I can’t break 8:20 for a mile any more, and so that might rule me out. However, I would be willing to announce the races.
Note to others: Yes, it’s bad form to hijack a thread, but the first post was Aug 19 and we have things to think about other than l’affaire Maxwell.
For the unitiated: I believe there will be nine 1-mile races in all in the Hartshorne, four for elite and five for non-elite. Get in touch with Tom Hartshorne and he might put you in.
Peter, You, as announcer extraordinaire, are hereby invited to announce the Hartshorne Mile this coming January. Perhaps you can use your influence to invite Ralph Maxwell to come up and race taking on Don Hanlon, who will be 90 years young this January. Hanlon posted a 13:16 last year so I think Ralph would have a good chance of winning the 90+ bracket. Taylor, we will have to save your calorie burning for the dance floor.
Thank you, Tom; I accept. Now that we are planning, let’s try to get Lisa Ryan (Iowa) and Tammy Lifka (Illinois), who finished 1-2 in the W40 1500 at Lisle this summer, and Lorraine Jasper (Pennsylvania) and Elena Shemyakina (Illinois), who finished 1-2 in the W50 1500 at Lisle. Only Jasper has run in the Hartshorne before.
For M90 I will try to get Ralph M.
Now that this blog is finally archived and no one is probably reading this. Let me say that I am #85.
If Sid Howard would come back on and say that he will come up to Ithaca, if not to race the mile in the winter, at least to run a 5K x-country course that I know Cornell still runs in the fall, then we will on our way to a record. . .I don’t think Ken has ever gotten to 90 entries, and it would make me feel OK about 86 which in restaurant talk is the end of the line but in masters age-grading is getting up there. . .not for Sid, who probably has never dipped below 90 . . .but for me it is still really good.
Well…… I’m #87 now and would like to hear from Sid.
If Sid responds,he will be 88, then Thom will acknowledge, 89. And I will then come back saying nothing important but will be #90.
HEY RALPH, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR US. YOU HELP PRESERVE OUR RIGHT TO SAY WHATEVER WE WANT TO SAY.
I LOVE YOU RALPH
Hey guys, I’m not much of a political type of Cat. I guess I’m not smart enough to be political.
I just dig basketball and T&F.
My favorite team is The Lakers and I love the Magic Johnson,Kareem team which I though was the best ever. I always hated Larry Bird though and couldn’t stand him but LOVE basketball so I HAD to watch Bird play.I booed loudly every time he touched the ball. Usually when my team lost it was because Bird did something fantastic and Boston would beat L.A.
I’m not crazy about the NBA commissioner either. Here’s a guy who never played the game in his life and couldn’t play even if he wanted to yet controls some of the greatest athletes in the world.
Well, I just found out that mister big shot commissioner has to answer to a committee and can’t make decisions on his own but only make suggestions, and then the committee really decides what action to take.
They keep the teams drug free, make sure the players don’t disrespect the game by dressing crazy or use foul and abusive language.They fine players when they get out of line. They make sure one team doesn’t get more money than the next which keeps the games interesting for guys like me who just love to watch the game. The commissioner is kind of like a front guy or a representative.
Well, I met Kareem two months ago at a gig I was playing and he really digs jazz so he came back to the dressing room and we chatted for a while.Beautiful cat.
I met Magic Johnson a few years ago and he’s a wonderful person too.
Now it’s my greatest desire to one day meet the great Larry Bird who made my basketball experience in the 80′s one of the highlights of my life. I think I’m his biggest fan.
#90
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