Tiger Woods Take a Leave from Golf

It’s been a horrible two weeks  for PGA fan favorite Tiger Woods. On Friday,Woods announced that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence. Woods says  taking to time out to restore his family. On his website  Woods released a statement:

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What’s most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

This comes two weeks on Thanksgiving when Woods crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree in his neighbors front yard.

It was learned that Woods was unfaithful to his wife super model Elin Nordengen. Several women have come forward to show their relations with Wood in media. Woods for his part has never  confirmed nor   denied these women and the  relationships.

Woods and Nordengen are married for five years and have  two children.

Woods won 14 major PGA championships.

Wall Street Journal has more.

Senator Max Baucus Nominated His Girlfriend for a US Attorney Post

Talk about a sweetheart deal; well almost. Democratic Senator Max Baucus nominated his girlfriend for a post the US Attorney Office in Montana. Baucus who is the head of  the Senate Finance Committee nominate Melodee Haines his former state director a representative of Sen. Baucus said.

Haines withdrew from the nomination when another career opportunity presented its self said Ty Matsdorf spokesperson for Senator Baucus. Baucus separated from his wife in 2008.  Baucus had nominated Haines in March 2009.

Baucus sent six names to a third-party reviewer and three names sent back including Haines. The other names were Mike Cotter and Mike Wheat. Then the senator sent the three names to the White House. The Obama Administration selected Mike Cotter for the US Attorney of Montana. Cotter is awaiting conformation.

According Roll Call Magazine  said Baucus was having an affair with Haines in the Summer of 2008 almost a year before Baucus  and his wife Wanda divorced in April 2009 after 25 years of marriage.

Haines pulled her name out of consideration so she could move to Washington,D.C. Haines now works the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as a counselor to the administrator.

Baucus nominated Haines,based on qualifications and Merrit, Mastdon said.

“Senator Baucus recommended each of the three candidates based solely on qualifications, and merit, knowing whichever one the White House selected would serve Montana well,” Matsdorf said.

Matsdorf said Baucus and Haines  withdrew the nomination because they wanted to live in Washington together.

Main Justice a website which broke the Haines nomination received  a statement from Melodee Haines ex-husband Thomas Bennett of Billings: “She was recommended for the position because of a very close and personal relationship with Max Baucus, and she withdrew because of a very close and personal relationship with Max Baucus.”

Roll Call says Haines has worked with Baucus in a variety of posts since 2002 when she was finance  director of his 2002 campaign.

From 2003 to 2005, she served as field director and counsel to his office. Hanes was Baucus’ state director and counsel from 2005 until this spring.

Previously, Haines worked as Deputy county Attorney of Yellowstone County,MT; where she prosecuted felony sexual assult  and child molestations cases.

Baucus and Haines now live in the Eastern Market of Washington,D.C.

Billing Gazette

Parents in Balloon Boy Saga Pleads Guilty

The parents of  “Balloon Boy” admits guilt on Friday  in phony call to 9-1-1   reporting their  6-year-old son was in runaway balloon to create publicity for a potential reality television show.

Richard and Mayumi  Heene were in at Larimer County Courthouse in Ft. Collins. Heene pleaded guilty to a felony count of falsely influencing the sheriff on the 50 mile manhunt for their son Falcon in the skies over Northern Colorado.

Mayumi Heene plead  guilty to a  misdemeanor charge of knowingly filing a false report with emergency services . Mrs Heene has cooperated with law enforcement which led to lesser charges.

Richard Heene could serve 90 days in Jail, probation and fines. Mayumi could receive 60 days in jail possibly in a work release program and  probation.

If the Heenes’ did not take the plea bargain Richard would have faced two to six years in prison  and fines of a half  million dollars. Mayumi  would face up to six month in jail and $750 in fines.

AP via Yahoo News

A Big Victory for “Gay Christians” in The Evangelical Lutheran Church but Could fracture the Denomination

For gay and lesbian members of the Evangelic Lutheran Church in America who interested to join the ministry; can do so after a vote on Friday at national meeting in Minneapolis .

The vote now allow for openly gay and lesbian to become lay leaders and minsters if and its a big if they are in long term relationships. This vote follow another vote that allows non celibate gay and lesbian to  hold ministry and layman posts.

The ELCA will also issue a statement on human sexually that includes marriage is between a man and a woman; which goes counter to the voted actions  of the church leadership.

Previous votes  in these subjects would always go down in defeat in the last 12 years.

Bishop Mark S. Hanson the leader of the nearly 5 million denomination, doubts a schism will develop because of the vote. We had”very thoughtful engagements” between thoses are pro and anti will not leave the church.

The schism had led about 100 churches  to leave The Episcopal Church in the last 5 years; after  the denomination approved and installed V. Gene Robinson as the Bishop of New Hampshire diocese .

Earlier this year the Episcopal Church voted to lifted a ban on gay bishops and create same-sex liturgies.

“I do not believe that human sexuality for us as Lutherans defines the church,” Hanson said.”Therefore, human sexuality should not be the occasion to divide the church.”

Supporters says the policy, is voluntary, believes all Lutherans should be accepting to gays.

We fully believe the church will be a better place and a better student for its mission if it is fully inclusive,” said Phil Soucy, a spokesman for Goodsoil, a coalition of gay rights groups in the church. “Christ did not discriminate.”

Conservatives fear that the vote would drive them away because the church is moving away bibical tennents to a secular  cultural norms.

“A church ought to be focused on Jesus Christ and not voting on whether the Bible applies in terms of how humans are to live in a sexual relationship,” said the Rev. Mark Chavez, director of Lutheran Coalition for Reform.

LA Times

Gov. Sanford go away

It’s been lousy two weeks for the family of Governor Mark Sanford. Last week the Governor admitted to his affair with Argentine Maria Chapur  to the public.  And his wife’s cutting remark to him (which he rightly deserved.)

But in an interview with the Associated Press; Sanford the player talked about the other instances of flirting and hitting on other women over the years. He calls Chapur is soul-mate. Sanford now will work on falling in love again with his wife.(What does that mean? Will work on falling in love again with his wife. Bizarre! Most people would say they are working on their marriage.)

It doesn’t look good  for Sanford. What worse he’s telling all of his business. Allapundit at Hot Air wonders how to keep Governor Sanford  away from recording devices. “His aides seriously need to start steering this guy away from microphones before he ends up telling us which positions he and Maria tried.”

Meanwhile, members of the South Carolina Republican Party leadership are calling for the Governor to resign. Sanford had considered resigning  but went against it with support from his spiritual adviser.  Newspaper editorial throughout South Carolina has called on Sanford to resign. Bloggers across the country (including this one awaits the departure).

The problem was created  by pols who didn’t resigned. Barney Frank, despite the discovery and arrest of his former assistant who ran a prostitution ring out of Frank’s DC home over 25 years ago. Today he’s chair of the Financial Service committee.  Senator Vitter of Louisana who admitted using prostitution service  and phone records revealed the affair.  Vitter is still in office.  Last month Senator John Ensign admitted to having affair with a campaign staffer who is the wife of his personal assistant. The mistress and her husband are accused  of  blackmail.

Of course the most successful serial adulterer former President William Jefferson Clinton. Clinton survived the various sex scandals including Jennifer Flowers to Monica Lewinsky and lying under oath. Clinton popularity in economy help thwart the impeachment and served his full term.

Will Sanford listen to the call to resign. I doubt it. One can only hope.

Michelle Malkin

AP via Houston Chroncle

Hot Air

We guys think with the wrong head again: Gov. Mark Sanford falls

We men have a problem: We like thinking with the wrong head. Case in point Governor  Mark Sanford (R) of  South Carolina admitted today of have affair with Argentinian woman.  Sanford announced today after spending several days with his mistress. She has not been Identified.

The governor had just returned  from Bueno Aries when a reporter from The State newspaper confronted Sanford at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. The governor fled to  his plane to fly back to Columbia.

Sanford’s wife initially said she didn’t know where went on Father’s Day. The governor’s staff said he went hiking along the Appalachian Trail to clear his head. That turn out not be true.

Sanford had apologized to the People of South Carolina, his wife and kids, his staff and his mistress.

Sanford was touted as potential  candidate to run for President in 2012. The announcement come  behind fellow Republican Senator John Ensign who himself admitted to have an affair with campaign staffer which is alleged to extort thousand of dollars from Ensign, to keep the affair hush.

Sadly another family in ruins. A wife won’t able to trust a man again. Kids don’t have a role model to look up to.

Ladies, some day a female politician may slip and fall, guys don’t gloat when it happens. We still lead them a million to one.

Because we still think with the wrong head.

AP via My Way News

The State