“We Believe” is becoming ridiculously overused. In just a span of one week, I’ve seen no fewer than 10 sporting events with fans holding up signs proclaiming their belief in their team. Now, I get it for Cubs fans or the fan of any team with a 100 year championship drought (I’m, admittedly, biased) but Apparently every team from the Mets to USF think that belief in their team will push them that extra distance.

Let’s do a quick check on how well this has worked:

Golden State Warriors’ fans believed in their team in the 2007 NBA playoffs. They lost in the conference Semis. The next season, they made an early exit.

Mets’ fans believe. In spite of their belief, they have managed to get eliminated from playoff contention in the last game of the season two years running. In 07, they did it in style with the most epic collapse in MLB history.

In one that hurts me; Ohio State fans believe. That belief has led to epic failures in three big non-conference games. (yes, it did lead to one NC in the 2002 season, but that is soooo yesterday)

Cubs fans believe. That belief has led to 2 straight playoff seasons for the first time in 100 years. Of course, it also led to a 100 year drought in the WS, a black cat circling Santo, Bartman and the Dusty Baker years.

Penguins fans believed in their young team last season. It led to a beatdown at the hands of the Red Wings.

So, keep on believing, sports fans! It appears to be doing us little good. But, in a world where the economy is shit, gas prices are skyrocketing, jobs are being outsourced causing unemployment to rise and we are in endless wars we have to believe in something.

As if on cue, the news comes that McCain’s VP Nom Sarah Palin’s 17 year old, unwed daughter is pregnant.

I feel for Palin’s daughter and I know that what she will have to go through is rough, but, just when you needed something to come along to smack the right in the face, it does. Palin is a huge advocate of Abstinence Only Education in schools. Apparently, she was also a huge advocate of it in her own family. While there is no guarantee that Abstinence Only Ed will stop teenage pregnancy altogether, it at least gives a bit of education to those teens making the decision to have sex.

Truthfully, however, this has very little to do with her views on sex ed and very much to do with the hypocritcal spewage that is so prevalent on the right. That whole “I’d like to regulate the lives of others while ignoring what is going on in my own family” thing. In fact, Palin has done so to further her politcal career to the point where she was clearly neglecting the issues within her own family. Kudos on those family vaules, Sarah.

Also, shame on Palin for spinning this into her own political gain. Her “yeah, but look, she isn’t aborting it” spin is disgusting. Using the personal events of your own daughter for political gain is oh so very Christian. I’m glad that your daughter can endure some trauma for your benefit.

Since this is the first I’ve touched on her nomination, I’d also like to express the fact that I am offended that so many political analysts think that Palin will draw in Hillary supporters just because she is a woman. If the Hillary supporters were truly supporters of Hillary’s ideology, they will not support a woman who endorsed Pat Buchanan as president and who is an advocate of teaching Creationism in schools. As a woman, I am extremely offended that Pundits think that, as a whole, my gender is that stupid. I’m sure some will vote for her because she is a woman, but those are the same people that buy a mini-van because their one kid clearly needs space for 8. Also, the GOPers that are smiling while saying “she is the only one with executive experience” should be shot. She was mayor of a town that is smaller than most Universities and was Governor of Alaska for about a year and 3 months. Wow, what credentials! I once had to lead a team of about 3 people at work to implement a new procedure. Maybe McCain could have picked me. I’m certainly no poster child of the right, but at least I’m genuine.

Part of me hopes that Obama leaves this alone, part of me doesn’t know how he can. However, I hope he does leave it alone and that people see what a good move it is when he does. He doesn’t need to use the daughter for his gain too.