Jack & John “Thumbs Up Award”: Mike Johanns

It’s not often we praise politicians on this blog or the show, but I think we should commend Senator Mike Johanns for sending a message to the Japanese and to some of our feet-dragging-in-the-mud leaders in Washington about an issue that affects Nebraska cattle ranchers and meat packers.

Tuesday, before the Senate Commerce Committee, Johanns expressed his frustrations to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration about the recent safety problems with Toyota vehicles.  You may not remember, but Japan has very stringent trade requirements on beef coming from the United States.  This stems from the 2003 discovery of Mad Cow Disease in one Canadian head of cattle.  For about two years Japan and much of the Far East shut off all beef exports from the U.S.  In 2006, they lifted some, but remain very strict to this day.

In his testimony, Johanns asked what the reaction in Japan would be like if the United States shut its borders to all Japanese cars because they have been found to kill Americans due to their defects.  His point wasn’t to threaten Japan with such sanctions, but to prove the wider point that “what comes around, goes around.”  The Japanese have unfairly dealt with U.S. beef and it’s time they come to the realization that our meat is safe.

Safer than their cars, as it would seem.

“Mad Dog” Vachon Going To Hall of Fame

Omaha native Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon is headed to the WWE Hall of Fame

Okay, I’m going to admit it…..watching WWE Raw is one of my guilty pleasures.

I don’t see every episode and I usually skim on my DVR to the good parts, but I still follow Vince McMahon’s travelling circus when I can.  (By the way, Honky Tonk Man is and always will be the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.)

Not that WWE is huge news to all of you – you should consider that Lincoln might be a destination for future RAW’s and Pay-Per-View events if we build the new arena - but I thought I would pass along this little nugget because it involves a Nebraskan.

Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon is going to the WWE Hall of Fame.  If you grew up in the 60s and 70s watching All Star Wrestling out of Omaha, you know exactly who the Mad Dog is and why his name embodies pro wrestling of that era.  He was a former champion and one of the great all-time characters and recognizable faces in pro wrestling.  Vachon is not a native Nebraskan (he is from Canada), but he has lived in Omaha for a number of years and is still seen from time to time in the Big O.  He even was part of a WWE (then-WWF) pay-per-view in Omaha when Diesel attacked Mad Dog at ringside, stole his prosthetic leg (he lost his leg in an Omaha traffic accident), and tried to use it as a weapon.

For all the old time wrestling fans, this Mad Dog’s for you!