YASNY

The fed to annouce another rate cut. In fact, they are watching the wires as I type. It's a half point cut.

Edwards has not dropped out. He has 'suspended' his campaign. Which does two things. It gives the right to continue to receive funds in order to shut down his campaign. In other words, to pay for the remaining costs, which is entirely understandable. It also allows him to retain control of the 26? delegates he has control of. Interesting, but nothing wrong with it that I can see.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 12:54 PM) In exactly how many jobs could you accost someone and not expect to lose your job? She, from what I understand, didn't accost him. She, as citizen of the US and the commonwealth of KY, asked to speak to and question of one of her elected representatives. And to clarify the situation, Ryan wasn't 'on the job'. She was on the street as a citizen. I'll grant the bratty ass kid was way out of line, but still, no politician to have to power to demand someone be fired for questioning them.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 12:28 PM) I've been watching A's games from last year on MLB.tv just to see Swisher play CF and after watching about 15 games (only the innings where the A's are on defense) I can say with near certainty that Nick is nowhere near as bad as Mackowiak or Everett. He just looks average to me which is good enough. Just once I'd love to hear Ozzie hint at moving JD to left field, it's the best thing for everyone involved. Agreed. If Quentin has the arm I've heard he has, even more so.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 12:24 PM) And our freedom of speech And our freedom of religion And our freedom from illegal search and seizure etc. And Balta, you are correct. Crossing for the wrong reasons is not a good thing. But not crossing because of some party pressure is not good either. Freedom of speech. Reminds me of something that happened here last week. Mitch McConnell made an appearance near me (in Paducah) in a small movie theater. As he came out of the theater, he was approached by the theater manager and her daughter (about 12 years old I think) with mom carrying a videocam. She asked McConnell if he'd talk to her about the Iraq war. He brushed her off. The daughter went ballistic! Screeching something at him, I couldn't understand her. He, or someone in his party said, "That'll be enough of that". Now, I know I used quotes but it may not be exact. The kid cameback with "Whatcha going to do about it?" The next day, the lady was fired from her job. Now she is applying for a new job, Representative from the KY 1st District in the US House of Representatives. I have heard the video made you tube. Her name is Heather Ryan, so a Heather Ryan, Mitch McConnell search my find it. I don't know. However, a citizen should absolutely have the right to question an elected official without fear of losing their job. The kid was way out of line, but the kid is a kid. Ryan said on local radio that McConnell demanded she be fired. That ain't right. I hope she sues.

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:36 AM) thanks. I've also had 129 profile views. dang. *blushing* I never knew I was so well liked! Do the words 'morbid curiousity' come to mind?

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 12:03 PM) Yep, because she has to look "tough" to the rest of the world. That's like saying Walter Payton had to look like a running back.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 12:06 PM) I'd just like to point out...how in the world did we get to an era where being anti-torture was a position held by 1 party and not the other? Sorry to interject, just had to. Just some of those feathers on the tip of the wing.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:55 AM) In 2004, Kerry won the independent/moderate vote by quite a bit IIRC, but it wound up being Rove's base turnout strategy that won the day. I don't see anything in this statement that is relevent today. 2004, Kerry, Rove. Not being critical at all, but it's a different ballgame.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:58 AM) With Senator McCain on the ticket...I think the worry of that is lessened. That'll be part of McCain's first 100 days. I'd be just as willing to say it would be part of Hillary's first 100 days.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:47 AM) Wow, Freaky, I just got Yas to agree with Feingold. In the last few months, I've probably been more critical of GWB than you have. The f***er scares me. I mentioned a few days ago that I wouldn't be shocked to see him pull some s*** to try and stay in power. I'd almost be willing to bet that a major offensive action against Iran occurs before he leaves office.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:46 AM) But here's the one other thing to keep in mind. In 2004, against an admittedly weak Democratic candidate who it seemed no one in the party really was fired up to vote for (he wasn't Bush and that was his best trait) Karl Rove still had to turn out an extra 1 million or so evangelical voters just to eek out a victory against Mr. Kerry. Since then, the Democrats have seemingly become much, much more motivated (Hell, they had a record primary turnout last night in Florida with no one really campaigning there!) and it seems that at least a good chunk of the party is excited by the 2 remaining candidates. If the extra voters who appeared in 04 to help push Bush over the top aren't as motivated this time around, then that could doom McCain from the start. If Obama wins the nomination, maybe. And yes, I'm including, but not limiting this to the race card. But Hillary sends the moderates to McCain.

Google Soxy images and you find this:

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:42 AM) Alright, so this is more work than I anticipated, and just when I realized that and decided that even with all the work I'm fine because it's working out really well and everything's coming together, I decided it'll be a good idea to make a second film, a documentary, completely unrelated to the fiction film I'm working on. And I decide that I want to be done by late March or very early April at latest. It'll be done, but I've got much to do. Good luck with them both.

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:37 AM) In 2006 Brian Anderson saved at least one game that really mattered against the Indians with this glove. If he is in center and Swisher in left we will be a good team. If Owens or Swisher are in center we will be average. The affect on pitching as a result of bad defense is never really discussed. Aaron Rowand and Scott Podsednik cost Bobby Jenks a save in the World Series thus allowing a walk-off that never should happened. Thank you. That is a point I literally forgot to mention.

In other words, McCain would be the lesser of two evils.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:35 AM) There have been rumblings about a 3rd party run by someone, who as yet is unnamed, if they Repub nominee wasn't religious enough. The that would put the Dem nom in office. I know the bible thumpers do not want that. It's all bluster.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:32 AM) 100% absolutely correct!

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:16 AM) If you were constrained by salary, you could certainly make an argument that MB at $13 million a year is more valuable to a team than Johan at $25 million a year. For a team like the Mets clearly they take the better pitcher because they can afford him. The more the salary impinges upon you though, the more you have to worry. Here's one way to think about that. Who wins you more games, Johan Santana plus a $1 million 1st baseman (Ross Gload, Doug Mientkiewicz or someone of that ilk) or Mark Buehrle + Paul Konerko? If you have the salary available to go for Santana and Delgado fine, but if you don't, then it probably makes more sense to spread it around. Unless you have a sh*tload of young guys. Damn good post.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:19 AM) McCain needs a good old fashioned bible thumper to be his running mate. He needs someone to pacify the religious right who hate him. If he wins the nomination, he won't need a bible thumper. He'll be running against a Democrat.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:12 AM) I doubt anyone's ever said that, and if they did, you couldn't call it logic. But I have a sneaking suspicion that in a full season, Swisher would hit more than one, and perhaps even several doubles. The cumulative run producing effect of all of the additional home runs, doubles, and walks from Swisher relative to Owens or Crisp or anyone else who has been mentioned will FAR OUTWEIGH the cumulative effect of runs saved by their superior defense relative to Swisher. Perhaps I should explain myself. Though I used a finite example, I was doing so to make a broader point. There seems to be an overwhelming emphasis on offense when evaluating a player's value on this board. Defense is just as important, if not more so. For over 100 years, the saying "Pitching and defense wins championships" has been a constant in baseball. Casey Stengel once said about Aparicio that he steals a hit game with his glove. That can have quite an impact over the course of a season. I'm not saying that offense is not important, because Casey's Yankees would always just beat out the pitching-defense-no hit Sox of those days, but the Yanks also had some pretty damn good pitchers and glovemen too, in addition to the thumpers. But a guy who can "go get 'em" in the field can be a pretty damn valuable piece of a championship ballclub. Brian Anderson did not produce at the plate, but in a big game I wanted him in CF over Mackowiak, for example.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:07 AM) per Rotoworld. Interesting, but the key word there is "speculates".

Off topic here ... But just saw (yes, on Fox News) where 5 box cars were BLOWN of a bridge in Ohio.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 10:58 AM) my point is if there's a deal in the works there's no point in continuing. My point was that if his wife's health is that bad and he can't handle a hectic week, he has no business in the race or being president.

Obama has huge rally getting ready to start in Denver ... Venue full, overflow crowd heading into another gym and a still long line waiting.