Balta1701

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 19, 2010 -> 09:23 AM) Then again if any of our public officials had any ethics or integrity, the lobbyists wouldn't matter. It was our politicians that created this system, not vice versa. If their votes weren't for sale, all of the money in the world wouldn't have an effect. The real problem is...if a pol who's vote isn't for sale goes up against a pol who's vote is for sale...the pol with integrity is very, very likely to lose his or her seat to the person willing to sell out to the highest bidder, because the sell-out is going to be vastly better-funded. You don't sell out, your campaign is at a huge disadvantage.

QUOTE (balfanman @ Mar 19, 2010 -> 09:13 AM) The really scary part of this would be having Hendry as our G. M.! Yeah, that'd be unpleasant.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 19, 2010 -> 09:12 AM) Lobbyists aren't the problem. There should be lobbyists, they are an integral part of the system. The problem is the rules and laws that allow them to control everything. You get the point though. When AT&T gets to write the rules, they're going to write rules that favor whatever AT&T is doing right then and there and make it so that AT&T doesn't have to spend money to keep up with competition. AT&T just used as an example because I'm really annoyed with them right now.

The 2010 Health Care reform act will actually require members of Congress to purchase their insurance plans from the health care exchange individual market.

I think a good metaphor for this article is..."Let's give Linebrink the 9th".

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 19, 2010 -> 09:03 AM) What's there to do when both private enterprise and the government suck ass? Step 1: Kill all the lobbyists Step 2: Re-build a competent regulatory apparatus that is not completely designed by the telecom lobby

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 09:17 PM) The Mets and Yankees are the only other ones in the ballpark. The big difference is that the yankees can just spend over them. The Mets wouldn't have so many contracts considered bad if their guys would stay healthy.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Mar 19, 2010 -> 01:03 AM) For what its worth, if the Bulls are completely healthy, I could see them upsetting/hanging in with any team in the East. After that 5 game stretch on the road earlier this season, I could have been convinced, but right now, this team is in shambles, and I seriously doubt they'd be able to find a groove again this season or get 100% healthy. Plus, they'd get outcoached. And it really doesn't matter who they played.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 08:55 PM) The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Public Citizen sued over it. Nancy Pelosi and Louise Slaughter actually joined in. The lawsuit determined that a deem and pass rule is constitutional and acceptable. Actually, that one was a slightly different circumstance...in that one, the bills that the House and Senate passed actually included different language thanks to some earmark or something that a staffer included into one of them at the last minute. That was the specific question that brought about the lawsuit, not just the use of "Deem and Pass" which was already quite common.

Yeah, might as well post this. The running gag right now on the left is...Look...Eric Massa! John Edwards's mistress!

I hate that Ozzie always says things like "Give me 30 stolen bases" without ever adding "and don't get thrown out". Q's hitting 50 HR this year.

QUOTE (knightni @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 04:11 PM) I always thought that Chamberlain was destined to be their next closer. It's hard to imagine him as a starter. He has the 4 pitches, but wasn't the only reason he dropped to the Yankees in the draft health concerns anyway?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 03:26 PM) If the Cubs want to move forward, they need to deal the one big contract that has value, Zambrano. That's if they want to rebuild. They could have a shot this season if they go all in and get a little luckier on injuries to Ramirez et al than they did last year. But there are some serious holes they need to fill. They need a LH bat, maybe at corner OF or middle infield. They're very weak in the bullpen. Their 5th starter remains someone on Carlos Silva's level or worse, and there's a lot of questions higher up in that rotation too. They could make a run for it this year if they wanted to, but they'd have to be willing to mortgage everything rather than limping along from year to year.

Anyway, back to insurance company bashing. Seriously, does that strike you as that hard of a commitment to keep?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 03:19 PM) Or if they learned anything from the "Nebraska Deal" now is the time to get PAID! I could be wrong, but I'm about 75% sure that there's no room for re-writes at this point, now that the CBO score is out.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 02:18 PM) No one will want him for that contract. He is ours for a while. Especially with a declining cap/tax level, and probably a new CBA at some point.

One thing worth noting about Jones's career...the year he hit 50 HR, he also lead the league in HR in spring training, for whatever that's worth.

Link

Here's the big problem. Guys in the everyday starting lineup you might think would put up an .800 OPS or better. Beckham Konerko Rios Quentin (1.000? Come on baby). Maybe throw Jones, Ramirez onto there if Jones stays healthy and if Ramirez remembers what a curve ball is before June. Guys who's best OPS in the last few years hangs out around .750-.760 Pierzynski Teahen Pierre Kotsay All of the pop in this lineup is RH. If Teahen can't push himself towards .800, I see no other option other than Pierzynski, but that's the reason some of us wanted a better LH bat brought in.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 02:16 PM) the best part is that their expanding contract obligations will make it even harder to recover. If the 2 Chicago teams swapped GM's, I'd guarantee you that you'd see both Vitters and that new young SS moved before the trading deadline, probably for a starting pitcher and a LH bat, to try to make one last run at it this year.

Because it worked GREAT for the Credit Card industry.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 10:59 AM) I believe it's not 1.3 tril over twenty but rather in the years ten thru twenty. But the cbo states those predictions arenunreliable. But the point is when all mechanisms are in place they see big savings. Hell, the 10 year predictions are pretty unreliable too, the CBO is typically very conservative (lower case c) in their estimates. They'd rather have greater savings appear than have cost-overruns appear, with good reason. Either way, the deficit reduction numbers are better than either the House or the Senate bills, and it covers 1 million people more than the Senate bill, as calculated by them.

Cliff Lee suspended for first 5 games of the season for throwing over Chris Snyder's head.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Mar 18, 2010 -> 10:31 AM) I saw on the MLB Network last night on their crawl a poll about Dukes. It asked what team might pick him up, and the choices were SF, NYY and the White Sox. I don't know why they chose those three teams or if there is any evidence that any of them are interested. Well, I will say that the Giants are one team he'd probably be an upgrade for at their starting OF spot (how have they not gambled on JD if they're hoping to compete out there?).

Andrew Bailey shut down for a week with "Tennis Elbow".