Balta1701

Link. I love that ending part. Sure it didn't work at all, but at least it was on sale!

QUOTE(Reddy @ Mar 6, 2008 -> 09:35 AM) Pelfrey and Maine too. Pelfrey's value has declined enough that I'd say I'm really not interested in him in an Konerko deal. And John Maine certainly isn't what I'd consider a valuable prospect, or even a prospect these days. He'll turn 27 in 2 months.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 09:31 PM) Obama is going to have huge issues in Pennsylvania. If people thought the demographics were favorable for Clinton in Ohio, they've seen nothing yet. Pennsylvania has an even higher union working/steel mill type demographic (ala it's sister across the state line in Youngstown, Ohio), and an even smaller african american base than Ohio. Obama will certainly do well in Philly and State College, but I can't see him doing much elsewhere or winning that state. He's going to have to do something incredible to even make it closer than Ohio was IMO, 7 weeks doesn't change demographics. Before the votes were cast on Tuesday, the polling in PA showed that Obama had already narrowed the gap to roughly 5 points. That's smaller than the gap he's had to overcome in most states.

After this offseason's dealings, what do the Mets have left that would interest people? They still have 1 of those OF's, right? Fernando Martinez? Everyone else from their list I'd have been interested in they dropped in the Santana trade. Their system has gone from having a plethora of young guys to being a little thin, but it brought them baseball's best pitcher. So, basically, they'd have to talk about either Martinez or Jose Reyes, or there's nothing left to talk about with them.

Surprised no one seems to have posted this Ozzie blurb in here yet. From the Trib:

Link.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 08:13 PM) I'm shocked a mistake like this would be made that would help out Clinton. I'm even more shocked that the Clintons would use something their campaign was also doing as a way of making the opposing campaign look bad.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 08:02 PM) Now, Howard Dean of the DNC reiterated that the rules will be followed, period. So he doesn't sound like he is budging. But one possibility that could come up is having new primaries for each. Here is Dean's full statement:

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 07:24 PM) Here is my question. Why is it that watching CNN, and looking at websites like MSNBC and CNN and NY Times, that no one is making mention of the fact that Obama has actually won Texas? And apparently actually gained ground in delegates instead of lost? Me thinks they overreacted a bit last night to the Clinton victory parade, before finding out how things really fell out. I mean, the headlines on the NYT site still say things like "Lesson of Defeat" when discussing Obama. Overall he certainly didn't gain ground in delegates, even though it was close.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 06:41 PM) That bodes well for his future as a Bull doesn't it. Trade bait in the off-season I'd say. Memphis should try a Miller plus future 1st for Gordon / Thomas sign and trade deal. Could always include Brian Cardinal's expiring deal as well I guess. In other words, he's got Tyson Chandler and the "Damn I wish we hadn't traded that guy for pennies on the dollar" written all over him.

Tyrus Thomas suspended 2 games for missing practice.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 06:28 PM) He's crazy if he thinks so. It'll be Brian Matusz as a pitcher before Crow cas of durability issues. Does that take in to account the dreaded agents/contract demands?

Reggie Willits is blocked in the Angels system...and yet he wouldn't be blocked by Dye, Swisher, Quentin, Owens, and maybe Anderson? We already have 4 OF's competing for playing time, potentially 5 if Anderson keeps hitting. Reggie would probably fit in after the first 3, but he'd still be struggling to find a job here.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 04:40 PM) I can go to pretty much any doctor I want. If I get injured I can go a private hospital. The private insurance system has big flaws, if the government's plan is better I will go there. If it sucks I should not be forced into it. And now to spring the fun part on you...you've basically outlined the general structure of both Hillary and Obama's Health care plans!

On the Limbaugh question we've discussed, here's potentially some useful comparison data.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 04:35 PM) people should be able to decide where the go for care, not be dictated where they must go by the government. Again, if people want to buy into the government system they should be able to. People that do not, should not be forced into going into a system they do not like. If the government system is so great people will go there by choice. People don't have the right to decide where they go for care now. In virtually all cases it's limited/dictated by an insurance company.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 04:26 PM) We'll see. I have a feeling it's going to cost a lot more than the Dems are letting on. I can see universal health coverage in the US being a massive money pit. The problem right now is that the insurance industry isn't any better and it doesn't have any motivation to get any better than being a massive money pit.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 04:31 PM) My religion bans people from walking more than 5 minutes. Where's my shuttle? Do not be ignorant to my beliefs. Run.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 03:39 PM) Another thing, you mentioned was about all they have to do is walk 10 minutes to another gym. How long until another whiny group complains that the gym they're doing it at is too far away and it should applied to another, closer to home gym as well? Give a mouse a cookie.......... It's a gym! Walking to the gym = additional exercise!

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 04:12 PM) Government controlling health care isn't going to lower costs. Health care is going to cost just as much, if not more, once big government corruption gets involved. The only difference is it will be a socialized pooling of money. If it cost just as much but also insured everyone, isn't that a step upwards?

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 04:05 PM) Medicare is a US government run health care program, go figure. If private run systems were actually cheaper or weren't driving up the cost of Medicare by trying to make sure that Medicare has to cover the sickest and most expensive people, your argument would have some validity.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 03:59 PM) The free health care plan the Dems want will increase costs dramatically, so there will have to be major tax increases. Especially if we have an open border and pay for half of Mexico's health care as well. Thats gonna be REAL expensive, so plan on jacking everyones income tax dramatically. I'd buy that argument...if the country wasn't already paying through the teeth for health care as it is. Medicare pays more per capita to cover the elderly than some countries spend to cover everyone.

Great little graph stolen from a couple places showing the rate of increase of various programs under the Bush Administration...showing how virtually all the nasty growth of the government has been either in defense spending or in health care spending. All those earmarks, all those wasteful programs...barely increased at all. If you want to cut the size of government or balance the budget...either you need to reform the health care system or you need to cut defense spending. There is no way around it.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 02:03 PM) I saw about 3 quarters of the Memphis vs. Chicago game late last night. Memphis are just horrible. Defensively, argubly the worst team in the league. And they need shooters in the worst way possible, Mike Miller being out really hurts them. As for the Bulls, not much competition, but some decent signs nonetheless. I don't think Darko getting over 20 points, bodes well for the Bulls though. They need a draft a C, or at least sign one in the next off-season. And there's a couple of good ones in the draft in the top 5 or 6, but the Bulls would have to get lucky with the ping pong balls. I disagree. The Bulls have drafted 2 big men in the last 2 years and are holding on to another one that they just traded for, and then they have a 4th for mopup duty in Gray. They really need to develop the people they already have. What does it matter if you draft another C if all he does is get 10 minutes a game because Noah is getting 20? All that does is keep either of them from really developing a solid This year, the weakness has been in their back court as much as anything.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 02:25 PM) Just want to know, why some people think Hilary will get the nomination if it goes to the convention in Denver, and if she's behind in delegates? Is it because of the super delegates, who will be yet to decide (and Clinton will do anything she can to get them on board)? There are almost certainly going to be several hundred superdelegates sitting on the sideline until the convention at this point. And they're not going to want to overturn the voters if they can avoid it. If Obama comes in with a solid, steady lead in delegates and votes, then enough of them will probably endorse him to put him over the top. But if Hillary comes back and starts winning most of the remaining states, which is entirely possible...then the impression will certainly be that she has the momentum going in to the convention, and most of the remaining ones, who probably would prefer to support her anyway because of the fact that she's more of the establishment candidate than him...will swing to her. If Obama can keep it relatively split over the next 2 months, maybe take PA as well (already close in the polls with 2 months to go), and maybe grow his delegate lead a bit, that should be enough. But if Hillary can pull off wins in the majority of these next states, or pull in big wins in a few, then that will probably bring the supers to her side.