NorthSideSox72

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 12:49 PM) Chitrib, scroll down a little for the Obama blurb. Well, at least Obama might be a President willing to admit when he went horribly awry. I still want to know where he will stand on the issues, and what sort of leader he will turn out to be in the executive sense. There is just not enough data I can find as of yet.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 11:41 AM) Yes, it has been. Anyway, on other Obamamania news, I'm going to steal this from the Economist. I can't access the audio. Would you mind giving an overview?

QUOTE(knightni @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 10:35 AM) Question: Do you think Cheney will run for President as lame duck VP even with his health and questionable Halliburton/Quail hunting background? Seems to me he'd be an anchor around the neck of the Republicans. Cheney has said repeatedly and adamantly that he has zero desire to run for Prez. And in his case, with the way he has stated it, I'd guess he is telling the truth. Plus he is not seen by the GOP as a good draw for anyone outside the party hardline. I see zero chance of him running.

Gingrich, if he runs at all, says he will wait until well into 2007 before announcing. He also won't bother if one candidate appears to be locked up for it. I suspect he could make some real noise if he ran.

They want MLB ready? I'd deal Haeger, Pods and maybe a spect arm for him (not Broadway, lower tier than that). If they'd take that.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 09:26 AM) How dangerous are these rescue missions for the rescue teams? They can be very dangerous. Think about the conditions - subzero temps, 100 MPH winds, blowing snow and ice, uneven terrain covered in snow (can't see what you are actually walking on), avalanches, etc. Plus, as they teach you in any sort of rescue class, if someone is injured or hurt - then whatever injured or hurt them may very well still be present when you arrive on scene.

Link to that update, they ID'd the body. The other two still missing.

QUOTE(Brian @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 08:35 AM) Yeah, my bad. I got caught between "missing" and "not found". I thought maybe you had heard something I hadn't.

So, its way early for this, but just for fun... If people here had to guess what the Dem and GOP tickets will look like for the 2008 election, what is your current best guess? I'll go with... GOP: McCain/Romney or Giuliani/McCain Dem: Edwards or Obama for Prez, Obama or Richardson for VP (some combination thereof) Regarding names not shown above... For the Dems, Kerry will bow out early, Clinton with be Obama's biggest competitor but lose (she'll start hot and then flame out quickly), Vilsack/Clark/Biden/Kucinich will be also-rans. Edwards starts 3rd but passes Clinton at some point as does Obama, Richardson just barely above the also-rans before dropping out mid-way and hoping for a VP bid. On the GOP side, Giuliani won't accept a VP bid, so he is all or none. Romney is the perfect political offset to McCain. Brownback won't get anywhere. And I don't see any other names being discussed for a GOP nod that has a chance. Anyone else care to add their questionable speculation?

Another solid move. The offseason continues to go well. The only significant problem area left for 2007's roster, to me, is Pods. Other upgrades, such as CF or SS, would be nice, but are by no means necessary. Now, as far as longer term issues of contracts, and trying to restock young arms in the system, those are areas that still needs work. But KW seems to be working on that.

QUOTE(Brian @ Dec 17, 2006 -> 09:01 PM) 1 body found tonight. Other two not missing. Body not yet identified. What do you mean by "other two not missing"? They were found???

QUOTE(YASNY @ Dec 18, 2006 -> 02:17 AM) Apparently I wasn't clear. Jimmy Carter was the absolute worst president in my lifetime. Also want to mention that the respect for presidents must not include current ones. At least not around here. My opinion on this may change with the perspective of time, but as of now, the worst Prez of my lifetime is the current one. Hands down. Forgetting even about issues and political equations, the guy just has very little ability to lead or manage at that level. Carter was definitely south of the median though. Probably 3rd worst in my lifetime, if I give it some thought. I do agree with YAS' general sentiment on Carter - good man, lousy President.

I don't see much beneath Edwards' southern charm. I think he's pretty thin on real leadership skills. Just my take.

Official... http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...sp&c_id=cws

Hm. Well, hate to say it, being as big a Gload fan as any, but this does appear to be a decent deal for all involved. Assuming Gload wasn't going to get a shot in LF (which he probably wasn't), then his talents were sort of wasted here. And Sisco will make for a nice addition. But if we start the season with Pods in LF and Gload would have had a shot, then this is less than ideal. I'm guessing that KC sees Sweeney's creaky body going downhill fast, and wants a 1B/DH to go with Shealy.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Dec 16, 2006 -> 10:36 AM) I'll listen to what Obama has to say, once he starts actually saying something. But my inclination at this point is that he doesn't have enough experience. He very well may be a force in the Democrat Party, but perhaps 2008 is too soon. I'm sorry Bayh dropped out. I'd like to several Democrats run with the hope that cream will rise to top. With Bayh out, I'm putting my hopes on Richardson right now. The field is awfully crowded, but that may actually help someone who isn't Clinton/Obama, as they battle each other. Depends how it falls out. Unfortunately, the Dems will worry that there are too many hats in the ring, and will likely try to persuade some of them not to run.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Dec 15, 2006 -> 05:08 PM) I actually don't mind Richardson so much. Ladies and gentlemen - I present to you the most ringing endorsement of a Democratic candidate you will ever hear from the poster known as Kap. sorry, couldn't resist. I'm hoping he can pull out the dark horse run and win, though he is a long shot.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Dec 16, 2006 -> 10:27 AM) Yea, he went up to N.H the same week "ROCK STAAH OBAMA!!!" went up, and he was pretty much told that it's a two way race between Hillary and Obama. Though I am intrigued by Obama, I really wish that Bayh would have stayed in for a while (even though they are politically similar). He was one of my two guys, up to this point. Richardson still seems to be making noise like he is in.

QUOTE(jasonxctf @ Dec 15, 2006 -> 04:29 PM) in case you didn't see it, Govenor Bill Richardson met with leaders of North Korea today in Santa Fe. Here's hoping he has success and can springboard the success into a party nomination. He was also on Kudlow & Company on CNBC yesterday afternoon and got some good publicity. http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews....=rss&rpc=22 He is definitely going to play up the foreign policy experience, and his energy background.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Dec 15, 2006 -> 02:26 PM) Yes, the Republicans screwed up on this. There's a way that this can be done that complies with laws... they've said as much, so go get it done that way, so everyone can move on. QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 15, 2006 -> 02:31 PM) But again, that way is not the way the Bush administration has been willing to accept. And so, even if this Democrat Congress can find its way to pass a law regarding the future of these people (which seems unlikely), Bush would likely veto anyway. This the sort of issue where Bush could choose to be the "uniter" instead of the "decider", and find a way to get the military tribunals he wants with the basic protections that Congress would likely want. I crack myself up.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Dec 15, 2006 -> 12:30 PM) I am wondering now why they split up. If one of them was injured badly enough that the clock was running, they'd probably leave him in the cave and do a haul-ass run for help. Might be why they got stuck in the first place. Weather up there is unpredictable, and it may have seemed clear when they made the call.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Dec 15, 2006 -> 12:22 PM) Wasn't it Rob Hall on Everest? That stove and fuel will be their lifelines. I wonder if they brought two, remember the group split up. You're probably right, that was Rob Hall. If so, nevermind. Although these three are pretty experienced climbers, it sounds like.

Two more things. One, one of these guys' name is Brian Hall. I'd have to find my book, but if I recall, and if its the same one, I think he was on Everest in '96 during the killing season (see Krakauer's book Into Thin Air, or Boukreev's follow up book, I forget the name). If that's him, and he survived that, he's probably pretty tough. Two, personal recommendation to anyone going really outback like this - 2-way GMRS extended range radios. We always carry two. They have up to a 15 mile range (though significantly less in a storm), are self-powered (not cellular), and we always let people know when we leave our plan information what frequency and privacy code we are on. The radios also have an emergency frequency, which some agencies might monitor in a scenario like this.

UPDATE - GOOD NEWS... So, the sherriff's department up there asked for the assistance of the 304th Air Force SAR team out of Portland, and they are now managing that operation. Further, a C-130 equiped heavily with surveillance and detection equipment (FLIR and what not) is on the way there today from Reno, NV. Part of the reason for the renewed vigor in the rescue attempt a week in is that they also found another note from the climbers, this one at an interior Ranger station on the mountain. The note indicates the gear they brought, which was exactly what they should have had - bivy sack, shovel, heavy winter gear, food, stove and fuel, cell phone, etc. So, it appears the initial reports of them going up "fast and light" may not have been entirely accurate. That combined with the cell phone signal would seem to indicate that, if properly sheltered, these guys could probably survive a couple weeks up there. So, news is actually good. Sounds like after some afternoon/evening surveillance from the air, they are planning a major, multi-pronged assault on Hood tomorrow morning to find them. This is from what I saw on CNN, I don't have a link.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Dec 15, 2006 -> 11:24 AM) I never would have used the term if you hadn't have brought it up. At that point, it was fair game ... but all in fun. Oh no, I don't mean YOUR reference. You are fine. I mean the way it was used by Mr. O'Reilly.