NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 11:30 AM) That's not at all unusual, it's just that it's worded even more stupidly than normal. Oh I know it happens in a lot of places, sometimes with more subtlety. But I used to live in Memphis, and couldn't opass up the opportunity to poke fun. And I am shocked - shocked, I tell you - that people there are even less able to express these ideas eloquently.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 11:21 AM) http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/...lative-demands/ Ah, west Tennessee. Such a bastion of intellect.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 10:47 AM) Well Newt recently reiterated the growing threat from the radical islamofascist secularists, lending more credibility to my hypothesis! Well after all, Obama is clearly a radical socialist secularist islamofascist communist.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 10:48 AM) Robin Ventura @RobinVentura23 Just finished my strategy session with Kenny. Here's the jist of what he told me: Whatever @OzzieGuillen did, do the opposite. #WhiteSox That's not real... right?

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 10:43 AM) Is that an industry unit of measure? No, just me. My car gets 50 rods to the hogs head and that's just fine by me!

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jan 26, 2012 -> 06:20 PM) but the moon base will have solar panels, so you can support it. boooooooooooooo... I expect better sass than that from you. I'm disappointed.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 08:45 AM) WTF is "radical secularism" Everything must be made into black and white, polar arguments in the current political environment. Not sure if you noticed. Next we will hear about radical moderation.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jan 27, 2012 -> 09:46 AM) Very well done list. I see lots of pitchers, a few middle infielders, and one 1st baseman...and two catchers. In the opinions of those better versed in the minors, is in concerning to not have a good potential replacement for Konerko? I imagine having pitchers, outfielders, and middle infielders is more important (as 1st base seems to require less athleticism), but after years of having a good power-hitting 1st baseman, what does the future hold for the Sox once Konerko leaves or retires (hopefully the latter)? The system definitely lacks in 1B's and power hitters, even more so than it does in other areas. Wilkins is the one guy who might fit both bills, but 2012 will be a good indicator if that will really happen. Certainly he's worth keeping an eye on for that purpose. The only other power hitter in the system, at least at this point, is Trayce Thompson. But he is still very raw, hasn't hit for a solid average yet, and strikes out a metric f***-ton.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 26, 2012 -> 05:52 PM) Wait a minute our awful farm system cannot possbily produce two MLB products to help this year. The sysem is the worst in baseball. It is one of the worst. May have been THE worst before this offseason, though I'd contend it is slightly above that level at this point (among 5 worst now, if that is an improvement). But that is about depth of talent. Even a lousy system has some talent in it, and as K pointed out, the Sox did a good job filling the biggest needs with major league ready talent.

On Opening Day? Dunn. As the season wears on? AJ.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 26, 2012 -> 01:42 PM) Remember when I told you he was crazy? Its all relative. That is politically crazy, but not Palin/Perry/Cain/Bachmann certifiable. Its stupid and make him look like he isn't a "real conservative", but not so much crazy. More in the way of dumb.

So... Newt wants to massively cut programs like infrastructure, energy and medicine... but he wants a base on the moon by 2020? WTF?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 26, 2012 -> 11:43 AM) Yes, this is what I was saying. Lost is correct. and I agree with that too.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jan 26, 2012 -> 12:34 AM) They are going into a place where they could actually lose this weekend, we'll try and do something. ISU will need to do better than 22 points in the first half then. It all depends on which team shows up. Neither version of ISU is particularly good at rebounding or game control, but the better version takes smart shots and definitely could beat Kansas at the Coliseum.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 01:55 PM) He's going to sell avocados. Family biz apparently. And SoxFan1, I LOL'd when I read that line as well.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 26, 2012 -> 10:21 AM) The speech was his kickoff to his 2012 re-election campaign. It has an entirely different purpose than his last SOTU speech and it obviously accomplished that. 100% agree.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 08:50 PM) Well considering the poll was taken immediately after the speech, my guess would be a large portion of it was just emotional response, as opposed to a well-thought out reaction which will last over time. While I was reading the speech, I admittedly came close to tearing up a few times. Some speeches are meant to rouse emotion. However, after a short period of time, that emotion goes away and the more deep-seated beliefs return. Do you really think Obama said anything in that speech concerning our economic policy that should cause that sort of shift? It was just an immediate, emotional response. Take the same poll in a month, and I'd bet my house that 80% of those same voters do not favor his economic policies. I think you are all missing the point here. First, no one is saying those numbers mean that that many people actually favor his policies in the long run. Second, when your results are better, relatively, than the year before, then yes, it of course means something. Third, do you seriously think I am not familiar with emotion and politics? The fact that the speech went over better than the last one definitely has meaning. Its like turning a car. Any given move with the steering wheel has an effect, which may or may not cause the car to do what you want it to do, but from that point on you have a different starting point. And your idea that "80% of those same voters" won't favor his policies in a month is ridiculous, since even at bottom he was still getting around 40% favorable on that (or in that ballpark). The numbers move around, but not THAT much.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 26, 2012 -> 08:36 AM) Jobless claims ticked back up: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-26/f...volatility.html 4 week average actually fell, since the overall trend has been going down lately.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 07:37 PM) The 30% is not the difference between those who said they approved of his economic plan after last year's speech and those that said they approved it after this year's speech. It is the difference between the approval of the plan before and after the speech. Are you really telling us that this is a meaningful figure? Absolutely it is. Does it mean that he is 30% more favorable now? Now, but it clearly had an impact. I have a hard time seeing how it is you don't see that.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 02:26 PM) I think the point was 91 percent, 82 percent, it's all massive approval because it is also massive fluff nonsense. There is no difference between 91 and 82 because those ratings almost never happen when you have to reveal actual policy you intend to be accountable for. I disagree, I think it does mean something. And more importantly, look at the 30 point difference about the economy, which will be issue #1 in November. Does it mean he personally has 91 or 83% approval? Of course not. But the difference is definitely meaningful in some ways.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 25, 2012 -> 01:12 PM) I'd imagine similar numbers appear every year. Did you not read what you quoted?

Thought this was interesting. Illinois AG Lisa Madigan is suing S&P over practices that led to overblown ratings and hiding risk in investments.

Excerpt from the Trib today... Always liked the guy, he just wasn't a major league hitter. I'll bet he comes back to the game to be a coach at some point.

I'd disagree that it was totally empty, as he did mention numerous specific initiatives. The problem is a lot of them won't get done, and THAT is what happens with all SOTU speeches. One thing I liked hearing him say, though, which I want to see get more public debate, is the assinine 60-vote procedural filibuster rule needs to go.

Definitely a more fiery speech than we've seen from Obama since before he was elected. More direct, more policy directives, more energy. Some of the ideas are good, some are bad, but he is definitely making his case loudly for 2012, and overall it was pretty good. The spilled milk joke was awful, seriously, whoever wrote that should be fired immediately. One more thing... WTF was Mitch Daniels talking about when he said "half of people under 30 didn't go to work today". Well, yeah, all those people less than 15 years old likely don't have jobs. Duh. If he meant working age (over 18), even if you include college students, that number is still 100% not believable. And man do that dude's facial expressions creep me out, he's like an android. I was kind of surprised though that a guy who is supposedly a GOP object of desire for higher office, endorsing means testing for Medicare and Social Security.