NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Texsox @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 12:11 PM) I really dislike it when we mix bills. That's been a big mantra I put on this board before. Truth in Legislation act. A bill should be self-explanatory. Transportation bills shouldn't include money for museums. And this stiumuls package should be at least segregated by area - energy, transportation, tax breaks, etc.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 12:15 PM) From what I understood at the time, it was the Tribune that was going to blow his case by going forward with an expose on this. I forgot about that part, but yes, that is also true.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 11:56 AM) The latter part is probably true. There really isn't the political will to make things be fixed on time. We've demonstrated that. You want to get it fixed on time? Commit to Al Gore's 100% renewable electricity by 2020 goal. If you can't do that, then you're probably too late, and you're going to suffer some major catastrophes. And that isn't even counting the ice sheets. The amazing thing about that goal? Last year sometime, someone published an article where they crunched the numbers, and found that if you have put the cost of the Iraq war (roughly $1T) into converting to renewable energy, we could have gotten so far with it that we would only need domestic oil. We'd be energy independent, and using 80% less fossil fuels. Instead, we bought Iraq. Awesome.

I hate shopping. I hate stores, particularly big and/or crowded ones, and I despise malls. There are maybe a few stores I actually enjoy being in - Abt Electronics, REI... that's about it. Everything else, my pulse and blood pressure rise notably when I'm inside, and I want to get out as quickly as possible.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 11:44 AM) I think there's another possibility to consider here. Fitz may well have actually blown his case in order to make it so that the governor couldn't sell that Senate Seat. Having him actually sell the seat would have set him up incredibly well for prosecution, but until the money is exchanged, the governor's hair can argue that he was just being taken out of context, which is what he's saying now. If you're in Fitz's chair...ask yourself this question. You have to weigh; either a successful prosecution and a corruptly purchased senate seat, or an unsuccessful prosecution but an exposed and handicapped governor who's unable to sell the seat and who is removed from that position by impeachment hearings. If that was the case, I can see why he'd choose the latter option, even if it hurts his case in the long run. Fitzgerald is looked at by most as a very intelligent, very cunning prosecutor. I just highly doubt he would choose to blow his case intentionally. I think he structured the case, the arrest, the releases and everything else to do what he wanted to do - paralyze Blago, then convict him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 11:41 AM) Actually, "too late anyways" is not what it says. The CO2 concentration given in that article is 450-600 PPM. We're currently approaching 400. What we've already done is bad enough, but every year that goes by gives you another 4-5 ppm or so, depending on the economies of the world and China's coal use. But what it does say is it is getting very very close to being too late, and we already going to see major shifts based on what we've already done. And again, all the more reason to act swiftly now. This is one of the problems I have with the stimulus bill. Yes, it includes some big money for alt energy. But it also includes big money for off-focus stuff, as you pointed out, like oil companies. The government needs to act smartly here - the great emphasis of any stiumulus package should be targeted on industries that are in the nation's best interests. Getting off oil should be priority number 1 on that list. Further, what I have not yet seen in the stiumulus package or other legislation, is significant movement on the natural end of the environment equation - protection and promotion of open and green space. It can't just be about reducing pollution and emissions - it also needs to be adding more green matter to help make the air healthier. Forests are weakening because of the level of carbon in the atmosphere, which renders them less useful for scrubbing CO2 from the air (and in extreme cases, some stressed forests are actually carbon POSITIVE). Mr. Obama - designate all proposed wilderness areas already under federal control as full wilderness, set aside monies for states and localities to protect and create more green space, and use the down real estate market to buy up land to take out of circulation. That last point can be done via private entities like The Nature Conservancy, or local/state agencies, not just the federal government. And it would have the nice side effect of helping bolster the real estate market a bit.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 11:30 AM) http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/2...26_climate.html This article almost sounds like a case of using exaggerated scare tactics, but it appears they have science that causes them to believe it's actually true. Maybe all of the enviornmental arguments and healthier for the planet/"greener" ideas don't matter because it's too late anyways. That is a sad thought if true. All the more reason to stop the slide now. And while the carbon level specifically may be difficult to reverse, that definitely does not mitigate the need for "green" ideas. Cutting pollution and increasing green space have huge positive effects, beyond just carbon emission levels.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 11:32 AM) One can only hope. People here say to move on from Crede's days and embrace Fields. Crede has back problems, or did, they point out and is an injury liability. However, they seem to forget that Fields was injured and is coming back from injury rehab also. We seem to forget that fact. I am sure that Crede won't be back (pardon the pun), but that doesn't mean I have to like it-accept it yes, but not like it. I see Fields as a defensive liability, who can swing a good bat, or at least he showed that for half a year or so. He doesn't have enough history for me to praise his prowress with the bat. I saw what he showed with the glove and I was not impressed with that part of his game. However, if Cora wants to give us the ole pre-season pump up fine, but we all know that every team in the majors and their players will be getting that from their coaching staff and manager. It's a great time to dream-the off season that is. I want Fields to suceed for sure because it sure looks like he is the 3B option right now. It's a roll of the dice soemtimes. A one time knee injury is not nearly the same as a chronic back problem. Look, I have been a big Crede fan and defender on this site. The only official jersey I have ever owned is a Crede. When healthy, he is a marvel to watch at 3B, and yes, he is (when healthy) better than Fields. But Crede is a HUGE injury liability - you can't dismiss that or equate it to something much different. I don't like that this is the case, but, his career has about a 10% chance of surviving at this point. So, including the full picture of reality (not just what-ifs), you really have to say that Fields is a much better and cheaper choice for the Sox.

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 11:19 AM) From the bill: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this heading ["Prevention and Wellness Fund"] not less than $2,350,000,000 shall be transferred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as follows: (1) not less than $954,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out the immunization program authorized by section 317(a), (j), and (k)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (‘‘section 317 immunization program’’), of which $649,900,000 shall be available on October 1, 2009; (2) not less than $296,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out Part A of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act, of which $148,000,000 shall be available on October 1, 2009; (3) not less than $545,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out chronic disease, health promotion, and genomics programs, as jointly determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services ("Secretary") and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("Director"); (4) not less than $335,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out domestic HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually-transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis prevention programs, as jointly determined by the Secretary and the Director; (5) not less than $60,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out environmental health programs, as jointly determined by the Secretary and the Director; (6) not less than $50,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount to carry out injury prevention and control programs, as jointly determined by the Secretary and the Director; (7) not less than $30,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount for public health workforce development activities, as jointly determined by the Secretary and the Director; (8) not less than $40,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to carry out research activities within the National Occupational Research Agenda; and (9) not less than $40,000,000 shall be used as an additional amount for the National Center for Health Statistics: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this heading not less than $150,000,000 shall be available for an additional amount to carry out activities to implement a national action plan to prevent healthcare-associated infections, as determined by the Secretary, of which not less $50,000,000 shall be provided to States to implement healthcare-associated infection reduction strategies: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this heading $500,000,000 shall be used to carry out evidence-based clinical and community-based prevention and wellness strategies and public health workforce development activities authorized by the Public Health Service Act, as determined by the Secretary, that deliver specific, measurable health outcomes that address chronic and infectious disease rates and health disparities, which shall include evidence-based interventions in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, tobacco cessation and smoking prevention, and oral health, and which may be used for the Healthy Communities program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other existing community-based programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. Of course, there is similiar stuff throughout the 647-page bill. Remember when Newt Gingrich and others were fighting Hillary Clinton's health care reform proposal? Gingrich's cry at that time was "Read the bill." He didn't have to spin it for people if he could just get them to read what was actually in Mrs. Clinton's proposal. Now Republicans are asking the same thing again: Read the bill. The only stimulus occurring from this is from a free hand. That CDC stuff has no place in any "stiumulus" package.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 10:57 AM) I think with what was released before, no one had the perseption that this was for no reason. Releasing sketchy parts of this, doesn't help them out at all. It actually strengthens Rod's defense that it was personal. It would be really easy to argue that he was just doing state business, which sometimes involves some arm twisting. There was nothing on there that spelled out anything illegal. They had better not screw this up, that would be the worse possible thing. Yeah, I think the Assembly needed a final push to get the Impeachment the momentum it needed. This provided that. I think it worked pretty well.

QUOTE (BobDylan @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 10:55 AM) Yep, been doing that. Signing up for every newsletter I can find, posting it on message boards, etc, etc. Set up Facebook and MySpace accounts with that email address, and have the profiles be fully public.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 10:47 AM) He's going to tell everyone how to do everything, isn't he? Oh come on, it was a funny off-hand comment. I don't think he is going to go tell the chief of DC schools to not close the schools.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 10:37 AM) Which makes me wonder why you would release the other stuff than. All it does is potentially put doubt into the minds of people who could end up on his jury. I think that was done for two reasons. One, as someone said earlier, you can't have the perception that it is "nothing", they need to show a bit of the case, since the suspect is so high profile. Two, and I think this is the key - they were aware that Blago's crimes were directly part of his governorship, and they wanted to do what they could to politically incapacitate him in a hurry. They wanted the impeachment, and to render him useless, so that he couldn't do more damage. So, they released enough to make that happen, while they shore up the rest of the criminal case.

Post your email address everywhere you can on the web. Spiders will pick it up, and it will go onto lists that are sold to spammers.

No way the Feds showed the heart of their hand in those tapes. They've got a lot more, I have no doubt.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 04:19 PM) "And the result of that special was that Arabs feel slighted by the world. They feel like they should be more respected for once being the cradle of civilization and are ashamed they are left so far behind." So your "they" is all Arabs, then. Got it.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 05:09 PM) I have never seen a guy who seems legitimately insane, but also is a very smooth talker at the same time. At least not until Blago, he is truly one of a kind. Actually, there are all sorts of mental disorders that can exist in some very normal seeming people. Plenty of serial killers fall into that realm.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 04:34 PM) that would be fairly bogus. the guy isn't insane, he's just a corrupt politician. i've seen his media interviews and he's just as smooth a talker as ever. i wouldn't even be surprised if people in Illinois vote him into some elected office again. he has all the democrat lingo down to a perfected science. LOL at "democrat" lingo. he isn't insane - but I am pretty sure he isn't all there. Look at his behavior - he is total denial of reality. this goes way, way beyond your average corrupt politician.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 03:43 PM) First, if you think that by hiring BBC journalists that somehow lends them an air of respecability, you are mistaken there, The BBc is more liberal there than PBS and NPR is here. Second, as for the 'cradle of civilization thing, they have become the armpit of civilization to their own lack of willingness to get with the program and live in the 21st century. Their whole belief system and culture needs to get out of the 12th century. Quit living and acting like dogs and maybe they wouldn't be looked at as dogs. If they are so ashamed at being so far behind, then build somethign instead of blowing things up. Who is "they" in your post?

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 03:42 PM) Second, think about it. I did. And now my head hurts. What are you getting at?

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 03:38 PM) But you can't throw so much money at it that you can't see the s*** on top of your head for the next 50 years. There is a fine line... one that the Democrats don't want to think about - this is all about HOW BAD IT IS so that they can get their giftwrapped s*** forced down our throats. This isn't about "stimulus", this is about getting money back to China and Saudi Arabia. First, its not "the Democrats", its "the great majority of both parties". Second, that last sentence... WTF?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 03:25 PM) Continuing on the path towards 2012...I give you...SarahPAC. If she gets the GOP nomination in 2012, you can pretty much hand a second term to Obama.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 03:22 PM) But now, it's all different. The Democrats have to save us all. It is different. Its already a lot different. But some people choose to believe that if Obama isn't completely, 100% transcendent, that must mean he is exactly the same as Bush. Reality is, he is and already has been different. But not in every way. And he certainly hasn't been keeping all his promises either.

Random question... who is the best FA left available who can play CF at least competently?

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 27, 2009 -> 11:22 AM) Another lobbyist to the admin. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6735898&page=1 Why do symbolic gestures like that order not work? When they get in the way of allowing someone you want on your team. This is pissing me off. And its incredibly stupid politically. I mean, Obama has all this political capital, and he is doing some good things with it. Why blow it with a couple cabinet nominations that could easily be filled without breaking his own rules? Just not a smart move at all.