NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (mr_genius @ May 15, 2008 -> 04:23 PM) good evaluation of the situation. I'd also be willing to bet that the Dems knew this was eventually going to happen and they already had their outrage scripted out and ready to go. "Ok, Biden will get REALLY mad and start swearing. Get in touch with hard working White voters. People will want to have a beer with him then. Ok, Pelosi will have a news conference and get really mad too." manufactured outrage That's probably about right. Maybe not quite in that level of detail, but something like it. I guess you could call the first move (Bush) manufactured controversy, and then the Dem reaction manufactured outrage.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 15, 2008 -> 05:03 PM) note the word 'inclusive'. Obaby was acting as if he was singled out. So Bush is correct, Obama wasn't targeted, appeasing liberals were. If he self-identifies with that group, oh well. Please. You know exactly how this game works. The comments were targeted at Dems in general, Obama and Carter specifically. They left it unspecific, with the following denials, so that they can say they aren't interfering in the campaign. And that little trap you just laid, about self-identifying, is exactly the reaction they wanted. This was all well-scripted, and all part of the game.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 15, 2008 -> 03:47 PM) I have to admit I want to watch the "Zohan" flick with Sandler after seeing the full trailer. I cannot stand Sandler. I'd rather watch an entire film about Ewoks than see him on screen. One small exception - The Wedding Singer was a fun movie, despite his presence in it. Well written, good side characters.

QUOTE (Texsox @ May 15, 2008 -> 02:46 PM) Dr. Pepper, that spicy cola product, should have been listed. For soda, I drink Coke. Mexico Coke in bottle (made with pure cane sugar)>>>>> Coke in bottle >> gun >> plastic >> can Coke in most other places - Europe, Mexico, etc. - that use real sugar, is definitely way better than the corn syrup American variety. But coke can get corn syrup a lot cheaper in the states, so, that's what we get.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 15, 2008 -> 03:21 PM) "I would think that all of you who cover these issues and have for a long time have known that there are many who have suggested these types of negotiations with people that the president, President Bush, thinks that we should not talk to. I understand when you're running for office you sometimes think the world revolves around you. That is not always true. And it is not true in this case." Get over it. He was not talking about your guy, so go away. You don't seriously believe he wasn't talking about Obama, do you? He clearly was. This isn't as huge a deal in itself as its being made into, I agree with that. It is, however, indicative of one of the many failings of this administration - its complete refusal to see allow for anything other than diplomacy by bully pulpit. And since that's not really news, I didn't think too much about it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 15, 2008 -> 03:08 PM) And that is how history should judge him and the work he did. We have the Iraq war in no small part because Colin Powell valued loyalty to his superiors over loyalty to America and its people. I have to disagree, sort of. You should read Curveball, and Fiasco, as well as Woodward's books about BushCo and Iraq. Powell expressed deep concerns, but further, he was also given horrible information by CIA. There was an episode where, prior to Powell's UN speech about trailers and chem-weaps, the CIA basically bungled the entire thing. They gave him information that wasn't even agreed upon by most of CIA - just the few who happened to line up with the Bush Administration's interests. Powell was assured by Tenet and others it was accurate and solid, when it was nothing of the sort. So yes, Powell pushed the company line. But he was not intentionally dishonest, and I think he did a mostly admirable job of balancing loyalty to his employer and acting for the general good. Once it was clear what a debacle things were, he expressed it, and he and Armitage were shown to the door as a result.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 15, 2008 -> 03:11 PM) I have a question about one of those bullet points you listed. From what I understand, the polar bears are experiencing a population explosion, and are not 'endangered', despite being put on that list for political reasons, and part of the problem is that there are just too many bears competing for the same food. Claiming that there isn't enough food for them because of climate change is not right, when it appears that there are just too many of them for the food base to feed. If I can find the story again, I will link it. I'd like to see the evidence that Polar Bears are actually exploding in population - that's new to me. If its true, then one thing to ask is, why is that happening? There may be something else occurring in the balance of things that is causing that temporary increase. Sometimes that can happen for complex reasons, then the population plummets. Or, it could be they are actually beating out some other predator for prey. Or, it could be that there is no danger to them at all. I don't know. But it seems really unlikely to me that they'd be protected, if they are doing well.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 15, 2008 -> 01:42 PM) I corrected the opening statement. youa re right. He was less harsh than Bush. I think a while back that even Colon Powell, a man with great respect among Americans, also said we should talk to these other countries rather than put out head in the sand. If someone can find a link about that i'd appreciate it. Powell actually has a sense for how to deal with other countries. BushCo is dominated by people who feel that America should just bludgeon their way through to what they need. That's why Powell was eventually, unceremoniously, sent packing.

QUOTE (Mplssoxfan @ May 15, 2008 -> 12:59 PM) Great map. I remember being at a McD's in Macon GA and asking for a Coke. "What kind of Coke?" "Um... Coke." "Okay, then!" When I moved to Tennessee, from Chicago, I had similar experiences. Weird stuff. If I wanted a diet coke, or a sprite or something, why would I say coke?

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 15, 2008 -> 02:27 PM) And McCain is onboard with Bush: McCain: Obama Naive and Inexperienced Actually, McCain's statement there (while I disagree with its assumptions) is much more reasonable, and is not the same as what Bush said. Bush talked about appeasing terrorists. McCain points out his view that negotiating with Iran is a bad idea.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 15, 2008 -> 02:14 PM) I was just doing the math. He said by 2013, the war in iraq would be over. So, let's assume it's by 2010 for the sake of argument. When you combine his 2 statements, we will be there until 2110. If McCain wants to retract or revise his stanc eon this, he is more than welcome. It'll be seen as a flip-flop. But he is entitled to change his mind. so you were just adding up two comments taken out of context, assumed meaning from them that wasn't intended, and coming up with 2110? I'm sorry but I think that's ridiculous. Its just as ridiculous as people saying Obama wants to appease terrorists.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 15, 2008 -> 12:42 PM) I dont think so. Well, ok, kinda. Yes, he did NOT say that we will be fighting there for 100 years. That is pretty obvious to me. but he DID say we would keep a security force or training forces there for 100 year. Maybe a 1000, ect... That is not acceptable to me. Peace in Iraq is NOT similar to peace in Korea. They are very different situations. He was taken out of context on the 100 years, but that isn't what I was talking about either. I mean this most recent quote, that you pointed out. In that case, the context of the quote was everything.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ May 15, 2008 -> 12:21 PM) As "Ocho Cinco" aka Chad Johnson so perfectly put it: "Coke. From McDonalds". But yeah, I prefer any form of fountain coca cola by far, and I'm not a fan of any sort of pop in a can. Which brings me to my next point, as a self respecting lifelong Chicagoan, of course I call it pop. That's a given. Fountain > glass bottle > can >>>>>>>>> plastic bottle

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ May 15, 2008 -> 12:35 PM) Where is the the Squirt/Fresca selection? Those aren't colas. I was going for colas. And I should have added a third poll question - fountain, can, glass bottle or plastic bottle?

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 15, 2008 -> 12:17 PM) and what in the last 2 years has shown this is anywhere near REAL peace? Not this fake "cease fire" by some leaders. I am not saying that McCain is "right" on the war, I am saying that that statement was taken lcompletely out of context.

Oh yeah, I forgot Jarritos. And when I say "coke" or "pepsi", those are brand encompassing. Coke is coke, diet coke, caffeine free diet coke, coke zero, coke one and a half, gravy-flavored coke, whatever.

If its been asked here before, I don't recall. So what do you drink, in the sugar water arena? And what do you call it?

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 15, 2008 -> 08:20 AM) Dont worry folks... if McCain is elected president we'll mostly be out of Iraq by 2013. Only 5 more years of dead Americans. No need to worry.. Plus 100 years after the deaths of Americans stop. So, we'll be out of Iraq by 2113, maybe a little later. My personal take on the issue. This is a prime example of McCain (or insert other candidate name here) being taken wildly out of context by the media (CNN's headline reads same). He was giving a speech, and was illustrating what the world and the country would look like at the end of his first term - in 2013. He mentioned a number of things, including that the Iraq war would be won, and most of the troops would be home. He did NOT say that it would necessarily take that long.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ May 15, 2008 -> 11:55 AM) Question....Doesn't Buehrle pretty much throw whatever AJ calls? He rarely shakes AJ off...so if they're going away away...who is that on? I can see if AJ is setting up inner half and Mark is missing outside....but he seems to throw where AJ is set up. The pitch calls are imprecise - pitch and maybe zone. But the more precise placement of the pitch - an inch into the zone, and inch out, etc. - rests on the pitcher. And watching MB's last outing, he wasn't exactly nailing AJ's initial mitt placement. AJ had to move around a lot back there.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 15, 2008 -> 10:58 AM) Hopefully Obama will give them the boot. The problem with "big investors" is they often have less than clean ties. They are in it for the money. They'll invest in what gives them the most. Not that there aren't "upstanding" investors, but I tend to think the big guys are not. I disagree - I think the problem here, in both cases, is the media digging for trash. Both McCain and Obama make investments with their money, as any halfway intelligent person with money does. They invest in mutual funds, and their buddies do too. Of course naturally, somehow, in some indirect way, that could tie them both to something evil. No surprise there. I fail to see why its a big deal. These are both trashy non-issues. They aren't worth paying attention to.

QUOTE (mreye @ May 15, 2008 -> 09:26 AM) My curent softball contract does not allow me to play recreationally. I'll talk to my agent to see what kind of appearance fee we would need. Set the date. I'll see what I can do. Tell you what. If you show up wearing a helmet like the one in your avatar, I'll pay you an appearance fee of $5.

A win tonight means a split in LA, after 2 of 3 in Seattle. That would be a pretty good 7 game stretch on a west coast road trip. And San Fran is up next, which should be a very winnable series.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 15, 2008 -> 08:37 AM) I guess Contreras isn't washed up after all. Yeah, I must admit, I am very pleasantly surprised with JC. He was possibly my biggest concern going into the season. I'm happy to be proven wrong.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 15, 2008 -> 09:02 AM) Prove it. So far, the only person we know that used it is that phony religious guy working for Huffpo at a townhall meeting. QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 15, 2008 -> 09:08 AM) If you're going to bash Obama please find something relevant to bash. And no, jaywalking is not relevant. How about you both let it go. I mean seriously, none of that s*** is important, and its certainly not worth flooding the thread with snark over.

Syracuse (24-16) @ Charlotte (16-23), 6:15pm CT, the league's ERA leader, Lance Broadway (5-1, 1.13), starts for the Knights. Birmingham (22-18) @ Jacksonville (19-21), 6:05pm CT, no starter listed yet but I believe it should be C Richard (3-5, 2.87) Lynchburg (16-22) @ Winston-Salem (16-18), 6:00pm CT, I think its Rasner's (2-3, 3.41) turn, but they keep moving those guys around Delmarva (20-18) @ Kannapolis (19-20), 6:05pm CT, N. Jones (1-3, 7.11) goes for the Intimidators --- I just want to point out that Delmarva's second baseman, Ryan Adams, has 24 errors in 30 games. That is amazing.