FlaSoxxJim

QUOTE(YASNY @ Mar 14, 2006 -> 05:59 AM) Bill Frist: Emphasis mine. Almost alone even among the GOP, Frist goes so far as to refer to the NSA wiretaps as “a very good lawful constitutional program.” When did Billl Frist become a Constitutional scholar? Circle the wagons and protect the administration and the GOP power base at all costs, that's the only thing Frist is an expert on. He is completely lacking in moral fiber. Unlike some of the GOP "moderates" who at least claimed they were going to support a Congressional investigation before they crumbled under pressure from others in the part and thinly veiled threats from the White House. But that didn't mean that these Senators wouldn't have signed on to a censure resolution after a period of informed debate. And that informed debate is precisely the thing that Frist wanted to preempt by calling for a vote prematurely. Congress, particularly the Senate, is supposed to be a deliberative body that actually discusses the issues before bringing them to a vote. Alas, much in the manner the twisted GOP-worded version of the "Murtha resolution" was brought to a vote prematurely, Frist yesterday was making damn sure nobody had any time to consider it before being asked to vote. Who's the one pulling the political stunt again?

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 13, 2006 -> 09:19 PM) I guess it depends on what information you believe on the wire taps. Of course, one side says they are following the rules and the political opponent claims they are using illegal tactics. I know this is jumping onto a tangent (apologies), but who outside of the administration has consistently and convincingly said they think BushCo and the NSA are "following the rules?" And there is a difference between "following the rules" (i.e., acting within the law) and exceeding the law because the administration deems it necessary (i.e., to defend against a terrorist threat). The Senate Intelligence Committee voted not to investigate the program because they don't want the program investigated, not because they think the administration or NSA is acting within the law. The DeWine/Hagel/Snowe/Graham sponsored Terrorist Surveillance Act of 2006, if passed, would codify the illegal activity rather than actually look into it, because they don't want to look into it. Because if they actually investigated they would find the program to be in clear violation of existing statutes as well as the US Constitution. That is to say, blatantly illgal. Sen. Snowe was saying she would support Sen. Rockefeller's push for a full inquiry into the program not two weeks ago, and then flipflopped to help circle the wagons. That's the extent to which any of these so-called GOP "moderates" really wanted to get to the bottom of this.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 13, 2006 -> 03:55 PM) Well, if it was a fridge full of Miller Lite it *might* be OK. Yes, that would actually be quite safe.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 13, 2006 -> 02:14 PM) You might as well be leaving drug policy to the Medallin cartel if you are leaving ethics reform up to congres... Ya, kind of like leaving a fridge full of beer with me for safekeeping. . .

QUOTE(The Critic @ Mar 13, 2006 -> 02:59 PM) I would never use the "hot beer" faucet. True, at the same time, there is nothing better than tasting and smelling hot wort – the unfermented beer right out of the kettle – and getting a sense for what the beer will end up tasting like after a couple weeks in the fermenter. Mmmmm beer. . .

QUOTE(WCSox @ Mar 12, 2006 -> 11:16 PM) Oh, I'm sure that the media salivated when they read it and couldn't get it published quickly enough. :rolly I've not seen it run very widely yet (though a blog or two has picked up on it today).

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 12, 2006 -> 09:12 PM) Where did the letter come from? He's a Floridian. He shared the letter with his pastor and his pastor shared it with the media. I don't know if the author was aware of the pastor's actions at the time.

President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a young man I was honored to serve our nation as a commissioned officer and helicopter pilot in the US Navy. Before me in WWII, my father defended the country spending two years in the Pacific aboard the USS Hornet (CV-14). We were patriots sworn "to protect and defend". Today I conclude that you have dishonored our service and the Constitution and principles of our oath. My dad was buried with full military honors so I cannot act for him. But for myself, I return enclosed the symbols of my years of service: the shoulder boards of my rank and my Naval Aviator's wings. Until your administration, I believed it was inconceivable that the United States would ever initiate an aggressive and preemptive war against a country that posed no threat to us. Until your administration, I thought it was impossible for our nation to take hundreds of persons into custody without provable charges of any kind, and to "disappear" them into holes like Gitmo, Abu Ghraib and Bagram. Until your administration, in my wildest legal fantasy I could not imagine a US Attorney General seeking to justify torture or a President first stating his intent to veto an anti-torture law, and then adding a "signing statement" that he intends to ignore such law as he sees fit. I do not want these things done in my name. As a citizen, a patriot, a parent and grandparent, a lawyer and law teacher I am left with such a feeling of loss and helplessness. I think of myself as a good American and I ask myself what can I do when I see the face of evil? Illegal and immoral war, torture and confinement for life without trial have never been part of our Constitutional tradition. But my vote has become meaningless because I live in a safe district drawn by your political party. My congressman is unresponsive to my concerns because his time is filled with lobbyists' largess. Protests are limited to your "free speech zones", out of sight of the parade. Even speaking openly is to risk being labeled un-American, pro-terrorist or anti-troops. And I am a disciplined pacifist, so any violent act is out of the question. Nevertheless, to remain silent is to let you think I approve or support your actions. I do not. So, I am saddened to give up my wings and bars. They were hard won and my parents and wife were as proud as I was when I earned them over forty years ago. But I hate the torture and death you have caused more than I value their symbolism. Giving them up makes me cry for my beloved country. Joseph W. DuRocher Bash away. . .

QUOTE(Mplssoxfan @ Mar 11, 2006 -> 11:55 PM) Don't try to tell me that Medical Malpractice reform is the magic bullet when leeches on society like Ovation are in the mix. No, but a serious renewal of the national debate on the state of American health care and the lack of access of many people to it can adress this and countless other issues.

QUOTE(samclemens @ Mar 12, 2006 -> 09:20 AM) that is simply incorrect- it has always been said that the coast guard, homeland security, and port authorities would be in complete control of security issues. I don't know about the hiring issue, but the report sure indicates we don't have complete control over security issues. Unless you don't consider the potential to slip unmanifested WMDs and other materials into the containers somewhere between points A and B a security issue. And again the problem is that "homeland security" is just so much lip service and money trumps everything.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 11, 2006 -> 10:28 PM) Now that Ports are suddenly in the news, the AP had a reason to start digging, and viola. Again, I think that can potentially be the most significant part of this. And maybe homeland security will ultimately become actual practice and not political lip service.

This is not a GOP thing, or a Dem thing. It's a scumbag thing. It probably just didn't need it's own thread. White House Aide Caught In Shoplifting Scheme. Claude Allen, the former Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, resigned suddenly a few weeks ago. The standard "spend time with his family" line was proferred, but yesterday it turns out Allen was arrested and charged in a “retail theft scheme.” Dude was making $161K, as much as Rove and Hadley. What the hell was he thinking?

Thanks for all your care and concern, friends, it is appreciated. Our thoughts and hearts have been with all affected by these tragedies as well, and tey wil be for a long time. This was a stranger and, I guess, a near-stranger (he'd only been at the school a couple of months). But it knocked my wife for a loop - mostly the uncertainty of life hitting her so hard. Sounds trite, maybe, but make each day count is probably the massage hidden in all this sadness. Thanks again.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 11, 2006 -> 12:25 AM) And there's this gem on page 6. I said it then and I'll say it again now. Getting read of that Genital Pimples specialty subforum was one of the smartest things Jason ever did with the site.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 11:44 PM) That was NOT what this was about. No it wasn't, at least on it's face. But as none of us really knew or appreciated that 75% + of port ops were by run foreign companies, I think this is a relevant added dimension. And it goes beyond left, right, Bushco, etc., and gets to the heart of an actual national security concern - not a manufactured propaganda item by any side. We all concur that the ports are probably THE weak link in national security. We all understood that at best 10% of containers were inspected and there was some radiation detection, etc. But nobody - at least not me - really appreciated how much day today control of the ports we don't have. Certainly it needs to be addressed. Difficult, yes, since we don't have many companies equipped to do the job. But here is a real security issue whose practices and protocols really need some review and likely overhaul. And maybe that will be the tangible positive that came out of the UAE Ports World bruhaha.

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 08:16 PM) That was the point. Duh, now I get the teenege girl reference. QUOTE(bmags @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 08:22 PM) whoa whoa whoa, i will not sit here and let somebody claim yellowcard is a good band. Yeah, see? I've heard a bit of music from a band in a recent decade and I'm so proud of myself. Then it turns out everyone who isn't a 14 year old girl agrees they suck. [/crawls back under his culture rock]

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 07:17 PM) ^^^^ One of the many the many things I can't wait to do with my daughter is to take her to the space centers... We miss our shuttle launches. I have pictures of my kids up at a launch when they were really tiny, My daughter has got my binoculars in her little hands and she's smiling from ear to ear.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 06:29 PM) I know. Let's have all the politicians and their staffs who have gotten money from questionable places, have some type of immorality in their background, presses flesh just to get the votes and could give a s*** less about anyone, all resign effective immediately. Oh wait. There wouldn't be a government left. I appreciate what you are saying, nobody in the beltway is anything close to squeaky clean. But in this case I don't particularly care that it is the Abramoff tie that is bringing her down, I just care that she will be gone soon.

The second worst thing to ever happen to Interior (second only to Stephen Griles) is stepping down at the end of the month. link to her resignation letter (pdf): http://www.doi.gov/secretary/resignation.pdf

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 05:22 PM) Fixed. Give the early stuff (One for the Kids, Underdog) a listen before entirely dismissing them. I think it's better than the Ocean Avenue and other later stuff even though that stuff sold well.

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 04:54 PM) If this was soccer, I'd be flashing a yellow card right now. If I was a girl, I'd be flashing Yellowcard right now. At ease, Ref, no ejections will be forthcoming. Tangent: There's actually a pretty good Florida (now California) punk-pop band called Yellowcard.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 04:26 PM) For the record, I wasn't questioning your patriotism, either. No hard feelings. No, none. Just playing our respective parts in the the left vs. right ritual dance of the idealogues.

Mrs. FlaSoxxJim has had a bad week. She is a middle school science teacher. On Tuesday she was driving home on the Interstate and she came upon a group of motorcyclists. It is Bike Week up in Daytona so there are 1000's of people riding their Harleys all across the state. My wife witnessed one of the bikers drive off the road and onto the median for unknown reasons, and hit a rut the sent him and his bike tumbling end over end multiple times. The biker's body took the impact on several of the flips. She called me at work after it happened and was barely able to keep it together as she told me what she saw. Now, I just got off of the phone with her and she told me that one of the 6th graders at her school dropped dead in gym today. The teachers did CPR, used a defibrilater on him, etc., but they never got him back. Needless to say, she is really depressed.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 03:53 PM) A jingo is somebody who is excessively patriotic. Jingo goes well beyond marked patriotism. Jingoinsm is extreme nationalism, usually tinged with feelings of nationalist-based ethnic superiority and a belligerent foreign policy. I wouldn't presume to call you a jingo. And I'm not personally questioning your patriotism either. That's the card the wingnuts like to play.