Texsox

QUOTE(TheBigHurt35 @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 03:15 PM) That's interesting. But that was only because they couldn't reach a redistricting agreement after the 2000 census, correct? I will probably be moving to Texas late next month, so this is of some interest to me. They could not agree on a new map, so agreed to keep the old. The courts agreed it was legal and they could continue with the old. The assumption was the map would be in effect until the 2010 census. The GOP came up with a brilliant strategy here, and I believe California, to pick up seats and it worked. Dems in the Texas legislature walked out and left the state rather than face the music and the special sessions. Governor Perry ordered the State Police to Oklahoma to arrest the representatives and bring that back to session so a quorum could be in place. If it wasn't so sad, it would have been funny. It was reported at the time this was the first time a redistricting occurred like this. YASNY mentioned the DEMs had done it before, I'm not certain he was meaning this mid decade plan. What they did on the Mexico border was stretch the district N-S literally they are a couple hundred miles long and of course snake back up into GOP strongholds and pit border Democrats against upstate GOP.

Three people ask nicely for someone to stop doing something, and instead of stopping, the person berates the people and dismisses their feelings. I guess that works for some people. :headshake I assume their parents taught them that at home . . .

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 12:43 PM) how often was a day of the Martha Trial the front story on the news? The minute it went to the jury there were umpteen reporters all over the place talking about. Yet when the largest case of fraud in the history of corporate American goes to the jury, nothing. Its a joke. I agree it's a joke, but did Soxtalk have more posts regarding Martha or Worldcom? What are people interested in? Other people and Martha was funny.

QUOTE(TheBigHurt35 @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 12:16 PM) They can only do it after a national census. Unfortunately, both parties have conspired to gerrymander their incumbents back into office recently. Not exactly true. They did it last year in Texas after both parties and a judge in 2002 agreed to keep the old map. Once the GOP gained control, they redictricted Texas, gaining seats and screwing my area terribly. Each district here looks like a fajita plate. 20 miles wide and 200 miles long. Link Here

QUOTE(TheBigHurt35 @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 10:54 AM) I only dismissed one person's concern after said person questioned my maturity. FWIW, the allowance of cussing and the availability of offensive emoticons on this site take away from the "gentlemanly" character that you speak of projecting. In such an environment, I'm rather surprised that the use of the word "b****" caused such an uproar. In fact, one might even call that hypocritical. Just my $0.02. Personal choice. There are several words that women find offensive, and should, IMHO, be avoided, especially when someone complains. Does it tell you something when one of the people who voiced up can joke about hot lesbian sex, but finds that word offensive? You may call it hypocritical, I accept it for what it is. An individuals preference to not read a particularly offensive word that is only used to insult females and describe a female dog. Because there are so few things here that people complain about, it would seem easy enough to avoid the one or two. But hey, it's your choice.

I was wondering what was so gross, then I got to part about the lawyers . . . I kid because I care™

QUOTE(ChiSoxyGirl @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 10:49 AM) Whew, is it hot in here or is it me? Oh wait, it's both. guys are so easily to distract

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 10:45 AM) Maybe not a spectator sport but certainly it could be a team sport though hehe All fun and games, until they ignore you

QUOTE(ChiSoxyGirl @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 10:40 AM) I suppose there have been some times when it's tempting to put that minus out there..... when you failed as a teacher

QUOTE(LowerCaseRepublican @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 10:35 AM) You mean calling them a dyke, right Tex? (oozing with sarcasm) If the mousepad fits and ChiSoxy, I've never believed that sex is a spectator sport.

As soon as I hit post, I realized I opened up a lane that a drunk oil tanker captain could sail his ship through

QUOTE(TheBigHurt35 @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 10:28 AM) Agreed. At the very least, using the "ignore" function is a hell of a lot more mature than whining about somebody calling a political figure a "b****." Queen Prawn, ChiSoxyGirl, and I believe Steff, all weighed in on this. It's more than 1 person, and almost universal among our regular female contributors. I didn't read one lady stand up for calling the journalist a b****. So is it more mature and polite to dismiss their concerns or call them whiney? You decide. I would rather be a gentleman and find another way to describe a woman who I disagree with.

The possible scenarios for having a 40 year old babysitter 1. Family friend or relative 2. Unlicensed day care 3. The babysitter wasn't "all there" None of which excuses the woman's conduct. American justice Involuntary Manslaughter 12-15 years, out in 6.

Both excellent points and would have to addressed in a comprehensive min wage law. Getting to #4, how many business do you think failed because the min wage is $5.15 and not $4.15? And if a venture can only pay $4.00 an hour, or $5.15, is that the employer we should be trying to keep in business? When the job creation issue comes up, the slam on each administration going back to at least Bush the elder, have been high wage job loss vs. min wage creation. If as a society, we are not placing much emphasis on min wage job creation, how much emphasis should we place on min wage job preservation? And opening up a #5 I do not believe that every job, full time or part time, should allow someone to support a family. Isn't there room for 2nd income jobs? Jobs for students? Semi-retired? Maybe the debate should center on replacing the higher dollar jobs being sourced off shore and replace them with *more* jobs paying in the middle. Perhaps as a society we have some gain if we lose a $80,000 software engineer job, but it moves 4 people from $25,000 to $40,000 per year.,

Maybe someone will invade us and then rebuild the infrastructure. IMHO, that seems overly harsh and subjective. I drive regularly in Mexico and I see lack of guardrails, curves sloped the opposite way, dirt roads, standing water, garbage everywhere. We're at least 2 or 3 grades above that F.

Both parties operate about the same way. History and competition have honed the process and in that comes efficiencies and survival mechanisms. I believe the GOP has the upper hand today because of their strategy to discredit anyone who criticizes them by calling them bias. That was pure genius. They also have gotten the party faithful to sponsor all GOP talk shows. Again, pure genius. The mid census redistricting strategy led by Texan Tom DeLay, which resulted in 5 new house seats for the GOP, was again, pure genius. They even took the classic tax and spend strategy of the Dems, repackaged it as don't tax and still spend; and crushed the Dems some more. I cannot think of a political strategy that hasn't worked for them in years. In the game of politics for the past 8 or 9 years, it's game-set-match GOP.

QUOTE(ChiSoxyGirl @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 10:01 AM) Real mature. I'm sorry, did you say something? Seriously, the ignore function helps both people. I have 4 or 5 people on my ignore list and I am certain there are many more that wish I also ignored them

OMG those parents must be devastated. For some reason, I have a lot of patience with crying kids, especially at that age. It is always a legit reason to be crying at that age, food, diaper, illness, environmental factors, never a selfish reason likeWhite Sox not offering you a contract

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 09:25 AM) Consider it squashed.

QUOTE(TheBigHurt35 @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 09:13 AM) BTW, what's the deal with your Bea Arthur thing? Are you related to her or something? Just curious... He wishes . . . Perhaps he'll post his favorite Bea pic . . .

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 09:13 AM) No it was pretty much the attempted murder rap that got my panties in a bunch. We should probably wait for the dust to settle. I guess since they are allies in this, and she just went through one of the most terrifying situations imaginable. Kidnapped -- I'm gonna die like all the rest Rescued -- I'm gonna live Shot at by the greatest killing machine the world has even seen -- Having someone die while laying on top of you -- I can understand making comments that days, weeks, and months from now, she may wish to reconsider. Hell, people get worked up over smaller issues here and post crap they want to take back later. And this is just a message board.

QUOTE(winodj @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 09:12 AM) Damn straight!

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 09:04 AM) Did I ever say no one should criticize the military? She didn't criticize them she said they tried to kill her!!!! I have friends there...I have family there...she is basically saying they are murderers when I know dam well there was a good possibility those same guys would have died for her. She can f***in criticize all she wants...but to make a baseless accusation of murder is way past criticism. What did you mean when you wrote our soldiers would have risked their lives for her? I assumed you meant she should not criticize them.

QUOTE(winodj @ Mar 9, 2005 -> 09:02 AM) That's a scary thought. I would contend he is the best VP we have had in a long time.