Texsox

I guess it all depends on how important hypocrisy is in this campaign. Does it matter to anyone that Cheney will support the President over his daughter?

http://www.forbes.com/2003/02/14/cx_da_0214pres.html Wealth and US Presidents. Bush in Top 10.

If watching these two doesn't give hope to every boy in America that they could grow up to be President, I don't know what will.

Looking over the list of HoF members elected the past 25 years shows a strong slant towards guys who at least played in a World Series. IMHO, both guys are a long shot right now. Frank more so than Bags (to play in a WS)

And why was FlaSoxxJim in Prague . . .

I happen to agree but the whole 1st, 2nd ballot thing to me is always a joke. Does his stats get better for the second ballot? It is easy to build an offensive case for the HoF, and when I hear the argument that DH doesn't have defense stats to factor in, I wonder how bad of a fielder would Frank have had to be to not get in? Has there been any player whose defense caused them to be a visitor at the HoF and not a display? More problematic to me, and equally worthy would be a one dimensionsal defensive player who really throws the leather and bats .250 from the #8 spot all their career. If we consider a one dimensional player (DH) shouldn't we also consider a one dimensional defense player? Perhaps a catcher with a gun and no passed balls for 10 seasons. I don't have a player in mind, just throwing it out there.

A web cam and a e-commerce site would be more profitable

Has Cheney commented on the President's desire for a constitutional amendment regarding the definition of marriage?

You are most welcome. I read what you typed and it was very good, I just couldn't find specific answers to some of my questions. I dropped those questions from the next post. Let me ask the question this way. Which was more important, spending $2.1 trillion or having a $400 billion deficit? If a $400billion deficit is good is $800 billion Grrrrrrreat!! Should there be any relationship between income and expense? Can you US go into bankruptcy, or do we have the capacity for unlimited debt? Do you see a day when we have a surplus, or will we continue to run deficits every year? Is big government the answer? Currently we have both parties trying to outspend the other with no one complaining. Vote for me and I will give you $500 of my money -- illegal. Vote for me and I will have the government borrow $500 from China and give it to you, legal!

How large of a debt are you comfortable with? Why is borrowing money better for the economy than spending what you have? If we took in $2.1 trillion, should we spend $2.4 trillion? Can the US go bankrupt?

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-billboard14.html Hmmm, new classrooms in Iraq, less programs here.

Most Americans believe that a candidates personal history, every deep dark corner, is fair game to be trotted out and explored. But how far does that reach? Spouse? Girlfriend / boyfriends? Children? Parents? Counsins? Close friends? (perhaps the most interesting, you cannot pick your relatives)

You first. How large of a debt are you comfortable with? $10 trillion? Why is borrowing money better for the economy than spending what you have? Last year we took in $1.7 trillion and spent $2.1 trillion. If we took in $2.1 should we have spent $2.4? Why does our economy only grow when the US government goes into debt? If a $400 billion deficit is good, is a $800 billion Grrrrrrrrrrreat!! Can the US ever have too much debt?

Their opinions matter more to who? OK let's have a rule that every person's opinion matters. Treat each person with respect. If you do not treat each person with respect, and there are personal attacks a mod or admin will close the thread. Oops, when we do close a thread we have a censorship thread opened in 2 seconds. So what's it going to be?

You set up the scenario of taking away that $400 billion in deficit. I thought you meant what if we didn't have those payments to make. I misunderstoof your question. We start by balancing the budget every year. That was way back in post 10 and what started this debate. We start by not spending surpluses, but by paying down the debt. You never did answer me, How large of a debt are you comfortable with? $10 trillion? Why is borrowing money better for the economy than spending what you have? Last year we took in $1.7 trillion and spent $2.1 trillion. If we took in $2.1 should we have spent $2.4? Why does our economy only grow when the US government goes into debt? If a $400 billion deficit is good, is a $800 billion Grrrrrrrrrrreat!! Can the US ever have too much debt?

I am pointing out that while it sounds very nobel to travel the globe saving people, we do not have unlimited resources of money, people, or time to do so. There is also an ethical balance that must be realized. Would you risk 1,000 US casualties to save 10 people? 100 people? 1,000 people? At what point should America jump in? Should we borrow a couple trillion dollars and solve problems everywhere? The decisions we face collectively as the US is not much different (other than scale) than we face in our personal lives. How much are we doing as individuals to help others? Would you advocate individuals borrowing $2,000 each and sending it to a starving family in China? I doubt it. Perhaps even collectively we do not have the resources to solve every tragedy in the world. No they are not being gassed. In the US they are being shot, stabbed, strangled, and starved. They are being locked in their homes, afraid to go out at night.

I am painting a picture of how nice life would be if we got serious about paying off the national debt and how that is prefered to spiralling interest payments. That is why I favor balancing the budget except for extraordinary circumstances. The first step towards that goal is making politicians accountable for spending more than we sent them not. Not buying into the myth that we can have all these goodies from the government and someone else is going to pay for them.

http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/2004...63712-7153r.htm You want a flu shot with that nickle bag?

And finally a note from Congress

Now back to foreign investment on the US debt. Current government numbers places half of the privatly owned debt, about $1.7 trillion, in the hands of foreign investors. Those foreign investors are typically other countries who use it as part of their monetary practices. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...9-2004Jul5.html Couple of highlights, or low lights from the article.

Currently millions and millions of children are living below the poverty level in the United States. Should we take care of them first? http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/povfaq.html Should we spend a few bucks to fight crime against the elderly in our inner cities? Should we spend a few dollars to provide decent health care, education, and security at home for our at risk kids. Is it worth a million US lives to save those 1.35 million? Is it worth 2 million US lives to save those 1.35 million? These are the questions our law makers wrestle with. Vote wisely at all levels.

$400 billion. That's the interest we are paying on the national debt. So banks the world over would have lower profits for the year. The government would still deliver the same programs. In fact, they would have an extra $50 billion to either add to the programs or give tax relief to those hard working millionaires. And do not forget Republicans claim that tax cuts to the wealthy will result in more jobs.

Recommended Reading: * Park Life: The Summer of 1977 at Comiskey Park by Peter Elliott. * Baseball Palace of the World: The Last Year of Comiskey Park by Douglas Bukowski. * Goodbye Old Friend: A Pictorial Essay on the Final Season at Old Comiskey Park by Frank Budreck, John Regnier and Tim MacWilliams. * Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Guide to Baseball Parks Past & Present by Josh Leventhal. * The Ballpark Book: A Journey Through the Fields of Baseball Magic by Ron Smith and Kevin Belford. * Ballparks by Robert Von Goeben and Red Howard. * Stadia: A Design and Development Guide by Geraint John and Rod Sheard. * The Stadium: Architecture of Mass Sport by Michelle Provoost, Matthjis Bouw and Camiel Van Winkel. * City Baseball Magic: Plain Talk and Uncommon Sense about Cities and Baseball Parks by Philip Bess. * The Complete 4 Sport Stadium Guide by the Sports Staff of USA Today. * Baseball Vacations: Great Family Trips to Minor League and Classic Major League Ballparks Across America by Bruce Adams and Margaret Engel. * Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: The Economic Impact of Sports Teams and Stadiums by Roger G. Noll and Andrew Zimbalist. * Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit by Joanna Cagan and Neil deMause.