jasonxctf

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Dec 20, 2005 -> 05:53 PM) The opinion of the court is a monstrous 139 pages (Christmas Reading List!), but the two cogent chunks I've seen a coupel times are these: and the awesome conclusion: It's serendipitous that the judge, John E Jones III, is a conservative judge, a devout Lutheran, and a Republican appointed by Geroge W Bush. The cries of 'judicial activism' will still come, no doubt, but hopefully they will be seen for what they are. wouldnt a judge trying to overturn roe vs wade be considered an "Activist Judge?" By Republican definition, isnt an activist judge somewhat trying to re-write law from the bench rather than interpret it???

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051220/ap_on_...iving_on_donors WASHINGTON - As Tom DeLay became a king of campaign fundraising, he lived like one too. He visited cliff-top Caribbean resorts, golf courses designed by PGA champions and four-star restaurants — all courtesy of donors who bankrolled his political money empire. Over the past six years, the former House majority leader and his associates have visited places of luxury most Americans have never seen, often getting there aboard corporate jets arranged by lobbyists and other special interests. Public documents reviewed by The Associated Press tell the story: at least 48 visits to golf clubs and resorts with lush fairways; 100 flights aboard company planes; 200 stays at hotels, many world-class; and 500 meals at restaurants, some averaging nearly $200 for a dinner for two. Instead of his personal expense, the meals and trips for DeLay and his associates were paid with donations collected by the campaign committees, political action committees and children's charity the Texas Republican created during his rise to the top of Congress. Put them together and an opulent lifestyle emerges. "A life to enjoy. The excuse to escape," Palmas del Mar, an oceanside Puerto Rican resort visited by DeLay, promised in a summer ad on its Web site as a golf ball bounced into a hole and an image of a sunset appeared. The Caribbean vacation spot has casino gambling, horseback riding, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and private beaches. "He was very friendly. We always see the relaxed side of politicians," said Daniel Vassi, owner of the French bistro Chez Daniel at Palmas del Mar. Vassi said DeLay has eaten at his restaurant every year for the last three, and was last there in April with about 20 other people, including the resort's owners. The restaurant is a cozy and popular place on the yacht-lined marina at Palmas del Mar. Dishes include bouillabaisse for about $35.50, Dover sole for $37.50 and filet mignon for $28.50. Palmas del Mar is also a DeLay donor, giving $5,000 to DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority PAC in 2000. Since he joined the House leadership as majority whip in 1995, DeLay has raised at least $35 million for his campaign, PACs, foundation and legal defense fund. He hasn't faced a serious re-election threat in recent years, giving him more leeway than candidates in close races to spend campaign money. AP's review found DeLay's various organizations spent at least $1 million over the last six years on top hotels, restaurants, golf resorts and corporate jet flights for their boss and his associates. The spending shows how political power can buy access to the lifestyles of the rich and famous. While it's illegal for a lawmaker to tap political donations for a family vacation, it is perfectly legal to spend it in luxury if the stated purpose is raising more money or talking politics. Until his recent indictment in Texas on political money laundering charges, DeLay was the second most powerful lawmaker in the House and as such, could command an audience of donors wherever he went. DeLay attorney Don McGahn declined to identify which trips listed in the reports were taken by DeLay and which by his associates. But he said all the travel was legal and not done for DeLay's benefit. "Raising political money costs money," he said. "Mr. DeLay has done extensive fundraising, and traveled far and wide to do so, but you would be hard-pressed to find someone who has raised more for others, whether for candidates or political parties," McGahn said. Special interests routinely make donations and attend fundraisers to gain access to government decisionmakers. And while other congressional leaders accepted trips and used political money to cover travel, none compares with DeLay: _Campaign and PAC reports filed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., show several payments to companies for travel, including Cracker Barrel, Union Pacific, Schering-Plough and Home Depot. But there were few visits to golf courses, and those were mostly close to home. _Reports from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., show expenses at resorts in South Carolina, New Mexico and Puerto Rico. But he too holds most events closer to home, like Las Vegas casinos and Lake Tahoe resorts. _House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has held events at ritzy hotels such as The Mark in New York and the Four Seasons in Atlanta, but had few corporate flights or visits to resorts, her reports show. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., comes closest to rivaling DeLay's travels, reporting fundraisers at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in Florida, the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, Hawaii, the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Waterfall Resort in Alaska. Hastert's groups also paid for dozens of corporate jet flights and restaurant meals. Some say DeLay pushes the limits, and risks alienating donors. "I don't think the people that contributed to me would believe it was a good expenditure of their hard-earned dollars for me to go and play golf and enjoy life anywhere," said former Rep. Charlie Stenholm, a fiscally conservative Texas Democrat who lost his House seat following DeLay-led redistricting. DeLay's travels with recently indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff are now under criminal investigation. But those trips were paid by special interests directly under the banner of congressional fact-finding. DeLay's own political empire has underwritten far more travel. The destinations for DeLay or his political team include a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Jamaica; the Prince Hotel in Hapuna Beach, Hawaii; the Michelangelo Hotel in New York; the Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa in Fajardo, Puerto Rico; and the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., built by Charles Keating before he became the most public face of the savings and loan scandal in the early 1990s. There's also the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Fla., offering "dazzling views of the Gulf of Mexico, warm golden sunsets and three miles of pristine beach" plus golf, a spa, goose-down comforters, marble bathrooms and private, ocean-view balconies. Rooms run from about $389 to more than $3,000 a night in December, the month DeLay's PAC spent $4,570 on lodging there in 2004. "He liked to talk to people," said Pedro Muriel, a waiter at Puerto Rico's El Conquistador Resort. Muriel recalled DeLay staying in an enclave of privately owned red tile-roofed villas. The villas have up to three bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and French doors that open onto terraces or balconies facing the Caribbean. A moon-shape pool hugs the edge of a steep cliff, its waters spilling over and appearing to blend into the sea. Villa prices average about $1,300 a night. Guests get their own butlers. The resort offers six swimming pools and an 18-hole championship golf course. Its casino served as the setting for the last scene in the James Bond movie "Goldfinger." DeLay's donors have also financed visits to country clubs and tournament-quality golf courses, including the exclusive Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., site of this summer's PGA Championship; Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pa., home of another PGA event; and Harbour Town Golf Links, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course on Hilton Head Island, S.C. "World class. Dynamic. Luxury resort. Spend a day, spend a week, spend a lifetime," another DeLay fundraising spot, the ChampionsGate golf resort near Orlando, Fla., invites on its Web site. The resort, where a round of golf typically costs $70 to $80 per player, has two championship courses designed by pro golfer Greg Norman and offers players a Global Positioning Satellite system it boasts "acts as a professional caddie." Dining at fine restaurants also is routine. The stops for DeLay and his associates include Morton's of Chicago, where the average dinner for two goes for about $170 before tax and tip, and "21" in Manhattan, a longtime glamour spot where American caviar goes for $38 for a taste. When DeLay wants to head somewhere without the hassle of commercial travel, he often asks a company for its jet and uses donations to pay for it. Dozens of businesses have loaned DeLay their planes, from tobacco giants UST, RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris to energy companies like El Paso, Panda, Reliant and Dynegy. R.J. Reynolds let DeLay use a company plane at least nine times since 1999, once joining Philip Morris in making jets available for a DeLay PAC fundraiser at a Puerto Rican resort in winter 2002. R.J. Reynolds spokesman David Howard said planes are loaned usually at lawmakers' request and are only done if jets aren't needed for company business. "It's much more convenient as opposed to your regular commercial travel," Howard said, noting there is no need to go through airport security. On R.J. Reynolds' planes, smoking is allowed and there are usually beverages and deli-style food. There's more leg room and the convenience of phones. The smoking rule suits DeLay, who likes to chomp on cigars while golfing and reported spending at least $1,930 in PAC money on cigar-shop purchases. The cigars were reported to the Federal Election Commission as donor gifts. DeLay's political committee also reported a $2,896 shopping spree at the Amelia Marche Burette gift shop on Amelia Island, Fla., for donor gifts. The shop carries "gourmet cookware, Sabatier cutlery and gadgets for your every need."

anyone catch his rant during his holiday special??? “Merry Christmas. Tonight we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, whose mom, Mary, just happens to be a virgin—even after she apparently gave birth to Jesus. At least that is what the Catholic Church would have you believe. “Tom Cruise is taking a lot of s--- for belonging to a religion, Scientology, that believes aliens came to this planet 75 million years ago. That is nothing. I was raised Catholic. We believe Mary was a virgin and Jesus ended up walking on water, creating a bottomless jug of wine and rising from the dead. Oh, yeah, and Tom Cruise is crazy. “Listen, Christmas is built on a line of bulls---. Do I believe there was a baby Jesus? You bet your ass I do. But I believe that nine months before he was born someone sure as s--- banged the hell out of his mom.”

truth rules..

obviously many of you here read the Drudge Report. Even though I am a (D) I read it on somewhat of a regular basis. Most of the time, I think their reporting style/links are fair. They dont always take sides. Last nite I had my first issue with them. The had a link on their website stating that Bush's Poll Numbers improve to 47%. I clicked the link to abc news, read it and had no problems with it. Later in the nite i surfed over to CNN's website and saw that their poll from yesterday showed that Bush's numbers had dropped to 41%. Obviously two polls, with two totally different findings. Wouldn't it be appropriate for Drudge to provide links to both... especially since they didn't conduct either???

wasnt the line item veto part of the reason Congress and the White House were able to balance the budget during the Clinton years? It wasn't an all or nothing type of bill. Was it found unconstitutional???

so Schwartzenegger wasnt recruited by the Repubs to run for Govenor of CA. How about Elizabeth Dole, was she recruited to run for Senator of NC? Hillary obviously was recruited to run for Senator from NY. What about Jim Oberweis.. he was recruited by the Republican party to run for Govenor of Illinois. Ronald Reagan many years ago for California. Happens all the time. Nothing new.

that's bad

just notice which party all of these ex-Iraq War Veterans are joining... hmmmm

im sure you're right about the pci, but i guess it shows who is actually paying for those "bridges to nowhere" that Alaska wants. It's certainly not the Alaskans.

what gave it away... the support Tom Delay banner on the right hand side???

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Dec 16, 2005 -> 09:23 PM) The government should be made to do with less before it asks the people to pay more. Why should you, me and everyone else subsidize wasteful government spending? agreed. and that biggest douche in Alaska, Ted Stevens is the worst of them all. I want all Republicans here to look at who is the problem of "big government spending" The Tax Foundation has released a fascinating report showing which states benefit from federal tax and spending policies, and which states foot the bill. The report shows that of the 32 states (and the District of Columbia) that are "winners" -- receiving more in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes -- 76% are Red States that voted for George Bush in 2000. Indeed, 17 of the 20 (85%) states receiving the most federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Red States. Here are the Top 10 states that feed at the federal trough (with Red States highlighted in bold): States Receiving Most in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid: 1. D.C. ($6.17)- D 2. North Dakota ($2.03)- R 3. New Mexico ($1.89)-D in 2000, R in 2004 4. Mississippi ($1.84)- R 5. Alaska ($1.82)- R 6. West Virginia ($1.74)- R 7. Montana ($1.64)- R 8. Alabama ($1.61)- R 9. South Dakota ($1.59)-R 10. Arkansas ($1.53)-R In contrast, of the 16 states that are "losers" -- receiving less in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes -- 69% are Blue States that voted for Al Gore in 2000. Indeed, 11 of the 14 (79%) of the states receiving the least federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Blue States. Here are the Top 10 states that supply feed for the federal trough (with Blue States highlighted in bold States Receiving Least in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid: 1. New Jersey ($0.62)- D 2. Connecticut ($0.64)- D 3. New Hampshire ($0.68) R in 2000, D in 2004 4. Nevada ($0.73)- R 5. Illinois ($0.77)- D 6. Minnesota ($0.77)- D 7. Colorado ($0.79)- R 8. Massachusetts ($0.79)- D 9. California ($0.81)- D 10. New York ($0.81)- D Two states -- Florida and Oregon (coincidentally, the two closest states in the 2000 Presidential election) -- received $1.00 in federal spending for each $1.00 in federal taxes paid.

now we've got Vazquez playing in the WBC along with Tadahito, Freddy and Buehrle.

i like the Talking Points for Mr. Lincoln.

can't wait to get my hands on a James Buchannan $1 Gold Coin!!!

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Dec 14, 2005 -> 07:46 PM) http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/14/bush.iraq/index.html I guess the buck really does stop with him after all. hopefully this is the first of many more "I screwed up" statements to come from this President.

i think splitting up is too harsh of a term. "having a better control over" would be much more accurate. Let's face it.. if this administration was really concerned about "possible threats" to the US, wouldn't we have been all over N. Korea years ago? On a sidenote, isn't communist countries holidng US Debt a threat to our national security?

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the White Sox have acquired pitcher Javier Vazquez from the Diamondbacks for Orlando Hernandez, RP Luis Vizcaino and outfield prospect Chris Young. Arizona is sending money to the White Sox so the deal needs the approval of the commissioner Bud Selig before being official. Dec. 14 - 11:05 am et Source: espn.com we are getting the cash too!

clean out your internet explorer files too. Go to tools, internet options and click on both delete cookies and files. my guess is that this hasnt been cleaned in a while. also try to disk defragment too.

QUOTE(sec159row2 @ Dec 12, 2005 -> 09:13 PM) CLEMENCY DENIED!!!! :headshake

except the info you squeeze out of the guy ends up to be total bs and cause nothing but unnecessary deversions of our government and total chaois and panic from our people.

does he serve society more alive or dead? no doubt this guy did some horrific things in his past, but if he can help keep these things from happening to others in the future, then I say we leave him in a cell for life.

Lieberman can take a long walk off a short pier if you ask me. I was thinking about the 2000 election earlier today. Gore somewhat was put into a lose, lose situation. He could pick a Clinton supporter and anger some moderates or pick a Clinton basher and anger his base. He choose the latter, many Dems voted for Nader in digust and the rest as they say is history. didnt Al Sharpton even stay in the 2004 race longer than Lieberman? both he and kucinich got more delegate votes at the convention.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Dec 9, 2005 -> 09:48 PM) I don't see the Tigers doing much. Kenny Rogers had the best year he's had in quite some time, and he's on the wrong side of 40, let alone 35 or 30. Todd Jones had the best year of his career last year, and is also quite old. I see the Tigers, at the very best, to be a .500 team. The Indians look fine, the Twins look good still too, especially if they can get Baker into the rotation over Lohse, and the Royals look atleast a little improved. It'll be fun next year. you're crazy.. 13 wins in '02, 13 wins in '03, 18 wins in '04 and 14 wins in '05. This guy can easily win 13-15 games next year. Maroth and Bonderman both won 14 games last year too. Not a bad 1,2,3.

I agree about the Tigers. They bring in a legitimate #1/#2, a new closer and have a healthy Maggs... they could be trouble. Did they lose anyone to FA?