59: The Change We Need, Change We Can Believe In, A Change For The Better… Part I

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By Gil In Mechanicsville…

In this season of political spin, as politicians once again play us for fools and subscribe to the old Lincoln adage that you can fool all of the people some of the time, or at least long enough to get elected, I thought we would turn away from the posturing and one-upmanship for a few moments and talk about something that really means something to us, speculation of how the Braves line-up might look in 2009.

Let’s start with that most critical element of any successful major league franchise, pitching. First let’s assume that the Braves will at least try to bring back some of the reliable arms of the past. Tom Glavin may once again be a part of the starting rotation; the surgery to repair his balky elbow may be a resounding success. We likely won’t know until late march if he can be relied upon for one final hurrah in a Braves uniform but I suspect he would like to make one more attempt at glory.

John Smoltz may be the biggest question mark. The type of shoulder surgery he endured has not been known to have a high degree of success. Only the grit and determination, which he has shown repeatedly during his long career with the Braves, makes him a possibility to be a part of the Braves staff. While he may or may not be able to perform as a starting pitcher in 2009, I doubt he would be willing to serve in a support role in the Braves bullpen and I further doubt he would sign a contract for less than real market value. We will know by next March if we will see John on the field or in the broadcast booth.

Tim Hudson will be a non-factor next year unless the Braves are still in the pennant race in September. It is unlikely he would return to form in less than a year and his spot in the rotation is one of the huge voids that Braves need to filled this winter. We shall see just how good Frank Wren is as a GM if he can duplicate the type of deal his predecessor put together when he brought free agent Greg Maddux to Atlanta.

Jair Jurrjens was a real bright spot for the Braves this year. A true gem, for one so young to become the ace of the staff is too great a burden. Hopefully the Braves will spring for a true front line starter so Jair can continue to progress and mature without over using his arm. Too many innings on a young pitcher has repeatedly been shown to be a precursor to a shorten career.

Mike Hampton… yes, I know, so many feel he has stolen the money paid to him for the last three years but look at it this way, he was hurt while pitching. He worked like a dog to get back to where he can be considered to be a major league pitcher. Well, after watching him for the past few months, I think he has proven himself pretty well. As he becomes stronger and he regains velocity, he is going to once again be a valuable addition to the staff. I have no idea the type of contract he might be offered by the Braves but I do know one thing for certain, he is going to be on someone’s big league roster next year and the Braves will regret it if they do not re-sign him for 2009. He is still fairly young as pitchers go and if you compare him to Glavin and Smoltz, he is a virtual teenager.

Others who have a real chance at making the roster next year…. Jorge Campillo appeared to fade a bit down the stretch this year but for a while he really was a lifeline for the Braves. While he will never be confused as an ace, he was quite serviceable and hopefully he will rest his arm some during the off-season and be ready for action next April. Now while I will admit he is more likely the type of pitcher to be found on the National’s roster than the Braves, he has been much more solid than some of the other experiments Atlanta has tried the past few years. If he can learn to keep his change up down in the zone, he could easily be a 15 game winner for the Braves.

There are some other young hurlers in the Braves organization who have a chance to break through next season, Charlie Morton, JoJo Reyes, Anthony Larew, and Chuck James all have an opportunity to step into a role next year. I will give my prospectus of them as well as other young Braves hurlers in the organization plus the bullpen in my next contribution.

~Gil~

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601 Responses to “59: The Change We Need, Change We Can Believe In, A Change For The Better… Part I”


  1. 1 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Excellent, Gil! THANK YOU!!

    I’m not sure about Glavine, but I would bet that Smoltz will do everything humanly possible (and then some) to get back next year. He just doesn’t quit. It would be super if he and Glavine can both come back and do a gang-busters fantastic job before retiring.

    Hampton? I read something recently (my days and nights have run together…) where he said he really wants to come back to the Braves and said that he feels he owes the Braves some loyalty for sticking with him during all his down time. Interesting. Who is his agent?

    Campillo has certainly earned some respect this year. I’ll be very interested to see what happens before Feb 2009!

    Like

  2. 2 Voice of Raisins September 29, 2008 at 1:58 pm

    Hampton’s quote:

    “I do feel I owe the Braves some loyalty,” he said. “So we’ll see. I know a lot of guys on the team want me back, and Bobby wants me back.”

    Like

  3. 3 Savannah Guy September 29, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    Good job on the lead Gil. The way you started off with the political headline I thought you were going to launch into a rant about how you were going to support Washington. Uh, the team… not the politicians. Nice to have you back talking about the future of the Braves.

    Now Washington: It may be time for a ‘Washington Tea Party’. From Bush and Paulsen on down, everyone that has touched this is wrong.

    Did anyone see the other night when the ‘committee’ of Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and a few token Republicans came out from behind closed doors and announced that they were finished with a first “bipartisan” draft? They were so proud of themselves for working so hard, hanging in there after-hours to “save our country”.

    Anyone else notice the self righteous half smile, half smirk on the Dems faces? They looked like a gang of crooks that had just robbed the bank and were now holding a press conference telling the malleable media cops which way the robbers went…pointing in every direction but the correct one.

    It’s like they were relieved to know that the unwitting Republicans were going to go along with the plan that takes all the heat off of those Wall Street friends and, more importantly, takes the heat off of themselves for their own dubious involvement. They are in cahoots with the criminals…it is obvious. They are comforted (and covered) by the fact that most Americans have no idea what this complex bailout means. The perpetrators will spin this in every way possible to protect their friends that donated so heavily to them. They will do anything to keep the guilt away from themselves.

    Yes, they looked as guilty as sin the other night in the staged press conference. Like the cats that just ate the birds…

    Now it appears that the House has just rejected the $700 billion buyout bill. The corrupt fat cats and politicos who benefitted from damn near bankrupting out economy by stuffing their own pockets have been denied. Personally I’d like to see a ‘perp walk’ for the guilty parties on Wall Street and in the Halls of Congress. That would go far to clean up the crime inside the beltway. Wall Street would only be affected by theses arrests for a few months… until the next big pyramid scheme comes along.

    So, another failure for Bush and his administration. He seems as clueless as most of the House and Senate, maybe moreso. He has a hard enough time communicating well enough to sell a good idea… fortunately that inability continued and he couldn’t sell this terrible idea either.

    Capitalism and free enterprise lives to fight another day. The socialists, business criminals and irresponsible investors have been at least delayed in the big fat bailout. Liberty means freedom of making decisions and making responsible choices… freedom to succeed and freedom to fail.

    Business, politicians and home buyers must be held accountable for those decisions and choices they make. Business must rise or fall according to our own behaviors, not a government bailout when we take ridiculous risks.

    As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Those who would trade their freedom for security, deserve neither”.

    Like

  4. 4 Salty September 29, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    Do not let love of free enterprise blind you to its need to morph with time.

    Like

  5. 5 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    “You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out.”

    “Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, who said these fiery words to a delegation of bankers in 1832:

    “Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time, and I am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank. You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter, I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin! You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out.”

    Like

  6. 6 Gil in Mechanicsville September 29, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    great history lesson CL…

    Like

  7. 7 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    Great lead Gil! I am a bit distracted, hearing about this bill has failed, and reading everything non baseball related above…let me go back to the top again…
    Jorge Campillo….you know, until I heard them mention he pitched in the Mexican league the other day, I somehow forgot it! He has to be worn out. On the radio, they said players that play in the majors are heros down there…so its got to be tough not to play…but pitchers in particular need to rest! I don’t think it was so much folks figured him out, his “stuff” just didn’t look as good as it did for the first half of his season.

    I don’t think it would be smart to wave goodbye to Hampton either. Of course, if there’s less pitching available than was first expected, he will get a nice one year offer from someone…
    Of course who knows how many innings he can go next year after missing, what, 3 years????

    Like

  8. 8 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    Having real connecting issues right now! 😡

    Like

  9. 9 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    CL,
    I was reading to my Dad about your terrible pain issues from after the root canal, and I know that all cases are different, but he said back in the 80’s he had a root canal, and as soon as they tried to cap it, he started to feel a lot of pain, and the dentist left it uncapped!(He’s on the phone right now, I don’t know if he could eat-I’d guess not) but he said the dentist mentioned gasses were building up, so that’s why they didn’t cap it…interesting if nothing else.
    Glad you are feeling somewhat better!

    Like

  10. 10 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    Ber, unfortunately I’ve had 4 prior to this one. Got all my teeth but it’s been an expensive proposition! Always before, the procedure came after an abscess had formed; the canal was always left open for 7 – 10 days, then checked and sealed.

    This time, an xray revealed evidence that the nerve had died, but an abscess had not yet formed. The idea was to catch it BEFORE infection set it. Didn’t work that way. The gas idea sounds familiar, too. All I know is that I have had unbelievable pain that has only marginally decreased. 😦

    On the plus side, I’ve lost weight. I do not recommend this diet! 🙂

    Like

  11. 11 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    The Burnett story changes day to day…sounded like he was all but signed just a few days ago…Check out the last part…
    From mlbtraderumors.com

    # Rosenthal notes that an offer of essentially four years, $54MM from the Jays won’t cut it for A.J. Burnett. Instead of $13.5MM a year, he’ll receive $15-20MM per according to Rosenthal. Ken sees the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets in the mix if C.C. Sabathia winds up on the West Coast.
    # Jeff Blair muses on Burnett in the Globe and Mail today. He sees Burnett getting between $15-18MM per year, and more than the four years the Jays are willing to give. Interesting note from Buster Olney last weekend – he says the Braves have been scouting Burnett closely.

    Like

  12. 12 Gil in Mechanicsville September 29, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    Ber… If you are going to win the races, you have to have the horses to do it. Braves need one first line pitcher for 2009 at the least, two might be a stretch given the Braves’ tendency to pinch pennies.

    Like

  13. 13 Voice of Raisins September 29, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    Lowe and Burnett… I like it. Get that done, there, would ya, Gil? 😀

    Like

  14. 14 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    So, when does the Braves game start??? 😛

    Like

  15. 15 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    Hmm, Lowe, Burnett, Jurrjens….good starting 3! Not like what the Cubs have, but still good. Fill in the blanks from there back…

    Like

  16. 16 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    I dunno, Ber; I can’t find which channel it’s on.

    Like

  17. 17 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    John Kerry on O’Reilly now…if you are up at 11 PM, watch it!!! Classic BS from Kerry…all repub’s fault…doesn’t want to hear about the 93 Dems who voted against it as well….

    Like

  18. 18 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    CL, ???? can’t be about O’Reilly, I posted that after your comment….or can you see what we are about to type??? 😯
    🙂

    Like

  19. 19 Voice of Raisins September 29, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    So Wachovia falls from grace…

    That’s what they get for messin’ with me last week! 👿

    Like

  20. 21 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    That’ll learn ’em, Raisins! My mother’s accounts are with Wachovia and she’s convinced that we’ll be in a 1929 condition by week’s end. Try explaining all this to someone who has had 4 strokes and has dementia. 😕

    Like

  21. 22 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 29, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    CL, I get’s ya! 😳 No smiley confuzzled me!
    My Wamu went belly up as well, and I like them! Soon to be a JP Morgan…or is it Chase??? Sigh….CL, you Mom might be right after all…

    Like

  22. 23 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Sorry for the confusion, Ber. (I thought I was the one on drugs this week!) 😆

    Like

  23. 24 Gil in Mechanicsville September 29, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    I’m holding out for one of them thar govmint loans the Dems are promising. I have a 5.7% loan now but they say they are concerned about the little guy I can start missing payments if I need to. Not my fault I am not able to work…. 🙂

    Like

  24. 25 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    Yeah, instead of sending in the loan payment, I think I’ll just send a note that says Mz Pelosi and Mr Obama said it’s all right.

    I’m very pleased that Mike McIntyre, my rep in Congress, was one who voted NO today. He’s a Dem, btw – but a good man otherwise. Not the usual run-of-the-mill politician.

    Like

  25. 27 Gil in Mechanicsville September 29, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    My rep is the Deputy Minority Whip, Eric Cantor… An uber conservative… Just like his constituents.. 🙂

    CL.. McIntyre must be one of those blue dog democrats… 🙂

    Like

  26. 28 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    “Ladies & Gentlemen, let me introduce you to our new chief pilot. He has never actually flown an airplane, in fact, he has never even sat in the cockpit. But, he says he has ridden on planes before so we are sure he will guide us safely through the storms we may encounter on this flight.”

    Uh huh.

    Ber, if Wren is smart, he does! 😆

    Gil, Mike is re-elected by a landslide every time. Doesn’t have a big head, no illusions of grandeur, not getting filthy rich, very conservative, an active Christian. (He was invited to speak at Coral Ridge Ministries by the late Dr D James Kennedy a year or so back, if that tells you anything.) Anytime I call or email, I get a response with his reasons why he is/is not voting a certain way.

    Like

  27. 29 Gil in Mechanicsville September 29, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    I thought McCain might tap Cantor as a running mate, he was on the short list. I will not complain about his final choice though…

    Like

  28. 30 Gil in Mechanicsville September 29, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    Okay, time for bed… FBG should be dropping in soon to take over the night shift…

    Like

  29. 31 flbravesgirl September 29, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    Right on cue, Gil. 😉

    Like

  30. 32 flbravesgirl September 29, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    CL, I’m so sorry to hear about your tooth. That sounds miserable.

    Like

  31. 33 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    Hey, FBG! Yeah, it has been. STILL throbbing as I speak type.

    Like

  32. 34 Carolina Lady September 29, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    Well, it’s that time again! ‘Night, y’all!

    Like

  33. 35 flbravesgirl September 29, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Dang! Missed her while I was checking something else. (I usually check here first, then look at email, ajc, Braves MLB site, the skating board, you get the idea.)

    Like

  34. 36 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 30, 2008 at 3:06 am

    Well, one less choice…doesn’t seem that bad a deal from the Cardinals standpoint…would be a bit riskier for other teams…from mlbtraderumors…
    Kyle Lohse Signs Extension
    By Tim Dierkes [September 29 at 6:06pm CST]

    6:04pm: The deal is official – four years, $41MM according to the AP. Lohse also gets a full no-trade clause. It’s a bit better than the Silva price.

    10:19am: According to Derrick Goold and Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals plan to finalize a four-year extension for starter Kyle Lohse this morning. Sources tell Goold and Strauss the deal will be similar to Carlos Silva’s four-year, $48MM contract.

    It may be tempting to call this a loss for Scott Boras, since his client chose not to test the open market. Lohse settled for $4.5MM in March this year after turning down a three-year, $21MM offer from the Phillies. However, Boras still comes out a winner as the Cardinals are not getting any kind of discount. Plus, taking the Phillies’ offer would’ve been a mistake.

    I’m with Viva El Birdos on this one – there’s no upside to signing Lohse at this price. What are the odds this deal looks solid even halfway through?

    Goold and Strauss say the Cardinals earmarked about $15-16MM for the rotation this winter. That means Lohse is the big signing and the other pitcher will be a bargain buy. The Cards will use another $15MM or so to fill other needs. Brian Fuentes and Orlando Hudson could be considerations.

    Like

  35. 37 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 30, 2008 at 8:07 am

    Still asleep??? Wake up folks!!!
    I now know what it feels like to be a junkie. Sneaking out under the cover of darkness to get my fix. feeling giddy that my dealer still has some stuff! Ahh,
    .
    .
    .
    .
    gas! In my tank 🙂 I feel good now! 😉

    Like

  36. 38 Voice of Raisins September 30, 2008 at 8:10 am

    “Shocking Video Unearthed Democrats in their own words Covering up the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Scam that caused our Economic Crisis.”

    This is reportedly from the C-span archives, although I have not personally confirmed that. All I can say is that I hope this becomes more widely known. We all know this happens, but it’s painful to actually see it.

    Damn…

    Like

  37. 39 Voice of Raisins September 30, 2008 at 8:17 am

    We might as well hold on tight until the 1st Tuesday in November. The Dems will not allow any relief from this “crisis” until after the election, because it helps their campaign. Panic breeds an attitude of a need for change, and that has been their mantra from day one. Now they’re only hoping we don’t cannibalize ourselves prior to the coming of the Chosen One.

    Like

  38. 40 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 30, 2008 at 8:27 am

    V, that’s a great clip! Damn, someone will have to burn those tapes, and wipe out these youtube clips. a Comment under the clip mentioned you can find these clips in the c-span archives…here’s a link . Go get ’em V!
    http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=basic_search&query=freddie+Mac+and+Fannie+Mae+Regulation

    Like

  39. 41 Voice of Raisins September 30, 2008 at 8:32 am

    Yes, they’ll probably “disappear” from YouTube very soon.

    Like

  40. 42 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 30, 2008 at 8:44 am

    V, I already saw George Stephanopoulos(I’m sure someone that worked for Clinton HAS to be unbiased, right?) with a poll blaming the Republican’s 2 to 1, and Bush more than Congress or Wall street(Of course the last poll had numbers like 24% Bush, 18% Congress, 10% Wall street, but that must mean about 50% were not sure, but there was no 4th choice!)
    Never mind that liberals like my Rep, Davis Scott didn’t vote for it, and with what, 92 other Dems??? That doesn’t count. Pelosi making a horribly partisan speech before the vote…when in doubt, blame Republicans for everything! It will work, most likely.

    I do hope some of that C-Span footage will make it in to some nationwide commericals…McCain won’t want to PO his buds though….

    Like

  41. 43 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 9:05 am

    Good morning. Some really good stuff and links (link stuff) in the Stuffville news yesterday and this morning.

    Everybody still here? Nobody arrested last night for looting Americans for their own political and financial gain? No politicians here? No Congressmen here? Bankers or big brokerage firm CEO’s? No?

    Good. Stuffville is better off without scoundrels and crooks. Besides, we already have a good Mayor… even though she is just Mayor of a very, very, small town.

    Here’s how to fix our economy and stop the looting:

    Throw the Washington and Wall Street and mortgage firm crooks out on their lying, cheating, stealing Fannies.

    Like

  42. 44 Voice of Raisins September 30, 2008 at 9:05 am

    The blame game started immediately upon the failure of passage of the bill. It’s all about assigning blame. The reality is that the bill itself is a great danger. It is a bad mortgage in and of itself. Somehow, the American people have simply accepted it as a saving proposition, without actually examining the long term ramifications. If there is any silver lining to this whole debacle, it’s that the Congress somehow seems to be afraid of crossing their consituancy, which is something I haven’t seen in a long, long time. We, as the constituancy, need to recognize this and rise up. We need to remind the Washington Idols that WE THE PEOPLE are the ones in charge, that they actually work for us. America is, after all, a representative republic.

    Sometimes the best team has to receive a smackdown in order to wake up and achieve their potential. This is America’s smackdown. I hope we don’t oversleep.

    Like

  43. 45 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 9:30 am

    I do hope some of that C-Span footage will make it in to some nationwide commericals…McCain won’t want to PO his buds though….

    McCain is running a weaker campaign than George Bushs’ daddy and Bob Dole. We know how those elections turned out.

    Could this be the lifelong maverick we’re seeing? Is he forfeiting the Presidency to reach across the aisle? Could this be how it’s all scripted, to avoid what… conflict? Now Sarah Palin has been crucified by the Dems and the media, so what does McCain’s handlers do? They marginalize her, silence her and shove Republican talking points down her throat. They don’t know what to do ith her. They have only diluted her by putting her in a little box so that she is so uncomfortable that she can’t speak the truth.

    Sarah will never win anything talking like Washington politicians. What will her handlers do next, make her wear pants and contact lenses and dye her hair blonde to look more like Hillary?

    Now, I’m waiting for the great communicator President George Bush to give his speech this morning to make sense of this complex economic crisis and get Congress and the American people on board together and singing the same tune. Wall Street will sing his praises too. Right. That’ll happen.

    Maybe McCain is just wanting to be nice, so he’s waiting for the Dems to write the song. If you can’t astound them with leadership or sound economic policies you can always baffle’em with a catchy tune. Hey, don’t laugh…

    it worked for FDR.

    Like

  44. 46 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 30, 2008 at 9:39 am

    It is funny, supporters of McCain and Obama think their candidate is not hitting hard enough. McCain has hit Obama pretty hard, but trying to appeal to independent folks(Not a bad strategy in theory) I don’t think he can be too hard on Dems. But, those groups he loves so much, can…at least for a few days. When is it too close to the election for those ads???

    Like

  45. 47 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 30, 2008 at 9:40 am

    Daggum modem is acting up. At least that’s what ATT said after I called the 2nd time. So, they will now send my a new one. Well, it’s 2 months old. Nothing lasts forever.

    Like

  46. 48 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 9:45 am

    Yes, they’ll probably “disappear” from YouTube very soon.

    Yes, they will probably disappear soon. Those YouTube clips above need to be run as ads for McCain and every Conservative (notice I didn’t say Republican) who is running for office this year. You’re right, they will disappear as quickly as the books in Germany… it won’t even take the effort of collection and 451 degrees Fahrenheit to for Obama’s people to get that done.

    Just a call and a click.

    The media won’t report the truth about this mess or the mess that socialism has caused every nation in the world that have adopted the system but they are, uh… like people that work in a house ill repute. They’ll lay down for cash. The Republican party and the Independent and Libertarian parties need to join together and fund the Truth Campaign.

    Like

  47. 49 Voice of Raisins September 30, 2008 at 9:55 am

    Sarah will never win anything talking like Washington politicians. What will her handlers do next, make her wear pants and contact lenses and dye her hair blonde to look more like Hillary?

    Have they ever successfully performed a cankle transplant on a human?

    Like

  48. 50 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 10:22 am

    Speaking of Hillary and Sarah, I got this email yesterday. Hope I won’t get banned or sent to the doghouse for posting it here:

    Caution:

    If you get an e-mail with “Nude Photos of Sarah Palin” in the subject line, do not open it. It might contain a virus.

    If you get an e-mail with “Nude Photos of Hillary Clinton”, do not open it. It might contain nude photos of Hillary Clinton.

    😆

    Like

  49. 51 Berigan ll, the worm turns September 30, 2008 at 11:27 am

    You guys and gals have to see this special video for Obama…kids singing for him, our dear (future)leader

    Like

  50. 52 Carolina Lady September 30, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    This is an excellent article:
    http://townhall.com/columnists/KenBlackwell/2008/09/30/an_acorn_falls_from_the_tree

    …………………………………………………………………………….

    “…..The Washington Times recently reported, “A group of politically conservative and centrist Hollywood figures (up to 600 at once) organized by actor Gary Sinise and others has been meeting quietly in restaurants and private homes, forming a loose-knit network of entertainers who share common beliefs like supporting U.S. troops and traditional American values.” But the article also noted that the secret is out on these clandestine meetings, as conservatives progressively are becoming more and more emboldened.”
    http://townhall.com/Columnists/ChuckNorris/2008/09/30/clandestine_conservatives_in_hollywood

    Like

  51. 53 Carolina Lady September 30, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Berigan, this with Obama is getting more and more like the early days of Hitler and that is truly is frightening. These children have no idea what they are singing about; who wrote the words and melody? It also brings to mind old film clips of school children singing loving words to Chairman Mao and others. It gets absolutely terrifying when you realize that Obama sees himself as fully deserving of this adoration. In his mind, he IS ‘THE ONE’.

    Wonder if Rev. Jeremiah Wright ever taught anything from the books of Isaiah or Revelation???

    Like

  52. 54 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    That group of innocent children being brainwashed and manipulated to sing Obama love songs is truly disturbing. Actually it’s like the beginning of a horror movie. CL is right… I was thinking the same thing about Hitler youth.

    Can the Obama kids play instruments and march?

    Like

  53. 55 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    Gary Sinise and others has been meeting quietly in restaurants and private homes, forming a loose-knit network of entertainers who share common beliefs like supporting U.S. troops and traditional American values.”

    Wonder if there are enough members to fill a VW Beetle? Carpool to the restaurant?

    According to a friend of mine that is a partner of Gary Senise’s… they’re both running a humanitarian organization that helps our wounded veterans…
    Gary is an All-American good guy of the order of Bob Hope. He goes to Afghanistan and Iraq all the time.

    He obviously doesn’t seek publicity for himself in this. Not surprisingly, the media doesn’t report it. I suppose that would be too biased towards America.

    Like

  54. 56 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    Now, the MLB playoffs:

    The other day I said that I would bet that the Angels would win it all this year… and I think they will. But I’ll be pulling for my BoSox as always.

    Then, for the NL, it would be nice to see the Cubs get to the big dance. Or LA or Milwaukee… all for different reasons. Phils, nah. I hope they’re out in the first round. I just wanted to use them as a pawn just to beat the Mutts. Now I’m tossing them away like a used paper plate after a fried chicken dinner. :mrgreen:

    Like

  55. 57 Voice of Raisins September 30, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    Obviously, I don’t have a “dog” in the playoff fight, so my rooting choice is pretty much a matter of elimination.

    I’m praying for day baseball. If the WS ends up between the 2 LA teams, I’ll probably skip it… In fact, if either is there, I’ll probably skip it.

    The Brewers did Ned wrong, period.

    Boston is like the rich kid in class whose Dad gets him everything he wants. I never liked that kid.

    Philthadelphia? Yeah, right… over the Mutts’ dead bodies; but only over the Mutts dead bodies. C-ya, Philthies!

    Minnesota/ChiSox: Can’t they make up their minds? I can. I still hold a grudge against Kent Hrbek, and Chicago can’t have both teams.

    Yes, I like the Cubbies. Not because I really want them to win, but because I don’t like Philthie, LaLa, or Milly.

    I’ve been rooting for Tampa to knock the Yankers off their block all year, so I see no reason to stop rooting now.

    My WS, if I have my way, is between the Cubbies and the Rays. Rays? What kinda name is that, anyway? I guess I have to root for the Cubs. Maybe Lou will pitch a real classic fit on the big stage! 😀

    Like

  56. 58 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 3:40 pm

    Raisins, yepper… Boston is like the rich kid, but somehow I got to know and befriend that Braves first cousin twice removed before he got rich. That was back in the days when, after losing the first game of the season (which was usually the first game of the season), the Boston Globe would have a headline the next morning in the sports section that read, “Redsox lose opener. There’s always next year!”. Ahh… those were the days!

    Milwaukee is also a Braves cousin once removed, but they’ve always been too ugly to invite to the family reunions and such. When Old Milwaukee’s Best beer is better than the namesake team, you know it’s ugly.

    Other than that, I’m with you if the Bosox fall. Cubbies and, uh, whoever. Definitely NOT the Twins (same Hrbek grudge). White Sox, nope. Angels or Devils? Hmmm… I’ll be righteous and go with the Angels. 😀

    Like

  57. 59 Carolina Lady September 30, 2008 at 6:17 pm

    Back from the dentist: more potent antibiotics, higher-powered pain killer. “It may take a couple of days…..” sigh….

    I get super-charged reactions from OTC cold remedies, pain killers, etc. The 5/500 hydrocodone (Vicadin) I’ve been taking knocks me silly. Out like a light! Picked up this super-duper stuff and the sweet pharmacist lady tells me, “Now this may make you a little light-headed.” 😆

    Like

  58. 60 Gil in Mechanicsville September 30, 2008 at 6:37 pm

    CL… I had to stop taking hydrocodone because it made me mean spirited… New stuff is not as potent but leaves me in a better mood….

    Like

  59. 61 Gil in Mechanicsville September 30, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    I voted today… Didn’t want to take the chance I might have to change my mind… 🙂

    Like

  60. 62 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Was just thinkin’… John McCain is up against incredible odds in this election.
    The Dems are up to their usual character assassination. The liberal media is pouring it on thicker than I’ve ever seen. Hollywood is of course following suit with their idiotic, insulated, peer pressured perspective on national and world issues. Obama’s handlers have succeeded in raising twice the campaign money than McCain.

    It is a known fact that foreign, mostly Muslim and socialist countries are sending millions in small cash contributions to, who else… Obama. Add to that, the weak- spine wimp Republicans are sitting silently and suffering while the Democrats are blaming them for the economic crisis… even though it is well documented that Democrat legislators and their corporate supporters were all in positions of power and in cahoots in the mortgage, Wall Street and bank debacle we’re in now. The biggest financial crisis of our country’s history.

    McCain is trying to play by Marcus of Queensbury Rules so far and is running a terrible campaign. Sarah Palin is being crucified for being inexperienced in the Machiavellian left wing assault. McCain has never excited conservatives, therefore, Palin HAS to energize the base that McCain has alienated for many years. Finally, McCain is a Republican and is lumped with an inept administration.

    Competing and fighting the lies, cheating, slander, character assassination, illegal campaign funding, economic crisis that almost always means a change in party at the top, age difference and perceived charisma of opponent, and on and on. McCain needs a huge turnout.

    If that were not enough battle fronts, we now have the Democrat engineered one-stop registration and voting. There will no doubt be massive voter fraud. Take a wild guess which party and candidate that favors.

    This election is monumental. The choices are clear. The campaign is so heavily stacked against McCain. The stakes have never been higher. It’s like he has to battle a beast of many heads. He’s not just battling Obama and the Dems…

    It’s McCain vs. the Hydra.

    Like

  61. 63 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    Oh, my… Marquess of Queensberry.

    What would Marcus Welby say? Probably tell me that I should slow down, relax, take a deep breath and, uh, read what I wrote before posting.

    Father knows best. 😆

    Like

  62. 64 Carolina Lady September 30, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    Earlier we were discussing the children singing. Fox has a forum on that subject – and has nearly 6,000 posts in response. The reactions in the posts are very much like ours here. Repulsive and frightening, Hitler-ish.
    http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/09/30/youdecide_0930/

    Like

  63. 65 Carolina Lady September 30, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Tried that new pain killer. Discovered it’s one that you take while sitting on the bedside. Took that pill, came in here to read, and suddenly I felt like I was in the OR and somebody should be telling me to count down from 100. WHAM! 😯

    Knocked out the pain (and me) for about 2 1/2 hrs. Now I gotta wait for time to take the next dose.

    I’ve had quite enough of this fun and would like to go home now, please.

    Like

  64. 66 Savannah Guy September 30, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    CL, I just visited the linked blog that you posted… and left a comment.

    Listen up… sounds like you got some strong stuff for that tooth pain. If you feel like you’re ready to “go home” from the effects of it, just hold off a while on taking more. In the meantime, sit back, relax and enjoy. Listen to some good music. Consider it pain free cheap thrills and just go with the flow.

    Yep… may as well go with the flow. Enjoy… then sleep.

    Close eyes… turn the sound up.

    Sweet dreams. Tooth will be better on the morrow.

    Like

  65. 67 Carolina Lady September 30, 2008 at 10:52 pm

    Thanks, SG. I meant “go home” as in “I’ve had enough of this situation and would like to return to normal, please”; not Go Home.

    Too groggy headed! 😀 (We really need more and better icons!) :-]

    ….left comment: how many pages was it? 😛

    Like

  66. 68 Savannah Guy October 1, 2008 at 7:58 am

    CL, I knew what you meant about going home. Hope the pain is better today.

    ….left comment: how many pages was it?

    Uncharacteristically, I left a short comment. 😀 This morning when I checked back, there were so many posts I didn’t even want to wade through to see if it was there. Many people live over there in Foxboro. Too crowded.

    Like

  67. 69 Savannah Guy October 1, 2008 at 8:46 am

    545 PEOPLE

    By Charlie Reese

    Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

    Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits?

    Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

    You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does.

    You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

    You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does.

    You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.

    You and I don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

    One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of t he 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

    I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

    I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.

    Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that
    what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con
    regardless of party.

    What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive
    amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to a accept it.

    The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

    It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts — of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

    If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.

    If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red.

    If the Marines are in IRAQ , it’s because they want them in IRAQ .

    If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.

    There are no insoluble government problems.

    Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like ‘the economy,’ ‘inflation,’ or ‘politics’ that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

    Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

    They, and they alone, have the power.

    They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses, provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

    We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

    Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

    Like

  68. 70 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 8:52 am

    Amen and amen!

    Like

  69. 71 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 9:20 am

    Hello everyone….My names is Berigan, and I am a webaholic! Also a gasaholic, but I was able to get that fix yesterday morning. But, been without the internet for about 20 hours!!! 😯 Shudder 😯
    I was able to shut the unit modem off(well, these new “improved” ones have no one off switch, just a power cord) and get back on, but was having to do that about every 15 minutes. As frustrating as that was, not being about to get on after that, made me wish I could just get on for 15 minutes man!! I’ll totally like quit then, just give me 15 minutes!!! 😥 Watched an old Glenn Ford, Rita Hayworth movie last night(The Lady in Question)who played the Mom?? I’ll just…no, No I won’t. Say, how did my Jazz buds react to the our Fearless leader clip??? Good question! Say, it’s 10:47, did the Sox or twins win??? Who knows/???

    If you want to destroy America, just knock our grid out, and we will just give up….

    Like

  70. 72 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 9:23 am

    Gotta love this, LOVE IT! Can you imagine in any way, shape or form a moderator who was writing a book about McCain, doing a debate??? Well, guess what folks?
    http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=76645

    Like

  71. 73 Savannah Guy October 1, 2008 at 9:48 am

    White Sox won a 1-0 nail biter. Jim Thome hit a solo shot that accounted for the only run of a well pitched game.

    Now they’re off to Tampa.

    Like

  72. 74 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 10:03 am

    Thanks SG! I forgot to mention I went to bed fairly early, and when I got up, I got to see the highlights finally…It was very exciting for White Sox fans, and I am happy for Griffey and Thome. Just hard to root for some of the other players, and their manager….

    Like

  73. 75 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 10:05 am

    You know what we keep forgetting about??? Chipper’s bad shoulder. Might found out more today, but he might become a first baseman by default…
    http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/09/30/chipper_jones_news.html

    Like

  74. 76 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:11 am

    Interesting…

    Having my livelihood (sp?) depend on the real estate market, and having been tied to it in varying degrees for over 20 years, I have had a pretty good perspective on the ebbs and flows. I have been on record here more than once, and in many, many discussions in my field of endeavor assigning the initial blame on the Libs’ pressure on the lending industry to eliminate “discriminatory lending practices” or “redlining”, otherwise known as having qualifying standards. That pressure was the genesis for the sub-prime lending market, which is at the root of the real estate market crash. Plain and simple, our elected officials, Bill Clinton chief among them, basically ordered lenders to write the loans. The kicker is that these lenders were only the loan originators. They then assigned many of those loans, especially the bad ones, to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. In other words, they were making money on the loan origination while taking no risk as the loans were then sold off to someone else. These guys had no incentive to curb their lack of lending standards. Heck, the Prez told ’em to do it! Well, now we are paying the price of a poll watching politician who vainly interpreted the Constitution as giving everyone a right to own a home – whether they had the ability or capacity pay for it.

    Now, we are paying for it.

    Last night, I finally heard someone tie the loosening of the lending standards to the collapse of the lending industry.

    Let’s see how the Libs spin this one…

    Like

  75. 78 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:26 am

    Yikes! 😯

    Filtered! It must be a liberal filter! 😡

    Like

  76. 80 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:29 am

    Yep… filtered again.

    Folks, it is a NY Times article from 1999 reporting the easing of the lending standards by Fannie Mae in direct response to pressure from the Clinton Administration. It is the smoking gun.

    It’ll be free soon…

    Like

  77. 81 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:38 am

    Dave Ramsey’s 3 step Common Sense fix:

    Years of bad decisions and stupid mistakes have created an economic nightmare in this country, but $700 billion in new debt is not the answer. As a tax-paying American citizen, I will not support any congressperson who votes to implement such a policy. Instead, I submit the following three steps:

    Common Sense Plan.

    I. INSURANCE

    A. Insure the subprime bonds/mortgages with an underlying FHA-type insurance. Government-insured and backed loans would have an instant market all over the world, creating immediate and needed liquidity.

    B. In order for a company to accept the government-backed insurance, they must do two things:

    1. Rewrite any mortgage that is more than three months delinquent to a 6% fixed-rate mortgage.
    a. Roll all back payments with no late fees or legal costs into the balance. This brings homeowners current and allows them a chance to keep their homes.
    b. Cancel all prepayment penalties to encourage refinancing or the sale of the property to pay off the bad loan. In the event of foreclosure or short sale, the borrower will not be held liable for any deficit balance. FHA does this now, and that encourages mortgage companies to go the extra mile while working with the borrower—again limiting foreclosures and ruined lives.

    2. Cancel ALL golden parachutes of EXISTING and FUTURE CEOs and executive team members as long as the company holds these government-insured bonds/mortgages. This keeps underperforming executives from being paid when they don’t do their jobs.

    C. This backstop will cost less than $50 billion—a small fraction of the current proposal.

    II. MARK TO MARKET

    A. Remove mark to market accounting rules for two years on only subprime Tier III bonds/mortgages. This keeps companies from being forced to artificially mark down bonds/mortgages below the value of the underlying mortgages and real estate.

    B. This move creates patience in the market and has an immediate stabilizing effect on failing and ailing banks—and it costs the taxpayer nothing.

    III. CAPITAL GAINS TAX

    A. Remove the capital gains tax completely. Investors will flood the real estate and stock market in search of tax-free profits, creating tremendous—and immediate—liquidity in the markets. Again, this costs the taxpayer nothing.

    B. This move will be seen as a lightning rod politically because many will say it is helping the rich. The truth is the rich will benefit, but it will be their money that stimulates the economy. This will enable all Americans to have more stable jobs and retirement investments that go up instead of down. This is not a time for envy, and it’s not a time for politics. It’s time for all of us, as Americans, to stand up, speak out, and fix this mess.

    Why isn’t he on the ballot?

    Like

  78. 83 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:50 am

    Step III will never happen because of the fallacy of “helping the rich” fostered by the Lib driven class warfare.

    Like

  79. 84 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:53 am

    Step I has been discussed, except our wonderful leaders cannot seem to cut the strings to the parachutes.

    Congress is being forced to choose between their lobby interests and the good of the nation. Guess who’ll come out on top there… 🙄

    Like

  80. 85 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:54 am

    OK… climbing down now.

    I have to work while I still have a job. 😐

    Like

  81. 86 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:57 am

    This guy had a bad day:

    Like

  82. 87 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:57 am

    Uh.. let me try that again…

    This guy had a bad day:

    http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/64034/-Please-help-me-I-ve-just-cut-off-my-arm-

    Like

  83. 88 Savannah Guy October 1, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Remove mark to market accounting rules for two years on only subprime Tier III bonds/mortgages.

    Can see giving Hollywood some blame and a hard time for their idiocy, but what does removing Marky Mark have to do with helping our economic crisis? :mrgreen:

    Like

  84. 89 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Very interesting V! I fully admit to feeling waaay out of my league when it comes to this economic talk…but, then I see how many “experts” know no more than me, and I feel more confident scared about the entire situation.

    Like

  85. 90 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 11:01 am

    I mean…
    Very interesting V! I fully admit to feeling waaay out of my league when it comes to this economic talk…but, then I see how many “experts” know no more than me, and I feel more confident scared about the entire situation.

    Like

  86. 91 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 11:02 am

    McCain is now appealing to the American public calling the bailout plan a “rescue” plan. Can I vote NO for both candidates? Can we call a Mulligan and start over?

    Anybody notice the first part of bail-out is bail… like posting bail? We are now prisoners of our own economy. 😡

    Like

  87. 92 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 11:06 am

    More infor from Michelle Malkin, and the puff piece PBS anchor Gwen Ifill wrote about Obama wrote for Essence, and of course the book…a phone number as well if you’d like to complain about her moderating the VP debate..
    202-872-1020.(Commission on Presidential Debates )
    http://michellemalkin.com/2008/09/30/a-debate-%E2%80%9Cmoderator%E2%80%9D-in-the-tank-for-obama/

    Like

  88. 93 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 11:07 am

    Just tried the number…busy…probably off the hook like when I tried calling QT to see if they had gas yesterday morn…

    Like

  89. 94 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 11:08 am

    headline on the AJC…

    Has Obama surge
    begun in Ga.?

    Like

  90. 95 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 11:12 am

    … suggestive marketing… 🙄

    Like

  91. 96 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 11:16 am

    More infor…Infor should be a word, for your information!

    Like

  92. 97 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 11:53 am

    V, I didn’t get to show that dems clip about freddie and Fannie before the internet crashed… showed it today…now it only shows 212 views…wasn’t it around 3/4’s of a million yesterday??? it’s the same link, comments had to be disabled, but thought views stayed the same???

    Like

  93. 98 Gil in Mechanicsville October 1, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Raisins… I have “loosed the hounds”…

    Like

  94. 99 Gil in Mechanicsville October 1, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    I voted yesterday so I would not have to wait in line Nov. 4th… Unlike Ohio, I did not get to register and vote the same day. I have no objection to all folks entitled to vote be allowed to vote. Only the fact that many of those same students will vote again in their “home” districts. And they will…. same geeks that game the system and vote multiple times in on line polls.

    Anyway, I am one of those who have taken a beating on my 401K… I was trying to wait until October to make a withdrawal so I would not get hit with big penalties…. Oh well, may not have anything left to bother with.

    Like

  95. 100 Salty October 1, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    Mark to Market – SarbOx – nice unintended consequences. Why two years, and only on sub-prime…it’s a bogus metric.

    Fannie/Freddie – it made the rounds on Fox…should/needs lots of airplay

    Capital Gains – absurd tax.

    Phase out/eliminate the mortgage interest deduction. Rates fall, payments fall, delinquencies plummet. The deduction does little more than subsidize/justify higher rates. It meant something in the 80’s; not so much now. Even a 6% mortgage results in interest totalling 115% of the amount borrowed ($200K for example), whereas 4% is 72% of the amount. Remember what happened to credit card and car loan rates after the ’86 tax simplification eliminated the deductions? Dropped like a rock!

    Like

  96. 101 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    Salty, that was as clear as mud to me…me=not too smart 😦

    Like

  97. 102 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    Something me is somewhat smart about…baseball! Game starts in a few minutes on TBS. First of 3 today. Do they have enough folks for 4 different teams on TBS?? I heard Smoltz will do some games, don’t know which ones. Does anyone???

    Did y’all know that Derek Lowe’s agent is…..Satan??? Sigh….

    From mlbtraderumors…
    Olney feels Brian Cashman is more likely to pursue Derek Lowe than Mark Teixeira.

    Plan B folks???
    I hope Wren has a plan B and C. Mutts might go after CC, you never know! If that happens, we is bleeped. Well, we could go for the wildcard…or hope for a 3rd collapse! 😀

    Like

  98. 103 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 1, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    Well, I can answer my own question here. On now, Brewers vs. Phils is first game, with Joe Simpson, Smoltz, and some guy…voice sounds a little familiar

    Like

  99. 104 Gil in Mechanicsville October 1, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    I like the new avatar Ber….

    Well, the Phils have made a much better start than last year. Not saying they will beat the Brewers in the series but they should….

    Like

  100. 105 Savannah Guy October 1, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    McCain is sitting by, disengaged, letting Obama run away with the presidency. What the hell is he thinking? Is he following the advice of his campaign strategists?

    After his big theatrical suspension of his campaign last week to run back to Washington, then to do and say NOTHING of note, is utter and complete nonsensical. Then again, he’s a Senator and that’s what they do… nothing. If he would come out and attack the Dems half as much as he did the Bush administration for the last eight years he’d be getting somewhere. Nothing.

    Every day he gets further away from relevance. He should make a bold “No Bailout” stand with the few in the Senate that have any ethics. The American people have spoken in many ways. Many Senators report phone calls and emails to their offices against the bailout by a margin of 100 to 1. And still, Bush, McCain and the spineless Senate goes against them.

    Changing the name from ‘Bailout’ to ‘Rescue’ is a blatant slap in the face of the American people. They’ve added another $150 billion to the $700 billion package. That’s what Senators do every time they get together. These meetings are getting too expensive.

    Obama showed up to give his little speech on the floor of the Senate today. Up there acting like he’s trying to help the citizens. We know he’s part of the problem along with his Acorn and Fannie Mae cronies… but where the hell is the “Maverick”? Didn’t think it was important enough? Didn’t have a consensus of opinion from his cronies to know what to say?

    All McCain has done in the last month is tell us how he’s going to run a respectable campaign and disavow those that tell the brutal, unvarnished truth about the deeds and character of Obama, the most liberal Senator in history. By running a horrible Dole-like campaign, remaining disengaged, not taking the floor today in the Senate and not showing outrage (or any other emotion), he is basically conceding the election. Maybe that was the plan? Manchurian Candidate after all?

    My President would have taken the floor of the Senate, slam the podium repeatedly, and tell all of the people in America what he would do to assure the people that they, not Washington and not Wall Street would be protected. He would tell us how the politicians got us into this mess and how he would lead the charge to get us out of it. He would, in an agitated and animated way, tell us all about the damned money changers, crooks and liars on Capital Hill. Then he’s tell us what the hell was going on with the current behind closed door meetings.

    But that won’t happen. McCain is still acting like a Senator, not a statesman. Senators and Congressmen push papers, make secret deals, enrich themselves run for reelection… and spend your money. That’s all.

    Sorry for the rant. I’m just mad as hell at what I’m witnessing. McCain and the get along, go along Republicans are going to get creamed in November. In the grand scheme of things, maybe that’s best. Maybe a conservative movement would spring up after 4 years of Obama taxation induced bankruptcy and socialism. The pendulum must swing.

    Like

  101. 106 Salty October 1, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    Two years, SG…2010 ‘sea change’ election…or I’ll move to another country.

    Like

  102. 107 Salty October 1, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    I’m confused:
    http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/10/01/gas_shortage.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

    How is releasing oil from the strategic reserve supposed to help the gas shortage here (which is all but over, by the way)? The refineries were closed, it’s not that there was no oil! 😕

    Like

  103. 108 Salty October 1, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    Filtered…again…and again…and again! 😡

    Like

  104. 109 Voice of Raisins October 1, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    I am giving very serious thought to voting against every incumbant on the ballot, party be damned.

    Like

  105. 110 Carolina Lady October 1, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    I am a firm believer in Congressional term limits. THAT would end many of our problems! Since those in Congress won’t discipline themselves, it’s up to us to do it for them. With our ballots.

    Like

  106. 111 Carolina Lady October 1, 2008 at 10:08 pm

    Sorry, Salty. I cannot imagine why that filter has it in for you!

    Like

  107. 112 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 7:50 am

    Ahhh…

    What a great time of year. The baseball playoffs are under way, college football is in full swing, the NFL is 1/4 way into their schedule, the first NHL regular season game is tomorrow, the NBA training camps have all begun, NASCAR is heading toward its championship, and I could see my breath this morning. What a wonderful time of year!

    Too bad America as we know it is collapsing around us…

    Like

  108. 113 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 7:52 am

    Interesting factoid:

    Tampa heads into tonight’s game 1 with no hitter batting .300 or hitting 30 HR’s, and only 1 guy with 100 RBI.

    Frank, seek the pitchers!!!

    Like

  109. 114 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 7:53 am

    Sweet Lou looked a bit sour in the Cubbie dugout late in that game yesterday.

    Ouch…

    I can’t believe the most talented team in the NL lost game 1 at home.

    😯

    Like

  110. 115 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 7:55 am

    I can, however, believe the most talented team in the AL lost game 1 at home. The Angels have alot of Teixeiras on that team. They will wilt under the playoff pressure.

    Like

  111. 116 Salty October 2, 2008 at 7:56 am

    I am giving very serious thought to voting against every incumbant on the ballot, party be damned.

    Same thought here, VOR!

    I hear you on term limits, CL, but that would send the ‘baby out with the bath water.’ Then again, see my agreement with VOR! 😆 Think there isn’t a baby or two slapped by that logic/action? Hmmm…so, anyone want join me on my fence perch!?! 😆

    Like

  112. 117 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 8:06 am

    Big bats often disappear against good pitching. playoff teams have good pitching, unless you’re Milwaukee and your #2 is hurt and your #1 can’t go every other day… although he is trying.

    Good pitching is… well… good pitching.

    Frank, seek the pitchers!!!

    Like

  113. 118 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 8:09 am

    Salty, I think they all need to go, no matter how they voted. They all, as a body, need to see how absolutely disgusted the American people are with their record and actions. They need to know that their actions DO HAVE consequences. It should be a message to all incoming lawmakers that they serve WE THE PEOPLE, not the other way around.

    I’m voting ’em all out, party be damned.

    Like

  114. 119 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 8:10 am

    And when it comes to McCain vs. Obama, I’ll look for the reset button.

    Like

  115. 120 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 8:11 am

    They all make me sick…

    Will a vote for Barr be a wasted vote?

    Like

  116. 121 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 8:36 am

    V, a vote for Barr would be wasted, if the election is close…you know, like it is every time now! 😛
    Old folks vote, young people party…so there will only be one fake vote at college under assumed name, it will be too much trouble to go back home and vote under real name…. 😕

    I think a lot of folks are going to think long and hard when they see that funky name next to the box….not talking racism, just….who is this guy? Was that guy right at work that said he’s the most liberal senator? Gee guess I should have done some research before casting my vote! 🙄

    Like

  117. 122 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 8:43 am

    “I don’t know of a single thing Barack Obama has done except speak and write.” – Newt Gingrich

    Like

  118. 123 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 8:47 am

    “A government bailout is not the solution to the nation’s financial crisis, said Walter E. Williams, an economist at George Mason University…”

    http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/video.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-25-0218.html

    Like

  119. 124 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 8:53 am

    Is it too late for Newt to qualify? How about Sam Nunn? The problem is, the ones smart enough to be good leaders are smart enough to stay the heck away…

    Like

  120. 125 Savannah Guy October 2, 2008 at 9:02 am

    I woke up this morning having a dream. More like a political nightmare.

    It started like this: Obama had won the day. His ‘statesman’ position with voters succeeded by simply showing up, taking the floor and giving a speech to support the socialist, pork-filled, dubious Bill. He was his usual articulate, deflecting, lying, socialist self.

    McCain lost the day and will lose the election because he’d rather lose than ruffle the feathers of all his Dem buddies in the Senate and House. McCain had a huge opportunity to side with the American people and seize the day and surely be catapulted to a win in November… but he didn’t. McCain had the ultimate, campaign changing issue and he folded. He lost his courage. He took the low road. It may be one of the few times he has sided with President Bush. It was not the first time he sided with Democrats.

    McCain could have done himself and the working and retired American people a monumental favor by opposing the Bailout of guilty politicians, the Fannie Mae gang and the Wall Street fat cats that prospered under the dubious social program that has damn near bankrupted this country. Instead, we should take him at his words, “he has suspended his campaign”.

    The liberal media is not the problem this year. The conservatives were fired up and most non-partisan citizens have come to recognize the obvious bias there. The liberal media deserted McCain the very moment he became the Republican nominee. Gone are the days when the networks hailed him as a uniting, non-partisan, straight-talking hero that never missed a chance to poke conservatives and Republicans in the eye. Yep, John seemed such a media darling… their token Republican, which was easy because he was such a “maverick” (Dem-Lite).

    John McCain and his recently defected buddy, Chuck Hagel could always be counted on to give a good media interview and bash all things Republican and conservative. Hagel backed McCain in 2000. This year Hagel lobbied to be Obama’s VP. Perhaps that wasn’t such a bold defection after all.

    The dream continued: I was beginning to believe that John McCain simply has a bad campaign team. Now I’m wondering if he and his team just don’t get it. Perhaps he doesn’t really want it. Who knows? Who knows what conversations go on behind closed doors throughout the history of this country?

    Who knows what lies deep in the mind of anyone else? Who knows the dreams, the fears, the aspirations, motivations and core mission of anyone, much less someone we don’t know? Who knows what life experiences cause people to do?
    Who knows what makes Mr. McCain tick? I thought I knew. Does he have a deep-seated need to be cordial, therefore be liked and treated well by his enemies? Does McCain feel like a prisoner to the fundamental tenets of his party? Is McCain’s behavior related to his life experiences by chance?

    Now the election is over. McCain is saluted and recognized by President elect Obama. McCain is once again placed on his throne in the Senate and back amongst his maverick “gang” of seven, eight, nine and so forth. McCain is once again back in the familiar confines of the ‘Hilton’. McCain is once again embraced by the liberal media for running such a congenial, irrelevant and ultimately helpful campaign. He will be given a standing ovation when he returns to the Senate to resume Republican bashing.

    Fannie Mae is safe. Schumer, Dodd, Pelosi and Reid are given a ticker-tape parade for saving the country. Wall Street fat cats exhale in relief. The Acorn organization gets new funding. Taxes increase to pay for all of the new spending and bailouts. Gas prices skyrocket. Hyperinflation sets in. Retirement accounts are devastated. A new ruling class emerges as a needy and malleable lower class is created. Middle class America disappears. No longer will hard work and ingenuity be rewarded. God is removed from all public places and Christianity is pushed into the closet. Manger scenes during the “Holiday Season” are strictly prohibited. The globe mysteriously begins to cool.

    Sarah Palin will return to Alaska to lick her wounds, regain her confidence, come to the realization that Washington politics is a full-contact blood sport where the best liars, biggest egos and most dubious character usually wins. She will, over the following weeks of the election, come to the self-realization that she is not prepared or cut out for national or world leadership.

    Sarah decides to finish her political career as a one-term Governor and live a wonderful life as a mother, wife and community leader. The foreign policy lessons and talking points councilors were gone. The glass ceiling may have sustained a few additional cracks but remains unbroken.

    The clock struck midnight and Cinderella climbed aboard the pumpkin and returned to her average life and her average home, far from the intense duties of Vice President, far from the intense footlights of the national stage in Washington and far from the world theatre.

    Then the clock struck 6:00 am and my dream ended. Thank God that dream ended. It was just a dream… right?

    Like

  121. 126 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 9:07 am

    Beware the coffee, SG…

    Like

  122. 127 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 9:08 am

    … it is bitter, indeed.

    Like

  123. 128 Salty October 2, 2008 at 9:11 am

    Nightmare on ‘Main Street’!

    Like

  124. 129 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 9:12 am

    Amazing to me how the word “bailout” has disappeared from the media headlines, and the word “rescue ” has taken its place front and center. It only serves to reinforce the fact that perception is reality to the lowest common denominator, said LCD being the target demo for the Libs. Only now, the deceptive tactics are practiced in full daylight with no fear of consequence.

    Like

  125. 130 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 9:21 am

    Good article, Raisins! “He said the underlying fundamentals of the economy are still sound, except for troubles in this housing sector.” is exactly what McCain said last week and was roundly denigrated for it.

    McCain’s campaign staff has to change their thinking immediately. After Sarah was introduced, and especially after her acceptance speech, everybody was FIRED UP! Energy flowed and we all felt “at last!!”

    But they have hidden her, re-packaged her, and have eliminated everything that we all loved about her and what she brought.

    They have to turn her loose! And I’m praying that she starts tonight. They’ve tried to program her to THEIR style which certainly isn’t hers. She knows the platform; let her have at it! That’s what so many were expecting and haven’t gotten – thus disappointment. Again.

    McCain better come out with both guns blazing. His ad people should have already put out a TV spot naming the Dems so heavily involved in this financial fiasco. It can be done short and to the point – and would be devastating.

    If opponents/media (one and the same) say Republicans were in it, too – agree with them. Then come back with the ‘Maverick’/pitbull thing when they said they were going to clean it up in DC. At least there are Republicans on record as having tried to take action in the past. No Dems, for sure!

    Makes me want to go shake somebody until their eyeballs rattle! 😡
    If WE can see what needs to be done, why on earth can’t these ‘experts’?

    Like

  126. 131 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 9:25 am

    They’ve tried to program her to THEIR style which certainly isn’t hersor ours!

    Like

  127. 132 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 9:33 am

    Take the chain and muzzle off the pitbull.

    Like

  128. 133 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 9:36 am

    They don’t seem to realize that Americans have just been waiting for a LEADER to come forward and she was recognized as that. McCain is riding her coattail to office, not the other way around.

    She took on her opponents, the media, the old Washington establishment with a smile and a twinkle in her eye, but she meant what she said. And we knew it.

    Anybody got McCain’s cell number??

    Like

  129. 134 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 9:38 am

    So, a revised bill is heading its way to the house floor for a new vote. Is it revised to remove the items deemed objectionable to those casting a “Nay” on Monday? Rather, it is newly loaded with additional items specifically attractive to the detractors, with the idea of enticing them to change their vote.

    “You know, maybe that isn’t such a bad plan after all, ” said the pork-stuffed vote-whore.

    Until someone steps up and grows a pair, I will vote against every incumbant on my ballot, party be damned.

    Like

  130. 135 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 9:43 am

    Raisins, I understand that they’ve ADDED a pile more money into it – payoffs for votes, no doubt.

    The banks are blackmailing America.

    Like

  131. 136 Savannah Guy October 2, 2008 at 9:49 am

    The American people have been speaking loudly and in great numbers against the Bailout. Obama and the Dems heard them. Their reaction was to re-title and re-brand their package and add a little pork and an Acorn pie to “Rescue” the ones that caused the problem (translation: rescue the crooks).

    McCain and many Repubs have not heard or refuse to listen.

    In addition to growing a pair of, uh, what Raisins was referring to, they need to grow a pair of ears.

    Like

  132. 137 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 10:02 am

    SG, what a nightmare! I agree with most everything you saw there, except one part….”The liberal media is not the problem this year”
    Oh, I beg to differ…please, please let me differ with you!!!
    Why is Palin being handled this way??? Because of the media! I don’t think the campaign truly understood how very hated she is on the left.
    They hate her because she’s everything they hate. Mother(didn’t hit eject like so many of those folks have) Conservative, a doer, not a whiner, not from a place they know, not an “intellectual”, attractive in her mid 40’s(notice how much softer she looks than Katie Couric???)
    And they saw what happened to her in the Gibson interview, but people sided with her…that time.
    Now, Couric, instead of being biased like Gwen Ifill is about her man Obama, she is biased against the first woman with a real chance to be VP. Ol’ Katie was hopin’ and prayin'(or whatever an Agnostic does) that if she had enough gotya questions(even taking question’s from the “people” people would finally think of her as a serious journalist, not that formally perky morning chat show gal.
    There are folks still digging for dirt on her in Alaska. They are even digging in AZ on McCain!
    But, as Rush asked a few days ago, who’s digging on Obama or the Plagiarizer?? No one in the media for sure gives a flying flip what skeletons are in Obama’s closet. Hung around american terrorists like Bill Ayers?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voBBx9EaEGA So what? Followed the radical community activist blueprint of Saul Alinsky? big deal!! Went to a black first church for 20 years, was married by the minister of said church, and was married by a guy who thinks the US deserved 9-11??? Do you have a point here bud???
    But, this woman, who might someday become president if McCain was elected, and dropped dead(By the way, McCain’s Mom is still alive at 97, but Obama’s parents are both long dead, but no one mentions that, cuz the guy that thinks FDR talked to folks on TV in 1929 during the Crash is plenty smart to be president)…why she’s stupid! She has no point being on a ticket! She’s dangerously dumb!
    I have read on my jazz board that she doesn’t read any magazines or newspapers(She just didn’t mention them=doesn’t read) and couldn’t think of another supreme court decision besides Roe V. Wade! Of course, no one would dream of asking a tough question of Obama, what if he didn’t know the answer??? Why Charlie Gibson could never go to another press club function again???
    Biden got in some hot water with Katie, though how was she to know he wouldn’t know that FDR wasn’t president in 1929, she didn’t either???
    Plain and simple, to the media elites, Omama with 2 years in the senate before running, and Biden are more than ready to run this country. McCain is old and senile, confused Sunni with Shite one time! And Governor Palin, why she was the mayor of a small town, and a beauty pageant contest. 🙄
    If Palin fails tonight, it will be because of the media, no other reason…..

    Like

  133. 138 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 10:16 am

    top that post length SG! 😀 We can still call our reps, and see if they are still voting no…

    Like

  134. 139 Savannah Guy October 2, 2008 at 10:16 am

    Berigan, you glommed onto a sentence and took it out of context. Most reasonable people KNOW the media is biased, therefore… it is not nearly the issue it’s always been. Those that believe every word Obama says and what they hear on the networks and MSNBC will no doubt go for Obama anyway.

    Those that have any intelligence and common sensibilities and understanding of right and wrong and fair play will be repulsed by the bias. See?

    Boy oh boy, you sure do write long posts. :mrgreen:

    Like

  135. 140 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 10:20 am

    Gonna take another line out of context…
    “Most reasonable people KNOW the media is biased”
    Which means since most people don’t read or watch any news except from the 3 networks, hello brave and glorious leader Obama….

    Like

  136. 141 Savannah Guy October 2, 2008 at 10:31 am

    Yes, The Chosen One may very well be crowned, but don’t give up on the common sense of the silent majority so soon. We shall soon see.

    If BHO is elected, union teachers and school children across the land will begin each day with a special song and salute to honor our leader. 😯

    Oh, the humanity!

    Like

  137. 142 Savannah Guy October 2, 2008 at 10:33 am

    Must away now to collect acorns for the winter, even though half of my acorns may go to fund other Acorns. Pretty nutty stuff.

    Like

  138. 143 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 10:35 am

    :mrgreen:

    Like

  139. 144 Gil in Mechanicsville October 2, 2008 at 11:24 am

    Wow, the BS blog has become a hot bed of conservative rhetoric and liberal bashing…. I love it 🙂

    Anyway, perhaps the McCain campaign will take the hint and unleash the pit bull… Otherwise we will be looking a long four years. A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage…. Personally, I am holding out for the garage…

    And the stock market is really loving this bailout is it not? I am down $25,000 in just two weeks…. I should have bought the Corvette….

    I am trying to decide if I want to do anything today or not… Lots of possible chores from which to choose. None of which have to be done today.

    Now, people should look the the leading economic indicator of our time… Starbucks… When they are selling lattes again we will know we are out of this slump…

    Saw a house for sale in Palm Beach Florida for $85,000. If it were in North or South Carolina I would jump on it…. Too many old folks in Florida to suit me. 🙂

    Like

  140. 146 Gil in Mechanicsville October 2, 2008 at 11:41 am

    CL… let me know if you spot any good deals on real estate in the Wilmington area. I am still thinking about vacation property….

    Like

  141. 147 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 11:50 am

    Will do, Gil! Beachfront or what?

    Like

  142. 148 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    Anything even remotely near the water starts well over $1mil. And unless you live at the beach, don’t even think of trying to find a place where you can walk on the beach. Wrightsville has something around 250 parking places (metered) – and with the University here, the college kids keep those filled. College kids, tourists who rent during the summer and veddy, veddy (nuveaux) riche. There are some small condos but I don’t know what they’re going for these days. Wilmington is miserably overcrowded and overrun by those who “ain’t from around here.” Traffic is an utter nightmare. I don’t leave home unless it is absolutely necessary! Just thought you’d like to know…. 🙂

    Like

  143. 150 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    Drat… treated like Salty! 😀

    Like

  144. 151 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    Are you all aware that Dish Network channel 73 is 24/7 Obama? It’s even called the Obama Channel.

    Excuse me while I clean the puke up from my office…

    Like

  145. 152 Salty October 2, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    VOR…I feel your pain (insert accent!)! 😦

    Like

  146. 153 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    Raisins, you haven’t heard? This planet is to be renamed Planet Obama in honor of The One who will so benevolently lead the people of the world. Benevolent as long as you agree with every word he or his minions utter, that is.

    Pray, pray, pray, pray – then pray some more!

    Like

  147. 154 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 2:21 pm

    A 21-year-old man fishing off Jones Beach on New York’s Long Island in July was killed when he yanked his line back too quickly, propelling his 3-ounce lead sinker out of the water, where it struck his head and penetrated his brain. — Newsday, 7-29-08

    😯

    Like

  148. 155 Savannah Guy October 2, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    Planet Obama? David Wright is being replaced?

    Just had a nice lunch with my nice wifey… gyros and Greek salads. Mmmm. Haven’t had a gyro in well over a gyr. 😀

    That was a good article by Glen Beck. He’s my favorite talk/political opinion show. He is ‘everyman’… smarter than most but just has good common sense and humility along with intelligence.

    Obama Channel? An Al Jazeera production? Children singing? We need to know who the advertisers are so we can make sure we buy their products. Surely they accept foreign donations as long as cash is used.

    If Obama is elected, Washington will become the epicenter of the Weimar Republic, otherwise to be known as the United Socialist States of America. Keith Olbermann as press secretary? Frank Raines as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development? Barney Frank and Chuck Schumer as Supreme Court Justices? Chris Dodd as economic advisor? Tim Howard and Jim Johnson as cabinet members? Al Gore as Secretary of Energy and Chancellor of Carbon Credits? Harry Reid as Secretary of State? Nancy Pelosi as Department of Justice? Michelle Obama as UN Ambassador? Dr. Kevorkian as Surgeon General?

    Will Braves and Stuff be censored in the USSA?

    Now… must move the fat cat off my lap and get off of my Fannie. Mae need to go out to collect Acorns again. I will not mortgage my afternoon with further cabinet appointments.

    Like

  149. 156 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    ChiSox/Rays on TBS.

    Like

  150. 157 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    Hey… I just noticed that there is a pair of Sox in the playoffs! 😀

    Like

  151. 158 Gil in Mechanicsville October 2, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    If I ever buy a baseball team I am going to name them the Argyles… Unless it’s a Florida franchise… then I will call them the Support Stockings… 🙂

    Like

  152. 159 Salty October 2, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    Darn them sox!!! :mrgreen:

    Like

  153. 160 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    😆

    Like

  154. 161 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    How about the “It Really Doesn’t Matter What Color The Sox Are Because I Cut The Elastic At The Bottom Of My Pants Legs And Let Them Drape Down Over My Shoes Anyway”?

    Like

  155. 162 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Harold Reynolds is SOOOOO much better an analyst than is Joe “I Lick Jon Miller’s Boots” Morgan. Better voice, better analysis…

    Like

  156. 163 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    Evan Longoria with 2 AB’s, 2 HR’s. Not bad, Rook, in your first playoff game.

    Like

  157. 164 Salty October 2, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    Evan Longoria with 2 AB’s, 2 HR’s. Not bad, Rook, in your first playoff game.

    Just like Andruw…only different.

    Like

  158. 165 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    Andruw light? 😀

    Like

  159. 166 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    You know:

    Lighter than Andruw

    Ray of light

    Point of light

    Point the bat ala Jim Thome

    Jim Thome, of the Sox

    Kevin Bacon!

    Like

  160. 168 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Just trying to lighten things up a bit…

    Like

  161. 169 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    Raisins is having a good time? 😆 😆

    Like

  162. 170 Voice of Raisins October 2, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    I’m feeling a bit lightheaded… 😎

    Like

  163. 172 Savannah Guy October 2, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    Hopefully Sarah is her smart, charming, unscripted and confident self tonight.

    Just let Joe do most of the talking, don’t let on that he’s going over his allotted time and he’ll surely hang himself. If he becomes condescending, which he most assuredly will, just let him know that he has the speech quality of a certain British Labor leader.

    That was way after FDR made his historical announcement of the depression on TV and way before Anita Hill helped him “bork” Clarence Thomas, which was after he “borked” Robert Bork. Better a bloviating, biting Biden be borked.

    Then again, it’s usually the bit dog that borks.

    Like

  164. 173 Savannah Guy October 2, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    Joe “I Lick Jon Miller’s Boots” Morgan 😆

    Like

  165. 175 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    Man, you guys and gals were busy there for awhile!!! Then the clock struck 4:10, and that was all she wrote!
    V, I thought you were kidding about the Obama channel…I have dish as well…nope, right there….man, I feel sick. Just saw that McCain is pulling out of Michigan, and is WAY down in the Ohio, Penn, and Florida. Like down double digits.
    Hello Fairness Doctrine. Hello 6$ a gallon gas(eventually, remember he just had an issue with the speed of the increase in prices, not that they were going up) Hello to a Palestinian state without the Palestinians compromising in any way shape or form. One story the media had no use in was how a woman that was one of his chief foriegn policy advisors/expert was about as anti Israel as you can get…she was fired, not for those views, but for saying something(I forget what) on British TV that Obama was not happy about. Something about listening to what the Generals said on timeframe for pulling out of Iraq????

    Like

  166. 176 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Sarah Powers is her name….
    check this out…
    One day later Pollak followed up with more information:

    In 2002 she sat for an interview with Harry Kreisler, the director of the Institute for International Studies at Berkeley. Kreisler asked her the following question:

    Let me give you a thought experiment here, and it is the following: without addressing the Palestine – Israel problem, let’s say you were an advisor to the President of the United States, how would you respond to current events there? Would you advise him to put a structure in place to monitor that situation, at least if one party or another [starts] looking like they might be moving toward genocide?

    Get a load of Power’s response:

    What we don’t need is some kind of early warning mechanism there, what we need is a willingness to put something on the line in helping the situation. Putting something on the line might mean alienating a domestic constituency of tremendous political and financial import; it may more crucially mean sacrificing — or investing, I think, more than sacrificing — billions of dollars, not in servicing Israel’s military, but actually investing in the new state of Palestine, in investing the billions of dollars it would probably take, also, to support what will have to be a mammoth protection force, not of the old Rwanda kind, but a meaningful military presence. Because it seems to me at this stage (and this is true of actual genocides as well, and not just major human rights abuses, which were seen there), you have to go in as if you’re serious, you have to put something on the line.

    Unfortunately, imposition of a solution on unwilling parties is dreadful. It’s a terrible thing to do, it’s fundamentally undemocratic. But, sadly, we don’t just have a democracy here either, we have a liberal democracy. There are certain sets of principles that guide our policy, or that are meant to, anyway. It’s essential that some set of principles becomes the benchmark, rather than a deference to [leaders] who are fundamentally politically destined to destroy the lives of their own people. And by that I mean what Tom Freidman has called “Sharafat.” [Sharon-Arafat; this is actually an Amos Oz construction — NP] I do think in that sense, both political leaders have been dreadfully irresponsible. And, unfortunately, it does require external intervention.

    Just so we’re clear here: Power said that her advice to the President would be to 1) “Alienate” the American Jewish community, and indeed all Americans, such as evangelical Christians, who support the state of Israel, because 2) Israeli leaders are “destroying the lives of their own people.” 3) Pour billions of dollars of the taxpayers’ money into “the new state of Palestine”; 4) Stage an American ground invasion of Israel and the Palestinian territories — what else can she mean by a “mammoth protection force” and a “military presence” that will be “imposed” by “external intervention”? — in order to do the exact same thing that she considers the height of arrogance and foolishness in Iraq: an American campaign to remake an Arab society.

    Note that this wasn’t her response to a question about her personal views of the conflict, or about what she envisions might be a utopian solution to the conflict; it was a response to a question about what she would tell the President of the United States if she was his adviser. Yesterday Barak Obama took a large stride toward the presidency–helped in some small measure by the speeches on behalf of the Obama campaign that Power has delivered–and it is time that someone asked him, while he is still a candidate, what he thinks of the perverse things his many foreign policy advisers have said about Israel and the Middle East.
    http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2008/02/samantha-power-another-barak-obama.html

    Like

  167. 177 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    FLB, save us from all this political talk! 😀
    Baseball….sigh…CC is getting creamed. Will probably not get another chance in the playoffs….Had a terrible game against boston last year. Too hyped up that time. Perhaps the 4th start on 3 days rest is the problem this time????

    Like

  168. 178 Salty October 2, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    Wow! 😯 Did anyone just see the exchange between Bill O’Reilly and Barney Frank? What a shouting match! O’Reilly calling Frank a coward; Frank calling O’Reilly dumb. Just men being men! 😆

    Like

  169. 179 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    Salty, missed the first 2 minutes, so it looked like Bill was picking on poor, poor Barney! Of course, we all know what Barney is guilty of…

    Like

  170. 180 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    Watched the first little bit of the ‘debate’ – am totally disgusted with the bias on display.

    Ifill to Palin: “You’re out of time, dear.” Why not just pat her on the head, you condesending witch??? 😡 😡 😡

    Knowing smirks and winks between Biden and Ifill. Questions loaded towards Obama.

    And McCain still hasn’t turned her loose. The one question that was the opening that would have blasted the doors off was (paraphrased) ‘who was to blame for the current financial crisis?’ Palin let it slide instead of nailing the democrats with the facts of the matter. I’m disgusted.

    I’m seeing nothing that will help the McCain campaign.

    Like

  171. 181 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    CL, I think Sarah is doing pretty well! Of course, I have felt like she was going to really stink, after seeing clips from Couric all week.
    I haven’t liked her answering questions not asked. I think she was very tight at first, and you know what happens when you are tight, you can’t think clearly. Buy dear Joe screws up so much, tripping over his own tongue, and agreeing with McCain way too much(Just like Obama did, must be some strategy to make McCain and Palin look “mean”) she started to look more comfortable to me….I think Ifill is bending over backwards to Sarah, because she is under a very bright light, the jig is up(And the news is out-Styx moment, sorry!) she never would have been this fair if the news didn’t come out yesterday.

    Like

  172. 182 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 10:02 pm

    I do have to say CL, I did miss the part you mentioned….must have gone into the kitchen for Famous Amos cookies during that part! 🙂

    Like

  173. 183 Carolina Lady October 2, 2008 at 10:17 pm

    She’s gotten better as it has progressed, but there were some GOLDEN opportunities that were let slide – and I hate that.

    Listen to the questions. Sarah is being put in the position of having to defend BUSH’s policies. She isn’t part of that administration; I would have said that and suggested that they talk to Bush about them. Then continue on to McCain’s proposed policies.

    Craftily asked, designed to gently entrap if possible. Biden is a blow-hard.

    Like

  174. 184 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 10:59 pm

    CL, she did better than most people thought, which is a win. I know what you mean about missed opportunities, but I guess they are to be expected. But, she may have saved the election…at least to make it close…it looks bad right now. McCain pulled out of Mich. today. Was down more than 10% in Florida….She done good. Could have done great, but good is better than bad, which is what I truly was fearing.

    Like

  175. 185 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 2, 2008 at 11:00 pm

    That comment from Berigan sounds a bit snippy, berigan doesn’t mean to sound snippy, but it happens when typing! 😀

    Like

  176. 187 flbravesgirl October 2, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    Ber, I’m hoping someone will save me from all this political talk.

    Like

  177. 188 Gil in Mechanicsville October 3, 2008 at 12:24 am

    Gee, were we watching the same debate? Actually, I thought Sarah did a wonderful job. Very energetic, upbeat, real passion and a real person. I thought Joe Biden did well also, he is a good speaker, too bad he made so many errors in his facts. All and all, I would say Palin on style and Biden on substance.

    Now, the key was not for Joe to do well, it was for Sarah not to do badly. And yes, she is a game changer. She did much more for the McCain campaign than Biden did for Obama.

    Now baseball… Braves still playing???? Uh, looks like the Dodgers are a lock… And Philly….

    Like

  178. 189 Voice of Raisins October 3, 2008 at 7:53 am

    The “best team in the NL” is rapidly turning into the “bust team in the NL”. I watched the game… they are tight. That got Ned ousted in Milly, didn’t it? LA looks pretty good; they are rolling. Cubs are toast. LA/Phil will be a good matchup.

    I hate 5 the game series…

    Like

  179. 190 Voice of Raisins October 3, 2008 at 8:03 am

    Aside from the Braves, I only own the cap from 2 other ML teams, being the Red Sox and White Sox. (Actually, I have a Rockies cap signed by George Lynch, former guitarist from Dokken, which I don’t wear anymore. It doesn’t count)

    I have the Red Sox cap because my son played on a little league Red Sox team. I have the White Sox cap because I needed a black cap, and, well, it fit the ticket.

    If I wear one of those today, does that make me a bandwagon jumper? Does it make me unfaithful to my first love, the Braves? Or, am I just showing support for one of the teams still playing?

    The problem is, I really don’t want either to win past their current series, or even necessarily their current series.

    Do I just wear the Braves cap? Bulldogs? Falcons?

    I could just wear NO cap.

    I am so confused… 😦

    Like

  180. 191 Savannah Guy October 3, 2008 at 8:43 am

    Top o’ the mornin’, good people of Stuffville.

    Well, it’s October, the days are cooling, the leaves are turning and each game is critical. Will the officiating be fair? Seemed fair last night, regardless of the bookies influence. The self-proclaimed experts and prognosticators had it wrong again. Chicago has the best-funded team but their opponent needs to play their best hardball to win. Congeniality will not win the big games, especially when the opponent is known to scratch, claw, cheat and steal.

    The opponents must capitalize on Chicago’s many glaring weaknesses and their fundamental differences. Nothing against Chicago, but… this year it’s just too important to the entire nation that a team outside of Chicago win the big one. There is too much at stake.

    Enough politics. Oh, and the baseball playoffs are in full swing too. The Cubbies and the White Sox have their fans all out sharing ledges, rooftops and bridges around Chicago this morning. It ain’t pretty.

    Heard an interesting tidbit this morning. Minute Maid Park was opened in the year 2000. Wrigley Field was opened in 1914. That’s 8 years and 94 years respectively. Houston has won 8 home playoff games in those 8 years. Chicago has won 7 home playoff games in those 94 years. Wow! Is it the goat? The curse of Wrigley? Is it the gum? Chew on that.

    Enough baseball. Sarah held her own in the debate last night. She was a little nervous in the beginning but got it together quickly and finished strong. She did miss a few great opportunities to deck Biden, but all in all, I give the win to Palin. She was more attractive in more ways than physical… she seemed real, natural and smart. Biden seemed a bit odd and angry at times.

    Biden looked like a puffy-eyed wax mannequin with a new set of piano keys for teeth. Biden had great command of his demeanor talking around the issues and rattling off facts and figures in a machine gun style that, if you didn’t know the truth of the issues and the context of his half truths, may have seemed plausible. Making up facts and twisting the truth may be seen as substance, but everyone would score better in debates if you could just make it up as you went along… especially if you know you won’t get called on it by your opponent (sigh), the moderator or the media.

    Like Obama and most Dems, lying, half-truths and distortions are natural, so in that sense, I suppose he seemed pretty natural too… in a Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Harry Reid kind of way. Good lying works well with the uninformed and uneducated. Condescending glances works well with folks that have a high opinion of themselves and a low self-esteem.

    So, based on that, I’ll go ahead and assume that Dems thought Biden won and Repubs thought Palin won. For you guys that didn’t see the debate, I’ll add a line or two that sufficiently sums it up:

    BIDEN: Fundamentally, the fundamental difference between us is fundamental.

    PALIN: Well, yes… one difference is the white flag of surrender you guys wave.

    BIDEN: That’s not true. I’ve been everywhere, man, I’ve been everywhere.

    PALIN: Washington and Wall Street have been in bed together.

    BIDEN: Love it when you talk dirty. Fundamentally it’s about the fundamentals.

    PALIN: No, it’s the difference between how Washington and Main Street talk.

    BIDEN: That is really the fundamental difference between our fundamentals.

    PALIN: Umm, alright then. I suppose we agree on that… whatever it means.

    BIDEN: I have more fundamentals and stories…

    IFILL: That’s enough Joe. Maybe I’ll write a book about your fundamental flaws.

    Like

  181. 192 Voice of Raisins October 3, 2008 at 8:48 am

    Interesting… the guy across the street went out on a limb and said he believes Jordan Schafer will be the Braves starting CF next season…

    Like

  182. 193 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 9:51 am

    Well, I thought what I saw on ABC this am was fairly balenced, for them. Showed some lies/mistakes from each candidate. Then I see littlegreenfootballs site, and they show to huge mistakes Biden made( I sure missed them-but in fairness to me and my huge brain, Dad and I talked over some of Biden’s talking)
    Again, recall the crap McCain got for confusing Sunni and Shite issues when he was overseas….let’s see how many bring this stuff up.
    first two stories….
    http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/

    Like

  183. 194 Salty October 3, 2008 at 10:46 am

    This is a thoughtful ‘Take a deep breath and ruminate a bit’ article. You’ll be surprised by the source…somewhat. Now, let’s see if I’m filter-bound!

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4870410.ece

    Like

  184. 195 Voice of Raisins October 3, 2008 at 10:47 am

    CL:

    You have mail…

    Like

  185. 196 Salty October 3, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Well…:roll:…once again, trapped! Why, oh why…why, why why!?! Doggone it! 🙂

    Like

  186. 197 Salty October 3, 2008 at 10:50 am

    🙄 🙄 🙄 Just practicin’ my :roll:s

    Like

  187. 198 Voice of Raisins October 3, 2008 at 10:52 am

    Interesting, NaCly, that you are the frequent target of the dreaded filter. Perhaps try just pasting the link with no other text, and see what happens.

    Like

  188. 200 Salty October 3, 2008 at 10:56 am

    VOR…I took your recommendation to heart…now the filter is really clogged! Face it, I’m being censored, but will not stand for it. I’m mad as hell and not going to take it any more! 😆

    Like

  189. 201 Salty October 3, 2008 at 10:57 am

    Hey, VOR…are you suggesting my words are unworthy? 😕 That hurts! 😦

    Heck, I write far fewer than some!

    Like

  190. 202 Voice of Raisins October 3, 2008 at 10:59 am

    No way, dude, quite the opposite. We have now proven that it isn’t you, rather solely the links. You can be free from the stigma that the filter dislikes you. 😀

    Like

  191. 203 Salty October 3, 2008 at 11:30 am

    Raisins…I’m kidding…knew you weren’t. Still…gotta wonder why I’m so discriminated against. I’m tired of WordPressing my linkage! 😆

    Like

  192. 204 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    V, just read the latest DOB….I’ve had a feeling all along they would never give Josh a real chance to win CF. They may keep him around in case Schafer falls flat on his face, but I bet DOB is right, and it’s his to lose.

    DOB is also nuts to even mention Roy Oswalt (or a Roy Oswalt type of guy-who is that???) He was openly trying to recruit Ben Sheets to sign in Houston. He doesn’t want to leave, they are a team with a chip on their shoulder after getting screwed after Hurricane Ike and we don’t have what Houston would demand for him.

    Like

  193. 205 Voice of Raisins October 3, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    I think the issue with Anderson isn’t so much that they have anything against him, I just believe they think he’ll never be much more than he is right now, which is a pretty good AAAA outfielder. He’s athletic and steady, but shows no flashes of brilliance that may portend to any future greatness. He is a classic “fly under the radar” kinda guy. To me, he’s OK for a 4th outfielder, but I wouldn’t want to depend on him as an everyday player if I want an elite outfield.

    Like

  194. 206 Gil in Mechanicsville October 3, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    Hi gang, Josie and I went to see a great movie this afternoon, Fireproof Marriage. I really recommend it to all of you. Very well done and a great message. It was done by the same folks who filmed Facing The Giants.

    And politics…. well, you know… 🙂

    Now baseball… How about that? 🙂

    Like

  195. 207 Salty October 3, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    You’re a ‘transition Master’, Gil! 😆

    Like

  196. 208 Bay Area Steve October 3, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    transitions better than scribe’s?

    Like

  197. 209 Salty October 3, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    I didn’t say that, BAS. He’s on a level all his own! 😆 Let’s say Gil’s a ‘Transition Master-in-Training’! Will that work, Gil?

    Like

  198. 210 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    BAS, you made your first post of the month a bit early!

    Like

  199. 211 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    And it was far too long! 😉

    Like

  200. 212 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    I know, why do I care??? I don’t know…but, I posted a long article about the gaffes of Biden on my jazz forum…and the first comment???

    Eh. Honestly, who cares? Would you REALLY rather have Hockey-Mom a heart-beat away?

    Like

  201. 213 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    V, the thing Josh Anderson has, that no one else(except Schafer) has, is speed to burn. That makes him special, IMO. We just haven’t had that at the top of our line-up since Furcal. We haven’t won since Furcal left either. And Anderson is a better runner. Furcal has a career .286 average, if Anderson could do that, I think he should be our CF.
    So there. 😛

    Like

  202. 214 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    one more post from the same atheist “progressive” I said his comment sounded a bit sexist.

    Sexist? I believe in calling a spade a spade. Palin is a bimbo. It has nothing whatever to do with her gender. Dan Quayle was a bimbo too. As long as Palin acts like a second string cast member of “Debbie Does Dallas, ” I’ll continue to treat her like one. The woman is a national joke. The sad part is that nobody seems to have let her in on it.

    Like

  203. 215 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    FLB, don’t worry…the election will soon pass, and this will return more into a braves and less a stuff forum!

    Like

  204. 216 Gil in Mechanicsville October 3, 2008 at 10:49 pm

    Ber… I guess some folks look forward to socialism. I have learned that it does not pay to wallow in the mud with a pig. You will both get dirty and the pig likes it. Best to consider the source and move on.

    I had an exciting evening… Totaled up all my sales tax receipts for this year to date. I found I come up with a better deduction by claiming sales tax verses state tax withholding.

    And Salty, you can call me just about anything, just don’t forget to call me to dinner… 🙂

    Like

  205. 217 Voice of Raisins October 3, 2008 at 11:56 pm

    As the hour approaches midnight, I just remembered to tell you I am going out of town for a week with the family. We are going to the mountains for fall break. I will have my laptop, but may not have much time on it. So, have a great week!

    Later, taters.

    Like

  206. 218 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 3, 2008 at 11:58 pm

    Have fun V!

    Like

  207. 219 flbravesgirl October 4, 2008 at 12:08 am

    Hope so, Ber.

    Have fun, VOR! I’ll be back up in 3 weeks.

    Like

  208. 220 Gil in Mechanicsville October 4, 2008 at 2:06 am

    Godspeed Raisins… 🙂

    Like

  209. 223 Salty October 4, 2008 at 9:27 am

    😯 I’m ‘unfiltered! 😆

    Like

  210. 224 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 4, 2008 at 10:41 am

    Unfiltered salt is the best salt!

    Like

  211. 225 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 4, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    See FLB, what happens when you aren’t here talkin’ baseball??? 😛

    Missouri Middle Schoolers Chant with Military-Like Zeal for Obama
    http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=188153

    Like

  212. 226 flbravesgirl October 4, 2008 at 11:32 pm

    I wouldn’t have been around to help today, Ber. We went over to the new Ikea store in Orlando. Man, that place is huge. Absolutely exhausting… but I think I’ll be buying a loveseat & chair from there. Anybody bought from them?

    Like

  213. 227 Gil in Mechanicsville October 5, 2008 at 8:42 am

    Good morning all, Well… Did the Cubs tank or what? Looks like the Dodgers really became a different team when they acquired Manny… Hot dog he may be but a productive hot dog and a real game changer. He made a lot of folks around him in the batting order better.

    And again we see that having the best record doesn’t mean a lot when you get in the playoffs.

    Like

  214. 228 Salty October 5, 2008 at 9:57 am

    FBG…IKEA is a good place…affordable, with quality. Haven’t been in years, only because it’s not close (downtown ATL), and not worth the hassle. Then again, anything over 5 miles from home is a hassle, by my definition! But…I digress…shop with confidence at IKEA. How’s that for free advertising? SG, do you approve? 😆

    Like

  215. 229 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 5, 2008 at 10:10 am

    FLB, never been in an IKEA store! I get catalogs though..for some reason.
    Salty seems a bit on the fence on them though! 😛

    Like

  216. 230 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 5, 2008 at 10:48 am

    Gil, that was some choke, wasn’t it??? I have long wanted to see the Cubs in the WS, but I get the feeling I won’t live long enough! 😕
    And dang, someone please do away with 5 game series!!! You lose the first two, and it’s basically over. Heck, lose game one, and to win 3 out of next 4 sounds damn near impossible.
    Any guesses as to what was wrong with this team??? Too much pressure?? 3 starting pitchers picking a really lousy time to suck? Harden’s velocity is way down, I think only someone on ESPN mentioned it-well, heard it at the very beginning of the game that he was slower early in the last few starts-but 90-91 MPH ain’t gonna cut it without a ton of movement.
    Soriano was huge in Yankee playoff games, it can’t be a pressure issue with him. He just was stone cold down the stretch. The TBS post game group looked down after the fact. It’s funny, Ekersley said something to start the playoff coverage about how he had been on teams that were the best team that year, and getting knocked out early…
    The Dodgers have to be given some credit though, timely hitting, and pitchers who throw hard and almost nothing straight.
    I was happy for the Japanese pitcher who never was in the playoffs after something like 12 years in Japan, and for Casey Blake, after the tough time Cleveland had last year…Gotta find something to feel positive about. 🙂

    Like

  217. 231 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 5, 2008 at 10:57 am

    I feel sorry for the Angels as well, their hitters were hitting mainly singles in game two, but at least they were hitting! Even Tex had 3 hits. And they were playing with passion. But, same story, different year….Sox on top, with Beckett going today for a 3 game sweep. How would you like you season’s last hope resting on beating him in beantown??? And wasn’t it nice to see Borass clients like JD Drew and Manny have big series? Doesn’t that just warm the cockles of your heart? 😡

    At least Milwaukee has won one game at home, hopefully they will win today as well….

    Like

  218. 232 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 5, 2008 at 11:03 am

    From MLBtraderumors Abreu Wants At Least Three Years
    By Tim Dierkes [October 4 at 4:53pm CST]

    According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, right fielder Bobby Abreu wants at least a three-year contract as he heads toward free agency for the first time in his career.

    Abreu prefers to remain with the Yankees, but he does not want a one-year deal. He certainly wouldn’t have to settle for that on the open market. The general consensus is that the Yanks will offer Abreu arbitration and be content with compensatory draft picks if and when he turns it down.

    Abreu, 34, hit .296/.371/.471 in 684 plate appearances this year. The average AL right fielder hit .282/.351/.459. Abreu’s defense rates poorly; he cost the Yankees 24 bases (16 plays) compared to the average right fielder this year. Franklin Gutierrez led right fielders by saving 29 bases above average.

    Speculative possible suitors for Abreu this winter: the Rays, Royals, Braves, Mets, Cubs, and Reds.
    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/abreu-wants-at.html

    Like

  219. 233 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 5, 2008 at 11:29 am

    Wren, have a plan B??? Where would Lowe rather go, Atlanta, where he could go 12- 10 with a 3.50 ERA, or to NY and go 20-10 with a 4.00 ERA, and for more money???

    MLBtrade again…
    Next, the Daily News’ Anthony McCarron wonders if Derek Lowe might be in pinstripes next year. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has stated that the team needs some pitchers capable of throwing 200-plus innings, and McCarron thinks that the 35-year old righty fits the bill.

    Lowe is just the kind of pitcher the Yankees want to insert into their rotation – a durable winner with a playoff pedigree.

    I suppose a lot of this will depend on what Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte decide to do. If those two retire or leave via free agency, the Yankees will have a very young rotation as of right now. Do the Yankees need a guy like Lowe, an aging Boras client coming off one of the best seasons of his twelve-year career?
    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/speculating-on.html#comments

    Like

  220. 234 flbravesgirl October 5, 2008 at 3:54 pm

    Thanks, Salty! I’ll be buying it from the Atlanta store, too big to get here & haul up.

    Ber, I am very afraid that the Braves will get outbid on all the decent FA pitchers. Mini-George is gonna want to make a big splash this off-season.

    Cubbies hacked it up like a cat with a hairball problem.

    Like

  221. 235 TennesseePaul October 5, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    CL: I went to the game last night. It was really a good time. I recounted it on my lastest post on my site.

    When I was walking out of the stadium with my friend, he’s a Yankee Fan, I realized that in all the years of Braves winning, I never had the fortune to see in person a post season series game, much less a post season series winning game. Some day I’ll see a Braves clincher in person. He and I had been to a few Angels/Yankees post season game but he hasn’t seen a Yankees post season series win either. We realized it had a lot to do with logistics and money as we are both transplants far removed from the local hood of our favorite team.

    Berigan: I think I know what you’re saying about Palin. Something about her just doesn’t seem right in a political sense. She’s probably a stand up gal in person, but on the national stage she comes across as a fish out of water. A rookie call up in the middle of a penant drive.

    Like

  222. 236 Gil in Mechanicsville October 5, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    Rookie… yes… but a heck of a boost to the team… At least keeps the old guy in the game… And Tenn Paul, two interviews do not a candidate make…

    Now baseball… Just like old times… Phillies and Dodgers playing for the gold and the Braves watching it all on TV… I feel I have gone back to the future.

    Question, if Dodgers win the World Series, does Andrew get a ring???

    Like

  223. 237 flbravesgirl October 6, 2008 at 12:56 am

    That was a really really really long game.

    Like

  224. 238 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 1:45 am

    Yes FLB, it was…I couldn’t even watch it when the Sox were up! I just knew, KNEW that the Sox would win the game. Reminded me of a lot of braves playoff games, and games NL teams in the WS have played against the AL teams.

    But, I have never been so glad to be wrong! The Angels had lost 9 straight games to the Red Sox in the playoffs! And they beat Beckett in Boston, amazing!!!

    Like

  225. 239 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 1:55 am

    10Paul, I envy you getting to see that playoff game! Seems like the Dodgers fans are much more into the games than I recall in the past.

    As for Palin, I worry since she seems to have a few issues in interviews, but for some reason she is being asked tougher questions than anyone running for P or VP has ever been asked! No reporter would dare ask these questions of Obama…for some reason.
    And even though Biden has shown the world that he doesn’t know the difference between Gaza and the West Bank, and thinks France and the US got Hezbollah out of Lebanon at some time in the past….he won’t be asked any tough questions in the future either.
    Meanwhile, some reporter somewhere is burning the post midnight oil in hopes of crafting just the right question that will make Palin have to leave the ticket….
    Gil, that’s a darn good question! I guess Andruw would get a ring. 16 mil and WS ring for hitting .160…he should do time instead! 😉

    Like

  226. 240 Carolina Lady October 6, 2008 at 9:33 am

    Remember, Berigan, that the first interview with Gibson was heavily edited. Parts of answers were removed, questions were rearranged to make her appear to have given vague answers when in reality she did answer and answered well.

    Somewhere I have the link with the actual transcript before editing was done. Compare what really happened with what was aired.

    Found it:
    http://marklevinshow.com/gibson-interview/ ABC transcript

    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/…641&page=1 The interview

    No wonder she’s so cautious in MSM ‘interviews’. Inquisitions is more like it.

    Like

  227. 241 Carolina Lady October 6, 2008 at 9:34 am

    Are these Andruw’s last couple of years in baseball? I can’t see anyone else hiring him with his stats.

    Like

  228. 242 Gil in Mechanicsville October 6, 2008 at 10:31 am

    CL.. Andrew can be a great player again, he just needs the motivation. Something like a contract with incentives, not guarantees. I do not think it is a physical problem. Perhaps a 2 x 4 placed between his ears to get his attention.

    Like

  229. 243 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 11:34 am

    Good morning everyone! CL, just checked out the links you have there, the ABC link has…. and therefore ain’t there.
    Just saw the Mark Levin link….wow!!!! 😯 I knew it had been edited, but not like that!!!!

    Like

  230. 244 TennesseePaul October 6, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    Berigan: I wrote about that as well. Said with the added pressure she’s the only one getting the exercise for the job. But that doesn’t change my impression of her. She isn’t as polished as most politicians. I think she relates well to people but she also turns a lot of people off. As Gil mentioned, she does boost her team. McCain needed that. But he also needs independents to win and I think there she’s hit and miss.

    Berigan, Dodger fans are the worst these days. The worst. They’ve lost all class. I try to avoid games at that stadium as much as possible. That game was the first game I went to at Dodger stadium this year. I would have been at the ATL games but had a trip and couldn’t make it.

    Like

  231. 246 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    10Paul, thanks! I do know what you are saying about Palin, she’s more likely to energize the base, but as you said, might not appeal to independents all that much….Don’t you like to see your thoughts used back to make the same exact point? 😛
    Anyway, I think the Couric interview was a low point. She looked tired, and I bet she thought she and Couric could be buds, and didn’t know that Couric was out for blood, hoping she could gain some brownie points with the left, and ratings points as well…I’ll check out your blog later. I did check it out the other day, and thought you guys do a very nice job!

    Like

  232. 247 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Stock market is up….up to minus 637 after being down 782…..thank God for that 700 Billion bailout, it really did the trick!

    Like

  233. 248 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    HEY FLB, lookie here, baseball talk!!!! 😀

    From mlbtraderumors… lots of comments if you click on the link as well…

    Where Will Atlanta Find A Bat?
    By Joe Pawlikowski [October 6, 2008 at 10:25am CST]

    Mark Bowman of MLB.com has a new mailbag up. The first question leads to a discussion of the Braves adding a bat this off-season. The Braves have $45MM to spend this winter, and could use every penny to fortify their team. While pitching is certainly a concern, the team would like to add a bat. They could use an outfielder or three.

    Bowman begins by listing the usual free agent targets: Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn, though he notes that the team isn’t necessarily interested in either. In the Braves offseason outlook, Tim also mentioned free agents Raul Ibanez and Juan Rivera. Given a guess, I’d say the latter ends up in Atlanta. He’s coming off a poor season and could end up being a bargain. Bobby Abreu could be an option, too. He wants multiple years, while the Yankees seem to be content offering him arbitration and allowing him to sign elsewhere.

    On the trade front, Bowman gets a little unorthodox. Jason Bay and Matt Holliday get first mention, though they’re quickly written off. It’s unlikely Bay leaves Boston. He’s signed for $7.5MM next year before reaching free agency, and will certainly earn his pay. The Holliday mention is a nonstarter; there’s little chance the Braves will pay a ton in prospects for a guy who will reach free agency next year. I suppose the same goes for Bay, too.

    He makes the most compelling case for Xavier Nady, whom the Braves attempted to acquire at the deadline. It appears unlikely, however, that the Yankees would part with the outfielder, who is entering his last year of arbitration. Perhaps if Casey Kotchman were involved, but that’s highly doubtful. If the Braves are intent on acquiring a bat through a trade, it now appears that Delmon Young could be available.

    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/where-will-atla.html#comments

    Like

  234. 249 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    You know, when we thought we had a chance, I was all for getting Juan Rivera when we traded Tex. We would have gotten a nice long look at him.
    From what little I have seen of him in the playoffs….I really don’t think he is our solution in left. He cannot be our cleanup hitter, and Chipper wants someone playing every day in that role, not McCann.
    Why not Raul Ibanez? He’s a lefty, which isn’t what we really need, and he’s 36-37, but he sure can hit, hit with power and seems to play with a lot of desire, energy, whathaveyou.
    Would Dunn, with his .230 average (And tons of walks) really make a good cleanup hitter??? Geez, he’s a lefty as well. So is Bobby Abreu, but like Dunn, a ton of walks, and that mentality might work wonders on folks like Frenchy(Hey, I can dream, can’t I?)
    Pat Burrell is really the only power hitting right handed hitting outfielder on the market, right???
    So what does everyone else think???

    Like

  235. 250 Bay Area Steve October 6, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    I think we’re screwed.

    We’re going to do as we have since Turner left: end up with second tier players, hope they have career seasons, and act suprised when they don’t.

    Like

  236. 251 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    BAS, that’s what worries me too! I’d rather overspend a bit to get a really good pitcher and hitter, than trade away a can’t miss guy like Heyman(Sp?) to get someone for 1 -2 years.

    Like

  237. 252 Bay Area Steve October 6, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    Just too many holes to fill, to my eyes, Search for Spock/Rock/Crack.

    I don’t see how you can get two top-of-the-rotation starters, and a clean-up hitter in the same off-season. These players don’t grow on trees. If they were truly desirable, why would a GM trade them for a reasonable price? And the free-agent market is horrid.

    Like

  238. 253 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 6, 2008 at 4:38 pm

    BAS, if you are still around…Hopefully you didn’t die since that last post! 😀 I just saw this info which is kind of interesting. Since we were one of the top 15 teams in suckiness, our 1st round pick is protected if we sign a Type A free agent! Now, I don’t know what happens if you keep signing folks, do you still get to keep him??? Lose a pick in 2010?? But, I might make some difference, at least we won’t hurt the farm if we sign a few folks. But, you are right, I am sure since KC wants to stop talking about being a rebuilding team, the Yankees have more money than Fort Knox and Bill Gates combined, the Mets needing to improve, the Cubs needing a big bat, Boston being a thorn in the side of the Yankees….we are going to be in a big fight for all the free agents out there….
    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2008/266992.html

    Like

  239. 254 Carolina Lady October 6, 2008 at 6:17 pm

    http://www.onenewsnow.com/Election2008/Default.aspx?id=273884

    Since that is acceptable, I think I’ll start a Christians for McCain organization in as many churches as I can find, and sign them up to vote Republican.

    What’s good for the goose, etc……

    Like

  240. 255 Bay Area Steve October 6, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    I wish I could see the significant difference between the two major parties that most of you see; I really do.

    But I don’t see it. It seems to me that both sides are equally proficient in selling out to corporations. Every thing we see going wrong in this country is that way because those in power want it that way.

    Like

  241. 256 Carolina Lady October 6, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    Some good thoughts there, Steve. I’m adament that we need term limits in congress, but I doubt I’ll ever see it. The ’embedded’ politicians are the ones who have so badly corrupted themselves, prostituted themselves. But, looking at the things that the Obama camp stands for – giveaway to everybody for everything at taxpayer expense, abortion, etc. dictates that I can never vote for Obama.

    It is not necessarily that I 100% support McCain, but that I 100% oppose Obama. I have to choose the one CLOSEST to my beliefs.

    Like

  242. 257 Carolina Lady October 6, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    I found this interesting:
    http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=158353
    (Don’t know how long it will be available.)

    Like

  243. 258 Gil in Mechanicsville October 6, 2008 at 9:52 pm

    Hey CL… Josie and I have tickets to see Palin when she is in Richmond next week…

    Like

  244. 259 Carolina Lady October 6, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    Terrific, Gil!!! FULL REPORT, Ok?? That’s really exciting!!

    Like

  245. 262 flbravesgirl October 7, 2008 at 12:48 am

    Congrats to the Rays & Red Sox. Hope y’all saw the 2 great plays Kotsay made. I didn’t know he could play first like that. ( And how about Craig Sager’s great pumpkin sportscoat? Ewww.)

    BAS, I’m with you. Both sides are lying to us & trying to screw us over. But I figure whichever one wins will have to spend his entire term cleaning up the mess we are currently in & won’t get much else accomplished.

    Like

  246. 263 Gil in Mechanicsville October 7, 2008 at 1:58 am

    If anyone wants to see what government run health care will look like, drop by your local VA Hospital.

    Like

  247. 264 Salty October 7, 2008 at 8:37 am

    Wow! 😯 The Obama family is just an Indian (Hindi) and Japanese (Buddhist) relative away from having the Heinz 57 collection of all major religions within one household! Remarkable!

    Like

  248. 265 Salty October 7, 2008 at 8:37 am

    Gil: tickets to see Palin? Will she be doing her Tina Fey act? 😆

    Like

  249. 266 Gil in Mechanicsville October 7, 2008 at 9:48 am

    Tina Fey’s impression of Palin is the only funny skit on SNL and that is getting a bit old. Personally, I think it does not speak very well for a candidate to depend upon the voting of felons and the homeless to prop up your numbers…

    Like

  250. 267 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 7, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    Good…afternoon! Cubs rumors that might make it harder to get that big bat we need…sounds like their budget might expand…even though they are trying to sell the team…funny how we didn’t get that from Time-warner/AOL 🙄
    Lot of talk about the Cubs adding a left-handed hitter for balance. Names suggested by Olney, Wittenmeyer, and Andy Dolan of Desipio.com: Raul Ibanez, Bobby Abreu, David DeJesus, Milton Bradley, and Brian Roberts. Regardless of the path the Cubs take, they seem likely to accept shaky right-field defense in exchange for a middle-of-the-order bat. The Cubs could also consider Aubrey Huff or Adam Dunn, but they’d be even more of a stretch in right. One other thought – Brian Giles cannot veto a trade to the Cubs…
    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/cubs-rumors.html#comments

    Like

  251. 268 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 7, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    “We” need to act fast, IMHO. Not wait to see how things play out. Aubrey Huff…that’s an interesting name! If they finally trade Brian Roberts, they would need a 2nd baseman….

    Like

  252. 269 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 6:55 pm

    OK, it seems I lied about the one post a month.

    …please update to one post worth reading a month, if that

    I understand what you’re saying CL, and I respect that. For me, I can equate my position to that of a gang-rape victim. Whether it was 27 guys, or 42, is there really a better choice? I think this helps explain my apathy, and, I believe, that of many younger folks. So often we are accused of not caring, and not voting. Well, I care, and I stay informed, but our system is broke, and without serious campaign-finance reform, we, the people, are screwed.

    The only ones who will win this election, again, are the corporations, and those who control them. Not a single major-party candidate running gives a damn about what the individual American wants.

    Like

  253. 270 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    Mid-afternoon blog domination attempt forthcoming, for old times’ sake.

    Like

  254. 271 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    If Blanco or Anderson get any significant playing time next year, we are, at best, a .500 team.

    Like

  255. 272 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    I miss the Grinch; I’m not sure why.

    Like

  256. 273 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    Pitchers are freakin’ nutcases.

    Kyle Davies and Jo Jo Reyes will probably make all-star teams, and neither will be playing for Atlanta.

    Like

  257. 274 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    I think I did something to upset Voice of Reason. I mean, in addition to my usual upsetting of everybody.

    Like

  258. 275 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    How many belt-high, down-the-middle fastballs did Francouer swing through this year?

    Like

  259. 276 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    Ol’ Bob and company sure didn’t like your “free advertising” comment, CL. I found it fairly accurate, and said so to Bob, especially in relation to the AJC blog.

    I wish everybody would get along, and yet, I bring this up. What’s wrong with me? Am I an enigma, or an ass? Does it matter that I am drinking a Diet Coke at the moment?

    Like

  260. 277 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    My whiskey-addled brain is straining to find something to say. Luckily, Chris klobadmwhatshisname isn’t here to serve me another.

    Like

  261. 278 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    Time to plug my own blogs:

    Ireallywishklooberwashereanddontknowwherehesbeen.com

    Idontthinktheresanydoubtthatimanassandnotanenigma.net

    Like

  262. 279 Salty October 7, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    Steve…serious blog domination! SG will be jealous…so will Berigan, when he wakes up!

    😆

    Like

  263. 280 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 7, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    I’m awake, I’m AWAKE!!!!! 😡

    Like

  264. 281 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 7, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    Like

  265. 282 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 7, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    3 posts in a minute, a record?

    Like

  266. 283 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 7, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    3 this minute I meant

    Like

  267. 284 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 7, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    1

    Like

  268. 285 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 7, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    1 as in #1

    Like

  269. 286 Salty October 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    Sheesh…now I know how jelly feels between slices of bread! 🙄

    Like

  270. 287 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Salty goes in the filter, yet Search and I are able to post that tripe.

    I love WordPress.

    Like

  271. 288 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    I’ve been called a lot, but never before have I been called bread.

    I am outraged.

    Like

  272. 289 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:52 pm

    Racist? bread/cracker…same, but different

    Like

  273. 290 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    Quittin’ time. Productivity may be slightly lower for me today. Just slightly, though.

    Like

  274. 291 Salty October 7, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Pumpernickel! How’s that! 😆

    Like

  275. 292 Savannah Guy October 7, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Do I have to tell you people why I haven’t been here before I can post? No? Don’t care? That’s understandable. Whatever.

    Whoa… you guys are busy dominatin’ and such. BayRumpleAreastilskinSteve has awakened? And yes, where the hootin’ heck is that Klobber.

    Just give me a good ol’ peanut butter, mayo and banana sammich on white bread with a big, ice cold cold glassa milk. Mayo is so the bread won’t stick to the roof of your mouth. Everything has a purpose in this life.

    Well alrightythen… how ’bout that economy boys and girls? Uh, nevermind.

    Real estate prices? Inflation? Gas availability? No, no and nopper.

    OK then, how ’bout that ultra tight Presidential race? Nah… fergitit.

    Uh, maybe the mainstream media? Yikes.

    Oh, got it… here’s one: BoSox rule. 😀

    Howzabout our boy Kotsay! Jason Bay filled in pretty nicely for Manny too, eh?

    Like

  276. 293 Carolina Lady October 7, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    Howdy, all!

    Catching up on some of the above:
    Steve, delighted to see you, as always! My problem with Obama is his extreme Marxist-socialist leanings. I don’t want my country to go the way of so many European countries. I’ll fight Obama every way I can. If he should be elected (God forbid!), he in combination with Pelosi, Reid, and the other radical-lefts in Congress, the United States, as we know it, will cease to exist.
    That’s why I’m voting for McCain.

    Didn’t know Bob, etc didn’t like my comment on my blog. I was told by Bob in an email that it would be better if I didn’t visit their site. (I may still have that email.) So I haven’t been there. But, somehow, it’s all right for him to post ads here?? Somebody will have to explain that logic to me. That water is already over the dam.

    Klobber is working practically around the clock. He’ll be back when he has time to breathe again. It’s been real tough. I keep in touch to see how he’s doing. I’ll tell him he’s been asked about. 🙂

    Y’all are in the doghouse, if case you didn’t know….. 😦 And it’s too late now, so don’t try to talk yourselves out of it! 😥

    Like

  277. 294 Savannah Guy October 7, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    CL… you were dis-invited to the boy’s club? Oh, the humanity! Such silliness.
    I’ll ditto what you said on the politics stuff. But y’all knew that.

    A Salty jelly sammich? Doesn’t jelly disappear like snails? Escargot jelly? :mrgreen:

    Klobber, we’re missin’ ya. If tough times are upon you, then you have plenty of company and we all can certainly relate. Hang in there… good things happen to good folks.

    Doghouse? Uh oh… for being gone? Uh… what happened?

    Like

  278. 296 Salty October 7, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    Happy Birthday to You!!!!
    I feel Like a Fool!

    If you’ll please forgive me!
    I’ll forget next year, too!

    Just kiddin’!!!! 😆 All the best, Grand Dame of the Blog!!! :mrgreen:

    Like

  279. 298 Salty October 7, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Don’t you just love being called ‘ordinary folks’? 😕

    Like

  280. 300 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    Friggin debate is worthless.

    …unless we’re grading for rhetoric

    Happy Birthday, CL….assuming it is. I’m trusting Salty…too lazy to look, myself.

    Like

  281. 301 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Just so you know, if I’m a POW, and they say I can go home, I’m going home.

    What this means: if I were actually going to vote, McCain’s my guy.

    America’s not going to vote for a black guy; I’m going on the record.

    Like

  282. 302 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    I should probably say…I would never be a POW.

    Chris Rock does a great bit: “I don’t care if a Russian tank is drivin’ down Flatbush Avenue, I ain’t gonna fight.”

    Although, after 9.11, had someone said they needed me, I’d of signed up.

    Like

  283. 303 Carolina Lady October 7, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    Steve, if a Russian tank is driving down Flatbush, you ARE a POW.

    Like

  284. 304 flbravesgirl October 7, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    Happy Birthday, CL!!!

    (Should’ve done this last night, darn it.) Sorry about the delay but my computer time is pretty limited these days.

    Like

  285. 305 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 10:49 pm

    I smell cookies.

    Like

  286. 306 flbravesgirl October 7, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    Not right now, BAS. I’m dieting.

    Like

  287. 307 Bay Area Steve October 7, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    Dream killer

    Like

  288. 308 flbravesgirl October 7, 2008 at 11:13 pm

    Sorry, my dear. I would happily bake something for you if you weren’t so danged far away; I just can’t eat any of it.

    Like

  289. 309 Gil in Mechanicsville October 8, 2008 at 12:27 am

    Yes, Happy Birthday CL….

    The debate was a drag…

    I saw this coming back in the eightys when the government started easing up on their anti trust laws. It’s tough to out con a con man… Most of the crooks have got their loot and have it safely stashed away in the Caymans or somewhere… It’s a good bet they didn’t have it tied up in junk bonds…

    Yes CL, it is not Obama that worries me as the folks he knows in Congress…

    Now, time to watch some quality TV.. Uh… well, TV anyway…

    Like

  290. 310 Gil in Mechanicsville October 8, 2008 at 7:02 am

    A guy traveling through Mexico on vacation, lost his wallet and all identification.

    Cutting his trip short, he attempts to make his way home but is stopped by the U.S. Customs Agent at the border.

    ‘May I see your identification, please?’ asks the agent.

    ‘I’m sorry, but I lost my wallet,’ replies the guy.

    ‘Sure buddy, I hear that every day. No ID, no entry,’
    says the agent.

    ‘But I can prove I’m an American!’ he exclaims. ‘I have a picture of Ronald Reagan tattooed on one butt cheek and George Bush on the other.’

    ‘This I gotta see,’ replies the agent. With that, the guy drops his pants and shows the agent.

    ‘By golly, you’re right!’ exclaims the agent. ‘Have a safe trip back to Chicago .’

    ‘Thanks!’ he says. ‘But how did you know I was from Chicago ?’

    The agent replies, ‘I recognized Barrack Obama in the middle.’

    Like

  291. 311 Savannah Guy October 8, 2008 at 8:09 am

    G’mornin’. Another day jugglin’ chainsaws for moi. Time for one little post:

    Isn’t it always, ALWAYS the case… that the most thoughtful and caring people who are also organized enough to remember birthdays of friends and family are the very ones that are overlooked. Always. It ain’t right. Then again, if those same good folks didn’t remind us of each others birthdays by posting it here we’d surely forget them too.

    So, to make up for my forgetting and to get out of that little dog house… a Happy Birthday wish and a poem just for Carolina Lady:

    Seems we can always remember

    special days in November and December

    When thanksgiving comes around

    and we hear the dinner bell sound

    then there’s a day we always celebrate

    because Jesus was born on that special date

    yet it’s birthdays of friends some of us forget

    it’s a bad habit I should really try to quit

    so from this day forward, whether drunk or sober

    I’ll remember another special day… the 7th of October!

    Like

  292. 312 Carolina Lady October 8, 2008 at 8:42 am

    😆 excellent, SG! I enjoyed that! Have a successful day today! 🙂

    Like

  293. 313 Carolina Lady October 8, 2008 at 9:52 am

    After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a ‘gripe sheet,’ which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics corrects the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

    Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.

    P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
    S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

    P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
    S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

    P: Something loose in cockpit
    S: Something tightened in cockpit

    P: Dead bugs on windshield.
    S: Live bugs on back-order.

    P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute
    descent
    S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

    P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
    S: Evidence removed.

    P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
    S: DME volume set to more believable level.

    P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
    S: That’s what friction locks are for.

    P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
    S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

    P: Suspected crack in windshield.
    S: Suspect you’re right.

    P: Number 3 engine missing.
    S: Engine found on right wing after brief search

    P: Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!)
    S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious.

    P:Target radar hums.
    S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

    P: Mouse in cockpit.
    S: Cat installed.

    And the best one for last

    P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
    S: Took hammer away from the midget.

    Like

  294. 314 Salty October 8, 2008 at 10:01 am

    Those are good, CL! 😆

    Like

  295. 315 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 8, 2008 at 10:34 am

    CL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    😀
    🙂
    😉
    :mrgreen:

    Oh, I am a day late??? 😥 😥 😥 😥
    Dang it!!! SG is right, bet you never have a hot meal either! 😦
    Sorry! I was out a lot yesterday, then the Guess who came for dinner(Yes, he’s still here!) got on the computer, after dinner, and never got off of it! Then, after watching the debate, I got very sleepy for some reason….and slept til about a half hour ago.
    Those are my excuses, and I am sticking to them! 😳

    Like

  296. 316 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 8, 2008 at 10:34 am

    Let me be the first to wish you a happy birthday for next year then! 😀
    .
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    🙄

    Like

  297. 317 flbravesgirl October 8, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    😆 CL!

    Dad (aka the computer hog) is out mowing the lawn so I’m trying to get started on my Christmas shopping… do we have a “ripping my hair out” emoticon? Why can’t they just have what I want, in stock, with no foul-ups?

    Like

  298. 318 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 8, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    The Berigan and FLB show???

    Like

  299. 319 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 8, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    Admittedly, not much of a show! 😀

    Like

  300. 320 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 8, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    chirp???

    Like

  301. 321 Carolina Lady October 8, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    chirp! 😀

    ‘Night! Loooooong day…….

    Like

  302. 322 flbravesgirl October 9, 2008 at 12:12 am

    Who would want to watch me do laundry & make dinner? I did finally have some success with the shopping though. All done with my sister except for maybe a stocking-stuffer & a good start on Mom & Dad’s.

    Like

  303. 323 Gil in Mechanicsville October 9, 2008 at 12:31 am

    Yes, long day…. Will catch up later….

    Like

  304. 324 Gil in Mechanicsville October 9, 2008 at 8:48 am

    Good morning friends…. I had the privilege of attending my county’s Board of Supervisors meeting last night. The event was a effort to speak against two proposed ordinances which would have restricted gun use as well as target practice with bow and arrow. After 10 months of crafting a proposed ordinance under the guise of public safety, the proposal came to the fore last night. I am happy to say that in the place of Patrick Henry’s birth, common sense prevailed. The fact that many right thinking folks spoke against the matter weighed heavily on the Board.

    Proof that a mobilize citizenry can make a difference. Politicians will nearly always sway with the wind and when headed by a gale, they will adapt their position accordingly.

    Now baseball…. Braves still looking for a bat? Check with Greg Olsen, after all they gave him a bag full for Kerry Leightenberg, maybe he still has a few laying around. It is good to see Francoure rededicating himself to being a better hitter. He did begin to look better towards the end of the season.

    Like

  305. 325 Carolina Lady October 9, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a
    Group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a
    Prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of
    England , its people and peace This had an amazing effect as bombing
    Stopped.

    There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here
    In America. The United States of America and our citizens need prayer
    More than ever !!!

    If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM
    Eastern Time, 8:00 PM Central , 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific,
    Stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the
    Safety of the United States , our troops, our citizens, for peace in the
    World, for wisdom and courage for our leaders, the up-coming election,
    And that the Bible will remain the basis for the laws governing our
    Land.

    Like

  306. 326 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 9, 2008 at 1:41 pm

    Sounds good to me CL!!!

    Like

  307. 327 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 9, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    McCain is finally taking off the gloves and actually naming names , dem names like Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, and Obama of course, for being in bed with the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. First time he has named names, He has never named names, besides Obama.
    So,tonight on the news…, “In the last few days, McCain, after promising to run a clean campaign, has sharpened his negative attacks, today accusing Democrats for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac failures”

    That is, if they even cover him today. 🙄

    Like

  308. 328 Gil in Mechanicsville October 9, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    I think McCain is getting to Obama. He is really bristling at the Bill Aryes dust up. Of course that has always been the Democrat’s strategy. If someone gets close to the truth, start screaming loudly about something different to deflect attention.

    Like

  309. 329 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 9, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    Gil, why would a guy who said stuff like this….

    “To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists and punk-rock performance poets. We smoked cigarettes and wore leather jackets. At night, in the dorms, we discussed neocolonialism, Franz Fanon, Eurocentrism, and patriarchy. When we ground out our cigarettes in the hallway carpet or set our stereos so loud that the walls began to shake, we were resisting bourgeois society’s stifling conventions. We weren’t indifferent or careless or insecure. We were alienated.

    But this strategy alone couldn’t provide the distance I wanted, from Joyce or my past. After all, there were thousands of so-called campus radicals, most of them white and tenured and happily tolerant. No, it remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.”

    Why would a guy like that hang out with Ayers??? 🙄

    Lots of juicy quotes(with links to where they can be found)
    here…
    http://rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/10/barack_obama_in_quotes_version_2.php

    Like

  310. 330 Gil in Mechanicsville October 9, 2008 at 5:41 pm

    I have a novel way to reduce voter fraud… Take a page from the Iragis, make every voter dip their finger in purple ink. One man/woman, one vote….

    Like

  311. 331 Carolina Lady October 9, 2008 at 7:20 pm

    Here in NC, 31,114 new voters were registered LAST WEEK.
    52% Dem
    28% Una

    Thanks to an enormous influx of people from the New England states to NC –
    Dem: 2,735,413
    Rep: 1,959,080
    Lib: 1,599
    Una: 1,330,536
    (State Board of Elections data updated 10/4/2008)

    Like

  312. 332 Carolina Lady October 9, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    The problem with that, Gil, is that not everybody votes the same day. Early voting begins here Oct 16.

    And, ID is not required to cast a vote in NC. That is absurd!

    To register to vote, one only needs a driver’s license and some other piece of ‘ID’ – such as a utility bill, library card, etc – to register.

    Unfortunately, this state is known throughout the world as the place to go to get yourself a driver’s license. I think 90% of the illegals come here first to get a license because the requirements are so slack. I’m ashamed. 😳

    Like

  313. 334 Gil in Mechanicsville October 9, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    Sigh…. Tis the season to kill of characters on TV series…

    CL… If I were not so lazy, I would register and vote everywhere… However, it is all I can do to try and keep things tamped down here at the center of the universe.

    I pray the good folks of North Carolina will once again see fit to send Elizabeth Dole to the show. I fear Mark Warner (democrat) is going to get elected from VA. He is a moderate however and I don’t think it is going be much of a change from John Warner.

    The key for Va has become Northern VA as all the carpetbaggers have settled there. I will predict that my county, Hanover, will be 90% for McCain. City of Richmond will be 90% for Obama. Do I need to give the demographics?…

    Trouble is, the economy is so FUBAR that no matter who is elected, we are sunk. I refused to be depressed about it though. At least gas is coming down… 🙂

    Like

  314. 335 Gil in Mechanicsville October 9, 2008 at 10:31 pm

    We always knew they had a price, we just didn’t know it was so small…

    http://www.nbc12.com/global/story.asp?s=9155333

    Like

  315. 336 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 9, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    Here’s a list of Borass’ agents…
    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/scott-boras-cli.html

    Like

  316. 337 flbravesgirl October 9, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    It really upsets me that Jair is represented by that weasel.

    Like

  317. 338 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 9, 2008 at 11:44 pm

    FLB, I hear ya! Anyone watch the game??? I was fearing the Dodgers were going to sweep ’em, their pitching is very good. Weird to see Maddux coming out of the bullpen twice. Because of Manny alone, I am rooting for the Phillies….

    Like

  318. 339 flbravesgirl October 10, 2008 at 12:04 am

    My dad watched. I don’t care for either side in that series & can’t stand Fox’s broadcasters so I skipped it.

    Like

  319. 340 Carolina Lady October 10, 2008 at 9:06 am

    Don’t know if this is true, but it is a beautiful story:

    The Sack Lunches

    I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. “I’m glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,” I thought.

    Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. “Where are you headed?” I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

    “Chicago – to Great Lakes Base. We’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we’re being deployed to Iraq .”

    After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

    As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. “No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn’t be worth five bucks. I’ll wait till we get to Chicago .”

    His friend agreed.

    I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. “Take a lunch to all those soldiers.” She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. “My son was a soldier in Iraq; it’s almost like you are doing it for him.”

    Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, “Which do you like best – beef or chicken?”

    “Chicken,” I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. “This is your thanks.”

    After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. “I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.” He handed me twenty-five dollars.

    Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an said, “I want to shake your hand.”

    Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain’s hand. With a booming voice he said, “I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.” I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

    Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

    When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

    Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. “It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.”

    Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.

    It seemed so little…

    Like

  320. 341 Carolina Lady October 10, 2008 at 9:26 am

    On East Coast, busloads of aliens travel south on I-95 to get easy ID

    ——————————————————————————–
    Posted: July 22, 2005
    1:00 am Eastern

    © 2008 WorldNetDaily.com

    Scott Gardner of Mount Holly, N.C., was on vacation and heading to the coast with his family when his station wagon was struck by a truck driven by Ramiro Gallegos, an illegal alien charged three times previously with drunk driving.

    Gardner, the father of two young children, was killed. Gallegos of Mexico was charged with second-degree murder and driving while impaired.

    It is uncertain where Gallegos was going at the time, but it is not surprising that he was in North Carolina.

    The state’s requirements to obtain a driver’s license are weaker than those of many surrounding states, according to a performance audit of the licensing process.

    Court officials in New Jersey, for instance, have complained that the requirements are so weak that busloads of illegal immigrants get on I-95 heading south and drive to North Carolina to obtain licenses fraudulently.

    The audit, administered by the Department of Transportation and the Division of Motor Vehicles, said documents considered acceptable for proof of residency in North Carolina are easily forged, or the information provided by applicants is not verified.

    North Carolina DOT is responding with tighter regulations. Last year, the department stopped issuing licenses to people holding several forms of foreign identification. Most foreign birth certificates, foreign marriage licenses, military identification cards from Mexico and a popular Mexican identification card known as the matricula consular are no longer accepted.

    The Real ID Act, signed by President Bush in May 2005, will further strengthen the security of the Division of Motor Vehicles, the audit said.

    But, meanwhile, North Carolina remains illegal alien alley on the highways.

    Before the Real ID Act can be applied to North Carolina, differences in federal and state law must be reconciled, said DMV Commissioner George Tatum. For example, the audit states that North Carolina still accepts an individual taxpayer identification number in lieu of a Social Security number, but the Real ID Act eliminated the ITIN as an acceptable document.

    A measure that passed in the state House, but is stalled in the Senate, would restrict licenses for immigrants by issuing them only for the duration of a visa.

    State Rep. Cary Allred, R-Alamance, introduced a measure that didn’t survive that required individuals to prove they are legally present in the U.S. before acquiring a license.

    Courts in New Jersey have recently found an unusual number of illegal immigrants with fraudulent driver’s licenses issued to them by North Carolina.

    The immigrants are coming into the state by the busload to obtain the document, which allows them to drive, work, bank and rent housing, said Sonia Barria, the court administrator for the town of Dover, N.J.

    “We have destroyed, I don’t know how many, North Carolina licenses,” Barria said in an interview with the News & Record of Greensboro. “Right now, we have waiting to be destroyed, one, two, three … 17 that have been confiscated over the last couple of months.”

    The audit report also found North Carolina’s licensing system is ripe for fraud because of lax laws, inadequate equipment, understaffed offices and ineffective supervision.

    Without mentioning illegal immigration, the report identifies a variety of loopholes and shortcomings in the state DMV that have made North Carolina a magnet for license seekers not in the country legally.

    “Having less restrictive requirements appears to encourage individuals from other states to travel to North Carolina to obtain a driver’s license,” the report said.

    In an accompanying chart, auditors noted that North Carolina is one of only 10 states that do not require that applicants prove they are legally present in this country.

    They also criticized the DMV’s lenient policy for applicants who need interpreters, licensing offices staffed by just one examiner, weak control over data entered in the division’s computer system and an inconsistent chain of command that lets senior examiners write some of their own rules about acceptable identity documents.

    Applicants who don’t speak English are allowed to bring their own interpreters to help them, the audit report found. Therefore, English-only examiners don’t know whether interpreters are inappropriately coaching the applicants, the report said.

    😳 😳 😳

    Like

  321. 342 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 10, 2008 at 10:16 am

    CL, that 9:06 story is very nice!
    The 9:26 story, not so much….pretty bad when New Jersey is calling out NC for their weak voter registration policies.

    Like

  322. 343 Carolina Lady October 10, 2008 at 11:05 am

    Hey, Ber! This state is a disgrace when it comes to dealing with illegals.

    Like

  323. 344 Gil in Mechanicsville October 10, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    I think a lot of folks will get very concerned when they start fighting for the same jobs….

    Like

  324. 345 Gil in Mechanicsville October 10, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    What’s the old joke? A guest becomes a pest after three days….

    Like

  325. 346 Savannah Guy October 10, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    “Fish and houseguests smell after three days.”

    Benjamin Franklin

    (but it’s no joke) 😆

    Like

  326. 347 Savannah Guy October 10, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    Maybe this economy is part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.

    (to get the illegal aliens to go back to where they came from… or continue on to Canada)

    Like

  327. 348 Gil in Mechanicsville October 10, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    SG… We will be back on the right track when the price of gas goes back down…

    The price at the pump is about as accurate as a weather rock… Both are pretty straight forward in their indication of where things stand…

    Like

  328. 350 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 10, 2008 at 2:19 pm

    What are gas prices in “your” next of the woods??? We are at $3.51,(as of yesterday) a friend in Philly is paying 3.20…

    Like

  329. 351 Gil in Mechanicsville October 10, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Regular is from $2.79 to 3.49 but most of the stations are at the $3.00 mark and dropping. I expect it will be around $2.75 in a couple of weeks.

    Like

  330. 352 Hillbilly October 10, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    $3.13 and falling.

    Like

  331. 353 Salty October 10, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    It’ll be under $2.50 within a month…personally, I expect much sooner than that, but…we’ll see, won’t we?

    Like

  332. 354 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 10, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    Gil, that’s a huge difference! I do believe you are right about gas prices. People should feel better seeing their dollars going further.
    Salty, I hope you are right. Oil prices have dropped like a rock…just looked, $78 a barrel right now! OPEC will have to come to the rescue, and save us from affordable gas. 🙄

    Like

  333. 355 Gil in Mechanicsville October 10, 2008 at 6:12 pm

    OPEC has called an emergency summit to try and figure a way to have their Golden Goose and eat it too….. According to their spokesmen, they depend on our money to build their palaces… Well, that is not exactly what he said but it is what he meant…

    I bought Premium for $3.26 a gallon this afternoon… I have tracked my gas consumption for the past 4 years. The most I had paid in any month was this past May when I paid $464.38 for 127 gallons. Problem was I was paying over $400 per month for 5 straight months. That is about $200 per month more than previously. I have really worked to get my miles driven reduced. I am actually buy less gas now than in previous years.

    Want a simple man’s answer to when our economy is on the way back? Watch for Starbucks sales to increase and more people driving again…

    Like

  334. 356 Savannah Guy October 11, 2008 at 8:23 am

    Good morning Stuffville.

    I will not speak of Acorn, Fannie, Freddie, global currency, global warming, Troopergate, Ayers, Rezco, Raines, Dodd, Frank, Schumer, Pelosi, Reid, Bush, the economy, the bailout, the media, John McCain or the “Chosen One”.

    Nope. Too nice of a morning… plus, I already spouted off in a private email. Maybe later. For now…

    How ’bout them BoSox? 😀

    Like

  335. 357 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 8:24 am

    Folks, the press has finally done it. They have convinced me that I can no longer take stock in anything they say or do…. It is bad to become so cynical but they have become so driven by sensationalism and celebrity they can no longer be trusted to tell the whole truth. I don’t care if other people get what they deserve, it is when I get saddled with the same burden that I must protest.

    Like

  336. 358 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 8:31 am

    Good morning SG… Fall has finally arrived here. Josie and I are going to take a few days off (odd for retired folks to need to do don’t you think) and drive to the beach. Perhaps we will take an extra day and come back through the mountains. it is getting close to that time of the year.

    Like

  337. 359 Savannah Guy October 11, 2008 at 11:11 am

    Gil, that beach getaway sounds good. Pure R&R. Are the leaves exploding in full color yet there in VA? I’ll bet the Blue Ridge mountains are a sight to see right about now. The OBX would be a fine, fine destination.

    it is bad to become so cynical but they have become so driven by sensationalism and celebrity they can no longer be trusted to tell the whole truth.

    In my humble and at times cynical opinion, a little cynicism is a good thing if we are paying attention to this world and not wearing rose colored glasses. Reality does not change just because some delusional folks ignore it or are not aware of it. Cynicism provides a bit of balance, release and humor to a citizen of this world where so many less than admirable people are doing so many less than admirable things.

    Quite the contrary… it would be foolish to go through life without a bit of cynical commentary on occasion. Even the eternal optimist Ronald Reagan said, “trust but verify”.

    A healthy dose of pessimism and paranoia with a side order of suspicion is also advised for all things of this earth. Round that out with faith, trust, hope, charity, compassion and optimism and you’ve got it made in the shade.

    Balance is key. Some folks go a little overboard in one area or another…

    “My pessimism extends to the point of even suspecting the sincerity of the pessimists.”
    –Jean Rostand

    Like

  338. 360 Savannah Guy October 11, 2008 at 11:13 am

    it is bad to become so cynical but they have become so driven by sensationalism and celebrity they can no longer be trusted to tell the whole truth.

    Meant to start my philosophical blabbering with, ain’t that the truth. We agree…

    Like

  339. 361 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    It always appears that someone has a hidden (and some not so hidden) agenda that the spin merchants practice the art of shouting down their opponents.

    If they say ignorance is bliss… Then why aren’t I more blissful?

    I am inclined to believe that my happiest times are when I am shut off from the world. Perhaps my youngest son’s attitude that being a beach bum is the secret to true happiness. He seems pretty content if you ask me…

    Like

  340. 362 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 11, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    Gil, I really know what you are talking about! I started to “get” that the media was often dumb, lazy, biased, during the first Gulf War. We are going back what, 17 years, so I don’t recall exactly what the story was, but being newshounds, my Dad and I would flip between NBC, CBS, ABC(always on a half hour later in the ATL) and CNN. Well, some building had been attacked, and whatever number of….of, crud…whatever stat they were talking about with absolute conviction in their voice….was different on EVERY station! 3 of the 4, or perhaps all 4 stations were wrong! I could have grabbed a number out of my…hat, and who’s to say it was not right?
    This was long before the web, youtube, etc…so, no way to spread the word, or find out how many other people noticed it.
    It just blew me away, and except for mentioning it to my Dad(He hadn’t noticed the discrepancy) that was that. But, I started to learn they were not always right, for sure. It was later that I figured out they were not unbiased, like they said they were.

    Recently, I have had to just stop watching NBC or ABC in the middle of a story. They don’t even pretend to be unbiased anymore. Lets see, yesterday, they were talking about Bush and how critics were saying his administration was slow to recognise or react to the crisis,etc, etc, etc….hey, like a lot of folks on the right, I am getting more and more tired of him, don’t think he is the brightest bulb, thats for sure….but, why the ___ don’t the networks talk about all the money Dodd, Frank and Obama got from Freddie and Fannie, and how they voted down McCain the Republicans that for once were for more regulation?? That really would have slowed down the crisis!!! But, no, the big three are in the tank for Obama, gotta make sure that he not only wins, but that there are even more Democrats in congress with him, so we can once and for all change into a complete socialist society.

    Like

  341. 363 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    Back in the USSA….. Sounds like a slow pitch softball association to me…

    I have spent the morning detailing my Lexus. I just cannot stand to see it trashed up. Funny thing the economy, before the stock market crashed, the big issue was gas and groceries. Now there are a lot of folks crying because they lost money in the market. Hey, I got hurt too but I am not wiped out. I can manage, I will keep on doing what I have been doing for the past 20 years. Being my kids’ safety net….

    Funny, I can remember telling the powers that be to never cut to the bone the first couple of rounds, some bean counter will want to continue to cut budgets until folks truly are hurt. Most of the cuts our governor is making are jobs that are currently vacant. Looks good on paper but really makes little difference.

    Okay, I am going back outside now and stare at my car…. 🙂 I am trying to decide if I want to tackle the wife’s SUV…

    Like

  342. 364 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 11, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    Gil, Lexus??? Shoulda traded it in for that Trans Am! :mrgreen: Trans Am, bet those seats would be comfortable!!! 😉

    Like

  343. 365 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 11, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    Well, the election is over…a once proud civil rights leader is now merely a political hack…..and McCain, being ever so politically correct, will make sure to praise the chosen one, making sure none of the thousands of folks coming out to see McCain or Palin are angry in any way shape, or form. Cuz anger = racism! 🙄

    John Lewis, invoking George Wallace, says McCain and Palin ‘playing with fire’

    Civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis is accusing John McCain and Sarah Palin of stoking hate, likening the atmosphere at Republican campaign events to those featuring George Wallace, the segregationist former governor of Alabama and presidential candidate.

    “What I am seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history,” Lewis said in a statement issued today. “Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division, and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse.”

    Lewis didn’t accuse McCain of imitating Wallace, but suggested there were similarities.

    “George Wallace never threw a bomb,” Lewis noted. “He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama.”

    Lewis’s sharp words may be dismissed as those of a partisan Democrat in a campaign season. But the former head of SNCC and hero of Selma is somebody who McCain has lavished praise upon over the years, including admiring him in a book on courage and bravery and repeatedly invoking Lewis’s name in public appearances.

    Appearing with Barack Obama at a forum at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in August, McCain included Lewis as one of “three wise men” he would consult as president.

    “He can teach us all a lot about the meaning of courage and commitment to causes greater than our self-interest,” McCain said of Lewis.

    Now, Lewis is castigating McCain in the harshest of terms.

    “As public figures with the power to influence and persuade, Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all,” Lewis said today. “They are playing a very dangerous game that disregards the value of the political process and cheapens our entire democracy. We can do better. The American people deserve better.”
    http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1008/John_Lewis_invoking_George_Wallace_says_McCain_and_Palin_playing_with_fire.html?showall

    Like

  344. 366 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 11, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    Now just for FLB, some baseball! 😉

    Dodgers’ Andruw Jones is rooting for his team
    Center fielder says he doesn’t want to jinx team by staying with them in playoffs, but is sure they will win it all.
    By Dylan Hernandez, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
    October 10, 2008
    PHILADELPHIA — Andruw Jones said he wanted to be at Citizens Bank Park for the opening game of the National League Championship Series instead of in front of the television set in his home in suburban Atlanta. But Jones said he has no plans of rejoining the Dodgers during their playoff run to cheer on his teammates.

    “I don’t want to jinx them,” Jones said when reached at his home in suburban Atlanta on Thursday.

    Jones said it was out of consideration to his teammates that he asked Manager Joe Torre and General Manager Ned Colletti if he could leave the team when he was moved to the 60-day disabled list on Sept. 13.

    “A lot of people need to get stuff OK” in the trainer’s room, he said. “I didn’t want to be in the way.”

    Signed by the Dodgers to a two-year, $36.2-million deal last winter, Jones said he is preparing his surgically repaired knee to play in the Dominican Republic in December. The last time he played winter ball was in 1996.

    “I had a bad season and a terrible season back-to-back,” Jones said. “I have to have a great season and show people I have baseball left in me.”

    Jones said he has maintained contact with Rafael Furcal, Angel Berroa and Manny Ramirez. Asked if he thought the Dodgers should re-sign Ramirez, he said, “I’m sure they should. He’s a great hitter.”

    But, he added, “If they sign him, there’s going to be another issue. We’ll still have me and Juan Pierre. [Andre] Ethier has to play. Matt Kemp’s going to have to play.

    “After they win the World Series, it’s going to be interesting.”

    Jones said he expects to be the everyday center fielder next season.

    “I’m an everyday guy or I need to move out,” he said.
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodfyi10-2008oct10,0,2381279.story

    Like

  345. 367 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    Berigan, I have had the Lexus a long time. A picture of it is on the blog photo page. It is a sneaky fast car. Loves to lay it’s ears back on the interstate. Seems the faster it goes, the faster it wants to go.

    I decided against the Trans AM. I did not really need two of them. We still have the ’96 ragtop. Now that is a car that is fun to drive after you get off the interstate.

    If my 401K ever recovers, I am going to buy the wife a Corvette… May as well waste my money and enjoy it. No use leaving it for someone else to fight over. And so much for putting it away for a rainy day…. A lot of good that did me….

    Like

  346. 368 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    I have avoided the TV news today as much as possible. Just really tired of the beating McCain is getting. 20 years from now when they want to show people how to lose an election, they are going to put up a picture of McCain….

    Of course I am still attending the Palin rally Monday. They had to move it to the raceway because of the demand for tickets. Works out better for me as it is closer to home.

    Like

  347. 369 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    AND NOW THIS FOR ALL THE “FREE” THINKERS OUT THERE…. Put this in your pipe and smoke it..

    http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/POT_ENVIRONMENT?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US

    Like

  348. 370 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    Just got off the phone (yes I know it is old fashion but works for me) with a life long friend.. He turns 64 next week… Man, where has the time gone, seems like only yesterday we met… I think I was 8 or 9… Anyway, he says every time the pollsters call to ask him who he is voting for he says OBAMA!!! Needless to say, he like to skew the results… 🙂

    Like

  349. 371 Savannah Guy October 11, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    The radical enviro-libs must be really torn over the illegal aliens that are polluting the environment and killing animals while growing pot.

    Maybe I’ll save them the time and spin, uh, write the PR release for them:

    SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (AP-E) – Mexican immigrant rights activists, environmentalists, Peta leaders, Mayors of American sanctuary cities, Acorn representatives and NORML organization spokesdudes held a joint news conference (pun intended).

    This gathering of so many community and issue organizers and state officials all joined under the banner, “NEW ORDER”.

    With one, unified voice (in Spanish, English lot’s of, “far out, dude” expressions, they all blamed the Bush administration for the harsh and antiquated immigration and drug policies that resulted in pollution of the environment, death to innocent animals and placing an inhumane and difficult burden on poor immigrant farmers.

    The animated group demanded that these immigrants be given all the same rights as Americans guaranteed in the new and improved Constitution: the right to live anywhere regardless of artificial, imperialistic borders; the right to a free home without mortgage payments; the right to free health care; the right to a drivers license, the right to vote without ID and the right to smoke weed and the right to not pay taxes.

    In a shocking revelation during the press conference, John McCain was implicated in the failed policies, atrocities and war crimes of the Bush administration due to their air-raiding of villages in Afghanistan to kill innocent civilians and search and spray throughout California’s National forests and parks, the west Coast’s Cascade Mountains, federal lands in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia just to eradicate a farming community and kill their crops.

    Some in the crowd held posters that said, “Bush and McCain are old, straight, war mongering, beer drinking white men”. Other men in the crowd wore makeup and frilly dresses and chanted, “let those cute Spanish fellows in and leave them alone”.

    Governor Ahnold arrived in time to promise the NEW ORDER group that he would fully fund the group if he can get the Federal Government to bail his state out first.

    Like

  350. 372 Carolina Lady October 11, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    McCain will be in Wilmington Monday afternoon. It was announced last night that he would be here and TICKETS would be available at his campaign headquarters beginning at noon Saturday.

    It has been raining non-stop here since last night – and people were lined up very early this morning, in that pouring rain, to get tickets. The 2,000 allotted tickets were gone in a couple of hours.

    The venue set up for him is the worst in town. It is on the campus of the Cape Fear Community College located downtown, where parking is nearly non-existent, and where people don’t go unless they absolutely have to. The meeting area is small, to say the least, and decidedly not user-friendly.

    Also located here is the University of NC (UNCW) campus which is centrally located, has 10’s of thousands of parking places, has a huge meeting facility which is used for everything from concerts to basketball games. Off-hand I don’t know the exact seating capacity, but it is sizable. And it isn’t being used.

    I’m convinced that his campaign organizers would have trouble organizing a 1-car funeral.

    Like

  351. 373 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    You really have to wonder don’t you CL…

    Great press release SG… There is a future for you in the Obama press corp.

    Like

  352. 374 Gil in Mechanicsville October 11, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    At a bare minimum the head producer for MSNBC….

    Like

  353. 375 Carolina Lady October 12, 2008 at 1:03 am

    from the local newspaper:
    2,000 tickets for McCain’s Wilmington visit gone in 45 minutes

    By Shelby Sebens
    Staff Writer
    Published: Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 9:58 p.m.

    As the rain steadily poured down, a crowd of people flooded the parking lot of the local GOP headquarters for their chance at tickets to see Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

    The senator is holding a town-hall-style event at Cape Fear Community College’s Schwartz Center at 2 p.m. Monday. Tickets were first come, first serve starting at noon Saturday at the New Hanover County GOP headquarters.

    Maureen Wilson took her spot outside in the rain an hour before tickets were handed out. A little rain wasn’t going to keep her conservative spirit down, she said, holding a red, white and blue stars and stripes umbrella.

    She said despite a surge this past year in registered Democratic voters in North Carolina, McCain will still win the traditionally red state.

    “North Carolinians aren’t going to let us down,” she said.

    The 2,000 free tickets were gone within 45 minutes as officials limited it to two per person, but admitted some people might have snuck back in line. The tickets won’t guarantee people a seat, however. It will be up to the fire marshal’s discretion how many people get in on a first come, first serve basis, Chris Dean, New Hanover County Republican Party chairman, said. The doors will open at noon.

    Hard-core Republicans were not the only ones to brave the dreary, wet weather.

    Judith Brockelman of Leland, a self proclaimed liberal and registered Democrat, plans to support McCain and was excited to personally hear his views on the country’s economic turmoil.

    Tracy Holbrook of Wilmington, a 27-year-old instructor at Cape Fear Community College, plans to vote Republican for the first time ever. The registered Democrat said McCain’s experience won his support.

    Chaos and excitement
    Cars filled the parking lot of the GOP headquarters on Wrightsville and Orchard avenues, spilling over to nearby lots and lining the streets. Well before noon the line snaked under the building’s awning and around the parking lots. Young parents dressed their children in rain jackets and seniors held umbrellas as they waited for their tickets.

    Inside the small building, politicians, campaign volunteers and members of the local GOP answered calls and rapidly moved from place to place keeping the chaos in order.

    Dean said lots of organization and hard work helped to pull it all off. He said the phone started ringing early Friday morning and the momentum’s been going ever since.

    Outside, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) announced his support of Will Breazeale, N.C. 7th district congressional candidate.

    Daniel Baumgarten stood nearby, his chest and back covered with campaign stickers.

    “They need as much exposure as I can give them,” he said of Republican candidates as his wife handed out Breazeale stickers to the last of the ticket grabbers.

    Like

  354. 376 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 12, 2008 at 2:14 am

    CL, up pretty late! SG, you sure have a way with words! Some in the crowd held posters that said, “Bush and McCain are old, straight, war mongering, beer drinking white men”. That…that just cracked me up!
    I’d like someone to say John Lewis is an old, stupid, civil war mongering black man. But, that would be wrong. 🙄

    Gil, you are right, spend your money like a drunken sailor! Kids can’t fight over an empty bank account! 🙂

    Like

  355. 377 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 12, 2008 at 2:20 am

    Was out much of the day, went to a car cruise in Newnan, about 25 miles SW(I think, hey, it’s late!) of us. First time we got there, last show there for the year. It’s the 4th different location in as many years. Perhaps 5th different in 5 years! 😯 It was super popular at it’s original location, but fear of lawsuits, not enough Johnny on the spots, blah, blah, blah, moved it from the place that drew almost 1000 old car fans. Smaller each time they move it, but still draws some dedicated car fans. Nice.

    Anyone stay up to watch the game??? The game being Tampa-Boston??? Tampa won in the 11th, 9-8….Just can’t root for the Red Sox now that they are the overdogs. I really have a liberal baseball heart! :mrgreen:
    When that game ended at 1:30 in the Morning, I think the fans were more relieved than anything else, a tense game!!!

    FLB, are you and your Pa following/rooting for them????

    Like

  356. 378 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 12, 2008 at 5:32 am

    Man, o man it’s windy in the ATL!!! Drizzled earlier, but this wind!!! And weather channel is only talking about high winds in the plains…is this a Carolina Nor’easter???

    Like

  357. 379 Savannah Guy October 12, 2008 at 7:38 am

    It’s raining cats and dogs here on the coast. Love it.

    When the BoSox failed to score in the top of the 11th I went to bed and missed the Rays winning it. This could be a very good series. Two tough, gritty teams. Boy, I wish we had the Youk… but Boston wouldn’t trade him for A-Rod at this point.

    Like

  358. 380 Savannah Guy October 12, 2008 at 8:26 am

    Media Bias Log: Report No. 87,369,987,556,002

    The Associated Press will always find a story. If they can’t find one, they search out signs that support their views, exaggerate or just make one up.

    AP = Acrimonious Pucks.

    Like

  359. 381 Savannah Guy October 12, 2008 at 8:39 am

    Acorn Corruption Evidence Log: Case number 666,666,666,000.

    Nothing surprising here, but worth reporting. Heard last night that over half of all new voters registered under the Acorn “get out the Ohio vote (for Obama)” campaign. Most were filled out and signed by the same hand. This is going on in all swing states. That’s not surprising.

    The RNC is filing suits about the lax new rules of “no picture ID necessary”… and they are being overruled by liberal courts in some areas. But that’s not ironic or surprising. Voter fraud staged by Dems is not a surprised.

    We’ve seen that coming for years. Georgia’s computerized systems are not required to have paper backup even though the machines have been proven to malfunction. That’s not even the best part.

    The number of Acorn’s newly registered voters in Ohio: 666,000.

    Scary, yet, in the grand scheme, not surprising either. Wonder if they stopped on that on purpose or just coincidence?

    Like

  360. 382 Savannah Guy October 12, 2008 at 8:43 am

    Words disappearing, misspellings and bolding in wrong places? WordPress bias? Malfunctioning machine? Malfunctioning brain?

    More coffee…

    Like

  361. 383 Gil in Mechanicsville October 12, 2008 at 8:54 am

    Being booed in Philly… Is that an honor or what? Outside of New York fans, Philadelphia fans are the most boorish… Same thing, only different.

    I gave up on the game in the tenth SG… And you are right about Youkalis.

    A big crowd is expected for Palin tomorrow. That’s okay, we can accommodate her. RIR holds about 100,000 🙂

    Bill Clinton is expected in town today. (Don’t accept the cigar folks)…

    Berigan, we have several classic car meets around Richmond. A lot of them appear to be some folks’ regular ride… 🙂 I expect a lot of the yuppies will be trying to make do with older models now. Modern automobiles routinely go 200,000 mile now. Not like the old days when one hundred grand was a milestone… I enjoy the shows however. I appreciate all the work that go into many of those classics…

    Like

  362. 384 Savannah Guy October 12, 2008 at 9:12 am

    Gil, yes, getting boed in Philly is a badge of honor. Be sure to tell Sarah I said hello, and… “you go, girl… don’t let the bas____ds get you down”. Is Bill Clinton stalking Palin?

    Word play: Even a blind judge will stumble over an Acorn bribe now and then.

    More news: Illegal immigrants are hard working, entrepreneurial people that just need sanctuary, health care, free housing, a driver’s license and a tax-free hub of activity. Much like a foreign trade zone, only different.

    Atlanta, international hub and home of UPS and Delta is marching to the beat of a different drummer.

    It’s the New American way.

    Like

  363. 385 Carolina Lady October 12, 2008 at 10:31 am

    Obama has now admitted paying ACORN $800,000 to register voters. If the shoe was on the other candidate, the ‘media’ would be hog heaven and screaming it from the skies. Can’t you see the protesters in the streets now?
    24/7 coverage. Outraged liberals. Wide-eyed, breathless wonder at it all.

    But…….I haven’t seen any of that, have you? Even a MENTION of it on air?

    Like

  364. 386 Savannah Guy October 12, 2008 at 12:05 pm

    The Obama campaign and the mainstream media (gross redundancy) has scoffed at how the John McCain and the lying Republicans are painting a false picture of Barack and the American terrorist William Ayers.

    Their counter: Obama was only eight years old when Ayers was committing his crimes and “vandalism”.

    The Republicans need to counter with: “Then, presuming Obama is an intelligent fellow, how old was the Harvard educated graduate and Presidential candidate when he launched his political career at Ayers home?

    Followed that with: “How old was Barack Hussien Obama when he was involved with Ayers in ACORN?”

    Then: “How old was Obama when he accepted $500 million from Walter Annenberg, friend of Thomas and William Ayers, that funded the Annenberg Challenge?

    So, if age matters, let’s hear about Obama’s age during his corrupt dealings in Chicago with the likes of Ayers, Rezco and Acorn.

    Let’s ask a classic Demvestigation question and customize it a bit:

    “What did Obama know, when did he know it and how old was he when he found out?”

    I’m certain the media will remember to ask these questions.

    Like

  365. 387 Savannah Guy October 12, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    From NewsMax:

    Barney Frank Hit Over Boyfriend’s Fannie Mae Role>”

    Critics are crying “conflict of interest” over Democratic Rep. Barney Frank’s live-in relationship with Fannie Mae executive Herb Moses while Frank was on the House Banking Committee.

    Moses was Fannie Mae’s assistant director for product initiatives from 1991 to 1998.

    He was also openly gay Frank’s live-in boyfriend during that time, while the Massachusetts lawmaker was on the committee that had jurisdiction over government-sponsored Fannie Mae, Fox News’ Bill Sammon reported.

    Now that Fannie Mae is at the center of the recent financial meltdown, the relationship is coming under increased scrutiny.

    “It’s absolutely a conflict,” said Dan Gainor, vice president of the Business & Media Institute.

    “He was voting on Fannie Mae at a time when he was involved with a Fannie Mae executive. How is that not germane?

    “But everyone wants to avoid it because he’s gay. It’s the quintessential double standard.”

    A top Republican House aide told Fox News: “He writes housing and banking laws and his boyfriend is a top exec at a firm that stands to gain from those laws? No media ever take note?”

    Frank and Moses met in 1987 and lived together in Washington, D.C., until they split up in 1998.

    National Mortgage News disclosed that Moses “helped develop many of Fannie Mae’s affordable housing and home improvement lending programs.”

    Critics charge that such programs led to the mortgage meltdown and the recent government takeover of Fannie Mae, according to Fox News, which noted that Fannie Mae and its financial cousin Freddie Mac “are blamed for spreading bad mortgages throughout the private financial sector.”

    In 1994, Frank thwarted efforts by President Clinton’s Department of Housing and Urban Development to impose new regulations on Fannie Mae.

    Soooo… THAT’S where Fannie Mae got it’s name. Wonder if Freddie got jealous?

    Like

  366. 388 Gil in Mechanicsville October 12, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    CL… It’s only Fox News that is reporting the Acorn scandal. Yes SG… Double standards abound… And now the race game being injected… Funny thing, I thought Obama already had the black vote sewn up.

    I have written my (racial bias) letters to my representatives to resist bailing out California and Massachusetts. There reckless spending should not be shouldered by folks like myself who has been responsible with their money.

    I have to laugh at the notion folks do not have insurance. In Virginia, free insurance is offered to every child. Indigent people are afforded first rate care at state run hospitals.

    Now, I am waiting for GM to offer deep discounts on their unsold Corvettes… If I am going to have to live like a Gypsy, I might as well live like a rich Gypsy….

    Like

  367. 389 flbravesgirl October 12, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    Ber, yeah Dad & I are watching. That’s why I wasn’t on last night. Too tired. I’m torn, because my dad has been a Sox fan since he was a kid (67 Impossible Dream hooked him) & of course the Rays are the local boys & we’ve been rooting for them to do well. It stinks that the teams that interest me are playing each other & I don’t really care who wins the NLCS. If pressed, I’d have to go with the Dodgers just because of the way Phillies’ fans behave & my respect for Joe Torre.

    Like

  368. 390 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 12, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    FLB, I have been a fair weather fan of the Sox for I guess a decade. Hated to see the Yankees beat them year after year. But, after 2 WS championships in 4 years, and ridiculous ticket prices , and a seemingly unlimited budget…I just can’t get behind them anymore. The joys of being a fair weather fan! 🙂 Understand why you and your Dad are conflicted. But, Boston is going to be in the hunt for years and years. The Rays, with all their talent…well,it’s still the AL east, and they could win 85 games next year and be in 3rd or 4th place. This is as good a year as possible for them to win it all….

    Like

  369. 391 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 12, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    CL, I haven’t even heard the story yet on Obama giving ACORN 800K….Not even a drudge headline as of yet…Sigh….did I mention it’s over??? 😕

    Like

  370. 392 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 12, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Many convicted felons remain on voter rolls, according to Sun Sentinel investigation
    http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbfelons1012sboct12,0,3762352.story

    Like

  371. 393 Gil in Mechanicsville October 12, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    Berigan, You are going to have to stop watching NBC/ABC/CBS or CNN and watch Fox News… They at least try to be unbiased. No such attempt with the other 4. Fox has been blasting this thing about ACORN for about two weeks now.

    On the brighter side, Josie and I took the ragtop out for a spin this evening. I spent the morning detailing it (2nd car in two days) and I was determined to drive it at least once before putting the cover back over it. WOW… I still love to drive that beast. I had the tires rebalanced and an alignment done but not really test driven it since. Drives absolutely perfect…. Turns about 1500 RPM when cruising at 70 MPH. While the 6 speed can be a bit of a pain now that I am older, it still fun once in a while.

    Every time I think about selling it, I realize I will not get what it’s worth. In the end, I may just make a lawn ornament out of it….

    Like

  372. 394 Carolina Lady October 12, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    While practicing autorotations during a military night training exercise a Huey Cobra screwed up the landing and landed on the tail rotor. The landing was so hard that it broke off the tail boom. However, the chopper fortunately remained upright on its skids, sliding down the runway doing 360s.

    As the Cobra slid past the tower, trailing a brilliant shower of sparks, this was the radio exchange that took place…

    Tower: “Sir, do you need any assistance?!”

    Cobra: “I don’t know, Tower, we ain’t done crashin’ yet.”

    Like

  373. 395 Carolina Lady October 12, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight.

    While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked, “What was your last known position?”

    Student: “When I was number one for takeoff.”

    Like

  374. 396 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    So… what’d I miss? 😀

    Like

  375. 397 Carolina Lady October 12, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    Hey, Raisins! Did y’all have a great time?

    Like

  376. 398 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 10:41 pm

    OK, CL, I have a question for you – what with you being the resident Carolina expert and all. What are the deep red bushes that line the highways in NC?

    Like

  377. 399 flbravesgirl October 12, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    Hi, VOR! Missed you!

    Like

  378. 400 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    Yes, we had a fantastic time. Great fellowship, great food, great sights… what more could we have asked for?

    Like

  379. 401 Carolina Lady October 12, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    East? Central? West?

    Could be any number or plants – seeing as the leaves are beginning to change – plus the fact that high winds from recent storms have damaged some plants.

    Lining the highways, it would have to be a wild plant – and without seeing it, I don’t have a clue!

    Wasn’t that a brilliant and informative answer? Huh? Huh? 😆

    Like

  380. 402 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 10:49 pm

    CL: These bushes line the highway between Franklin and Cherokee. They were kind of medium sized and roundish in shape.

    FBG: Thanks! It’s nice to be missed. How close is y’all’s place to the “Goats on the Roof”? (That’ll make everybody else go “Huh?”)

    Like

  381. 403 flbravesgirl October 12, 2008 at 10:52 pm

    Ber, I guess they don’t mind the ticket prices in Boston. Every game is sold out. One thing I do like is that their ownership obviously cares about the team & enjoys the game. My dad read a great story after they finished off the Angels. At about 1 am, after everyone had cleared out of Fenway a writer spotted John Henry & Tom Werner playing catch on the field & running the bases. That tells me they love baseball. I wish the Braves had someone like that in charge.

    Like

  382. 404 Carolina Lady October 12, 2008 at 10:52 pm

    Wild guess: mountain laurel? I honestly don’t know. Rarely get to the western part of the state.

    Glad y’all enjoyed yourselves! Welcome back!

    Like

  383. 405 flbravesgirl October 12, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    OMG!!!! VOR! That’s just down the road. In fact that’s one of the roads that leads to our place.

    And I know the red bushes you’re referring to, they’re beautiful. Unfortunately I don’t know what they are (not mountain laurel).

    Like

  384. 406 flbravesgirl October 12, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    I’d guess it’s about a mile. And for the rest of you, yes, the place is really named Goats on the Roof. It’s a country store/produce market/ goat platground.

    Like

  385. 407 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    GOTR does kinda catch the eye… 😀

    Like

  386. 408 flbravesgirl October 12, 2008 at 11:07 pm

    It would be hard to miss.

    Like

  387. 409 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    BTW – I am testing a new lap device to help hold up the lid on my laptop, of which the hinges are shot. Typically, when on my desk, I can simply prop it against something. When it’s on my lap, I have issues.

    While I have several designs for a solution that does not include the exhorbitant parts and labor costs of an actual repair, the method I am trying at the moment is a spur of the moment concept.

    For the record, a bent clothes hanger does not do the job… 😐

    Like

  388. 410 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    My best design concept involves a small piece of angle aluminum and velcro. I have neither the angle aluminum nor the velcro.

    Hence the failed bent clothes hanger… 🙄

    Like

  389. 411 flbravesgirl October 12, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    Maybe a fold-out leg like you see on the back of picture frames?

    Like

  390. 412 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    I think the next best design concept is for me to return it to my desk and to go to bed.

    G’night!!!

    Like

  391. 413 flbravesgirl October 12, 2008 at 11:29 pm

    ‘Night, VOR!

    Like

  392. 414 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    I really should pony up the bucks and get it fixed…

    If I were to be brave, I’d open it up and see what I can do. I might do that. That, however, involves down time, of which there is very little.

    Like

  393. 415 Voice of Raisins October 12, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    Good news! I have made a field adjustment to the clothes hanger; it is performing much better. I still need to go to bed, though.

    G’night, once again.

    Like

  394. 416 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 13, 2008 at 4:02 am

    Hey V!!!! Comment on all the baseball trade rumors I posted! :mrgreen:

    Like

  395. 417 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 13, 2008 at 4:09 am

    Gil, I do watch a fair bit of Fox(Hannity really gets on my nerves these days though) and had seen a few stories on ACORN, but not the one CL mentioned….I did get to see some of Biden and Hillary rally on Fox though 🙄

    I don’t know why I still give any time to the big 3…. masochistic???

    Perhaps it’s just because I always watched them, even as a little kid. Don’t remember Huntley and Brinkley, but I remember Brinkley and Chancellor , Uncle Walter, the 3 guys all over the world on ABC. Old habits die hard I guess…
    Plus, part of me likes to know what the other side is saying.

    Like

  396. 418 Gil in Mechanicsville October 13, 2008 at 8:00 am

    Other side… Alan Combs, right?

    Like

  397. 419 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 8:06 am

    Pitchers and catchers report to Disney on Valentines Day.

    125 days (I think)

    I can’t wait… :mrgreen:

    Like

  398. 420 Savannah Guy October 13, 2008 at 8:09 am

    What are the deep red bushes that line the highways in NC? These bushes line the highway between Franklin and Cherokee. They were kind of medium sized and roundish in shape.

    That’s easy Raisins. Those must be Cherokee Roundredroad bushes. By their medium size, I’d say they were middle aged. If they had been really small, they would have been much younger bushes. If they had been really big, then I’d guess they were mature plants.

    They line the roads because when settlers traveled between Franklin and Cherokee they would sometimes toss the young plants out of their covered wagons to lighten the load and make room for wild rose plants. The indigenous Cherokee Roundredroad bush needs sun and occasional water.

    Since they were growing between Cherokee and Franklin, some novice botanists mistake them for Franklin bushes. Franklin bushes are not indigenous to NC as they are native to England, by way of France and then imported to Philadelphia in the 1700’s. The Franklin bush has a distinct kite shape. They also grow best with water and sun.

    Some early non-indigenous settlers of North Carolina used the branches as kindling for their wood burning stoves. Locals have since nicknamed them the “Ben Bush”. Not sure why.

    Hope that clears it up.

    :mrgreen:

    Like

  399. 421 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 8:23 am

    Thanks for clearing that up, SG… 😀

    By the way, that was not me posting across the street the other day. It was another imposter. I don’t post lists over there, and wouldn’t include Mussina on one anyway.

    Like

  400. 422 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 8:24 am

    I was actually thinking those could be the Tennessee Squareriver Shrubs, just gone amazingly wrong.

    Like

  401. 423 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 8:28 am

    Quick prayer request…

    I am taking my son back to the doc at 9:10am to check out the elbow again. If he isn’t released to play football for the final regular season game this week (and hopefully playoffs) , I’m not sure which of us will scream louder. His first 3 weeks disabled was tolerable; the 2nd 3 weeks was not. If he isn’t released back to full participation today, I’ll either end up pulling his head off, or my own. Either way, it isn’t good.

    Like

  402. 424 Savannah Guy October 13, 2008 at 8:35 am

    I don’t know why I still give any time to the big 3…. masochistic???

    Only if you tarry there. Not masochistic… just checking the enemy.

    I just watched a 30 minute Obama special on the Today Show with Matt ‘Wower’, Katie’s old lap dog. The program was only interrupted by the occasional advertisement for various consumer products… then back to the Pro-Obama special. Saw so many good things about Obama and so many dirty tricks from the nasty Republicans.

    Those gun toting, bible thumping, racist Republicans are behaving like an angry mob under George Wallace. But then, they gave a nod to McCain for admonishing one of his supporters that, during a “Town Hall” sleepfest, dared to question Obamas character and judgment. The networks want to like McCain again (or pretend to) when he’s back in the Senate, poking Republicans and being such an amiable and malleable Dem punching bag. That was nice of wittle Matt Wower and those weeporters.

    Not even a single attempt by any “journalist” in the segment to be even slightly unbiased. Kool-Aid should be a sponsor of the Today Show wiff Matt Wower.

    Obama does not have to spend money on network campaign ads during news time or Hollywood and NY talk shows. Ads would only dilute the pro-Obama chatter that he gets for free. With no need to advertise on the networks, where will the campaign money be spent? Rezco bail? Acorn funding?

    Proletariat Obama poster art?

    Like

  403. 425 Gil in Mechanicsville October 13, 2008 at 10:20 am

    Ah… SG… You noticed the Tee Shirt likeness too? Thought it might be Che at first… same, only different.

    I predict we will not have to worry about getting oil from Valenzuela if Barack is elected. I suspect he and Chavez will be BBF….

    Like

  404. 426 Gil in Mechanicsville October 13, 2008 at 10:24 am

    Raisins… A special quick prayer for you and your son. I don’t have much pull with the Big Guy but it can’t hurt….

    And how about the little dust up between the Dodgers and the Phillies last night. Glad to know there are still some pitchers who will back their team. Unlike the Braves last year…..

    Like

  405. 427 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 10:29 am

    Thanks, Gil. Everybody has pull with the Big Guy if they ant it.

    Just got back. The elbow is…

    Like

  406. 428 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 10:30 am

    If they ant it? 😳

    Rather, if they want it…

    Like

  407. 429 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 10:31 am

    Did I mention the elbow is…

    Like

  408. 430 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Free at last, free at last! Thank God almighty, the elbow is free at last!

    😀

    Like

  409. 431 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 10:36 am

    😀

    Like

  410. 432 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 10:37 am

    Must now return to work… much catching up to do after a week away…

    Like

  411. 433 Carolina Lady October 13, 2008 at 10:48 am

    Good morning, y’all!

    Raisins, great news! Congratulations to both of you! 😆

    Errands await. Catch you later!

    Like

  412. 434 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 11:40 am

    Somehow this sad bit of news got lost in the stuff-shuffle.

    Braves Lose [Bruce] Dal Canton

    Veteran Myrtle Beach pitching coach dies

    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/2008/267019.html

    Like

  413. 435 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 13, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    Gil, don’t like Alan Colmes either(I never knew I was spelling his last name wrong til a liberal went nuts on me writing his name as Alan Combs-but I keep it in the back of my mind if I want to PO certain folks :mrgreen: )My Dad says he looks like a mortician. He does…like one of those guys in an old western…

    Like

  414. 436 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 13, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    V, that’s great that your son is well! Now, focus him on playing the best sport in the world, baseball! 😀

    Like

  415. 437 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 13, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Read this story and weep for our country!!!!

    They came for Jessica,
    and I will not be silent

    After World War II, trying to explain how good Germans allowed the monstrous evil of the Nazi regime, a pastor recalled that the Nazis came for the communists, and he did nothing; then for the trade unionists, then for the gypsies and Jews; then for the Catholics – and each time he did nothing. When they came for him, none were left to defend him.

    Last week, here in America, they came for Jessica Hughes, and I will not be silent. I will not turn away, hoping, in the end, they will not come for me.

    Jessica Hughes of Lufkin, Texas, former Marine, mother of three, answered her cell phone in the car, coming home from the emergency room. Her 9-year-old had suffered a mild concussion, but was OK.

    The caller was a female Obama volunteer who asked if Jessica would support Obama for president.

    Jessica replied, “No, I don’t support him. Your guy is a socialist who voted four times in the state Senate to let little babies die in hospital closets; I think you should find something better to do with your time.” Then Jessica hung up.

    The next day, a man and a woman in suits showed up at the door of her home, identifying themselves as members of the Secret Service.

    The Secret Service agents stated that the Obama campaign had complained of a death threat. They had quoted Jessica as saying, “I will never support Obama, and he will wind up dead on a hospital floor.”

    Jessica’s husband had heard Jessica’s side of the original phone call and verified the actual quote. To which the female agent replied, “Oh? Well why would she (the Obama volunteer) make that up?”

    Jessica replied that the Obama volunteer was probably unhappy about what Jessica had said about her candidate. The female agent then said “That’s right, you were rude!”

    The male agent then displayed a file with Jessica’s full name prominently printed on it and asked her how she felt about Obama. At this point, the former Marine told the agent “in no uncertain terms” (as she later recounted) that this was America and that the last time she checked, she was allowed to think whatever she wanted without being questioned by the Secret Service. And was being “rude” a federal crime now too?

    (Column continues below)

    The agents then admitted they had no tape of the conversation, just the quote from the Obama campaign.

    Responding to Jessica’s questions, the agents would not identify themselves by name, nor reveal the name of the Obama volunteer who had made the complaint. The agents did indicate that Jessica was not in a court of law yet, and that they were trying to not embarrass her “by going to all her family and neighbors.”

    To these implied threats, Jessica invited the agents to speak to whomever they wanted, and stated she would happily go to court since she had done nothing wrong.

    Jessica asked the agents, “Look, someone calls me unsolicited on my cell phone to ask me to support their candidate, and I can’t tell them why I don’t?”

    The Secret Service left Jessica that day, but she could not get the “visit” out of her mind.

    Jessica wrote later, “The fact that the volunteer lied, the fact that the Secret Service came to my house to question me about my thoughts and feelings and threaten to embarrass me to my neighbors and go to court if I didn’t cooperate is not the tragedy here.

    “Because that girl on the phone doesn’t have the pull to send the Secret Service to my home. Someone high in the ranks of a campaign working for a man who may be the next President of the United States of America felt comfortable bringing the force of the Federal Government to bear on a private citizen on nothing but the word of a partisan volunteer.”

    Taken together with the intimidation campaign against WGN Radio because it aired an interview about the Obama-Ayers connection, the use of local criminal prosecutors to intimidate TV stations in certain states to not run ads critical of Obama, and the use of race to rally black voters and shame white voters, the Obama campaign’s M.O. in Jessica’s case is a warning.

    The pattern is unmistakable. The drumbeat of jackboots echoes now faintly, but persistently, in the fall breeze.

    They came for Jessica, and I will not be silent.
    http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77825

    Like

  416. 438 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    Tommy Lasorda was sitting in the same section with Tiger Woods, and when asked if Woods gave him any golf tips, he said, “Yeah. Don’t try playing.” — LA Times

    Yeow! 😯

    Like

  417. 439 Voice of Raisins October 13, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    You gotta love this quote from Mark Bowman:

    “After talking with bench coach Chino Cadahia last month, [Brian] McCann came away saying that he will spend this offseason putting a greater emphasis on his physical condition.”

    😯 Huh? I hope he’s not gonna use Chino’s trainer!

    Then again, just lookin’ at Chino might inspire some folks to join a gym…

    Like

  418. 440 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 13, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    I saw Russell Martin interviewed after the game, and I was shocked…with the helmet still on from catching, he looked like he could be McCann’s brother!

    Like

  419. 441 Salty October 13, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    They came for Jessica, and I will not be silent.

    Please…don’t buy into that tripe! One cannot possibly suggest one side can be so obvious and devious without believing the extreme to the other side wouldn’t resort to the same level of mud-slinging.

    What a pathetic article…virtually baseless. If it can be absolutely substantiated, trace phone records, link into some plausability, fine. Otherwise, that editorial is nothing more than fanning flames. Sheesh! 🙄

    Like

  420. 443 Savannah Guy October 13, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Need another Jessica’s Law? Were the FBI agents also child molesters?

    Fanning flames? Is that what happened to Fannie Mae? So many Jessica’s and flaming Fannies. Did Jessica sit on a hot stove?

    So confusing.

    Like

  421. 444 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 13, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    Salty, I did dig on that story, believe it or not. I was a bit skeptical, and found a houston Chronical story, but it was missing a few things. Like the fact she was a marine. But, here’s the link to it as well as CL’s links…
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6043299.html

    This is what the woman says she said…
    “She asked if I was an Obama supporter, to which I replied, ‘No, I don’t support him. Your guy is a socialist who voted four times in the state Senate to let little babies die in hospital closets; I think you should find something better to do with your time.’ (And then) I hung up.”

    I have read several times about the born alive vote that Obama voted against back in his state senate times. What she claims to say makes perfect sense for a pro life person to say, what the Obama supporter said about finding him dead on a hospital floor, doesn’t pass the smell test, IMHO…

    Like

  422. 445 Salty October 13, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    SG…you’re a hoot! 😆

    CL and Ber, I hear ya, but I still don’t buy the story. Secret Service would not fear displaying their badges. Secondly, who will go to the trouble of tracing a cell phone number? It doesn’t fit, frankly. Thirdly…back to the secret service…they wouldn’t waste their time tracking down a person for whom a recording of the conversation doesn’t exist.

    Sorry…I differ on this one…doesn’t change my voting plans, though! 🙂

    Like

  423. 446 Gil in Mechanicsville October 13, 2008 at 6:57 pm

    Whew…. What a long and trying day. I don’t know who’s bright idea it was to move the rally to a field outside of the Richmond Raceway but they should be hung up by their thumbs. I don’t know how many showed up but it was a ton… Why they did not avail the use of the bleacher seats of the raceway is beyond me. Making a bunch of old folks stand in the sun for 4 hours is asking for disaster. Folks were dropping like flies….

    Josie was one of those folks overcome by the heat…. Fortunately, we were able to get her cooled down and re-hydrated. I will write my nasty grams to the Republican National Committee later on tonight.

    Sarah looks just like she does on TV… Well, a little thinner but still…

    I will send some photos later…

    Raisins… Great news.

    Like

  424. 447 Gil in Mechanicsville October 13, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    Times Dispatch says over 20,000 at the Palin rally today, Bill Clinton had 4,000 show up at an Obama rally last night at VCU…

    I’m telling you folks, it’s McCain who is riding on Sarah’s coattails.

    Todays’ stock market rebound may put me back in the high tax bracket… Still iffy on that one. It’s been a heck of a ride….

    And Salty, I see Tommy Bowden is out at Clemson, who is the new punching bag?

    Like

  425. 448 Salty October 13, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    Like Bobby Bowden says, “Tommy has his life priorities in shape, so he’ll be fine. Best of all, he won’t beat me anymore!” 😆 Tommy is a good man, but he never intended to coach forever…and his $2.5 million parting gift will do him good.

    I hope the interim can do and get the job. Bowden had some very strong, young coaches on the staff, and they’re very good on the recruiting trail. Good enough that Saban has tried to hire a couple of them the past two years, including Dabo Swinney, who was named interim coach. Interestingly enough, he’s also an Alabama grad. Thirty years ago next month, Clemson named another young Alabama grad as the new head coach…Danny Ford. Let’s see if history repeats itself.

    Like

  426. 449 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 13, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    Gil, sorry about the Misses having issues in the heat! I truly don’t know what’s going on with the McCain folks, losing honorably I guess. 🙄

    Salty, this is from the Houston Chron article…

    Obama Campaign Communications for Texas director Josh Taylor declined to comment Monday, referring the matter to the Secret Service, which he said is conducting an investigation. A message left with a Secret Service agent in Houston was not immediately returned.

    Sounds like something happened with the agents, doesn’t it???

    Remember hearing that all the ladies involved with Bubba that were supposedly audited by the IRS??? Granted, that was a prez vs. a candidate, but I really wouldn’t be surprised if this story is completely true….

    Like

  427. 450 Salty October 13, 2008 at 9:14 pm

    Obama folks never answer questions…haven’t you followed the campaign? 😛 Now, talking points they’ll repeat all day!

    Still a far-fetched story…but it’s my opinion, alone…unless the Secret Service wants to discuss it with me, too! 😆

    Like

  428. 451 Savannah Guy October 13, 2008 at 10:02 pm

    Politics, schmolitics… I’m just looking for a change to believe in. Time for a real change, not the same old thing from the last eight years. Yes, Change…

    It’s time to slip into something more comfortable… my old, beat up, ragged, frayed, comfy cotton gym shorts and my old, beat up, ragged, frayed, comfy cotton tee shirt.

    Then a big ol’ swan dive onto the big ol’ comfy couch. Popcorn. Remote control.

    Change we can believe in. Change the channel from the Obamarama and watch a movie about anything but politics. Change is good. Spare change is good. Change, change, change. Anyone can change.

    It takes five California psychiatrists to change a light bulb…

    but the light bulb has to really want to change.

    💡

    Like

  429. 452 Savannah Guy October 13, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    Change we can believe in. Yepper, tired of the same old thing from the last eight years. Yes, Change…

    Nothing like twelve year old gym shorts and tee. Eight years is not enough to break’em in good. They don’t get soft until about ten years.

    Change.

    Like

  430. 453 Gil in Mechanicsville October 13, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    Looks like the Rays had it in for the Red Sox today… whoboy, that’s some hitting… What monster??? Playing like a team possessed, they must have exorcised their demons when they dropped the Devil out of their name…

    Like

  431. 454 Gil in Mechanicsville October 13, 2008 at 10:58 pm

    Hey folks, can you spot me in the crowd? Hint… I’m the one wearing the red shirt…

    http://media.gatewayva.com/photos/rtd/slideshows/20081014palin/index.html

    Like

  432. 455 Carolina Lady October 14, 2008 at 12:10 am

    SUPER link, Gil! How is Miss Josie??? I’m so sorry that happened to her!

    Like

  433. 456 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 14, 2008 at 12:38 am

    How about them Phillies??? They were down 5-3, A great catch and double play saved it from being 7-3…I thought the game was over, and when I came in, my Dad had a Carole Lombard movie on, and just assumed with the dodgers bullpen, the game was over. Wrong! Shane Victorino hit a 2 run homer, and Matt Stairs hit a pitch hit 2 run homer. Gotta be happy for an “old” guy like him to be the hero!
    I know some people don’t like the Flyin’ Hawaiian, but I wish we had a few guys like him.
    Rays and Phils??? Fox can’t want that….

    Like

  434. 457 Gil in Mechanicsville October 14, 2008 at 12:50 am

    Yes Ber, I too have been impressed with Victorino. Just the type of spark plug every team needs. That is Atlanta’s problem… No in your face, first to drop the gloves kind of guy. Escobar had potential but I think he got neutered last year.

    I have no favorite this year. Just like to see a good series. One thing for sure, Phillie has a lot of don’t quit in them…

    Like

  435. 458 Gil in Mechanicsville October 14, 2008 at 12:58 am

    And CL… You should have been there… It was “electric”… I also have a red face..(sun burn) We were not prepared for the venue at all. In fact most of the attendees were not. I did not see anyone leave early though.. Well, maybe a few on stretchers but no one left willingly.

    I am telling you folks, Sarah has real star power. She is going to be a force in the Republican party for a long time.

    Josie was worried about me getting overheated and then she hit the deck… Go figure…. Oh well, I guess being a paramedic for 25 years has its uses. I think she is ready to move to Alaska though… 🙂

    Like

  436. 459 Voice of Raisins October 14, 2008 at 7:21 am

    N.Y. Rangers prospect dies during game
    First-round pick collapsed while talking to teammate
    Monday, October 13, 2008

    NEW YORK (AP) — Alexei Cherepanov, a 19-year-old first-round draft pick of the New York Rangers, died Monday during a Continental Hockey League game in Russia.

    Former Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr played a shift with Cherepanov and was talking to his young Avangard Omsk teammate on the bench shortly after they left the ice, when Cherepanov suddenly collapsed, said a Rangers spokesman who talked to Jagr.

    http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/thrashers/stories/2008/10/13/new_york_rangers_prospect_dies.html

    😯

    Like

  437. 460 Voice of Raisins October 14, 2008 at 8:15 am

    Yes, it appears Phils-Rays may be the WS matchup. You are right, B. FOX can’t be really happy… the City of Brotherly Shove and the City of Assisted Living.

    Woo-hoo!

    And yes, Gil, like you I have no real favorite. I guess I’ll pull for TB, since they are the Cinderella darlings…

    Like

  438. 461 Salty October 14, 2008 at 8:55 am

    the City of Brotherly Shove and the City of Assisted Living.that needs a shove! Symbiotic! :mrgreen:

    Like

  439. 462 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 14, 2008 at 9:00 am

    Bah humbug. 😡 Fun to be in a bad mood for no reason, eh???
    This story should have cheered me up, but it didn’t…
    http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/article852295.ece

    Like

  440. 463 Voice of Raisins October 14, 2008 at 9:42 am

    I wonder if FOX will force MLB to play the games at 6:00pm EST; you know, right after the Early Bird dinner special and right before night court…

    😀

    Like

  441. 464 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 14, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    video from 2005 .It shows the CEO of Fannie Mae calling the Dems and specifically Obama the family and consicence of Fannie Mae.
    http://www.tiderinsider.com/mb/msg/4916864.html

    Like

  442. 465 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 14, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Hey, where’d everyone go??? Come back, I’m in a better mood now! 😀

    Well, I was… 😡

    Like

  443. 466 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 14, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    Actually, checking out the clip again, I think the guy who linked the youtube clip thru the Crimson tide site added the part “CEO of Fannie Mae calling the Dems and specifically Obama the family” I don’t hear him saying Obama’s name, just the representative before him….did I miss it????

    Like

  444. 467 Gil in Mechanicsville October 14, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Evening Ber… Just dropped by to pick up my mail… 🙂 Sadly, I think McCain is wimping out…. That’s OK… I am going to write my congressman and tell him I want my share of the great redistribution of wealth in fives and tens… Then I can go have a great time at the local strip joint… I love spending other people’s money…

    Like

  445. 468 Salty October 14, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    Gil…uh…some of that money that gets redistributed to you is…uh, was…your money! 🙄 Just some of it, though…some of it will be mine, so enjoy it and have a drink on me!!! 😆

    Like

  446. 469 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 14, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    Gil, I need to get some rust fixed on my car around the back window…and I might need some back surgery as well, want it for free. gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!!!!

    Like

  447. 470 Carolina Lady October 14, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    The following is a link to a video of an interview conducted by Shepard Smith of Fox News with Dale George, a former risk manager for WaMu (Washington Mutual). It seems that what WaMu’s executives were doing was chasing market share in the loan business without any concept of whether or not the loans could be paid back, the true value of the property, whether or not a profit would be made, or much of anything else. Several of WaMu’s risk managers, including Mr. George, were fired when they sent up the red flags about what WaMu was doing.

    89 of WaMu’s shareholders, the people who own the place and for whom these executives worked, have filed suit against them.

    http://tinyurl.com/4bgdsd

    Whether you like Shepard Smith or Fox News or not, this is worth seeing and hearing.

    Like

  448. 471 Carolina Lady October 14, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    The Obama-Ayers Connection

    Friday, October 10, 2008 2:57 PM

    By: Dick Morris & Eileen McGann

    In the best tradition of Bill Clinton’s famous declaration that the answer to the question of whether or not he was having an affair with Monica depended on “what the definition of ‘is’ is,” Barack Obama was clearly splitting hairs and concealing the truth when he said that William Ayers was “just a guy who lives in my neighborhood.”

    The Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) administration records released last week by the University of Illinois, show that the Ayers-Obama connection was, in fact, an intimate collaboration and that it led to the only executive or administrative experience in Obama’s life.

    After Walter Annenberg’s foundation offered several hundred million dollars to American public schools in the mid-’90s, William Ayers applied for $50 million for Chicago.

    The purpose of his application was to secure funds to “raise political consciousness” in Chicago’s public schools. After he won the grant, Ayers’s group chose Barack Obama to distribute the money.

    Between 1995 and 1999, Obama distributed the $50 million and raised another $60 million from other civic groups to augment it. In doing so, he was following Ayers’ admonition to grant the funds to “external” organizations, like American Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) to pair with schools and conduct programs to radicalize the students and politicize them.

    Reading, math, and science achievement tests counted for little in the CAC grants, but the school’s success in preaching a radical political agenda determined how much money they got.

    Barack Obama should have run screaming at the sight of William Ayers and his wife, Bernadette Dohrn. Ayers has admitted bombing the U.S. Capitol building and the Pentagon, and his wife was sent to prison for failing to cooperate in solving the robbery of a Brink’s armored car in which two police officers were killed. Far from remorse, Ayers told The New York Times in September 2001 that he “wished he could have done more.”

    Ayers only avoided conviction when the evidence against him turned out to be contained in illegally obtained wiretaps by the FBI. He was, in fact, guilty as sin.

    That Obama should ally himself with Ayers is almost beyond understanding. The former terrorist had not repented of his views and the education grants he got were expressly designed to further them.

    So let’s sum up Obama’s Chicago connections. His chief financial supporter was Tony Rezko, now on his way to federal prison. His spiritual adviser and mentor was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, of “God damn America” fame. And the guy who got him his only administrative job and put him in charge of doling out $50 million is William Ayers, a terrorist who was a domestic Osama bin Laden in his youth.

    Even apart from the details of the Obama/Ayers connection, two key points emerge: a) Obama lied and misled the American people in his description of his relationship with Ayers as casual and arm’s-length; and b) Obama was consciously guided by Ayers’s radical philosophy, rooted in the teachings of leftist Saul Alinksy, in his distribution of CAC grant funds.

    Since Obama is asking us to let him direct education spending by the federal government and wants us to trust his veracity, these are difficulties he will have to explain in order to get the votes to win.

    Now that Obama is comfortably ahead in the polls, attention will understandably shift to him. We will want to know what kind of president he would make. The fact that, within the past 10 years, he participated in a radical program of political education conceptualized by an admitted radical terrorist offers no reassurance.

    Why did Obama put up with Ayers? Because he got a big job and $50 million of patronage to distribute to his friends and supporters in Chicago. Why did he hang out with Jeremiah Wright? Because he was new in town, having grown up in Hawaii and Indonesia and having been educated at Columbia and Harvard, and needed all the local introductions he could get to jump-start his political career.

    Why was he so close to Rezko? Because he funded Obama’s campaigns and helped him buy a house for $300,000 less than he otherwise would have had to pay.

    Not a good recommendation for a president.

    © 2008 Dick Morris & Eileen McGann

    Like

  449. 472 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 14, 2008 at 11:32 pm

    CL, for whatever reason, it ain’t stickin’. He’s going to be like Clinton. It just won’t matter, only this time, to criticize him is to be a racist. Couldn’t link him to the minister that baptized his kids, married him, and who’s expression, the Audacity of Hope, he used for the title of one of his books.
    ACORN??? So what??? So a few votes will be fraudulent, we want change! 🙄

    Like

  450. 473 Savannah Guy October 15, 2008 at 8:54 am

    Good morning sleepy faces.

    Lot’sa good stuff ’round here lately. I’ve been to darn busy to contribute but have enjoyed the readin’.

    Listen… my nephew (who I pretty much raised for the last 11 years) is in his 3rd year of a. Southern college and he transferred last fall to a local art college. He’s a good kid and he makes good grades.

    Yesterday he sent me a text and asked why there are so many liberal professors. I called him and when we talked, he said that he felt quite a bit of pressure from them because they are all campaigning and lecturing on why Obama should be elected and how the stupid, right-wing conservatives have screwed the country… and other such expected tripe. He said the professors are openly far-left liberal and frown upon those that aren’t.

    Same story we’ve all heard… closer to home for me. I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to research and prepare my conversation with him, gathering fair and balanced facts around this problem.

    Last night I wrote some notes before bed, so that I could focus on the issue and get my head around it. We’re planning to talk this afternoon or tomorrow. My advice to him was something along the lines of, “you will learn more in college than what you’ve selected as your curriculum. You’ll learn about pop culture, psychology, human behavior, how our actions have consequences… and you will learn about society.”

    Then, last night I listed a few things for him to remember.

    1. Hold on to your core spiritual and ethical values. Pray.

    2. Study hard. Make great grades. College is a place to learn but it’s also a proving ground. Arm yourself with knowledge.

    3. When a professor tries to convince you of something you don’t believe in or tries to sway you to their political beliefs, consider the source. Try to avoid political discussions. They are set in their biased ways and there is no positive outcome from arguing with them. That doesn’t mean you have to lie or pick up the lib flag… just be diplomatic. They don’t need to know your thoughts.

    4. Consider liberal professors and the indoctrination games they play as just that… indoctrination. It’s also their own need to control. Observe them and see for yourself how this works. Remain unemotional when they say something that you think is overtly political. Don’t let it under your skin.

    5. Consider these things as part of your higher education on the human condition and the state of the college system today. Detach yourself emotionally and attach yourself to the subjects you are attending college to learn.

    6. Remember at all times: If this seems unfair, welcome to life. Remain objective about these things. Watch. Learn. Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face by challenging them. When you graduate and have a great job doing what you love, those professors will still be there, bitter, biased and miserable. That is the only revenge you need.

    7. Lastly, if you are mistreated, disadvantaged or threatened in physical or academic ways… let me know. I’ll know how to fix the problem.

    If there is any advice out there, I’ll appreciate hearing your thoughts. Also, if you know of any links to websites that understand and support the plight of conservative, christian students, I’d love to find them.

    I’ll need all the historical, societal and intellectual ammo I can get to arm him with, in addition to the advice I’ve given.

    Now, back to the treadmill for moi.

    Like

  451. 474 Voice of Raisins October 15, 2008 at 9:29 am

    4 inches of snow in Alaska…

    Darned global warming… 😐

    Like

  452. 475 Voice of Raisins October 15, 2008 at 9:39 am

    I heard a very thought provoking comment on a radio program this morning. The host wondered aloud if our founding fathers would stand a chance of being elected in 2008. I don’t believe they could get elected today. They stood on morals and conviction. That wouldn’t even get them out of a primary today… 😐

    Like

  453. 476 Carolina Lady October 15, 2008 at 11:08 am

    [audio src="http://www.bpmdeejays.com/upload/hs_sal_in_Harlem_100108.mp3" /]

    Like

  454. 477 Gil in Mechanicsville October 15, 2008 at 11:53 am

    Yo… Salty, Thanks, I will spend it foolishly… 🙂 After all, why should the folks in Washington be the only ones to trow our money away?

    Ber… I will send you some change… nickles dimes, quarters… That is likely the change we will see coming out of D.C….

    SG.. two things… Did you get a chance to look at the ad I forwarded to you, just looking for your advice on it.

    second, I will share my favorite quotation to pass along to your nephew:

    “It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of what he was never reasoned into.” Jonathan Swift…

    Like

  455. 478 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 15, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    SG, excellent advice you are giving your nephew! I don’t know how a kid who is not liberal, survives these days…pressure from fellow classmates, pressure from the professors.
    My best friend, who lives in your neck of the woods, has long hair like me, and looks a bit more like a lefty than I do….he has often acted the way you have told your nephew to act…not reacting to bait, or saying he has no faith in either side…some people who have actually found out how he voted(telling someone he voted for Huckabee in the primaries for example) well, they are quite shocked, needless to say!

    Like

  456. 479 Voice of Raisins October 15, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    October 15 is National Grouch Day.

    Bug off… 😡

    Like

  457. 480 Voice of Raisins October 15, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    😀

    Like

  458. 481 Voice of Raisins October 15, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    Alot of Braves/Peavey chatter all over the place. The big question that seems to come up universally is this:

    Would you give up Heyward in a deal that would land you Peavey?

    Heyward is at least 2 years from making an impact, if he ever does. I’m not saying he won’t, but potential is just a fancy way of saying you ain’t done nuthin’ yet. Alot of projected stars have faltered along the way. That being said, he could be a bonafide stud. Peavey is a stud right now. He’s under contract and under market value for another 5 years.

    I’m not leaning one way or the other just yet; I just want to stir the pot a little bit. 😀

    Like

  459. 482 Gil in Mechanicsville October 15, 2008 at 1:35 pm

    It ain’t over til it over… Wise words for both baseball and politics… Now, I doubt anyone over the age of 40 is going to change their minds but a good dose of socialism might be just the way to wake up a bunch of kids who have not experience life yet to come to grips with reality.

    A little story… Most of you know my history with unions, what you may not realize is how that history taught me to be suspicious of Greeks baring gifts. For many years when I worked for WeSaySo, it was a family owned and family run. We had what is referred to as a “company union”. That is one that gives lip service to workers rights and basically agrees to do what ever the company wants. It’s not perfect but honestly, it worked for us. Why, because there was always a strong sense of loyalty between the company and the employees. People were treated with dignity and respect and those same people reciprocated with hard work. A slacker was not tolerated by anyone but if someone had a problem physically, folks would pitch in and cover for them until they could get back up to speed.

    Then everything changed, a large share of the company feel into the hands of a couple of corporate types who’s only interest was enriching themselves. There was no room for sentiment, only saw employees as necessary evil to archive an end. Funny thing was that attitude permeated down and throughout the company. Suddenly it was dog eat dog, great discord amonst people followed. The union suddenly found itself in a much different position. It now had to become much more involved with protecting the wage roll and vigilant in protecting the gains that had been made over a long period of time.

    Funny thing, salary folks were being pushed out and as a result things went to hell in a hand basket. People became much more territorial and thus less inclined to help each other. The me first attitude of the company owners became the mantra of every employee. Utopia was vanquished. Talk of joining a national union was rampant so as to stave off the predatory attitude of the company. In preparation the union raised it’s dues from $10 a month to $42 a month to pay for the merger…..

    Then the people said no. Not to join a national union to whom that money would largely go to to support a lot of political candidates they didn’t like. Build up our own local. I short, we got a lot smarter and a lot stronger because we decided to educate ourselves. Bottom line, we didn’t get pushed around like a lot of our sister plants. We had a 90 success rate on cases taken to arbitration. I am not saying we got everything we wanted but then we did not have to sell our souls either.

    Bottom line, sometimes you have to go through tough times to have a appreciation for when it is good. Being independent of someone else who may have their own agenda is priceless….

    And a new blog record of beating around the bush to get to a point… 🙂

    Like

  460. 483 flbravesgirl October 15, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    Don’t forget to tell him to be respectful of others’ beliefs even if they completely disagree with him.

    Like

  461. 484 Salty October 15, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    Gil…you mean, the ‘grass wasn’t greener on the other side of the fence’?

    You’re right in your viewpoint, though. You can teach, preach, etc., but sooner or later, saying fire is hot and will burn just isn’t grasped. Only an honest to god burn and pain will do the trick. Cause and effect…and a battle scar resonates!

    Like

  462. 485 Salty October 15, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    FBG…’golden rule’!

    Like

  463. 486 Gil in Mechanicsville October 15, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    FBG…. Being able to agree to disagree is a sure sign of maturity, something often not observed in this time of instant gratification. Personally, I think it might be good for the country to get back on a pay as you go policy. Credit should be reserved for those things in life that are truly dependent upon borrowing. Your home, maybe a car. Everything else should be on the assumption is that if I want it, I should be able to pay cash for it. Takes a bit longer but much more satisfying in the long run.

    Like

  464. 487 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 15, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    V, what if the Padres want a pitcher for Peavy??? Like Tommy Hanson, who’s name was mentioned as a starting point by the MLB trade rumors guy(as in Jason Heyward or Tommy Hanson)
    You can’t expect to get him for nothing, clearly….but, Peavy seems like a guy that might have arm troubles, IMHO.
    Tim Hudson has a 3.48 career ERA, Peavy 3.25. Peavy’s ERA was sub 3 the last 2 years though. I don’t know…I just think of him as a bit better than Hudson, and we sure didn’t win with Hudson. But, we also need someone like him….sigh…

    Like

  465. 488 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 15, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    Funny, I hit refresh, and all of the sudden, I need to log it to post!
    V, or anyone….what was wrong with Peavy, that he missed about 13 starts last year???? Was it his elbow???

    Like

  466. 489 Gil in Mechanicsville October 15, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    Latest hot rumor… In order to suppress the Hispanic vote, agents from ICE and the Border Patrol will be stationed at random voting precincts…. 🙂

    Like

  467. 490 Voice of Raisins October 15, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    B, I personally believe that a deal for Peavy will have to include one of the two: Hanson or Heyward. And that is just the starting point. I believe one very big question must be answered before serious discussions could occur. Do you want to win now, or in two more years? Neither Hanson nor Heyward are going to make a big impact until 2010 at best, 2011 more likely. Also, if it’s Hanson, Hernandez probably is included. If it’s Heyward, Medlen/Rohrbough/Locke/Redmond would be included. You probably have to add KJ and one more prospect like Flowers to get it done. That’s alot to give up, but Peavy is one of the best in the NL and still young.

    A second question that must be answered if you say you want to win now: Who else do you add besides Peavy? He’s good, but he ain’t God. We still have to add another top quality arm and a left fielder before we’re relevant again. If you give up the bounty Peavy will command, everything else has to come through FA. Peavy takes all of the trading chips.

    Now, if we could only convince them to take Jo-Jo Reyes, Matt Diaz, Corky Miller, Blaine Boyer and Terry Pendleton… 😀

    Like

  468. 491 Voice of Raisins October 15, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    Former Braves announcer dies
    By CHRIS VIVLAMORE

    The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

    Wednesday, October 15, 2008

    Bill Bowers, who was the Braves public address announcer from 1997 through the 2006 season, died Sunday at the age of 59.

    Mr. Bowers passed away at the Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center in Plains.

    The Braves issued the following statement: “The Atlanta Braves are sad to hear of the passing of longtime PA announcer Bill Bowers. His friendly and booming voice was a welcomed and familiar sound to Braves fans coming to Turner Field. Our sincerest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.”

    Mr. Bowers left the Braves because of health concerns. In an interview with the AJC in 2006, he said the best part of his job was “watching the fans go crazy. We have the best show in professional baseball and the best place to do it. I’ve been richly blessed in this job.”

    A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Cheek Memorial Baptist Church.

    Survivors include one daughter, Eve Bowers; one son, Adam Bowers, both of Americus; one sister, Kim Bowers Jimenez of Norcross; one brother, Rick Bowers of Costa Rica and one grandchild, Dillon Gaige Bowers of Americus. Two nephews, Ryan Jimenez and Chaz Bowers also survive.

    Tough year for folks associated with the Bravos… 😯

    Like

  469. 492 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 15, 2008 at 5:58 pm

    V, very sorry to hear of his passing! You are right about it being a tough year for braves folks….

    Like

  470. 493 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 15, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    Well, looked up one time Peavy was on the dl…his elbow…and he missed 8 starts, not 13….

    http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080519&content_id=2731703&vkey=news_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd

    Peavy. 1.74 era at home, 4.28 at home.

    Like

  471. 494 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 15, 2008 at 7:25 pm
  472. 495 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 15, 2008 at 11:07 pm

    Anyone still up??? Well, I thought McCain did much better, but no knock out punch. Even the Fox guys sound like it’s over…sigh…of course, I said that last night, but I am naturally negative! 😀

    Like

  473. 496 Gil in Mechanicsville October 15, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    I think whoever you were for before the debate was who won… Actually the point is whether one wants more government or less. I live thru the “Great Society”. I don’t want to go that route again.

    Now, I am not going to make a prediction…

    Well, yes I will… Phillie will wrap it up tonight… Fox slits their wrist… 🙂

    Like

  474. 497 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 12:17 am

    Okay, only one wrist so far… They are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Could be a down day for SG tomorrow but then you cannot count out the Soxs, They have come back from the edge of the abyss before.

    Like

  475. 498 flbravesgirl October 16, 2008 at 12:30 am

    Some people across the street are kicking around the idea of including Escobar in a deal for Peavy (not that anyone suddenly appointed one of them GM, thank goodness). I don’t like that at all. I think Yunel has a lot more potential to fulfill.

    Like

  476. 499 flbravesgirl October 16, 2008 at 12:44 am

    Now, I only had a moment here this afternoon & I feel I need to clarify my statement. He should not give in to the temptation to lower himself to the level of those professors. Using their position to pressure their students to agree with their political beliefs & opinions or belittle those who disagree is not only offensive, it’s a serious abuse of said position. I am so tired of the name-calling from both sides. It is everywhere .

    Like

  477. 500 flbravesgirl October 16, 2008 at 12:48 am

    Gil, pay as you go works for me. Even if I do use my credit card, say to order a Christmas present online, I pay it off every month. I don’t believe in having debts hanging over me.

    Like

  478. 501 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 16, 2008 at 1:33 am

    Gil, I am happy for the Phillie fans…well, the one’s that aren’t a’holes…both of them! 😉

    Phils and Rays, that would cause a sea of tears at Fox! 🙂
    Phils and Red Sox they could live with. Just thank the stars that it isn’t the Dodgers and Red Sox. The Manny story would never end!

    Like

  479. 502 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 16, 2008 at 8:05 am

    The more I think about it, the more I think we should trade pitching for pitching….but…that doesn’t really help the Padres with their problems, does it??? I just think trading Heyward would be a big mistake. He seems to have can’t miss stamped on him. And if Frenchy doesn’t return to form, we may need 3 outfielders next year. No, not saying he will be ready, but have you all heard about other stud outfielders in the system???
    What if Burrell re-signs with the Phils??? Dunn??? I wouldn’t mind him, but we need a clean-up hitter, and can a guy that hits .230 be one??? Mets need a left fielder, so they will be in the running for those 2 and Raul Ibanez as well. Who knows who else might go after these guys? Cubs probably, though Pat the Bat and Dunn would be terrible right fielders.
    I could just see us missing out on a big bat, trading Heyward for Peavy, and then who do we trade to get a bat???
    “They” better not consider Juan Rivera our left fielder. I know I was high on him before, but he looked bad in the playoffs, not just well pitched to, bad, like holes in his swing.
    And FLB, I don’t want to see us trade Yunel either….unless we can really get something for him. If we traded him and a pitching prospect for Peavy….I don’t know, leaves a big offensive hole in the line-up.
    Guess we have to see what the team goes for first, pitching or hitting.
    Trade Yunel and have Shafer and Rivera with Frenchy, and we are battling the Nats for 5th, IMHO….
    So there! 😡 Oh wait, it’s not National grouch day anymore??? Drat! 😦

    Like

  480. 503 Savannah Guy October 16, 2008 at 8:41 am

    Good morning all.

    Thanks for your thoughts on the nephew’s professor dilemma. He’s a good kid but he just needs a little perspective and reinforcement. He’ll get it.

    Alrightythen… now, politics. Well, the stock market is crazy bad, the Presidential debate was not Presidential… it was the whiniest, most bizarre and useless display of two children telling the teacher that “the other guy started it” or “he hit me harder” or “he hit me first”. I’ve never seen a more misspent use of time by a soon to be leader of the free world in my entire life.

    John McCain once again demonstrated that you can’t win a debate if you can’t articulate a point, point out a fundamental difference, clarify a stance on an issue or nail your opponent on an easy set of “judgement” and relationship problems. Beside McCain, Obama looked healthy, articulate, in command of the issues, in control of the flow of ideas. Comparatively, he looked Presidential.

    McCain looked shaky, nervous and just, well, old and odd. He’s too calm when he needs to be fiesty and to jumpy when he needs to look cool and calm. He is completely out of synch and appears uncomfortable in his own skin. America just had eight years of that and, at this point, I’d be surprised if they wanted another four years of Bushisms. His campaign and his debate performances are the worst I’ve ever seen. He is snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

    Obama would not look so good standing beside Romney or Huckabee. They would (articulately) call him on his lies and nail him on his socialist agenda. They would speak in complete sentences and make clear, common sense points. McCain’s tongue betrayed him as he threw air balls and weak, “inside politics” jabs that would be cryptic to anyone not intimately familiar with the issues he was trying to expose and convey.

    Character and policies matter more than personality, looks, command of vocabulary or how well we “think on our feet”. Remember, the election is decided not by those on the left or right that pay attention and are set in their political convictions, it is decided by idiots that are swayed by superficial reasoning and led around by the ear with what the media tells them… and we know which media dominates the airwaves and print.

    This race is now Obama’s to lose. McCain’s only hope is for a major revelation about Obama that is so troubling that it hits the network news, or that Palin can somehow fire up the silent majority, or that McCain’s campaign staff is fired and replaced immediately that can control the very Senate-like Senator… “my friends”. The stock market and the economy are but elements of a perfect storm that will, right or wrong, blow away Republicans.

    As I’ve said (when McCain won the primary), Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dobbs, Schumer and their far-left agenda may actually do more to crystalize the nation and empower conservatives to win in 2010 and in the next Presidential election in 2012. The pendulum swings. Did you folks hear the mamby pamby comments McCain made last night on Supreme Court selections? His acceptance of liberal judges (and votes for them) just because they were “qualified” made my skin crawl.

    If McCain miraculously eeks out a win, I’m afraid he’ll help the Republicans in the short term and hurt them in the long term (4 years). With one term, he may do more to harm to the the anemic conservative movement than George Bush.

    Either way my friends, whether Obama or McCain… we will survive. America will weather the storm and recover from the economy. America will also survive a Senator in the White House.

    Other than that, I woke up again today… so all in all, it’s a pretty good day.

    Like

  481. 504 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 9:21 am

    And so it goes in the land of milk and honey.. 🙂

    Like

  482. 505 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 9:24 am

    Any deal to SD that would inlcude Yunel would have to bring Khalil Greene back… I’m not so sure that isn’t an upgrade.

    As to Heyward being a “can’t miss” and needing to hang onto him because of Frenchy’s flop, Frenchy was himself a “can’t miss” at one time. Maybe even moreso than Heyward. I believe, though, that SD would have to demand Hanson in any deal for Peavy. I’d still do it, though.

    It reminds me of a deal the Braves made in 1993. There was a ton of discussion about a trade for Fred McGriff that would involve a young “can’t miss” prospect named Ryan Klesko. Of course, we all know Klesko wasn’t involved in the eventual deal, but what I felt then is the same that I feel now. If Klesko had panned out to the Braves expectations, they’d eventually have what McGriff already was. If Tommy Hanson pans out to what the Braves think he could, he might be another Jake Peavy. Jake Peavy already is Jake Peavy.

    I start with Hanson, include either Hernandez or Schafer, add Brandon Jones and give up Yunel ONLY IF Greene comes back with Peavy. It still might take another mid-level pitching prospect, but I do it. you get your bona fide ace for at least 5 years. And, you still have $30M to spend in FA.

    $30M still buys you a top starter and a slugging OF with $$$ left over to resign Norton and Ohman and find a backup catcher.

    SP’s
    Peavy
    Lowe/Looper/Wolf(?)
    Jurrjens
    Glavine/Smoltz/Hampton
    Morton

    RP’s
    Gonzo
    Soriano
    Moylan
    Ohman
    Campillo
    Boyer
    Acosta

    Lineup
    Schafer/Anderson
    KJ
    Chipper
    Dunn(?)
    Mac
    Kotchman
    French
    Greene

    Bench
    Norton
    Infante
    Blanco/BJones
    Prado
    LaRue/Bako/Estrada(?)

    Waddaya think?

    Like

  483. 506 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 9:26 am

    SG… McCain was not my first choice either, I voted for Mike Hukabee. Of course, that’s not the first time I have voted in the minority. I never learned the art of voting present…. Often I have been my own worse enemy. Just like McCain, only different…

    Now baseball…. I’ll worry about it tomorrow… 🙂

    Like

  484. 507 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 9:27 am

    Notice I am sticking mostly to Braves and staying mostly away from Stuff? I am trying to keep balance on the ol’ colossus… 😀

    Like

  485. 508 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 9:28 am

    Good move Raisins…

    Like

  486. 509 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 9:36 am

    The only leverage the Braves might have is that Peavy has the no-trade clause, which could work in ATL’s favor. It would certainly reduce the ability of Towers to start a bidding war. That said, Wren still may have to add another player (Flowers?) to the mix. I still do it.

    Like

  487. 510 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 9:39 am

    And don’t forget Clint Sammons. He’s got potential, and is blocked. He won’t be a backup to Mac, and probably won’t be back to AAA.

    Like

  488. 512 Savannah Guy October 16, 2008 at 10:05 am

    Captain Kirk is not afraid of a little old human criminal.

    But he had lot’s of trouble with tribbles. 😀

    Like

  489. 513 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 10:09 am

    He beamed him down pretty quick, huh? 😆

    Like

  490. 514 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 10:12 am

    “Knee, right foot, left foot.”

    Words to live by…

    Like

  491. 515 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 10:34 am

    Back to the Braves…

    How about we keep both Hanson and Heyward, and go after SF’s Matt Cain. You can then also keep Gorkys and your pipeline is still rich. You would, though, still have to give up Medlen, Locke or Rohrbough, along with a Flowers-type prospect and probably BJones or so.

    Giving up the farm is tough. I waffle on this more than Obama on real issues of substance….

    Like

  492. 516 Salty October 16, 2008 at 10:44 am

    VOR…how’ bout play Cain vs. Peavy…and land both? I think it can be done, frankly. Also, I have zero issue with trading Escobar…none whatsoever. And down on the farm, remember my comment earlier this summer…that’s the Brave’s currency. Those players have far more value in projecting their potential than what will be realized (collectively) by their performance 3, 4, and 5 years hence. Peavy and Cain will still be bringin’ it (barring injury 😯 ).

    Oh, and I like the Greene addition…needs to work on his ‘eye’, but he definitely has pop in his bat. That said, I would have very strong reservations with him and Frenchy in the lineup, should Jeff not revert to pre-2008.

    Gil…I was a Huckabee ‘minority’, too.

    Like

  493. 517 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 10:46 am

    Of course, that would assume he would actually speak on any issues of substance. When confronted on said issues last night, he responded, “The people don’t really care about these issues, what they want to hear about is this economy and their jobs.”

    Translation: “Let’s shift this back off of this uncomfortable subject of which I have no plan, and talk about redistributing wealth back to a large number of non-taxpaying voters who have lees of a clue than me, and in essence buy their votes next month.”

    Like

  494. 518 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 10:49 am

    Salty, I can’t see one thing in your post that I do not completely agree with…

    Note that I am batting Greene 8th in my lineup.

    Like

  495. 519 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 10:50 am

    In fact, the thought of both Peavy and Cain makes me salavate…

    … or is that the Frosted Flakes I just poured up? 😀

    Like

  496. 520 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 10:58 am

    This from the Neal Boortz website:

    If Obama is elected, he should be called the “uh” president because he says it so much. Tonight he suggested we count how many times Obama and McCain said “uh”. So we did….
    Obama said “uh” 238 times,
    McCain said “uh” 26 times.
    I know how so many people say he is such a great speaker, but does anyone pay attention when he is talking without reading it?

    Like

  497. 521 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Hmmm… I somehow failed to copy and paste the whole thing…

    Let me try that again:

    Name: Kevin
    My 10 year old pointed out about 6 months ago, that if Obama is elected, he should be called the “uh” president because he says it so much. Tonight he suggested we count how many times Obama and McCain said “uh”. So we did….
    Obama said “uh” 238 times,
    McCain said “uh” 26 times.
    I know how so many people say he is such a great speaker, but does anyone pay attention when he is talking without reading it?

    Like

  498. 522 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 11:24 am

    One more hit from Boortz before I turn my attention to work, which beckons loudly:

    ACORN is being investigated in something like 11 states for voter fraud. Their headquarters in Las Vegas have been raided by Nevada authorities. They have registered Mickey Mouse, 7-year-olds, the Dallas Cowboys to vote in Arizona, and the list goes on and on. And they have done some of this with $800,000 from the Barack Obama campaign.

    So the Republicans cry foul. Not just the Republicans, but there have been reports all over the media of ACORN’s fraudulent voter registrations. Now comes the response, and it is completely predictable. The evil Republicans are calling out ACORN for its crimes is an attempt to suppress voter turnout. The usual suspects like the NAACP have come to ACORN’s defense. The president of the left-wing People for the American Way says, “Those who are stirring the ‘voter fraud’ pot don’t want to talk about voter suppression and intimidation. They want to use the code word of ‘voter fraud’ as cover for their real objective of voter suppression. It’s a sad day when a campaign’s success strategy is dependent upon keeping voters away from the polls.”

    Isn’t this just so typical of the left? ACORN employees fraudulently register voters and any criticism of their activities is portrayed by the leftist media and the MoveOn/ACORN/Democrat party as just an attempt of Republicans to suppress the vote.

    The Barack Obama campaign, which previously claimed that Obama never worked for ACORN, now says that his campaign doesn’t need ACORN’s help. Well, that’s nice, but the damage has been done. The Obama campaign has paid ACORN to get out the vote … you can’t change that now. Why don’t you, Barack Obama, come out and denounce these actions by ACORN? Has that thought ever crossed your mind?

    When the GOP calls for immediate hearings into ACORN’s actions and abuse of government funds, Democrats like Barney Frank dismiss it as an attempt to help John McCain win the election. Frank said, “My Republican colleagues, in raising the issue of ACORN, which is unrelated to the subject of regulatory restructuring, have apparently decided to try to hijack the committee and turn it into an echo chamber in an effort help out the McCain campaign … No legislation passed by the House has authorized or appropriated funds for ACORN.”

    That’s funny, didn’t the Democrats try to get a provision for community organizations like ACORN to receive 20% of any profit seen from the bailout bill? Hmmmm … ACORN has received millions of dollars in federal grants over the years. But I suppose that is beside the point.

    Trust me … there will never be a serious investigation of ACORN and their illegal and fraudulent activities. Whenever Republicans try to uncover voter fraud, the Democrats scream voter suppression. The Democrat response is as certain as the “Republicans want to destroy Social Security” line in each and every election.

    Like

  499. 523 Salty October 16, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    Obama said “uh” 238 times, Uh…wow! That’s, uhm…a lot. Chipper’s “uh” School of Public, Uh, Speakin’ ? 😕 😆

    McCain said “uh” 26 times. Yeah, but…uh, how many times did he, uh, say, “My friends”? 🙂

    Like

  500. 524 flbravesgirl October 16, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    I just want it all to be over. Don’t have much faith in either of them, no matter who wins.

    Like

  501. 525 flbravesgirl October 16, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    Now, Braves… I think you spend the $$$/ make the big trade for pitching, pitching, pitching. Anything else is secondary. I know we need some power in LF but all that means is losing 5-3 instead of 5-1 unless Wren gets someone to go with Jair.

    I saw a mention of Manny to the Braves… 🙄 I don’t think Planet Manny could co-exist with Bobby’s way of doing things. Anyway, too much $$$. Spend it on pitching, Frank!!!

    Like

  502. 526 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    Don’t have much faith in either of them, no matter who wins.

    I’m with ya there…

    Like

  503. 527 Salty October 16, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    Planet Manny :mrgreen: That’s a good ‘un FBG! Definitely in his own orbit!

    I like the Peavy, Cain, and Greene possibilities. Yummy!!!

    Like

  504. 528 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    I think you spend the $$$/ make the big trade for pitching, pitching, pitching. Anything else is secondary. I know we need some power in LF but all that means is losing 5-3 instead of 5-1 unless Wren gets someone to go with Jair.

    FBG is wise!

    Like

  505. 529 flbravesgirl October 16, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    Thank you. A baked good of VOR’s choice, coming right up. 🙂

    Like

  506. 530 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    Mmmm….

    Cheese straws would be awesome!

    Like

  507. 531 Salty October 16, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    VOR=Shameless Suck-up! 😛

    Like

  508. 532 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    :mrgreen:

    Like

  509. 533 Voice of Raisins October 16, 2008 at 1:35 pm

    Major League Baseball has moved back the scheduled start time of game six of the World Series so Fox can join CBS and NBC in airing a half-hour Barack Obama advertisement on Oct. 29, network and league sources said. A network spokeswoman confirmed the buy and said MLB had agreed to the network’s request for the delay. Fox now joins CBS and NBC in airing the half hour program, the content of which the Obama campaign has declined to describe. The decision means that the Obama campaign is now spending close to $3 million to air the program from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. that night. — TV Week

    What an ass…

    Like

  510. 534 Salty October 16, 2008 at 2:22 pm

    🙄 Why don’t we just go with the Nielsen ratings and save money on the election? The media has already pronounced the winner for months now, has it not? Of course, this may be Obama’s way of paying them back/off! 😯

    Like

  511. 535 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Okay…. Things are looking up… I made several very good buys today. 2000% return on investment will keep me even with the level of inflation that is going to come rolling in like an express train on a down hill grade.

    Like

  512. 536 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 16, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    Good something or another everyone!
    V, I like you, you are very optimistic. (Dang, I wish once, just once McCain had used the fake compliment before bashing tactic NObama and Biden used in the debates) now to bash you! :mrgreen: Kidding! You are right about prospects just being that, and we know you usually need to give something to get something.

    The difference between 1993 and now is that for some reason, folks do a much better job of knowing who’s going to be a success at the ML level, and who is not. Seems to me scouting is scouting, but I guess they are doing a better job overall these days, for whatever reason.

    Look at the Rays. Granted, it helps to have the #1 pick year after year, but that didn’t always mean success.

    I’m reading everywhere as I am sure you have, that Heyward is special.
    He may be the next Jermaine Dye or better. Sure is a bigger fella. But, you are right, hasn’t done anything yet.

    Now….Clint Sammons. There I think you may be drinkin’ the Braves kool-aid(I just typed kook-aid by accident, what a great line to use on my friends on the far left!)
    In 2007, he hit .243 at AA. In 2008, .237 at AAA. and in 54 AB’s at the ML level, .148. He’s going to be 26 in May.
    Back up catcher, if you ask me….

    Like

  513. 537 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Well Ber, that’s about 100 points higher than Corky…

    Like

  514. 538 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 16, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    Ok you Kooky kool aid drinker’s…Khalil Greene???? He has missed more games the last 4 years than Chipper! Last year, 105 games, 10 HR’s 35 RBI’s in 105 games(389 ab’s) 22 walks, 100 strikeouts. .213 BA, .260 OBP.
    Frenchy hit 239 .294. Frenchy had a much better year than Khalil!!! And he’s 29.
    Let’s trade Flowers IF they will keep him! 😛 Seriously, he would no doubt hit better here, but damn….no one wants to give Prado a serious chance at being a full timer. I’d rather see him there(I have no doubt he could play it, it can play every other position well) and Prado has/shows emotion, like Yunel. Greene strikes me as being from the same cloth as JD Drew.

    Like

  515. 539 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 16, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    Gil, 🙂

    Like

  516. 540 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 16, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    Gil, you should be called King Midas! You should sell us a blue dot that will bring us good luck, or you could sell us a pen you have touched!
    Still think you shoulda bought and flipped that Trans-Am on ebay…but, hey….who listens to me anyway??? 😕

    Like

  517. 541 Carolina Lady October 16, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    Just stood in line for nearly an hour at one of the early voting places here. All the places are packed. All I heard around me in the line were harsh Yankee accents. 9 out of 10 election signs I saw were for Democrats. sigh….

    Saw several vans unloading groups of people coming to vote. Saw that same group accepting filled in ‘Sample Ballots’ from a lady before getting in line. Those ‘Sample Ballots’ are filled in for Democrats that people can copy. That same lady had offered us some when we joined the line; I said ‘Noooo, thank you!” 😆

    Like

  518. 542 Salty October 16, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    That’s legal? 😕 It’s definitely sad! 😦 I want my country back!!!! 😡

    Like

  519. 543 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    CL… That’s okay, at least your conscious will be clear. You cannot control the mob with logic. Do not be discouraged.

    Like

  520. 544 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 6:05 pm

    Ber…. Found out I will be getting a raise in January. Sadly, WeSaySo has managed to increase my insurance premiums to an amount equal to my pension increase. Oh well, I just have to be smart with my money.

    The TransAM was in worse shape than I originally though and then the seller reneged on the original price. Sorry, I just cannot do business with someone like that. My experience in life is that it’s okay to walk away from a deal once in a while. I got burned in on two weeks ago, I will have a tough time recouping half my cost. Oh well, paying for my learning.

    Now baseball…. I can only assess the talent the Braves had in AAA this year. Folks, aside from a couple of pitchers, you saw everyone even marginally ready play in Atlanta. Too bad Joe Bourchard got hurt, I think he could have made a difference for the Braves last year.

    I think Wren is going to have to pull off a Maddux level move this year to right the Atlanta ship for 2009. Just keep in mind, teams do not contend if they have to rely on more than one rookie in the starting line-up.

    Like

  521. 545 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 16, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    Gil, that’s too bad about the Trans-am. I do wonder how many cars that are supposed to have 60K really have 160K, especially a car like that. And to change the price??? Man, is that ever sorry! I had someone try that on a 1969 Fairlane(I think it was) I saw at that big car corral in Moultrie, GA about 5 years ago… it was $1900, and I was wondering why it was so cheap….well, checked out other cars and decided if it was still around and I could drive it, I’d grab it. Well, saw it in a different part of the landing strip, no price.
    Drove it, and offered something like $1700. Guy laughed, and said he wouldn’t take less than $5000! I said I saw it a few hundred yards away earlier in the day with $1900 on the windshield, but he said it was a different car. A different yellow car missing the same trim on the passenger side??? 😡 Should have just been a man and said he bought it and was trying to flip it at the same show, on the same day.

    Like

  522. 546 Carolina Lady October 16, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – An award-winning songwriter and singer will make his way to the area in support of Barack Obama’s campaign.

    Music legend James Taylor will tour North Carolina from October 19 through October 21.

    He will hold concerts in Charlotte, Asheville, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Wilmington.

    Taylor is performing in efforts to encourage voters to hit the polls early.

    Over the course of his career, Taylor has earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards and 5 Grammy Awards.

    He has been inducted into both the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and has sold some 40 million albums throughout his career.

    Do people REALLY base their voting on some entertainer’s performance??

    Like

  523. 547 Gil in Mechanicsville October 16, 2008 at 11:16 pm

    Don’t worry, President Obama will okay Cat Stevens re-entry too…. Never did like James Taylor all that much…

    Like

  524. 548 Gil in Mechanicsville October 17, 2008 at 12:20 am

    And CL… Only the weak minded, that is why O goes for the young and mis-informed….

    Like

  525. 549 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 12:20 am

    Red Sox win, after being down 7-0!!! Gee, so nice to see a guy like JD Drew get two huge hits. 🙄

    Like

  526. 550 Gil in Mechanicsville October 17, 2008 at 12:21 am

    Hey Ber… get the mail I sent you?

    Like

  527. 551 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 12:27 am

    Gil, just checked that out, ain’t that amazing???? I dream of finding a haul like that….some sports car fans must have passed out seeing those photos!

    Like

  528. 552 flbravesgirl October 17, 2008 at 12:27 am

    Holy moley! Now that is a comeback!

    Like

  529. 553 Gil in Mechanicsville October 17, 2008 at 12:29 am

    Not to mention the carwash guys… 🙂

    Yeah FBG, reminds you a little of the Braves pen doesn’t it? ..

    Like

  530. 554 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 12:32 am

    FLB, I’d have bet my entire fortune, both dollars, that once Papelbon gave up 2 runs to make it 7-0, it was beyond over….truly amazing. Now, the Rays will get to win it at home, I hope!!!

    Like

  531. 555 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 12:34 am

    from MLB trade rumors…
    9:53pm: More from Olney. The Padres are aggressively shopping Peavy, with the Braves and Dodgers two possible suitors. Olney’s sources believe Peavy will be dealt “in the weeks ahead.” The Padres want two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready center fielder in return. The Braves and Dodgers could both meet that demand.

    Like

  532. 556 flbravesgirl October 17, 2008 at 12:39 am

    I still feel like the Rays have destiny on their side. Dad is just relieved the Sox didn’t get blown out again. Either way we’re rooting for the AL in the Series.

    Like

  533. 557 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 9:32 am

    It was 7-0 when I involuntarily began checking my eyelids for light leaks. I turned off the TV thinking I really wanted to stay up and watch the Rays celebrate their first trip to the WS. Uh, (to quote Obama), I guess I missed something, huh?

    The Padres want two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready center fielder in return. That’s all? Give ’em Hanson, Redmond and Schafer, take back your ace for the next 5 years, and play Anderson until Gorkys is ready. Done!

    Like

  534. 558 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 9:48 am

    I am so thankful for Joe Biden and the comic relief he supplies. This is a classic:

    Like

  535. 559 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 9:55 am

    For those interested, Gov. Sarah Palin will be on the Neal Boortz show this morning at 11:06am. You can stream it from the below link:

    http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

    Like

  536. 560 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 10:15 am

    Apparently, according to the guy across the street, the Braves and Pads are already in discussions about Peavy. There are some very interesting parts to the story…

    http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/10/16/braves_peavy_trade.html

    Like

  537. 561 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 11:07 am

    I saw at that big car corral in Moultrie, GA about 5 years ago…

    That would be the birthplace of one Voice of Raisins… 😀

    (Not the big car corral, just Moultrie)

    Like

  538. 562 Salty October 17, 2008 at 11:43 am

    In defense of Greene…the guy has a heck of a work ethic. What I believe he’s lacked in SD is a mentor…like a Chipper. Some of his injuries are from going hard and, of course, losing his cool, like this summer. His salary isn’t prohibitive, so a year with Chipper wouldn’t be bad…perhaps he’d turn it around. Summarizing: taking Greene might carry more weight in landing Peavy than giving up prospects. Just sayin….! 🙂

    Oh…and if we move Schafer…perhaps Kotsay back for another year is a possibility…or in the event Frenchy is moved. Again…jes’ spekulatin’! 😆

    Like

  539. 563 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    Yankees, Braves Chasing Peavy

    The Yankees are one of several teams that have had preliminary discussions with the San Diego Padres about a possible trade for 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy. According to a person familiar with the substance of Thursday’s organizational meetings in Tampa, Peavy was a hot topic as word has begun to circulate around baseball that the Padres are interested in shopping Peavy. The person said the Yankees had a feeling the Padres might be further down the road in discussions with other teams, such as the Atlanta Braves. And even a very strong offer might not be enough to get Peavy, since his contract includes a no-trade clause. But if the Yankees decided to make young pitchers such as Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy available, they believe they could put together an attractive package for the Padres to at least consider. –Newark Star-Ledger

    Like

  540. 564 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    Oh…and if we move Schafer…perhaps Kotsay back for another year is a possibility…

    I love it!!! Do you bake, too, Salty? 😀

    Like

  541. 565 Salty October 17, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    Uh…no, I don’t. I can cook, though!

    But if the Yankees decided to make young pitchers such as Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy available, they believe they could put together an attractive package for the Padres to at least consider.
    Oh, how, nice…attractive to the Padres. Hey, boys…it has to be attractive to Peavy. No trade clause, remember? 😕 Oh, silly me…you’re the Yankees…everyone flocks to the Yankees! 🙄 Sheesh! It’s very plain: Peavy wants real grits and biscuits!!!! 😆

    Like

  542. 566 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    real grits and biscuits

    Yum! Lunchtime!!! :mrgreen:

    Like

  543. 567 Gil in Mechanicsville October 17, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    Hey Ber… Interested in 1958 Bentley? Be the class of the car shows for sure…

    Like

  544. 568 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    Mark Bowman: During the Arizona Fall League last year, Jordan Schafer legitimized himself as a top pitching prospect, and Charlie Morton made the strides that allowed him to land in Atlanta this year. Wow! That Schafer guy is really multi-talented, huh? 😀

    Like

  545. 569 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Bowman’s full article on the top Braves prospects. It is a good read despite the Schafer gaff:

    http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081016&content_id=3625359&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl

    Like

  546. 570 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    V, from Moultrie, eh??? Everyone’s gotta be from somewhere I guess… :mrgreen: Kidding, nice town!
    Interesting article on Flowers. I would have started him at AA last year. I mean, I saw him have no trouble at all last spring hitting the ball on the nose.

    Like

  547. 571 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 2:35 pm

    Was reading a fair number of the comments on the Peavy story on MLB trade rumors. There were 148 when I looked last night. Only got thru about half of them. Nasty comments about some trade proposals.
    And several people were comparing the Dan Haren trade and all the prospects the Diamondbacks had to give up(6?). Therefore, the braves would have to give up Hayward and Hanson as a starting point….Yeah, right!!! If that is what the Fathers want, they are going to have him this year, and lose 100 games….

    Like

  548. 572 Gil in Mechanicsville October 17, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    I never quite got why some folks seem insistent in being nasty in their comments. Poor upbringing I guess. Misplaced anger?

    And firebombing a lawyer’s office in Dalton? And folks wonder why our freedoms are in such peril. Abuse of anything generally results in the loss of such privilege.

    And in local news, an 18 year old was shot dead by the occupant after the said 18 year old along with 3 cohorts attempted to rob the shooter. Not exactly how they drew it up ahead of time. Folks around here take seriously the right to bare arms.

    Fall has finally arrive here. Rainy and chilly and it just feels like autumn. The pumpkin has been carved and resides on the top step. I keep trying to talk Josie into putting it in the cemetery. She says that would just be wrong…. Hey, might as well get some use out of the graveyard, it’s not like it raises my property values or anything…

    Still, no trick or treaters have darkened my door in 6 years….

    Like

  549. 574 Gil in Mechanicsville October 17, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    I display the flag… I guess that brands me eh?

    Like

  550. 575 Salty October 17, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    Well…I’ll tell what stood out to me, aside from allegiance to part affiliation. The race issue popped up the past week, so I sought proof of it in the poll numbers. Well…it’s there, but not in the way one would expect. Just sayin’. 🙄

    Like

  551. 576 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    Gil, that is interesting. Single women are much more likely to vote for Obama 62% to 25% but if they are married, 44%-43% for Obama.
    Jews and Hispanics are far in Obama’s corner….If the average Jew only knew what Obama’s advisers were saying about Israel…. and Catholics 46% 43% for Obama. Guess they didn’t hear how when he was a state senator, he voted against a bill to protect babies born after botched abortions.
    Not that everyone should be one issue voters. I would have voted for Guilani in a nanosecond, and he is pretty much pro choice.

    Like

  552. 577 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    Gil, thanks, but I couldn’t afford the water pump on a Bentley! 😀

    Like

  553. 578 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 5:06 pm

    Is it just me, or does reading about abortion and water pumps in back to back posts just look really weird… 😉

    Like

  554. 579 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 5:08 pm

    Just you V! 😉

    Like

  555. 580 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 5:10 pm

    Isn’t it amazing what the media has done to Joe the Plumber??? Obama knocked on his door, by the way…
    There’s a link at the bottom if it’s too hard to decipher when Taranto is quoting articles, there’s a link at the bottom.

    Say, It Ain’t ‘Joe.’ So? Mess with Obama, and you’ll never plumb in this town again.By JAMES TARANTO
    Article
    more in Opinion »Email Printer Friendly Share:
    Yahoo Buzz MySpace Digg Text Size
    The campaign to destroy “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher continues. Politico has the latest:

    John McCain hung his final presidential debate performance on an Ohio plumber who campaign aides never vetted.
    A day after making Joseph Wurzelbacher famous, referencing him in the debate almost two dozen times as someone who would pay higher taxes under Barack Obama, McCain learned the fine print Thursday on the plumber’s not-so-tidy personal story: He owes back taxes. He is not a licensed plumber. And it turns out that Wurzelbacher makes less than $250,000 a year, which means he would receive a tax cut if Obama were elected president.
    McCain likes to say that he isn’t George W. Bush–and in this case of bungled public relations, it is clear he is not. The famously-disciplined Bush campaign operation would likely have found the perfect anonymous citizen to illustrate a policy proposal, rather than spontaneously wrap itself around an unknown entity with so many asterisks.
    But get a load of this, from the Associated Press:

    “Joe,” whose name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, was cited repeatedly in Wednesday night’s final presidential debate by McCain for questioning Barack Obama’s tax policy.
    Joe isn’t his real name! How can he be a common man with a snooty name like Samuel? And that middle initial J probably stands for Hussein or something. Oh, wait, never mind. According to the Courier Mail of Brisbane, Australia, his full name is “Samuel Joseph (Joe) Wurzelbacher.” Joe is a nickname for Joseph. Just like that guy from Scranton.

    Podcast
    James Taranto discusses the media campaign against “Joe the Plumber.”
    There are a few other problems with the attempts to smear Wurzelbacher. He did not claim he now makes more than $250,000; he said he plans to acquire a small company that would put him in that bracket. And it’s curious that Politico states that Wurzelbacher “would receive a tax cut if Obama were elected president”–as if Obama’s campaign promises have already achieved the status of established fact.

    As for his unpaid taxes, blogger “Patterico” reports that Obama’s campaign treasurer has liens for unpaid taxes. That isn’t exactly an earth-shattering scandal either, but it is hard to see how it is less relevant than Wurzelbacher’s liens.

    Over at The Atlantic’s Web site–we think we’ll pass on linking to those creeps–they’re questioning whether Wurzelbacher is “actually a man.” And when we saw this passage in a New York Times report, we were surprised no one had seized on it to call Wurzelbacher a racist:

    In his interview with Ms. Couric, Mr. Wurzelbacher, who voted Republican in Ohio’s March primary, said that his encounter with Mr. Obama had been prompted by his desire “to ask one of these guys a question, and really corner them and get them to answer a question for once instead of tap dancing around it. And unfortunately I asked the question, but I still got a tap dance.”
    He added, “He was almost as good as Sammy Davis Jr.”
    But of course we were wrong. A Google blog search turned up lots of comments to that effect, including this one:

    Um, Sam/Joe, you do realize that you are talking about a black man here? Sammy Davis Jr. and tap dancing might not be the appropriate metaphor to use. Tap dancing in particular carries some subtle and historical negative racial connotations of minstrel and blackface shows.
    Why not just go straight for a set of breakdance, rap and fried chicken references, Joe/Sam, and be done with it?
    And then there’s this:

    With his shaved head and uneducated, extreme views, Samuel Wurzelbacher looks and sounds just a wee bit too like a neo-Nazi white supremacist.
    It’s all a bit reminiscent of the frenzied attacks on Sarah Palin in the first few weeks after John McCain nominated her–except that Palin at least is seeking political office, and thus can expect to be subjected to some degree of scrutiny. Wurzelbacher is just a private citizen who had the temerity to question the policy proposals of the media’s anointed candidate.

    Will Obama’s supporters live to regret these ugly tactics? Probably not–unless Obama loses.
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122425690170244659.html

    Like

  556. 581 Voice of Raisins October 17, 2008 at 5:14 pm

    Derek Lowe is assumed to be leaving. He has often felt underappreciated in his four seasons with the Dodgers, according to sources close to him who spoke anonymously to avoid creating tension while the team was still in the playoffs. The club never approached Lowe, 35, about a contract extension this season, though that in part was because he is represented by Scott Boras, who prefers that his clients test the market. — LA Times

    Crap! 😡

    I didn’t realize he was rep’d by Bora$.

    Like

  557. 582 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    Couple of interesting links from mlb trade rumors…
    # Chop-n-Change takes a look at which prospects it might take to land Jake Peavy, and wonders if a package built around RHP Tommy Hanson and OF Jordan Schafer could get it done.
    # Talking Chop does not want to the Braves giving up prospects for Peavy and would rather see the Braves acquire pitching through free agency.

    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/baseball-blog-2.html

    Like

  558. 583 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 5:26 pm

    V, it might have been while you were gone, but I posted a list of Satan’s Minions and was surprised to see that as well. He’ll want 4 years at a minimum.

    Like

  559. 584 Salty October 17, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    Well…the world speaks!
    http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93SECMO0&show_article=1

    I want to teach the world to sing

    In perfect harmony

    Whatever…. 🙄

    Like

  560. 585 Salty October 17, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    FILTERED!!!!! 😡 👿 😈

    Somebody’s gotta pay…Wordpress censors!!!

    Like

  561. 586 Gil in Mechanicsville October 17, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    I set you free Salty..

    Like

  562. 587 Gil in Mechanicsville October 17, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    I really hope and pray I am wrong about what I see coming with the Democrats.

    Like

  563. 588 Salty October 17, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    Gil…you’re my hero! 😆

    Like

  564. 589 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    Where be everyone???
    I wanna talk baseball!!! 😡 Now!!! 😡 😡 😡

    Like

  565. 590 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    Fine, I’ll talk to myself then….
    Did use guys know that Maddux, Peavy, and Chris Young each had ERA’s under 4??? Still lost 99 games. Of course, the only one that was healthy all year was Maddux, still, you got to have some offense. Greene And Frenchy could mean 3 outs in a row.

    Like

  566. 591 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    Here’s more than you ever wanted to know about Peavy’s mechanics…
    http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/jake-peavys-max-effort-mechanics/

    Come on, V or G, or S must have a joke about his mechanics not being so good, that his Mercedes is still not running right…

    Like

  567. 592 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 17, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    Hey, this site is too much into winshares and all that crud, but still…some interesting stuff…guy was wrong about Smoltz in 2008, but I like seeing the percentage of pitches he throws in certain counts, and other stuff…
    http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/fantasy/article/player-highlight-john-smoltz/

    Like

  568. 593 flbravesgirl October 18, 2008 at 12:11 am

    Sorry, Ber, we had the firepit going tonight. It seems to have finally gotten past “brutally hot & humid” to merely warm, so evenings are nice enough to roast some hotdogs without feeling like we’re being cooked.

    Like

  569. 594 flbravesgirl October 18, 2008 at 12:17 am

    Too bad I live so far away from y’all. I’m expanding my cake selections. Mom & I spent a few hours today sorting through my filebox of recipes. I need to test the ones I haven’t made before which means I need taste-testers.

    Like

  570. 595 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 18, 2008 at 3:10 am

    You get a pass…this time FLB! 😉
    man, just what I need, more sweets to try out….well, it would be for your good, so I would make that sacrifice.

    Like

  571. 596 Berigan ll, the worm turns October 18, 2008 at 4:51 am

    Ok, this is interesting…just part of the story, link at bottom…
    Obama’s Kenya ghosts

    About 50 parishioners were locked into the Assemblies of God church before it was set ablaze. They were mostly women and children. Those who tried to flee were hacked to death by machete-wielding members of a mob numbering 2,000.

    The 2008 New Year Day atrocity in the Kenyan village Eldoret, about 185 miles northwest of Nairobi, had all the markings of the Rwanda genocide of a decade earlier.

    By mid-February 2008, more than 1,500 Kenyans were killed. Many were slain by machete-armed attackers. More than 500,000 were displaced by the religious strife. Villages lay in ruin. Many of the atrocities were perpetrated by Muslims against Christians.

    The violence was led by supporters of Raila Odinga, the opposition leader who lost the Dec. 27, 2007, presidential election by more than 230,000 votes. Odinga supporters began the genocide hours after the final election results were announced Dec. 30. Mr. Odinga was a member of Parliament representing an area in western Kenya, heavily populated by the Luo tribe, and the birthplace of Barack Obama’s father.

    Mr. Odinga had the backing of Kenya’s Muslim community heading into the election. For months he denied any ties to Muslim leaders, but fell silent when Sheik Abdullahi Abdi, chairman of the National Muslim Leaders Forum, appeared on Kenya television displaying a memorandum of understanding signed on Aug. 29, 2007, by Mr. Odinga and the Muslim leader. Mr. Odinga then denied his denials.

    The details of the MOU were shocking. In return for Muslim backing, Mr. Odinga promised to impose a number of measures favored by Muslims if he were elected president. Among these were recognition of “Islam as the only true religion,” Islamic leaders would have an “oversight role to monitor activities of ALL other religions [emphasis in original],” installation of Shariah courts in every jurisdiction, a ban on Christian preaching, replacement of the police commissioner who “allowed himself to be used by heathens and Zionists,” adoption of a women’s dress code, and bans on alcohol and pork.

    http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/oct/12/obamas-kenya-ghosts/

    Like

  572. 597 Gil in Mechanicsville October 18, 2008 at 7:18 am

    FBG.. I still think you missed out on not taking up the denizens’ offer to distribute/sample your wares.. could have been a major east coast bakery by now… 🙂

    Like

  573. 599 Savannah Guy October 19, 2008 at 9:08 am

    Has anyone seen Miles Standish?

    Like

  574. 600 Savannah Guy October 19, 2008 at 9:10 am

    Miles was a standish off sort’a guy, but he could sail.

    600 is a big number. Twice as many as the Spartans. Congratulations to Stuffville!!!

    Last?

    Like

  575. 601 Savannah Guy October 19, 2008 at 9:12 am

    Miles was a standish off sort’a guy, but he could sail.

    600 is a big number. Twice as many as the Spartans. Congratulations to Stuffville!!!

    Last?

    Like


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