Arguably the most important weekend for football fans savethe Superbowl, the draft was this weekend. While my gut instinct is to draft linmen in rounds 1-3, no mater what, the Steeelrs always draft the best player possible. It seems this time, they decided to make some bold moves and took Santonio Holmes. My only concern about him is hish height, as I like having big targets, but it sure looks like this guy is the real deal.
The Steelers also picked up Anthony Smith and Willie Reid. That means two things:
1.) I will spend the next two years accidentally calling people Santhony or Antonio.
2.) We will b e drafting linemen today.
Paddy O'Shea
I have trouble getting interested in football this time of year. After all, and as any red-blooded American knows, football season doesn’t really start until after the World Series is over.
Speaking of red-blooded Americans, did anybody catch Stephen Colbert’s brutal undressing of our ridiculous President at the WDC press dinner last night?
Funniest thing I have witnessed in a long long time.
http://www.crooksandliars.com
Otto Man
Yeah, I think that was a nice trade-up and should do a good bit towards replacing Randle-El.
Of the other teams — yes, there are others, John — I think the Titans are looking great now with Vince Young and LenDale White. That should infuse an old offense with new blood. We’ll see.
Mean Gene
My friend kept calling him “San Antonio Holmes”. We’ll learn.
I’m thrilled we got a WR to fill in for Randel El, and the price wasn’t too high. When you have a championship-caliber team you have to be aggressive and try to win the ring again. Filling your biggest need with the best player at you position of need is a good deal.
neil
Boy, John, you really are drinking the liberal kool-aid lately, aren’t you? Let me say this once, and plainly: There will not be a draft.
'Hawks Fan
Don’t you mean that you will be drafting line judges today? Or are they offered on more of a free-agency type thing during the season? :)
Bob In Pacifica
I’m feeling good about Vernon Davis et al. The Niners have nowhere to go but up. If Eric Johnson comes back I would expect a lot of two tight end formations.
Otto Man
Sadly, I’m pretty sure that’s why he was crying when he found out the Niners took him.
Paul Wartenberg
My draft philosophy is to draft impact players at key positions in the first few rounds, then resolve depth issues in the Day Two picks for backups and quality check.
So for me, a Bucs fan, this hasn’t been the best draft for me so far. I wouldn’t have taken an Offensive Guard in the First (I could have gotten one in the Second Round if needed), I would have seen about getting a Safety in the First as that would have been an impact position that was woefully short of talent (Our starters are currently Jermaine Philips and Will Allen, both young but Second Day draft talent that have yet to impress).
Taylora
The Birds got two big boys.. can the Steelers handle it?
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!
Pooh
Closed circuit to the Houston Texans: WHAT. THE. FUCK?
Par R
Paddy must have been really plowed if he thought Colbert was the funniest thing he has seen in a long time. More sober witnesses found him off base and rather unfunny…there was absolutely dead silence in the room following most of his “jokes.”
Pooh
Fixed. It’s sad that even comedy is strictly ideological these days.
I’m sure Par found the ‘search’ for WMD’s under the desk to be hi-llarious.
Paddy O'Shea
You kidding, Par? Colbert gored both Bush and the so-called news media. The whole rotten bunch were squirming like eels in boiling oil. Best performance at one of these dinners since Don Imus.
Watching the Bush’s cringe was worth the price of admission alone.
Here’s the audio:
http://www.awolcowboy.com/mp3/Colbert_DC.mp3
Paul Wartenberg
Considering that Republicans have a hard time having a sense of humor about themselves (I think only McCain has a sense of humor in the entire party right now), I’m not surprised there wasn’t any laughter in the first place.
Darrell
Pathetic isn’t it? Unbelievable f*ckup on the part of Texan’s management. I can’t remember another #1 draft pick being selected so poorly.
Pooh
And the thing is, they could have simply traded down to about 4, still gotten Williams (for less money), AND gotten picks and/or players.
Not to mention that even if they weren’t going to take Bush, why a pass-rush end, and not a stud O-Lineman since they’ve given up approximately 3431 sacks in David Carr’s career. Just saying.
Otto Man
Just watched the whole thing. I guess all those crowd shots of people laughing their asses off were edited in by those commie sympathizers at C-SPAN.
Otto Man
Exactly. Even if they had their hearts set on him, they could’ve easily gotten him later *and* gotten additional picks/cash as well.
I guess there’s a reason people from Texas aren’t well known for their strategery.
Punchy
Draft? I thought Bush was against one of the those. So, are all these players going to Iraq or Afghanistan?
Bob In Pacifica
Well, I haven’t heard the last round, but I’m pretty happy with the Niners’ selections this year. The coach from North Carolina said the guy San Francisco got later in the first round, who played opposite Mario Williams on their defense, is more talented than #1.
I guess Reggie Bush could blow out a knee in training camp, but I just don’t know how the Texans could pass on him or at least make a trade. They could have at least picked a first a couple places down, and a late first, or early second. I dunno. Bills didn’t look too hot either. Out here in the NFC West the team I’m suddenly worried about is Arizona. They’re going to score a lot of points.
Reggie Bush could be great. George Bush sucks.
ppGaz
Aren’t these the same self-justifying shitheads who laughed like hyenas a couple of years ago at Bush’s “Gee I can’t find the WMDs” jokes?
See, “can’t find those danged WMDs” is funny.
That’s what’s funny.
What’s the matter with you people? Don’t you know what’s funny?
Paul Wartenberg
This is what happened:
The Texans wanted to sign Reggie Bush at an 8 percent increase over last year’s #1 pick. But in order to pressure him to do so, they offered that contract not only to Bush but also to DE Williams. The intent was to play a game of chicken: force Bush to sign otherwise he’ll lose out on being the top draft pick.
Bush didn’t sign. The Texans were then forced, since they offered the contract to someone else, to conclude the offer given to Williams.
Moral of the story: football ticket prices are too expensive.
Paul Wartenberg
1986. The Bucs select Bo Jackson even though he had warned the team he wouldn’t play for them. He never signs with them, and then when the Bucs’ legal standing expires at the following draft the Raiders select Bo with a mid-level pick. The Bucs get nothing out of it. Bo shows his talents for a few years (even creating the world-famous Tecmo Bo character for the console games of the late 80s) before career-ending injuries force him to retire from football (leaving his baseball career a few years after that).
Paddy O'Shea
Just because some of the Bushie ass kissers (not to mention the King and Queen themselves), and MSM hacks in that room didn’t find Cobert particularly amusing is no reason to say it wasn’t extremely funny. After all, these people were basically being skinned alive, so their umbrage is understandable.
But that said, here is an audio of the performance. Sure sounds like a lot of laughter to me.
http://www.awolcowboy.com/mp3/colbert_DC.mp3
demimondian
Why do you think that they thought Colbert was joking? I think that the audience was convinced he was being serious.
You really shouldn’t be surprised. They can’t tell the difference between truth and lies when the Ultimate Dodocider utters them, so you shouldn’t expext that they can recognize comedy when it slaps them in the face, either…
Steve
I was disappointed in the Lions for passing on Leinart. Not that I think he’s the bomb, but it doesn’t seem to have occurred to them that they have no quarterback, and haven’t had one for a few decades.
Then again, I applied about the same logic 15 years ago when I rooted for them to pick Andre Ware over James Francis, who went on to have a very solid career with the Bengals. So I don’t fool myself into thinking that I know anything.
Otto Man
Ahhh, good times. Luckily, Tecmo LT was fast enough to catch him.
Detroit seems to spend every draft taking QBs and WRs, to no avail. I think they’d be better off making do with what they have or else trading for talent. As it’s been, they’ve been pissing away picks for years.
Darrell
Double kudos for the draft trivia.. but still unbelievable idiocy on the part of the Texans, even if not the worst first round pick in all of football history. Good news for the Texans is that with management like that, they’ll be getting the #1 draft pick next year too
Steve
Want a bad pick? How about drafting Tony Mandarich ahead of Barry Sanders.
Otto Man
…and Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders as well.
At least Green Bay found a decent QB soon thereafter. What’shisname — Fav-rah.
Al Maviva
I would have enjoyed the draft, but because I’m a moron and politics warps every corner of my infected little mind, I turned it into a metaphor for politics. The Texans avoiding mob-tied Reggie Bush was an allegory for George Bush – he’s the decider alright, he usually makes the wrong ones unfortunately. The Steelers pickup is a metaphor for the Democratic Party – they can’t really decide what they want to do, and their desire to have it both ways is likely going to haunt them in future years, when they will have to rejigger their whole offensive scheme as a result of hasty decisions made today. This thread is pretty much a metaphor for itself. John says “hey, how ’bout the weather?” and two people deny the sky is blue and call him a partisan fuck for having said it, three others jump to his defense saying the sky is always, always blue, and three other people get into a pissing match about who is the bigger dickhead, citing each other’s ad hominems from prior posts. It’s why I come here, frankly.
demimondian
Really? You’re a high-brow, then. I come here to real the verbal stylings of DougJ, Clown Prince of the Internet Rumpus Room.
Krista
I come here in the eternal hope that John will bring back cat blogging, or to discuss Naveen with Stormy, or to tease Pooh, and once in a blue moon, to discuss politics. :)
Mr Furious
Bear in mind that I do NOT watch college football. But I am well-versed in how special a player Bush is. He would have been a safe, concensus pick, but I’m not sure the Texans made a bad choice. Debateable? Sure. Sam Bowie? I seriously doubt it.
A good case for Williams here.
Historical Wit
Steelers are looking good. They have done a good job of retaining thier own players. Of course it helps they oar the best drafting organization in the league. Period.
Steel curtain domination will continue….
Brian
By now, I’d at least expect to hear from Tim how Kos’s ass smells this morning.
Steve
Now that we’ve heard from “Bad Brian,” I wonder how long it will be until “Good Brian” shows up to give the Left another civility lecture.
Brian
“Bad” is in the eye of the beholder. Everything’s relative. I have a sense of humor that may be rough around the edges, but I have more civility in one toenail than the whole of the Lefty commentariat on this blog.
Pooh
Poop
Mac Buckets
Pooh and Otto, showing that there are things they know even less about than politics. ;)
No, the Texans couldn’t have traded down and still gotten Mario Williams. New Orleans (and almost everyone else in the league) was chomping to take him at #2 — their pass rush was almost as bad as Houston’s. If Houston had traded down (and they received no decent offers to do so) it would’ve been to at least #4, and they would’ve missed out on both Williams and Bush.
The Williams pick was right for Houston, even if they were forced into it by Bush’s character issues and hardballing (nice move, Reg and agents — screwed yourselves out of $10 million!). Bush plays the only two positions at which the Texans had no real need. He was a part-timer at USC, watching from the sidelines during Winning Time in the Championship game, remember? The Texans pass rush allowed QBs time to eat a sandwich in the pocket, to the tune of an unbelievable 100 passer rating against!
If Bush turns out to be Barry Redux, or Williams flames, it will go down as a horrible pick — and if Bush is Ki-Jana Carter and Williams is Julius Peppers, the Texans will throw it in a lot of faces. But to judge it before a single snap is just silly.
Krista
Pooh – thanks for not missing your cue, hon.
Mac Buckets
Good article. Michael Smith is a prescient and thoughtful genius… because he agrees with me.
Pooh
I love self-disproving statements.
Steve
My money says Mac is right, although it truly is too soon to tell.
Krista
I think they make an ointment for that. Hopefully the pharmacist won’t be morally opposed to you buying it.
Brian
Is this blog dying? About a dozen posts in the entire last week, and a quarter of those were open threads.
Where will ppGaz go to spew his vile hatred?
Krista
John’s probably still busy with exams. I don’t know where Tim is. We’ll just have to amuse ourselves, I guess.
Brian
Morals are good. You should try them sometime.
VidaLoca
In case anybody’s feeling snark-deprived this morning, this just in:
Bush Hails a ‘Turning Point’ in Iraq
Yes, folks, “The Decider” has decided it so you know it must be true.
Money quote:
Krista
Okay. And then, I’ll try imposing my morals on people I don’t even know. Because that’s the right thing to do, isn’t it, Brian?
Brian
VidaLoca,
I don’t truck in snark. I prefer more sober takes on Iraq, AQ, et al.
There are those of us who do our country’s heavy lifting, and there are those of us who sit back and behave cynically.
ppGaz
I’ll tell you when I see your itinterary, asshole.
tBone
Brian’s really laying on the spoof-sauce with a trowel today.
Brian
Yes, we have such a huge problem with those pharmacists, don’t we? It was just last week when my older daughter was trying to get her monthly prescrip for the Pill, and that darn West L.A. pharmacist rejected her, AGAIN. We secularists can’t catch a break, can we Krista?
I don’t know about you personally, but the poltical wing that I suspect you identify with has been on the losing side of every moral position of modern times. You’re hardly in the position to lecture me, or anyone, about morals. And Americans continue to suffer from the moral positions of Democrats, thanks to their pet little societal projects and their unwillingness to face the reality of those projects, which have a much greater impact that some stupid pharmacist.
Brian
What’s an “itinterary”?
And, shouldn’t you be out protesting with your brown brothas today, proudly carrying a Mexican flag?
ppGaz
It’s a typo, you stupid fuck.
tBone
Pet little societal projects like spreading democracy in Iraq?
Oops, you said Democrats. Sorry, my bad.
Mr Furious
Brian is so over the top today, maybe he IS a spoof.
Sorry I doubted you ppGaz…
Brian, if you’re a spoof, you’re goood. Very good. If you’re for real, you’re a jackass.
Is that classless enough for you and your fucking toenail?
tBone
And is it related to “fileting?”
Mr Furious
Brian prediction:
“What’s “goood”?
Aha! I caught another typo! Yessss!
Krista
Oh Brian. Don’t get your panties in a twist. I was just poking a little bit of fun when I was talking about the pharmacist letting you buy ointment.
Oh wait. I shouldn’t have said anything about panties. Should I be ashamed of myself again? Tell me what my moral compass should be, Brian. Guide me, oh wise and condescending one.
Perry Como
A schedule for coloring things?
VidaLoca
Brian,
Well, that is a take on Iraq and AQ. Whether it falls under the definition of “sobriety” is a matter of judgement.
The lead paragraph:
More sobriety.
Tell it to Zarqawi.
Pooh
Brian, our hero, bravely on the front lines from his office building, along with Hugh Hewitt. Way to make the world safe for democracy. We are forever in your debt. In a day many years hence, when the history of this age is written, veritable volumes will be devoted to the nobility and wisdom of that anonymous internet warrior known to one and all merely as “Brian”. The only question will be how the Republic survived for 230 years before he rose to his position of prominence.
If he had only posted once, yet not given us the full force of his wisdom – it would have been enough.
If he had posted twice, yet not fully explained the moral failings of our heathen ways – it would have been enough.
If he had explained our moral failings, yet not provided such an unblemished vision of perfection for all posterity – it would have been enough.
Had he provided a vision of perfection and then continued talking – it would have been enough.
If he had kindly shut the fuck up already – it would have been too much to ask for.
Krista
The guide on the back of the box of Clairol, on how often to touch up one’s roots?
VidaLoca
/golf clap
Perry Como
“ititerary” would have been a much more amusing typo. Just sayin’…
Pb
VidaLoca,
That’s funny, so does al-Qaeda:
Now I know this is all very confusing, so to help people out with their ‘sober takes’, here’s a primer:
* Saddam Hussein is the ‘brutal dictator’ we propped up in Iraq to fight against Iran. Presidents named Bush have been using him as a punching bag ever since. No, he had nothing to do with 9/11, but he was an “easier target”. He likes dogs, doritos, and military contraband, and dislikes cats, froot loops, and being captured and tried for crimes against humanity.
* Osama bin Laden is the guy who called for jihad against Saddam Hussein back in 1990, when Saddam invaded Kuwait. He had been busy fighting Communism at the time, but the US involvement in the Gulf turned him against us instead. He was in charge of al-Qaeda, and he’s been ‘on the run’ and/or ‘in a cave’ since Bush declared he wanted him “dead or alive”–and after Tora-bora, he’s been missing, dead, and/or recording “more tapes than Steely Dan” in an undisclosed location ever since Bush said “I truly am not that concerned about him”.
* Zarqawi is another big al-Qaeda guy that Bush didn’t kill when he had the chance, and another guy that we don’t seem to have that much solid intelligence on, either. And we’re not the only ones: al-Sadr thinks he’s ‘fictitious’!
* Zawahiri is the real #2 al-Qaeda guy, and unlike all the other fake ones we hear about from time to time, he hasn’t been captured or killed, either. Well, the Russians captured him back in 1996, but they “could not keep him forever”, so they let him go. He published a book in late 2001, and is working on his next book.
Steve
This is so obviously spoof material I’m not sure why anyone even bothers at this point. Yes, Brian is doing the country’s heavy lifting, by commenting on blogs about what a hateful guy ppGaz is.
Brian
Hey Pooh, what would be the point of my laying out the failings of the Left? So you can call me a stupid fuck, or something to that effect? That’s the ultimate substance of your postings.
Oh my. How Furious of you, Mister! Must suck being so furious, and being you.
By all means, talk about panties, preferably yours though. Whatever floats your boat.
Krista
Ah yes, there’s that moral compass. Thank you, Brian. You’re an inspiration to us all.
Brian
Checking in with headquarters again for your talking points, Pb?
Whatever. Trying to bring some life to the site, and break up your circle jerk and navel gazing (or is it “naval”, ppGaz?). And the best thing you can do is get profane and pull up Zarqawi talking points.
Losers.
Pb
Brian,
Well it could be constructive, but coming from you, I doubt it.
If the shoe fits. I rest my case.
demimondian
Oh, yes, and I come here for the tpyos…topys…oh, whatever…
Brian
You brought it up, kiddo. I’m following your compass. See where it leads us? Your compass is broken.
Pb
Brian,
Profanity isn’t enough for you Brian, oh no, you have to skip right to libel and allegations of sedition, instead of actually addressing anything substantive or non-vitriolic. You aren’t worthy of our contempt. Shoo, fly.
Steve
Not that I don’t appreciate your efforts to spice up the conversation, friend, but maybe you should stick to running the country.
demimondian
Oh, I don’t know…we could descend to schoolyard humor, like jokes about people’s panties. Or their names: “Yeah, Brian, you’re name is an anagram of ‘brain’. That’s as close as you get to one, so you should enjoy it.”
tBone
This:
from the guy who started this whole thing with:
Priceless.
Krista
Oh, I get it! When YOU say naughty things, you’re just joking around. When I say naughty things, I’m completely lacking in morals. Well, you better stick around then to guide me…kiddo. I really don’t know how I’ve survived this long without cheating, stealing, killing, betraying etc. without having you here to guide me.
Brian
Talk about skipping…..to conclusions!!!
There’s nothing substantive to address yet, so I don’t know what you want me to respond to. Krista’s panties? Whether I’m a spoof or not? Zarqawi’s propaganda?
THAT’s your idea of substance?
Mr Furious
Obviously Brian’s compass came free with his set of Bill O”Reilly books.
Slide.
Krista:
Brian:
Alas it is clear that Cole has lost interest in politics. Understandable since he TWICE supported this wonderful President of ours and was a big proponent of what now has been called, “the worst foreign affairs blunder of the United States” – the invasion of Iraq. I guess I would be pretty dispirited too if I had been so profoundly wrong. You see, unlike the MacBuckets of the world, John KNOWS what a disaster this President has been to our country. He KNOWS how he was bamboozeled by this incompetent group of ideological and corrupt morons. Under those circumstances its difficult to post unless of course Cindy Sheehan is in the news or he feels compelled to defend racist remarks by Bill Bennett or the plagiarism of, whats his name again, oh yeah, Domenech.
Its been a tough year for Cole and all the other Bush supporters. I sorta, kinda, feel sorry for them in a way. To have been so easily taken in by what many are now calling The Worst President in History. You know what comes to mind? That song that won the Oscar: “I’ts hard out here for a conservative blogger”
I expect more football posts.
Krista
Christ, enough about my underwear already. Especially considering the fact that my original statement was to tell Brian not to get HIS panties in a twist. He then turns the thread into a discussion of my underwear, and lectures ME on morals?
You should be ashamed of yourself – if your wife and daughters could see what you’re saying…
Punchy
Can we PLEASE just go back to focusing on panties for awhile? I mean…who needs to fight when there’s thongs to be discussed?
Pb
Brian,
How about the substance of my post. I can see how you might have missed it, it’s not like you ever address anything substantive. Get thee behind me, spoofer.
Pb
Krista
Oh god, there are more of them? There’s a Mrs. Brian, with little Brianas and Brianettes? Say it ain’t so…
Punchy
Wow…didn’t realize you’d post that seconds before mine…and I was just trying to be funny…where’s the “delete comment” button?
Pooh
At this point, I’d be willing to exchange Brian for Kenyon Martin and a troll to be named later.
Pb
Pooh,
Maybe we could get Defense Guy back?
Punchy
Hey Pooh–nice blog. Just checked it out. Nice take on the Fakers stealing (literally and figuratively) that game. Nash was sodomized by 2 guys, and not only do they not call a foul, they don’t give him any lube to make it hurt less, either.
LA, meet the refs. Refs, meet Stern. Stern, please welcome the TV execs. TV execs….any matchup you desire.
Horseshit.
Mr Furious
Jumping onto your high horse and getting all indignant over Krista’s joke? Yeah, that’s jackass behavior. And I’ll call it when I see it. And frankly after overreacting and climbing on your fucking soapbox about your morals being superior to the dark path Democrats are apparently leading the country down, you have some balls trying to come back and be cute with your panties flirtations later. That sounds exactly like the kind of crap practiced by moral blowhard hypocrits like O’Reilly—moral outrage on the aiir, sexual harrassment on the phone.
Don’t count me in on the spoof theorists, I was just throwing that in there to acknowledge your extra-spicy blend of delusionary bullshit today. “Heavy lifting?” Indeed. How exactly is your rightie sniping around here contributing to the welfare of the country and it’s national security any more than my “mindless fury”
Hm?
Mr Furious
And Krista, nothing more from me on Brian projecting his twisted panties onto you.
We’ve probably now reached the point were Brian decides to take a break for a while since he seems clearly outnumbered in the room…
Brian
How moralistic of you!! How dare you push your morals anywhere near me! Get a grip on yourself. If you want to be taken seriously, be serious.
In case you hand’t noticed, there’s a huge story today going on out there with immigration. That would be a place to start. The world is more than about BUSH LIED, IRAQ’S A QUAGMIRE, and CINDY SHEEHAN’S A HERO.
But yeah, the Pres is a fuckup in more ways than one. And you know what? He’ll be there for nearly 3 more years. Why rail at what you can’t control? In the end, the best that may be said about Bush is that he was the right person for that job at the right time. He’s as perfectly careless, along with Cheney, as to the whims of American opinion to stay the course on something increasingly out of favor with the public, yet as critical at this time in history as ever. If we had Gore or Kerry in his chair, things would be different, but we could not afford wafflers.
Mr Furious
Or GOP4Me?
tBone
Is Defense Guy a free agent? That’d be a steal if we could get him in exchange for Falafel Brian.
Mr Furious
The job was to run the country into a ditch? I don’t remember that campaign ad…
Krista
Yeah, um…evidently, by making a bawdy joke, I somehow deserve to have lewd personal comments made about me, and when I protest, am basically being told that I’ve asked for it. Am I the only one who’s finding that to be more than a bit creepy?
Mr Furious
So it is wriitten.
Mr Furious
Yeah. Like Falafel Brian.
tBone
I’m going to save this for the next time Brian bags on someone for a typo or accuses someone of being “incoherent.”
Brian
And BTW, Twinkle Toes, my wife knows what blogs I go to, and often stops in to see the dialogue. She is very confident in herself, and has a sense of humor as well, unlike you, so I’m certain that she can handle the panty talk. Not all women are prudes or so tightly wound as Krista.
And, also, who posted this last week? That was you, wasn’t it? You should be ashamed of yourself.
Pooh
Hey Punchy, thanks!
Punchy
Isn’t this from the Bob Knight, “if you’re going to get raped, you might as well sit back and enjoy it” School of Asshattery?
Pooh
As far as troll trade targets, things have gotten so bad that even the PRESIDENT is spoofing on the internets:
He’s got Big, Brass Presidential Balls, which is a huge asset come playoff time.
Brian
You REALLY need to get a grip on yourself, Krista. For wanting to drop the subject, you sure are hanging onto it for dear life, making personal something that wasn’t.
My advice to you is avoid any subject or words that might be suggestive of sex.. It’s territory you’re not secure enough, or smart enough, to handle.
Perry Como
Be careful, I think he’s like Beetlejuice. You say his name three times and he will appear.
Mr Furious
Nope. You’re right, Krista. I think it earned him a “jackass” from me. And since I’m mentally unstable with my uncontrollable rages and all (plus it sucks to be me) that’s actually pretty mild. Because he would later display the behavior of a boorish asshole.
What’s too bad is that I’ve had good interactions with Brian. But when he displays this kind of knee-jerk paranoid lashing out it makes me wonder why anyone engages him.
Just like his beloved President, never admit you’re wrong, just project it on your opponent.
Pooh
Indeed, that’s the frustrating thing, he can do better, he just chooses to be odious.
Brian
Okay, so what are you going to do about it, Punchy? Impeach him? Well, go right ahead. Well? What are you doing sitting there, get to it………..Punchy?
I choose to not be furious at something I can’t do anything about. What’s the point? What kind of country do you, do WE, want? Articulate that, and maybe an opposition candidate will get elected.
Personally, I’d like to start an anti-incumbent 3rd party. In other words, build a platform we can all agree on, those of us who are disaffected with the Right and the Left, and then vote out every single incumbent running for the WH or Congress. Practical?… not really, but man would it get attention if done right.
Brian
Okay, I’ll try and take my asshat off for a moment.
What about an idea of an anti-incumbent party? What would your 3rd party look like? And know that I, who you believe to be a Bush apologist, wanted to vote for Kerry in ’04, but found him too wanting compared to Bush (imagine that).
I’m as open-minded as most people, but I don’t do protest votes, esp. with the Presidency.
Mr Furious
Krista says “Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
Brian says: “If you want to talk about panties, let’s talk about yours.”
Sorry Asshole. That IS taking something, and making it personal. If this were a real room, Krista would have been justified in throwing her drink in your face, and after you carried on for a while any of the rest of us would be for belting you.
Time for you to walk away from this one, because you are wrong. And you are over the line. Save that shit for your wife if she enjoys it. I don’t remember “continuing harrassment from Brian” being on Krista’s list of reasons for coming here.
Take this opportunity to get back to the topic (football draft, Bush or just about anything else) or take a powder.
Mr Furious
Much better. (and before my above post made it up). I consider that a “we’re cool, let’s move on” for me, but frankly you owe Krista an apology.
I agree that the two shitty parties system is broken. But when you are faced with only two options, sometimes a protest vote is perfectly admirable. Especially for the Presidency.
If there was such a thing as a viable socially liberal, fiscally conservative, legally libertarian third party, I’d be on the doorstep with fucking bells on. There isn’t. But I know which of the two parties is closer, and which is on the other side of the moon from that.
Perry Como
An anti-single party vote would make the most sense. Deadlocked government is the best government.
Mr Furious
Exactly. All three branches in one party’s hands with no checks and balances of any kind is not good for anyone (except plutocrats) right now or the country as a whole going forward.
Brian’s right, we can’t necessarily do anything about who is President for the next three years, but that certainly doesn’t mean go home until 2008. One house of Congress needs to flip to put the brakes on this shit.
Mr Furious
So Brian “takes off his asshat,” raises a viable topic and then takes a break?…
Pb
Brian,
My 3rd party would look like what every hack political party has ever claimed it was, except that it’d actually be serious about it–that’s why this is an exercise in fiction. Responsible, fair, reasonable, rational, evenhanded, just, representing, informing, and looking out for the interests of the vast majority of Americans whilst protecting the minority from cruel injustices.
We’d uphold the letter and the spirit of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we’d enact rational and consistent sentencing guidelines and sane upper and lower limits on taxation, we’d make sure that no citizen in this country has to starve, or go without basic medical care, we’d stop the obscenely rich from looting and profiteering off of the backs of others, we’d keep the Science in the Science classes, and the Religion in the Religion classes, we’d ensure that people’s private family matters are kept that way, we wouldn’t rush into wars without a just cause, and with the money we’d save, we’d work towards energy independence, starting with a reasonable investigation of current and projected future technologies, their costs, and their efficacy, investing in both the most promising and the most cost-effective options, and finally, we’d all profit by sharing these advances with the world, and helping them advance as well. You’d hate it.
Mr Furious
Sign me up, Pb.
Brian
Fine, but from where I sit, I think the only thing Bush has done right is take the fight overseas mercilessly, and unrelentingly. In fact, considering what firepower we have at our hands with our military, we have been rather timid with it. The administration has blundered through Iraq, regardless of the spin, but it is what it is, we’re there, and it can have a very positive outcome. I think we’d be much better off taking a forward strategy with Iraq and Iran, rather than haggling over stuff that’s happened and/or that we cannot control.
I just finished reading a good book, by George Packer, “Assassin’s Gate”. He’s a liberal, but I got a distinct picture from the subjects of the book, all Iraqis, that they are increasingly optimistic about their future. I also got a very good glimpse into the war lead-up and the thinking within the administration that led to the bungling that came after. It amde me angry. But again I ask, can we control that? The Democrats are stuck in a quicksand of their own making by insisting on arguing the BushLied meme, the quagmire-that-we-must-escape-NOW line, the relexively anti-Bush position on every single solitary issue. And I look at them and wonder, “Why should I vote for them? What am I voting for?”
I would be encouraged if one leading Democrat came out in defense of our military’s strength. Just one. And not being apologetic about using it. Maybe articulating a different use of it, but at least not apologizing for it. Why should we? The world depends on that strength, if used properly, but we should not be afraid to stand up to anyone, with our military firmly behind us, and take positions that may be unpopular in the U.N., but are necessary in a civilized world.
When I look at the Dem’s, who are the leading likely candidates in ’08? I see Hillary and Kerry so far. That is not a good choice. Regardless, a Dem could win my vote, potentially, with spending controls, a strong position on future immigration, and support of our strength as a country. That’s it. There seems to be so much that the Left dislikes about America….capitalism, greed, imperialism, unilateralism, religious fears……it all gets summed up as anti-American to many prople. What else can it be? I say, change course, get some pride in the country, wven with it’s faults, and then be engaged with the public and the media, speak coherently and invitingly, communicate with the public, and be a damned leader.
It’s not too much to ask, and it’s hardly out of reach if the Dem’s can get out of its malaise.
Darrell
Except that who decides what constitutes “basic” medical care, and who pays for it? right now, a sizeable percentage of those without medical insurance are fully capable of paying for it themselves. And you know, there is nothing more obscene than the ‘obscenely rich’. Somebody really needs to stamp them out. Glad you’re standing up for what’s right!
Pb
Mr Furious,
Agreed. I imagine I’ll be voting for Democrats for some time now because of that, because the only thing harder than trying to drum up support for a viable third party in America is trying to change our entrenched and byzantine historical electoral regulations and mechanisms.
I think The Other Steve proposed a good idea as to expanding the House, at least, as changes go that’d be a relatively easy one to push within the existing system, and it would probably get us a few more independent candidates as well. I’d also like to see other voting systems tested out, like perhaps approval voting.
Also, we need to get the money out of politics–we need more public funding of elections, less funding of elections in general, and a greater focus brought to bear on important issues and platforms, especially those that are the most relevant to the office in question.
And we need to do something to prevent electoral fraud and discourage partisan Secretaries of State as well–they have far too much power over elections in their states, and apparently far too many reasons to abuse that power, and not enough reasons not to.
ppGaz
Really? In approximately 20 days last year, I went from having $0 medical bills to invoices for nearly $200k. Without warning and without recourse. I spent a total of three nights in a hospital.
This can happen to anybody at any time.
How many people do you know who can “afford” that, you lying stupid piece of shit?
Darrell
Well said. So many on the left feel that since early Americans did wrong to the Indians, we therefore lack the moral authority to enforce a strong foreign policy or control our borders. I know it’s crazy, but that’s how many of them think
Brian
Exactly. I can understand the good intentions of universal healthcare and not letting people go hungry, but everything has its limits. Maybe there’s common ground on these issues somewhere.
I also don’t like the demonization of the wealthy. If we want a different system, then we should change it, but for now it’s capitalism as the economic force, which brings the immigrants we’re arguing about nationally today, so it must be working to a great degree.
That said, I don’t like seeing CEOs making many-hundred times’ more than their employees.
Darrell
Hey, it’s your blood pressure
Source
ppGaz
That doesn’t sound as crazy as you thinking that it’s not safe to send kids camping with a gay scout leader.
Darrell
Yeah, I’m sure the parents are lining up to send their 14 year old sons out camping with openly homosexual scout leaders. They’d be ‘crazy’ not to, right?
ppGaz
Do you think families with household incomes of $50,000 can afford $200k hospital bills?
And my blood pressure is 115 over sixty, you stupid lying piece of crap.
Bloggers: How long are you going to put up with this asshole singing spuds and making shit up every day, while call you things like “stupid lefties?”
Righties: Is this lying bonesmoker the best spokesman you have? If you can’t do better than Darrell, then this place s/b off limits to Republicans completely.
ppGaz
Why would they be afraid to do so, Darrell? Do you think it’s safe to do so?
Why don’t you answer that question? What are you afraid of? Are you a homosexual? Maybe it’s you the kids should be afraid of?
Darrell
The self annointed gatekeeper has spoken.
Punchy
Holy fuck. 3 nites, 200K? OMG. I knew this hospital/medical thing was jacked up, but that’s just obscene. Sorry to hear that…Wow….just…WOW.
Hell, I thought the $1.1K I paid for 5 stitches was ridiculous. Remind me to never ever hurt myself ever in any way that a bandaid can’t fix….
Pb
Darrell,
We would, obviously, through government. Pay attention, man.
Please. Right now, a sizeable percentage of those *with* medical insurance aren’t capable of paying for the care they need themselves, when disaster strikes. Why do you think people go into bankruptcy, Darrell–it isn’t because it’s a cool thing to do.
I’d disagree–torture is more obscene, for example–but it *is* pretty obscene, nonetheless:
This is in stark contrast to the patriotism shown during World War II, when America actually had a just war to fight, and all Americans were willing to make real sacrifices to fight it, and to fund the war effort:
Far too many people have forgotten that, though; I’m glad you haven’t, Darrell.
ppGaz
No gatekeeper, you liar. Just your shadow, exposing your lies and your hypocrisy.
Answer the questions you have been dodging for a month.
And tell me again how families with household incomes can afford $200k medical bills?
Also explain to me what it is actually costing me, Joe Taxpayer, to school those illegal alien kids you were shooting your mouth off about over the weekend.
These things aren’t going away, Darrell. It would be easier for you to just answer the questions.
Brian
I would also like to say that I’d take the Left much more seriously if they stopped putting such tremendous weight behind the utterances of Hollywood celebrities. They are actors, that’s all. Opinionated actors, but nothing more. And your intellectuals must be more diverse than Noam Chomsky.
Par R
An interesting observation by former Democratic Senator John Glenn may of possible interest to non-moonbats:
“There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January.
In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the
month of January.That’s just one American city,
about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq.
It goes without saying that both statistics represent
enormous tragedies.”
Brian
Krista,
I sincerely apologize for my earlier comment. My intent was not to be personal.
ppGaz
That is correct. I can even itemize it for you, I know it from memory.
And don’t think that this is an unusual occurrence. The hospital campus I posted links to over the weekend for Darrell’s education? Hundreds of beds filled in there right now, as we speak, with people in roughly the same situation. Day in and day out.
Tens of millions of people in this country with no health insurance. But by all means, let’s have Darrell tell us what to think about it.
ppGaz
And you wonder why people call you a spoof.
Jesus.
Darrell
Oh my, someone is being quite obsessive. I believe you’ve mentioned my name or referred to me in approx. 90% of your posts over the past couple of days. Do you have nightmares about me too in which you pee the bed?
jaime
Who the fuck was Rush Limbaugh? A failed DJ and sportscaster, who figured out he can make a killing tapping into the bigot market.
Sean Hannity? A College Dropout and loudmouth who called into radio shows.
Ronald Reagan? An actor who worked with chimps and cheated on his wife.
Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Most right wing bloggers?
Brian, who the fuck are you? Why is a Hollywood actor’s opinion any less valid than yours? George Clooney just came back from Darfur? You ever been to Darfur? Al Franken has been to Afghanistan and Iraq? You ever been to any of those places.
Mr Furious
Darrell, thanks for actually posting statistics and a link. Too bad they don’t really make yout point. Those are percentage increases of those particular groups and in no way relate to the percentage of uninsured who can afford it.
What those statistics probably reveal is how what were once supposedly decent jobs that add up to household income of $50-$70K, now don’t come with any fucking health insurance.
Still want to use that to bolster your case?
For the record I fall right in that area. For a time I had to purchase my own insurance. A plan similar to my BCBS that I have now would run $800 bucks a month for my family of three. Do you think I have that kind of money laying around? Does anybody?
The only insurance I could afford was without any maternity coverage. My wife had had a C-Section with our first child, so that menat a liklihood of another. The insurance companies wanted to start collecting on that possibility right away. The only way to get the rates where I could afford them was to decline maternity coverage. If we got pregnant, we were on our own or having an abortion.
How does THAT fit into your little Republican Utopia?
ppGaz
Oh, are you counting them?
Then you must have time to answer the questions you keep dodging, Darrell. What’s your fucking problem?
Mr Furious
Nice job, brian. On changing the topic to a good one, and for doing what’s right.
Now. Can Darrell and ppGaz keep this from becoming a complete pissing match? We’ll see….
Darrell
My point is that that there are a considerable number of people who can afford health insurance, but who choose not to buy it.
“For a time”? Did you not have insurance at your previous job? What was the situation?
And if you don’t pay for your insurance, who does? Do you think it’s free? And if the govt provides healthcare, they will also choose the limits on said healthcare. See Canada for details on diabetes and heart disease treatments not available under their ‘free’ system
ppGaz
Darrell can end it in five minutes. All he has to do is answer a couple of reasonable, simple questions.
The first one is: Does he think it is not “safe” to send kids camping with a gay scout leader? Yes, or no.
Not whether a majority of parents think so (a statistic be bandies, but so far as I know, has no fact on which to base his claims). Not whether it’s “legal” for the Boy Scouts to say so ….. I don’t find bigotry more attractive because it can find a loophole in the law.
The question is what Darrell thinks. The question was first put to him on April 11.
Darrell
Sean Penn brought along his private photographer and tried to rescue Katrina victims with his boat before it sprang a leak
Krista
Your apology is accepted. Thank you. I appreciate that.
And I apologize if I offended you (or anyone else) the other day with that link – that was the last thing I wanted to do.
ppGaz
Who do you think is choosing those limits now, Darrell?
The tooth fairy?
Families with $50k household incomes?
Lying piece of shit. You know NOTHING about this subject.
Steve
I don’t know exactly what a “combat related killing” is, but I’ll wager it’s quite different than simply tallying murders!
Does anyone want to claim there were only 39 murders in Iraq in the month of January? Anyone?
Pb
Brian,
I’d take the Right much more seriously if they stopped putting such tremendous weight behind the utterances of Hollywood celebrities like George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Alec Baldwin, Michael Moore, or whoever else their non-stop ‘hollywood liberal’ whinefest is blathering on about today–not even to mention the ridiculous caricatures and idiocies that they had to dig up themselves or invent from whole cloth to incite controversy where it wasn’t, like The War On Christmas, Ward Churchill, and whoever or whatever other inconsequentialities O’Reilly, Horowitz and friends have been blathering on about lately…
Darrell
ppgaz, can you tone down the anger and bitterness just a teeny bit?
Steve
The government sets the limits on Medicare today, doesn’t it? And yet the world hasn’t ended.
We have a very extensive health insurance industry in this country today. Forgive me if I doubt that we will simply pass a law one day to put it out of business. Even if we adopt a single-payer model, it’s a foregone conclusion that people will still be able to purchase additional, private insurance if they choose.
The issue of whether we have more faith in markets or in government to define the limits of coverage is a red herring. The insurance industry is already one of our most heavily regulated industries today, and you wouldn’t want to see it if it wasn’t.
Krista
Oh, I will admit freely that our system doesn’t cover everything. However, if I can, I’d like to find some stats on how many people in Canada are bankrupted from health care costs, vs. how many people in the US are.
Besides, Darrell…there is a common misconception about Canadian health insurance. A lot of people seem to think that we’re not allowed to use private insurance. We are. Many people have it, either through their employer, or on their own, and use it to cover things like prescriptions, eyeglasses, or anything that their provincial health care plan does not cover. The province is the first payer, and any leftover charges are then submitted to the private insurer for co-pay, and then the spouse’s private insurer for coordination of benefits.
Pb
Parrot,
In the future, please check with Snopes before you cut-and-paste your lying bullshit wingnut e-mail forwards here. Polly want a fact.
Darrell
It used to be illegal to have private health insurance in Canada. When did that change?
jaime
And what did Darrell do?
Mr Furious
ppGaz-
Enough with the “Answer the question, Claire…”
You know his answer. It’s yes.
As far as the question he couldn’t answer in the last thread after a hundred challenges—he can’t answer it because he doesn’t know. You demanding it ain’t gonna make it pop into his head.
It also doesn’t really make him a liar either. I think after a certain limit of back and forth you too should just exchange email addresses or get a room.
Don’t feed the troll and he won’t keep hanging around the back porch…
Darrell
It’s not a red herring. Banks are regulated too. Doesn’t mean that it would be a good thing for our govt to take over that industry.
ppGaz
Who decides the limits on your healthcare?
According to Darrell, it’s the Tooth Fairy, or your mother.
But in the real world, it’s corporations, over which you have no control, and for whose policies you do not vote.
And Darrell? I’ll tone down the attacks on you when you tone down the shit you pull here on a daily basis … the gratuitous insults and dismissive tone, the posting of assertions as fact and refusing to back them up with real facts, the refusal to answer simple questions, the thinly veiled bigotry, and the lies.
You tone it down, I’ll tone it down. Otherwise, consider your whiney request shoved up your ass.
tBone
Brian, I agree. The problem is the White House has shown little interest in 1) acknowledging past mistakes or 2) correcting them (see: Rumsfeld, Donald – continued employment).
They have repeatedly refused to change course when their expectations collided with reality; they have repeatedly made it clear that they don’t want input on Iraq from anyone else unless it involves holding hands and singing kumbaya.
They got us into this mess, so why should we trust them now? How do we go forward?
ppGaz
Oh, that’s brilliant. I’m responsible for Darrell?
He was here when I got here, dude. Pulling the same dishonest crap every damned day.
Darrell
It’s been answered. Several times. I guess because ppgaz is on your “side”, his obsessive attempts to control every thread are ok in your book. How principled of you
Perry Como
It looks like only 500 people showed up for the “protest” in San Fran.
Hahahaha, stupid liberals.
Mac Buckets
Great, thanks for mentioning THAT again, K. I’m gonna need a little more time to forgive you — at least until the vomit taste wears off…
Steve
Maybe not, but what if we decided the government should get involved in the banking industry to make sure everyone has a certain, basic guaranteed level of protection? Crazy idea, or could it work?
Darrell
ppgaz, your very first response to me on this thread was this:
Followed by repeated attempts to hijack the thread gracing us with your mental illnes
ppGaz
Then let him say so. Is he ashamed of his own opinion?
Is he afraid that finally admitting that he is just a bigoted homophobe will … what? …. ruin his reputation here?
Is he afraid that if he gets caught throwing factoids at the passing cars, and asked to produce substantiation, that his apparently privileged status here as the untouchable jerk who can basically say anything will be in jeopardy?
That people will think less of him?
Mr Furious
Do I have to say it? Listening to you bitch endlessly about Darrell is worse than Darrell. I’m not blaming you for Darrell, but I will blame you equally WITH him when there is a perfectly good thread hijacked into a two-hundred comment tete-a-tete. NONE of which EVER results in satisfaction for EITHER of you.
It’s fucking tedious already.
Steve
One of you two spent an evening too many with the gay Scoutmaster, that much is clear.
ppGaz
My response was to you stupid and dishonest claim that people without health insurance can “pay for” their own medical care.
A ridiculous claim that didn’t even stand up to the test of your “facts” a short time later, when you described these people as having incomes in the $50k range.
As I said, how many people do you know with incomes in the area of $50k who can afford anything but occasional visits to the urgent care office when their kid has the flu? How many of them can afford tens of thousands of dollars in unexpected medical bills?
What do you think health insurance is for, Darrell? Do even have the slightest clue what the hell you are talking about?
ppGaz
Well that’s tough. I am not putting up with his crap. If you don’t like it, then filter it out.
tBone
Darrell and ppGaz: Blue Ball Brothers.
Explains why they’re so cranky, I guess.
Darrell
At what cost? Guaranteeing deposits encouraged a huge Savings and Loan scandal (heads I win, tails Federal govt bails us out). And the scope of govt controlled healthcare would be orders of magnitude more costly than regulation of banks
Want to see how efficient our govt is at managing healthcare? Look no further than medicare budget projections vs reality to get a glimpse of what full scale govt health care would cost
Pb
Steve,
The likely origin of that statistic: there were 47 US fatalities in Iraq in January 2004; of those, 8 of them were classified as “non-hostile” (4 helicopter crash victims, 2 vehicle accidents, 1 weapon discharge, 1 drowning), which would leave us with 39 US soldiers who died of hostile fatalities in Iraq, which somehow morphed into “combat related killings in Iraq”.
Mac Buckets
OK, Tim, you can napalm this thread now. Soon after my brilliant riposte to the idiotic, partisan Texans Draft take from the anti-Mario-Williams Lefties, this thread devolved into hot slug-on-slug action.
Mr Furious
No it’s not. I fucking hate it. I like ppGaz, and yes i am on his side many times, but this behavior is now becoming embarrassing. For him, because I know he’s a smart guy with a good point. And for the rest of us who get caught with the angry left residual.
Mac Buckets
Ppg, when he said, “capable of paying for it themselves,” the “it” in that sentence was health insurance, not catastrophic medical bills. If that helps.
tBone
I blame the Gay Agenda for this.
Punchy
Sorry I have to pimp this, but with the comedy talent on this site, all of youse would be great at this:
This promises to be halarious
Mr Furious
Steve and tBone, thanks for the much needed levity. Hilarious. This thread has taken quite a turn into self-important chest-puffery.
Myself included.
I’m heading home. I’m with Mac, the Texans did fine. Krista and Brian kissed an made up… Everything else after that? Everybody will rest easy tonite knowing they and they alone are right…
And ppGaz, I don’t want to fight, just think about what I said, okay?
Later.
ppGaz
No, what’s embarassing is that Darrell is a completely dishonest, thread-spamming liar and threadjacker and gets away with it month after month. The guy is an abomination. He’s a bigot. He trashmouths everybody who disagrees with him. He dismisses anybody to the left of Joe Lieberman as some kind of crazy moron. He spouts factoids and refuses to back them up. He’s a jerk.
That’s what’s embarassing. The fact that he pulls this crap every day, and nobody says or does anything about it.
Pooh
Nonsense and balderdash! I had some grade a choice snark thereafter.
My final thought on that matter is that they should have traded down and drafted Ferguson, since their most glaring need was O-line. Actually, their most glaring need is for a non-braindread GM, but that’s only clear in hindsight.
I think we have things inverted: we are supposed to be mindless partisans about sports and be able to hold nuanced, fact-based views about policy, not vice-versa.
(Oh and ppGaz, what Mr. Furious said)
Punchy
why is that link redirecting to microsoft?
here’s the link: http://world-o-crap.com/blog/?p=5
It’s the “Write like a Wingnut” competition.
ppGaz
Well, he’s wrong. Do you think you can afford to support a family and buy it health insurance on your own on an income of $50k a year? And even if you could, what happens the day you get a real medical problem? Try getting that coverage again.
Darrell is full of crap. Health insurance is a slow motion catastrophe happening to the middle class in this country. Read the LAT article I linked to above and start there. Ask around, do a little research. I ain’t makin this up.
Darrell
Mac, I gotta say you make a good argument, but I think the lefties have the better case in that the Texan should’ve picked Reggie Bush, no relation to current President.
Pooh
Darrell said
Dogs and cats, living together. MASS HYSTERIA!
Brian
By taking what good can come of it (and there is good) and shaping a plan for what to do when we’re handed the keys to the WH. If I were running for Pres in ’08, I would start there. Then I would tell the U.N. that Americans have tremendous respect for their political body, but that with its inherent shortcomings it runs the possibility of getting in the way of American interests. We won’t do end-arounds, but we will take matters into our own hands when the U.N. cannot or will not. I would do a much better job with communication, respecting both the public and the media and not hiding out as though if hunkered down, thereby giving the air of being persistently threatened. I would be willing to ask Americans to sacrifice if needed, and explain why. I would ask of the military yet give them better assurances of resources being available to them, and respect for their service when completed. I would make reasoanble sacrifices of my own, never asking of Americans what I wouldn’t be willing to give myself. Without saying the previous guy screwed up, I would make tactical changes to the war effort and explain why, letting the blame be understood by the success of our new corrective measures. I would take full responsibility for the actions of my Cabinet, and set expectations that, if violated, would have public consequences.
Steve
For the record, the murder statistics in Detroit look pretty good if you don’t include the number of murdered Detroiters in your total.
ppGaz
You, running for president.
Yeah. That’s believable.
And, a campaign in 2008 about how “the war” should be conducted in 2009? You think after another two years of this, the people are really going to be looking for ideas about how to do this war “better?”
That’s ….. amazing.
tBone
Brian – that all sounds good (for the most part), but it’s contingent on a new administration. What about the short term? Do we just write off Iraq until ’08, and hope that things don’t get worse in the interim?
If you’re saying that we’re not going to make real progress until the Bush team is gone, then I think you’re in agreement with 99.9% of the lefties here.
BTW thanks for toning it down. You’re an OK guy when you leave off the asshat.
ppGaz
Nope. Responded to, not answered.
It’s a yes or no question, and it’s about you, not the general public. You either think the thing, or you don’t.
Where have you stated your answer? Point to the post.
Mac Buckets
Here comes the anti-Texans Lefty Smear Machine, right on cue! I know you’re just parroting the same old lame Draft Talking Points from Howard Dean (“I loved the first-round pick by New York! And Tampa! And Denver! They’re going all the way to the Super Bowl! Yeeeearrrrrrgh!”) that Markos is trying to pimp.
The Texans would have gotten skewered for taking D’Brick, since the Jets’ offer to trade down was ridiculously light. It was a sucker deal.
Casserly is a good GM (but remember, the Mario pick was the owner’s, not the GMs) — he worked the league on the Drew Henson deal, turning a sixth-round pick into a two, and has scored two pro-bowlers in the late rounds the last couple years. He did trade up to take Babin (sp?) a couple years ago, but everybody misses on occasion.
And speaking of O-line (and btw, I think pass rush was the more glaring need), he got two nice ones in the 3rd round who were rated much higher by most teams. At least one should start this year.
Start reading what really happened on draft day, and stop regurging what Rosie O’Donnell and Babs Streisand told you to say!
tBone
No one could have anticipated that Babin would ride the pine straight into Sucktown.
Steve
What I found amusing about draft day was that the conventional wisdom held that the crazy Jets fans would never, ever let their team get away with picking a lineman, and that the Jets might well feel obligated to draft Leinart just to keep the fans from calling for the GM’s head. Whereas when the actual pick was announced, the Jets fans were absolutely delirious in support. Those Jets fans may be batshit crazy, but they know their football!
Punchy
Leinart is a pretty-boy. Another Cade McNown. Another over-hyped, undertalented, “I’m going to miss practice, Coach, cuz I gots me a photo shoot all morning” QB. Think Leaf without the punches thrown. He’ll be the guy who has a TD/Int ratio less than one, but’ll make all the highlight reels in every game. Cuz he’s a Nancy. With GQ looks.
Tennessee getting Young was THE pick. He’s McNair and McNabb combined. A McYoung. I see my Bears got a collection of nobodies again. Nice, Lovie. I don’t Lovie you right now, and I’m betting most of Chi-town dudn’t either.
Pooh
Well played.
I was just happy when the Vikings didn’t draft Tulips from “Scores” in the first round.
Pooh
Punchy, I disagree.
Vince Young is Kordell Stewart 2.0.
Brian
If we’re still there, we can’t turn it off like a switch in January 2009. That is both unrealistic and irresponsible.
I think that we CAN make progress. And I think that the Iraqis can make progress, over the next two years. A lot can happen, but we’re pretty much stuck with Bush and his approach. He’s obviously doing what he believes is best, despite the public backlash, and shows no sign of changing. In the meantime, it is possible to get on board with the effort going on in Iraq, but not in an anti-war/quagmire/anti-Bush way. I think it’s self-defeating. Acknowledge that Bush is the President, but that with a Democrat-controlled Congress in 2006, some reasonable balance can put on the Exec Branch. But don’t give the impression that the war’s a Vietnam, and that once given the power of the purse you’ll pull out all funds and the troops immediately thereafter. For better or worse, we have to take responsibility for what we’re started there, and at least see it through to the best result possible. The Iraqis got screwed by us once already, in 1991, so let’s not do it again. For all the blundering of the Bush admin, this may have been worth it for the Iraqis. Just maybe. But the Republicans are showing that they’re as irresponsible as the Dem’s can be when given unfettered power, so better to have some balance in there, as the Constitution envisioned.
Mac Buckets
Darrell’s an anti-Mario moonbat now? I don’t know what to feel about that…
The Texans need a lot of things, but RB and KR were way down the list. The Texans weren’t 2-14 because of their RB and KR. They were 2-12 because the opposing QBs had a combined 100-rating against them (just think of that for a minute, and realize that no QB in the Hall of Fame has a lifetime QB rating of over 92!!!), mostly because they had all day to throw.
Pooh
they were also 2-12 because they gave up a kajillion sacks.
Punchy
Shaun King was Kordell 2.0. Young is Vick with an arm, some accuracy, and without some f’ed up younger brother. He’s way taller than Kordell, played in a much tougher conference, and has moxie. Whatever that means. It looks like something impressive.
Pooh
Colorado is in the Big 12. Texas…is in the Big 12.
I’m sorry, I’m a Vince Young skeptic until his throwing motion stops looking like Johnny Damon’s.
Punchy
Umm…not exactly. Kordell graduated in 1995. The Big 12 didn’t start until 1996. Technically Kordell played in the Big 8, while TX is now in the B12….
Heard/seen the Damon t-shirts selling in Boston? “Looks like Jesus, Acts like Judas, Throws like Mary”…
Krista
Sorry it took me so long to respond to this. Honestly, I don’t know when it changed. Private insurance has been legal for as long as I’ve known. Like I said, it’s still not a perfect system, but it’s still pretty flexible, while at least still providing that safety net for those who can’t afford private insurance.(Like me!)
Mr. Furious said:
Here now, let’s not get carried away. I’m sure we will butt heads again — we’re both quite opinionated about our (opposing) viewpoints.
Mac Buckets
Best…T-Shirt…Ever.
Gotta love Sox Fan.