That's Hilarious

Guess who does steroids?

Sammy Sosa? Yes. Mark Mcguire? Yes. Rafael Palmeiro? Yes. Luis Gonzalez? Yes. Jim Thome? Yes. Miguel Tejada? Yes. Matt Lawton? Yes. Yes!!!!!!

That's right, Matt Lawton of the Yankees (and every other team in baseball) does steroids! He got caught.

Let me tell you something: If Matt Lawton, pudgy, not fast, not powerful, and not good, does steroids, then EVERY PLAYER IN BASEBALL DOES STEROIDS! If this guy can get away with doing steroids on the Mets, Cubs, Indians, Pirates, and Yankees within the last 5 years, then everyone does it. Think about it, the axe fell on steroids this year, and yet he got caught, which means he has been doing it for years. So if Matt Lawtown, who looks like an out of shape piece of shit with leather on his wrist, is doing roids, then seriously, who isn't? A few pitchers here and there? Some moral folks? Yeah, sure, a few aren't, but if this guy is you can bet that at least 50%, AT LEAST, are doing them.

Personally, I no longer care about steroids, or baseball, who does what, and on and on. All I care about is that we recognize the changing times. America is a different place then it was during the Golden Age of baseball. While other countries have their sports (and I'm sure some do drugs), and live their lives, America moves at another speed; another level. Sports, media, and entertainment leads the change. Baseball is no different. It's about here, now, and me. The players know this, and in order to launch their careers to the top they do whatever it takes to be the best.

America, truly a golden place in the modern age.

All I want is for baseball to recognize the two separate Hall of Fames that need to exist. Don't damage the past, or the true Golden Age, with the America of today. With the greed of today. With the absurdities of today. If we have to live with the trashiness and the greed of today, fine, but at least let history exist. Let us remember Roger Maris, and not Barry Bonds. Let us remember that times that coincided with the "Greatest Generation" of World War II, and heroes like Ted Williams and Sandy Koufax. Don't let this trash erase that by replacing records.

The teams, owners, and players care about dollars bills only. The game is a joke. The players have mistreated history. Let us recognize this for what it is and draw a line which will separate the eras. One era will represent a time when this country did the right thing, and another will start during the Reagan years, when players started to cheat, and this country's moral superiority started to fade.

Matt Lawton does steroids. Yeah, Matt Lawton. Who?

Mr. Cooper

Upon finding out the news, Mr. Cooper said, "So you know, I only go for certain slots."

EJ Dionne

Washington Post:

What the 'Shield' Covered Up

By E. J. Dionne Jr.
Tuesday, November 1, 2005; A25


Has anyone noticed that the coverup worked?

In his impressive presentation of the indictment of Lewis "Scooter" Libby last week, Patrick Fitzgerald expressed the wish that witnesses had testified when subpoenas were issued in August 2004, and "we would have been here in October 2004 instead of October 2005."

Note the significance of the two dates: October 2004, before President Bush was reelected, and October 2005, after the president was reelected. Those dates make clear why Libby threw sand in the eyes of prosecutors, in the special counsel's apt metaphor, and helped drag out the investigation.

As long as Bush still faced the voters, the White House wanted Americans to think that officials such as Libby, Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney had nothing to do with the leak campaign to discredit its arch-critic on Iraq, former ambassador Joseph Wilson.

And Libby, the good soldier, pursued a brilliant strategy to slow the inquiry down. As long as he was claiming that journalists were responsible for spreading around the name and past CIA employment of Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, Libby knew that at least some news organizations would resist having reporters testify. The journalistic "shield" was converted into a shield for the Bush administration's coverup.

Bush and his disciples would like everyone to assume that Libby was some kind of lone operator who, for this one time in his life, abandoned his usual caution. They pray that Libby will be the only official facing legal charges and that political interest in the case will dissipate.

You can tell the president worries that this won't work, because yesterday he did what he usually does when he's in trouble: He sought to divide the country and set up a bruising ideological fight. He did so by nominating a staunchly conservative judge to the Supreme Court.

Judge Samuel Alito is a red flag for liberals and red meat for Bush's socially conservative base. Alito has a long paper trail as a 15-year veteran of a court of appeals and a strong right-wing reputation. This guarantees a huge battle that will serve the president even if Alito's nomination fails: Anything that "unites the base" and distracts attention from the Fitzgerald investigation is good news for Bush.

That is why Senate Democrats -- and one hopes they might be joined by some brave Republicans -- should insist that before Alito's nomination is voted on, Bush and Cheney have some work to do.

The Fitzgerald indictment makes perfectly clear that the White House misled the public as to its involvement in sliming Wilson and talking about Plame.

Bush needs to tell the public -- yes, the old phrase still applies -- what he knew about the operation to discredit Wilson and when he knew it. And he shouldn't hide behind those "legalisms" that Republicans were so eager to condemn in the Clinton years.

The obligation to come clean applies, big-time, to Cheney, who appears at several critical points in the saga detailed in the Fitzgerald indictment. What exactly transpired in the meetings between Libby and Cheney on the Wilson case? It is inconceivable that an aide as careful and loyal as Libby was a rogue official. Did Cheney set these events in motion? This is a question about good government at least as much as it is a legal matter.

Fitzgerald has made clear that he wants to keep this case going if doing so will bring us closer to the truth. Lawyers not involved in the case suggest that the indictment was written in a way that could encourage Libby, facing up to 30 years in prison, to cooperate in that effort.

But there is a catch. If Libby, through nods and winks, knows that at the end of Bush's term, the president will issue an unconditional pardon, he will have no interest in helping Fitzgerald, and every interest in shutting up. If Bush truly wants the public to know all the facts in the leak case, as he has claimed in the past, he will announce now that he will not pardon Libby. That would let Fitzgerald finish his work unimpeded, and we would all have a chance, at last, to learn how and why this sad affair came to pass.

Nice

This is good to know:

The CIA is running a network of secret prison facilities around the world to hold high-profile terror suspects, according to a US newspaper report.
Such prisons are, or have been, located in Eastern Europe, Afghanistan and Thailand, the Washington Post claims.

It says more than 100 people have been sent to the facilities, known as "black sites", since they were set up in the wake of the 11 September attacks.

An intelligence agency spokesman told the BBC the CIA declined to comment.

I'm sure when these guys get out they'll go plant flowers...

The world isn't all daisies and tulips, I get it. What I also get is the leaders of our government operate above the law, and do not believe the laws and rules that govern the United States can help make the world a better place. These people are scared that our system, ideals, and ideas cannot be used as a true example. If they did they'd be more willing to follow the laws, and see what transpires.

It's great how the leaders of the "defense" party, on one hand, always want "strict constitutionalist" judges, but they themselves flaunt the law at every turn.

It Needs to Get Worse

If Judge Alito is involved with overturning Roe v. Wade it's not like abortions become illegal, but rather they go back to the states. I know most of you know this. I don't think this is a good thing, since it will divide the country even further, but at the same time it will weaken the Republican party in national elections.

Currently the issue is taken for granted by Democrats and Independents since abortion is legal. The same way Republicans take every environmental issue for granted since they don't feel the effects. If this were to change it would fire up most rationale women, and would marginalize those on the state level who want abortion outlawed. If in New Jersey the Republican candidate had to openly call for keeping abortion illegal he would never win. When news stories start coming in about backroom abortions, and young girls dying, things will change for sure.

Before Roe v. Wade we didn't have a 24 Hour news cycle like we do now. Stories about backroom abortions existed, but they certainly weren't covered like they will be today. Afterall, the Summer of the Shark, which I believe was 2002, saw fewer shark attacks than the previous 5 years, but in 2002 a little Jesse Arbogast lost his arm because of his retarded uncle, so it was a huge story, replayed over and over on TV. Just imagine what stories will rise when some girl in Oklahoma City dies because she couldn't see a doctor. This will galvanize rationale people.

I'm not saying I want this to happen, but the abortion issue needs to be removed from public debate. It's disgusting that it's even an issue. So like everything else things have to get worse before they get better. Times have changed, media has changed, and the issue unfortunately will need to be hashed out again, assuming Roberts and Alito are for overturning, and I don't believe they both will be. Besides, Kennedy is not for overturning Roe v. Wade, so it's not like this thing is a done deal.

If I had to bet I'd say the White House is praying Alito is against Roe v. Wade, and Roberts for it. This is an issue Republicans needs to galvanize the right. This is an issue they need to bring in cash. This is one of the only things they have.

Without Terri Schiavo they have one thing: tax cuts for the rich. Not a good enough platform.

Ordinary Peoples

Hey, I'm out of town from Thursday to Sunday, so I won't be blogging much. There are some posts below this one. However, I wanted to pass along that a great band is playing this weekend in New York City. The hip-hop band Ordinary Peoples.

Check them out. Good times.

Live at the Lion's Den on November 4th.

Gusto? Balls? Sack?

Have the Democrats got these things?

I'm stunned the Democrats would use a little known Senate rule to force Republicans to talk about the intelligence used to bring us to war in Iraq.

Here's what Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist had to say:

"It's an affront to our leadership," Mr. Frist said. "It's an affront to the United States of America. And it is wrong."

Sorta like, uhhh, THE WAR!

I'd love to see Democrats filibuster Alito, and stand their ground with regard to Iraq. If they lose they lose, but in the end, maybe years after the stance, they'll be proven right. Isn't that worth something? Al Gore ran on a platform that involved saving the environment. He wouldn't be alive to see the benefits of this, but he understood the importance of doing it. He understood the importance of sacrifice, regardless of whether or not this would win him big political points. He even wrote a book on the subject. Say what you want about Gore, but he was willing to standup for what he believes. Tough to say the same thing about a lot of these Democrats.

But now here they are, shutting down the Senate, and forcing this debate into the open. Republicans want to "look forward" and "put our differences" behind us. Of course they do. OF COURSE! What's behind us is a lot of dead soldiers and civilians. Who wants to revisit that? Certainly not the Republicans.

If Democrats are scared of losing seats, ground, whatever, to Republicans by taking stances that are unpopular then they shouldn't be Senators. Go down swinging already, and have faith in the intelligence of the nation. Show the people you won't standby as the country is hijacked and just maybe they'll look at you as the party of defense. One that defends our heritage, history, and traditions. A party that defends what is right. If you lose your job in the process, so be it. At least you'll know you did the right thing.

Lets hope today is a step in the right direction.

It's Never Enough

It's not enough that big business controls almost every aspect of American life. It's not enough that most big businesses line the politics of every politician (more so Republicans, of course). It's not enough that President Bush and his like-minded dipshits do everything to loosen taxes for the wealthiest owners of these businesses, and the businesses themselves. It's not enough.

So it's not enough that not only does Bush choose 3 pro-corporate lawyers, but at the same time he runs on a platform of limiting the rights of individuals to sue. It's pro-Insurance Company, and anti-consumer/average American.

It's just never enough.

They focus energy on supposed "frivolous lawsuits," and you know why? Because these people are loaded. Bush has always been loaded. Money's not an issue to him. It never will be. Having to sue for damages is not a real issue to these people, except to Rick Santorum's wife, who of course had a "frivolous lawsuit." The politicians who support these actions are sheep; elected because of the monies these corporations feed them.

Now we'll have 2 more justices siding with everyone but the average person.

Elect a jackass who is so out of touch with reality, and this is what you're gonna get.

I swear, I hope a lot of people in Kansas and South Carolina and Mississippi suffer, and suffer big at the hands of some polluted waterway, or airborne chemical. Then, maybe then, they'll start to figure out that Jesus won't be helping out much.

Just so you know, just because someone's American doesn't mean I support them. I'd support a lot of other people before I'd support the idiots who vote against the true self-interest of the nation. Like I'd fight someone for Jesse Helms? Please.

2 Sides

Everyone, on some level, does what works best for themselves; it's human nature. Whether you're socialist or capitalist, you still operate for thy self one way, or another.

In America this is no different when it comes down to politics at it's core.

Take conservatives and liberals, both sides pushing politicians to act on their own behalf, and usually not caring about the deceit/deception by their representatives. However, there's an incredibly stark difference between the two groups when you focus on the issues of this day.

Conservatives fight for "life," and push their politicians to appoint judges who will side with their version of this "life." Yet when it comes to the war in Iraq "life" is not a concern.

The Sunday Times reported a story about the US Military being fully aware of how many civilians have died in Iraq at the hands of the "terrorists" and "militants." The story received little attention. I myself came across it while watching the Giants game. Had I not flipped through the paper I never would have heard word one about it, but the story is out there. Typical White House led Pentagon releasing a story on the weekend.

If the White House knows how many Iraqis have been killed by militants then they are also aware of how many Iraqis "coalition forces" have killed. Right? I would venture to bet they're not even keeping tab to avoid having to report an accurate history of what has gone on. The numbers of innocent people we have killed in a pointless war FAR EXCEEDS what "militants" have done. It's disgusting. But this is a White House scared of history, hence why they've closed off Reagan's and Clinton's history to the public. These scumbags try to create a story that doesn't exist. Not only do they have the numbers, but what they do have is understated considerably.

Yet, their constituents think the war must go on, not aware of the reality in Iraq. Not comprehending how far away we are from anything resembling success, and the mainstream media helps make this a reality.

While White House supporters blindly go forward they don't even look for the reality of the situation because that would expose their representatives, and in turn hurt their own "life" and "tax" causes back home. They ignore the most ominous situation in order to get what's best for themselves.

Like I said, both sides do it, but it always seems to be the Republicans who do it at the expense of lives and families, men, women and children. All the while talking about the importance of "family" and "life."

Scumbags, all of them. Complicit in the deaths of thousands of innocent people.

If you voted for these people then you too are complicit. Sleep on that, fucker.

Rosa Parks

Let me be Dennis Miller for a second.

"I'm telling you, watching President and Laura Bush walk behind that casket was like watching Ghengis Khan holding the casket of Shah Mohammed II. It just doesn't work, people."

But on a more serious note, it's rumored Bush couldn't understand the Parks controversy, saying that when he "was in high school it was cool to sit in the back of the bus..."

Next

Bush chooses Alito to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.

The President was overwhelmed by what a wonderful job Judge Alito did overseeing the OJ Simpson trial...

Back Then

Remember when Israel gave up Gaza and we were told it would start us on the way to peace? Yeah, those were good old days. I look back fondly on 199...wait, I mean, 3 months ago.