23 Comments

• 1. FoolYouTwice  |  March 28th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

  Although unlikely, I hope the Chiefs destroy the Chargers next season.

• 2. Joe  |  March 28th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

  Eeeek… Sec of State Rice talks about……….. RACE. Oh no!
  A “birth defect”? Oh boy. She isn’t talking about race is she?

  Rice hits U.S. ‘birth defect’
  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that the United States still has trouble dealing with race because of a national “birth defect” that denied black Americans the opportunities given to whites at the country’s very founding.
  “Black Americans were a founding population,” she said. “Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together — Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That’s not a very pretty reality of our founding.”
  Race has become an issue in this year’s presidential campaign, which prompted a much-discussed speech last week by Sen. Barack Obama, one of the two remaining contenders for the Democratic nomination.
  Miss Rice declined to comment on the campaign, saying only that it was “important” that Mr. Obama “gave it for a whole host of reasons.”
  But she spoke forcefully on the subject, citing personal and family experience to illustrate “a paradox and contradiction in this country,” which “we still haven’t resolved.”
  On the one hand, she said, race in the U.S. “continues to have effects” on public discussions and “the deepest thoughts that people hold.” On the other, “enormous progress” has been made, which allowed her to become the nation’s chief diplomat.

  By the way…… the Patriots will DEFINITELY win the Super Bowl this year. Get used to another season of talking about 19-0!

• 3. kimberly4victory  |  March 28th, 2008 at 4:17 pm

  Ye with little faith, FYT. LOL. Of course, I could the same thing about the Cardinals. Hey … miracles do happen!

  I don’t know about any of you, but I am so glad it’s Friday! It’s been a heck of week … loads of work and arguing with my child’s principal and teachers. I’m exhausted!

• 4. kimberly4victory  |  March 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

  Joe: I have no problem with Obama, Rice or anyone talking about race. None at all. I am happy to hear Rice say correctly that there has been enormous progress.

  BTW, I was sad when the Patriots lost the Superbowl.

• 5. Joe  |  March 28th, 2008 at 5:07 pm

  Just paid for my season tickets (yes, with the economy like this, I still scraped up what I could to get them). My 17th yr with the tickets.

  Since this is an open thread…..
  
  From Reuters March 19, 2008.
  I couldn’t put everything in my post, but here are some of my favorites….

  * In September 2002, Lawrence Lindsey, then director of the White House National Economic Council, estimates that war with Iraq could cost between $100 billion and $200 billion.

  The Bush administration quickly disputes the assertion, with White House budget director Mitch Daniels calling it “very, very high.” Other officials estimate the tab at $50 billion.

  * A congressional report released in January 2008 shows the U.S. Congress has so far set aside $440 billion for the war, plus $21 billion to support Iraqi security forces and $26 billion for diplomatic operations and foreign aid.

  and this one…

  * In April 2003, Cheney predicts Iraqi oil production could rise to between 2.5 million and 3 million barrels per day by the end of 2003 — up from around 2 million barrels per day the year before the war began.

  Five years later, Iraqi oil production has yet to reach the lower end of Cheney’s prediction.

  Baghdad was pumping 2.3 million barrels per day at the start of this year and expects to boost production to between 2.6 million and 2.7 million during 2008, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani told Reuters in January.

  Anyway… have a good weekend everyone.

• 6. Joe  |  March 28th, 2008 at 5:51 pm

  I don’t know about you. But everyone has been so up in arms over Obama’s acquaintances.

  Dare we actually question McCain friends and who he is taking advice from for things that ACTUALLY AFFECT US???

  McCain guru linked to subprime crisis

  The general co-chairman of John McCain’s presidential campaign, former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), led the charge in 1999 to repeal a Depression-era banking regulation law that Democrat Barack Obama claimed on Thursday contributed significantly to today’s economic turmoil.
  A year after the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act repealed the old regulations, Swiss Bank UBS gobbled up brokerage house Paine Weber. Two years later, Gramm settled in as a vice chairman of UBS’s new investment banking arm.

  Later, he became a major player in its government affairs operation. According to federal lobbying disclosure records, Gramm lobbied Congress, the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department about banking and mortgage issues in 2005 and 2006.

  During those years, the mortgage industry pressed Congress to roll back strong state rules that sought to stem the rise of predatory tactics used by lenders and brokers to place homeowners in high-cost mortgages.

  For his work, Gramm and two other lobbyists collected $750,000 in fees from UBS’s American subsidiary. In the past year, UBS has written down more then $18 billion in exposure to subprime loans and other risky securities and is considering cutting as many as 8,000 jobs.
  Now, some housing experts and economists see Gramm’s thinking in the recent housing proposal from McCain, the Republican Party’s presumed presidential nominee. Gramm is often a surrogate for the Arizona senator, particularly in meetings focused on the economy. And McCain has hinted he’d consider the former Texas senator for Treasury secretary in a McCain administration.
  Link here

• 7. Casper  |  March 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

  Mark,
  Sorry, but my Broncos are going to be back next year. The Chargers are going down.

  Joe,
  I think if the press gave McCain’s acquaintances half the attention they’ve given Obama’s, he would be dropping in the polls like a rock. Fortunately, for him, the press is still giving him a free pass. To be honest, I would much rather debate their positions than who they know.

• 8. Jonathan  |  March 28th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

  Personally, I think we should all talk about the really important things - like the Chargers chances in the next season (pre-season is only four months away!)

  This is an area where you and I agree, Mark (being a fan since the days of Ryan Leaf and the 1-15 season).

  Like most of the moves the Chargers made; sucks to know that Lorenzo Neal won’t be blocking for LT anymore, I would have given him at least one more season. Again, the wild card is Philip Rivers. He was, to be blunt, played like crap the fist half of the season, but it wasn’t until Week 11 against the Ravens when he finally got his act together.

  If the postseason taught us anything, it’s been the following:
  -you have to play 60 minutes of hard-nosed football to beat New England
  -the Chargers will be the team to look out for next year.
  -Tony Romo needs to win a playoff game or I fear Cowboy fans will call for his head.
  -Every coach in the NFC will have a new obstacle to deal with: stopping Ryan Grant.
  -Likewise, in the AFC, every quarterback will be instructed to avoid throwing in the direction to Antonio Cromarte

  Should be an interesting year.

• 9. Jonathan  |  March 28th, 2008 at 6:37 pm

  Mark,
  Sorry, but my Broncos are going to be back next year. The Chargers are going down.

  Let me give a list of reasons why that won’t happen.

  LT
  Antoino Gates
  Chris Chambers
  Antonio Cromarte
  Shawne Merriman
  Shawn Philips
  Luis Castillo
  Philip Rivers
  Darren Sproles
  Vincent Jackson

  Need I go on?

• 10. brett michaels  |  March 28th, 2008 at 9:21 pm

  As our fellow country men are dying in Iraq…you all talk about football.

  Have you heard the new saying?
  As they stand up…we will fight for them.
  http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/28/bush.basra/index.html

• 11. brett michaels  |  March 28th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

  Birth defects?
  http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/FOREIGN/746301768/1001

  I love Miss Rice

• 12. Casper  |  March 28th, 2008 at 9:52 pm

  “As our fellow country men are dying in Iraq…you all talk about football.”

  We spend a lot of time talking about that which divides us. It doesn’t hurt to talk about something that unites us once in a while. In spite of our differences, we have a lot more in common than we sometimes admit. It’s one of those things that makes us Americans.

• 13. kimberly4victory  |  March 28th, 2008 at 10:08 pm

  Wow, Casper. Well put. I couldn’t agree more.

• 14. congressive  |  March 28th, 2008 at 11:12 pm

  I’ll try not to go off topic…

  Taxpayer money to rebuild New Orleans: $10 billion

  Taxpayer money to bail out crooked idiot millionaire brokers: $100 billion

  Who’s in charge around here, anyway? Oh, that’s right. Bush appointees.

  That unites us all as taxpayers on the hook to keep millionaires in the lifestyle to which they are accustomed. Amazingly, there seems to be no outrage. You’re all horrified that a baby might get to see a doctor whether it’s mom can afford it or not, but billionaire bailouts? That’s ok.

  And these Wall Street idiots are the sam guys you all want to manage Social Security for you. AND STILL DO!

  I’m just trying to understand… I’m a little slow.

• 15. Diana Powe  |  March 29th, 2008 at 12:27 am

  As lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger struggle to deal with a state budget deficit that is projected to be $8 billion by summer, those deductions, credits and exemptions are coming under increased scrutiny.
  —–
  Republicans in the state Assembly have twice refused to close one loophole that the governor definitely wants to eliminate.

  That’s the so-called “sloophole,” which allows Californians to avoid sales taxes on boats, motor vehicles and planes by buying them in a state such as Oregon that does not have a sales tax and then keeping them out of California for more than 90 days.
  __________
  Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8585960

  Now which Californians can buy boats, motor vehicles and planes in a non-sales tax state and keep them out for 90 days to avoid paying the California sales tax? Who could that be that the Republicans want to protect so badly? I wonder?

• 16. kimberly4victory  |  March 29th, 2008 at 12:36 am

  Nine state legislators from the Mexican state of Sonora traveled to Tucson to complain about Arizona’s new employer crackdown on illegals from Mexico.

  It seems many Mexican illegals are now returning to their hometowns and the officials in the
  Sonora state government are not happy about it.

  A delegation of nine state legislators from Sonora was in Tucson on Tuesday to say Arizona’s new employer sanctions law will have a devastating effect on the Mexican state. At a news conference, the legislators said Sonora - Arizona’s southern neighbor, made up of mostly small towns - cannot handle the demand for housing, jobs and schools it will face as illegal Mexican workers here return to their hometowns
  without jobs or money.

  The law, which took effect Jan 1, punishes employers who knowingly hire individuals who don’t have valid legal documents to work in the United States. Penalties include suspension or loss of a business license.

  They’re mad because their own citizens are returning to their hometowns, placing a huge burden on THEIR state government. The nine representatives don’t mention how much their citizens put a burden on OUR state government.

  “How can they pass a law like this?” asked Mexican Rep. Leticia Amparano-Gamez, who represents Nogales. “There is not one person living in Sonora who does not have a friend or relative working in Arizona,” she said in Spanish.

  “Mexico is not prepared for this, for the tremendous problems it will face as more and more Mexicans working in Arizona and sending money to their families return to hometowns in Sonora without jobs,” she said. “We are one family, socially and economically,” she said of the people of Sonora and Arizona.

  Wrong. The United States is a sovereign nation and its states and its citizens are not responsible for the welfare of Mexico’s citizens.

  If Mexico’s citizens come here legally, that’s okay. If they are here illegally, that is not okay.

• 17. kimberly4victory  |  March 29th, 2008 at 12:40 am

  “Now which Californians can buy boats, motor vehicles and planes in a non-sales tax state and keep them out for 90 days to avoid paying the California sales tax? Who could that be that the Republicans want to protect so badly? I wonder?”

  Democrats in California don’t own boats, motor vehicles or planes. Just Republicans. So it must be all those evil Republicans.

  LMAO.

• 18. Diana Powe  |  March 29th, 2008 at 12:48 am

  The Republicans who unanimously defied their own governor’s desire on this issue as he tries to balance the state budget. Tell me about that Republican “fiscal responsibility” again?

• 19. Diana Powe  |  March 29th, 2008 at 12:56 am

  WASHINGTON –
  An aide to President Bush has resigned in the midst of an investigation by the Justice Department over allegations he misused an unspecified amount of U.S. grant money intended to promote democracy in Cuba, the White House said Friday.

  Felipe Sixto, a Cuban American from Miami, was the special assistant to the president on inter-governmental affairs, dealing with Cuba, Native American issues, state legislators, Latino elected officials and Puerto Rico.
  ____________
  Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/474317.html

• 20. Diana Powe  |  March 29th, 2008 at 12:59 am

  The investigation into financial and accounting irregularities at the National Republican Congressional Committee has uncovered discrepancies approaching $1 million and the committee will have to seriously adjust its recent disclosures to the Federal Election Commission, NRCC chair Tom Cole told the body’s executive board Thursday. The uncovering of hundreds of thousands of dollars in possibly misappropriated funds has raised questions about the committee’s system of financial controls, which a lawyer involved in the investigation says are in the process of overhaul.
  __________
  Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/nrcc_audits_forged_nearly_1m_m.html

  What’s going on with all these Republicans? I thought they were all upright and honest.

• 21. Diana Powe  |  March 29th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

  Meanwhile, over at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the District, they keep making up new stories to “explain” their incompetence (or crookedness) about millions of missing email messages:
  

  How long do you hang on to decommissioned hard drives and storage devices? Do you at least wait to make sure your new drives or backup applications are functioning properly?

  If you answered yes to that last question, there might be a job at the White House for you.

  The latest wrinkle in the missing White House e-mail saga is that the drives are gone. Tossed out. Destroyed, even.

  “When workstations are at the end of their life cycle and retired… the hard drives are generally sent off-site to another government entity for physical destruction,” the White House told a federal judge last week.

  Normally, a reasonably sensible storage professional makes sure all necessary data was properly copied. And, normally, new applications — whether it’s an e-mail server or the backup system for it — are tested and re-tested before anything gets destroyed. But this situation isn’t normal, and the story behind the story keeps changing, or getting added to, like one of those serial chain letters that clutter your in-box.

  Earlier on, I was willing to give the White House and CIO Theresa Payton the benefit of the doubt about this mess. My suspension of disbelief about this is officially suspended. The way they’ve disclosed details about the chronology and methods behind their actions now sounds improvised — very lately improvised.

  I have no idea if the judge in the case, John Facciola, is technically astute where the ins and outs of IT are concerned. But I’m betting he’s started to sense that something’s a bit off. This has now gotten to the point where it officially insults the intelligence. We’ll see just how insulted the judge is in the next chapter — his response won’t be any kind of throwaway.
  __________
  Source: http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/03/real_tossers.html#

• 22. cathymv  |  April 1st, 2008 at 2:39 pm

  Hillary is going to hang in there until the convention. She is not going to give up or give in. She thinks that this election is hers and there is nothing that is going to stop her.

  see ya
  cathy

• 23. Some Assembly Required  |  April 1st, 2008 at 3:05 pm

  You talk football when the Stanley Cup playoffs are about to start. Only the greatest sports competition in the world. This year has got to be one of the most competitive on record. I’d say it’ll be Montreal vs. San Jose Stanley cup final. Montreal in 6. Ottawa’s my team but I fear they do not have the goaltending to take them the stretch. Colorado is also a team to be watching to. Going to be interesting.

Matt Margolis on Twitter