Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

yee haw!

come on, get those asses (jacks and jennys that is) moving!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsDCGAIl6Wo

the family that brays together.......stays together........

craig, after all this book signing and interviews, you and helen need a few of roland hedley's "me days"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100587.html?hpid=news-col-blog

our "oops" moment of the day

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/02/south-africa-passenger-ejector-seat

"the family that brays together.......stays together........"

and the geek shall inheirit the earthlink

two guys down at the end of the bar, one of them hollers at the bartender, "Hey Jackass.......2 more beers down here....."
bartender carries the beers down.
In a bit the guy hollers again, "Hey Jackass.....2 more beers."
bartender carries down the beers and walks back, and the other bartender asks him, "Hey, how come you let that guy call you Jackass like that?"
Bartender says, " Oh, He awww....He awww.....He ALLways calls me that......"

that one's always been a showstopper.........lol......it's all in the delivery.......

pre-paid or c.o.d.?

have burka, will travel
a trip to bounty-ful

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8337237.stm

drum roll please.

"hail to the chieftain" or would that be hell in some translations?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8337832.stm

Okay, South Florida made it into the BCS (by the skin of their teeth):

http://sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=thestate2&page=cfoot/misc/bcs-poll.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/world/europe/02europe.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

"Europe Still Likes Obama, but Doubts Creep In"

"MARRAKESH, Morocco — The election of Barack Obama as president seemed to most Europeans to be unadulterated good news, marking an end to the perceived unilateralism and indifference to allied views of former President George W. Bush

But nine months into Mr. Obama’s presidency, trans-Atlantic relations are again clouded by doubts. Europe and the United States remain at least partly out of sync on Afghanistan, the Middle East, Iran and climate change.

Many Europeans argue that Mr. Obama has not broken clearly enough with Bush administration policies that they dislike, while some Americans argue that the Europeans are too passive, watching Mr. Obama struggle with difficult issues, like Afghanistan and the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, without providing much substantive help."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269052

OMG!!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/opinion/02krugman.html?th&emc=th

"Too Little of a Good Thing"

"The good news is that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a k a the Obama stimulus plan, is working just about the way textbook macroeconomics said it would. But that’s also the bad news — because the same textbook analysis says that the stimulus was far too small given the scale of our economic problems. Unless something changes drastically, we’re looking at many years of high unemployment.

And the really bad news is that “centrists” in Congress aren’t able or willing to draw the obvious conclusion, which is that we need a lot more federal spending on job creation."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269059

Flatus,
congrats to South Florida. Look at number 6 on that list. Little TCU from right here in River City, Fort Worth. Small little private college that is in the Mountain West Conf. Used to be in the Southwest Conf but that conference was dissolved a few years ago.

Phillies in 7! LOL!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269064

And, Doots, congrats to your team, TCU. I really like seeing little schools making the big dawgs crazy.

Hey, Corey, why not?! I love hating the Yankees. I guess that's part of the Curse of Cleveland, my birthright.

Back to this morning's post. I say 'we' lose two and have a 40-pct chance for NJ.

Frank Rich yesterday on NY 23

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/opinion/01rich.html?_r=1

Patsi, Big Kenny is on Imus. Quite a character.

Flatus

Agreed. Hating the Yankees is a delightful way to spend a few hours of any day.

And in the meantime, our veterans keep facing this

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pete2-2009nov02,0,4375826.story?track=rss

Jamie, what should we do if the Phillies win in 7? Pop open the champagne in front of Independence Hall?

When "non profit" isn't "non profit"

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nonprofit2-2009nov02,0,5733900.story?track=rss

You never hear the Republicans talk about why the above is better than government run services where the highest salaries would be based on the GS scale.

second "oops" moment of the day

burka sleeve stash

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8337754.stm

Jamie, me dentist is a retired colonel. Her son is in his last year at West Point. She worries most about him being sent somewhere with an ill-defined mission.

He was one of the fellows holding the big flag at the opening ceremony of game one.

Young kids never worry about the what ifs.

Kenny;s guitar is a sight!

corrections:
y and '

whazzit look like?

It's covered with flowers and has 'Love Everybody' inlaid on whatever that thing with the strings on it is called. Really interesting.

the fingerboard on the neck

the strings rest on the bridge and the nut and wind up on the posts coming up thru the headstock having been streched out over the neck....the neck being probably what was inlaid......i guess some call it the fretboard......but i wouldn't fret it none.....

"Hillary Clinton only winner in Honduran mess"

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26290130-2703,00.html

Not psychedelic flowers, but like the decorative flowers on antique cupboards.

i meant to say "some call it the ' fingerboard' "

lol

Whenever I need to discuss such things again, I'll count on Doots and Sturg as coaches. :)

cup board........one of my favorite words.......

patd

I went through Manchester airport in England when I went to Britain for my trip to Scotland. Those guys who interview you are something else. If you have ever in your life done anything even mildly antisocial, you won't get past them.

The way they look at you while asking very simple, innocent questions would give someone up for sainthood a guilty conscience.

Cheney's memory is a good as that of Alberto Gonzales

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2010183564_apuscheneycialeak.html?syndication=rss

Maybe we should just refer to them as the Alzheimers Administration.

Hey wait a minute.... I'm the Red Sox fan on this blog.... having fun hating the Yankees is MY job..... :0)

Bethy.... that comment about Sabathia's pants almost had me pissing in mine....
ROFL!

judging from the comments this morning, it's easy to conclude that most here care as much about tomorrow's elections as I do.... de nada....

"a glimpse into the rightwing echo chamber"

http://neteffect.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/11/02/a_glimpse_into_the_rightwing_echo_chamber

Reb,

I'll vote because it's what I do on election day, but here it is two issues and a mayoral race ... about as exciting as watching snails race.

Nationally, I hope the Dems do take that NY slot. Congress doesn't need another right wing head case.

Dang, Flatus -- just checked in....wish I'd watched Big Kenny -- he IS very funny. I like John Rich a lot too -- lots of folks here don't seem to like him anymore...but I've never been around him when he was obnoxious...soooooo

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269089

The psychotic personalities they are looking for won't react with embarrassment as would 'normal' people. So...

Only thing that I will watch for in tomorrow's elections; will be the % of votes that are cast for the Indie...

Patsi,

"...and Moms stayed home to raise the kids."

"Solar,Solar....buy you books and send you to school and you offer this as the good old days!"

Hanging my head in shame; I am.! I should have edited that list somewhat. Jack pointed out a few of the things that he did not agree with it. All I can say is that my whole intent of post that was to show that both the R's and The D's passed a lot of laws that have created the demise of the m iddle class. We need Major Changes imo.!!

The only way that I would offer the above statement that sorta caught U * a little bit; is if was a planned decision by both the WOMEN and the man......Two of my Sisters chose to work, and not stay at home b/c they said that they weren't going to waste their college education,, the other two had to work...they worked at a different time than their husbands...so the kids would always have one of them around....Me I used to say that I wouldn't have minded to be a stay at home husband....with the way that there is not work out there.....this sucks, I would rather bust my ass working.........

if it was planned....that should be....

."with the way that there is not work out there.....this sucks, I would rather bust my ass working......"

There is work 'some places' Solar. Sometimes you have to go someplace else to find it. So many things are changing, that we have no choice but to change with them.

Solar....
I think I understand what you were trying to say with the post to which Patsi objected.... you were talking about a time when the middle class only needed one paycheck to run a household. Today, most women are out in the work force. It's great to be earning our own money. But many are not doing so by choice because our economics are such that households need two incomes to be in the middle class today. For many, there is no such thing as a "choice" to stay home with the kids or even to choose to work part-time. It's a dilemma born of our modern times.

"If you don’t make things happen, things will happen to you."

.. sorry, don't know the source.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269095

Which is exactly what makes them stand out. Any "normal" person is going to cringe a little under than seemingly innocent gaze. It's so steadily inquiring, you are looking for the nearest place to hide in shame. :-)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269099

Reb,

It is unfortunate that a movement that helped so many women break free of what was "expected", also destroyed so much we value in society. In the time when the best and brightest of women could only become teachers and nurses, we had a truly great educational and medical system. When women had time for volunteerism within their communities, those "charitable" acts were not paid jobs and taxes didn't have to increase to hire people.

How about a time when men automatically assumed a protective role towards the women in their lives and the children they fathered instead of "she can work".

Feminism was a wonderful thing. It allowed for advancements and freedom that didn't exist before, but there is no denying the damage that was done or the changes in relationships that need to happen to bring things back into balance again.

Off to jury duty. Play nice.

Renee,

Thanks you for the help. Yes that part of it. The main thing was addressing Jamies initial point that she likes progressive taxes...I am point out the fact that the progressive taxes,and the other taxes that have been imposed on us all: Are now a chain around our necks; they are on the the necks of the middle class people, and we are fkn chocking..and all of the defense of both parties of thier misguided policies got us to this point together.....we need to change things...and if we change it to a flat income, and sales, or the VAt taxes..we would get the benefits of: First no IRS to arrest the poor, and, or put liens on their paychecks.....they are the only ones that are put in jail...the middle class in almost extinct ...and we need a new way of doing things....

Chloe,

I have been doing things and looking for work at different states...but there is no help or work for the small contractors...we won't see the Stimulus money...it was to small to begin with imo...it never trickled down to the people that if it would..it would have put them to work...it all went to the Big Banks, and the corps...once again the middle class is the ones that will suffer, cos they are not the stay at home type,,,but the deck is stacked against us now......That is not to say that we won't do things differently, acclimate to new ways of doing business, and our new business environs...but once again...the opportunity has to be there........there are not many out there right now..and winter t ime is coming on strong....many, many construction and other corps will go under...I have placed myself , and my company in a position to work with the government, and even have the ability to work on a series of sewer and concrete projects.....the Banks won't release any money even based on these government contracts...the ability for them to get their money for these loans are 100% it is backed up by us the tax payers...the ones that they have their hands out for bailouts all of the time...they are hording their money. They will continue to do so imo..so they can keep paying themselves ....Obama says that we are in a recovery (shades of what Bush used to say..he lie's just as well as he did) What is see is more and more bankruptcies, and more people out on the street......winter is not going to be kind to them, and wont' be to me and mine......Thanks for the encouragement and for caring so much..

Jamie....
great post... I know we can't go backwards. And there are no easy answers going forward either. But with the divorce rate now hovering around 60%, it's obvious there needs to be some changes in the way we think about marriage and family.

and speaking of family... gotta go have a family meeting with a social worker about end of life decisions concerning my parents. The women who do social and hospice work are saints, IMO.

Jamie,

You have morphed into so many Ideas that we were fighting about in the past....I think that you might do the same if you just consider the fact that both parties passed the tax laws, that you defend so much...are you in favor of the Irs agents getting commission on the taxes collected by putting liens of PayChecks...how progressive is that.....

go ahead defend the greedy pigs in congress and tell me the history of the third party of the wigs...go ahead and tell me that we have a system to get rid of the Dodd's Rangles, and yes Frank, Fienstiens (she owns a defense corps with her husband..and is on boards that passes the laws to get more, and more of our kids killed) That is only just a few of the D's that should have had term limits....do you think that they will be replaced, by the stupid people that keep putting them back in there??

This isn't about the Yankees, and the Phillies giving us a good show. It's ok to pick who our gladiators are and to cheer for them.....but it is to all of our detriment to dot the same with our politics....they have us in the middle of both of them, and all you can do is cheer for them...

"For many, there is no such thing as a "choice" to stay home with the kids or even to choose to work part-time. It's a dilemma born of our modern times."

renee, yes there are many who have no choice but for both parents to work. however, there are also many for whom the "dilemma born of our modern times" means their identities and their children's identities equate with having certain brands and possessions. many of us could do better with less and have more time in the process.

Taking a "flyer" in the Dutch Iris market , planting 75 of these babies.

http://images.mooseyscountrygarden.com/gardening-journals/garden-journal-04/blue-dutch-irises.jpg

Get yourself a greenhouse. You'll be glad you did.

Flatus and Senor Pescado,

This is a poor example of what I was writing about regarding the engraving on the fingerboard. Mind you that these examples are just stickers that can be applied or removed. The real deal is there forever. Most engravings are done with Abalone. This is called Tree of Life with a Hummingbird.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tree-Of-Life-w-Hummingbird-Fret-Markers-Inlay-Sticker_W0QQitemZ120486038764QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0d870cec

Some self-funded politicians have turned out to be great elected officials --Howqard Metzenbaum and Milton Shapp to name two.

Corzine has been a good governor and he was good in the senate. I think he should have stayed a senator.

Also

The as-h-le who is governor of California at the moment claimed he would be self-funded and when he found out the real price --called his donations loans which for the most part were repaid by donations from the auto dealers so the clod clown would roll back the vehicular license increase --which wrecked the finances of most cities and counties in the state.

Corzine isn't in Ahnold's class in terms of sleazy unethical behavior...the govenas- stands alone

well back from the tune up at the VA today. Good news and bad news. Bad news is I am pretty healthy and y'all have to put up with me for at least 6 more months (till I go back again). Good news is I am pretty healthy. Got my regular flu shot. BP was 116/64 this morning at 8:45am. Dr was happy with my blood work. So...here I am.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269112

Mz Cracker,

Didn't Arnold promise to bring CA back into the black also? How's he done in that regard?

Mz Cracker,

Didn't Arnold promise to bring CA back into the black also? How's he done in that regard? HD

Worse than ever. At one point the loser thought he would run for the senate and then with the help of Senator Hatch for president. Now he will be lucky that gets to just slink away and isn't recalled as he should be.

Selling the Drama, Who’s Competing For Your Attention? Cable News War.

I added a link to Rob Bartlett’s Blog he put up everyone’s top 5 favorite books.

I can come up with 2 so far :)

http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/11/selling-drama-who-is-competing-for-your.html

Ree,

I left you a comment about his and I had to choose Anonymous to get it to post. Just letting you know who is posting on your blog. :)

No comments in over an hour? Can that be right, or is our office computer just getting around to the switch to standard time?

Unfortunately, I don't have anything worthwhile to say, and just stopped by here for some inspiration.

I've been reading Huffington Post..always something interesting there..

I check in here once in awhile to see what is going on..

5 books

The Prince , Niccolo Machiavelli
Along the same lines
Master of the Senate , Robert Caro's biography of LBJ

2006 International Residential Code

Letters from Earth. Mark Twain

Tortilla Flats, John Steinbeck,
I've never seen a bunch of worthless drunks so ennobled. I don't think Steinbeck ever had to live next door to Danny and the boys.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269110

Doots, I really enjoyed seeing those, especially the hummingbird. I never thought about someone having an affordable solution for doing inlays.

I bet CBob can do something like that for his Maria, but on a larger scale. I envision it looking something like a Phillipine jeepney:

http://betchie728.webs.com/jeepney.jpg

You see....Some picked the Phillies in 5. Obviously, that isn't going to happen now. So, the next logical choice would be Phillies in 7. Not that I am watching the series or rooting for the Phillies.

Corey, you can join Jamie, Renee and me in front of Independence Hall after the Phillies' game 7 victory!

flatus and sturge, just got around to reading the article your guv wrote in this newsweek re ayn rand. the one quote he chose from "the fountainhead" is notable. got a little chuckle from it considering his exploits.

"I do not recognize anyone's right to one minute of my life. Nor to any part of my energy. Nor to any achievement of mine. No matter who makes the claim, how large their number or how great their need … I recognize no obligations toward men except one: to respect their freedom and to take no part in a slave society."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/219001

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269123

yeah, and they'll play "yankee doodle dandy" on the liberty bell

Good article, Pat. I'm not a student of Rand, but I sense that her Russian upbringing is reflected in her work.

Patd

The AR affectionados want to pretend like they got where they are all on their own. They want the debt they owe back to be declared nonexistent. then they want a free ride on all the structures they use everyday as if they were natural and not created and maintained by other people.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269126

Flatus
It would probably irritate her that I find her work and Marx's to be the same.

And they both fall apart for the same reason

Jack

Baseball is stupid.

Jack, her popularity really emerged during the intellectually enlightened (wine and cheese) years in the late 50s. That segment of our society would also talk of Marx while sampling the fruits of our labor.

Go Phillies! My Phillie Fanatic friend says it will be ok...they will still win.

Laird, of course it's stupid. That's why it's such a marvelous pastime.

Katherine, you join us, too.

No, no DarkLord,

Although both my ex-wives agree that baseball's rules are stupid, 'baseball is a game of inches.'

I read a couple of her books about 10 years ago and found them extremely boring and rather hard to read. Actually I only read one and a half as I could not finish the other one.

well..... I'm watching the Atlanta Falcons vs the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football tonight....

and if that makes me stupid or shallow in the eyes of anyone of this here blog....
yeah...... so........

Flatus..... I don't want champagne.... I want margaritas....

Renee, bring your own salt.

KGC, glad to see you still know how to tell a joke.....

Fine. The Yankees are stupid, then. Big dorks, too.

Oh, yeah, Ed... Football is the "game of inches".

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269131

"Phanatic", KGC. Phanatic.

OK, I'll shut up now. Maybe I'll go drown myself in the neighbor's pool or something. Sigh.

For those Phillie faithful just remember the 85 Royals.
As I remember, they were in this position in both the play offs and the series.

True, we had to bribe an umpire to win game 6 of the series but it was worth every penny.

Jack

" For many, there is no such thing as a "choice" to stay home with the kids or even to choose to work part-time. It's a dilemma born of our modern times."

Yes -- that's the real issue. I'm glad my daughter has the luxury of making the decision to stay home while Maria is pre-school. I didn'thave to start working again with either child until they were about two.

I was really just ragging Solar, anyway. I've seen that list he posted a zillion times, usually sent me by Republicans...heh heh....

darkone

They need you tonight..don't you have special underwear or something to bring good luck?

Coreen

Hope you are still laughing tonight :))))

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31303776@N02/?saved=1

I went to a halloween party with my doctor

Sure, DarkLord, football is a game of inches, but they count them 36 at a time.

KG,

I can see why that would improve 'patient relations',
hope you had fun, & was that Fin in the background.

And should I ask--that rear-view was part of the costume, right?

I may not be laughing, but I'll still be feeling pretty
good... the Stadium in the Bronx in the fall, the way
it should be.

Mr. Bloggingham,

DEon't pollute the water; we allhave to drink.

That is, Don't pollute the water.

Hockey is a game of millimetres.

Yes that is Fin..he made a cameo appearance at the party.

I must say, it was quite unnerving to have people come up and
touch my butt

When I was a boy, and Jim Brown was the Adrian Peterson, football was a game of yards. In my 'hood, they were usually back yards.

In the in-box. . Jazz Fans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsBC5C5ERho

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269145

What tha! lol

Rez -- where are the pics from your visit with Sea?

Nice bottom.

No tattoos. No brands. No posters. No notices. No directions. No advertising. No bruises. No toothmarks.

I could never get interested in a fundament that had grafitti, unless it was a really good novel.

Hey Patsi,

Both of us were pretty lame about taking photos. That; and we were talking, arguing, drinking and laughing so much we just forgot. We didn't have our good camera with us, just a single use one and it was F##$4. I ended up with only a couple worth a damn. I don't know about her luck. I'll send the few I got to osh and she can put them out on her FB. I just got mine back a few days ago. We gave each other the right of first refusal for releases. :-/) Check your email in a day or so, I'll send one or two of the better ones.

jack.....au contraire.....steinbeck lived amongst the boys......he saw it

one of me old professorions bad rapped old steinbeck as being a "storyteller"........

at one time i entertained the notion that he was the guy who got that slow feller the idea for his costume for the big party in cannery row......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269145

Bah... it's over. They are out of starting pitching and aren't working hitter's counts.

...and Jack, never mention the Phils and that AAA team from KC in the same sentence again.

As a Dodgers fan, I'm enjoying things right now.

Yeah, sure is a good time to be a Dodger fan... you don't have to watch them play bad baseball. Who bounced them out of the play-offs, again? I forget.

...oh wait, THAT'S right... the same team that bounced them LAST YEAR.

one cannot decry television and ballyhoo baseball. I mean one can but it's illogical......istic

Your lordship

We're what makes the yankees great.

Being a Royals fan means you watch the playoffs to spot all the exRoyal players.

Jack

Bah... it's over. They are out of starting pitching and aren't working hitter's counts.

Posted by: dark-lord-bloggingham.myopenid.com Author Profile Page

You must not be feeling well..... I thought real Phanatics never gave up.

"as being a "storyteller"........"

Yeah , and the problem?

for me Steinbeck was a bit too much of a romantic.
But then so was Hemingway except on the dark side.

A few years ago I reread both. I still like Steinbeck but found Hemingway to be unreadable. He was much to juvenile for me.
I've got my juvenile manhood issues behind me, I don't think he ever did.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269164

...grew up listening to the late, great Harry Kalas call the game on AM radio.

Baseball is made for the radio.

I listen to a couple of the series games over the internet and listened to the home teams announcers.
Way better than watching it on TV.

Jack

my granny listened to the cincy red legs on radio.....i grew up with dizzy dean on tv......

except for when my uncle took me to see jimmy piersall act like a monkey when he played for the birmingham barons.....

I was introduced to radio and baseball by Harry Carey back before he got caught screwing the bosses wife and moved to Chicago.

You could listen to radio every day TV was for the weekend.

Jack

What backs the dollar in your pocket?

An interesting read and a little scary

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/11/what-backs-the-buck/

Jack

My first exposure to baseball was attending Stockton Ports Games in the California League.

The Giants moved to San Francisco and listening to Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons on the radio was a great treat.

One of the most annoying features of modern sportscasting is the lack of silence. The announcers talk and talk and talk, often stepping on the greatness of the games.

I remember when Dizzy Dean was doing baseball on CBS and Diz would tell the tv audience that he needed to take some time to eat a hotdog. A couple minutes of silence would ensue..unheard of today..His broadcasting partner, PeeWee Reese didn't talk all that much anyway. They knew how to let the camera tell the story.

DL, not a bad series. Privately, I had NY in six and I wouldn't be surprised if Lee is great tonight. As I suspected, it appears NY old timers and the pitching showed up.

Well sport is sport. On to other things......

Has anyone noticed that Obama's foreign policy is a mess? One doesn't even have to judge that by the daily retractions by Hillary. The WH was so quick to tout Kerry's trip to Kabul and the run-off. What they wanted was what Bush got Musharraf to agree to: a coalition government. That is until Bhutto pretended she was immortal. Kerry didn't get that though the WH sounded like he delivered the gold. The assumptions Obama put out there on Pakistan were weak to begin with, but the increased bombings and our failure to apply the vice on the Afghanistan side has lead to predictable chaos and the majority over there, angrier at America than they were during Bush.

Iran is paying us for fools while they escalate tension in Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan. The NYT was brave enough to speculate and discuss the actual Iranian statements in context of history.

The WH is clearly stumped over the Palestinian/Israeli impass focusing still on settlements while ignoring the rather obvious venom on the Arab side which still clings to declarations of removing the State of Israel. Arabs still believe they must rally behind those who want to destroy Israel rather than negotiate a peace.

Sudan, Burma. North Korea are stil sores with Russia and China building on their efforts to tilt the strategic advantage to themselves. They contribute little to the security of the world while embracing the less than LIberal.

The UN continues to be more a bastion of BS, partly responsible for the election mess in Afghanistan and the failure to do much regarding most global hot spots. Human Rights have become a joke.

Politico tonight has a comment on the Obama foreign policy mess. It is only going to get worse, that is become more tense and escalating. A year of gestures will produce what?

On the home front, not much has happened as uber Liberals demand a second stimulus. The healthcare reform is not likely to cover all or lower costs and show cases Pelosi and Reid. Not much media attention on the House ethic investigations and fading fast are the WH salvos at FOX. Jarret was awful this weekend in her interview. Biden was out touting job saves that are not supported by new reports, nor did he try to explain the cost per job to US taxpayers.

This depressing slide sideways was much like the Carter years. Sure, the GOP hasn't contributed much and Kristol's suggestions won't win back power for Republicans. Still, America is watching our Space program faulter, our resolve weaken as more nations question our leadership despite Obama's new face. Our pride is fallen and our expectations lowered.

Perhaps this national sentiment wil give way to a new American spirit. In the past this has been a revival of principles America will fight for, new innovation and a dust off of self-doubt and self-loathing. In most cases, small business and bold moves drove us to the front. I noted how much p[eople cheered as we won our first NY marathon since 1982.

Above all perhaps, the attacks and partisanship directed at ourselves will eventually give way to a new confidence. That is what happened after Carter. The meme of the present leadership places more of the burden on government to inspire and drive us forward. With what I have seen on both political sides, we might be waiting a long time for that top down rhetoric to do much.

Tonight I'll watch baseball. It's better than listening to cable news, WH press or the constant drone of chaos in the world.

.

the darklord must have put on his lucky undies...so far so good for the Phillies

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269178

They have to go back and play in NYC to fill their stadium and generate revenue twice more. How else do they expect to pay the luxury tax and make payroll. GS is no dummy.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269161

I haven't heard anything out of Brooklyn in years.

And there was that other team that played at the Polo Grounds.

And the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Braves, Washington Senators, and St Louis Browns. Were there any other ones?

I think the Mets played in the Polo grounds at first.

Congrats to the two record setters from the Phillies: Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. :-)

"DL, not a bad series. Privately, I had NY in six and I wouldn't be surprised if Lee is great tonight. As I suspected, it appears NY old timers and the pitching showed up." Posted by: maxtrue November 2, 2009 8:47 PM

Oh. Is that what you had... "privately"? I don't think so, pal. That ain't how it works. At least those bastards won't celebrate on our field.

..."as you suspected". Puh-Leez.

Hey don't knock the soothsayer from Gotham.

Riddle me this, *******! (Not you Rez, the other guy)

I'm just kidding, Max. Gentleman and scholar you are.

KGC, It might rain this weekend and cut down on the good days for margaritas on the patio!

Jack, I grew up on Harry Caray, also. His first wife and their kids went to my high school. She was one somber woman, I'll tell you - maybe it came from being married to him. He was known as a very notorius womanizer. When the Cards let him go, there were many unhappy people in St. Louis.

Back in the day, my dad wrote Dizzy Dean a letter, asking his opinion re a discussion my dad and a buddy were having. Dizzy wrote him back and agreed with my dad. I have a copy of my dad's letter and Dizzy's actual response. I keep it with the ticket stub from his attendance at the World Series game when
Enos Slaughter scored from first base on a single.
There have been some big times in the history of baseball.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269172

Never happened...Harry said he was flattered to have the gossip, but it never happened. I heard Harry a lot in 1970, his one year out in Oakland, as I was in Monterey.
Then Harry came to the White Sox, my main team...those were great years. Then Harry slipped into dementia and went to the Cubs, where he died...but really, to me...Harry was a St. Louis Cardinal...I listened to him from KMOX back in the early 1960s.
GO PHILLIES ----BEAT THE SKANKEES

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269189

bethy boo! Outstanding story ! I love this kind of stuff!
My old boyhood friend bought a used car years ago and found a signed Harmon Killebrew baseball card down in the seats...he mailed it to me today...outstanding , too!

I hate how Yankee money has ruined baseball, just as insurance money ruins health reform

Dexter, My bil grew up in San Francisco and learned to love the Cards from listening to KMOX. They were broadcast up into Nebraska and the Dakotas and that;s one reason why the Cards attendance has always been high. I don't know if you know this, but KMOX is no longer the voice of the Cards. Apparently the son of a friend (etc) of one of the new owners wanted to start his own radio station. A friend of mine out here in Santa Rosa, a real baseball nut, asked me why in the world the Cards did that. A truly dumb move.

However, I have to say I kinda believe the story re Harry.
That Mrs Busch was a pretty blonde. You have given me something to ponder, tho. I'm not as convinced as I was

By the way, my dad told me as Slaughter rounded third base - where my dad's seat was - my dad had to sit down because he thought he was having a heart attack. HA!

That all happened in Sportsman's Park where I first watched the Cards and which I still think is about the best name for a stadium you can find altho it is sexist. That's a problem it would be hard to fix!

I hate how Yankee money has ruined baseball, just as insurance money ruins health reform

Posted by: craigcrawford.myopenid.com Author Profile Page | November 3, 2009 1:59 AM

**********************************************************

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/issuecartoons/2009/11/09/cartoons_20091102?slide=6#showHeader

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/11/vote-counting-time-on-tuesday.html#comment-269129

yeah? well cricket is dumb, maybe the dumbest.