Thursday, December 18, 2008

A Man's Word Is No Longer His Bond

The long standing tradition in baseball has been if the player or his agent requests a signed terms sheet from a team, negiotiations have reached the point where it's a done deal. Giving a player (or his agent) the signed offer sheet is the same as a handshake. The rest is mere formality.

That tradition was stood on its head this week by Rafael Furcal and his agent. The agent negotiated a contract with the Atlanta Braves and requested a signed terms sheet, which was faxed to the agent. Hours later, the agent changes his tune and says they are still negotiating with the LA Dodgers. It turns out the agent used the terms sheet to leverage a better contract from the Dodgers.

It's amazing to listen to the radio this morning. People across the country are universally negative in their reactions to this kind of under-handed sneakiness where a player reveals that his word is worth nothing. There are plans on burning everything from jerseys to bobblehead dolls, and the boos will get quite loud whenever Furcal shows his slimy face in Atlanta.

I never hope for injuries to an athlete. However, when it happens to the injury-prone Furcal, it should be sweet irony for any Braves fans.

Labels: ,

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Black Senate Seat?

People in Chicago are demanding that a black person be appointed to fill Obama's senate seat. They don't seem to care who it is, or what their views are (although guess what would happen if a black conservative was named?), as long as the color of their skin is dark.

Okay, close your eyes and imagine this scenario. Anyone, anywhere, at any time, suggesting that any vacancy should be filled by "somebody who is white." Now imagine the outrage that would ensue. These same lefties who clamor for a black quota would come absolutely unglued.

Gee, I guess racism is still alive and well. It's flourishing among black lefties.

Labels:

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Ramblings

It seems as if drivers have lost all sense of civility, reverting to a me-first-me-always mentality. This goes along with society as a whole.

Gas is around $1.50 a gallon locally. All of those who blamed President Bush for the $4.00 gas earlier this year have a choice of only two options. Either step up and give the President full credit for the huge drop in gas prices, or reveal yourselves to be complete hypocrites. I’m not holding my breath for any credit-giving.

Is anyone surprised by the Governor of Illinois being arrested? Is there anyone who does not think of Chicago when hearing the words “corrupt politics”? Is there anyone who does not realize that Obama came of age politically in that stewpot of fraud and corruption?

If you are Muslim and want to go to a public pool in Sweden, you can now rent a full body bathing suit that even covers your head, called a burkini. My first reaction to renting bathing suits? Ewww. Second reaction – If you are Muslim and want to swim in public, can’t you bring your own suit? Christians don’t seem to have that problem. What is it about Islam that everyone else in the entire world has to bend over and kowtow?

Oprah has Obama on her show. Oprah gushes over Obama. Oprah loudly endorses Obama. Oprah campaigns for Obama. Oprah is asked if she would be open to having other political candidates, like Palin, on her show. Oprah says no way no how, Palin is not coming on my show. Oprah pretends this is due to her being objective and says candidates are welcome on her show after the election. Oprah asks Palin to come on the show well after the election. Palin says no thanks. Oprah runs to the media, who dutifully report that she is being “snubbed” and is upset by Palin’s actions. Is there anyone out there with an IQ over 10 that does not see the complete and utter hypocrisy behind the media and the lefties?

A self-described liberal compiles a list of the year’s most memorable political quotes. Here’s a shock – the top spot belongs not to a politician, but to an actor portraying a politician in a deliberate attempt to undermine said politician, and according to the list-maker, it worked. Tina Fey claimed the top spot for her portrayal of Sarah Palin, who got her own spot on the list. McCain also had two quotes on the list. Nearly all of the quotes were by Republicans, of course, and were selected for their supposed embarrassing qualities. Yet another shocker – Obama had no quote on the list, not even for the “clinging to guns and religion” tirade. Strange, the leftie goober said that it was neither remarkable nor foolish.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Washington State to Feature Festivus Display

PC run amok alert - The state government of Washington don't want to offend anyone. At least when it comes to displays that come around the end of the year, maybe during the month of December.

So, in addition to approving a nativity scene and a Christmas tree, they have decided that anyone else who submits a request deserves to be treated with equal respect. This has led to approval of displays by atheists and anti-religious zealots. It has also led to approval of a display, approved by state officials and put on public property, of a Festivus display.

If it doesn't ring a bell right away, don't be concerned. Festivus is completely made up. It's a fictional holiday that was featured on an episode of Seinfeld.

Now Washington State officials have placed it on equal standing with Christmas. Way to go, guys.

Labels: , ,

Complicit Media Covering for Obama

Obama meets with Blagojevich about naming his replacement. This is reported by the media and confirmed by Obama's staff.

Blagojevich is arrested for attempting to sell the nomination to the highest bidder.

Obama denies even meeting Blagojevich. The staff member suddenly develops a case of Total (can't) Recall and claims to have misspoke. The media jumps in the hot tub by removing all articles that confirm the meetings from their website.

Admit it. Are you surprised in the least by any of this? Does this even make your eyebrow raise 1 millimeter? Of course not.

Now ask yourself if these were Republicans, would the media assist in the coverup, or would they do their actual job? Even lefties and ozombies should get this one right.

Labels: , ,

What? That's his Middle Name?

In response to a question from a pool of reporters including the Chicago Tribune and the LA Times, Obama plans on using all three of his names at his inauguration.

But, wait a minute...isn't it racist to even mention that his middle name is Hussein?

That's what we have been told for the last year. People have been accused of being racist for even uttering Obama's middle name. Politicians who dared speak it in public were savaged by glassy-eyed Ozombies. Staff caught using the middle name were fired. John McCain even apologized for the dread word being used at a rally when he was introduced by someone not even on his staff.

So, let me get this straight. It's okay now to acknowledge that Obama has a middle name? It's no longer PC to ignore part of his name? We won't get pummeled for pointing out the truth?

That's nice. A big thank you to the lefties for finally allowing the rest of the world to speak this formerly forbidden word. Now maybe you can reach the point where you don't get your unmentionables all wadded up when you hear the word "socialist" used to accurately describe your fearless leader's economic policies.

Labels: ,

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Maddux a Star and a Role Model

One of the greatest pitchers in baseball history stepped down this week. Greg Maddux stands in the record books as one of the best all time. He was the best pitcher of the 90’s. He has 4 Cy Young awards to prove it. He was a complete ballplayer, winning at least 15 games in 18 years while being one of the best hitting pitchers year after year and proving to be the best fielding pitcher of his era and maybe all time by winning 18 Gold Gloves.

It would take pages to list all his accomplishments. And yet, at his retirement press conference, he was what he was since the day he was a rookie – soft-spoken, humble, and modest. Listening to the audio, you do not hear crowing or bragging. You hear a man who should be a role model for everyone, athlete or not.

Maddux stands in stark contrast to Rickey Henderson, who is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. Henderson always referred to himself in the third person, and he never passed a chance to tell everyone within earshot how great he was.

There is a story of Henderson reporting to a new team one spring. He had spent the entire winter griping about not making enough money, although he had been one of the highest-paid players for years. As a joke, a teammate pushed out a wheelbarrow filled with pennies on the field for Henderson. Rickey, who was worth millions at the time, took the wheelbarrow.

I don’t dispute that Rickey Henderson was a great player. I don’t dispute his eligibility for the Hall. I am extremely happy that he never played for the Atlanta Braves, just as I am extremely happy that Maddux did play for them.

Maddux has a reservation in five years for his induction into the Hall of Fame. It would be a travesty if he is not joined by John Smoltz and Tom Glavine on the same stage. Sadly, it appears that will be the case, since both Smoltz and Glavine appear to be preparing to play this year, pushing their inductions back at least one more year.

I know I won’t be the first nor the last to mention it, but I would love to see Maddux signed to a contract late this year by the Braves to pitch a few games. This would allow him to end his stellar career as a Brave, and could provide a truly historic moment for a HOF induction ceremony. I admit to being selfish. I want to see the three of them standing together on that stage. It’s the right thing to do.

Sadly, I don’t think it will happen. Why? Because Maddux is not the type to agree to it. He would not come back to pitch in Atlanta unless he was convinced it was real, and he could help them.

We don’t care if you are capable of your same high standards, Greg. We just want to see you in a Braves uniform again, if only for a couple of starts, and if only to stand and cheer for you one more time. Good luck in the future. Enjoy your retirement. We know you’ll spend a lot of time on the golf courses. And we know that no matter what you do, you’ll do it with your usual bulldog mentality.

Labels: , , , ,

Irony and Wealth Envy

You spread wealth envy for years, and this is the result.

When a company goes out of business, it’s a result of the company not making enough profit to survive. When a company does not make enough profit, it’s a result of some combination of poor management and poor performance by employees.

Now we have a company in Obama’s adopted political home closing its doors and going out of business. The employees are upset because they received “only” three days notice that the business was going under.

Forget all the junk about the company’s credit line being lowered or revoked. Ignore this idiocy about a federal law requiring 60 days notice of layoffs. The bottom line is that a business that was 40 years old is closing, and the workers are upset that “their” jobs are disappearing. This is a direct result of being fed lies for years that these jobs belong to them. The angry workers have decided to break the law and trespass, refusing to leave the factory. This is a direct result of being fed lies for years that it’s okay to break the law if you think you’re in the right. The factory, just like the jobs, belongs to the company. Let them stay there as long as they want and wish them a Merry Christmas sitting in the dark on a cold factory floor.

The criminals (I will no longer refer to them as workers for the sake of accuracy) blame evil management, of course. They blame the banks for not extending credit, although it’s the job of the bank to adjust lines of credit depending on ability to pay, and when they stop doing it properly, it leads to the morass we currently enjoy. They blame everyone except themselves and their union, of course. They blame the bailouts, and here is the irony. The lefties who sit in power have gotten there and remained there by convincing stupid people that wealth envy is good. Now, they themselves face anger based on the idiocy of wealth envy.

It’s almost too funny.

Labels:

Friday, December 05, 2008

Welfare Brood Mare

Neal Boortz used the phrase to describe this 29 year old self-described "stay at home mom" who has 10 children.

29 years old. 10 children. Single.

The article is about how she depends on charitable organizations for the ability to raise her brood. There's a shock - taxpayers are raising her children because she is too busy on her back making more with God-only-knows how many different men (johns?).

The most ironic thing about the story is the main charity organization that supports this woman and her never-ending spout of kids is described as a "faith-based community outreach agency." Gee, just like the ones that President Bush pushed, while lefties laughed, made fun and ridiculed him for doing so.

But let's not lose sight of the most imporant part of this story.

29 years old. 10 children. Single.

Labels:

Non-Demoninational Holiday Shrub

Here you go.

What is wrong with this passage?

"Since 1940, the Boston Common holiday tree display has been a Boston tradition. This cherished annual event includes the lighting of Boston’s official non-denominational holiday shrub"

Labels: , ,

Terrorist Lego Figurine

Someone has created a Lego-like figure that is an Islamic Terrorist, complete with assault rifle and grenade vest.

Oh, and now we hear from the Group to Respect Islamic People Everywhere (GRIPE), a loosely organized association that I have created to include roughly all of these groups that will sit quietly while suicide terrorists will kill thousands but will come absolutely unglued if anyone should ever put the words "Islamic" and "terrorist" in the same sentence.

The main GRIPE'r this time is from some unknown group called the Ramadhan Foundation from the UK. He says, " don't think there's any difference between someone that shouts hatred through a megaphone and someone that creates a doll that glorifies terrorists."

Perhaps some people don't think there's any difference between people who shout praise to Allah while committing murder, and those who follow Allah but will refuse steadfastly to condemn the murderers.

Please. Inform us. Tell us just what group of terrorists from the last few years are NOT associated with Islam.

The terrorists are committing their atrocities based on their beliefs in Islam. Their ideas on what Islam means is the root basis of their crimes. Despite the fact that they are utterly totally wrong, they are Islamic terrorists. That is a fact. It can't be denied. It can't be swept under the rug. It can't be ignored.

Terrorists are overwhelmingly Islamic. Therefore, when people talk about them, we use the term Islamic Terrorist. Get over it, and educate others that this is wrong. You want respect for Islam? Stand up and denounce terrorism.

Labels:

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

The Purpose of Christmas Music

I love Christmas. I love Christmas music.

Christmas is a time for joy, hope, good will, happiness, family, and many, many other things that make you smile. Christmas is a time to reflect on your life and to realize just how great it is. It’s a time to laugh with your friends, spend time with your family, and to splurge on your loved ones.

All of the great things about Christmas can be found in the music. I love listening to the songs. I love singing the songs. Christmas songs are meant to be full of love, joy, happiness, hope, warmth and generally wonderful memories.

This is why I am really tired of the latest trend of Christmas songs that are negative or depressing. Who needs or wants that?

One of the first and most famous was the group of well-intentioned artists who gathered in England to record “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” the bouncy tune that admonishes everyone about staving people in Africa. Every time I hear it, I am reminded of the late manic comic, Sam Kinison. In a bit about world hunger, he would bend over, act like he was picking up soil, and would yell, “it’s SAND! Nothing grows in the DESERT!”

My point on this song, and others like it that will remain nameless here because I don’t want to give them attention, is that Christmas is not a time to attempt to make others feel bad about things. It’s inappropriate to trot out the “I’m better than you because I care, even though I really don’t do anything to help a situation except point out how others don’t do anything about it” attitude and try to incorporate that into a holiday song.

I notice that what has happened on most of these songs is they are accepted or rejected on the basis of the melody. I get a good laugh when I see someone tapping their foot along with a song that questions Christmas, totally neglecting the words and intent of the song. To me, that is extremely appropriate that the song works its way into the festive holiday spirit in total opposition of its meaning.

So, if you are an artist, and you are planning on making a sad, depressing, accusatory, lecturing song…go ahead. It will either be forgotten quickly, or people will hum along with the tune (if it’s good) and totally ignore the words.

You can’t overcome Christmas. You can’t ruin it for us, no matter how hard you try.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Labels: ,

Monday, December 01, 2008

Astounding Bailout Numbers

I am just boggled at this information.

The current bailout (that just had to be done) has already cost us more than the following programs combined:

The Marshall Plan;
The Louisiana Purchase;
The Race to the Moon;
The S&L Crisis;
The Korean War;
The New Deal;
The Invasion of Iraq;
The Vietnam War;
and The Entire NASA Program

That's MORE than those programs - COMBINED. Even when the totals are ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION. It's even more than the inflation-adjusted cost of WWII.

How are you not seeing that this is wrong?

Labels:

Lefties Try To Steal Another Election

The Lefties and the Media will crawl out of their snuggly bed long enough to proclaim that it's Republicans who routinely attempt to steal elections. This is usually as a result of a legal challenge by a Leftie being shot down by a court on the grounds that they are ridiculous.

Anyone with any sense can see that time after time, it's the lefties who try and steal elections.

Who is routinely found to be registering dead people, imaginary people, prison inmates, aliens (from other countries), aliens (from other galaxies), animals, and just about any other entity in order to flood the rolls with illegal ballots for their candidates? Lefties.

Who routinely whines about results and then will march off to court, surrounded by umpteen hundreds of lawyers and frickteen dozens of media lapping at their heels? Lefties.

Who will refuse to accept a recount, followed by refusing to accept a court decision, followed by refusing to accept a higher court decision, followed by accusing the other side of fixing the results? Lefties.

Who has a group named for the desire to see people "move on" and yet are incapable of letting the 2000 elections go? You got it - Lefties.

Who is conspiring right now to steal enough senate seats to overcome filibusters? Lefties.

Labels: , , ,