Yet another Chicago sports' embarrassment

Criminality & Failure Chronicled

And it must be said that while Blago will probably spend a few years in prison, Bush will walk away scot-free despite his many, many worse crimes... because, apparently, if the President does it, it isn't illegal.

Countdown: Keith Olbermann Looks At Bush's REAL Legacy

President Bush tells interviewers he does not care how history will portray him.

But in our third story tonight, the Los Angeles Times has obtained an internal White House memo giving cabinet members talking points for painting history a rosy portrait of Mr. Bush even though his image will only get worse, as new, damning facts emerge.

What does the memo say? And how are we obliged to correct its bizarre claims?

To start, it says Mr. Bush, quote, "...promised to raise standards and accountability in public schools -- and delivered the No Child Left Behind Act," an act so poorly received, that the Times points out it became a standard applause line this year... for Democrats.

Also from the memo: he curbed AIDS in Africa.

Its spread has slowed, and Mr. Bush has won praise for this but he has not won any praise for withholding funds from groups that promote condom use, a proven life-saver in favor of abstinence-only programs, which have also failed in this country.

Also, Mr. Bush's foreign-aid puritan, Randall Tobias quit last year after patronizing an escort service linked to prostitution.

Also from the memo: Mr. Bush lifted the economy with his tax cuts and, quote, "responded with bold measures to prevent an economic meltdown."

In 2005, Mr. Bush told a 57-year-old single mother of three, one of them mentally challenged, that it was "fantastic", "uniquely American" that she had to work three jobs unlike half a million people who have no job as of November... in the first presidency for decades during which family earning power fell, and income disparity continued to rise.

The "meltdown" he "prevented" now having claimed several Wall Street institutions which had weathered 1929, and 9/11... but not 43.

And, of course, the old standby, quote, he "kept the American people safe"...

Not counting twenty percent of his first term, January 20th, 2001, until September 11th, 2001. On 9/11, he sat reading "My Pet Goat" for seven minutes after learning America was under attack. Then covered up environmental dangers at Ground Zero, and failed to provide for the health of rescue workers. Helped bin Laden's family flee the country. Opposed the 9/11 Commission, the Department of Homeland Security. Tried to outsource America's port security to Dubai. Did not keep us safe from the shoe-bomber... alert passengers and crew did that...

Did not keep five Americans safe from anthrax... and never caught their killer.

Still hasn't caught the killer of 17 sailors aboard the USS Cole.

Still hasn't caught the killer of 3,000 on 9/11... outsourcing that to Afghans... turning that country into a narco-state, giving bin Laden a safe haven in the region of Waziristan by literally endorsing a truce that Pakistan signed with the Taliban there.

And most of all, not keeping safe 4,200 Americans dead in his war, a war that made us less safe, invading a country that posed no grave or gathering threat, provided a check on Iran... then igniting insurrection by disbanding the Baathist Party, creating a Muslim theocracy purged of its moderate intelligentsia. One in which freedom has marched backward for women.

And Lebanon, too, elected a Muslim theocracy... run by Hamas, no less.

Keeping us safe?

Terrorism is rising worldwide.

The still-thriving enemy has claimed Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto...

And thousands of people in India... including 200 in Mumbai last month.

Russia can now invade U-S allies without fear of retribution.

And Mr. Bush failed to prevent Kim Jong Il from joining the ranks of nuclear powers.

Despite even more ample warning than he received prior to 9/11, he lifted not a finger to keep a major American city safe from wind and water.

And what, finally, of the claim in the talking points... that Mr. Bush has always upheld, quote, "the honor and the dignity of his office"?

You must define dignity downward to find it in a lie.

The lie of "Mission Accomplished."

Of upholding the Constitution... or protecting habeas corpus.

That we do not eavesdrop without warrants... do not eavesdrop on Americans.

The lie that we do not torture.

That we do not play politics with justice... that we do not use the wheels of justice... to crush dissent.

That we do not betray those who serve us in secret.

That we uphold, rather than commute, the penalties for those who do.

That we do not stage fake news conferences, do not censor science... do not plant propaganda in Iraqi newspapers... nor pay US columnists to write it in American newspapers.

Or push respected Americans to vaporize their honor and dignity with lies to the world.

Or lie about the causes of the credit crisis, high gas prices, or even that he watched the first plane hit the North Tower on TV.

Where is the honor in vowing a crusade? Of daring those who would kill American troops to "bring it on?"

Of promising to care for the troops after you put them in harm's way, without body armor or up-armored vehicles?

Where was the honor, the dignity in giving a dead soldier's mother a presidential coin and telling her "don't sell it on eBay."?

His memo, revealing yet another lie.

He does care how history will portray him.

And now... he knows.
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add this to Bud Lite's List of Fails (cont'd)

Santo falls short again of Hall of Fame induction

December 8, 2008
BY CHRIS DE LUCA Staff Reporter

LAS VEGAS — Despite a restructured process that was thought to favor him, former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo was again denied entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today when the Veterans Committee failed to vote in any of the 10 finalists on the post-1942 ballot.

Santo got the most votes, but fell well short of the 75 percent necessary. He got 39 votes, good for 60.9 percent. Jim Kaat got 38 for 59.4 percent and Tony Oliva got 33 for 51.6 percent. None of the other 10 finalists got more than 50 percent of the vote.

‘‘When our board of directors restructured the Veterans Committee after the 2007 election, it did so with the goal of ensuring the voters — the living Hall of Famers — would review their peers,’’ Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark said. ‘‘The 10 post-1942 ballot finalists all spent a substantial part of their playing career in the 1960s or the 1970s, and a vast majority of the voters were either actively playing, managing or involved in baseball in those two decades.’’

A sub committee did review a ballot of players who began their careers before 1943 and elected nine-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion Joe Gordon, a second baseman who played for the Yankees and Indians.

Among the players on the post-1942 ballot, Santo was the clear favorite under the revamped system, which cut the field to just 10 names before a final vote. There has been growing pressure on the committee to swing its doors open after gaining the reputation for being hard-liners.

‘‘The process was not redesigned with the goal of necessarily electing someone, but to give everyone on the ballot a very fair chance of earning election through a ballot of their peers,’’ Clark said. ‘‘The vote reinforces the selections of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and maintains the high standards set by the BBWAA. A 75 percent threshold is extremely difficult to attain, but the highly selective process helps ensure that enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame remains the greatest honor in the game.’’

Contacted by the Sun-Times on Sunday, Santo admitted he was anxious.

‘‘Nothing's going to change in my life if I don't get in,’’ he said before the results were announced. ‘‘I believe what I've done in baseball is Hall of Fame, and that would satisfy me immensely. But it's not going to make a difference to [family, friends and fans who have reached out]. They're still going to be around if I don't get in. That's what means a lot to me. ‘‘Am I excited about it? I've been so disappointed. This is my best chance, so don't get me wrong. But I thought I had a great chance [the past two elections].’’

Rounding out the post-1942 ballot were Gil Hodges (28 votes, 43.8 percent), Joe Torre (19, 29.7 percent), Maury Wills (15, 23.4 percent), Luis Tiant (13, 20.3 percent), Vada Pinson (12, 18.8 percent), Al Oliver (9, 14.1 percent), Dick Allen (7, 10.9 percent).

More evidence morons were voting: Dick Allen finishes behind Wills, Pinson & Oliver. His OPS+ is 19th all-time, the same as Willie Mays.
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I dunno who this guy is but Obama should get him on the blower, pronto

Peter Schiff Was Right

Watch how he predicts every upcoming FAIL of the economy while FOX brain-dead morons like Neal Cavuto, Ben Stein, Arthur Laffer and a host of others snear, guffaw, laugh, smirk etc. at his 100% correct predictions. Also notice the financial stocks they recommend, like Washington Mutual. What i want to know is why does Cavuto still has a show, and why (i am sure) most of these proven moronic "experts" are still appearing on it (like the insufferable Ben Stein--the Bill Kristol of the financial sector). This Peter Schiff guy should have a show. By the way, gold is at $817 per ounce. That's about where it was at the beginning of the year, but the price is trending upwards in the last couple of weeks.

In an August 2006 interview Schiff generated much controversy when he repeated his long-held investment thesis: "The United States economy is like the Titanic and I am here with the lifeboat trying to get people to leave the ship ...I see a real financial crisis coming for the United States."

On da udder hand:

Schiff is a firm believer in reducing government regulation of the economy. Schiff worries that Barack Obama will increase such regulation.

Schiff was an economic adviser to [crazy--ed.] Ron Paul's 2008 presidential campaign....
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From the troglodyte homunculus who said Kerry was going to win, or, OUTLIER

Pollster John Zogby: "Is McCain making a move? The three-day average holds steady, but McCain outpolled Obama today, 48% to 47%. He is beginning to cut into Obama's lead among independents, is now leading among blue collar voters, has strengthened his lead among investors and among men, and is walloping Obama among NASCAR voters. Joe the Plumber may get his license after all. "Obama's lead among women declined, and it looks like it is occurring because McCain is solidifying the support of conservative women, which is something we saw last time McCain picked up in the polls. If McCain has a good day tomorrow, we will eliminate Obama's good day three days ago, and we could really see some tightening in this rolling average. But for now, hold on."

Nate gives this a smackdown: Trick or Treat

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heckuva job MLB

Games that start in the middle of the night. Games that never end. Baseball-hating "umpires" umpiring baseball. A commissioner who changes the rules in the middle of the series, unbeknownst to the players. Inviting the Tampa Bay Jesus Rays to participate. And at the end of it all, a chance that the Philadelphia Phillies might win a championship.

Well yeah, however Obama's tax plan is still COMMUNISM

Email of the Day: Reaganomics is a totally failed policy
By John Amato Monday Oct 27, 2008 12:01pm

From the C&L inbox, Rick writes:
I loved your recap of the McCain interview with Brokaw. Just wanted to point out that not only did Reagan raise taxes during a recession, but Bill Clinton raised taxes in 1993 a year after his election. We were mired in the worst recession since the depression at the time. Not one GOP Congressman or Senator voted for Clinton’s tax raise at the time and they all claimed it would ruin the economy, the same as now. Well, as you know, Bill raised taxes and we saw the greatest growth in our history along with record surpluses that will probably never be equaled. Under Reagan we saw the beginning of the deregulation era that brought us the savings and loan crisis, the Enron debacle and this current banking crisis that we find ourselves in today. When Reagan took office in 1980 our total debt was under 1 trillion dollars. Today it is 11 trillion and we had surpluses under Clinton. So under Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2 we increased our national debt from 1 trillion to 11 trillion.

It’s time that everybody realized that Milton Friedman and Reaganomics is a totally failed policy and until we do realize it, we are doomed to keep repeating it. It’s remarkable that more so called experts have not addressed the failed “deregulation” policies of the GOP as the main contributor to this collapse of our banking system.
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I guess calling it "How to Survive the End Times" would have been kind of oxymoronic

When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency

Edgewater Smelts: Cub-like exploits

Finish with the best record in the league, and get crushed in the first round of the playoffs.

Nationwide Cubs Disaster

Dat dude wiff da goat musta been really, really, really, really, really mad wiff da Cubs...

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