Wild Card — 2/7/09

53 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

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  wheels on February 07 at 6:25 a.m.

  The Gonzaga game is at the Arena, not the Kennel.Memphis coach wanted nothing to do with the Kennel.Must be superstitious.Tix could be tight.The Zags will be viewed as legit if they pull this one off.And BTW that airline pilot at least deserves the keys to NYC for landing in the Hudson.Plane was full of fuel.Turning it around/no power and dragging the tail in first….Oh baby.

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  Arch_Druid on February 07 at 8:55 a.m.

  Does anyone know that Jerry Bruckheimer, who is known for producing CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, Cold Case and Without a Trace was also a co-producer of a major film, Top Gun. I know this because of my major collection of old VHS tapes. So I guess it would stand to reason that he would migrate from action flicks such as Top Gun to cop shows.

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  Transplanted_Texan on February 07 at 10:16 a.m.

  And here’s some breaking news: Alex Rodgrigues tests positive for steroids here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/07/alex-rodriguez-steroids/index.html?eref=T1

  Darn, I thought he was the guy who was going to save baseball’s “most hallowed record” from the druggy Bonds. Well, at least they caught him early, he’s still got 200 homers to go.

  One more legend-on-his-own who just had to go and ruin it. Bonds, Clemens, and A-Rod were all among the best of their generation before they drugged up. I’ll never understand that mindset.

• 

  Transplanted_Texan on February 07 at 10:19 a.m.

  Arch Druid, he also did The Rock with Cage and Connery; I was just watching that last night. If I’m not mistaken, he also did Remember the Titans… yup, just checked IMDB. He did do Titans, as well as National Treasure, Bad Boys, Pirates of the Caribbean, Black Hawk Down, Coyotoe Ugly, and a lot more.

• 

  Bent on February 07 at 11:03 a.m.

  Obama needs to put the slap down on Pelosi:

  http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-democrats-ready-to-fight-on-stimulus-2009-02-06.html

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  idawa on February 07 at 12:41 p.m.

  Re - the another ‘roided out slugger - I think the mindset is the same mindset that the Wall Street bankers had that led us into this current crisis. Be it using illegal drugs or using a highly levered business model based on risky asset portfolio, the mindset is this: all my competitors are using, those that are using are excelling, if I don’t use I will be passed by, and the risks seem remote as people have a self enforcing bias (we ALL think we are smarter than were are and less likely to fail than others, etc) therefore the use of drugs or a risky business strategy are all rational decisions at the time they are made.

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  Bent on February 07 at 12:52 p.m.

  I just went over to check out Open Cda Blog and noticed that they have started using avatars too… hmmm

• 

  Kage_Mann on February 07 at 1:24 p.m.

  Bent, why don’t you post something over there? I wouldn’t read too much into the avatar deal.I know the Press bloggers have had avatars for a long time.I like the avatar DFO gave me.

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  JohnA on February 07 at 1:24 p.m.

  Wheels, the Zags game tickets are tight but Deena and I got two from a friend of my sister. We’re really looking forward to it, my first college game in decades. Go Zags, kick butt. :)

• 

  Sisyphus on February 07 at 2:02 p.m.

  I disagree Bent. I think those cuts mandated by two Republicans were ludicrous. With both the state and federal Republicans gunning for education I think we jeopardize our future greatly. In 2001 Republicans passed legislation allowing $1.3 trillion in tax cuts for a much smaller recession and now they’re griping over $900 billion. To give you some perspective on the dire situation we’re in have a looksee at this graph (click on it to see full size).

  http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=16849

  Unfortunately I don’t think we have time to haggle. One thing that doesn’t seem to click with the media is that spending is stimulus.

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  hmoffsuite on February 07 at 2:21 p.m.

  sis. >> “One thing that doesn’t seem to click with the media is that spending is stimulus.”

  Well done. Isn’t that taken right out of Obama’s talking points? Right out of the demo play book? Spending on social entitlements has quite a contrary effect to stimulating the economy. This whole stimulus package is a rip off to the American public but a wonderful benefit to the democratic party. Congrats. A job well done and you guys are good.

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  Bent on February 07 at 2:32 p.m.

  I am totally aware of the situation we are in Sis. I have been tracking this issue since October. I have watched most of the committee hearings and with any luck, I will be sitting in the Senate Gallery watching the Cloture vote monday evening.

  I am also very much aware of the politcal moves that are being made…

  Like I said on a post yesterday, this is not just the Republicans. There many democrats who have publically spoke out against Pelosi and her plan.

  And Sis, I am not arguing the merits of the programs in this plan. In fact, I might agree with you at least in part.

  I simply saying if anyone is left to blame for stalling efforts to get a “bipartisan” recovery plan out the door like Obama pledged, that person would be Pelosi.

  If Obama wants this bill by Feb 13th, he will have to put the smack down on Pelosi. (did you even read my link?)

  BTW, the Senate plan was crafted by 18 Senators: 3 GOP, 1 Independent, and 14 Democrats. Further 11 democrats voted against Pelosi’s bill in the house, calling the formation of that bill disengenous.

  Those democrats were not voting against Obama — that would be political suicide. They were clearly voting against Pelosi.

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  Sisyphus on February 07 at 3:05 p.m.

  Thanks for the clarification Bent. Yes I read the link before I responded but you were still cryptic. I’m not in much disagreement with your perception of things except your last paragraph. Those few Democrats were certainly voting against Obama and for their re-election chances in two years. There votes didn’t matter so I don’t think he’ll begrudge them that. I wasn’t referring to bipartisan composition of the senate plan but the proposed amendments as I made clear. I omitted Ben Nelson from the reference however. I’m not sure why you put the lack of bipartisanship all at Pelosi’s door but I agree she’ll be the next hurdle in getting this passed quickly.

  As far as spending being stimulus Obama seems well sourced with economists like Dean Baker is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC. who recently argued that media reports should be ridiculed because: “Spending that is not stimulus is like cash that is not money. Spending is stimulus, spending is stimulus. Any spending will generate jobs. It is that simple. There is a question of whether the spending will go to areas that will provide benefits, long-term or short-term, to the economy, but there is no question that money that is spent will create jobs and therefore is stimulus.” I guess I’m confused why $1.3 trillion in tax cuts for the rich is good for all Americans but increasing some food stamps payments for the 3.6 million unemployed and helping states fund education is only good for the Democratic Party.

• 

  Sisyphus on February 07 at 3:14 p.m.

  I just love that arrogant Republican perception that if it benefits Democrats It must be anti-American.

• 

  hmoffsuite on February 07 at 3:19 p.m.

  sis >>” Any spending will generate jobs. It is that simple.”

  The problem here is that the jobs are one time wonders. After the money is gone, so are the jobs. Need to spend on jobs that create products, services, small businesses etc. And then that, in turn, creates jobs. Teach a man to fish thing. And, the money shouldn’t all go to the government for their exceptional fiscal management and distribution.

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  hmoffsuite on February 07 at 3:24 p.m.

  sis >> ” just love that arrogant Republican perception that if it benefits Democrats It must be anti-American”

  Anti-American (TAXPAYER) that should be.

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  Bent on February 07 at 3:43 p.m.

  Hmoff, in any other situation I would probably side with what you are saying, but man, we are on the brink of a “deflationary spiral.” Econonmist do not know how to escape them. Just Goggle that term for real education…

  In fact, Japan has been caught in one for more than a decade, and they have spent trillions on infrastructure to pull themselves out, and only to find that it wasn’t enough. They are now seeing some recovery after investing in employment sectors that go beyond construction, i.e. education and healthcare.

  I don’t like the situation. But I haven’t heard one economist advocate for doing nothing. This is not hyperbole. Clearly something must be done.

  Let’s not forget that Iceland’s government has collapsed. Mexico’s is not far behind. We are on the brink, but if we are wise enough to learn from Japans track record there is chance we could pull out of this, but we could also stall this thing with partisanship (from both sides of the isle) …

  Here this ran today in the Times. To me, it seems to support what the what the bipartisan Senate group proposed. They worked to spread things out. We ought to try it…

  If it turns out that Pelosi was right on education, Congress still has the FY 2009, and FY 2010 budgets to work on… they can address more spending in that process.

• 

  Bent on February 07 at 3:47 p.m.

  oops, forgot the link. It’s well worth a read. In fact, I surprise this hasn’t penetrated the debate in deeper way.

  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/world/asia/06japan.html?_r=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

• 

  wheels on February 07 at 3:49 p.m.

  BTW JIMMYMAC happy belated B-DAY.

• 

  hmoffsuite on February 07 at 3:56 p.m.

  Thanks, Bent. That is a worthwhile read. Would like to have seen it from a source other than the NYT tho. :~)

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  Cindy_H on February 07 at 5:55 p.m.

  Happy belated BD JimmyMac. I’m delighted to discover that no way am I old enought to be your mother.
  Um. Not that being your mom would be a bad thing.

• 

  thawtfulreader on February 07 at 5:56 p.m.

  “Bent on February 07 at 3:47 p.m.

  oops, forgot the link. It’s well worth a read. In fact, I surprise this hasn’t penetrated the debate in deeper way.

  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/wor…”

  Good article, very good. A couple of key points in terms of the multiplier factor:

  “Japan’s experience also seems to argue for spending heavily to promote social development. A 1998 report by the Japan Institute for Local Government, a nonprofit policy research group, found that every 1 trillion yen, or about $11.2 billion, spent on social services like care for the elderly and monthly pension payments added 1.64 trillion yen in growth. Financing for schools and education delivered an even bigger boost of 1.74 trillion yen, the report found.

  But every 1 trillion yen spent on infrastructure projects in the 1990s increased Japan’s gross domestic product, a measure of its overall economic size, by only 1.37 trillion yen, mainly by creating jobs and other improvements like reducing travel times.”

  In terms of infrastructure spending, it should be tailored to repair/replace bridges and roads etc that are dangerously beyond their service life. I mean like that bridge in Dover, or wherever it is, that’s a no-brainer. There are hundreds more like it all over the country.

  But building NEW highways/bridges etc should get very little of the infrastructure stimulus money, there are simply too many projects (Engineers suggest its in the trillions of dollars) of backlogged maintenance and repair/replacement that needs to be done.

• 

  Stickman on February 07 at 6:15 p.m.

  Of course. Happy Birthday to a long time blogger. I hope Jimmy Mac comes to the blogfest, then in person he would be so much more enjoyable.

• 

  Truly on February 07 at 6:28 p.m.

  Stickman I’m glad to see your are back:)

  Peace:)

• 

  thawtfulreader on February 07 at 6:28 p.m.

  “Transplanted Texan on February 07 at 10:16 a.m.

  And here’s some breaking news: Alex Rodgrigues tests positive for steroids here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009…”

  OK, my question to sports junkies, has Sports Illustrated been pretty accurate in their reporting of these stories regarding steroid use?

  They cite 4 unnamed sources which is a little iffy unless they’ve done this kind of reporting before with anon sources and which later it was made very clear their anon sources were right.

  It wouldn’t surprise me in the least, from the little I know, that A-Rod is actually A-‘Roid, but I don’t follow the biz enough to judge S/I’s credibility on this.

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  Transplanted_Texan on February 07 at 10:27 p.m.

  Awfulreader, yes, I’m consistently impressed with SI’s investigative reporting, including earlier sports stories like Ken Caminiti’s drug use and some of the first steroid busts. They’ve always had insightful, thoughtful, and generally-trustworthy writing for a sports rag, going back decades to a story on race and sports. I don’t subscribe, but I do buy them off the newstand much more often than I do TSN or ESPN: The Magazine. And, if they’ve got four sources (four is a lot for a story like this in any kind of journalism, it’s usually just one or two) from two different places that the journalist trusts and A-Rod refuses to deny the story, I’d be inclined to believe it anyway

• 

  Stickman on February 08 at 7:25 a.m.

  JimmyMac: I meant it would be good to see you, not that you are more enjoyable in person. The blog messes me up at times. And I’m not really back Truly, I just feel the urge to write a line now and then, usually something simple. It will be good to see you there.

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