BigSqwert

Taibbi wrote a pretty solid article yesterday on Obama and the debt deal. Excerpt:

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 04:12 PM) I'm past the point of thinking that Obama is just weak and ineffective. I don't believe he has anything close to a progressive agenda. That's pretty obvious at this point.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 04:09 PM) Obama campaigned on all sorts of stuff he immediately backed away from as his opening move. Perhaps he feels that if he immediately caves on everything for 3 and a half years, his opposition will be likely to help pass his progressive agenda right before the next election.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 04:02 PM) You know what makes it really hard to legitimize liberal policy? Not having either party in a two-party system ever advocate for it. Amen. What would be sad is if Obama and the Dem majorities he enjoyed during his tenure were forced out without ever really trying to enact progressive policies.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 02:17 PM) This is great. Thanks, brothers. I didn't think I was worthy of a B-day thread this year. I'll try not to drink. NOTTTTTTTTTTTT! QUOTE (Soxfest @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 04:01 PM) Thank you! Now go and enjoy another night of exciting Alex Rios style baseball!

Plus the Congressional GOP's approval ratings are even worse than the Dems' or Obama's. So basically a small minority of the population is running the show while the Dems bend over.

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 03:38 PM) That's because they continue to raise hell and their members know they will be primaried if they dont' vote their way. The left never does this. They vote someone in, sit and wait, then when they don't vote like they want, they just don't show up and he loses. They just had a billion constituents flood their phone lines last week. You recommend pitchforks instead?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 03:37 PM) I've never advocated not voting, though. I've simply advocated against voting for politicians like Obama. ^This

QUOTE (since56 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 03:34 PM) Things are getting ugly on most every thread. You should see the gardening thread! It's no longer safe for work.

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 03:32 PM) Congrats. I'll give you a high five if it isn't federally outlawed for being to homosexual and satanist. LOL. No need for scare tactics. The Left will use fear mongering to get out the vote just like the Right did before that. They're all the same.

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 03:28 PM) Enjoy it at the federal level. And as always, don't put any effort into actually running primaries against candidates to get them to move left, just don't vote. Hand elections to the republicans, because then in 8 years when things go to hell, we can get our act together againa nd get a big majority, and then stop caring and become disillusioned when we don't get everything we want in 1 election. And continue to let everything we care about get axed away in huge chunks because we have principles to only get everything we want and nothing less. Your guilt tripping won't work on me. I will vote for those that suit my interests. The hell with party affiliations. I'll even use the write-in portion of the ballot if I have to.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 03:24 PM) The reproductive rights fight has come back and the left is losing. Quite badly. And that's with us controlling the Executive Branch and the Senate.

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 02:53 PM) I admire conservatives a lot more. When conservatives got their asses handed to them they started working harder, running primaries against candidates they didn't like and then are putting together a really nice coalition. Liberals work hard for 1 election then just sit and watch, then cry and whine whent he other side didn't roll over and just become apathetic. That actually describes the liberal politicians.

QUOTE (onedude @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 02:51 PM) If Rios is starting today, there absolutely has to be something going on with KW and Ozzie. He's basically been saying f*** you KW for the last 4 games. If? He is. link

I look forward to the calls from the DNC when they're looking for donations.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 02:37 PM) Gotta vote Democrats to keep Republicans out! That way at least it's Democrats passing conservative bills!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 02:25 PM) You've got to be kidding. Who's on the mound today? Does it matter? He can't hit anyone as evidenced by his .383 OPS this past month.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 02:13 PM) F*ck Ozzie Guillen. Zero accountability despite being given permission from your boss to bench his big money player. I honestly think Ozzie Guillen, at this age, could have put up similar or better numbers than Rios in July. .383 OPS with no HRs and 4 RBIs

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 01:43 PM) It's funny. Rios wasn't all that hated on here until just recently. Yeah. People were in love with him up until about a week ago or so.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 01:56 PM) My enjoyment of baseball isn't tied to winning.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 01:52 PM) He's definitely one of the worst excuses for a big leaguer in White Sox history. Probably in the top five most overpaid players though Peavy and Dunn battle him on that one as well. And apparently there are only 2 people alive that are Ok with him continuing to play everyday. You and Ozzie Guillen.

Alex Rios in July: Batting average of .163 On Base % of .183 No home runs 4 RBIs Plus he has repeatedly dogged it in the field, multiple times within individual games.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 01:44 PM) Kenny and Jerry could release him. It's not just Ozzie. Kenny promoted De Aza and publicly stated that Ozzie doesn't need to play the most expensive players.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 01:43 PM) A 3.6 WAR 4 months into the season is not "blah", it's good for 30th in baseball and has made him worth $16.1M this season. He's also hitting .338/.410/.527/.937 this season in close and late situations and .333/.385/.563/.949 in high leverage situations, he's been huge when it has counted most. One of the last players we should be b****ing about is Alexei. Greg doesn't understand offensive statistics other than HRs and batting average. You might as well tell him what Alexei's blood type and SAT scores are.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 01:41 PM) What percentage of situations has he done that? The Sox I watch screw it up either way. Either strand runners the conventional way or f*** up the bunt. Most managers with any sense of dignity wouldn't continue to trot out a CF that is obviously dogging it. What a disgrace.