Texsox

I am hoping to go into this season with all the pessimism I can muster. I'm hoping to set my sights on breaking the all time loss record. I'm trying to set my frame of mind that this will be the all time worse baseball team ever put on a field. With that frame of mind, the season will not dissapoint and may even be fun. I remember the pain of getting swept in the opening series after practicly booking a flight for post season play. Not this year. The best we can finish is 5th, possibly 4th if the Tigers lose a couple of their top players.

By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Citing national security reasons, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz has ruled that prime contracts to rebuild Iraq (news - web sites) will exclude firms from nations such as France and Germany that opposed the U.S. war. In a policy document released on Tuesday, Wolfowitz said he was limiting competition for 26 reconstruction contracts worth up to $18.6 billion that will be advertised in coming days. "It is necessary for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States to limit competition for the prime contracts of these procurements to companies from the United States, Iraq, coalition partners and force contributing nations," Wolfowitz said in a notice published on the web site www.rebuilding-iraq.net. The move is likely to anger France and Germany and other traditional allies in NATO and the U.N. Security Council who are being blocked out of prime contracts after their opposition to the war. They may bid for sub-contracts. But the decision will placate countries such as Britain, Italy and Spain, which provided troops to Iraq but whose companies were excluded from the first round of deals that went to U.S. firms. The contracts cover electricity, communications, public buildings, transportation, public works and security and justice. Additional contracts are also being awarded to oversee those projects. TIT FOR TAT RESPONSES U.S. trade lawyer Clark McFadden questioned the administration's criterion for the contracts. "Is this going to set a precedent where national security can be used to justify limiting competition?" he asked. Procurement specialist Prof. Steven Schooner from George Washington University said it was "disingenuous" to use national security as an excuse and predicted an angry reaction from those nations excluded. "This kind of decision just begs for retaliation and a tit-for-tat response from countries (such as Germany, France and Russia)," said Schooner. But a defense official said NATO partners had known for weeks they would not get prime Iraq business. "This is not a slight. We still have many agreements with those countries and good working relationships with them." Wolfowitz is hoping that excluded companies will put pressure on their governments to join the post-war effort. "Limiting competition for prime contracts will encourage the expansion of international cooperation in Iraq and in future efforts," wrote Wolfowitz. The document, dated Dec. 5, listed more than 60 countries eligible for contracts funded by the $18.6 billion appropriated by Congress to rebuild Iraq. The list included Britain, Australia, Poland, Japan, Italy, Norway, Spain, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, South Korea (news - web sites), the Philippines, Romania and Saudi Arabia. Some officials had argued privately the United States should not limit international competition to rebuild Iraq, where the infrastructure has been shattered by years of neglect, war and post-conflict looting and attacks. The roll-out of tenders to rebuild Iraq has been delayed in recent days while "high-level" policy decisions were being taken on Iraqi reconstruction and as lawyers checked that the final wording complied with U.S. procurement laws. A defense official said he expected the new contracts to be advertised on government Web sites later on Tuesday or on Wednesday. U.S. trade lawyer Roger Schagrin told Reuters non-coalition firms could still get business from selling material and equipment to the lead contractors. "Much of the money is expended on materials. A British or U.S. company could get a prime contract and then buy 100 percent French materials," said Schagrin.

Be good, how did you wind up in the barrel?

I use to backpack with a woman who could pee through the fly in her pants. She claims it was very easy to learn and very handy especially when drinking. Since I had already learned that her body parts were perfectly normal, it was a big surprise.

common southsider BeGood is the best poster boy for something I'm starting to enjoy his threads. He starts one and everybody slams him. Usually with some good humor. Although I thought he said poser in his original comment. I propose a most improved award for BeGood.

Donate your time ~ play for the second most popular baseball team in Chicago. Brilliant just f***ing brilliant.

The reason we hate him so aften is he's right so often. Dead nuts correct on this. I'm wondering if we continue to get f***ed by our own free agents will JR and Co. suck it up and grab some better (re $$$$) talent or bag the season? I'm hoping after getting backed into a corner and seeing the season going down the tubes in December they make some bigger moves than what Colon would have cost.

Why do we need to worry about 2007? When have we ever had a 3 or 4 year run? I wouldn't mind losing 100 games in 2007 if it meant a WS appearance in 2004. We've been worrying about 3 or 4 years out for as long as I've been a fan. Just put a damn winner out now and screw 3 or 4 years from now. Let me know when I sound like a broken record. I remember sounding like ya'll 20 years ago, build this, build that and after 20 years how many WS appearances do we have? How many championship banners are hanging from the Cell? Does anybody really care if Reinsdork and CO. make money in 2004 not to mention 2006 if we have a WS parade down Michigan Avenue?

BeGood you are moving up in my book. I like anyone who needs a spell cehcker as badly as I do.

But they ain't getting the job done. Anybody could make offers. getting it done is making offers that sign players.

I've decided to split my allegiance to the White Sox and am in the process of selecting another club. I'm leaning towards the Astros, but am open to suggestions. I've even thought of being one of those spineless wonders and cheering the ScRubs (except against the Sox). Tough call but the Sox are getting me too pissed again.

Coming down the stretch he was the only Sox starter that looked like he had some balls and could win a big game. At least we had the 12 mil per year, too bad we couldn't add a year. I'm resigning myself to hoping we have a Dontrel Willis type ready to bust out. Anyone want to takes bets on how fast ncorgbl will be here to chat about the "tub o Goo"?

You could give this orgaqnization the top 10 picks every year and we'll piss them away and let other teams take them.

Come on you can't expect us to complete with big cities like Kansas City :fyou I promised my self I wouldn't use the :fyou until next season but From me to you JR Colon :fyou Alomar :fyou Sully :fyou Everette :fyou Uribe and just to be the first one, 1 year in advance for Mark :fyou :fyou Look up Maddux to Braves for a f***ing history lesson in Chicago teams pissing away a great pitcher. This is why we can't trust these f***s to rebuild. They'll just piss away our players. Oh, and may I be the first to wish everyone a Merry Christmas

s*** PA, you and I have started threads dumber than this. But we knew to pad out post totals by responding Now you gove me a and I reply and we have 2 more posts.

I was lucky enought to meet him on two occassions and chat with him for a few minutes. Even on issues we disagreed, I was very impressed on how well thought out his opinion was. I remember when a small controversy errupted aorund him and even the republicans where saying there was no way Simon made a mistake or did anything unethical. That speaks volumes to his integrity. I also liked his tradition on election days. He would go plant a tree so that no matter what happened that day, something good would come out of it.

So then you don't think a team has to win their conference to play in the championship game.

I'm not being specific to this season which is why I started a different thread. I believe that just like the basketball playoffs, that the two best teams in the nation can come from the same conference. You are eliminating that possibility. This year there are two Big Ten teams and two Big 12 teams in the top 6. Using Michigan and Ohio as examples; if they had finised 1-2 in the polls would you have argued that one should be tossed out of the championship game and replaced by the 3rd rated team? That only one from the conference, the champion should play? If we make it a rule that to play in the championship game you have to win your last game of the season we will have programs scheduling stiffs to end the season.

I would rather they play for this year and fold up the team the following year. After 40+ years I've seen to much of not even making the playoffs and then rebuilding. Rebuilding what? That implies we had built something to begin with. This last year should have been the start of 2 or 3 years of contending. Instead, we are trying to rebuild a team that can win 88 games? We've been rebuilding since 1917. There is no building in baseball. You try and sign the best free agents, hope to add a rookie phenom, a couple players have career years, and pray your manager doesn't f*** it up. At the end of season repeat process. Developing players is too hit or miss. Dammit why did you get me started?

BeGood is the only one here that could use his real name and we would think it was a screen name

He's a Sox fan, he has to know the Dan Ryan. THANKS but ill only let your ride on it if you respect me respect you!? ok, as long as I don't have to like you ~and~ I don't kiss on the lips.

My favorite quote "We have to work a little harder in the future to retain players with the resources we have," he said. Work a little harder?! You dumb s***s. How much f***ing work is it to spend a few more dollars? That's the work. Quit using euphanisms work = money

I'd love Maddux if time travel was possible. Sorry, he's going to have a losing record next year and be out of the league by 2006.

I rarely use AIM but this week I received two IM from list members who somehow found out my ID. I removed that info from this site months ago. Both claimed to be administrators; but my guess it was someone playing a prank.

I like your expressway