REAL News

[shostakovich]

Kerry, schmerry!! Between now and the debates we're likely to see mostly posturing, empty rhetoric, and negative ads. Nothing said (by the candidates) before August or September will stick in the minds in early November.

Meanwhile, sports news was made Monday and Tuesday. For the first time, the men's and women's basketball teams from the same school won national championships (Division 1) in the same season.
Shos

<small>[ 04-07-2004, 01:06 AM: Message edited by: shostakovich ]</small>

[BenMurphy6]

Stupid UCONN! If GaTech had decided to show up it would have at least been a game. The Huskies were clearly the best team. Thanks for beating Duke though, they really had that coming . But after my Wolfpack decided to live up to tradition and bow out early, I kind of lost interest anyway. Now bring on college football! And the Masters is this week

[barfle]

Does that mean that March Madness (now that it's April 7) is finally over?

Not much of a basketball fan, I'm afraid...

[Valerie]

i won my office pool - 350 bucks!!!!

i love march madness - i know NOTHING of the teams, i just fill out the stupid little chart and hand it in with my money!

[piqaboo]

Thats a nice pair of shoes, Strav!
Congrats!

[shostakovich]

So glad everyone is thrilled with the outcome.
Shos

[Rudy2toot]

Dr. Rice is testifying in public and under oath today.
You'll all probably be surprised to hear me say (having been tagged a "Bush hater" and a liberal), that I'm inclined to think thats a bad idea. Too political. I'm afraid they'll lose track of the goals.
What do you all think?
- I was in hospital last week so those of you who hoped I'd gone on to other things, hope you enjoyed the respite.

[haggis]

Many people (myself included) will be interested in what she has to say and have not already made up their minds about her and her testimony.

But many others have made up their minds -- notably, the partisan talking heads who populate shows like "Hardball." They already have their talking points in their heads.

There will be few, if any, surprises. The short format (ten questioners dividing up 2 hours and 30 minutes) doesn't allow for any person to pursue one line of questioning at length, and Rice is too well-prepared and too poised to say something really stupid.

Here are the buzzwords I expect from both sides.

Of her demeanor, her supporters will say she was: "poised," "confident," "authoritative," and/or "polished."

Of her demeanor, her detractors will say she was: "defensive," "visibly annoyed," and/or "brusque" ; bonus (if they feel strongly) "petulant" and/or "schoolmarmish"

On the quality of her arguments, Rice supporters will say: "persuasive," "convincing," "firm," and/or "powerful"; bonus (if they feel strongly) "overpowering"

On the quality of her arguments, Rice detractors will say: "unpersuasive," "weak," "vacillating," and/or "shaky,"; bonus (if they feel strongly) "incoherent"

Overall, Rice supporters will describe her performance as: "a home run," "putting doubts to rest," "answering all the questions," "showing Clarke to be a liar," and/or "letting us get on to the people's business"; bonus (if they are really partisan) "refuting the demagogues on the other side"

Overall, Rice detractors will describe her performance as: "raising more questions than it answers," "a missed opportunity to inform the American people," "vindicating Richard Clarke," and/or "raising troubling questions about this Administration"; bonus (if they are really partisan) "you're the demagogue" (followed by: "am not!"; "are too!"; "am not!"; etc.)

I doubt any of the talking heads will cross ideological lines.

[Shapley]

...and be sure to pick up your copy of The Idiots Guide to Punditry by Haggis Horriblus. Available in bookstores now!

[haggis]

hehehe Shape, us "3rd Chairs" have to stick together!!!

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Every now and then I find myself fondly wishing to hear something "accurate" "clear" "concise" and "objective". But then I pinch myself, as it is well known that (a) the hearings are in Washington and (b) it is an election year.

I have my own personal doubts about the airing of intelligence matters in public. In general, I think discretion is appropriate, and that newscasters are often not the best oversight for either intelligence or military matters.

[Marye]

Supporters: she was great..
Detractors: what a liar...

[haggis]

I haven't had time to read all her testimony but this quote stuck in my mind and succinctly describes our own struggles with freedom and democracy:

” We know that the building of democracy is tough. It doesn't come easily. We have our own history. When our Founding Fathers said, "We the people", they didn't mean me. It's taken us a while to get to a multiethnic democracy that works.”

partisan politics aside, I think she is a class act and I won't be surprised to see her on a ballot as a VP candidate someday soon i.e. 2008.

(Ed. "Or Prez? it's America, anything is possible!!")

[BenMurphy6]

So much for finally having a sports thread on this board...

[Rudy2toot]

Ben- I'm sorry. I'm kinda new and realized i'd hijacked your thread after the fact.

[Marye]

How about those Yankees...??!?!?!?!

[piqaboo]

Hilary and Condi in 2008, and the Cubs win the
World Series!

[BenMurphy6]

Phil Mickelson won the Masters today (his first major) in one of the best back-nine duels in championship history. Don't tell me no one else was watching that!!

[The Great Carouser]

World Champion Marlins looked good
Padres bullpen looked sad

Men who wear green jackets
fashion sense is bad.
:p

[jmfryar]

<small>[ 11-25-2005, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: jmfryar ]</small>