1. Hampton, $121 million, Rockies (and Braves). The deals for him and Denny Neagle ($55 million, five years) set the Rockies back five years. On the other hand, the complicated trade to send him away and get the Rockies on the path to the World Series was a stroke of genius. The Braves, who got him from the Marlins in November 2002, two days after Colorado dumped him, are known for wise pitching decisions, but this has to be their worst.
2. Carl Pavano, $40 million, four (long) years, Yankees. Never really looked interested. Changed agents more times than he actually pitched.
3. Albert Belle, $65 million, five years, Orioles. Brought surly mood, diminished power and bad hip to Peter Angelos’ brand of bad baseball
His list has 13 names on it with contracts worth a combined $925 million.
That is really the way we have to look at it. Barack Obama is a free agent who came with a lot of hype and the country got carried away with it, we thought we were getting the next Jackie Robinson, instead we got Pumpsie Green.
Remember when everyone told us that democrats should run on their records supporting Obamacare and the president when the people were screaming otherwise in polls?
I’m sure the leadership said they would stand behind them.
Facing a perilous political environment that has left the House Democratic majority in jeopardy, Van Hollen told reporters in a briefing at the National Press Club that the party faces a series of difficult decisions about which candidates to invest in this fall — and whom to leave behind
“At the end of the day, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will look at races we can win,” Van Hollen said.
And in the same breath he insists the democrats will retain the house.
So to all you democrats who thought it would be a good idea to let Obamacare pass and to all you blue dogs who pulled a FishbaitMiller thinking that Pelosi and co would save you, I have one word.
SUCKERS!
A wheel of fish award for you!
Update: Who would have guessed the first death panel from obamacare would be a political one for ailing democratic members?
Here is the point, and I think this generalizes beyond NY-23 to the rest of the country: the GOP won’t take the Tea Party seriously until the Tea Party is the GOP.
One questions why the GOP establishment would be so willing to throw away a group of involved voters who match their beliefs. The answer may in fact be that their belief in fiscal conservatism and restraint is phony, that their belief is in their own power and a promise not to blow as much as the other side.
Actual spending cuts and spending restraint and tax reform decreases the power of the federal government. The goal of the establishment is apparently not to restrict such power, but to enjoy it.
The GOP doesn’t seem to understand that they are playing with fire. The tea party is going to give them two years to prove their bonafides. If they don’t you will see an actual tea party 3rd party.
I think Rush understands this which is why he constantly implores the GOP to take the conservative path.
What can we do about it? Smitty has the solution:
Get off the beanbag and support your local version of Doug Hoffman, or your sins of omission will result in a pocket-picking, and you’ll be at fault.emphasis mine
I think Bill Gunn put it very well in this interview last week jump to 3:34:
Money Quote: “If a republican is a big government republican I’m not going to campaign for him.”
That is the tea party all over. The question is will republicans figure it out and act accordingly or will they destroy themselves and throw away the chance to create a lasting majority?
We will see.
BTW apparently great minds think alike, Sissy Willis put up a post making the very same argument.
Unfortunately for the Johnny Roccos of the GOP, the old way of doing business isn’t working anymore. It happened in the Massachusetts special election that sent Mr. Brown to Washington, and it’s happening again. The national GOP is being disintermediated via the Internet. No wonder they’re upset. The people’s choice, Joe Miller — endorsed by Sarah Palin and with major funding from the Tea Party Express — is battle ready
The question becomes, is the GOP establishment willing to destroy the party to keep it? So far the answer hasn’t been encoraging