Where’s the Outrage?

The Teamsters, led by union President Jim Hoffa, are complaining because trucks from Mexico will now be allowed to drive anywhere in the United States.

The Teamsters have over the years endorsed Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and the first George Bush. Many Teamsters have voted for these men and for other candidates such as George Wallace.

The Teamsters have often permitted corrupt leadership.

But the problem is trucks from Mexico.

Right.

We always have to move forward. If the Teamsters have something useful to add to the debate, that’s great. I look forward to Teamsters leadership on a broad array of social and economic justice issues.

As the Teamsters’ membership considers this new trucking development, they should be certain to take a good look in the mirror when considering what has gone wrong.

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From NYT:

A truck carrying ammonium nitrate to a mine caught fire after a highway crash and blew up, killing at least 28 people and injuring some 150, state and federal officials reported Monday.

Authorities said two trucks smashed into each other Sunday night on a busy highway in northern Mexico, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers as well as a small army of police, soldiers, emergency officials and journalists.  (more…)

Tags: Economy, Immigration by Texas Liberal
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Am I the only one who believes that our first week of Pro football was awfully sloppy.  I watched the San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears.  Yuck.  I saw part of the Philly and Green Bay game.  Double Yuck.  Heck even the Cowboys and Giants game was bad football.  Neither team wanted to play defense.  False starts.  Illegal formations.  What is this High School football? 

Look guys for the money that I’m paying (DirecTV) or in person, I need to see better football!

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
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Representative Tom Lantos was one of the Democrats that just laid it out. He calls out the administration for their terrible policies.

Update:  Please note that Representative Lantos never states that the General is a liar.  His comments are directed toward the administration and he shows the General nothing but respect.

 

 Tom Lantos questions the General [1:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bush Administration, Congress, Iraq by ecthompson
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For months the Democrats have been asking or begging for documents about various items - US Attorney firings, Wire Tapping, Valerie Plame case to name a few.  The White house has universally given Congress the finger.  Representative John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has asked for all documents pertaining to political prosecutions in the US Attorney’s office.  The Department of Justice has selectively released some documents.  Representative Conyers is mad and red in the face.

So what is he going to do?  Continue to stop his foot?  Continue to hold his breath?  Or is he going to finally issue some subpoenas?  When they refuse the subpoenas, then what?  This is like in the great movie the Untouchables.  (If he sends one of yours to the Hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.  That’s the Chicago way.)  What is he, Conyers,  prepared to do?  Is he prepared to have a constitutional showdown?  Because if he isn’t, he’s already lost.  The White House is prepared to take this as far as it can.  The Supreme Court is the end game unless the White House backs down and I don’t see that happening.

Tags: Congress, US Attorneys by ecthompson
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This was like a ballet.  Everyone knew their part.  The Dems were there to say that the Surge hasn’t worked (and it hasn’t).  The Republicans were there to say we have to finish what we have started or thermonuclear Armageddon will ensue.  General Petraeus is front and center to tell us that the Surge is working.  We need to stay the course.  We’ve gained so much in so short a time, it would be a shame to let it all go.  To everyone’s credit, everyone played their part.  The only player that was missing was the American people.

So, now what?  I would argue that when the president announced his “Surge and Hold” strategy back in January that we knew what General Petraeus was going to say back then.  And, for the most part, it is true, the military objectives of the Surge have been met.  Unfortunately, the purpose of the Surge was to provide an atmosphere where political reconciliation could take place.  The military clearly held up their end of the bargain.  Unfortunately, there has been very little political reconciliation.  In spite of our increased troop levels, there’s been very little progress on an oil sharing deal or a power-sharing deal.  There is really no Iraqi government.  The Iraqi army and police force are still in a complete state of disarray.

The question still remains — Now, what?  It is clear that the Bush administration has no plans on withdrawing from Iraq.  Their goal now is to hold.  They have no new plans and no new strategies.  They are praying that the current troop levels with enough time will create a stable Iraq.  It is a little like me, standing in the rain, trying to light a match.  I’m doing everything right but the conditions on which I’m doing them in are not favorable.  Unless the Democrats are serious about leaving Iraq, nothing is going to happen.  Remember, in order to get out of Iraq we need 67 votes in the Senate.  67 votes.

 

 Petraeus on the Hill [1:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bush Administration, Congress, Iraq by ecthompson
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Reposted. 

This is a Man’s World. Sit back and enjoy. (Will edit this clip later.)

This clip almost brings tears to my eyes it is so good.  James Brown and Pavarotti.  Are you kidding me?  I played the clip just to see.  It is awesome.  They both sing with power and passion.

 

 Pavarotti and James Brown [5:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Music by ecthompson
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I had to post this for my mother. She told me that she willed Tiger to several birdies (he just didn’t respond last week). Although Tiger’s middle game was just okay today, his putting was a thing of beauty.

BTW, Roger Federer maybe the best tennis player that I have ever seen. This would include Bjorn Borg, Jim Conners, John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe and Pete Sampras. He does everything very well. If he stays healthy there is no reason why he shouldn’t win enough grand slams to be called the best ever.

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From ESPN.com:

Playing next to Tiger Woods for two days was daunting enough. It was when Steve Stricker watched him from 200 yards away on an elevated tee that he realized how tough it would be to beat him Sunday in the BMW Championship.

He arrived on the par-3 12th tee in time to see Woods, in his customary black pants and red shirt, rap a putt that traveled from one side of the green to the other until the ball disappeared after a 50-foot journey and gave Woods an unlikely birdie. (more…)

 

 Tiger wins BMW [0:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
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The Cowboys have had some problems covering the deep bomb over the last couple years. Didn’t Jerry Jones and the coaching staff notice Donavon McNabb torching the secondary last year and the year before? I guess not. Our corners are unchanged. As a matter of fact, with Newman out, Aaron Glenn would start. He is short but he can cover but we cut him.  Anthony Henry isn’t that fast but he can hit. In the secondary, we have Roy Williams who can really blow up a running back but can’t cover my grandmother. We picked up Ken Hamlin from the Seahawks in the off season and I’m not sure why.

The whistle blows.  2 plays later Eli Manning hits a wide open Plaxico Burress.  TD.  I mean wide open.  It is rare to get this wide open in the NFL.  Well, our defense still has a porous secondary. Burress ran long, he ran short. He caught ball, low and high. Caught balls on the fade route, the deep curl and the short curl. He caught the skinny post and probably several other routes that I can’t remember. He burned single coverage and double coverage. Whoever is our defensive backs coach (Todd Bowles) should be fired!!

Tony Romo was the key to the eventual Cowboy Victory. During our winning streak last year, Romo played almost flawlessly. When we lost 3 out of 5 down the stretch last year, Romo turned the ball over frequently. He had one turnover. He got the ball out of his hands quickly. Romo and Jason Whitten torched the Giant secondary. I haven’t seen the stats but Romo was close to perfect on 3rd downs. He, also, threw a blue laser on a couple of occasions, that ball was smoking. (I haven’t seen those kind of passes in a long time.)

The offensive line played almost well enough for Drew Bledsoe to come back and play. They opened holes for Jones and Barber. They gave Tony Romo some time to throw the ball.

The defensive line played okay. They didn’t stink. They stopped the run for the most part. They pressured Eli Manning but only sacked him once.

Overall, I’ll take the 45 - 35 victory. Now, if the defense can tighten up then we will have a team that has the potential to go deep into the playoffs. (Will add video soon.)

 

 Cowboys win [5:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
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