VJB @
7

Pardon my ignorance, but why does homeplate have that shape?

Christy! Jane! Trex! Phoenix Woman!, Fitz, of course! and all the other obligatory exclamations of early commenters. This is my fav blog. Love the community.

I believe it has that shape because the sides of the “pointed” end are actually at right angles to first and third bases (which are square bags, of course) thus the baselines come to home plate at right angles.

And did everyone see the unassisted triple play that the Rockies pulled on the Braves on Sunday? Only the 13th time in history that’s happened (and the second that Chipper Jones has hit into).

Ok, we return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Exactly so. The parallel sides are so that the strike zone can be designated, and the ninety degree angle at the catchers end allows the ump to see if a tipped ball is foul or “in play”. If the ball hits the plate it would be in play even if it careens out. Not sure what the limit is on the forward boundary (pitcher side) of the plate is, though.

Biodun @ 88

Just getting to the Lake.

More troubles looming for “the boy-king and his political minions” (a phrase I stole/borrowed from Christy):

ABC News’ Brian Ross revealed tonight that the list of customers of an alleged Washington-based prostitution service includes White House and Pentagon officials as well as prominent attorneys.

“There are thousands of names, tens of thousands of phone numbers,” Ross said. “And there are people there at the Pentagon, lobbyists, others at the White House, prominent lawyers — a long, long list.” Ross added that the women who worked for the service, potentially as prostitutes, “include university professors, legal secretaries, scientists, military officers.”

I not that Ross used the PRESENT TENSE when he spoke of

people THERE AT the Pentagon, lobbyists, others at the White House, prominent lawyers

That’s not a reference to past occupants, but current ones.

This could get very messy for all around…the prostitutes equivalent to “Grey Mail”.

I wonder if this could be related?

http://www.examiner.com/a-5353….._dead.html

I just discovered that Rep. Kucinich’s bill to impeach Darth Cheney is H.R. 333, one half of 666! I think these beasts are duly marked!

Earlier in April, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit proposing new restrictions on counsel for Guantanamo detainees contesting decisions by Combatant Status Review Tribunals that they are properly detained as enemy combatants. The brief urges that counsel for the detainees be permitted only one visit to Guantanamo to meet with a client to obtain authorization to represent the detainee, and only up to three additional visits to assist the client to prepare a court challenge to the designation as enemy combatant. Under existing procedures, visits are not limited. The brief also argues that a team of intelligence officers and military lawyers not involved in a detainee’s case should be permitted to read mail sent to him by his lawyer. News media reported on the brief April 25. ABA President Karen J. Mathis issued the following statement April 27.

“The ability of lawyers to confer with their clients and advocate for justice for those clients is a deeply imbedded principle of American democracy. Arbitrary restrictions concerning the number of times and the ways that lawyers may confer with their clients in Guantanamo, or in any court, would threaten competent representation without at all advancing national security. The principles of freedom, due process and justice are too critical to our national character to be abandoned in any manner.”

ABA

Christy wrote,

And it is well past time that our principles and our deeds were brought back into alignment. It is incumbent upon lawyers of conscience to stand up and say so — we are defined not by the words we mouth, but by our deeds. And allowing the Bush Administration to define who we are without standing up to say that it is wrong marks us as acquiescing to and agreeing with their misinterpretation of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the principles on which this nation was founded. Shame on anyone who stays silent knowingly in the face of injustice and turns a blind eye to the perversion of the rule of law.

Amen! Amen! Good one, Christy! Mostly, I’ve had to rely on Amnesty International to represent my values on these things. I hope that some Oversight hearings will do more– both Judiciary committees have subcommittees on Constitutional rights, etc., and they should be calling the Bush Goons on the carpet constantly to expose what they are doing!

Bob in HI

We can separate sympathy for the human being from what they are doing in their professional life.

I am happy to see Tony Snow back at work and wish him well as a human being.

If the Vice President were to become seriously ill, I would indeed feel sorrow for him, while simultaneously working to get him over to the Hague.

I agree, but if everyone starts using it as an excuse to back off, then the health issues cross over into the professional life…etc.

rwcole @
94

So what does Bolton know about running a world bank?

Don’t , not even as a joke!

What did Woflfowitz know about running a world bank? Nada, zip, zero. Actually he did know something…he knew where they kept the cash.

For those firepups that have a stomach for BS this morning, CSPAN 2 currently has John Boehner and Joe LIEberman pontificating on the subject of Civility and American Politics (Live), moderated by Amy Gutmann the President of U. Of Pennsylvania.

No Dem is on this panel. Going now to loose my breakfast. Blech!

Yes, I came here to see any reactions to this. At the end Amy counted Uncle Tom, I mean Joe, as the democrat. Jeepers, now they think we need civility. It’s like, OK you caught us, don’t hurt us. In fact, you should still give us what we want. Don’t punish us.

Very vomitrocious

Mae @
12

OT Tony Snow on C Span choking up and thanking Press for support and singing the praises of his medical care. I wish Tony the best. I also wish that millions of people who don’t have health insurance had the same medical care that Tony has.

“I wish Tony the best” That is my reaction until I remember that he is a very effective enabler for War Crimes and mass murder. It is very hard for me to wish anyone in this administration well when I see dead and maimed American soldiers and especially dead and maimed Iraqi children.

I had the same reaction. I saw the “cancer-survivor” shield coming from a mile away. Sorry to be so hard hearted, Tony, but if you are not up to the job of answering hard questions, just step back down and let sweet Dana continue lying to us. And we know how much the Bushes are suffering too. Boo hoo.

I also wish to respond belatedly to the article which cited a WDC reporter who said how terrifying it was to ask questions during press conferences because she is on national TV. Hello? Isn’t that what you signed up for. Isn’t that why you majored in “journalism”. Where is that brat Sam Donaldson now that we need him?

LS @ 92

It’s headed my way. I just hope there aren’t any tornados!! It’s floodin’ down in Texas..SRV.

Where y’at, LS?

Between Driftwood and Wimberley. Doppler has a huge red thing coming, and I can hear constant rumbling….