Nomar Is Hurt Again. Judicial Malfeasance. Arrogance, Inc.

Nomar Is Hurt Again

It’s too bad that the Blogger site was down for general maintenance two nights ago because I had a killer post. Unfortunately I lost most of it before I admitted defeat and sat down to watch the Red Sox squeak by the Orioles 1-0. Then last night, I went to publish and it wouldn't accept my html, and as I was running late for my league bowling finale dinner (at which time I saw the Sox come from behind to tie the Devil Rays only to lose in the 9th on a pinch-homer by Eduardo Perez off of Alan Embree), I saved this copy and hope to get it published today.

Oh well, such is life. But I’m back now, so while we are talking baseball, it is my sad duty to report that Nomar Garciaparra has once again landed on the disabled list, this time with a torn groin muscle. I was flipping back and forth between the Red Sox – Orioles and Cubs – Cardinals games and witnessed the incident in real time. This time he is looking at the possibility of surgery and a minimum of two months of inactivity.

This sucks because I am one of the few Red Sox followers I know who genuinely like Nomar, was sorry to see him traded and wish him well with the Cubs. Unfortunately, in the wake of the Manny for A-Rod trade that never was, Nomar was pinned with a scarlet M (for malcontent) on his chest by Theo Epstein. It was only a matter of time before he was gone.

This is a typical Red Sox tactic when they want to get rid of popular, productive players. Don’t believe me? How about these examples: Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Bruce Hurst, Oil Can Boyd, John Tudor, Carlton Fisk, Luis Tiant. Need I continue? Anyway, the vultures are swooping down, ready to feed on Nomar’s bloody carcass in a sickening case of kicking a guy when he is down.

How quickly we forget that Nomar was the first right-handed hitter in the American League to win back to back batting crowns (1999 at .357 and 2000 at .372) since some guy named DiMaggio did it for one of those New York teams in 1939 and 1940. Well, I haven’t forgotten. Nomar, here’s to as speedy and effective a recovery as possible.


I’ll Take Arrogant Bastards For $200 Alex

I heard the following story on the radio yesterday, and found it in Yahoo News today. It is a warning to those who have a tendency to yawn when bored. It also reveals a potential front-runner for one of the inevitable Supreme Court Justice vacancies.

Yawning Proves Costly in Courtroom

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Boredom proved costly to a potential juror who let out a loud yawn in a Los Angeles courtroom and was promptly ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Veals found the man in contempt of court during an lengthy April 1 jury selection procedure when he waved his arms, yawned, and told the judge he was "really bored," court officials said on Wednesday. Veals imposed a $1,000 fine but slashed it to $100 when the man protested as he turned up to pay a few days later.

The man, whose identity was not revealed, was not selected to serve on a jury. Under California law, judges can fine anyone up to $1,500 to enforce order in the courtroom. But lawyers and court officials said they had never heard of such a punishment for yawning.

Can you believe this prick? So why isn’t Tom DeLay insinuating himself into this particular instance of judicial malfeasance? I’d be willing to bet he has Karl Rove’s attention after this display of arrogance.


Arrogant Bastards For $400 Alex

In yet another example of the Bush administration’s arrogance, Vice President Dick Cheney has “warned” Senate Democrats that, in the unlikely event that they show enough spine to get any vote to a deadlock, that he, as President of the Senate, will cast any tie-breaking votes. This confirms, and all but assures that there is no end in sight to the number of brutal thugs that the administration will nominate to the federal bench or other positions. Excerpt from Yahoo News AP wire:

Cheney Weighs In On Judicial Filibusters

WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney warned Democrats Friday that he will cast the tie-breaking vote to ban filibusters of President Bush's judicial nominees if the Senate deadlocks on the question. Republicans are moving the Senate toward a final confrontation with Democrats over judicial nominations.

Internal GOP polling shows that most Americans don't support Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's plan to ban judicial filibusters — a tactic in which opponents can prevent a vote on a nomination with just 41 votes in the 100-member Senate.

"There is no justification for allowing the blocking of nominees who are well qualified and broadly supported," Cheney told the Republican National Lawyers Association. "The tactics of the last few years, I believe, are inexcusable." "Let me emphasize, the decision about how to proceed will be made by the Republican leadership in the Senate," Cheney said. "But if the Senate majority decides to move forward and if the issue is presented to me in my elected office as president of the Senate and presiding officer, I will support bringing those nominations to the floor for an up or down vote."

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the White House "has stepped over the line by interfering with the Senate to reduce checks and balances." "The White House has always wanted to reduce the Senate's power and the fact that Vice President Cheney is encouraging this abuse of power should strengthen the Senate's resolve to resist," Schumer said.

What else is there to say? Cheney takes his typical hard-line stance and Schumer complains that the big bully isn’t playing fair. Was Schumer ever picked on by a bully as a kid? Doesn’t he realize that the way to end the bullying is to fight back? Or does he think that the “Thank You Sir! May I Have Another?” approach is someday going to work with these monsters?