Roger Clemens Acquitted

Clemens acquitted on all charges. Doesn't mean he's innocent, of course, but I bet "Not Guilty" works for him right now.

Comments

[Neo]

Clemens now joins Ray Donovan looking for the office of "Get My Reputation Back"

[centralcal]

DOJ batting a .... (insert number)

[sailor]

As I said on the other thread, good. would that the same could have happened for Libby. I think it is so stupid and foolish and unproductive for the Congress to investigate baseball players and their steroid use when they have so many other things they could investigate.

[Gus]

When Clemens was asked. "Where are you going no Roger!!!" He didn't say Disneyworld, he said LANCE ARMSTRONGS house.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Verdict interpreted a smidge differently here in the suburbs of Lisdoonvarna. Sunset holding out for final say.

[matt]

Clemens had a reputation as a prick before, so I will be happy to consider his reputation restored.

[MarkO]

If there is someone here who believes Roger's story, let him speak. He's a cheater.

[sailor]

Cheater or not, MarkO, he should not have been investigated by congress IMO.

[centralcal]

I am with sailor. Why is congress getting involved with sports and doping? With all the corruption going on right there in DC, they should be busy cleaning up their own house(s).

[Neo]

I look at most of this stuff like the WWF WWE, it’s all entertainment. If these folks want to screw themselves up, they have just as much right to do that as Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears or Kate (& Jon but not the 8).

The only reason why they care about the health of this folks is to keep the "betting line" more stable.

[Danube of Thought]

I don't think he should have been investigated by congress either. But if he didn't want to be investigated by congress, he should have told them so. If they had subpoenaed him, he should have taken the 5th.

I think this will boost his chances for the Hall, but not enough.

[Threadkiller]

Speaking of cheaters:

http://h2ooflife.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/counterfeit-president/

[Jane]

Clemens is less of a perjurer than Holder. So let's try Holder now. (And if my last post shows up, well c'est la vie)

[Jane]

I have a really stupid question. On Firefox, the place where the URL shows (where you can refresh) has disappeared. If I open a new window it has disappeared there too. I'm on a MAC. Anyone know how I can get it back?

[centralcal]

Jane: Right click in the upper area of your browser and check "navigation toolbar" for it to show back up.

[Dave (in MA)]

Jane

View -> Toolbars -> Navigation Toolbar

[centralcal]

O/T but for Jane since she is on this thread:

Politico: Fascinating sign of the times: Sen. Scott Brown announced today that he will accept an invitation to debate Elizabeth Warren at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston, but only on two conditions -- one of which is that MSNBC, which is scheduled to host the debate, must drop out as a sponsor.

[Ranger]

Since we are talking about trial news...

Ratko Mladic war crimes trial suspended over evidence error

This kind of minimizes what happened:

The trial was first halted in May when it first emerged that the prosecution had not disclosed evidence to the defence.

It was about 7,000 documents that the prosecution failed to provide to the defense. It was supposedly a 'simple coding error' that led to the oversight.

The sad part is that Mladic is getting better due process than Sen. Stevens or Scooter Libby got here in the US (and the ICTY is notoriously biased against the defendants).

[sailor]

Does that mean, cc, that MSNBC will still host the debate, ie moderate it, even if dropping out as sponsor?

[Dave (in MA)]

cc, here's his formal acceptance of the invitation.

[Rocco]

Jane

Look for a circular arrow at the very end of the addy bar

[bgates]

one of which is that MSNBC, which is scheduled to host the debate, must drop out as a sponsor

"Brown said he would be happy to debate if MSNBC was replaced by a less partisan organization, such as the Warren campaign."

[Rocco]

I jumped the gun, forget my advice

[centralcal]

ha ha ha ha ha, Dave (in MA).

[Sara]

I could read this, but I'm not all that sure that is a good thing, if reading it is what makes a "great mind."

[centralcal]

sailor, in answer to your question, there is this from the Politico piece:

In a letter to the Kennedy Institute, campaign manager Jim Barnett wrote that while it was ok with the moderator, NBC's Tom Brokaw, it could not accept a network "with a reputation for political advocacy." Via the Boston Globe:

[sailor]

Well, cc, glad Brown is ok with Tom Brokaw, a "liberal to the core" moderator.

[centralcal]

No kidding, sailor. I rolled my eyes at snorted at that too!

[Neo]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Eight Occupy Wall Street members were convicted on Monday of criminal trespass for breaking into a fenced-in private lot last December during a protest. The protesters scaled an eight-foot fence, ignoring signs that warned against trespassing, and entered a plaza known as Duarte Square that is owned by historic Trinity Church, one of lower Manhattan’s largest land-owners. The one-week trial in Manhattan Criminal Court pitted the church, once a strong ally of the movement, against Occupy supporters, who pressured church leaders not to cooperate with the prosecution.

Gee. What a shame.

[Danube of Thought]

"The government had a witness that was not credible."

He was a scumbag, but witnesses in criminal cases are often scumbags. I believe it also had witnesses who were perfectly credible, and solid physical evidence. I have a hunch the jury may simply have thought this isn't what the Department of Justice should be doing right now (see, e.g., John Edwards).

[Jane]

CC- wow! Thanks! I could have lived to be 100 before I figured that out!

[narciso]

Since we are focusing on absurd propositions;

http://www.professorbainbridge.com/professorbainbridgecom/2012/06/kevin-drums-crocodile-scotus-tears.html

[Jane]

Politico: Fascinating sign of the times: Sen. Scott Brown announced today that he will accept an invitation to debate Elizabeth Warren at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston, but only on two conditions -- one of which is that MSNBC, which is scheduled to host the debate, must drop out as a sponsor.

It's still a mistake and will be horribly rigged.

[centralcal]

Jane: He also requested that Teddy Kennedy's widow Vickie remain "neutral" in the election.

Yeah, right. Sure, Scotty!

[narciso]

Sort of reminds of Reagan's quip about Soviet
leaders, they kept dying on him;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18496118

[narciso]

Leave it to Al Guardian to miss the point entirely;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/17/iran-bomb-plot-israel-nuclear-talks

[Ignatz]

Re Clemens; just another case of prosecutorical overreach.
Had they only charged him with aggravated a-holeism and being a 2nd degree putz, he'd be starting a long stretch in chokey.

[centralcal]

Good for Issa!

Gabriel Malor ‏@gabrielmalor
MT @rickklein: Chairman Issa tells AG Holder he'll meet, 5 pm tomorrow. but "only the delivery of documents" will delay contempt vote

[narciso]

How can the question, not be yes, after all this time,

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/06/18/will-obama-try-to-blow-up-the-obamacare-supreme-court-decision/

[narciso]

What could go wrong?

http://twitchy.com/2012/06/18/obama-taps-kerry-for-mock-debate-rehearsals/

[centralcal]

That is just hysterical, narciso! Reporting for duty, Kerry!

[Rick Ballard]

The Pinhead Troika is going to have Obama attack the Court for striking down a law which the electorate strongly disapproves? I wonder which chapter of the ACME Political Strategery Manual covers that move?

I say, go for it, Mr. President!! Your campaign is doing fine and it sure can't hurt.

Much.

[narciso]

They've gone fully 'Kamikazi Scotsman' and there's no turning back from that, Rick.

[centralcal]

Two or three times in as many weeks, I have had a call from Ind Surv Grp - since I have caller ID and don't answer unless I know who it is, I haven't picked up.

I interpret the abbreviation to be Independent Survey Group - but is just a guess. Anyone ever heard of them or know anything about them? If it is polling on Obama, maybe I should pick up one of the calls!

[narciso]

They are a 'travesty of two mockeries. pf a sham'

http://www.independentsurveygroup.org/news.aspx

[henry]

cc, I remember answering one of their polls, then looking them up because it was an odd poll. Think "push polls are us".

[MarkO]

I think when Clemens wandered in and insisted on lying to Congress he asked for it. I'm only sorry that the lawyers on the case had no clue. They damn near lost the case through shear malfeasance in the first instance.

I asked if anyone here believed for a minute that he was clean. So far not even dd or Ben-Dana have taken it up.
I love baseball and hate all of those who sullied it with steroids. Maris still holds the record.

[narciso]

Well he wasn't going anywhere, but sheesh;

http://shark-tank.net/2012/06/15/congressional-candidate-ozzie-defaria-under-criminal-investigation/

[Captain Hate]

If there is someone here who believes Roger's story, let him speak. He's a cheater.

Absolutely; during his entire career with the Sawx he was a pudgy tub of goo with about as much muscle definition as Greg "The Flounder" Swindell, a negligible POS who bounced around the league proving that if you have a semi-live left arm there'll be a roster spot for you somewhere in MLB. Then when Roidger went to Toronto he was this slimmed down model who actually looked *fit* in a large mass kind of way. He's also guilty of being a horrible excuse for a husband for blaming his wife for being injected with something illegal instead of him (I'm sure by then she was surely at ease with the fact that she'd married an egomaniacal but high earning creep) and a complete jerk of a father for naming all of his kids names starting with the letter "K" (I was really hoping against hope, because look what a dumbass they have as a sperm donor, that they'd rebel by changing their names to "Balk", "Base on Balls" or "Sky High ERA" but obviously that hasn't happened). I don't think he gets in the HOF because I'm sure a lot of sportswriters hate him and they can be as big of jerks as he is. Or he might get in posthumously so he can be further tortured from Hell for not having experienced it while alive.

[narciso]

Fair point, MarkO, they should strip him of his title, but wasting a federal prosecution on this,

[sailor]

All right, all right, MarkO. But, I still don't think congress should have wasted valuable time prosecuting him. And, our tax dollars.

[narciso]

Pn another front, a sign they are on the other side;

American officials are concerned that Pakistan is more focused on finding out how the CIA tracked down bin Laden than on determining how he managed to remain undetected for as long as five years in Abbottabad, a military garrison town where the nation’s premier military academy is less than a mile from the bin Laden compound. So far, no one is known to have been arrested for helping to hide bin Laden.

[Danube of Thought]

Check his career stats. He was pure journeyman from 1993 through 1996 (40-39) before he discovered a miraculous new fitness regimen. Or a new windup. Whatever.

[Ignatz]

--I love baseball and hate all of those who sullied it with steroids. Maris still holds the record.--

I only like baseball and even then mostly in October and I still hate what those bums did to it.
Maris and Hammerin Hank.

[matt]

I'm sure they have their best investigators on that one, narciso....In the meantime, they have Inspector Ali al-Maktoum al-Clouseau on the Bin Laden case.

[sailor]

Iggie, I don't care. What a waste of time for the congress. Pitiful.

[centralcal]

henry: thanks much for that info. I truly trust your judgement and will not pick up should they call again.

I just wanna give His Royal Highness Barry an F+ to a pollster, but it has to be a reputable pollster. lol!

[narciso]

The latest example, I was hearing on a Clear Channel station, 60% are in favor of immigrants, it's unclear what the other 40% wanted to do with them.

[Jane]

I just went to part 2 of the Sturbridge Town meeting. I only have 3 words: We are doomed.

[DrJ]

Jane, why?

[narciso]

THat's usually MarkO's line, in German. Please elaborate, with the intertubes if neccessary.

[Janet]

Why do you say that, Jane?

[Threadkiller]

"It appears Snopes.com scrubbed their "report" on Obama's mom posing nude. When Snopes originally published their article they tagged the claim "undetermined" and then sometime later tagged it as "false" claiming the nude woman in the photos was Marcy Moore. Now Snopes pulled the article altogether and had the URL excluded from the Wayback Machine. Wonder why?

Could it be because any person with adequate vision can see the difference between small boobs and large boobs? Or could it be because many more photos from Ann's picture-porn days have appeared in a newly released documentary about Obama?"

http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2012/06/snopes-scrubs-article-on-obamas-mamas.html?m=1

[Sara]

Wow CH, who knew there was so much animosity out there for families who name their kids with names starting with the same letter?

For 3 generations, my Dad's family all have names starting with the letter "M". My Mother broke the string with my name (first and middle). Not an "M" in sight. They still talk about it with opinions about my Mother like, "well she never really fit in, did she?, or "she's from Calif., and you know what that means," etc. I regained some miniscule status by giving my son an "M" middle name, however, not because it was an "M", but to honor my father.

[Jane]

Because all they do is spend. If someone proposes a cheaper alternative or suggests we don't need that new snow plow yet or we are wasting money, no matter what, 3/4 of the room will vote to allocate the funds. We spent $187k last year on bricks for the sidewalk in front of town hall,because the selectman thought they look nice - which now means they can't be plowed the same way as the rest of the town, so we have to hire people to shovel them. And on and on and on.

As always I left half way thru, not one of my votes made a dent.

[narciso]

I was always troubled by that approach, TK,

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/06/18/mccain-challenge-to-obama-immigration-order-not-expected-in-senate/

[Captain Hate]

Wow CH, who knew there was so much animosity out there for families who name their kids with names starting with the same letter?

Doing it for family tradition is one thing; doing it because it stands for "strikeout" in baseball is a testimony to the over-riding self-regard of Clemens.

[Captain Hate]

Didn't McAmnesty pretend to be tough on illegal immigration 2 years ago when he tricked Palin into campaigning for his re-election out of some outlandishly misplaced sense of loyalty?

[centralcal]

Oh, whew, Jane. You had me worried there for a minute.

Hey, girl gang friend, you live in MA, just like I live in CA. They are all insane (well except for us and our neighbors, who are in the minority).

[Sara]

doing it because it stands for "strikeout" in baseball is a testimony to the over-riding self-regard of Clemens.

Looks like there is much about Roger Clemens I don't know. Sorry.

[Captain Hate]

No problem Sara; I've been known to perhaps verbally overreact to things at times so calling me out for an explanation should be a reasonable bar to surmount.

[narciso]

He's a slimy nazgul but that's not actionable,

[Ann]

You ladies need to move to Ohio:

Have you seen this Captain? Someone just sent it to me.

[Janet]

TK, that link is something. More nude photos of Stanley.

[Captain Hate]

No I hadn't seen it Ann but I'd expect that now that Kevin DeWine has been sent packing (Tea Party FTW!) that we should see a lot more emphasis on what Kasich has accomplished, which is what he's eventually gonna have to run on anyway.

[Janet]

There should be screaming headlines on the great Republican governors working hard & making tough choices to save their states.
The MFM cannot be destroyed soon enough.

[Jane]

What did you think I was saying CC. What is "doom " to you? (I know you agree with the spending thing, I'm just wondering.)

[Ann]

Captain,

I am tired of being embarrassed with Speaker of the House, Boehner. He must go. He continually reminds me of the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz. NO courage just a lot of tears.

Speaking of which, who is our resident JOM constitutional lawyer? I heard that the speaker does not have to be a member of Congress. If that is at all possible, I have some delightful ideas.

[Ignatz]

--Iggie, I don't care. What a waste of time for the congress. Pitiful.--

Was only commenting on the steroid users effects on baseball not congress's look into it, sailor.
I agree congress should have butted out, but when they didn't Clemens had a responsibility to shut up or tell the truth.

[narciso]

Ditto, Ann with a few more victories like this. Pyrrhus lost Syracuse,

[Ann]

Btw, sorry I missed all the Father's Day wishes. I already know the guys on this blog are terrific dads. Hope you all had a wonderful day.

Our AC went out, our water heaters broke and the brakes in my car went out all in one week. Yep, Happy Fathers Day!

All I can say is, It is a good thing I gave him a delightful daughter.:)

[(Another) Barbara]

henry: thanks much for that info. I truly trust your judgement and will not pick up should they call again.

Answer every political pollster who calls, centralcal. Please. . . if you want to help our team. Every candidate wants his numbers to be as high as possible, because that will get his numbers even higher. We know that low-information voters are affected by who is doing well and looks like a winner. If conservatives decline to participate we hurt only our own guys.

I'm sitting by my phone eager for it to ring and have a chance to contribute to our strength. I was 30 years in the public opinion polling biz and can assure you that (most -- can’t speak for every one) pollsters prefer to have the reputation of being correct and honorable than of being a company that helps its friends.

How could any of us possibly harm our candidates by participating? If it's a "push poll" -- a rarity that means only that the questions are posed in a fashion that could turn you against a candidate -- you are smart enough to discern that. You can nonetheless respond accordingly and still be counted. (Q. "Would you vote for Romney over Obama if you learned that Romney put his dog atop his car?"
A. "Yes")

[Captain Hate]

Ann, Rick has urged patience with Boehner when I've railed against him previously and imo his advice has been good. I think that if November goes as well as I hope it does, he'll have no choice but to be more aggressive in rolling back the disaster of the last three years. If he balks at that then he'll have to go.

[narciso]

The premise is wrong, from the outset, sloppy if not deliberately erroneous, in this latest . and then they self select from that sample;

http://www.gallup.com/poll/155210/Americans-Positive-Immigration.aspx?utm_source=tagrss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=syndication

[narciso]

You think if you said no, they would continue the questioning.

[narciso]

How about this one, how does someone who left office nearly four years ago, have more influence on current policies than the incumbent,

http://www.gallup.com/poll/155177/Americans-Blame-Bush-Obama-Bad-Economy.aspx

[Ann]

OK, Captain. He is from Ohio. ;) But, if I am right about the speaker of the house.. then he is gone. Can you imagine if Jim DeMint took his place? (He isn't running again and is available.) Of course, there are other wonderful people like Clarice, etc.

Hi, AB

That is so funny you mentioned that last question about Romney's dog. I have a 300C with a sunroof and my 100plus lb dog loves to ride with her head out of the top. She stands on the console.

A complete stranger the other day told me to take a picture and send it to Ann Romney telling her how much my dog likes to ride on top of the car. LOL

Oh, and Ignatz and you other Coyote hunters, Here this: My daughter works at a garden store this summer and coyote p*ss goes for $180.00/gal. Just trying to help the small business owner here. Ha!

I sure miss all of you. goodnight!

[(Another) Barbara]

You think if you said no, they would continue the questioning.

Of course, Narciso. (If that inquiry is for me, of which I'm not certain.)

A push poll attempts to learn where an airing of a candidate's history, attitudes or activities can do him harm. They might also follow with: Q. Would you still favor Romney over Obama if you learned Romney's wife Ann paid $400 for the last blouse she bought? And Q. Does thinking about Romney's religion and the controversial beliefs of Mormons make you more likely to vote for him, less likely to vote for him, or make no difference in how you will vote?

I'm being just a little bit silly here but not entirely. Those are somewhat fanciful examples of "push poll" questions, although not entirely off the mark; they try to measure how much certain messages might turn voters away from the candidate they'd like defeated, and if they can leave behind the suggestion their adversary is tainted, so much the better.

Again, though: push polls are rare and I saw only a handful in all my years of reviewing hundreds of questionnaires each year. Yes, pollsters are paid by political clients to give them the counsel that will result in their election, but that sort of dishonesty is a rarity.

Still. . . I wish someone could tell me how the absence of participation by conservatives does other than harm our desire for a win. After all, the polls we discuss here are where the public learns the results, and a good showing by the "R" candidates helps immeasurably. I answer every survey taker who phones, feeling good at the end about helping our goals.

[Ann]

One more thing.

Narciso: Have you noticed that the Palin family is making a lot of money lately. Those poor critics, don't you feel sorry for them? :)

Oh, and you know when your enemy is doomed? They start showing happy pictures of themselves like this:

and this:
and this:

[narciso]

Well AB, about a year ago, there was a Rasmussen poll, that 74% would never even consider voting for Sarah, now did that constitute a push poll. Why was that put out there, Practically everyone she took pains to endorse back in 2010, just stepped right over during Tucson, on the way to their crash and burn candidacies, That was the thanks she got,

[Stephanie]

Love the Spanx peeking out from under that skirt... snort.

[narciso]

Now there is a certain utility to the bathysphere the left and the Democrats find themselves, they don't know when the rivets
will pop. then again neither do those ill served by the MSM/ journalist,

[narciso]

As you see from an earlier link, we even get
hacks as challengers to 'Darling Debbie' or worse,and from my local fishwrap to the local newsbroadcast, and even the local Clear Channel affiliate, sandwhiching Beck, Rush
and Hannity, is strictly Duke and Duke,

[Sara]

Ann: Three disasters in one week, what are you, a Navy wife? It is a given that the day the ship leaves port, something will break. :)

I am so sorry you have had to deal with so many things all at once. It sucks! First there is the hassle, then the financial hit. Good luck.

[(Another) Barbara]

Well AB, about a year ago, there was a Rasmussen poll, that 74% would never even consider voting for Sarah, now did that constitute a push poll. Why was that put out there

I'm not familiar with that poll, Narciso, but I do not believe that Rasmussen conducts push polls. What would he have to gain by that? And he would have a great deal to risk.

I admire Sarah Palin too, but recognize she would never be a viable contender for the presidency, no matter how avid her fans. They are a minority, alas. The press won that battle long ago.

[centralcal]

Good morning. Well bummer, I leave the computer and miss seeing AB and Ann! Sheesh.

You're right, of course, AB that I probably should answer the pollster call (I just wasn't sure if it was a political poll or some other nonsense - like what kind of beer I prefer, and yes I have gotten those sorts of calls!)

I take great pleasure in answering the Zogby polls which I get via email. I know Zogby has a spotty record and leans pro-lib and all, but I love helping drive down his desired number results. I highly recommend everyone to join me in doing this. All you have to do is sign up.

Yes, Ann - amazing the photos they are releasing lately of the loving duo. And, Stephanie, it was spanx peeking out, it was her slip (more photos are at MOTUS). Wow, Annie Bananie you sure have had your share of mechanical failures. Hope all is humming along smoothly now. We miss you!

Jane, I thought your "doom" was national, rather than regional. Was relieved that is was regional, instead.

[centralcal]

*wasn't* spanx - gotta refill the coffee cup.

[centralcal]

HA HA HA HA HA

Per Weasel Zipper, it looks like even Politico had the good sense to take Andrea Mitchell and MessNBC to the woodshed for their dishonest edit of the Romney WAWA remarks.

Yay, bloggers! Keeping the MFM off balance in their propaganda spewing.

[Captain Hate]

Sign that the clusterfuck apocalypse is upon us: The Today show has Ann Curry interviewing Spike Lee and Mike Tyson on an upcoming one-person Broadway show performed by Tyson and written by Shelton.

[Jane]

So you are the Today Show viewer Capn'. I always wondered who that was.