ABC Sports: Portrait of Willie Mays

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Ederik Schneider
4651

Source: MLB– Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs, at Wrigley Field

You can argue about who is the best all around center fielder of all-time. Willie Mays, from the San Francisco Giants, or Mickey Mantle from the New York Yankees. And there wouldn’t be anyone else that I would consider for that. But Willie Mays, certainly is the best center fielder in the history of the National Baseball League. And perhaps the best all around player in the National League in his era. The 1950s and 1960s. And I don’t know of a great ballplayer who had more fun playing the game of baseball than Willie Mays. He was truly one of those players who made going to the ballpark worth it on his own. If for no other reason, because of how much he loved baseball.

The terms the total package and great players, are overused and overused catch phrases in America. But the total package when it comes to baseball, I’m not sure fits anyone better than Willy Mays. Here’s a player, with a 302 career batting average, 3200 hits, who hit 660 home runs, drove in over 1900 runs and struck out less than seventy times a year. In today’s game, if you hit 285-290 and are a power hitter, 25-30 home runs a season and drive in 90 plus a season and strike out less than a hundred time a year, that is considered good. In Willie Mays time, striking out 90 times a season, with power numbers like that, would be considered a lot.

But you can’t be total package as a baseball player, if you’re just great at the plate. There isn’t a better defensive center fielder than Willie Mays, ever. As far as range, speed, throwing arm, making plays in the field that look impossible to anyone else. Every center fielder since who looks great in the field and makes an incredible catch, or throws someone out deep in center field, gets compared to Willie. Because Willie made so many plays like that. Like catching the ball over his shoulder in the 1954 World Series against the New York Yankees. The biggest catch of the season on the biggest stage, made by Willie Mays.

I don’t believe we’ve seen a better outfielder at the plate, or on the field since Willie Mays retired in 1973. Willie and Mickey Mantle, retired in 1967 and 73 respectfully and we haven’t had two better players in the outfield and at the plate as outfielders since those two great players. One of the tests of greatness, is not just how you look compared to your peers. Which is obviously important to determine the best players of that era. But more important is how you compared with the players who came before you and after. Willie has been retired since 1974, over forty-years ago. And he still looks like the best player ever post-Babe Ruth. The only other players I would consider would be Mickey Mantle or Joe DiMaggio. Willie, was not just a once in a generation ballplayer, but perhaps once in a century as well. And is truly one of the best ever.

Posted in MLB Greatest, Originals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bill Boggs TV: John Dean- Interview With Bill Boggs

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Rik Schneider
Bill Boggs TV

Source: Bill Boggs TV– Bill Boggs & former Richard Nixon White House Counsel John Dean. 

“John Wesley Dean III (born October 14, 1938) is an American lawyer who served as White House Counsel to United States President Richard Nixon from July 1970 until April 1973. In this position, he became deeply involved in events leading up to the Watergate burglaries and the subsequent Watergate scandal cover-up. He was referred to as “master manipulator of the cover up” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).[1] He pleaded guilty to a single felony count in exchange for becoming a key witness for the prosecution. This ultimately resulted in a reduced prison sentence, which was served at Fort Holabird outside Baltimore, Maryland. Dean is currently an author, columnist, and commentator on contemporary politics, strongly critical of conservatism and the Republican Party, and a registered Independent who supported the impeachment of President George W. Bush.[2] – Wikipedia.”

From Bill Boggs TV

You could perhaps blame John Dean for a lot of things, but you can also give give him credit for turning his life around. Here’s a young man, who becomes Chief Counsel of the Richard Nixon White House, at the age of thirty, who becomes the head of the White House Watergate coverup at 33-34 and ends up becoming the chief witness for the prosecution and the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973. And ends up going to jail for his role in the Watergate coverup. Who gets disbarred from being a lawyer and who now is a very successful writer and author post-Watergate and prison.

John Dean, who considers Mr. Conservative, or Mr. Conservative Libertarian Barry Goldwater, as one his heroes, has now become one of the chief critics of the Republican Party. And was also one of President George W. Bush’s chief critics and Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief critics. A chief critic of the Republican Party and how they’ve become dominated by the Christian-Right and Far-Right in general. Who was a Republican, at least up to the point he got out of prison. And again, who considers Barry Goldwater to be one his heroes and even wrote a book about him.

Similar to Chuck Colson, John Dean, is an example of how people can change. That they can be good solid productive people at their core and then perhaps go through a rough period, perhaps meet and work with the wrong people and end up doing some really bad things. Like covering up one of the biggest political scandals in American history, that leads to a President resigning from office, to avoid being impeached, convicted, and removed by Congress. Who pays the price for the bad actions and regroups and moves on with their life. And lives a good productive life as a result. And that to large extent is the story of John Dean.

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Merv Griffin Show: Diana Dors (1979)

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Erik Schneider
Diana Dors--1979 TV Interview, Ann Miller, Lorenzo Lamas, Lesley-Anne Down

Source:Alan Eichler– Ann Miller and English Muffin Diana Dors, on Merv Griffin in 1979.

“Diana Dors–1979 TV Interview, Ann Miller, Lorenzo Lamas, Lesley-Anne Down”

From Alan Eichler

“British bombshell Diana Dors made this rare TV talk show appearance in 1979. Also on the panel are Ann Miller, Stockard Channing, Lesley-Anne Down, and Chat show legend, Des O’connor, CBE discusses ‘Soap Operas’ with Larry Grayson, Diana Dors and comedian Bernie Winters. First transmitted on the ITV .”

Diana Dors

Source:Gilberto Gobert– English Muffin Diana Dors, on Merv Griffin in 1979.

From Gilberto Gobert

I love it when Diana Dors, first comes to America. Just wish she spent more time here and did more here, because she would’ve had a great career in Hollywood if she wanted it. And not just of been a sex symbol, but someone who was also a hell of an actress and a very versatile as well.

But I also love it when she brings out her personality and her sense of humor. Because she had a lot of both. And physically, she might have been the Marilyn Monroe of Britain. But she was better, at least in the sense that grew up and matured. And just looked as cute as a baby most of her life. But she grew up on the inside and took care of herself. Unlike Marilyn, who acted the way she looked.

Merv Griffin, apparently liked panel discussions and brought on several guests at the same time. And in some cases at least the guests wouldn’t know each other and perhaps not have much in common. Which backfired at least one time that I know of. When he had James Brolin and Dennis Hopper on at the same time. And Brolin, accused Hopper of something to the effect of spilling a lot of garbage. I would’ve been nice had Merv interviewed Diana one-on-one and did a ten-minute interview. Because he was a good interviewer and she was a very interesting person and not just great to look at.

Diana, died in 1984 at I believe the age of 52. So in that sense she lasted longer than both Marilyn, who died at 36 and Jayne Mansfield at 34. And Diana, did 34 films and actually had a pretty good career in length and substance.

But back then even, when the average American and Brit was living into their seventies, to die at 52 when you’re still a middle-age person, is dying while you’re still fairly young. She still looked great at this point and was still baby-faced adorable with the great body and could still turn young men on. And yet she dies just five years later. It would’ve been nice to of had Diana around as long as Elizabeth Taylor, who with all of Liz’s problems in life, made it to 79. Because Diana, is one of the best stars of all-time.

You can also see this post at The Daily Press, on WordPress.

Posted in Baby Di, Hollywood Goddess, Originals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Liberty Pen: David Boaz- Rand Paul and The Libertarian Mind

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Ederik Schneider
Rand Paul

Source: Liberty Pen– U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R, Kentucky

Source:Liberty Pen

When you think of Senator Rand Paul’s politics, you should think Barry Goldwater conservative libertarianism. He’s not as far right as his father Ron Paul on economic policy, or as far left on foreign policy. I’ve floated the idea that Rand, is his generation’s and era’s version of Barry Goldwater. “Big government out of the wallets, bedrooms, boardrooms and classrooms. Strong at home, so we can be strong abroad when we need to. But not to police the world, but to defend our national security and economic interests.” Which means if you’re a lets say classical Libertarian, like a Lew Rockwell, or Andrew Napolitano, the Mises Institute, you’re going to disagree with Senator Paul on foreign policy and perhaps national security and perhaps even economic policy.

Rand, doesn’t want to eliminate taxes, or even the safety net. He wants to reform the tax code to promote more economic freedom and have taxes down as low as possible and even eliminate a lot of subsidies, even corporate welfare in the tax code. A Lew Rockwell lets say Anarcho-Libertarian, wants to eliminate taxes all together. As well as the safety net, including Medicare, Social Security and every other social welfare program in the Federal Government. Where Rand, would reform a lot of those programs, by sending them down to the states to run and giving Americans private options in how they receive those services. But when it comes to civil liberties and personal freedom in general, Libertarians and classical Conservatives, should like Senator Paul a lot. And perhaps even be able to work with him on the issues where they have disagreements.

Classical and Anarcho-Libertarians, are probably going to try to paint Rand Paul as a Neoconservative when it comes to foreign policy and national security. Because the Senator believes in a strong, but limited national defense and is not an isolationist. Neoconservatives and the Christian-Right, are probably going to try to paint Rand as a Liberal, because he believes in personal freedom and civil liberties. And doesn’t want big government involved in our personal affairs. And doesn’t think America should try to police the world, at least by ourselves. But he’s neither of those things. He’s a true limited government, pro-freedom Conservative Libertarian. Who isn’t anti-government, but doesn’t want big government trying to manage our lives for us. And as a result, he should be able to appeal to a lot of young Americans, including Republicans.

Posted in Liberty Pen, Originals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Economist: ‘Jailhouse Nation’

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Erik Schneider
The Economist: Jailhouse Nation

Source:The Economist– Welcome to Jailhouse Nation.

“WITH less than 5% of the world’s population, the United States holds roughly a quarter of its prisoners: more than 2.3m people, including 1.6m in state and federal prisons and over 700,000 in local jails and immigration pens. Per head, the incarceration rate in the land of the free has risen seven-fold since the 1970s, and is now five times Britain’s, nine times Germany’s and 14 times Japan’s. At any one time, one American adult in 35 is in prison, on parole or on probation.”

From The Economist

I agree with The Economist, that the War on Drugs in America is the biggest contributor to our large prison population. That costs American taxpayers billions of dollars every year. As well as the fact that we send so many non-violent offenders to prison: shoplifters, car thieves, prostitutes and others, to prison. When everybody involved would be better off if these people were in a halfway house, local jail even and in the case of prostitution, not that I’m recommending prostitution, but we don’t need to lock up people for simply making a living giving sex. Drug addicts, need to be in drug rehab and halfway houses. Not jail, or prison. And that would reduce our prison population dramatically.

Prisons, shouldn’t be the home for the mentally ill either. Even for the criminally insane. We use to have special state hospitals that were secure like prisons, that housed are criminally insane. And for our mentally ill offenders who clearly do pose a real threat to society, but perhaps aren’t career criminals, we should have state hospitals for them.

Prisons, should be the last resort when it comes to offenders in America. People who pose real security and economic threats to society. Where we might need to hold them for ten years, or more and try to rehabilitate them there as well. Prisons, should be for violent offenders and economic terrorists. Not small time hoods, who otherwise aren’t very dangerous.

And the other way to cut the American prison population, is for the people who need to be in prison, you work with them inside, whether they are serving life, or not. Especially if they aren’t serving life, so they can get out of prison as soon as they are ready to succeed on the outside. You do that by empowering them and requiring them to finish their education while in prison. Put them to work in prison based on the education that they now have. Pay them for the work that they do so they can pay for their cost of living in prison. Give them whatever counseling and programs that they need to be able to succeed in prison and succeed on the outside.

America, will simply never be Europe, for a whole lot of reasons that not even The Economist knows. We are much freer and more individualistic as a country. We are a lot more diverse, as perhaps the most racially, ethnic and culturally, diverse at least large country in the world. We are the home to Hollywood, where a lot of our criminals get inspired. We also have poverty and single-parent issues that a lot of other developed countries do not have. And we are also so damn big as a country. By far the largest developed country in the world as far as land and population.

And culturally with our individualism and Americans wanting to do things for themselves and be able to take care of themselves, we don’t have the pacifist collectivist attitude of Europe. But we could become a country that is even more free with fewer people in prison.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress.

Posted in Originals, The Economist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Liberty Pen: James Allen: Political Correctness

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Ederik Schneider

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My main issue with political correctness, is a serious one, but I also have a less serious one. My serious issues, has to do with the fascist anti-free speech element to it. Political correctness warriors, telling people they can’t say that, because it offends this group of people over here. You can’t say that, according to the political correctness warrior, even if you’re correct, because again it may offend some group that they care about. My less serious issue with political correctness, has to do with the hypocrisy of it that comes from the Far-Left, not The Left, as if there is one Left in America. But the Far-Left, that doesn’t believe in free speech, but what they would call collective speech.

I’ll explain what I mean by collective speech later. But the hypocrisy of the political correctness movement is so obvious. They’re not against hate speech, or offensive speech, per say. They’re against offensive speech that they disagree with. You want to make fun of rednecks, just as long as they aren’t Caucasian, no problem. Christians, again as long as they aren’t Caucasian, no problem. Caucasian people in general, especially if they’re on the Right, no problem. Its minorities religious and racial, specifically, as well as women on the Left and Eastern religions, that PC warriors, believe deserve special protection in America. They believe minorities, shouldn’t be forced to live in a liberal democracy, where people can say whatever they want.

James Allen, had it right, when he said that PC warriors don’t have a sense of humor, at least when it comes to anyone whose not Caucasian. But you can make all the redneck, Anglo-Saxon and Christian jokes all you want. But criticize Islam, or Urban America, or hip hop, or make a joke about Asians when it comes to driving, or their eyesight, or how Middle Easterners dress, you’ll be branded as a racist. You make fun of gays and lesbians and make a butch joke, about a dykish lesbian and you’re not only a homophobe, but a sexist. You make a gay joke a feminine gay queen and you’re a homophobe. But you make fun of butch masculine straight men and their masculinity and you’re funny.

So, its not offensive speech that is offensive to PC warriors. Its offensive speech towards groups of Americans that they believe deserve special treatment that no other Americans deserve according to them. And as far as collective speech, again not free speech that PC warriors are in favor of. Because with free speech people are able to say essentially whatever they want. Short of inciting violence, harassment and libel. But speech that the collective, that society together views as appropriate that they are in favor of. And I’m just glad PC warriors weren’t in charge when the U.S. Constitution was put together. Because, for one we might not have a Constitution today. But we certainly wouldn’t of gotten the liberal First Amendment that we have now.

You Can't Say That

You Can’t Say That

Posted in Liberty Pen, Originals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Commentary Magazine: Jonathan S. Tobin: The Greek Crisis Echoed in Democrat’s Entitlement Stance

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Rik Schneider

Source:Commentary Magazine

To state the obvious, America is not Greece. Greece, a country of eleven-million people, with an economy somewhere around two-hundred-fifty-million people and yet their central government spends about half of its GDP. Most of that having something to do with the economy, mostly having to do with social welfare programs. Greece, is not a Marxist state, but certainly a social democratic, or even a socialist state, that expects its government to do a lot for them. And people who actually do have jobs there, they are happy to pay for those services and even subsidize people who won’t work. So this idea that they would willing to give up all of their social welfare subsidies, even to save their economy and get bailed out, is foreign to Greeks.

America, is a much different country than Greece. Which shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone, even to Democratic Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders and his bid for the White House. We don’t expect government to do practically everything for us, or at least most of us don’t. And when our government goes through tough economic and financial times, most of us are willing to do our fair share to deal with that crisis. The Greeks, tend to see as government services and welfare subsidies as free money from government. And wonder why they should have to cut back on the welfare services that they receive. And perhaps don’t even believe that they are paying for those services.

Had America, not of taken the steps to deal with our Great Recession and debt issues back in 2009 and 2011 when we did, perhaps we are Greece right now, or having similar economic issues. But again, America steps up when we have problems and Americans expect their leaders to make those tough decisions. Because we know that all of those public services that receive come with costs. And they have to be affordable and sustainable and effective, so the people who receive those services get the services that they paid for. Unlike Greece, who sees those services as free and the idea that they should cut back in what they receive from their socialist government as somehow unfair and perhaps even mean-spirited.

Posted in Fiscal Policy, Originals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Economist: The Real Cost of The War on Drugs

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Erik Schneider

The Economist
America, at least at one point and perhaps they still are, was the biggest consumer of narcotics, legal and otherwise, in the world. One reason why you see so many drug dealers, drug lords, drug terrorists in Central America, the Caribbean, Columbia and other places in South America. Because they want to get their dope to the United States. Because they know how much of that Americans consume. I’ve made this point so much, but once you prohibit something, doesn’t mean it goes away. It means it goes underground. Where people can’t see it and find it. Where the only rules that are in place, are made and enforced by drug dealers.

The War on Drugs and drug terrorists, almost destroyed the Republic of Columbia in the 1990s. And they still have issues with their War on Drugs and terrorists down there. Why, because Columbians, other South Americans and Americans, still want their narcotics and want them badly. The War on Drugs, is not a real war, but America has been fighting this so-called war since 1971. Spending trillions of dollars on it and the problems have only been made worst. Just because you threaten to lock someone up for what they do to themselves, especially if they’re addicted to what they’re on, doesn’t mean it goes away. Just means people are now putting their freedom at risk and risking incarceration, to do their drugs.

The real costs of the War on Drugs, is a lot more money on law enforcement and incarceration, that taxpayers have to pay. A lot more Americans in prison for simply consuming drugs and what they’re doing to themselves. People who otherwise could be productive members of society if they weren’t in prison. People, that had they been sent to drug rehab, or a halfway house, instead of prison, could’ve beaten their addiction and been able to move on with the rest of their lives. But now have seen their addiction get worst and are now convicted felons with a prison record. Whose going to have a hard time making it on the outside when they get out. Even if they beat their addiction. So the real cost of the War on Drugs, is immense. And something Americans taxpayers have to pay for everyday.

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The Atlantic: David Frum: ‘Liberal and The Illiberal Left’

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Derik Schneider

Graduation

Source:The Atlantic– the left-wing The Atlantic with an article about the illiberal left in America.

“A liberal,” Robert Frost once said, “is someone who can’t take his own side in an argument.” If conservatives are often caricatured by their detractors as unfeeling, liberals are painted as uncertain, weak, and easily bullied. Back in the 1980s, the centrist British politician David Owen joined the two accusations in a jibe against Britain’s Prime Minister Thatcher and her then Labor opponent: “She doesn’t care, and he doesn’t dare.”

These stereotypes exert real-world political effects. In the 1970s, a Yale sociologist went to live for two years among an exotic tribe: not in the South Seas or up the Amazon, but in the working-class neighborhood of Canarsie, next door to New York’s Kennedy Airport. For a political generation, the Jews and Italians of Canarsie had voted overwhelmingly for New Deal Democrats. Since 1970, their preference had shifted to Richard Nixon’s Republicans. The sociologist, Jonathan Rieder, wanted to understand why. Here’s what he found…

Source:The Atlantic

Conservative David Frum and Progressive Jonathan Chait, both wrote good and interesting pieces about the illiberal New-Left in America this winter. And how hard they’ve come down against free speech and push so hard for their version of fascism, which is political correctness. I’ve called people who are so Far-Left and even see people like Karl Marx, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and others as heroes, or at least as people who are worth supporting, as the New-Left in America. And have more in common with Communists, than they would with a Liberal Democrat like Jack Kennedy. Who was always against communism and authoritarianism in general. And always a strong supporter of free speech, especially for people who he disagreed with.

This is very simple. If you don’t believe in free speech, even for people you disagree with and perhaps even find offensive, you’re not a Liberal. Perhaps you’re on the Far-Left, or Far-Right, but someone who doesn’t believe in free speech, is not a Liberal, but a fascist. The Illiberal-Left in America, are not Liberals, because they don’t defend liberal values. With Freedom of Speech being the number one value. You can’t have a liberal democracy without Freedom of Speech and Assembly. The Right to Privacy and Property Rights, would be two other keys in a liberal democracy. That today’s Illiberal-Left, doesn’t seem to either appreciate, or is even against. With their so-called political correctness movement to protect people from criticism that they believe deserves special protection from society. And this idea that people shouldn’t own things. But that we as a society should share everything.

Bill Maher, who has real socialist leanings, at least on economic policy and was seen as a hero by the Far-Left in America, before last fall when he started criticizing Islam, but who is a true Liberal when it comes to personal freedom and social issues, is a perfect example of how the Illiberal-Left tries to destroy people simply when they disagree with them. That in their little world, it is not enough to disagree with people you disagree with, because others may agree with them. So what you do is trying to destroy them and get their voice censored, so they can’t be heard. And only your side can get their message out. Which is pure fascism and something that Karl Marx would applaud, that Jack Kennedy would’ve been disgusted with.

You can also see this post at FreeState MD, on Blogger.

Posted in Originals, The Atlantic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dennis Miller Show: David Horowitz: ‘A Most Excellent Explanation of the Left’s Takeover of America’

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Rik Schneider
Garbage Man

Source: We Love Sarah Palin– Garbageman David Horowitz

You can also see this post at The FreeState, on Blogger.

“Dennis Miller interviewed David Horowitz on July 31, 2014. Horowitz accurately & succinctly described how the Left has successfully taken over America. It’s so sad.”

Source:We Love Sarah Palin

Like with a lot of partisan political activists (right and left) and that’s exactly what David Horowitz is, he has a tendency to be partially factual, but only to make a broader partisan point.

Yes, the Democratic Party was the party of Jim Crow and segregation. What the David Horowitz’s of the world won’t tell you, is that those Jim Crow Democrats and the Dixiecrats, are Republicans today. The Democratic Party, along with Progressive Republicans in Congress, gave us the civil rights of the 1960s. And now right-wing Republicans, along with Libertarians today, are saying that we either no longer need those laws, or they are unconstitutional, or both.

As far as Democratic big cities and the leadership there: Republicans don’t even bother to try to compete in the Detroit’s, Chicago’s, Philadelphia’s, Washington’s, Baltimore’s, San Francisco’s, Los Angeles’s, etc, so the cities are left with just Democrats and in many cases just left-wing Democrats, because modern Republican Party is primarily a rural, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, male party, that believes America has been going to hell since the 1960s and the civil rights laws and the multiculturalism of today. If the Republican Party wants better, big cities, maybe they should live there and run for office there and present and alternative agenda for how those cities should be run.

Like I said before about David Horowitz, like a lot of other partisan political activists, David Horowitz has a tendency to be half-right. Not that different from FOX News or MSNBC today. If you are a partisan or an independent, you are not going to learn much from him, because he’s either just going to tell you what you already believe, or try to feed you a lot of garbage about the Democratic Party and so-called Liberals.

Posted in Book TV, Originals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment