today’s Bill Roggio piece.

Its noteworthy that Roggio’s work today is in The Weekly Standard, a widely read magazine. It shows that larger news outlets are looking to get more accurate war coverage than what MSM is providing.

I agree with UWantRadie in HotFoot.

Last week’s observation by Keith Hernandez that some of the Latin players were ducking their responsibilities with the media came to a head yesterday with Paul LoDuca’s clear denunciation of them yesterday:

“I’ll do this (interview), but you need to start talking to other players,” Lo Duca announced loudly after he was approached by a radio reporter after the Mets-Cardinals series finale was washed out by rain. “It’s the same three or four people every day. Nobody else wants to talk. Some of these guys have to start talking. They speak English, believe me.”

Apparently this has been out there for awhile and at least one Mets blogger was concerened about it to write me a Email. There ever perceptive Metsgrrl wrote to me about a month ago about possible friction that exists between Latin players American born players. LoDuca’s comments indicate that friction.

At any rate, its clear Hernandez was on the something and his comments were likely made beyond his capacity as a broadcaster. Savvy in the ways of the  game outside the surface, Hernandez realized this was an emerging problem. He may well have spoken to LoDuca about it already. It was a fairly safe way to apply pressure to Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado.  I’m not certain whether or not its fair to apply the same standard to Jose Reyes as he is younger and is from the Dominican Republic where spanish is the primary language. Beltran and Delgado are from Puerto Rico where english is spoken throughout the island.

But now criticism has publically come from a teammate and its changed everyone’s comfort level with the issue.  I agree with Hernandez and LoDuca as it appears that Beltran and Delgado are ducking the media after the games and it puts more pressure on others. When you are one of the team’s stars, its a responsibilty to speak with the media.

Willie Randolph watched Joe Torre manage and one of Torre’s strengths was not letting thing lie. This one already has. Perhaps its not within him to take care of this or his philosophy is different. This is believable as Randolph does not have the best of relationships with the media himself and may not see a problem with players routinely blowing off the media. But it is and its now player vs player.

Omar Minaya has set himself up to be influencial in the clubhouse in a manner that excedes that of a normal GM. He’s been less visable this season for some reason. Perhaps its by design and the owners wanted him to tone it down. Maybe Randolph did. Still he cannot back away from the influence and role he’s portrayed and particularly so with Latin players. This is something thats getting awkward and won’t be going away. Its going to be up to Minaya to step in and use his own political capital to put this one to rest. And soon.

It was an awful bill to begin with that no one had any grasp of the details. Its a victory for the conservative movement, Talk Radio and many among the Right Wing Blogosphere such as Michelle Malkin. Like Netroots of the left, it seems that there is might in the tag team of bloggers and talk radio.

Sadly the immigration issue will go untouched the remainder of the Bush Administration and that includes the wall and enforcement of existing laws.

More than anything, defeat of this terribly planned bill demonstrated that there is strength on the Right and in its voting block. It will be a winning issue for whomever emerges as the Republican (save McCain) over either Dem Senator who supported the bill.

on The Fourth Rail.

…Tom Glavine deserved one like that last night? I love this little glimpse into the Mets clubhouse yeaterday by the Daily News:

 

There’s a strange reverence in the Mets clubhouse on the days Tom Glavine pitches. Teammates respect that every time he takes the mound, it could be a step toward 300 wins and baseball immortality. So when he propped up a small alarm clock on the floor in front of a couch and put his head down for a pregame nap, most players cleared out.

One even turned down the lights on that side of the room.

A short one like that takes the edge off and the club gets an emotional break from pressure. Good time, too.

The first six innings were of predictable fashion with a 2-run homer in the 1st by David Wright and another nice catch by Carlos Gomez. I sense a bit the the ship has been righted. Maybe I’m an old geezer, but I’m still pointing to the firey ejection of Paul LoDuca last week as being something more than most realize.

By the way, do they still play the same timeless music at Shea during rain delays-some that date back to the 50’s? I couldn’t hear on TV

From Michelle Malkin comes this insider’s link. New site looks great, Michelle.

Wrestling great Bret “Hitman” Hart graciously appeared on Greta Van Sustren’s show tonight and answered questions. He admitted that he thought that Chris Benoit had taken steroids at one time, but like all pro wrestlers had curbed his use after Eddie Guerrero’s death. Hart, who was clearly distraught the death of the entire Benoit family that he knew well, thought that Benoit had passed the mandated WWE test given early this year.   

Without saying so, Victor Davis Hanson pens an effective rebuttal to the oddly out-of-touch Dick Lugar in NR. His subheading, “Reasons to examine the Middle East’s negative prognosis,” is followed by this:

The majority opinion is that the occupation in Iraq has been so bungled that the blowback has ruined American efforts at promoting positive change throughout the Middle East.
Perhaps. But for all the justifiable criticism of the Iraqi reconstruction, two truths still remain — the United States is taking an enormous toll on jihadists, and despite the terrible cost in blood and treasure, has not given up on a constitutional government in Iraq.

He says this of Iran:

Theocratic Iran is not exactly as “empowered” as is generally alleged, but in the greatest crisis of its miserable existence. As the mullahs up the ante in the region, they could very soon not only lose Iraq, but also their own dictatorship. Trying to oppose the West in Iraq, Lebanon, and the West Bank is taking an enormous financial toll, as is the general isolation from the world community.

With oil prices at an all-time high, Iran can’t provide gasoline for its own people, who resent the billions spent instead on Arab terrorists abroad. If oil were to dip from near $70 to $50-55 a barrel, the regime would face abject bankruptcy. For all the criticism of the U.S. position, from the left and right, we have now found the right blend of military determination not to let Teheran go nuclear, combined with economic and political efforts at containment. There is an array of future options — stronger embargoes, blockades, and military strikes on infrastructure — still on the table. The social unrest the mullahs desire in Iraq is starting to spill over the border into their own Iran, and its magnitude and final course are still unpredictable.

And finally he advises partience:

Because violence per se is the only narrative from the Middle East, and often editorialized as deriving from U.S. blunders, we are in a state of constant depression. But things are not as bad as they seem, and could still turn out far better than anyone might imagine — if we give the gifted Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker the support and time they need to make the necessary military and diplomatic changes.

Inside the fog that is the MSM coverage of the Iraq War and the Beltway, Professor Hanson, one of our generations more thoughtful historians  is a voice to be to.

AJ Strata does a marvelous job of blowing up Dick Morris’ column today that speculated that Bush could save the Republicans in 08′ if he pulled out the troops:

George Bush doesn’t think in such crass partisan terms. Too many consultants who surround politicians sadly do. There is no salvation down this path. But this might explain some recent comments by Senators Lugar and Voinovich. Both men have now lost their spine and convictions on the Iraq war. In Lugar’s case it may be fall out from the immigration debate (and if so he is truly a dishonorable person). Lugar is very much in favor of the comprehensive immigration bill. And after ‘the base’ (al-Qaeda in Arabic - the irony of it all) went on their scortched Earth drive they may have made Lugar’s support to all things Bush too much. Voinovich seems to be in the same situation - pro immigration reform and most likely getting pummeled by the hysterical talking heads.

Ever the consultant that Morris. But the smackdown of Dick Luger George Voinovich in the same paragraph are noteworthy as Strata shrwedly points out that the President doesn’t make decisions this way, nor will he be influenced by Senate Republicans losing their will. Maybe dubya remembers Margaret Thatcher tealling his dad, “Now, George. Don’t go all wobbly now.”

Love that gal, Maggie. Happens to be my mothers name.

At any rate, Strata continues and offers a barb thats been needed in my opinion for those on the right who’ve gotten hysterical and resorted to name-calling about the immigration bill:

This just too disheartening to watch. The divisive nature of the immigration opponents is corrosive and is fracturing GOP resolve. And it will be our troops who pay in the end. Because they are the ones out there fighting and dying for a success which is not back in reach, but they need a strong and united GOP to make all their sacrifices worthwhile.

The rhetoric of “traitor” and “quisling” was always over the top and uncalled for. People have reasonable differing views on immigration. Mine, as I have stated, is based on culling out the hardened criminals here ASAP before they can be recruited by al-Qaeda. Minutiae like provisional status during processing and myths about criminal records checks have never risen to the level to make me divert from the need to reduce our risks from inside our country. In response to these reasonable views I have been called a traitor who thinks on a 5th grade level. OK, I could care less about those comments. But a politician needs to reflect their constituents to stay in office. So all those cries of shoving a bad bill down the throats of America may have backfired as the SAME argument can be made about shoving a tough war down the throats of a non-supportive America.

I must say that my thinking reflects Strata’s in that our security is primary whether its about immigration or any of our military efforts. We have to enforce our borders. Senator Lamar Alexander was bringing this up when he was a presedential candidate and before 9-11. Secure them first, we cannot have a unchecked flow. Nevermind the fact we cannot afford it. The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed this and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama has been trumpeting these numbers for a few weeks now.  

Still, many must find it curious the President’s steadfast support for immigration reform legislation. But they really shouldn’t. George Bush is a man that says what he means, and means what he says. His actions in the White House since 2000 have demonstrated this. Like it or not, republicans must realize that he’s doing what he truly feels is the right thing for America. Polls, politics and the press be damned.