So my world seems to be ending right now. Not only are the Braves making ridiculous trades, but my country, my homeland, is ending as I know it. I don't want to get political here, so turn your head if you need to... I'll be back later with cards. It'll be the only thing that'll keep me sane.
For those of you who don't know, a political party in Canada whose only goal is to seperate Quebec from the rest of Canada has joined forces with two other parties to overthrow the elected government. Yes. In Canada, we are having a coup.
LINKSSteve Janke:
What if Canada had a coalition government and nobody came?
Posted: December 02, 2008, 7:00 PM by Kelly McParland
Full Comment, Steve Janke, Canadian politicsSo there's this idea floating around of having all the Conservative MPs resign in case this coup takes place.
I admit to scratching my head about this one. Then slowly it started to make sense.
If the Liberal-NDP-Bloc plotters succeed in taking over the government, what should the Conservatives do?
Normally they would walk across the floor and sit in opposition.
But there is this idea of mass resignations. All 143 Conservative MPs resign, effective immediately.
Weird. And yet, I see where this is going.
It is an act of honour. We were elected to be the government, and not even two months in, we're out. The people deserve to have a say in this. It's hard to argue that point.
It delegitimizes the coalition. Without a functioning opposition, the coalition would be unencumbered by dissent within Parliament, either on the floor of the House, or in committee. But the more radical programs brought in by the coalition would seem all the more unilateral and illegitimate, brought in not only by a mutant party not elected to be in government, but one that is presiding over a broken House.
The Conservatives could play this up in a big way. An opposition in protest? The media would pay a lot of attention to Stephen Harper's statements and criticisms just because of the sheer theatre. Stephane Dion, who is miserable in media events, would be at a disadvantage. And without a functioning Question Period, there would be no carefully crafted statements for Dion to deliver against the backdrop of hooting and hollering NDP and Bloc Quebecois MPs voicing their support. Dion would be forced to respond in media scrums, where he performs badly.
The Liberals can't afford to fight 143 by-elections, while Conservative supporters would be energized. That could be extremely interesting. Would the Liberals, the NDP, and the Bloc Quebecois split up the 143 by-elections between them? It would save the Liberals a lot of money, but it would look terrible, as the coalition continues to play games with democracy by eliminating choices for the Canadian voter. Nevertheless, there would be those like the Green Party who would be demanding that they be given ridings to run in unopposed. Regardless of the outcome of the by-elections, divvying up ridings ahead of the votes would eliminate any shreds of respectability held by the coalition. And yet what sort of coalition runs against itself?
In 143 by-elections, there would be ample opportunity for both local candidates and coalition party leaders to defend the legitimacy of their takeover. The Conservative message would be simple: You elected us but they decided that they knew better. The coalition message would have to be nuanced: We knew we'd be better, so we took over. How many times do you think they could deliver that message without someone flubbing a line and coming off as either arrogant or dictatorial? I don't even know if it is possible to defend this coup without sounding arrogant and dictatorial in the first place.
There are risks, of course. The by-elections would happen, and there could be a backlash against the Conservatives. In any case, there is no guarantee that the Conservatives would get all 143 seats back. Also, the act of having by-elections would partially legitimize the coalition, especially if they won seats.
On the other hand, if the coalition governs badly, riven by internal dissent and floundering in difficult economic times, and if the coalition is seen as a government of panderers, handing out money by the truckload to Quebec separatists and unelected environmentalists, and (safest bet of all) if their leftist interventionist policies hurt Canadians in the pocketbook, there is every reason to believe that those 143 by-elections would be a referendum on the coalition, and that the coalition would not like the results.
Oh, and the Liberals would be broke fighting up to 50% of a general election. Unless, of course, the Liberals found another source of cash, one that would easily be tapped into once they were in power...
National Post
What the hell, man?
An actual card post to follow later tonight.....
A Happy 25th Birthday to Gregor Blanco. Gregor beat out Josh Anderson in spring training last season to win the 4th outfielder job last season. His playing time increased with the Mark Kotsay injury and subsequent trade to Boston.
Gregor the Chrome has taught me that my scanning bed needs cleaning.
Happy Birthday to Brandon Jones! Brandon is one of the Braves top prospects, and has a chance to make the big club this season.
Retail version of my previous post...
The Kid
Carlos Beltran
a cardboard thingy insert that's thick like a jersey card would be. Nothing like this in the hobby pack.
Joe Borchard
A Rod
Miguel Tejada
Mark Mulder
if you order Fleer baseball as well... you get two free packs! $0.60 extra profit!!! Sweeeeeet!
KNUCKSIE!!!!!!!!!! AWWRIGHTTT!!!!!!!!
Nolan Nolan Nolan.... keep those strikeouts rolling.... RAWHIDE!
Gary Carter
Bruce Sutter. One of, if not the best reliever of all time. Pictured with a bat. Awesome.
Carlton. Red variety. (sorry Steve)
Triple Threats.
I love these so far.... one of my better purchases for sure. And to think... I could've bought four of these boxes for the price of a blaster. Sometimes, I gotta re-evaluate my priorities and not get distracted by shiny things...
First sticker...
Eddie Murray -Orioles, love the 'fro...
Steve Garvey - Dodgers
Dave Concepcion - Reds
Joe Morgan - Astros (Part 2)
I've got 36 packs of these babies! That's right... a full box... I'll post the box scans tomorrow... and another pack or two.
Steve Williams
Chipper Jones! Great Googly Moogly! How could I not have him yet????? I bought two hobby boxes! I'm the biggest Braves fan north of Atlanta! @$#%$@#(^&)11!!!!
and some more '08 A&G!
Mark Buehrle
Johan is ready to give the gas.... Matty does not look impressed. Go ahead Johan, give Matt a first pitch fastball... I dare ya.....
Thanks Chris!
John!!! The '53 Topps Eddie Matthews and the '54 Hank Aaron rookie are missing!!! File a claim! Take them to court! Robbing bastards!
Four packs of Match Attax! Many more trades, and I'll have a set of these suckers...
this just in... Frank Wren has traded Tim Hudson to Texas for 10 Maple bats.
My man Adam! and a young Bob Horner... what could have been....
and of course, your next Hall of Famer... Dale Murphy.
Why is he not in the Hall? Will someone, anyone, give me a rational explanation? Bueller?
Also included were:
Now, optimists tell me that Vazquez is an "innings eater" He can give you 220 innings next year! I'm 6'4" and 260 lbs. I can eat a lot more than innings. And I could throw 220 innings if Bobby would let me. But, he wouldn't. And he won't let Vazquez either. His last year in the National League? 2005. 11-15 with a 4.65 ERA. Be still my heart. His stats last year? 12-16 , 4.67. Super.
Why must we continue to package our youth away for below average over the hill vets? I know Bobby is close to retirement. We gotta win now. But these guys might kill him. Denys Baez, anyone?
I cried when we acquired Teixeira too. But at least there was an upside. The second best switch hitter in baseball! Now hitting behind the best switch hitter in baseball. SWEEET! 
Card one; Anze Kopitar - Kings - cool. A very good player on a bad team...
now the part I'm dreading..... if it's Henrik Zetterberg, I'm gonna lose it!
SWEEEEET!!!
Carey Price! WOOHOO!!!