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Encouraging Prospects (BoSox farm system ranked #2 behind Tampa)
The Boston Globe ^ | January 16, 2007 | Nick Cafardo

Posted on 01/16/2008 10:05:04 AM PST by Lovebloggers

When you looked out at the football field in the indoor bubble at Boston College's Alumni Stadium yesterday, you saw the reason why many Red Sox fans don't want to make the Johan Santana trade.

related content gallery Photos from Tuesday's workout Sox prospects learn to deal with trade rumors more stories like thisYou saw a confident, personable, Derek Lowe-like Justin Masterson and shortstop-of-the-future Jed Lowrie, both of whom have been mentioned in a possible trade for Santana. You saw a bulked-up, maturing Clay Buchholz, who may be the Red Sox' lone untouchable, though he may not even break camp with them, given the depth of their rotation.

The talent on the field - invited guests to the Red Sox' annual rookie development program - was a testament to how far the system has come. Baseball America, the bible of minor league baseball, ranks the Red Sox farm system second overall (Tampa Bay is first). But farm director Mike Hazen isn't getting carried away.

"We don't put too much stock in those things," Hazen said. "We know our job is to continue to push forward and help each guy maximize his potential."

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: champions; redsox
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To: aroundabout
Manny Ramirez could hop on the next rocket to Mars (if he hasn't already) and our pitching staff alone will still win 95 games next year without breaking a sweat, and without trading for Johann Santana. As for past Pinstriped Glory, the French had some great victories in the 16th century too, and they count for about as much right now. The Yankees could put a TV in their dugout and they still wouldn't be able to hit Beckett or Matsuzaka to save their pincushion behinds. Face it, Spanky: when your biggest hope is Melky Cabrera, you're pretty much f***ed. See you in the post season (or, actually, not).
41 posted on 01/16/2008 4:09:20 PM PST by andy58-in-nh (Kill the terrorists, secure the borders, and give me back my freedom.)
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To: aroundabout

Name one player.

Then google Ryan Howard.

Next.


42 posted on 01/16/2008 4:16:06 PM PST by Lovebloggers
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To: aroundabout

Oh and he can’t even think of going anywhere until 2012.

Perhaps the Yankees would pay him top dollar now, but like I said — name one player that got a huge money contract with 4 years left on the clock.


43 posted on 01/16/2008 4:17:50 PM PST by Lovebloggers
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To: Lovebloggers
This thread has been quite enjoyable. Your something in the water voodoo conspiracy theories are testament that NY has gone over the edge (which just makes it all the more enjoyable of course).

Our history speaks for itself. The Red Sox rather boorish behavior is that of a perennial loser that has found short term success and believes it has somehow become a NYY like dynasty or at least hope they have. Well you know what they say, you can hope in one hand and crap in the other and see which fills up faster. Consistency is the mark of the professional and the NYY is the most successful sports franchise in history. When the sox equal what they have done, then you MAY get respect but only if you learn HOW to win.

A-fraud Sucks in the playoffs. New England danced in the streets when Mr. April received his ridiculous over-the-top Yankee contract (y’all should have placed his incentives on playoff performance, not attention whoring regular season stats — MORONS).

Since I visit many sports forums I can tell you unequivocally this is a lie. The Sox were frantic to get AROD and were crushed when he went to NY. I agree he sucked in the playoffs but he is the very reason we got there. If it were only he that failed to hit it would be one thi9ng but that ws not the case.

The rest of your line up really didn’t do so much for you last year did they? Red Sox own your 3 year contract closer, his number was punched years ago. NYY finished at the top offensively to the RS 5th place offensive finish. We do well against Schilling and we beat Papalbon and if I remember correctly we took the season series from you. You may have forgotten that when Pedro was your star pitcher we owned him. This is another shortcoming of the RS fan, a short memory.

m Schilling is with the Sox to groom the youngsters, which he was stellar in doing with Beckett, and is further bringing Dice-K along nicely.

The story on Dice K, your 100 MILLION dollar pitcher has yet to be written. He was certainly NOT earning his money last year with a 15-12 record and a .440 era. The league saw him for the first time last year and it will only get more difficult for him.

We are all set here in the sports capital of the word thanks.

LOL, the utter arrogance of the RS fan. I lived there pal and I saw it all. If they win 6 in a row they will NEVER lose again. When they lose a close game the umps sucked and if that line drive off the wall had been 3 inches higher...... The Yankees win and go home, they don't start fights 5-6 times a month because it'd "cool" as the fans think, and they don't run around madly pumping their fists. They were jackets when they travel and behave like gentlemen. Then NYY are a team of class and tradition, while the RS....are not.

We will check for your pulse when we sign Santana — and will giggle our asses off if the Yankees do, as that farm system that has your chest all puffed out over? Hank the flip flipper will have sold that “farm” to get him.

Ahh, more Boston arrogance. If you sign him it will be a good deal because you somehow think you will have to give up LESS then the Twins refused before, but if the NYY sign him then we will give up MORE? Do I have that right? I've explained the records and prospects of then various young pitchers on each team and the Yankees clearly, VERY clearly have an edge and more then a small one. Let me know if you want to compare pitcher for pitcher and i will gladly do so.

HA. HA. HA. HA. HA.

Really, I must smile because I have seen this so many times from RS fans and it brings to mind the "He who, laughs last" quip.

44 posted on 01/16/2008 4:28:56 PM PST by aroundabout
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To: aroundabout

“”Our history speaks for itself. The Red Sox rather boorish behavior is that of a perennial loser that has found short term success and believes it has somehow become a NYY like dynasty or at least hope they have. Well you know what they say, you can hope in one hand and crap in the other and see which fills up faster. Consistency is the mark of the professional and the NYY is the most successful sports franchise in history. When the sox equal what they have done, then you MAY get respect but only if you learn HOW to win.””

You history of WS wins ends where? I don’t see that changing in the near future. Short term success that the Yankees can’t see to muster if their lives depended on it. Red Sox have built a team, which is a foreign concept to Georgie as he just collects talent. We are in it for the long haul. We’ll see where the Yankees are the end of this season.

Yankee fans are quite possibly the most obnoxious fans on the planet. Learn how to win? are you kidding me right now? BAHAHAHA.

“””Since I visit many sports forums I can tell you unequivocally this is a lie. The Sox were frantic to get AROD and were crushed when he went to NY. I agree he sucked in the playoffs but he is the very reason we got there. If it were only he that failed to hit it would be one thi9ng but that ws not the case.”””

Oh my!! I am so sorry. I had no idea we were in the presence of someone who visits many sports forums! Ooooh, bow down to your greatness!

I guess you missed the “don’t sign A-fraud” “re-sign Lowell” chants that started at the end of game four of the WS. I need a link to “frantic” please (other than your sports forums, mmmkay?).

“””The story on Dice K, your 100 MILLION dollar pitcher has yet to be written. He was certainly NOT earning his money last year with a 15-12 record and a .440 era. The league saw him for the first time last year and it will only get more difficult for him.”””

The story on Dice-K is that he will be just fine this year. We’ll compare notes in October.

“””LOL, the utter arrogance of the RS fan. I lived there pal and I saw it all. If they win 6 in a row they will NEVER lose again. When they lose a close game the umps sucked and if that line drive off the wall had been 3 inches higher...... The Yankees win and go home, they don’t start fights 5-6 times a month because it’d “cool” as the fans think, and they don’t run around madly pumping their fists. They were jackets when they travel and behave like gentlemen. Then NYY are a team of class and tradition, while the RS....are not.”””

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Have you ever even attended a game in the Bronx?

Lord I am going to throw up from laughing on this one. Too damn funny.

A-fraud wears his fancy suit to those strip clubs too doesn’t he?, and Jeter the tax cheat? yeah, he is soooo classy.

HAHAHAHAHA.

“””Ahh, more Boston arrogance. If you sign him it will be a good deal because you somehow think you will have to give up LESS then the Twins refused before, but if the NYY sign him then we will give up MORE? Do I have that right? I’ve explained the records and prospects of then various young pitchers on each team and the Yankees clearly, VERY clearly have an edge and more then a small one. Let me know if you want to compare pitcher for pitcher and i will gladly do so.””

When the Yankees sell the farm to sign Santana (and everyone but you knows they will), you will have a pitching staff made up of Santana.

Maybe Roger will come out of retirement and “save” you all once again.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Lester and Masterson is being offered for Santana by the Red Sox. In another deal it is Ellsbury and some other small minor league talent. Yankees will give up Hughes, a half dozen other talent and cash for him.

Tick tock..... I will be the first to post the article when it happens. :)

“”Really, I must smile because I have seen this so many times from RS fans and it brings to mind the “He who, laughs last” quip.””

Red Sox farm system is stocked. Bullpen is stocked. I see nothing but smiles and laughter on my end.

Yankees — not so much, and it is just killing you. All the more sweeter.

Patriots. Celtics. Red Sox.......... I love that dirty water...


45 posted on 01/16/2008 5:05:05 PM PST by Lovebloggers
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To: andy58-in-nh
"Manny Ramirez could hop on the next rocket to Mars (if he hasn't already) and our pitching staff alone will still win 95 games next year without breaking a sweat, and without trading for Johann Santana. As for past Pinstriped Glory, the French had some great victories in the 16th century too, and they count for about as much right now. The Yankees could put a TV in their dugout and they still wouldn't be able to hit Beckett or Matsuzaka to save their pincushion behinds. Face it, Spanky: when your biggest hope is Melky Cabrera, you're pretty much f***ed. See you in the post season (or, actually, not)."

You exhibit the typical small NE mentality when you so arrogantly proclaim the NYY's finished because they haven't gotten past the 1st round lately. You also seem to believe that with the tenuous pitching staff you now have you somehow have what the Orioles had in the 1970's when they had 4 20 game winners. Believe me if you took the time to actually look at what you claim is a locked in future great staff you would be scared to death. I suspect that like most NE fans you prefer to just hype yourself into a frenzy and only emerge from the ether when it all falls apart. Just for fun, why not show me this GREAT staff you have for the future, Beckett aside because I will allow for his having ONE great year last year and will even assume he will have a few more. Let's look at your younger pitchers and perhaps you can explain to me WHY you believe they have such great futures? Show me stats and I will do the same for the NYY staff. You will see how short your team comes up looking down the road. I don't take anything away from their winning last season but let's not forget the 13 game lead they came within 1 game of losing (like 1978 when they blew a 14.5 game lead) and the fact the NYY came back from injuries to every starter. I also am willing to congratulate a winner but you see the problem with you nasty and spiteful NE fans is that your childish ranting and hateful rhetoric when you lose is present, amazingly even when you lose. Again I remind you I was there and witnessed this. As mild mannered a man as Joe Torre was taken aback by the continued anger exhibited by the Boston fans AFTER the miraculous comeback in the 2004 ALCS by the RS. His quote in the newspaper when asked by a reporter about the continued hatred exhibited by RS fans was "I don't get it (the anger), they won. Why don't they just move on" This is paraphrased but close enough so you get the point. Since about 1918 the RS have had exactly one successful period, from 2004-2006 where they won 2 of 3 WS. Congratulations, but for you to claim the NYY are to be replaced by the RS after this absurdly short period of success only points out your ignorance of baseball history. I cannot see the future but here's what I know. Schilling is all but done as a pitcher at age 42. Beckett is young and ought to be around for a while. Papalbon is a disaster waiting to happen as far as his shoulkder goes and your youngsters, as I will prove as soon as you agree to the comparing them to the Yankees kids, have no background of their own to base your wild enthusiasm on. Frankly you have bought into, hook, line and sinker the Boston media hype about the team. The teams pitching last year was 1st in the AL but it was only 1 year and the argument can easily be made that several of your players had career years never to be repeated again. Only time will tell and if the past is any indication of the future, the RS will be in a world of hurt in a year or 2 as Ramirez goes and the leagues refuses to pitch to Ortiz. Ortiz is a career .282 hitter without Ramirez hitting behind him he will again be a .282 hitter. The assertion that the RS "will just get another hitter like Ramirez" only show the abject ignorance of the Boston fan. I smile just thinking of the frantic excuse making and hateful invective you guys will spew when things begin to fall apart as they will for sure.

46 posted on 01/17/2008 5:15:23 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: Lovebloggers

Name one player.

Then google Ryan Howard.

Next.

**********************************************************
Don’t understand this question as it refers to post it is referenced to. Please explain.


47 posted on 01/17/2008 5:17:48 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: Lovebloggers

RS fans are not referred to along with the generl population of MA as Massholes for no reason. Your posts exhibit a bunch of wishful thinking and virtually no facts and as such cannot be reasonably argued against. Matsusaka is so far a decent pitcher and no more. He is unarguable the most expensive aquition with the worst return in baseball history. Your claim he “will be ok” because “the is just that” is a joke.

BTW, AROD’s cost the Yankees almost nothing, relative to his production, since the Rangers are paying $7,000,000 annually thru 2010.


48 posted on 01/17/2008 5:30:45 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: aroundabout
LOL, Manny is on the record as talking to NYY players about his desire to play with the Yankees.

How is 2005, anyway? It's 2008, you know . . .

Bucholtz has a total of 21 innings

. . . including a no-hitter in his second major league game. You're right; the guy probably sucks.

Lester is the kid who came back from cancer. God bless him for that. He has parts of 2 seasons with the sox and has an era in the mid to high 4’s, not overly impressive and he is erratic at times and according to the book on him he can be surprisingly easy for left handers to hit. Not a good thing if you are a left handed pitcher yourself. With this young man the future is unknown due to his illness.

His career record is 11-2, and he has 110 strikeouts. He also won Game 4 of last year's World Series. You probably didn't watch that, though, as your Yank-offs were bounced in the first round of playoffs.

Papelbon is a strange case. He was recently resigned in, I think, March of 07 to a 1 year contract at about $450,000. This “phenom” is just 27 years old and they offer him a ONE YEAR contract at a lousy $450,000? Geez, there are guys who make that in a week. Mariano Rivera is 38 years old and the NYY resigned him for 3 years. Somethings going on here and it doesn’t bode well for the SAWX. If Papelbon was ok as you seem to think they would have locked him up for at least 7 years. The fact they did not indicates they believe he has a limited future.

Papelbon isn't arbitration eligible . . . he's only a year off his rookie year, i.e., he has two years of experience. Why would the Sox pay him any more than they have to? They control his monetary fate right now.

Are you sure you know what you're talking about? This is real basic stuff . . .

Ramirez’s HR and RBI production is in steady decline since 2005 with each of the past three seasons showing him being less productive in all areas.

What a shock. He'll be 36 years old this season.

49 posted on 01/17/2008 7:23:43 AM PST by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: aroundabout
The story on Dice K, your 100 MILLION dollar pitcher has yet to be written. He was certainly NOT earning his money last year with a 15-12 record and a .440 era. The league saw him for the first time last year and it will only get more difficult for him.

Yeah, just like Beckett, eh?

And Beckett was only making the transition from the National League to the American League---i.e., the junior varsity to the varsity. Matsusaka was making the transition from Japanese professional baseball to the American League---i.e., the freshman team to the varsity. How did 207 work out for Beckett, once he learned to pitch to American League hitters?

The more you post, the more convinced I am you don't know jack about baseball.

50 posted on 01/17/2008 7:31:38 AM PST by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Lovebloggers

Pardon a St Louis Cardinals fan butting in here, but do you know if there is a way to watch any of the spring practice games or pre-season games? Can I watch them online? Does it cost anything?

Football and baseball are my favorites. I find basketball boring,so Feb. and March are painful months for me.

There should be an MLB channel as there is an NFL channel.


51 posted on 01/17/2008 7:36:39 AM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: aroundabout

Angels are no slackers when it comes to MLB Farm Systems..these days.


52 posted on 01/17/2008 7:45:52 AM PST by Osage Orange (Hillary's heart is blacker, than the devils riding boots.................)
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To: ElectricStrawberry
Aw come on....A-Rod is just high-5'ing the guy about to tag him out...for making such a fine play.

: )

53 posted on 01/17/2008 7:48:43 AM PST by Osage Orange (Hillary's heart is blacker, than the devils riding boots.................)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
LOL, how bright are you to compare Japanese level baseball with ours. Any Major Leaguer in this country can play in Japan. About 2% of the Japanese players can play here.

Matsuzaka's best year was last year and unless he comes up with some miracle, a few more times around the league will cement his legend as the most expensive testimony to mediocrity in baseball history and the “genius” RS own him.

WOW, you sured those stupid NYY up by outbidding them didn’t you? Of course you offered about 50 MILLION more then the NYY were offering but hey, it’s only money, right?

54 posted on 01/17/2008 8:05:11 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
LOL, how bright are you to compare Japanese level baseball with ours. Any Major Leaguer in this country can play in Japan. About 2% of the Japanese players can play here.

Matsuzaka's best year was last year and unless he comes up with some miracle, a few more times around the league will cement his legend as the most expensive testimony to mediocrity in baseball history and the “genius” RS own him.

WOW, you sured those stupid NYY up by outbidding them didn’t you? Of course you offered about 50 MILLION more then the NYY were offering but hey, it’s only money, right?

55 posted on 01/17/2008 8:05:16 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
LOL, how bright are you to compare Japanese level baseball with ours. Any Major Leaguer in this country can play in Japan. About 2% of the Japanese players can play here.

Matsuzaka's best year was last year and unless he comes up with some miracle, a few more times around the league will cement his legend as the most expensive testimony to mediocrity in baseball history and the “genius” RS own him.

WOW, you sured those stupid NYY up by outbidding them didn’t you? Of course you offered about 50 MILLION more then the NYY were offering but hey, it’s only money, right?

56 posted on 01/17/2008 8:05:16 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: aroundabout
LOL, how bright are you to compare Japanese level baseball with ours. Any Major Leaguer in this country can play in Japan. About 2% of the Japanese players can play here.

That's why I called the Japanese league the "freshman" team, and the American League the "varsity" team. You know what these words mean, right?

You're not very bright, are you . . .

57 posted on 01/17/2008 8:18:12 AM PST by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: aroundabout
Good Lord, that's an awfully long paragraph, and so little to say, except to criticize New England fans, deny the quality of their players, and oh, yes: to get in the obligatory references to 1918 and 1978. Never heard that before. Baseball history is just that: history. It's like investment: past performance is not indicative of future results. And from where I sit, the Red Sox future looks very bright, indeed.

But don't take my word for it: take a look at what Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, Sports Illustrated, and The Sporting News all have had to say in the past six months about the Sox' farm system, and the talent therein. Among our potential pitchers: Clay Buchholz is a legitimate starting candidate should Curt Schilling falter (with a no-hitter already under his belt). Justin Masterson and Michael Bowden wait in the wings. At SS, we've got a terrific young player named Jed Lowrie (AAA: OBP -.356 SLG - 506 AVG -.300 OPS -.862), 2B Dustin Pedroia was only the AL Rookie of the Year, fer crissakes, and oh, yeah, in the OF we've got some guy named Jacoby Ellsbury, you might have heard of him, but then you probably couldn't stand to watch the ALCS or the World Series.

Now, no one has ever had four starters like Baltimore did in 1970, so that is an unfair basis for comparison for any team, even the Bronx Bummers. Among our projected starters for '08 (other than Cy Young candidate Josh Beckett), Matsuzaka is only going to get better, Jon Lester is nothing but healthy, and Schilling (as noted) is still a question mark, but a hard worker and a crafty old bastard besides (Andy Pettitte has shown the same capability).

Wakefield should be able to pitch, but probably ends up in the 'pen if his back is still hurting. The idea that Papelbon is an "accident waiting to happen" is purely wishful thinking on your part. As a result of his off-season workout program, he is supremely conditioned even before spring training, with greater lower body strength than he used to have, putting less strain on his shoulder.

As for Manny: no one knows what Manny is going to do, and that includes Manny. But we've also got some nice high draft picks and the free agent market is going to be much juicier after this season, so I'm not all that worried. Just try not to be too disappointed when the sports publications make their spring projections this year, okay?

58 posted on 01/17/2008 9:13:32 AM PST by andy58-in-nh (Kill the terrorists, secure the borders, and give me back my freedom.)
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To: andy58-in-nh
Matsuzaka is only going to get better, Jon Lester is nothing but healthy, and Schilling (as noted) is still a question mark, but a hard worker and a crafty old bastard besides (Andy Pettitte has shown the same capability). Wakefield should be able to pitch, but probably ends up in the 'pen if his back is still hurting. Ok, so unreliable

The idea that Papelbon is an "accident waiting to happen" is purely wishful thinking on your part. As a result of his off-season workout program, he is supremely conditioned even before spring training, with greater lower body strength than he used to have, putting less strain on his shoulder.

Please, I don't WISH an injury on someone whose living depends on being healthy. Papalbon is unproved. He gets credit for last year, of course buy look at the number of innings he pitched, You want to know WHY he only pitched so few innings? Because the Sox only wanted to use him when absolutely necessary in the beginning of the year to save him for later in the year. They could because the Sox, as they normally do got off to a fast start and the NYY suffered injuries to ALL their starters and had to bring up minor leaguers in April and May to fill the slots where needed.

Let's see what happens when he has to make almost twice the appearances as he did last year. If he performs consistently I will be the first to acknowledge his ability.

I only brought up the sparse winning record in post season and the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory because RS fans trash every accomplishment made by the NYY as either luck or as being "bought" as if they somehow broke the rules. I mentioned 78 and 1918 and left out a few such as 1986 against the Met's. You guys accuse the 2004 NYY as choking in some sort of retaliation for your record. Don't you realize by doing that you minimize what was a great accomplishment for your team?

I NEVER heard a NYY fan alibi that loss. The simple fact is after taking the first three games the NYY played to not lose rather then to win. That never works and they paid a price.

If you seriously think you can simply pluck a prospect and expect him to put up Manny like numbers then you are not knowledgeable about the game. You also don't seem to get that without a Manny behind him Ortiz goes back to his .282 lifetime average, not because I want it to be or because I say so but because Manny IS the reason he is hitting like he does.

As for the SI predictions? Please, if you don't know by now they are the kiss of death then you are beyond hope.

59 posted on 01/17/2008 9:50:10 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: aroundabout
As for the SI predictions? Please, if you don't know by now they are the kiss of death then you are beyond hope.

As long as you're not on the cover, it's all right. ;-)

60 posted on 01/17/2008 10:11:46 AM PST by andy58-in-nh (Kill the terrorists, secure the borders, and give me back my freedom.)
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