We remember Florence Henderson (1934-2016)

Florence Henderson (Feb 14, 1934)....the famous Mrs Brady... https://t.co/Zr3agCnDME via @YouTube

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) February 14, 2017

January 2009: Charles Krauthammer turned out to be right!

This is a post from January 2009:

Charles Krauthammer is one of the nation's best political pundits.

His day job is over at The Washington Post, where he writes an extremely popular column. They usually reprinted at RCP. In fact, check out his archives!

In the evenings, Krauthammer is part of The Fox Report panel. He usually lines up often with Juan Williams and others.

One of my favorite articles was Historic Progress in Iraq!

A few years ago, Charles Krauthammer, who is a trained psychiatrist, penned Bush Derangement Syndrome:

"Bush Derangement Syndrome: the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency -- nay -- the very existence of George W. Bush."

Back in January 2009, Krauthammer commented on Pres. Bush's farewell press conference. He had a lot of interesting things to say.

Dr. Krauthammer concluded that history would treat Bush very well.

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2009: A little thanks to Pres. Bush!

Jules Crittenden was the Boston Herald city editor and columnist. He has reported on politics, crime, science, maritime matters, foreign affairs and conflict in the United States, Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East.

After Obama defeated McCain, Crittenden looked at the world in 2008 and compared it with 2001.    

Without doubt, Crittenden was right that President Bush left us in a better position around the world than we were in when he came into office: 

"As the transition progresses and Barack Obama's inauguration draws closer, it's a good moment to mull the gifts George W. Bush has left for the incoming president.

Bush has made the world a better place, and if Obama wants to do the same, he will take the good things Bush has done and move forward with them."

We say thank you to President Bush for making all of those tough calls.

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September 2008: The McCain speech

A post from September 2008

Unlike Senator Obama or Governor Palin, Senator McCain did not need a big speech to introduce himself.

We know McCain. He has been around for 25 years. McCain has been in the middle of every domestic and national security issue since the Reagan administration.

Last night, McCain called for a change in Washington.

McCain wants Washington to work and get things done. Like most of us, he is tired of Democrats and Republicans yelling at each other.

On national security, I think that we can easily deduct that our enemies know who McCain is.

I think that Iran knows that McCain will negotiate but won't be afraid to take out the nuclear plants if necessary. My guess is that France and Germany understand that McCain will call on them to put up or shut up in NATO. How much longer can the Afghanistan War be fought by US, UK and Canadian guys?

Overall, the speech was a typical McCain speech.

Great orator? No!

Potentially a great president? Absolutely yes!

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2008: The lady hit a home run!

The 2008 election has been one surprise after another. Who would have believed a week ago that Gov. Sarah Pallin would be the new star in town?

Someone wrote some great lines and she delivered them beautifully:

"I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities.

I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.
We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco."

She nailed Obama! Try this one:

"But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.

This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign."

Great job! This lady is one heck of a candidate!

P.S. What was Obama's response? His staff said that Palin was talking like Bush! I get the feeling that the Obama people are still running against Bush. They should get ready to run against McCain-Palin!

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.

July 2008: Today, we added Huckabee 2008 to our favorite places

A post from July 2008:

As of today, Mike Huckabee is still considered a 2nd tier candidate. In other words, he is not hailed as a front runner.

Nevertheless, Mr. Huckabee is rising. In fact, I would argue that he is one of the best communicators on the Republican stage.

I do not believe that Mr. Huckabee will be nominated president. However, he has to be among the top 2-3 names for VP.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.

June 2008: Ken Griffey, Jr. hit # 600!

Back in June 2008, Ken Griffey joined Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, Mays and Sosa in the 600 HR club.    (A-Rod got there later)

Griffey stayed away from controversy but not injuries.   Wonder how many more home runs he would have hit?  He hit 408 home runs in first 11 seasons with Seattle but only 222 over the next 10 years with Cincinnati, Chicago and then back to the Mariners for a season.

I remember how popular he was in the late 1990's when every kid wanted to wear #24 or Griffey's number.

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Was Marichal the greatest Latino pitcher?

Who are the greatest Latino pitchers?   You can choose from Marichal, Cuellar, Tiant, Valenzuela, Martinez, etc.  It is a very impressive list.

My top five are:

1) Juan Marichal----243 wins and a 2.89 ERA. He started 451 games and completed 244 of them, pitching 52 shutouts. Marichal has one more complete game than wins. That's amazing! Marichal's career was played in the shadows of Sandy Koufax and Warren Spahn.

2) Mike Cuellar----In 15 seasons, Cuellar went 185-130 with a 3.14 ERA, 1,632 strikeouts, 172 complete games and 36 shutouts over 453 games......won 139 games in a 7 year span with Baltimore (1969-75) plus game 5 of the 1970 World Series pitching another complete game. Cuellar won't make the Hall of Fame but he is the most successful lefty from Latin America.

3) Camilo Pascual---the most underrated pitcher of his era. He was a 5 time All-Star starting in 1959 to 1962 and in 1964.......won 174 games yet pitching for bad teams for much of his career......a 3.75 ERA and 36 shutouts in 18 Major League seasons....led the league in strikeouts from 1961 to 1963 and was among the leaders in shutouts in 1959, 1961 and 1962.....struck out 2,167 batters in 2,930 innings.

4) Luis Tiant---He led the league with a 1.60 ERA in 1968 and a 1.91 ERA in 1972.....won 229 games with a 3.30 ERA over 19 seasons......won 20 games four times and led the American League in shutouts three times.

5) Pedro Martinez----A three-time Cy Young Award winner---1997, while with the Expos, and in 1999 and 2000 with the Red Sox.  Hall of Fame 2013.

Honorable mention goes to Fernando Valenzuela and Dennis Martinez.

Imagine a fantasy baseball team with a rotation of Marichal, Cuellar, Pascual, Tiant and Martinez.   I think that I'll do OK!

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World War II: The long and difficult year of 1942

Guest:   Barry Jacobsen, military historian and blogger..........we go from the German invasion of the USSR to the very difficult year of 1942.........the US is now in the picture......

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We remember Hugh Masekela (1939-2018)

We remember Hugh Masekela who was born in South Africa on this day in 1939.

Years ago, I bought a 45 by Hugh Masakela called "Grazing in the grass".   It was a great arrangement.  

We learned in January 2018 that Hugh Maeakela passed away. 

Great sound and super talent.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.