Dementia rates much higher for ex-NFL players

I’m a football fan, but this is serious business. The industry as a whole — from the NFL down to the PeeWee leagues — is going to have to address it through rules changes, medical changes and equipment changes. I’ve long wondered whether part of the answer might be softer equipment — fewer and softer pads, etc. — because in the modern game they’ve become less like protective devices and more like weapons to use against the opponent.

From the NYT:

When a survey commissioned by the National Football League recently indicated that dementia or similar memory-related diseases had been diagnosed in its retired players vastly more often than in the national population, the league claimed the study was unreliable.

But confidential data from the N.F.L.’s dementia assistance plan strongly corroborates claims of a link between football and later-life cognitive impairment. Records indicate that pro football’s retirees are experiencing moderate to advanced early-onset dementia at rates several times higher than the general population, the most glaring evidence to date of the dangers of professional football in past eras.

According to the story, the data indicate dementia rates among football players that are four to five times higher than those for the average male. Legally, morally and commercially, those are numbers the league has to address with some seriousness.

194 comments Add your comment

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

October 24th, 2009
9:05 am

I didn’t know that Obozo, mmm, mmmm, mmmmm, played football.

Bob the Slob

October 24th, 2009
9:11 am

Obama does a poor imitation of a tough guy.

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

October 24th, 2009
9:12 am

Legally, morally and commercially, those are numbers the league has to address with some seriousness.

I wonder what long term damage is being done to minority populations resulting from crack cocaine usage and senseless violence, seeing how the state run media never wants to broach the subject.

But then again, it isn’t like any government laws against using drugs has ever worked.

david wayne osedach

October 24th, 2009
9:13 am

Their astronomical pay checks make up for the little ‘added risk’ of dementia.

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

October 24th, 2009
9:18 am

The “Bailout” banks strike back-

A House committee Friday announced subpoenas for documents related to Countrywide Financial Corp.’s VIP program, which offered preferential treatment to well-connected or powerful mortgage customers.

The probe, which involves demands for information from Wells Fargo, Bank of America (which now owns Countrywide), JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, GMAC’s Residential Capital and U.S. Bank, will try to determine if the companies “employed deceptive and predatory lending practices, or improper tactics to thwart regulation,” he said.- Urinal

The AJC may be able to hide Chris Dodd’s name today but tomorrow….

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
9:21 am

TnGelding…
Left you a message on the Cheney thread…

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

October 24th, 2009
9:22 am

Illiterate democrats want to gin up populist rage over some trivial issue like “bonuses” and executive pay, dragging hapless wealth producers into the public opinion docket and parading them around like hostages, while they ignore and/ or cover up all of the major disasters they caused themselves.

Good for the banks, let’s bring all of this filthy mayhem out into the sunlight and disinfect it.

jconservative

October 24th, 2009
9:27 am

Not a national problem but a problem that I would think the NFL Players Association would address even if the League wants to sweep it under the carpet.

But most people would ignore the risk for the money. Just like most druggies ignore the risk for the high. Limbaugh, for example, ignoring the risk not only to his health but his career, just for the high. Barry Bonds ignoring the risk of his long term career just for a chance at a record. Smokers (’nuff said).

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
9:29 am

At the risk of being called a granola head wimp and a heretic to the religion of my much beloved South, it’s pretty hard to work up a lot of sympathy for folks who make a career out of gladiatorial head bashing. And, no, I’m not out to ban the sport and yes I do think Jay makes some valid points here.

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
9:36 am

Didn’t you just know some granola head wimp would come in here whining about football?

:-)

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
9:36 am

jconservative–
Ah, yes, the smokers! Got our annual witch hunt memo from downtown on what will happen if you get caught taking a puff behind the gym with the attendant “role modelling” for the kids. This came from a pack of lard a**es porting around an extra hundred or so pounds in front of the children to role model a healthy life style. And what of the internal combustion engine? Don’t we ignore that risk, too? It all comes down, in the long run, to the Nanny State and an essential pick and choose which sin we’ll preach our sermon of repent and redemption on. And, no, I’m not a smoker.

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

October 24th, 2009
9:39 am

In her endorsement of Hoffman Thursday night, Palin sounded a clear anti-party tone, writing that Hoffman was the candidate that “stands for the principles that all Republicans should share.”

“Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of ‘blurring the lines’ between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections,” Palin wrote in a statement on her Facebook page. “Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.” -Politico

We do not need another Olympia Snowe.

If the people of New York or Maine want a pinko, let them elect a democrat.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
9:40 am

RW–
Hey! You will note, however, that I didn’t claim not to watch it! :-)

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
9:47 am

josef,

I just wanted to try out the “granola head wimp” line. I’d never heard that one. I bet this study, if carried out to it’s logical conclusion rather than just stopping at the equipment and nature of the game, would show that those predisposed to play football at it’s highest levels are also predisposed to acquiring dementia.

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
10:02 am

Just say no to placebos — the GOP.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
10:05 am

RW
Kinda liked the line myself, it being somewhat apt for certain party line adherents!

As for the predisposition to dementia, I think you’ve got a point there, I mean, I’m not opposed to a beer joint brawl or two to relieve the stress, but all these rules, regulations, penalties and what have you just sorta takes the fun out of it.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
10:07 am

Taxpayer–
AND the Dems…

Both resemble nothing quite so much as a travelling medicine show…

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
10:11 am

josef,

But mine was a spoof on the GOP’s “Just Say No to drugs.” Did the Dems have an equivalent feel good program?

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
10:13 am

Taxpayer–

The Dems ARE a feel good program! :-)

AmVet

October 24th, 2009
10:15 am

The answer of course, is to disband their union.

C’mon conned! When are you gonna teabag the NFL player’s union?

Your Glorious Leader, The Out of the Closet Bigot, The Manteats in Black, already “believes” they are out to get him!

Damn unions, ruining everything…

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
10:16 am

The Dems ARE a feel good program!

For real, dude.

DoggoneGA

October 24th, 2009
10:20 am

“would show that those predisposed to play football at it’s highest levels are also predisposed to acquiring dementia.”

It would also be interesting to know the dementia rates of the players of games like Australian Rules football and Rugby.

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

October 24th, 2009
10:21 am

Bunch of wimps. Always trying to keep us from having some fun so we can live longer and pay more taxes. They want to tax candy and Coke and charge us more for insurance if we’re fat. Next thing you know they won’t even let us give guns to our six year olds at Christmas. Which they’re at war against, by the way.

Have a good weekend everybody.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
10:23 am

AmVet…
The MCU (Malcontent Curmudgeons United) will be holding an (dis)organizational meeting at my place… :-)

Dementia rates much higher for Journalism Majors too

October 24th, 2009
10:24 am

Dementia rates much higher for Journalism Majors too as a result of pounding their heads on the desk asking “why didn’t I think of that witty comment.” Slow moving Jay, you still have not removed the “Copyright violation” comments from yesterday, as you said you would. Too bad you didn’t think to write the story about Jefferson County’s sewer bond disaster and draw parallels to Atlanta’s sewer problems. Scooped by a New York web site, again….ROFLOL

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
10:30 am

Dementia–

You ain’t real fond of journalism majors, ‘er ye!

Doggone–
Kinda makes you wonder about the testosterone levels, too, eh?

Redneck–why you waitin’ so long to give Little Bubba his first gun?

Kamchak

October 24th, 2009
10:42 am

Gov Option Done Deal!

October 24th, 2009
10:43 am

Dementia rates are much higher for all levels of football through high school where the quaterback takes significant hits from refrigerator sized linemen who get faster over the years. The intent is to get the quaterback out of the game via head injury. Pro football is a violent, profitable sport with intrinsic significant controcoup and other brain injuries in it. Joe Maroon,M.D. a neurosurgeon who is was an all American in college who has helped head up caring for the Steelers for many years at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburg, has been studying this for years. Joe and his collegues have been publishing their results in JAMA and other journals over the last 20 years, and all of them have confirmed the NYT article Jay cites above.

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
10:44 am

I bet the dementia rate for 60 Minute corespondents is much higher than that of NFLers.

AmVet

October 24th, 2009
10:44 am

josef, count me in.

To wit, for my misnamed conservative, chest pounding countrymen and promulgators of worldwide violence and the fascist quo.

Your theme song…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCv2MHijyzE&feature=related

Jay

October 24th, 2009
10:49 am

Racket, did you play a lot of football as a kid?

I mean, without the helmet?

Because all of those posts in question were taken down immediately yesterday and remain down.

Furthermore, the AJC has run repeated stories about the Birmingham scandal, including but not at alll limited to:

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/prosecutor-birmingham-mayor-took-166928.html
http://www.ajc.com/eveningedge/content/printedition/2008/12/02/birmingham.html

stands for decibels

October 24th, 2009
10:50 am

My dad played high school football back on the line-up-wherever-the-ball-was-spotted, leather helmet days.

He told me once, not that long ago, of a very bright kid he knew who took a serious shot to the head and “never was the same afterward”. He didn’t go to college, worked a respectable enough job but lived a decidedly blue-collar/working class life after that game.

After stopping to soak this in, I asked him “well, I guess you have to ask yourself if it was worth it? worth playing the game?”

And my dad, who is if anything more contemplative and willing to second-guess himself than I am, was flummoxed by my question. He did his best Ralph Kramden “hammitah hammitah” and said “well of course it was worth it.”

this goes a long way toward explaining, I think, why otherwise conservative / free market / Libber-topian types are ok with Gubmint providing the NFL with a subsidized farm team system via college football. This ’splains a lot about America, good and bad, I guess.

Gov Option Done Deal!

October 24th, 2009
10:53 am

The neuropathology lesions in the 60 minutes story aren’t surprising. Different people have been reporting brain injuries for years. The doc featured on 60 minutes is hardly the first.

Given the trophy wives and the big salaries all of us are used to seeing with active NFL players who aren’t geniuses who carry loaded guns into nightclubs and then shoot themselves in the leg and into prison like Plexico, it’s a little bit amazing how badly some of them end up sick and with no money and some with of course no health insurance in the effed up medical climate in the US.

stands for decibels

October 24th, 2009
10:55 am

Shorter Wingers–

“60 Minutes Am Evil! and Dan Rather Am Eviller!!!11!!!”

wet wiccan

October 24th, 2009
10:57 am

Everything comes with a price. Professional athletes make a ton of money and with endorsement contracts even more. But even with protective gear, their bodies take an enormous beating. When they retire, their knees are shot, baseball players live with pain in their shoulders and arms, and professional boxers, well . . Muhamed Ali? I think they all know what they are signing on for. I guess they think it is worth it.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
11:01 am

Jay–

Egg him on!

‘Sides, he’s taken a great weight off my mind. Here I was thinking I might have alzheimer’s and turns out it’s ’cause I grew up in the newsroom! :-)

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
11:05 am

wet wiccan and doggone–

BTW One of my co-workers gave me a copy of Twain’s “Adam’s and Eve’s Diaries.” Probably why I’m in such a good mood today! (That and that video of “My Generation!” Pulled it up again this a.m. to start my do nothing day!)

DoggoneGA

October 24th, 2009
11:11 am

“One of my co-workers gave me a copy of Twain’s “Adam’s and Eve’s Diaries”

My favorite Twain book is “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc”

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
11:17 am

Doggone

“My favorite Twain book is “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc””

I need to go and re-read it. It’s a side of Twain never seen elsewhere.

Dusty

October 24th, 2009
11:17 am

Well, after skimming the last few days of Bad lil boys Body Parts, Cheney in Cahoots, sqawky music and the Virgin Mary, I am glad the experts on dementia present their experiences here.

Yes, it is a nice change. Football! Famous since Cave Man tossed Cave Boy a nice rock and he ran with it. for a Cave Down. Just ask AmVet if you don’t believe it. He was there!!

But..sorry for the interruption….carry on. Remember …the classy sport is BASEBALL. No dementia there. Just clubs, balls and hamstrings….but nothing is perfect.

Keep the helmets on all liberals. Most of them seemed to have played football (except Bosch who bounced balls off his head for fun!). Even Michelle can do 140 houla hoops!! Now, that takes talent and no brain damage!!…

wet wiccan

October 24th, 2009
11:17 am

josef – good morning to you too. I’m glad you are in a better mood today. Gladiator sports like MMA and WWF I just do not get, and I cannot stand to watch them. Dog fighting, cock fighting, NO. How do you feel about bullfights? Art form? or blood lust?

doggone – was that you earlier in the week asking if anyone ever felt like pulling out their hair and running screaming thru the streets? Call me crazy, but sometimes I burst into song ala Babe the Pig, LA LA LA LA LA LA LA it helps me get rid of nervous energy. HA HA

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

October 24th, 2009
11:22 am

The most recent whine – the anti-Fox campaign – is, apart from anything else, unbecoming to the office. President Obama is the chief of state of one of the oldest free societies in the world, but his official White House Web site runs teasers such as: “For even more Fox lies, check out the latest ‘Truth-O-Meter.’” It gives off the air of somebody only marginally less paranoid than this week’s president-for-life in some basket-case banana republic ranting on the palace balcony because his interior security chief isn’t doing a fast-enough job of disappearing his enemies. – Mark Steyn

You sure that was the most recent whine?

Seems like there has been quite a few lately, mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
11:24 am

Hey Dusty! Glad to see you. Thought maybe you had run afoul of the Evil Moderator! (How’s that for allusion) Was thinking of you last night in the discussion.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
11:26 am

Racket…
Quo vadis?

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
11:32 am

Saw this last night and thought of you…

http://www.shoesofthefisherman.com/

:-)

Dusty

October 24th, 2009
11:36 am

Hello JOSEF,

Always enjoy your presence. Saw the Virgin Mary discussion last night. Didn’t get into it. When the discussions gets beyond faith and MUST have perfect facts which cannot be found, I decide I can spend my time doing something better. Not the scholarly approach but after a time, one has to decide what is important in their own life. As you know (you always know, josef)Lutherans/Christians enjoy the promise of grace extended to all. So I will stop there and make a forward pass to football. Catch!!

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
11:41 am

ANYBODY remember what happened 80 years ago today?

Dusty–
As EMS would say, I’m still straddling the 50 yard line!

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
11:46 am

ANYBODY remember what happened 80 years ago today?

Hmmmm…78 years ago today Al Capone was sentenced for tax evasion but I guess that can’t be it. I’ll go with Belgium princess Marie-Jose and Italian crown prince Umberto gets engaged, assassination attempt on Umberto fails….or maybe Black Thursday.

Dusty

October 24th, 2009
11:46 am

JOSEF!!!!!!

I am ordering me a pair of Jesus Loves Me Sandals pronto!! The guy running that business needs all the help he can get. I think he played football many years.

By the way, who is Racket? I must have missed him. He seems “popular”. Jay keeps mentioning him. Another postpartum football player?

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
11:47 am

As EMS would say, I’m still straddling the 50 yard line!

josef,

I think EM’sWB has you straddling the sideline.

Kamchak

October 24th, 2009
11:50 am

josef 11:32

HWJS–How Was Jesus Shod?

Dusty

October 24th, 2009
11:52 am

Hmmm 80 years ago today? Was that the first time Democrats said “Bush did it?”

VinnyC

October 24th, 2009
11:55 am

The dimentia can’t be any worse than the type that two-bit columnists like Bookman suffer from.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
11:58 am

RW– heh, heh!

Dusty–Oh, you need to go read him! I call him Six Degrees of Segregation…he was posting that journalism is a racket…thinks we’re supposed to be impressed with his pieces of parchment..around here?

JAY–a posit: If G-d is an Argentine and Ima Gonna is the Messiah, then Juan el Bautista paved the way for his arrival, thus the birthers are looking in the wrong place… :-)

Angry Black Man

October 24th, 2009
11:58 am

Dick Cheney is EVIL!!

Charlie Rangel is a CROOK!!

Barack Obama is a DITHERER!!

And josef is a “GRANOLA HEAD WIMP”!! j/k :D

Dementia is probably higher because of the concussions and stuff, but what do I know? I think we should do som experimenting. There’s a few posters I wouldn’t mind giving concussions to. :D Hate that I missed out on the religion discussion last night, but I’m glad I did. I tend to step on toes when it comes to religion. I missed the music thread too. I was gonna post some N.W.A. for Jay too!! In honor of the Bobbitt Worm. I think we should adopt the worm as the blog mascot.

Angry Black Man

October 24th, 2009
12:00 pm

josef

80 years ago would put us close to Black Monday or something right?

Bruno

October 24th, 2009
12:02 pm

“When they retire, their knees are shot, baseball players live with pain in their shoulders and arms, and professional boxers, well . . Muhamed Ali?”

Jay didn’t mention it, but the average life expectancy for former NFL players is 20-25 years less than for the general population. Lot of heart problems. Here’s a quote from an article addressing this:

“A 1994 study of 7,000 former players by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found linemen had a 52 percent greater risk of dying from heart disease than the general population. While U.S. life expectancy is 77.6 years, recent studies suggest the average for NFL players is 55, 52 for linemen.”

As for Muhammed Ali, he suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, which is not normally associated with trauma.

Angry Black Man

October 24th, 2009
12:05 pm

DoggoneGA

October 24th, 2009
12:05 pm

“It’s a side of Twain never seen elsewhere”

Yes, that’s why I like it…and a close second is “Letters from Earth”

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
12:12 pm

K’chak–
Are you calling him shoddy? :-)

Dusty:

Of course not, Bush makes his first appearance in the Garden of Eden!

“The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”

“..thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thou belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life…”

Bruno

October 24th, 2009
12:13 pm

RW–I think you mentioned Fuzzy’s on the blog recently. Out of curiosity, did you ever catch Ralph Roddenbery there?

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
12:20 pm

ABM–close! It was Black Thursday and I’m sure there’s a snippy comment I could address to you but I’m having trouble…maybe Whiner or Racket could help me out…! :-)

Normal

October 24th, 2009
12:22 pm

Dementia? What’s all this talk about…wait… what?

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
12:22 pm

Who needs fiction when we got stuff like this.

From 1962 to 1964, the CIA compiled an exhaustive collection of plans to help topple Cuba. Aside from the obvious “country-wide wedgies” and the sinister “tell South America they’ve been talkin’ sh!t,” there were far more disturbing ideas under consideration.

One of the most prominent plans was Operation Northwoods, a proposal to create terrorism on American soil, blame it on Cuba and thus give the U.S. a reason to bomb the living sh!t out of Castro.

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
12:23 pm

Bruno,

I don’t believe I ever did see RR there, but I was never really a Fuzzy’s regular.

I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

October 24th, 2009
12:23 pm

Can you believe this ass?-

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency and empowered his health secretary to suspend federal requirements and speed treatment for thousands of infected people.

The goal is to remove bureaucratic roadblocks and make it easier for sick people to seek treatment and medical providers to provide it immediately. That could mean fewer hurdles involving Medicare, Medicaid or health privacy regulations.

“bureaucratic roadblocks.”

Report to your nearest emergency room, pray that it isn’t slap full of illegal aliens, present your private insurance card and receive treatment sans any “bureaucratic roadblocks.”

Tell them you got government provided health insurance and hope that the “president” of the United States has removed the bureaucratic roadblocks or according to him, you could die.

fantastic pitch for your own legislation, mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

Dusty

October 24th, 2009
12:24 pm

Thanks, JOSEF Glad I missed Racket. Sounds like somebody turned over his rock and there he was.

Did you say you are writing /have written a book on Argentina politics? Wasn’t that you humming “Don’t cry for me, Argentina”??

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
12:24 pm

Is somebody going to tell us who “racket” is? I’m fairly sure that’s not one of Michael Jackson’s kids.

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
12:25 pm

Oops! Never mind the 12:24

Obozo

October 24th, 2009
12:26 pm

Uh, bypass the death panels and rationing czar just this one time, so sayeth me.

Am I not wonderful?

Seig Heil!

Allah Akbar!

Yes we can!

mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!

Angry Black Man

October 24th, 2009
12:27 pm

RW

You have to go back a few posts. Racket is like that lil gnat in your ear. You hear it, but just can’t seem to get rid of it. Eventually it goes away.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
12:31 pm

Dusty–nah, the book is on another of Jay’s verboten topics!

“…somebody turned over his rock…”
Well, he art Peter!

“…you let down your people,,,you were supposed to have been immortal, that’s all they wanted, not much to ask for, but in the end, you could not deliver…”

NORMAL–see you’ve found your way back to your village! :-)

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
12:32 pm

Whiner is racket!!!! I thought he was just another right winger with Obama envy.

Angry Black Man

October 24th, 2009
12:32 pm

josef

Racket doesn’t want to trade barbs. Don’t know about whiner either, but I definitely wouldn’t want to go against Normal. Especially after yesterday.

RW-(the original)

October 24th, 2009
12:33 pm

ABM,

Thanks for the info.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Somebody has to go stimulate the economy so I guess I’ll do it.

See y’all later!

Normal

October 24th, 2009
12:34 pm

Josef, yeah…Man, I had fun yesterday starting with that bobbit worm.
I told racket, he should meet it… :D

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
12:37 pm

Working on the premise any weapon is cooler if it flies in the night on leathery wings, Bat Bombs were proposed by a dental surgeon in the ’40s.

The guy was probably Broun’s or Gingrey’s daddy… or mommy.

mike

October 24th, 2009
12:38 pm

Hmm. If coal miners can work a job that presents a massive health risk for peanuts, I won’t shed tears for football players who get paid millions for a far less dangerous job.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
12:39 pm

Obama envy? Does that make him a p*nis? :-)

Normal

October 24th, 2009
12:41 pm

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
12:37 pm

The Japanese tried with some small success of floating balloons with bombs on them across the Pacific to the West Coast. A mother and her children were the only known casualties, but they did start some fires.

mike

October 24th, 2009
12:42 pm

Taxpayer -

“From 1962 to 1964, the CIA compiled an exhaustive collection of plans to help topple Cuba. Aside from the obvious “country-wide wedgies” and the sinister “tell South America they’ve been talkin’ sh!t,” there were far more disturbing ideas under consideration.

One of the most prominent plans was Operation Northwoods, a proposal to create terrorism on American soil, blame it on Cuba and thus give the U.S. a reason to bomb the living sh!t out of Castro.”

And just to be clear, this was taking place during JFK’s admin and Booby Kennedy was the ringleader of the whole anti-Cuba program.

Perhaps folks should keep this in mind when they rant about those evil Republicans. Apparently Booby Kennedy had ideas that made Dick Cheney look like Jimmy Carter.

mike

October 24th, 2009
12:42 pm

LOL. I did not mean to say “Booby” Kennedy. Freudian slip I guess.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
12:43 pm

Normal–went back and caught that! Good show!

Dusty

October 24th, 2009
12:43 pm

Now now JOSEF,

That was not the serpent in the Garden of Eden. It was the newly discovered ” Worm that eats……” oh nevermind. And it wasn’t Eve that led Adam astray but she usually gets the blame. It was the tempting apple of rejuvenation that is now called (if the TV is correct) something that rhymes with Niagra. (I was taught not to use suggestive words!)

I think I better eat lunch. I’m beginning to sound like NORMAL today. (bless his peapickin’ heart).

mike

October 24th, 2009
12:43 pm

“One of the most prominent plans was Operation Northwoods, a proposal to create terrorism on American soil, blame it on Cuba and thus give the U.S. a reason to bomb the living ** out of Castro.”

And just to be clear, this was taking place during JFK’s admin and Bobby Kennedy was the ringleader of the whole anti-Cuba program.

Perhaps folks should keep this in mind when they rant about those mean old Republicans. Apparently Bobby Kennedy had ideas that made Dick Cheney look like Jimmy Carter.

Angry Black Man

October 24th, 2009
12:44 pm

Normal

I remember seeing a documentary about that on Discovery.

Mike, I totally agree with your 12:38 post. Not only coal miners, but any job that deals with dangerous situations for much less pay.

Normal

October 24th, 2009
12:44 pm

Dusty, as a man, I wonder if that worm wasn’t in the apple Eve gave Adam… ;)

booger

October 24th, 2009
12:45 pm

I report you whine…9:05am

I understand Obama did not play football, but he watched a college game last weekend and was immediately awarded the Heisman Trophy.

Angry Black Man

October 24th, 2009
12:48 pm

speaking of football, and it is Saturday…

ROLL TIDE!!!

Normal

October 24th, 2009
12:48 pm

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
12:53 pm

And, just to be really clear,

We should also reiterate at this point that these were not fringe groups we’re talking about: The entire operation was approved by all the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Nobody saw a problem with it–except President Kennedy, who thankfully realized the implications of Northwood (i.e. that punching yourself in the face as an excuse to punch somebody else in the face was not a valid military strategy) and ultimately rejected it.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
12:53 pm

“…the L-rd had made no devil, yet;
sin was nothing to be feared,
this was before all men were queered
by apple eating ladies…”
–Paradise Almost Lost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsrS_vQLCnQ

Dusty

October 24th, 2009
12:57 pm

NORMAL

Eve handed Adam THE apple brcause he was too lazy to pick it himself. That made him the first man (but not the last) to say “She did it!”

That lasted until Bush came along. lalalalallalala

Taxpayer

October 24th, 2009
12:58 pm

Normal

October 24th, 2009
12:44 pm
Dusty, as a man, I wonder if that worm wasn’t in the apple Eve gave Adam…

Hence, the stories in the Bible talking about Eve and the serpent. Hmmmm.

Angry Black Man

October 24th, 2009
1:01 pm

Not to change the subject, because I think that worm is worthy of discussion for the rest of the year, but maybe the CEO’s of Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase can come to Georgia and help show the banks how to make money. They definitely need the lesson:

http://www.ajc.com/business/25th-georgia-bank-fails-171262.html?imw=Y

Dusty

October 24th, 2009
1:04 pm

JOSEF,

Adam found paradise when Eve came about. She cooked his first meal. No mo apple a day keeps the snake away. Meatloaf!!!

As every woman knows, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!!!

mike

October 24th, 2009
1:04 pm

“Nobody saw a problem with it–except President Kennedy, who thankfully realized the implications of Northwood (i.e. that punching yourself in the face as an excuse to punch somebody else in the face was not a valid military strategy) and ultimately rejected it.”

Yeah, he ultimitely rejected the idea championed by his brother after he considered it.

The recent history of the Cubam Missile Crisis, “One Minute to Midnight” details how the Kennedys’ recklessness and disregard for the law in their attempts to get rid of Castro were far more radical behavior than anything Bush or Reagan did.

Oh yeah, the Kennedys actually did steal an election, as opposed to the silly and false accusations of Bush doing the same.

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
1:11 pm

Question: Are “dementia rates” set by the Federal Reserve?

Cynical White Boy

October 24th, 2009
1:12 pm

Sure shows the power of the NFL. There’s an artcile in a recent GQ called “This is your Brain on Football” that is excellent as well.

Hey Jay, today’s AJC excoriates (and rightly so) Georgia public officials for blatantly ignoring the lobbying ban. I FAIL to see however, any MENTION WHATSOEVER of any $$ contributed to lawmakers by Cox or the AJC. Time was, I know that any lawmaker who wished it got FREE daily copies of the AJC delivered to their Atlanta abode. It was listed on their disclosures. Why does the almightly AJC gladly mention other companies that give $$ and gifts and yet fail to disclose how much AJC or COX provides? Hmmm?

josef nix

October 24th, 2009
1:16 pm

RW @ 11:46

“…Black Thursday…”
OOPS! First prize to you! Sorry, give back the trophy ABM!