Ask Grandstander

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by LongtimeBravesFan

Why were Lincoln and Douglass debating in their Senate race? The Senate was elected by state legislatures at the time so why were they trying to appeal to the general public?

Winning popular support brought pressure on the state legislature and influenced the way that they voted. It was also clear that Douglas and Lincoln were out to define their parties, the Northern Democrats and the infant GOP. Finally, political engagement was a huge percentage of public entertainment in those days. People who could get up in front of audiences and hold them spellbound for hours were highly treasured. This was an age of popular superfluous rhetoric with Lincoln and Douglas both widely recognized as heavyweights in the field. With no tv, radio, internet etc, an evening of political debate with known masters would draw enormous crowds. If you had ambitions for high office, being a famous stump speaker or debater was a good step forward.

[Zen653]

Well, it wasn't "Jews", it was "Jew", Benjamin being the only one so distinguished.

"High levels of government" might be an exaggeration but there were some other Jews in reasonably high positions within the Confederacy: Quartermaster General Abraham Myers, Major Raphael Moses, Senator David Yulee, Surgeon General David Camden de Leon, Isidor Strauss (purchasing agent/quasi-ambassador), and according to Jew Watch, Navy Admiral Raphael Semmes.

I guess I'm just surprised that any minority would be given a government role within the Confederate hierarchy. The Civil War-era South is often portrayed as an intolerant white Protestant-only country club.

You point out the wealth and personal talents of Benjamin as the primary reasons for his rise to prominence within the Confederate hierarchy. Do you think those same characteristics explain the careers of the other Confederate Jews?

From what I understand, Senator Yulee, for example, was an oft-criticized, untalented legislator. Did he become a somebody off of personal wealth as well?

[phenweigh]

Marion Jones is going to jail for lying about PED use. Will this have an effect on the upcoming congressional hearings?

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by phenweigh

Marion Jones is going to jail for lying about PED use. Will this have an effect on the upcoming congressional hearings?

Understanding Congressional investigations and hearings requires the understanding that at all times, it isn't about those being investigated, it is about the investigators. The purpose of a Congressional investigation is public relations. Either it will be reflective of a public attitude, or it may influence a public attitude, but at bottom, all is designed to make some political capital for the politicians. If the sense is that the public wants to see popular ballplayers having their reputations savaged on national tv, that is what we will get. If the sense is that the public isn't after the ballplayers themselves but would like to see the game's executives get their ears boxed, that is what we will see. If the sense is that the public wants to see baseball spanked, but not see anyone go to jail.....etc.

What counts are things like da and grand jury investigations, those have actual consequences beyond public relations value. At best, a Congressional investigation may result in a public which demands that da's and grand juries get involved, but such involvement will always have to rest on the quality of evidence available.

[skrable]

which celebrated sporting or entertainment event would you flat-out refuse to attend, even if your travel, accommodations, meals and event ticket were paid for by others?

[TheDominator]

Grandstander, what's the best way to exploit the elderly for money?

[Zen653]

Wow, the Dominator has re-surfaced!

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by skrable

which celebrated sporting or entertainment event would you flat-out refuse to attend, even if your travel, accommodations, meals and event ticket were paid for by others?

All save baseball or football, and the football is only a maybe. I'm no longer willing to freeze in order to attend a live contest.

I gather that you are asking in the context of what to get me as a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday present.

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by TheDominator

Grandstander, what's the best way to exploit the elderly for money?

Hey, Dom, when you departed FanHome last, vowing to devote yourself to becoming a huge success as a gigolo, I didn't think you'd be back here asking advice again.

But...the key is always going to be getting them to like and trust you. The older you get, the less interesting you are, and the elderly are constantly on the lookout for younger companionship to validate their do nothing lives, it permits them to live vicariously through you. You have to really look like you are interested in the dull story that you are hearing for the fifth time.

At the same time, different strategies are needed for male and female victims. Males generally are hung up on being respected, so you want to keep the wise guy stuff to a minimum. Females geezers however, love anything which takes them back to youth and beauty. So, when addressing them, the instinct is to be respectful and that is all wrong. Rather, talk to them exactly the way you would talk to an age peer, make no concessions to their age at all, you can even get snippy with them. Suddenly they are in the sort of conversation that they no longer have, it stirs their passions....they eat it up and they aren't sure why.

Once you have gained a position of trust and affection, then you can either wait for goodies which are offered, which may include an inheritance, or you can try to actively direct matters, such as selecting a confused elderly lady and taking over rmanagement of her affairs for her until you reach the point where she simply gives you power of attorney. Then you can steal her blind.

[noetsi]

Moe Berg mediocre baseball player or super spy?

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by noetsi

Moe Berg mediocre baseball player or super spy?

Not "or"......"and."

[perfectstormhits]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

Hey, Dom, when you departed FanHome last, vowing to devote yourself to becoming a huge success as a gigolo, I didn't think you'd be back here asking advice again.

So Dom was a failure as a gigolo?

Should Tony Romo ditch his slutty girlfriend?

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by perfectstormhits

So Dom was a failure as a gigolo?

Should Tony Romo ditch his slutty girlfriend?

I warned him not to skip senior year at the Inamorato Institute, but did he listen?


And if Romo is happy with his slut, that is all that matters.

[noetsi]

If you don't mind another question about Berg, who I find fasinating.

Does it make sense that a man who spoke at least seven languages fluently (including German, Latin, and Russian), who graduated from Princeton with honors and I think went to law school to play baseball for a living given that he was not particularly good at baseball by most accounts? (he rode the bench and batted about .234 in his career - being at best an adequate fielder).

The baseball salaries were not that great....

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by noetsi

If you don't mind another question about Berg, who I find fasinating.

Does it make sense that a man who spoke at least seven languages fluently (including German, Latin, and Russian), who graduated from Princeton with honors and I think went to law school to play baseball for a living given that he was not particularly good at baseball by most accounts? (he rode the bench and batted about .234 in his career - being at best an adequate fielder).

The baseball salaries were not that great....

That really isn't our call. Berg was a multi talented human being and it was always up to him to decide his destiny and figure out what to do with his talents. If he was good enough to make a MLB roster, and he wanted to play, who are we to tell him that he should have been doing something else?