Poverty strikes White House

White House spokesman Tony Snow is reported to be leaving his job. Though he's had cancer and recenlty been treated, he says his health has stabilized and it's not the reason he's leaving.

Earlier this month, Snow had told conservative talk-show host Hugh Hewitt that "financial reasons" may prevent him for serving the remainder of his boss's presidency.

"I'm not going to be able to go the distance, but that's primarily for financial reasons." Snow said. "I've told people when my money runs out, then I've got to go."

According to The Washington Post, Snow makes $168,000 as the White House spokesman.

I'm not against him making money. This is America. But life can't be too tough when you find you can't make it work on $168k. Makes you wonder what he's had to sacrifice. I'm guessing it's not name brand pasta sauce.

Always time to panic over Red Sox?

I try to maintain a calm and happy temperment. It's not that I want to be flat and unemotional. I love to get worked up and excited as much as possible. It's the negative that I try to squash. Or at least cut it off before too long. "Always look on the bright side," I guess.

Unfortunately, many Red Sox fans are not the same. I am getting to the point that hearing from these doomsaying Red Sox fans during or following a loss is worse than hearing from Yankee fans, with their taunts.

And this is while the team has had the best record in baseball. A lead over the Yankees that hasn't been under 4 since I can't remember when.

Bad start

Did you notice that, in opening a press conference in which he repeatedly denied being gay and trying to solicit a gay encounter in an airport bathroom, the first words out of Idaho Senator Larry Craig's mouth were: "I want to thank you all for coming out today..."

For a second I wondered which way he was going to go from there.

Gagne's problem solved?

Gagne was tipping his pitches?

An effective Gagne would make for a verrry formidable Boston bullpen. Let's hope tipping his pitches was his biggest problem.

Getting people to pay attention

Tragic. CNN story about the murder rates in New Orleans and what one person is trying to do about getting people to pay attention. He's got a "murder board" that he updates with the names of victims.

Looks like one of those war veteran plaques you see so often. But he's also got a new and what seems to me creative and potentially effective way to remind those in charge.

Every Monday, Father Bill has red roses delivered to Mayor Ray Nagin and Police
Chief Warren Riley -- a single rose for each death that weekend.

It can't be fun getting that weekly reminder.

Stats that scare

John Edwards at a NH event, responding to a comment from an audience member, cited a statistic that really caught my attention.

If you develop breast cancer but you don't have health insurance, you are 30-50% more likely to die.

There's a youtube clip of the exchange, which is touching. The woman making the comment is a single mom who has huge medical bills. She's spoken to Elizabeth Edwards during her treatment. Elizabeth is at this event in the clip.