Left Coast Sports Babe

Logan Webb ranks dead last with 3.14 runs on average per start, the 2023 fewest runs per start average in Major League Baseball. In women’s terms, he gets less support than we do with that 20 year old bra in the back of our drawer.

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Random factoid as of tonight

NY Mets are 61-73

NY Yankees are 65-68

And ESPN gives both of them the same change to make the playoffs on August 31. 0.2%

(And yes, the Yankees have a better record, but they ARE in a league with both the As and the Royals. Two teams who could reach the 100 loss marker by the 2nd weekend in September.

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Sports provides good life lessons.

For those who can’t understand how a favorite politician can sponsor a bill with someone with VERY different views, I give you being SF Giants fan now. And painfully but certainly have been rooting for LA Dodgers against AZ Dbacks because of wild card.

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And there are many reasons I am an Amy Klobuchar fan, but as a sportswriter’s daughter and hardcore sports fan herself, I know Amy has made this sort of devil’s bargain many times herself for the Twins, Vikings and Minnesota Gophers.

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WTAF CNN? They interviewed young woman who ignored evacuation order in Florida. She stayed, posted video on Tik Tok, is smiling & talking about all her views & messages. So they’re rewarding stupidity where she risked not only her own life but probably lives of 1st responders.

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President Biden saying he’s spoken to all Governors affected by Hurricane Idalia – DeSantis, Kemp, McMaster, and Cooper. Joe says he offered DeSantis all possible help AHEAD of the storm. Also says he is laser-focused on Maui recovery. It’s so nice having a President.

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And now Desantis is making headlines because he found time to crack, “If you loot we shoot.” He STILL hasn’t thanked President Biden.

Fox News headline “Biden cracks snarky joke when asked about Trump’s historic mugshot” “Handsome guy, wonderful guy.” Wait, so Fox News thinks it has to be a snarky joke to refer to the Former Guy has “handsome?” Don’t tell Donald Trump.

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Anyone else catch that in talking about deaths from Idalia, DeSantis immediately pivoted to say some deaths this week might not be DIRECTLY because of storm & so would not be counted? Same plan to lie as with COVID, undercounting so it doesn’t reflect badly on him.

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His staffers didn’t seem that panicked today. Have to ask, how many times has Mitch McConnell frozen recently when the cameras WEREN’T on him?

Yep, Feinstein is frail, but by comparison… And your reminder, Dianne Feinstein cannot retire because Mitch McConnell (or his handlers) said he would not allow Democrats to replace her on the Senate Judiciary Committee..

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Mitch McConnell, besides being Minority Leader is also on Senate Agriculture, Appropriations & Rules Committees. Imagine GOP outrage IF he retires and Dems won’t allow them to replace him on committees – as GOP says they won’t do with Feinstein on Judiciary.

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No pettiness too small. Fox News “Biden to observe upcoming 9/11 anniversary in Alaska in departure from tradition.” Fox thinks Joe should be in DC or NY. But no mention of Trump’s lie ON 9/11 “40 Wall Street was 2nd tallest building in downtown Manhattan & now it’s tallest!”

So if all these MAGA sheep are going to follow their leader in WE WILL NOT COMPLY with COVID restrictions, I trust they will also not comply with any doctor who suggests they go to the hospital when they do inevitably get sick.

This wasn’t the play that ended Alex Cobb’s no-hitter. Slater actually somehow caught the ball.

But the only hit, a double went just over Mato’s outstretched arm. Have seen some say he should have been playing deeper. Was actually at Oracle Park when Petit threw 8 2/3 of a perfect game.. In that case had Pence been playing shallow he would have probably caught Chavez’s hit.

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At least Idalia is hitting Florida during the off-week between the NFL preseason and regular season. So the league doesn’t have to pretend they care about people and potential canceled games in Florida.

Now, we’ll see about the NCAA game Sunday between LSU and Florida State.

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Now reports from Florida Hurricane Idalia could be once-in-a-lifetime event for Tampa & Gulf Coast Following Ian last year being once-in-a-lifetime event for Ft. Myers area. How many once-in-lifetime events do we need to have before some people figure out climate change is real?

Meanwhile, President Biden announced – August 28 – that FEMA federal disaster assistance was available to the state of Florida for Idalia and that the federal government would do everything it could for the state..

Three press conferences, at least, on Tuesday – think Ron DeSantis said ONE word of thanks to Joe Biden?

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Dear GOP: Telling your flock this summer is normal weather with heat & hurricanes may not be the best way to save lives. Pretty darn clear that US weather now w/ climate change is anything BUT what we’ve known as “normal.”

Sincerely, Democrats who care about people’s lives, and science.

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Seriously Ron DeSantis? Even when the Florida Governor tries to be a leader he tells people if they don’t evacuate responders won’t be able to get you until “after the storm has passed.” Uh, how about the truth, if you don’t evacuate, they’re likely to be recovering your body.

And ICYMI.

Ron DeSantis was a newly elected Congressman in 2013 when Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey. DeathSantis voted against both $9.7 billion and $50 billion in Sandy relief in January 2013.

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Has it occurred to any of these GOP politicians who have been trashing government and science nonstop to advance their own ends that their rhetoric has many of their flock also distrusting things like hurricane warning?

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Even if no lives are lost, Hurricane Idalia, will likely probably cause a serious spike in US gas prices. Waiting to see how GOP is going to blame this on President Biden.-

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Fox News headline “Conservatives blast Eminem for cease & desist letter to Ramaswamy campaign: ‘What a gigantic baby.”

So OK for bakers & website designers to object to being involved w/ gay weddings but not OK for musical artists to object to their work being used by right-wing campaigns.

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Tim Scott after Jacksonville hate murders “Have we done enough to talk about racism & discrimination & use of violence? I think that’s responsibility of every American — GOP, Dems, no party affiliation.”

Uh, Senator, books talking about racism & discrimination are what GOP wants to ban.

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Steve Scalise announced he has blood cancer Imbruvica, used for blood cancer, on list of drugs for Medicare to be able to negotiate prices. Will Scalise thank Dems like Amy Klobuchar who sponsored bill & Pres. Biden for helping others afford lifesaving drugs HE has access to?

Some debuts at a major league team home ballpark are over-hyped.

Kyle Harrison’s first start Monday August 28 at Oracle Park, announced just the day before, for the SF Giants, 0 runs, 11 Ks in 6 innings, was not one of them.

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From 2019 “The Athletic” story when Gabe Kapler was just hired to manage #SFGiants “That photo of MLK Kapler plans hanging on the wall? It’s from King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” in 1963, when Kapler’s parents were among the crowd.” Don’t always agree with Gabe, but I respect him.

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Per ESPN, mother of Spanish soccer Pres. Luis Rubiales locked herself in church saying she’s on a hunger strike until “inhuman bloodthirsty witch hunt which my son is being subjected to comes to an end.” Gosh, can’t imagine how this man grew up thinking world revolved around him.

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Headline that few of us had on our 2023 Batsh*t Bingo Card: “ACC moves toward vote to bring in Pac-12 refugees Cal, Stanford.”

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Ticket on the bus to hell for the day.

Fortunately two women shot & injured at last Friday night’s White Sox-Athletics game at Chicago’s Guaranteed Rate Field will recover.

Now police say bullets came from inside ballpark.

No suspects, but at least we know it wasn’t an Oakland A’s player.

They couldn’t hit anything.

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One of the victims in Jacksonwille was 19 years old. College age. Ron DeSantis doesn’t believe it’s appropriate for Florida universities to teach classes focused on race, but Anolt AJ Laguerre Jr. was MURDERED in Florida because of his race.

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Uh, how can Donald Trump both claim he “only needs one more indictment to win the election” but also that trials will interfere with him trying to win the election?

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Understand the Trump campaign doesn’t want trials in the middle of primary season. But if Donald didn’t think he even needed to debate, how can he claim he even needs to campaign?

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As Idalia is forecast to become a major hurricane hitting Florida on Tuesday your reminder that “once in a lifetime” Hurricane Ian decimated parts of Florida in less than a year ago. (Sept 2022.) But sure, climate change is a hoax. #sarcasm

NL Division Leaders, Dodgers, Braves, Brewers – yeah, not too different than anyone expected.

(With the surprise that the Padres, Mets, and Cardinals have all been out of it for a long time.)

AL Division Leaders:

Twins, Mariners and Orioles?!

So what’s in the water over there?

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But also in AL this little note “e” — Oakland Athletics – 38 – 93 Yes. “e.”

Wow. It takes some work with three wild card teams to be mathematically eliminated from the places with several days left in August.

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Citing violations under former coach Herm Edwards, Arizona State has self-imposed a bowl ban for the 2023 season. That’s like the Oakland As self-imposing a playoff ban.

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Meanwhile, ESPN just called Sundays’s SF Giants bottom of the 6th inning out of the “Cold case files.”

A sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, a squeeze bunt for a hit (and RBI).

Yeah, how often do you see all of those three in a single game let alone a half inning?

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Simone Biles, 26, just won her record EIGHTH U.S. gymnastic championship, The oldest woman (!?) ever to win the champiionship.

Congratulations to her on the incredible achievement. And for reminding us that taking care of your personal mental health can also pay dividends in your professional life.

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Since he wants us to believe he is 215 pounds, and that he shot a 67 to win a Senior Club Championship, how long until Donald Trump complains that his need to campaign for President made him turn down an invitation to compete in the 2024 Masters?

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Harrison Floyd, head of “Black Voices for Trump,” remains in jail without bail after the judge decided “you are at risk to commit additional felonies.” Uh, if that’s the criteria, why was Donald Trump himself given bail?

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Donald Trump was fundraising again Sunday with the headline that “Biden is fundraising off my arrest.” Funeral services for satire are pending.

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Ahead of a potential hurricane, Ron DeSantis canceled campaigning in S. Carolina & returned home to today to say there is no tolerance for racist violence in Florida. He should have added “but when if it happens, we’ll make sure no one can read about it in future history books.”

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Chris Christie “Look, Hunter Biden’s not on the ballot. “Some of those voters who say the Hunter Biden thing matters but Donald Trump’s doesn’t, that’s just wishful thinking.” I hate it when Christie, a bully with an incredibly craven past, is the voice of reason.

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Dana Bash asked VIvek Ramaswamy for clarification on his climate crisis position. His response — “Look at the quality of our buildings. Look at the quality of temperature controls. This is actually what has allowed human beings to die less of climate related disasters today than before.”

Is Vivek that stupid, or does he think we are?

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Finally, no snark on this one. It’s so nice having a President!

“White supremacy has no place in America. We must refuse to live in country where Black families going to store or Black students going to school live in fear of being gunned down because of color of their skin. Hate must have no safe harbor. Silence is complicity.” President Joe Biden.

SF Giants have had some awful losses lately. But Houston might have topped, or rather bottomed them tonight Astros led Tigers 1-0 into ninth. Closer struck out first 2 batters. But then gave up 3 straight singles & finally HR to rookie in his 4th game.

Final – 4-1 Detroit win.

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On a bright note for SF Giants fans, the Seattle Mariners are now tied for first place in the AL West. Which if nothing else might increase the chances Shohei Ohtani signs with the Mariners instead of the Dodgers.

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SF 49ers traded 2 first round draft picks to Miami plus lower picks to get the chance to pick Trey Lance, who they just sent to Dallas. Not that it helped Miami much. They sent the 2023 pick to Denver who sent it to New Orleans. And in 2022 they sent the 49ers first round pick to KC for Tyreek Hill. Now under investigation, AGAIN for domestic violence.

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So have Fox News or any GOP politicians who claim to be defenders of women’s sports said a word on the World Cup champion Spanish women refusing to play for the national team until federation chief Luis Rubiales is removed over his inappropriate kissing of a player? I’ll wait.

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“MAGA Patriot” has become an oxymoron.

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President Biden would never fundraise off a mugshot. For starters, because President Biden won’t have a mugshot.

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Some GOP and right-wing media would prefer we be more outraged that our President this week took taking a few working vacation days than that the Former Guy this week was actually being arrested.

GOP Freedom Caucus Rep. Ken Buck said today that the Former Guy “absolutely needs to tell all Americans to stand down and allow the judicial system to take its course.” How long until Trump attacks Buck as a RINO?

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Woke up Friday to see pretend moderate John Kasich was talking about America needing a “spiritual movement.” Thinking the proper response involves something from a bowel movement.

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If you really need a mugshot t-shirt. . Green Day Is Selling ‘Nimrod’ Shirts With Donald Trump’s Mugshot.

Proceeds will benefit those affected by the Maui wildfires.

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And while Democrats sometimes struggle to get attention even for positive message, this tweet from Amy Klobuchar – as I write close to midnight – now has over 7 million views.

Clearly Democrats need more photo ops with union workers. Or maybe a fundraising calendar?

State Fair pro tip: You don’t want to miss the Minnesota firefighters at the @MNAFLCIO. pic.twitter.com/O3auZqdkGN

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) August 25, 2023

Yep , it was embarassing, even if overhyped and meaninless tonight in Atlanta.

The Falcons lost 24-0 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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At this point the New York Yankees have as much of a chance of making the playoffs as the Oakland As.

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A silver lining of NY Yankees losing 2 of 3 to lowly Washington Nationals and now being in last place in AL East by 5.5 games behind 4th place Boston: At least we won’t have nonstop Sunday night & MLB “Games of the Week” featuring the Yankees and/or Red Sox.

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So since media seems obsessed , and had nonstop coverage with reporters outside the Fulton county jail and courthouse, would they cover it if some Democrats come down and defend President Biden on the courthouse steps?

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Donald Trump’s fundraising email tonight started “FLYING BACK HOME.” Uh, “Home?” Donald is now at his Bedminster Resort in New Jersey. He claims Mar-A-Lago is his home as a voting Florida resident. Time to add voter fraud to the list of Trump indictments?

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Since Trump world is now fans of Tucker Carlson, maybe time to re-up this. And share w/ MAGA friends and relatives. Carlson’s text message Jan. 4, 2021: “We are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I truly can’t wait,. I hate him passionately.”

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t’s not just that most of GOP field said they would support Donald Trump even if he is convicted in a court of law. It’s that they said they would support a LOSER! Hillary was told to go home and knit. And former President Carter was ignored for years.

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Watching these guys in private planes show up in Atlanta all week to be arraigned. Is it just possible Vladimir Putin might have been sending a more global message with Prigozhin that even if you are rich and powerful, if you betray Vlad…?

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Speaking of elections. In 2020, Fani Willis was legally ELECTED DA in Fulton County. She won the primary with 71% of the votes and ran unopposed in the general election.

Wilmer Flores homered again for SF Giants, his team-high 18th Since June 1. Flores’ 1.044 OPS is 4th in MLB behind Ohtani, Seager & Betts.

Flores signed 2 yr deal in 2022 at $6.5 mill a year w/ club option for 2025. Think it’s time for Giants to offer him an extension & raise.

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All SF Giants fans who had cardiac stress tests scheduled for the next week have just canceled them as unnecessary.

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Paul DeJong clearly did not get the memo about the SF Giants’ nonstop futility with bases loaded and no outs. #ForeverGiant

In interview tonight Tucker Carlson to Trump. “Are you worried they’re going to try & kill you? Why wouldn’t they try & kill you? Honestly.” Donald: “They’re savage animals, people that are sick.” At same time Trump threatens everyone. Projection would be funny if not so scary.

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Apparently Kari Lake said Trump is the “Babe Ruth of politics – so why should he waste his time at a debate?”

Uh, Kari, that’s like saying “Babe Ruth was such a great player, he didn’t need to waste his time to bat in the game.” #CantFixStupid

A friend wonders – Did Prigozhin fall out of a window seat?

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In all seriousness has it occurred to those in politics and the media genuflecting before Donald Trump – who so clearly wants to be Putin in the US – what Putin does when people are perceived threats or no longer useful to them? #Prigozhin

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We’ve been seeing all these headlines “Giuliani struggling under massive legal bills after defending Trump.” And today he surrenders for his mug shot in Atlanta after flying in… on a private plane. So if he weren’t broke Rudy would have used a bigger private plane?

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President Biden Dark Brandon summing up his thoughts on the Prigozhin plane crash. “I’m not surprised” and “There’s not much that happens in Russia that Putin’s not behind.”

NOT NOT NOT a Nikki Haley fan. But unlike most of the men on stage, she did decent job of acting like she lives on Planet Earth in this GOP debate.

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Almost billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy claims he worriesthe American dream won’t be available for his children. Oh, give me a bleeping break. Vivek has already probably set up trusts for his children & will take advantage of enough tax breaks etc so kids will be set for life.

Not that Disney employees would vote for DeSantis for President anyway, but audio-animatronic engineers who work on Disney’s Hall of Presidents especially have to have thrown up their hands at the prospect: “How could we possibly make a robot of a robot?”

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Again, going to keep saying. Trump got nonstop attention when he was President, as much as anyone in 2019-20 Presidential Debates.. But while GOP debates make headlines, why can’t media give more attention to Joe’s surrogates who can articulate the good President Biden has done?

For example, with all the Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg debate jokes tonight ,how about some network brings both Amy and Pete on together to talk about what President Biden has accomplished. Especially if they play some 2020 Dem Debate clips up front, should be great ratings.

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Friend told me that Laura Ingraham said in pre-debate coverage that Democrats’ platform is “pot, porn and Planned Parenthood.”

Sounds like a Gen-Z bumper sticker to me!

There are SF Giants fans, myself hypothetically included, who believed signing Aaron Judge might make the Giants a serious contender in 2023.

Would like to thank the NY Yankees, losers of 9 straight, for disabusing me of that fantasy.

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Just heard tonight, the NY Yankees haven’t had a LEAD in 61 innings…

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As A’ja Wilson scores 53 points to tie a WNBA record, and the Las Vegas Aces improve to 29-4, periodic reminder that Gregg Popovich protege and former star point guard herself Becky Hammon was deemed not to be head coaching material by several NBA teams.

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Vivik Ramaswamy, enjoying a brief bounce in the polls , was born in Cincinnati to Indian immigrant parents.

Does anyone think for a minute that not only will GOP not vote for him but if he actually had a chance Trump would start a birther campaign against him?

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So all these Republicans convinced Trump is the only one who can beat Biden? Uh have they forgotten? PRESIDENT Biden has already proven he can beat Trump.

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Probably too soon to know if Debbie Mucarsel-Powell , who just announced her candidacy, has a real chance now in the US Senate race in Florida.

But she’d be very good.

And can any one even who voted for Rick Scott say anything good he has actually done for Florida?

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Ron DeSantis is now campaigning and saying “we can get people who’ve never voted Republican to vote for us…” What??!! Maybe Ron thinks he’s going to get people who think the GOP is too reasonable?

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Remember…. Trump’s interview with Tucker Carlson airing at same time as GOP Presidential debate has already been pre-taped.

Donald was so nervous he needed to be able to edit the interview. And while he was afraid to be in debate, he wanted to make sure he could watch it.

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Did very small donation this week after email from Cory Booker asking him to split a donation between him & Jon Tester. Have seen & responded to that kind of fundraiser many times. But has anyone ever seen a Republican asking for a donation to split between them AND a colleague?

Michigan has suspended Jim Harbaugh for three games at the beginning of the 2023 college football season- games against East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green.

During his suspension have to assume Harbaugh will be eating a lot of cupcakes?

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SF Giants have been in the wild card hunt since June. Only good thing about tonight’s train wreck of a multi-error game in Philadelphia. (Three official errors but at LEAST two more than that.): Figure they either get it together as the team did in June… Or even if they snuck into the postseason, no Giants fan would want to see them get embarrassed in a wild card game.

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GOP and conservatives loved to attack the US Women’s National Soccer Team over diversity and LGTBQ issues, claiming it was all about protecting women in sports.

But crickets over the Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales, who gave Spain star Jennifer Hermoso an unwanted kiss on the lips along with her gold medal…

Heck, has anyone seen conservative media or a GOP leader even congratulate Spain?

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The fact that this headline even has to be written… “Thinking about playing in Hilary floodwater? ‘Stay out,’ experts say.”

Beam me up Scottie…

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As long as I can remember, Joe Biden has loved to tell stories and maybe exaggerate a bit. Not unusual for a politician. Now that he’s President it’s headline news, especially with Fox and conservative media.

Because the Former Guy never exaggerated or flat out lied about anything. Why, I am sure any suggestion to the contrary would have big strong men who called Donald “Sir” with tears in their eyes.

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Even to many of his colleagues, George Santos certainly gives the appearance of being a crook. But his bond for wire fraud and money laundering was $500,000. Trump’s bond is less than half that. Yeah two systems of justice in the US alright, even for Republicans.

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Reminder, Donald Trump wants Americans to elect him again to “stand up to all enemies foreign and domestic.” He can’t even stand up to the motley crew of other GOP 2024 Presidential candidates. #CowardDonald

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GOP says Francis Suarez, Will Hurd, Perry Johnson & Larry Elder have not qualified for the first Presidential primary debate. All together now – Who?

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Hey NY Times.

Headlines tonight: 1st: “Bail for Trump Set at $200,000 in GA Election Interference Case

Donald told not to intimidate or threaten any witnesses in case.

Lower on page: “More than 800 still listed as missing from Maui wildfires Pres. Biden tours devastation on Maui

The first MLB wild card was instituted in 1994. And in 1993 the SF Giants won 103 games and it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs.

Now there are three wild cards in each league.

And while there won’t be any 103 game winners who won’t make it, there WILL probably be a team 15 or more games over .500 who won’t make it in the AL. While the Twins, just over .500, will probably make it easily.

Yeah, baseball was never meant to be fair.

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MLB makes a LOT of dumb decisions.

Moving Sunday games in Southern California to Saturday doubleheaders was not one of them.

Fox New headline “166-yr-old luxury retailer warns it may relocate iconic store thanks to Democrats.”

What Fox isn’t saying: Gumps was sold in 1975, declared bankruptcy in 2018 & just reopened in June 2019 after being bought by investment banker & failed GOP US Senate candidate in Nevada John Chachas.

(And look, June 2019, when Chachas re-opened Gumps turned out to be maybe the worst time in history (except maybe 1906) to open an SF store selling expensive jewelry, trinkets and dust collecting things. But that would be true anywhere in the US.)

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Russia says it’s robotic Luna-25 spacecraft “ceased its existence as a result of a collision with the lunar surface.” So next time one of Putin’s enemies falls out of a window will Russia say he/she “ceased their existence as a result of a collision with the ground?”

My grandparents lived in Kevin McCarthy’s district in So. Cal desert – area under threat from Hurricane Hilary. Out of curiosity went to Speaker McCarthy’s feed Saturday, wondering what advice/warnings he’s giving his constituents. Nothing, just attacks on Biden.

Again pro-life my a**.

(McCarthy FINALLY got around to reposting something Sunday at about 11a, after rain was already falling.)

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Fox News actually claims Chuck Todd is a liberal. Because Todd “came to NBC through Tim Russert (note, Russert hired Todd in 2007) & “Todd worked for Dem. Sen. Tom Harkin’s 1992 presidential campaign in his college years.” Would be funny if so many Fox News didn’t believe it.

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Ohio Senator JD Vance wrote an op-ed for USA today slamming President Biden for not doing enough for East Palestine..

Does Vance hope we’ll forget that when he was a Senate candidate, he slammed his own Republican party Senators for supporting the bipartisan infrastructure bill?

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Just thinking, as GOP & conservative media try to convince us Joe’s relationship with his only surviving son is most important issue for 2024: Imagine if Joe had cut ties with Hunter. Then it would be nonstop criticism that the President abandoned his son for political reasons…

Just want to say again as President Jimmy Carter is entering his “final chapter” how proud I was to have volunteered for him in high school and to have voted for him as President. A great man and underrated President.

As Fox News and other conservative media in the US have gone silent on the World Cup, you might wonder, was their attacking the USNWT more to use misogyny, racism and homophobia to play to their base than for any interest in women’s soccer?

Well, if that WERE the case then Fox etc would spend more time attacking trans women and girls playing sports than they ever did covering women’s sports… Uh, okay, never mind.

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MLB has rescheduled 3 Southern California games for Sunday to Saturday double header swith Hurricane Hilary approaching (AZ-SD, TB-LAA, MIA-LAD) The NFL, however, at time of writing, has no plans yet to change their Saints-Chargers game in Inglewood. Why am I not surprised?

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Anti-American Tommy Tuberville: “I don’t care if they promote anybody to be honest. “We’ve got 44 4-star generals right now. We only had 7 during World War II. Think we were little overloaded to begin with.” Give me ableeping break.

As (twice fired) football coach Tommy couldn’t function without a dozen or more assistant football coaches.

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President Biden is reporting a “great great meeting” after his Camp David summit with Japan and South Korea. So of course Fox News headline is about about Hunter Biden…

Donald Trump did leave the Iowa State Fair after only an hour, and now he won’t appear at the GOP debate. Donald will be 78 next year.

People are saying maybe he just doesn’t have the stamina anymore to be President…

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Has Velveeta Voldemort said yet that if he were still President he’d have nuked Hurricane Hilary by now

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As Democratic leaders continue to share fundraising links for Maui and President Biden keeps sending additional aid has a single Republican done anything other than complain about what Joe hasn’t done? I’ll wait.

At this point the SF Giants offense has looked so anemic lately sometime it seems like the only thing that could save them is for ESPN to completely write the team off for 2023.

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Now at the beginning of the season being in company with the Yankees and Mets and Angels for hitting might not have seemed so bad. Sigh #SFGiants

The New York Yankees could finish below .500 for the first time in 30 years. Figuring wins per dollar, their motto has to be “Thank God for the Mets.”

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So wait, some Republicans now saying about ever increasing Trump indictment list: “Let the voters decide.” Yeah, this the same GOP that is thinking about impeaching Biden for a reason they can’t decide on because they DON’T want to “let the voters decide.” Make it make sense.

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Laura Ingraham on Fox News “These people are sick. How is a mug shot of the former president in any way necessary or in any way good for America?

Give me a bleeping break. Obama admitted to doing some drugs as a young man. If Barack had ever been arrested and Fox News got hold of that mug shot it would be shown at least once an hour for months.

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Apparently Velveeta Voldemort has canceled plans to release his “election fraud report” at a news conference 1100am Monday Guess the report is somewhere with Trump’s “big beautiful healthcare plan.”

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A thought about these Republicans losing their minds over charges against Donald Trump. IF the charges are indeed spurious, then televised trials would make it obvious and exonerate the former President. IF… They can’t handle the truth.

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Taylor Swift’s Eras tour now may top $2 billion in N. American ticket sales. Swift is a huge Get out the Vote person. Now, most of tickets are already sold, but if she adds any more shows in 2024, suggest allowing people to get a pre-sale code if they register to vote.

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Has a single “law and order” Republican condemned Fulton County grand juror names and other personal information including home addresses reportedly posted online? I’ll wait.

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Have never been a Ro Khanna fan: But today, CNN’s Erin Burnett pushedhim to say Biden shouldn’t run:

Ro’s response, acknowledging he chaired Sanders’ campaign and Joe had beaten Bernie:

“People completely underestimate this President.

He defeated Trump, had midterm better than expected, passed signature legislation, economy is better.

He has earned right to have rematch w/ Trump.”

Well played.

For all this drama over college conference realignment and the Big 10, SEC and ACC especially, would love to see stats on how many football players actually now graduate from those conference schools.

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Haven’t heard much from Fox or other conservative media about the Women’s World Cup after they celebrated the US women’s team losing. Almost as if they don’t care at all about the women’s sports they claim to care so much about the sanctity of…

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Jamie Raskin wants former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder referred to DOJ for lying under oath & obstructing a congressional investigation. Well, heck, doesn’t that make Snyder a candidate to run for office as a Republican?

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Federal appeals court with all GOP nominees ruled to limit access to mifepristone for safety reasons, saying FDA had overstepped to allow prescriptions to be filled by mail. Uh, if we’re talking safety how about a suit limiting Viagra by mail. We KNOW sex isn’t safe for many men.

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Trump fundraising email today, claiming he gets asked “Sir, why keep fighting? Why not just walk away?” Uh, maybe because if he ends up a convicted felon he may not be ABLE to walk away.

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So as we digest the indictments out of Fulton county…. Governor Ron DeSantis has gotten rid of TWO elected Florida prosecutors in 14 months. Time to ask the question, is it just a show of power? Or is Ron worried that an honest prosecutor might someday (soon) go after him?

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Marjorie Three Names says she’s thinking about being in Trump’s cabinet if he wins, or even his running mate. And if THAT doesn’t scare any moderately sane Republican into voting against Donald in the primary…

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The Daily Beast reports suspended Texas AG Ken Paxton, facing an impeachment trial, had a fake Uber account under the name “Dave P” to hide an affair with a former Capitol staffer, “booking rides to see her more than a dozen times in 2020”.

Paxton is a married “family values” Republican who sends out regular Christmas cards featuring his four children and now grandchildren.

Four words “I miss Molly Ivins.”

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Tropical Storm Hilary could become a hurricane and hit the Southwestern United States and Mexico later this week. Hoping the storm doesn’t hurt anyone but have to say it would be far more karmic if Hilary was heading straight for the coast near either Bedminster or Mar-A-Lago.

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On Gumps- “166-year-old luxury SF retailer” – claiming crime may make them close. Gumps family sold in 1975, store filed bankruptcy in 2018 & was bought cheap by NY investment bankers. Not dismissing crime, but for years many have stopped buying pricey dust-collecting stuff.

Umpire Ángel Hernández again lost racial discrimination lawsuit as federal appeals court upheld 2021 ruling for MLB.

Angel claims he’s been passed over for promotions & World Series because he’s Latino.

In a very divided country thinking there’s rare bipartisan agreement. No, Hernandez is just a terrible umpire.

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SF Giants had scored 10 runs in a week, tonight, after being shut out through five innings, they scored 7 runs in the last three innings. (No bottom of the 9th needed in a 7-0 win.)

It was Jewish Heritage Night. Thinking until they started scoring in the bottom of the 6th I couldn’t have been the only fan sitting Shiva for the Giants offense.

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Nebraska AD Trev Alberts, with one of the few logical statements on conference realignments. “If you just look at football in isolation, eventually conferences will matter less in a sense. If we can find a way to take football and have that be this entity here, I think then you can get back to doing some much more intelligent thinking around the rest of the sports, which should be regionally based.”

So can we just call college football what it is, minor leagues for the NFL and be done with it?

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says the Georgia indictments were “unnecessary.” Uh, Chris, wanna know what’s unnecessary? Shutting down two of three lands on a bridge between Fort Lee NJ and New York for FOUR DAYS because the mayor of Fort Lee didn’t endorse you.

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As Trump’s indictment in Georgia is headline news all over world, this is TOP headline over in Fox News World. “Manhattan judge refuses to recuse himself from Trump case despite donation to Biden” And underneath “Judge Juan Merchan donated $15 to President Biden.” Yes – $15!

(In New York, that’s not even the cost of a martini. Or maybe a couple ice cream cones.)

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Unbelievable CBS News Bay Area just ran a story about how people in West Maui are BEGGING people not to come right now. Followed immediately by a story about President Biden facing criticism for not having gone to Maui yet.

#DoBetterMedia

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Been to Maui maybe 20 times. There’s one highway (380) from airport towards West & South Maui, then one narrow highway (30) to West Maui. Presidential motorcade would cause backups on a pre-fire day…. Maui resources are stretched as is. Joe will come when they say it’s OK.

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So when did House Republicans all take speed reading courses? As they all came out against the 96 page Georgia indictment about five minute after it was unsealed.

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If you’re frustrated w/ “both sides” reporting from Washington Post & NY Times, may I suggest digital subscription to 1-2 local newspapers? In CA I’ve long subscribed to SF Chronicle but now added Orlando Sentinel -doing great job exposing DeSantis. Local papers need support.

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Lost in all the commotion, Monday was the day Donald Trump could finally say he’d had more indictments than wives.

Hillary Clinton: “I don’t think Joe Biden gets credit enough for modeling responsible leadership.” Amen.

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And as the Truth Social rage posts and tweets from Trump supporters begin for the Georgia case: Judge McBurney, who has been elected 3 times, was appointed by former Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (A REPUBLICAN) in 2012.

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And former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan (whose name Velveeta Voldemort misspelled in Truth Social rant) is no-RINO, or even moderate. Former campaign ad “I will never allow your tax dollars to be given to liberal organizations like Planned Parenthood.” He’s just GOP politician who still believes in voting.

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Question for House Republicans: If the child of a President profiting off their father’s name is an impeachable offense for that President, when are you impeaching Donald Trump (for a third time)?

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Ted Cruz said tonight on with Sean Hannity about the Trump indictments. “I’m pissed.” More like hearing about how the grand jury uncovered potential crimes in other jurisdictions, Senator Cruz may have pissed his pants.

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Yet another potential Presidential record for Donald Trump. Only 11 people went to prison over Nixon and Watergate.

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Reminder, a judge sent FTX founder (and big Democratic donor) Sam Bankman-Fried to jail over witness tampering. And witness tampering SHOULD result in bail revocation. Hey, GOP, see how easy that is?

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Meanwhile over on Fox News, former Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who spent years investigating Hillary Clinton’s emails, is attacking Fani Willis and Stacey Abrams….

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And last weekend, MN Rep. Dean Phillips got lots of news coverage for his CNN appearance saying Dems should primary Joe Biden.

But when MN Sen. Amy Klobuchar supported Biden’s re-election to Chuck Todd – “we work in results-oriented business & he has gotten results,” it barely got mentioned.” See how this works?

So as the Women’s World Cup heads towards the finals have right-wing politicians and media said who they are rooting for to win? Because all the remaining teams are pretty woke?

Or was it just about slamming the US women?

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SF Giants announcer Dave Flemming lost a fantasy football bet and had to be a bat boy for 3 innings.

When that’s the best part of the game…

Top 10 payrolls in MLB.

New York Mets, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves,

Four of them even with the expanded playoffs, would not make the post season if the season ended today. And three of those who would make the playoffs would be as wild card teams

And the NY Yankees are in last place in the American League East, No punchline on this last one, I just like writing it.

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Alls well that ends well and all that. But after SF Giants almost wasted a gem from Logan Webb, who departed the game leading 1-0 with two outs in the ninth, (after the team had failed to score with numerous chances. ) and were about to lose 2-1 to the Rangers in extras, Dave Flemming nailed the call… “Patrick Bailey’s the hero today! He rescues the Giants from misery!!”

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Even SF Giants announcers have about had it with the team’s offense, or lack thereof.. Doing an in game ad for a company calling itself your gin of choice, Duane Kuiper “if the Giants have another 1st and 3rd and nobody out situation and don’t score, that gin’ss going to be MY choice.”

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Give GOP & Fox News credit, with summer of horrific weather events including now terrible fire on Maui, a labor shortage & all the complicated issues facing our country right now, they have convinced many of their base the most important issues are Hunter Biden & trans kids.

And look, if Hunter Biden committed crimes he should pay for them. But if you’re upset about the President’s son taking advantage of his name to make money, but shrug at Ivanka, Jared, Don Jr, and Eric…. you just MIGHT be a hypocrite.

Actual (no joke) headline on front page of Washington Post: “Musk isn’t serious about fighting, Zuckerberg says. Here’s the latest.” I prefer Amy Klobuchar’s response to all this testosterone poisoning: “Whatever.”

On Aug 3, SF Giants announced they would start wearing Cruise patches on their uniforms. As many as 10 Cruise driverless cars stopped working in San Francisco last night. And if that isn’t a metaphor for what seems to be happening to the SF Giants 2023 season…

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High point of tonight’s game for SF Giants fans

Before the great Renel took over as SF Giants announcer there was Sherry Davis, the first woman MLB stadium announcer. She was honored and got to announce the 1993 SF Giants reunion celebration.

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After being shut out yesterday by Atlanta Pitchers despite 9 hits and 7 walks (a new MLB record), the NY Mets finally did score 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th last night against the Braves. Mets lost 21-3.

And then Mets got shut out, AGAIN, 6-0 in the second half of a double header. vs the Braves

Note to frustrated SF Giants fans lately. It could be worse.

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Situation in Maui is tragic. President Biden has declared a federal disaster, adding “every asset we have will be available.” Democratic leaders are sharing fundraising links… And not a single GOP candidate who wants to be President of all 50 United States has said a word..

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CNN Headline “Records show Hawaii misjudged wildfire dangers” Sadly MANY states have and are misjudging wildfire dangers. Especially in this summer where we’re seeing insane heat waves and other results of climate change. Those other states have just gotten lucky. So far.

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Major campaign issue for John Fetterman against Dr. Oz in PA was that Oz really lives in NJ and voters don’t like obvious liars. So why isn’t this a bigger story that Tommy Tuberville no longer owns property in Alabama and appears to be living in Florida.

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No serious injuries or deaths reported after man in southwest Florida waiting room has been charged with flooding a hospital’s emergency rooms after attacking a nurse and stripping off his clothes. I miss the days when #FloridaMan was a punchline and mostly a danger to himself.

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Meanwhile in Florida, Ron DeSantis just appointed Roger Gannam to Sixth District Court of Appeal, which may get involved in his battle with Disney. Gannam’s name may not ring a bell, but he defended Kim David, KY clerk who refused to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples.

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Wow, just wow.

Trump fundraising email attacking Biden.

Who knew Don types in front of a mirror?

“Our country is being systematically destroyed by a man with the mind, ideas & IQ of a first-grader. ..And right now, that vindictive first-grader is throwing a temper tantrum.”

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So if tax evasion is such an important felony for people in the public eye, why has no Republican asked at very least to investigate possibly impermissible but almost certainly taxable benefits SCOTUS judge Clarence Thomas has received?

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The investigation into Hunter Biden has been going in for FIVE YEARS? You can get a PhD from a major university in five years…

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Admittedly Hunter Biden has at times profited because of who his father is. But he’s done a lot less damage to this country than George H.W. Bush’s oldest son.

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So while all these Republicans are attacking Hunter Biden as a ne’er do well who’d have been nothing without his father’s name, anyone seen any commentary from Meghan McCain?

So now that the US Women’s team is out of the World Cup guess many right-wingers can go back to not pretending to care about women’s soccer.

Though, if they did, after a married lesbian player scored the penalty kick to knock US women out, tonight the substitute who scored the goal in extra time for Spain to advance over the Netherlands is Salma Paralluelo, a 19 year old Black woman.

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Four more Iowa State players and three Iowa players have now been charged in Iowa’s investigation into sports wagering, which alleges that several athletes placed bets on games in which they played.

So will Vegas post odds on which university will end up with the most suspended players?

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Will a single Republican clutching his or her pearls about money President Biden’s family may have made due to his position as VP, also say a word about the Trump/Kushner clan, or Clarence Thomas’s SCOTUS gifts? I’ll wait.

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Like many long-time volunteers I’ve had friends become judges and they’ve had to stop attending even casual Democratic party summer picnics to avoid the appearance of impropriety. This Clarence Thomas thing is so much worse than most average Americans realize.

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As Donald Trump tries to get cases delayed allegedly because he’s too busy, wonder how well it would work for most Americans if they got arrested, even for a minor offense, and told the judge appearing wasn’t convenient for them.

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As President Biden sends condolences plus aid, military and otherwise, only imagining in my nightmares what it would be like if Trump were still President during these Hawaii wildfires.

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President Biden is helping Maui. Amy Klobuchar & Cory Booker tweeting links to donate to help Maui. Just looked, can’t find any GOP leader or candidate (many have over million followers) expressing support or suggesting ways to help Maui. But if THEIR states have disasters.

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Unfortunately during natural disasters it’s always hard to know if donations are getting to right people. Not that others aren’t doing good things,but if you’re trying to help Maui, this is OFFICIAL link from Hawaii Community Foundation. #MauiStrong

https://hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong

The remnants of the Pac 12 – Cal and Stanford, along with Oregon State and Washington State remain in limbo Wednesday night as to future conference possibilities. Why doesn’t someone just put together the first official “NFL Minor League” conference and be done with it?

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SF Giants picked up AJ Pollock at the trade deadline, who was hitting .175. So far he was 0-6 for the Giants and made at least one error in the outfield. Now Pollock’s out for about three weeks with a strained oblique. So he’ll be contributing about as much to the team for the rest August as he has already.

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Man fatally shot today by FBI agents described by Fox News as having “made threats against politicians” On social media: “Death to Joe Biden,” called himself “MAGA TRUMPER” & “Hey Merrick Garland, you Demented Weasel, Send your FBI Swat Team to my house.” So yeah “politicians.”

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As some Florida school districts cancel Shakespeare am reminded of my 10th grade English class near Orlando needing to read “abridged” Romeo & Juliet w/ “dirty parts” cut out- ie most of Mercutio. So what some of us did? Found unabridged version & read it MUCH more carefully.

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Nominee for worst take of the year: Former NFL Star Henry Riggs was sentenced to 3-10 years in jail for killing Tina Tintor and her dog in a fiery DUI crash at 156 MPH with a blood alcohol count double the legal limit. The young woman survived the crash but burned to death as rescuers couldn’t get her from the car.

And the person who came out complaining “You’re driving a car at roughly 160 miles per hour on a public street and end up killing a girl and her dog and you get three to ten years?” was O.J. Simpson?!!

(For those who forgot, he’s still bitter about the 9 years he did for armed robbery.)

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While Ohio stands up for democracy the would-be King of Florida flaunts the law AND elections by removing a elected black woman he doesn’t like from her job as state attorney. DeSantis suspended Monique Worrell, the chief prosecutor for the central Florida region, who was elected with 67% of the vote.

Ron doesn’t like her, and he thinks it will help him w/ GOP base.

Can anyone imagine if Gavin Newsom tried to do the same with a conservative attorney he didn’t like in California? GOP heads would explode.

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How low can you go, CNN?

Jake Tapper talking to Elizabeth Warren about the US child care crisis, pivots to ask her about the “adult child you don’t want to talk about -Hunter Biden…”

Liz responds by talking about ethics and that “same rules have to apply across board.”

And Jake goes to end with “well”people are skeptical when they see Hunter paid thousands of dollars..” No mention of Trump kids. Or SCOTUS.

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In doubts about depths of Velveeta Voldemort’s delusions?

His fundraising email today. It’s the usual survey many politicians send out & then ask for money… but it starts: “Before we give the President (sic) the results..”

And we wonder why MAGA cult members think Biden didn’t win.

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This story just makes me so sad. So many wonderful businesses and people in Lahaina. Touristy in parts, yes, but wonderfully historic andt such a lovely little town. Hoping they can rebuild, though the Banyan tree just turned 150 years old.. Apparently it was scorched but MAY still be standing.

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No idea if Mala Tavern has survived the awful fire, but a toast tonight with one of my favorite wine glasses from one of my favorite restaurants near Lahaina. #PracticeAloha #MauiStrong

So when this NCAA conference re-alignment settles down for a few months sometime later this year, who’s gonna be the first to use the phrase “Student-athletes” with a straight face?

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Give me a break. Megyn Kelly on the U.S. women’s soccer team: ‘I’m thrilled they lost’:

I guess no one told her the Swedish player, Lina Hurtig, who scored the winning penalty kick, is happily married to a former teammate and she and her wife have two children.

So since many on the far right are celebrating US Women’s National Soccer team losing in round of 16 in the Women’s World Cup, would they tell us who they ARE rooting for to win? Note, Russia doesn’t have a team.

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Got it. GOP wants to have an impeachment inquiry against President Biden – as soon as they figure out what excuse they will use as a cause.

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Last night Connie Schultz on Rachel Maddow: “The laziest thing in the world to be is a cynic, hope takes work.” Many people did a lot of work to get out the vote in Ohio. And some people probably had to work even to vote. In any case, hope won, democracy won.

Fox headline Aug 7:

“Ohio sees massive voter turnout on GOP ballot question to protect state constitution from liberal activists

Fox headline: Aug 8- “Change conservatives said needed to protect Ohio from radical liberal agenda, failed to pass in lopsided vote.” Voters smarter than GOP thinks.

Issue 1 in Ohio, put on the ballot by the GOP in the middle of the summer in hopes of a low turnout, lost 43% to 57% – About as resounding a result as can be imagined.

And yet, had it passed, by a single vote, 57% would not have been enough to enshrine abortion rights, or any other rights, in the state. Because it would have put in a 60% threshold for any changes to the state constitution.

Thank you Ohio.

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Fox News is making a major deal out of President Biden referring to “The Grand Canyon — one of the Earth’s nine wonders.” Gosh, Fox must have missed when Velveeta Voldemort said “our army manned the air, they took over the airports” during Revolutionary War in the 18th century.

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Just saw an op-ed “DeSantis’ decision to fire campaign manager is step in right direction” What would be a bigger step for Ron in the right direction? Suspending his campaign.