Left Coast Sports Babe

Disgrunted Philadelphia 76ers James Harden is apparently about to be traded to the LA Clippers. Too soon to start a pool on when Harden will become disgruntled with the LA Clippers?

Term none of us expected to have on our 2023 Batsh*t Bingo Card “Possible NFC #1 Playoff Seed Detroit Lions.”

–

With a World Series already lacking in star power to draw TV ratings , Adolis Garcia, the best player in MLB this postseason, now will need an MRI after a possible serious muscle strain or worse from a swing in the 8th inning tonight.

The Rangers won anyway, and have a 2-1 series lead.

–

But f I had any sympathy for Fox, I would have sympathy for Fox.

–

We know President Biden’s speech on his Executive Order regulating artificial intelligence went well. Because not only did media not give much coverage to 1st major binding government action on AI, but also if Joe had stumbled over even one word it would have been headline news!

–

So what would it have taken for police to have taken his guns away? Other than him being black or brown? “Cops were sent to Maine gunman’s home weeks before massacres amid concern he ‘is going to snap and commit a mass shooting’”

–

New Speaker of the House was a comparative unknown with a friendly face. But as more and more comes out about Mike Johnson’s past, anyone but me getting 2008 Sarah Palin vibes?

(As in not just right-wing but with some seriously bizarre stuff in his life).

This is why with major decisions, people and parties should always do their homework.

–

Mike Johnson fundraising by email today. “You don’t know me – because I’ve been heads down working for last 7 years in Congress.”

–

Can’t stand Rand Paul, but he was only GOP member of the Senate to vote to send Jack Lew’s nomination to the floor to be Ambassador to Israel. Not hard for Senators, especially in GOP, to realize only time they get media attention is when they do or say something outrageous.

—

“Working” in Congress?

Mike’s co-sponsored exactly two passed bills!

To mint coins for 250th anniversary of Marines. And to allow federal funds to be used to buy guns for archery in schools.

No World Series today, apparently the schedule was set in part not to compete with NFL games.

Thinking Chiefs and 49ers fans especially might have wished their games were pre-empted from national TV by baseball.

–

–

Anti-vaxxer Kirk Cousins apparently tore his Achilles today in the Vikings’ win against the Packers.

Well, since he doesn’t believe in medical science maybe he can heal himself with prayer, or positive thinking, or whatever…

–

And somehow the New Orleans Saints 4-4 are tied for first place in NFC South Now all Saints fans become Vikings fans for a week as Minnesota travels to Atlanta. #WhoDat

Ex-Coach Tuberville, who is holding our military hostage, is also now lying and claiming “This administration would rather burn down the Senate than negotiate.” Pretty rich coming from someone thought 3 branches of government were “the House, the Senate & the executive

–

Not only did Donald Trump get the city where he was was speaking wrong, calling it Sioux Falls instead of Sioux City, Velveeta Voldemort didn’t even get the state right. Sioux Falls is in South Dakota, not Iowa.

More insanity from the rally. Trump said Melania tells him he doesn’t act presidential: She said “sir, I love you but this is not presidential.”

Okay, who believes Melania said “I love you?”

–

Two people dead and 18 injured in Tampa early Sunday morning. Reportedly at least two shooters. Wonder if they were good guys with guns? Until they weren’t.

–

Are we sure Mike Johnson isn’t really a Stepford Speaker?

Mike Johnson now is talking aboout changing the “motion to vacate” rule that GOP used to oust former speaker Kevin McCarthy. Uh, so shouldn’t that mean putting Kevin back in? Logic has a liberal bias.

–

Really want to see MAGA Mike Johnson tell Pete Buttigieg to his face Mike wants to invalidate their marriage & their adoption of children.

Heck, I’d like to see Johnson try to say that about Pete & Chasten to Amy Klobuchar. Both Pete and Amy could -nicely – mop floor with him

So since Friday night

The Diamondbacks were supposed to have no chance against Texas Rangers

Then with a 2 run lead (5-3) into the 9th and their star closer on the mound, Arizona was supposed to win game one. (They lost, 6-5 in 11 after Seager’s game tying home run in the 9th

Then Dbacks were supposed to be unable to recover from such a devastating loss. Arizona won 9-1

Can’t wait to see what pundits predict for Game Three.

–

–

Rules are rules.. Which means someone is going to make the NFL postseason and host a playoff game by winning the NFC South. Might as well be the Saints.

–

From Dean Phillips in 2017. “I’m pro-life. And I’m also pro-choice. And I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive. I think it’s really important to be both.”

Sounds like Phillips thinks it’s really important to keep HIS options open. Another reason Harlan Crow has donated to him?

(And sorry Dean, after Roe V. Wade was overturned especially, there is no way you can claim to be both.)

–

Thinking one reason Mike Johnson has gotten away with being an under-the-radar extreme right-wing radical is that if you Google him it’s almost impossible to figure out which of the hundreds of Mike Johnsons is actually now-Speaker Mike Johnson.

“Former President and current courtroom sketch model” is one of the best descriptions of Donald Trump I have heard. Also, from @NBCSNL, “no one is quite sure which trial it refers to…”

–

Mike Pence is dropping out of the Presidential race. Have we heard inside commentary from the fly on the wall yet?

Pence said, “Now is not my time.” True. But his time might have actually been 1850.

–

Velveeta Voldemort just called on Mike Pence to endorse him Because hey, hasn’t every President publicly cheered on those who wanted to hang his Vice President at some point?

–

Increasingly looking as we hear more about the radical right-wing views of Mike Johnson, that those so called GOP moderates who objected to Jim Jordan would have been fine had Gym just spoken more softly and put on a jacket.

–

Maybe Mike Johnson is really the first Stepford Speaker?

–

If she testifies next week, how long before Donald Trump says he never really knew Ivanka?

–

The Maine killer is dead, apparently a self-inflicted shot. Another thing the NRA types haven’t figured out. How to make those murder-suicide types with AR-15 do it in the reverse order.

World Series starts Friday, but no baseball last night or tonight.

A sad precursor to winter.

“It breaks your heart, it was designed to break your heart…”

–

Good for the Diamondbacks saying they are “fueled by doubters.” But for all the improbable World Series teams fueled by doubters, there are far more teams with doubters watching the World Series from their couches.

=

Dusty Baker in announcing his retirement “This isn’t a goodbye, it’s simply a ‘see you later.'” Dusty lives in Sacramento area. If “see you later” might include becoming (again) a special assistant in San Francisco, SF Giants (and their fans) would be very happy.

–

Mike Johnson already fundraising w/ rants & lies, calling Dems “radical left” & socialists, citing God repeatedly & claiming “Pledge is being taken out of school because it mentions God.” Uh, Pledge of Allegiance NEVER mentioned God. Until it was added by Eisenhower in 1954.

–

Rep. Matt Gaetz ““If you don’t think that moving from Kevin McCarthy to MAGA Mike Johnson shows the ascendance of this movement & where the power in the Republican Party truly lies, then you’re not paying attention.” When Gaetz is right, he’s right. #VoteBlue

–

How long until GOP claims the latest mass shooting is a mental health not a gun problem. (actually many already have.) While at the same time Republicans will try not to expand and actually to reduce mental health benefits.

–

So many questions about Maine mass shooting. But #1- suspect recently reported mental health issues, had allegedly made threats to shoot up National Guard base & was reportedly committed to mental health facility for 2 weeks this summer. So how did he have an AR-15 gun? #murica

–

Nobody really thinks the 2nd Amendment was intended to allow Americans to all have their own cannons.

So why does anyone pretend the 2nd Amendment was intended to allow Americans to all have their own assault weapons?

–

Death toll still unknown in Acapulco. But While many Americans may not care what happens in Mexico, Hurricane Otis went from expected tropical storm to Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours, giving residents no time to evacuate.

One of these times with climate change a disaster like this will happen in the USA…

–

Daily Mail headline :Republicans FINALLY have a Speaker after 22 days: Farce is over as Trump-backed Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson is set to win the gavel.” Uh, I’d say the farce is just getting started.

–

Mike Johnson is against same-sex marriage, but is a proponent of “covenant marriage.” So can someone ask him on camera how he feels about Donald Trump’s three marriages and affairs. Along with the marriages of many of his divorced colleagues like Lauren Boebert?

–

“Apparently experience isn’t necessary for speaker job. We’re down to folks who haven’t had leadership or chairmanship roles, which means their administration of the House will be a new experience for them.” Mitt Romney, who at Bain almost certainly wouldn’t hire a CEO like Johnson.

–

GOP Rep Don Bacon acknowledged he disagreed with some of new House Speaker Johnson’s positions — including Mike’s vote against certifying 2020 election but said “you’re not going to get perfection in this business.”

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, what did you think of the play?

–

Tump’s insults aren’t anything new. In 2018 he tweeted – ” NY Times & third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as Crooked H flunkie who I don’t speak to & have nothing to do with.”..

But today Donald’s referring to the NY Times reporter who has done so much sycophantic journalism over the years for him, calling her Maggot Hagerman (sic) does indicate more reverting to childhood or senilty though.

–

On top of everything else, new right-wing MAGA speaker Mike Johnson lobbied for the “Ark Encounter.” So if Ark story is true & only Noah’s family of 8 survived to multiply & replenish Earth, that means Johnson, who’s against gay marriage, is okay with incest?

CNN reports potential bipartisan temporary rule change proposal MAY go to Senate Rules Committee as soon as next week to try to get around coach Tuberville’s military holds. Still a long shot. But if anyone can get such a delicate maneuver passed, it’s Rules chair Amy Klobuchar.

Congrats to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who now join the Texas Rangers in the World Series.

And they like the Rangers, won four away games.

Unfortunately for Texas, the Series starts at Globe Life Park.

–

Money can’t buy me love. Or apparently a pennant.

MLB payrolls in 2023 out of 30 teams

Texas, #9 at $195,869,490

Arizona, $21 at $116,471,292

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Texas Rangers in the the World Series. So either Madison Bumgarner or his former coach Bruce Bochy will get a 2023 World Series ring. #ForeverGiant–

–

McKay Coppins’s “Romney: A Reckoning”, quotes Krysten Sinema saying to Mitt: “I can go on any board I want I can be a college president. I saved Senate filibuster, I saved the Senate, by myself…That’s good enough for me.” So many “I’s”

But WE Dems can vote Ruben Gallego 2024.

–

In case you had any delusions about today’s Republicans: Per CNN, “GOP Rep. Rick Allen said he told now-former House Speaker designee Tom Emmer that he opposed Minnesota Republican’s bid for gavel because Emmer voted to codify same-sex marriage.” Vote Blue. Love Trumps Hate.

–

Michael Cohen “I was asked by Trump to increase total assets based upon a number he arbitrarily elected and my responsibility was to reverse engineer and increase those assets to achieve the number Trump had tasked us to.” Seems like this line should be a bigger story.

–

Sunday Trump: “I’ve always gotten along with Tom Emmer.” Tuesday Trump “I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, some are great warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them.” Short term memory is the first thing to go. #Sad

–

When it only takes five Republicans to dethrone a speaker and there are at least eight certified crazies in the House who want to shut it all down, well you don’t need to be a genius at arithmetic to realize there ARE no good long-term solutions. No wonder GOP hates math.

–

Mike Johnson in 2016 “characterized his legal career as “defending religious freedom, sanctity of human life & biblical values, including defense of traditional marriage… Mike supports conversion therapy & thinks medical marijuana is a gateway drug. He seems nice.

–

Enough with secret House GOP ballots and votes. Just show us the rose ceremony. And then can we put each loser in a limos and show them crying as they drive off..?

–

Meanwhile the Senate isn’t making news….. why? Because they’re MOSTLY acting like grownups.

Okay, I’m not a professional baker, but it sure seems like a good fundraiser for Democrats this December might be a nice Stollen.

(ICYMI – Trump keeps ranting that the election was “stollen” – sic.)

–

–

Who needs analytics. Bruce Bochy can f*cking manage. Congratulations Texas Rangers #ForeverGiant

–

Since Adolis Garcia was hit by a pitch in the 8th inning in ALCS game 5, which the Rangers lost when Astros scored 3 in the ninth, Adolis has NINE RBI’s in games 6 and 7. Note to whoever wins the NLCS – do NOT throw at Garcia in the World Series.

–

Love everything about this –

Buster Olney reports “In the hours before another Game 7 for Bruce Bochy today, he got a text from Madison Bumgarner, offering to pitch.”

Wonder if Madbum is available for the World Series?

–

–

Meanwhile, couldn’t tell if the 49ers or Vikings were trying harder to lose MNF game.

But yeah, Minnesota Vikings have had 1st and goal at the 2, and 1st and goal at the 1, and come away with two field goals. And we Saints fans thought we had the title “Worst 2023 team in the Red Zone” locked up. #WhoDat

–

Donald Trump now says “If Jesus Christ came down & said, ‘I want to be Speaker,’ he would do it. Other than that, I haven’t seen anybody that can guarantee it.” Uh, Jesus was a brown-skinned Socialist. No way would today’s GOP elect him. They’d be more likely to try to deport him.

–

For anyone who still has friends or relatives supporting Trump, maybe ask them “How it is possible that when every single former ally or employee or appointee flips against him, that Donald never knew them?

–

CNN headline “Reports: Trump told Mar-a-Lago member about calls with foreign leaders” Uh, does anyone think it was just one Mar-A-Lago member? And how many Bedminster members did he brag to? All together now. #ButHerEmails

–

Former President Donald Trump about House Speaker race “We’re looking at a lot of people, you know, sort of trying to stay out of it as much as possible.” Translation, Velveeta Voldemort wants to wait until I think there’s clear winner & then he’ll say “I backed him all along.”

–

A bit confused now that there are almost a dozen GOP men running for Speaker of the House. How do they whittle the numbers down, and what time is the rose ceremony?

Down to eight left. Have any of the GOP House Speaker candidates yet been accused of running “for the wrong reasons?”

“Game 7”

And fearless Prediction, a former SF Giants manager is going to win.

–

Meanwhile the SF Giants maybe be trying to pick up another manager from the San Diego Padres.

First one worked out okay.

Though have to worry a bit, if Melvin had little luck with the best roster money could buy, how will he do with the SF Giants and their garage sale lineup? Melvin did do okay with the A’s though

–

So how many more rounds of the GOP voting for speaker will it take until they go to penalty kicks?

–

All you need to know about how damning what Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt is saying about Donald Trump. On Fox News website, while old posts talk about Pratt during Trump presidency, there’s absolutely no mention of the story today.

–

McConnell was asked on “Fox News Sunday” if Menendez should resign & responded it was something Schumer had to deal with”Let me just say this — I’m glad he’s not a Republican.” Wonder why Fox News, supposedly pro-military, didn’t ask Mitch about Tuberville, who IS a Republican.

–

Terrifying statement on today’s GOP: “Among GOP lawmakers who said Friday they would seek to fill speaker vacancy, only Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) voted to certify 2020 election. Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Kevin Hern (R-FL), Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI) all objected.”

Short version. In today’s Republican party, believing that Joe Biden won the election makes you a moderate. It’s. A. Cult

–

Meanwhile, Republican Katie Britt is the Junior Senator from Alabama. She’s very conservative, bu cosponsoring a good & important bipartisan bill with Democrat Amy Klobuchar on developing evidence-based mental health resources and treatments for young people. Getting zero media coverage.

Meanwhile, Alabama’s Ex-Coach Senator makes regular headlines for his dangerous stunt which is harming our military. #DoBetterMedia

–

WTAF Washington Post? Headline on “exclusive” mostly positive article. “Jim Jordan, relentless wrestler on mat & in Congress Former wrestling champion coached at Ohio State during sex abuse scandal before entering politics.” Only 10TH paragraph first mentions accusations.

–

Hey kids. Especially kids who say Sir Mick for the first time last night on SNL – Mick Jagger is the same age as President Biden. And both Mick and Dark Brandon are badass.

–

Ivanka Trump fighting subpoenas to testify in Donald’s civil trial saying “she’s outside relevant jurisdiction for enforcement, having departed NY to live in Florida.” Uh, if moving there was enough to get you out of subpoenas, Florida real estate market would be best in USA

–

Mike Pence to House GOP: “Decide what team you want to be on.” Pretty rich coming from a guy who couldn’t even decide for a while if he were still on his boss’s team – after that boss incited an insurrection and cheered on those who chanted “Hang Mike Pence.”

Journalism matters: And we forget sometimes, people risk their lives to bring us news. At least 22 journalists were among the more than 4,000 dead on both sides since war began on October 7.

Diamondbacks have tied the NLCS 2 games to 2. after another late comeback win.

Most pundits had given up on the DBacks, but so did their fans. Tickets for game 3, no joke, were selling as low as $10 on stubhub. (Saturday’s game 5 tickets have jumped back up to $100 minimum.)

A live look at House GOP caucus meeting? (Nope, late in ALCS game four between Rangers and Astros.)

So how many rounds of speaker vote does it take before the GOP goes to penalty kicks?

–

Two American hostages were released by Hamas. Out of habit will GOP blame President Biden?

=

Have any Republicans in Georgia apologized to Fani Willis yet? I’ll wait.

When watching speaker votes, remember, CNN didn’t have ‘breaking news” when Democrats kept re-electing Nancy Pelosi. Competence isn’t clickbait.

Kevin McCarthy said the GOP is “Back To The Drawing Board,” after Jim Jordan’s third loss in the vote for House Speaker. Back to the drawing board? With the maturity level of this House GOP, more like back to the coloring book.

–

Jim Jordan thought he could ignore people increasingly voting against him for speaker the same way we ignored to college wrestlers being sexually abused at Ohio State.

Has anyone in the GOP tried to blame the House chaos on Hunter Biden yet?

–

Trump is fundraising tonight by attacking “never-ending witch hunts, four sham indictments, four unlawful arrests as an innocent man….”

Has anyone told him his lawyers have just pleaded guilty?

Diamondbacks won in a walkoff but. WTF? Arizona pulled Brandon Pfaadt, pitching an absolute gem, 5 2/3 innings making Phillies look bad, to keep him from going through lineup 3rd time.

(and D’Backs won only after bullpen gave up a run.)

Imagine someone trying to take out a young Madbum.

–

Dusty Baker wasn’t happy that the room is open at Globe Life Field tonight. “We were told that there was an agreement that we wouldn’t have the roof open in either place,” Baker said during his pregame news conference, “and so I don’t know what changed.

Final score tonight – 10-3 with 5 of Astros runs coming off home runs.

Maybe Dusty’s gotten over it.

–

Illustration of what’s wrong with media and US politics: If asked to name an Ohio politician, guessing many more people would name Jim Jordan instead of the state’s truly wonderful Senator Sherrod Brown. And if you’re not following @SenSherrodBrown on Twitter or some platform, you should be.

–

–

Love this Rolling Stone headline: “Jim Jordan Is Determined to Keep Losing Votes for Speaker.” If only Jim could pretend these votes never happened, like he ignored those sexual assaults of wrestlers at Ohio State…

–

So Jim Jordan and his backers are threatening other GOP membrs of Congress and their families in his quest to become Speaker Can you imagine what Gym would do if he actually HAD the power of the House Gavel?

–

Meanwhile, while the Senate is hardly all moderates, they are at least capable of acting like grownups. (Starry hiding the Zero “no” votes)

On top of everything else with as inspiring and wonderful as President Biden’s speech was just now, is it wrong that I am smiling at the thought of ketchup dripping down the walls at Bedminster tonight?

–

So who is Donald Trump going to turn his rage on next? “Traitress” Sidney Powell or “Loser” Jim Jordan?

·

Congratulations to the Las Vegas Aces. winners of their second straight WNBA championship.

Some players are married, some are dating. Some are moms, sme are not. Some are involved with men, some with women. And nobody cares. They’re a team. As it should be.

Why can’t more men athletes figure that out?

–

And this second win might have been even more impressive, as last year’s WNBA finals MVP Chelsea Gray, the Aces’ point guard was injured in game 3 and was out for the season. (Along with starting center Kiah Stokes. Imagine the Warriors in the NBA finals without Stephen Curry..

–

Meanwhile, game 4, where the Aces came back from double digit deficits, including well into the the third quarter, was a lot more interesting than tonight’s Astros-Rangers game, or to be quite honest, most of the games this post season.

(Seriously, anyone remember any game with dramatic moment?)

Now it’s GOP Michigan Congressman Jack Bergman (who?) saying he might run for House Speaker. Bergman voted against certifying 2020 results. If GOP want any Dem support maybe not bad idea to find SOMEONE to nominate who didn’t vote to overturn results from presidential election?

Marco Rubio wants any foreigner deemed Hamas supporter eligible to be deported & have visa revoked. He adds”You do not have a first amendment right to overthrow the government of the United States.” So is Rubio saying he wants to prosecute some of his fellow members of Congress?

–

Watching Trump’s responses to the gag order makes me definitely think someone didn’t get enough time outs as a kid.

–

Why does anyone think GOP will negotiate with Democrats when Republicans can’t even negotiate amongst themselves?

How many people – Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, Fani Willis, Judges Arthur Engoron and Tanya. Chutkan, many election workers, etc. now need security because of Donald Trump’s continuing to incite violence against them? And how long until someone gets hurt or worse?

–

Random thought about Velveeta Voldemort’s fundraising. He loves to say he’ll fly one lucky donor/winner out to a dinner or VIP experience at one of his events. But we NEVER see pictures of Trump with one of these winners. Yet another grift.

Trump gave Jim Jordan his “full and complete endorsement” as Speaker. Too soon to start a poll on who Velveeta Voldemort will blame when Jordan finally concedes he’s lost?

–

Rep. Tom Cole today on House floor saying quiet part out loud: Jim Jordan wants to address “real drivers of debt….Social Security & Medicare & Medicaid…get at roots of our spending problem.” GOP & Jordan want to cut these programs to save tax cuts for billionaires. Period.

Bad news. Ratings for ALCS and NLCS are expected to be low.

Good news? Both ALCS and NLCS look like they will be “nasty, brutal and short.”

–

Wisconsin legislators are working on a bipartisan spend more than $500 million in public money to help cover repairs at Milwaukee Brewers stadium. The stadium opened as Miller Park in 2001. A year after the SF Giants opened Pac Bell Park. So it’s only 22 years old. But sounds like the facility is aging like fine beer.

–

Starry doing her halloween cat pose during today’s House Speaker vote. Still less scary than the thought of Jim Jordan as House Speaker.

As tragic as the attack on the Gaza hospital was, and we still don’t know what happened, , today reminds us how important it was that Twitter once was considered (usually) an accurate source of news with safeguards against disinformation.

Elise Stefanik praised Jim Jordan today, and even brought up his past “on the wrestling mat.” (no joke)

Stefanik has a young child. I want reporters to start asking these cult members on camera how they’d feel towards someone in a position of responsibility who ignored abuse happening to THEIR children.

–

Meanwhile in the banana republic that Florida has become: Former pres of New College paid $305,000. But Ron Desantis put a crony in charge, raised base pay to $699,000 – $1 million with perks and benefits. Now they may raise it to $1.5 million. New College has 698 students.

(and since this is an incendiary statement, here’s the link, it’s sadly true.-)

$1.5 million to lead a college with 698 students? | Commentary

–

Rachel Maddow pondered last night if House of Representatives under Jim Jordan’s leadership would “ever certify results of election in which Trump ran.”

Doesn’t get talked about but our democracy was so lucky Chair of Senate Rules on January 6, (before Ossoff and Warnock became Senators) was GOP’s Roy Blunt. Blunt is conservative but a very decent man. He worked with Amy Klobuchar to certify votes at 4am. But Blunt could have said it was too late, and or just refused to return to the Capitol after the insurrection.

Imagine if Chair that day were Ted Cruz.

Bruce Bochy needed a break, and he’s not an analytics guy.

But Bochy came out of retirement in 2023 to coach the Texas Rangers. But have to wonder, if Bruce were back coaching the Giants, would SF be, even still be, in the playoffs?

–

Wow, in Houston Astros pitcher’s Framber Valdez’s ALDS start against the Minnesota Twins he gave up 5 earned runs in 7 innings. Today in ALCS he gave up 4 runs, one earned, in the first. Who does Valdez think he is? Clayton Kershaw?

–

As Texas Rangers go up 2-0 on the Houston Astros, and the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies win game one 5-3 start out with 2 home runs in the1st, …well as far as postseason baseball and ratings as being talked about, this 2023 postseason at least may be “nasty, brutish and short.”

–

Who says there’s no good news these days? During halftime of Dallas Cowboys Washingon Commanders game on Thanksgiving, Dolly Parton will perform. Now can CBS set up an alert for those of us who don’t care about Cowboys or Commanders when halftime starts so we can watch Dolly?-

–

Judge Chutkan just issues a limited gag order against Donald Trump. Too soon to start a pool as to when Velveeta Voldemort will violate it?

–

Idaho GOP Rep Russ Fulcher just said of House Speaker chaos “Republicans tend to be more independent, while Democrats are more compliant.” “Independent?” Meaning they independently genuflect before loser who tried to overturn an election.?

Somewhere Liz Cheney is laughing.

The media is licking their lips at the prospect of Gym Jordan as Speaker. So, he’s a pale imitation of Trump. But stll, guaranteed chaos all the time.

–

Wait, Jim Jordan, in calling for a Speaker of the House vote tomorrow, just said “the only way to do this is as the founders intended….” Yes, pretty rich coming from a man who supported an insurrection against certifying a Presidential election “as the founders intended.”

–

Rachel Maddow talking about Poland election- 74% percent of the electorate showed up to vote the right-wing nationalists out of power. 74%?!!! As Americans we should be both ashamed of our turnout, and take that as a goal for 2024.

As John Boehner’s calling Jim Jordan “a legislative terrorist” went viral Monday your reminder of what Boehner said about Ted Cruz. “Lucifer in the flesh. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life.”

If you didn’t already know how good the SF Chronicle’s Ann Killion is, this from today’s paper (before the game against the Browns) : “How do you see things playing out for the SF 49ers in Cleveland?” Killion “This seems like a true trap game…”

–

The 1972 Miami Dolphins are gonna be really hungover Monday morning.

Looks like SF 49ers and New Orleans Saints may be fighting over available placekickers to audition this week.

–

New Orleans Saints in the Red Zone today against Houston Texans were sadly reminiscent of the 2023 SF Giants with runners in scoring position.

–

For many of us USC vs Notre Dame in football was the sports equivalent of Scalise vs Jordan vying for House Speaker. Could they both lose?

–

Of the four teams left in MLB playoffs, none won more than 90 games. Not that baseball works like March Madness, but would have been a great year for those in office pools who pick winning teams by colors or mascots.

–

If only Jim Jordan had made a fraction of effort he is making to bullying his GOP colleagues into voting for him as speaker, into trying to protect college wrestlers at Ohio State….

–

Joe Manchin “The two-party system, unless it changes, will be the downfall of our country.” Pretty rich from someone who has become one of the most famous men in the Senate mostly by exploiting his status as the most conservative member of one of two parties.

–

Re headlines on GOP “flipping” Governor’s seat in Louisiana. Louisiana, outside New Orleans and Baton Rouge, is deep red. Liked John Bel Edwards -term limited- but he’s very conservative (anti-choice) Dem who still won in part due to Jindal fatigue

Very hard to win statewide as Dem. Maybe Drew Brees could win, but think he’s GOP.

–

—

Rite Aid has filed for bankruptcy. On top of everything else going to be hard for them to find lawyers: Especially since most lawyers will probably quote a price but tell Rite Aid they have to hire two of them to get it.

–

Remember when Velveeta Voldemort talked about vaping when he was President “And that’s how the first lady got involved. She’s got a son…” If the stories are true that he doesn’t interact with his father, good for Barron.

–

If only Jim Jordan had made a fraction of effort he is making to bullying his GOP colleagues into voting for him as speaker, into trying to protect college wrestlers at Ohio State….

Stanford Cardinal down 29-0 at half somehow came back and won in 2 OTS.

–

As the Pac-12 sunsets, Stanford fans and alums should thank Deion Sanders coaching at Colorado for something. This might be the last time for a long time the Cardinal plays in a game with as big of a national TV audience

–

Although to be fair, with the game ending about 2a Eastern Time, wonder how many people on the East Coast, one, even saw the finish, and two, due to the coverage media usually gives Pac 12, will even KNOW Stanford game back.

–

Kevin McCarthy is now saying he endorses Jim Jordan for Speaker. Makes sense if you think Kevin wants to make House GOP regret voting him out. “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone…”

–

GOP House is turning into a twisted version of Oprah. “You get a Speaker nomination and you get a Speaker nomination, and you get a Speaker nomination…

–

All about the hate. Top Fox News headline today “Biological males take top spots on podium at women’s cycling competition.”

Actual story: at an amateur non-elite cyclocross event in Chicago two transgender women finished 1-2. Does Fox even know what cyclocross is?

(Hint, I didn’t either, but it’s a kind of cross country, non-Olympic biking sport and the event is something that normally no one outside competitors’ friends and family would pay attention to..)

–

All the headlines that the House GOP isn’t getting anything done while they bicker over choosing a leader. Uh, House GOP wasn’t getting anything done when they HAD a leader. And when McCarthy compromised to do SOMETHING – ie keep the government open, they fired him.

–

The Democratic party especially in the House is a big blue sometimes meesy tent. And yet Nancy Pelosi held it together for years when the vote count mattered. And Hakeem Jeffries is doing the same.

Democrats can govern.

New slogan? Adults vote blue!

–

Any Republican supporting Jim Jordan for Speaker should be asked on camera how they would feel if one of their children or grandchildren were sexually abused in high school or college and an adult in a position of responsibility enabled the predator.

Who knew that the kiss of death in the MLB 2023 postseason would turn out to be winning 100 games in the regular season?

Four teams left in baseball’s postseason. Only ONE won their division and that team, the Houston Astros, had the second worst record of any division winner.

–

MLB’s regular season is getting closer to the irrevelancy of the NBA regular season every year

–

Tommy Tuberville insists of his dangerous stunt “Hold is not affecting our readiness & it’s certainly not affecting the readiness of other countries.” So military in his mind doesn’t need leaders? By that token why should college football teams need multi-million $$ coaches?

–

Fox News & some right wingers roasting John Fetterman for saying “You all need to know that America is not sending their best & brightest to Washington, D.C. Uh, Fetterman has auditory processing issues after a stroke. He’ll keep getting better. But you can’t fix stupid.

–

Steve Scalise has dropped out of the House Speaker’s race. Sparing us at least 17 rounds of voting where if Scalise finally got some of the truly crazy vote, they’d probably depose him by Christmas.

–

Are we sure chaos isn’t the goal? If Republicans ever did get their act together to rally around a House speaker who could pass legislation acceptable to the far-right wing of their party, it would quickly become obvious how out of step GOP is with majority of this country.

–

Not just that Donald Trump has called Vladimir Putin a “genius” and “smart, Kim Jong Un “very talented” and a “smart guy, and that he now calls Hezbollah “very smart.” But that Donald says all those things and many in GOP still genuflect before him.

–

GOP Rep. Troy Nehls again suggested making former president Donald Trump speaker since he is “the leader of our party.” If Velveeta Voldemort were even CLOSE to a leader Republicans would have rallied around his choice of Jim Jordan Even most of House GOP knows Trump is a loser.

So let’s see… If you’re an SF Giants fan In the past two days you’ve seen two former managers, Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker advance to the ALCS.

And the Dodgers get swept by the Diamondbacks. Not a bad baseball week.

–

Do think as an SF Giants fan that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sometimes gets blamed too much by LA fans for the team’s losses.

But uh, it took FIVE balls hit over the fence (one overturned as a foul ball) before he thought it might be time for a pitching change?

–

Former SF Giants manager Dusty Baker is taking the Astros back to the ALCS.

Former SF Giants manager Bruce Bochy is taking the Rangers to the ALCS.

Does this mean theDodgers, eliminated AGAIN in the postseason, will now try to hire former SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler?

–

Aaron Rodgers wants to bring RFK Jr to debate Travis Kelce and Dr Fauci on the topic of vaccines.
If Rodgers knows more than doctors why the heck did he accept any medical intervention after his Achilles injury? I’d call him a horse’s ass but that’s an insult to horses.

–

Okay then, former LA Dodger Steve Garvey is running for US Senate from California as a Republican. For those who didn’t know or forgot, this puts a REAL spin on GOP family values. Back in 1989, two women said Steve Garvey got them pregnant, and he married a third woman.

There was a joke some years ago that the three most common questions in a Lamaze couples class were 1. When are you due? 2. Is this your first? and 3. “Aren’t you Steve Garvey?

–

The House today adjourned without even voting on a Speaker. Think GOP actually looked less dysfunctional when Nancy Pelosi was speaker.

–

George Santos now faces 23 felony counts. How many does he need before Donald Trump says Santos will be under consideration as a possible running mate?

–

Has Trump attacked all the House GOP who voted for Steve Scalise as RINOs yet?

–

One more thing about Steve Scalise, who might be better than Jim Jordan but not by much. He’s been wearing a mask in the House because he has blood cancer. But when it suited him, he railed against masks. We should call them GOH – Grand Old Hypocrites.

–

Unlike Dark Brandon, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is really showing his age. He’s allowing an ex-football coach fired from his last two jobs to hold the most powerful military in the world hostage.

Best thing for an SF Giants fan is watching the Giants winning in the playoffs. Second best thing is watching the Dodgers lose in the playoffs. #BeatLA

And yes –

SF Giants know all about being down 2-0 in a series…. they won 6 straight elimination games in 2012 before sweeping the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.

So we know the Dodgers are not out of it. Still, must admit its’ been fun watching the Diamondbacks this week.

–

Another reason SF Giants fans miss Bruce Bochy, . You got sense of watching a team, not whatever lineup the analytics computer spit out that day.

“He sends out nearly same lineup for every game & he stays out of its way unless circumstances demand otherwise.”

–

NY Liberty tried to come up with a Superteam like LeBron did with the Miami Heat, and they’ve reached WNBA finals.

But the Las Vegas Aces are pretty d*mn good, and coached by Gregg Popovich protege Becky Hammon. Pop must be enjoying this series.

–

So much media attention as to who might end up GOP Speaker of the House. As we’ve learned in last 9 months, does it really matter? The inmates are running the asylum

Will Hurd has dropped out of the GOP presidential primary. This must really disappoint both his supporters.

–

Meanwhile, RFK Jr. was never a Democrat.

Despite the attack on Israel. Tommy Tuberville still refuses to drop his dlocking military leadership appointments

Again, time for Minority leader Mitch McConnell to put up or admit he’s lost control of his GOP caucus. Mitch has the power to strip the ex-coach of committee assignments, if he really gives a d*mn about our military & people’s lives.

Or is McConnell just too old to do his job

Israel, supposedly with the best defense intelligence in the world gets hit by a horrific surprise attack and GOP wants to point fingers. Uh, how many Americans had access to Israel’s secrets, are buddies with Putin, and shared classified information like after-dinner mints?

–

As an occasional joke writer this makes me sad. Not sure I could ever write anything funnier than this: Trump said he has a ‘much better body’ than Biden and claimed that he could beat him in a physical fight”

The Ruben Rivera baserunning school of coaching

If you know, you know.

Not in this clip was Tim Hasselbeck saying “In all my years of watching football, that was the single worst coaching decision I’ve ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/0kMRK06oQ2

— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) October 8, 2023

Seeing Justin Verlander starting ALDS ame 1 against Bailey Ober (who?), reminds me as SF Giants fan of WS 2012 game 1, Verlander against Zito. Never been so sure I was going to watch Giants lose. Baseball’s a funny game.

Guess the Twins needed Pablo Sandoval.

–

Suppose we SF Giants fans shouldn’t giggle over playoffs Clayton Kershaw being back.

·

New Big Ten 2024 schedule out: Oregon away games include Michigan, Purdue & Wisconsin. USC plays at Maryland, Michigan & Minnesota, UCLA will go to Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers.

#Pac12 RIP

–

So much anti-semitism lately in GOP, especially among Trump followers. And yet they also manage in their minds to blame Biden for the Hamas attack on Israel… Logic has a liberal bias.

–

So since GOP suddenly cares about US military, on Tuesday all Republicans in the Senate are going to rein in their anti-American colleagues – Paul, Vance and especially Tuberville and get our Ambassador to Israel and military leadership confirmed, right?

–

NY Times headline “From the Fringe to the Center of the G.O.P., Jordan Remains a Hard-Liner.” Better headline? “Jim Jordan remains on the right-wing fringe… but the GOP has come out there with him.”

–

Did not have Steve Scalise being the more rational GOP candidate for House speaker on my 2023 batsh*t bingo card.

So much drama for teams getting to playoffs with the expanded wild card but not a single game 3 needed in wild card round… Four sweeps. Now no baseball until Saturday. A sad little hint of approaching winter “It breaks your heart, it was designed to break your heart…”

–

RIP Dick Butkus, 80. My dad used to tell me I saw him play in 1st college football game he took me to at University of Illinois in 1962. I was 3 so sadly. don’t remember it. Apparently I liked game just fine until halftime & they shot off cannon in William Tell Overture… (Then apparently I screamed, a lot.)

–

Just for fun non-politcal tweet — For those claiming NY Yankees didn’t make playoffs only due to superior division. 2-3 of 3 wld card teams from NL East. including 99 win Blue Jays.. Both were swept. Only Baltimore Orioles remain.

Sorry not sorry Yankees-Red Sox fans.

–

But how cool is it for those of us longtime baseball and trivia fans? The Washington Nationals were eliminated a LONG time ago But TWO teams who were former Washington Senators are still alive in the 2023 MLB postseason.

–

For all that the media acts like there is no solution to the House circus, there is ONE solution:. Vote Blue in 2024. Democrats may not agree on everything, but we are quite simply now the party of grownups.

–

Donald Trump has now given Jim Jordan his “complete and total endorsement” for House Speaker. Only about 9 months after he gave McCarthy his endorsement for House Speaker. Best thing about this? We know #ETTD

–

All you need to know today’s jobs report – “Economy adds 336,000 jobs in September, in a stunning gain” is that Fox News isn’t even mentioning it.

–

Meanwhile

Media attacked Hillary Clinton nonstop because her secure private email server MIGHT have put our national security at risk. Velveeta Voldemort’s bragging about details of US nuclear submarine secrets gets less coverage than Biden’s dog Commander biting Secret Service agents.

CDC study found 63% of those hospitalized this year for COVID were over 65, only 24% of those up to date on COVID vaccines. This group was also nearly 90% of COVID -related deaths. No wonder GOP working so hard on voter suppression. Their anti-vax leaders are killing their base.

Guess it’s already time to retire the Kevin McCarthy cocktail. Russian vodka originally straight up, but mixed with sour orange & bitters puts it on the rocks.

Looking at the MLB post season, while the NL has a few TV favorites, Braves, Dodgers, Phillies, AL is basically all non-marquee teams plus the Astros. And Fox has the ALDS and ALCS plus the World Series. Couldn’t happen to a nicer network.

(Personally, I’m rooting for one of the smaller market underdog teams…. but cackling a bit at the thought of the national ratings.)

–

Both NY teams out of the MLB playoffs, both NY teams 1-3 in the NFL. Do sports fans in New York City realize the best team they may get to root for all year are the WNBA Liberty?

–

Congrats to the Twins. 18 game losing streak is over. The last time Minnesota won playoff game was October 2004. Same day as the VP debate between John Edwards and Dick Cheney. (Yeah, so long ago we all thought Edwards was a good guy and Cheney was the worst the GOP could be.)

–

Both NY teams out of the MLB playoffs, both NY teams 1-3 in the NFL. Do sports fans in New York City realize the best team they may get to root for all year are the WNBA Liberty?

–

.

–

With former Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly, two things can be true. 1. Yes, it would be nice if he spoke up sooner about Trump. 2. Better late than ever. And yes, the question again, how many people have to be lying for Velveeta Voldemort to be telling the truth?

–

Lady Jane Grey, the 9 days Queen of England Kevin McCarthy, the 9 months Speaker of the House. At least Kevin escapes with his head.

Soon after Jan 6, Kevin McCarthy was recorded saying he’d push Trump to resign immediately “I’ve had it with this guy,” he told GOP leaders. If he’d only stuck to that, he might still be Speaker. Sold his soul for 9 months of a gavel & becoming & historical cautionary tale.

–

Is there a head of lettuce somewhere cackling right now?

–

Aaron Rodgers claims he can return this season “This is just my mindset. I believe in the power of intention. I believe in prayer. I believe in your mental status and the power of will. I believe in making room for the miraculous to happen.”

Fine, since anti-vaxxer Rodgers thinks it’s about mental status not medicine why doesn’t he fire all his doctors then?

As Trump’s first trial continues, your reminder again, if the entire country is so powerful and biased against Donald, why didn’t they just find Hillary Clinton fewer than 80,000 votes in 2016. (About 79,000 votes in three states would have flipped the election

Nancy Pelosi: “With important decisions new GOP Leadership must address, one of 1st actions from Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry ordered me to immediately vacate my office in Capitol,..I am in CA to pay tribute to my dear friend Dianne Feinstein & unable to retrieve my belongings at this time.”

Patrick McHenry made headlines in 2011 for falsely accusing Elizabeth Warren, appointed by Obama to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, of lying regarding a committee hearing.

His local paper said McHenry should apologize – “unacceptable for any member of Congress to treat a witness in manner in which he treated Warren.”

So he has a problem with strong women. Got it.

–

CNN headline “House is in chaos after McCarthy’s ouster.” Dear CNN, was this GOP House ever NOT in chaos?

–

As Trump trial starts and some wonder why cult members still support Donald, this quote from LBJ comes to mind.

“If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”