Left Coast Sports Babe

Mike Yastrzemski forgetting there were only two outs and allowing Dodgers’ Will Smith to score on a ball that was probably too shallow to be a sacrifice fly sort of sums up this SF Giants’ season.

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Former Golden Bear Tony Gonzalez to former Cardinal Richard Sherman during halftime of Thursday Night Football “We all know you only go to Stanford if you can’t get into Cal.” Sherman just laughed it off. But a fight between them might have been more compelling than 49ers-Giants game.

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Mohammed bin Salman, crown prince of Saudi Arabia to Fox News: “If sportswashing [is] going to increase my GDP by way of 1 percent, then I will continue doing sportwashing. I don’t care.”

Well, considering that education and geography and everything else have fallen prey to money and TV, how long until the Saudis buy college football?

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Hey Washington Post. Why do we NEVER EVER see this kind of headline on men politicians? “Katie Porter & the politics of real life The California Democrat, famous for her viral confrontations, is admired by fans and resented by some ex-employees. Now she’s running for Senate.”

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Ron Deathsantis and his puppet surgeon general is warning against boosters as Florida leads US in hospitalizations. And this is number Florida ADMITS are hospitalized with COVID. You know they don’t test everyone. And you know most MAGAs won’t go to hospital unless they feel they are dying.

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As GOP twist themselves into pretzels trying to defend Tommy Tuberville and his right to object, imagine if a Democratic Senator had put a hold on all military confirmations because they didn’t like one of Trump’s DOD policies?

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Well, it makes sense that House GOP can’t get anything done. They only have 222 members, 4 more than 218 needed for majority. Oh wait, that was Speaker Emeritia Nancy Pelosi. Who got a LOT done. Kevin McCarthy started with 222, now has 221 and he can’t pass a kidney stone.

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In case anyone still believes GOP House cares about Americans. All members of Congress were sent home this weekend rather than work on the spending bill. They’re getting paid. Meanwhile with a government shutdown, starting next weekend millions of Americans won’t be.

In case you thought Tim Scott was one of sane GOP – asked about Tuberville’s holds – “Under Biden, holding up promotions not necessarily bad thing…today’s military is too much focused on DEI & gender issues, vaccine mandates etc. So he’s dissing Pentagon leadership. OK then.

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As it seems like nonstop headline on polls saying Americans are unenthused about the 2024 election, I get the dark mood Velveeta Voldemort engenders. But trying to remember last time a major network or newspaper praised Dark Brandon for one of his many victories. #DoBetterMedia

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MN rep Angie Craig introduced “My Constituents Cannot Afford Rebellious Tantrums, Handle Your Shutdown Act,” AKA “MCCARTHY Shutdown Act,” to halt members’ pay during govt shutdowns. Because “it’s ridiculous we still get paid when TSA has to wait for a paycheck.” She’s right.

And when potentially you wait a really long time in a TSA line and get a really cranky agent next weekend, thank your favorite Republican.

Angeles manager Phil Nevin says Shohei Ohtani is “in good spirits” after elbow surgery.

Makes sense, Ohtani’s surgery apparently went well.

And on top of that, Shohei knows next year he doesn’t have to play for the Angels.

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After dropping both games in Az, SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler says, “The math is starting to work against us.”

Well, doesn’t take much math to know being 6-12 in September is not working for them.

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Meanwhile the Tampa Bay Rays say they are planning for the postseason without All-Star Wander Franco, who is on n administrative leave indefinitely by Major League Baseball last month while authorities in the Dominican Republic investigate him for alleged relationships with minors.

“Relationships”, plural. An old line, “First someone calls you a horse you punch him on the nose, the second time someone calls you a horse you call him a jerk but the third time someone calls you a horse, well then perhaps it’s time to go shopping for a saddle.”

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Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz last month on Tuberville’s military appointment stunt.

“Every Senator has enormous power. I could probably block the defense bill this week. But I won’t. And you know why? Because I’m not a maniac. “

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In case you had any question about Republican priorities, even in the semi-sane Senate. GOP Senators have not felt compelled as a group to speak out over Tommy Tuberville’s military appointment holds, but 46 of them wrote a joint public letter about John Fetterman’s clothes.

And personally I don’t care what the GOP’s favorite Senator Sinema wears. Even if Wednesday it was a skin-tight leopard sundress with sneakers. But can GOP Senators, especially men, quit saying their issue with Fetterman is “decorum?”

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Another crazy moment in the House, when Rep. Victoria Spartz defends January 6 insurrectionists, saying some showed up with “strollers and kids”

What’s next, Rep. Spartz claiming that the Place de la Concorde in Paris during the French Revolution wasn’t that scary because Madame Defarge showed up with her knitting?

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Some days I quite like Eric Swalwell. Saying how Jim Jordan, accusing Garland of contempt of Congress, “is quite rich, as Jim is about 500 days into evading HIS own subpoena. Mr. Attorney General you are serious, they are not.”

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So Republican David McCormick indicates he may run for Senate again against Democrat Bob Casey in Pennsylvania.

Now apparently McCormick bought a home property in Pittsburgh last year. But per the AP, he still lives on Connnecticut’s “Gold Coast – in a $16 million ansion in Westport that features a 1,500-bottle wine cellar, an elevator and a “private waterfront resort” overlooking Long Island Sound.

What is it with GOP in PA that they can’t even find a candidate who lives in the state?

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A cybersecurity attack on Clorox apparently has led to shortages of cat litter brands like Fresh Step, Scoop Away and Ever Clean..

Waiting to see how GOP will claim this is Joe Biden’s fault.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear,r, running for re-election, has ad from rape victim “This to you, Daniel Cameron. To tell 12-year-old girl she must have baby of her stepfather who raped her is unthinkable.”

Cameron says ad is despicable.

Uh,. Mr. Cameron, despicable is making child have her rapist’s baby

SF Giants leading MLB with one stat – errors. 109, most in baseball and they’re 10 ahead, or rather behind, the Boston Red Sox with 99.

So yeah, throw the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball.. .two out of three ain’t bad. But also ain’t enough to win a playoff spot.

Two silver linings with the SF Giants latest error-fest.

1. They still will be mathematically alive in the post season longer than the Yankees.
2. Am a fan of coach Becky Hammon and now the Las Vegas Aces. So more time to watch WNBA playoffs.

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Washington Post headline “House flounders as GOP fails to appease hard-right members on funding.” Uh, couldn’t they start a headline every day since January 2023 with “House flounders…?”

ICYMI, GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell “has made clear he does not agree with Tommy Tuberville’s tactics holding up military promotions but has been unable to find a way to end military promotion holds for over 6 months.” So Mitch is too old to do job? Or just too ineffectual? Nancy Pelosi could herd her cats.

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If Donald Trump had made the same deal that Joe Biden did to bring hostages home from Iran, GOP politicians and right-wing media would be demanding he win the Nobel peace prize.

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Almost 30 tons of ground beef sold in three midwestern states has been recalled due to possible E.coli. Wait, why don’t they just keep selling the meat with an advisory. Since this is just science thinking MAGA’s might be even more inclined to buy the meat to own the libs?

Senator Amy Klobuchar is fighting hard against Big Pharma lawsuits against Medicare being able to negotiate drug prices.

Sherrod Brown is marching on picket lines with UAW.

Susan Collins is joking about wearing a bikini.

Guess who’s getting the most coverage?

#DoBetterMedia

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Marjorie Three Names among GOP members of Congress attacking Senate dress code change for Fetterman. “Dress code is one of society’s standards that set etiquette & respect for our institution. Stop lowering bar!” Missed Marge weighing in on Bobo & standards in public theaters?

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Ron Deathsantis actually said of Fetterman “show up in US Senate & not have decency to put on proper attire. I think it’s disrespectful to the body.” Uh, Ron, what’s disrespectful to ‘the body’? Telling women they have no rights over their OWN bodies 4 weeks after conception!

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While we’re all obsessed with politicians and clothes and maybe swimsuits, thinking we could put this whole age thing to rest fast if we could get both Joe Biden and Donald Trump to show up to debate each other wearing only bathing trunks.

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Clickbait headline of the week goes to “The New Republic.” “The Only Opponent Who’d Make Adam Kinzinger Vote for Trump.” To save you the mistake of clicking as I did – his spokesman said “Adam would only vote for Donald Trump if the opponent is actual Satan,”

Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, batting .230 for the year, left Monday night’s game after one inning after aggravating plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

SF Giants had a lot of things go wrong in last year’s offseason.

Failing to sign Carlos Correa may not have been one of them.

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A Colorado State player had a late hit against a Colorado player in Saturday night’s game, resulting in an injury. Not good, he was penalized for unnecessary roughness and maybe be suspended.

Now he’s apparently had his and his family’s cellphone numbers addresses posted on Social Media and received death threats.

Folks, we can argue if the entire sport is too violent. But it IS still a game.

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Over the last two weeks the New Orleans Saints have not looked pretty. But they are 2-.0. And as both a Saints and SF Giants fan, the past two weeks have also been a good reminder. Wins and losses are not about style points. And moral victories, while not quite an oxymoron, are overrated.

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May never happen. But if as Elon Muskrat claims “most important reason we’re moving to small monthly payment for use of Twitter/X system – only way to combat vast armies of bots.”

2 words. Yeah. Right.

Seems like half blue checks on Twitter are now bots who someone’s paying $9 a month for.

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Since GOP wants us all to be apoplectic about the US national debt surpassing $33 trillion which of them will be the first to admit we can’t afford Trump’s millionaire/billionaire tax cuts?

I’ll wait.

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“Biden takes a political hit but brings Americans home.”

Fox News headline? No, CNN.

How about “Biden brings American hostages home” period? CNN can’t quit Trump.

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CNN’s Dana Bash asks Gavin Newsom about Biden’s age, Newsom strongly defends Joe and his vitality and experience. So Jake Tapper pivots to “if only we had truth serum.”… In other words, it doesn’t matter WHAT Biden’s defenders say if it gets in the way of media narrative.

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Remember the Oscar slap? Even with 20 seconds ABC had time to edit Chris Rock & Will Smith’s profanity out so that most viewers didn’t hear the f-bombs.. NBC had days to edit Trump’s Meet the Press interview and/or to add disclaimers about his lies. They did neither.

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Got my lastest COVID Booster

Long line at Walgreens in California even with appointment. And starting to wonder, with so many Republicans making being anti-vax part of their brand, will they need to work extra hard to suppress Democratic votes since their base is more likely to be permanently unavailable?

With 12 games left in the MLB season, thinking in spring training that SF Giants fans would have been happy to think their team in September would have an identical record to the NY Yankees.

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And small mercies, but looks like the SF Giants will at least stay alive in postseason contention longer than the NY Yankees.

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Denver Broncos blew a 17 point lead against the Washington Commanders but still had a chance to tie late after a Hail Mary – until officials missed a clear defensive pass interference on what would have been a game tying two point conversion.

Coach Sean Payton losing a game over a missed PI, who’d a thunk it? Who dat?

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ESPN reports it’s “not out of the question” that Aaron Rodgers could return this season. Is he treating himself with ivermectin?

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But seriously, Aaron Rodgers hopes to play in 2023 because he had “innovative surgery” w/ “advanced medical technology” on his Achilles? S

Since he’s such a media darling can someone ask him on camera how he can believe in innovative surgery few can get but not a simple vaccine used by millions?

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So ICYMI, Republicans are trying to tell us that a drag queen reading a book will damage children, but a congresswoman engaged in sexual behavior in front of them in a public theater is just a “little bit eccentric?”

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In a speech last night Donald Trump warned if we re-electe “cognitively impaired” Biden he will lead the U.S into ”World War Two.” Who needs SNL?

Their writers couldn’t come up with anything as funny as that.

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As the Texas Senate somehow ignores all evidence and votes to acquit Ken Paxton just five words:

Damn I miss Molly Ivins.

So if you already were basically boycotting Meet the Press because of Chuck Todd, what do you do now? Asking for a country.

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NY Times top two headlines “Top Democrats’ Bullishness on Biden 2024 Collides W/ Voters’ Worries”

& “A Terrible Mistake’: Trump Criticizes DeSantis on Abortion Ban.” (not saying Trump in June said he was proud to be most pro-life president’ in US history.)

Dear NBC.

Republicans already watch Fox News Sunday and Fox’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” They’re not going to switch. So who exactly do you think you will get to watch “Meet the Press” when independents and Democrats boycott?

NY Times wants Trump back.

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If a gay Democratic politician were even seen kissing their boyfriend or girlfriend in a public place with children present, GOP would be demanding their impeachment or resignation. But haven’t heard one Republican even express mild reproach about Lauren Boebert’s behavior.

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As Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron, who is running for Governor, indicates he’d like to restrict birth control in the state, I’m so old I remember when we heard worrying about Roe v. Wade being overturned was silly because it was settled law…

Hey, when even Stanford has a game against, checks this, Sacramento State, you know that week three in college football doesn’t have too many marquee match ups.

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Saddest thing about tonights 3-2 Giants walk off loss to Colorado. Until 1 out in the Rockies 8th, SF Giants were on pace to be the 7th team since 1906 to win a game despite being no hit.

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Trump likes that Putin praised him. Trump wrote love letters to Kim Jong Un. Why do MAGAs support a man who is friends with people who hate America?

“I genuinely did not recall vaping that evening when I discussed the night’s events with my campaign team while confirming my enthusiasm for the musical,” Boebert said in a statement. “It’s clear now that was not accurate.” I like “somebody pushed me into a lifeboat better.”

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Is there a single Republican railing against drag queens as being inappropriate for children to see said a word about Lauren Boebert’s R-rate performance where she and her boyfriend, on top of vaping etc, were fondling each other in a public theatre? I’ll wait.

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So let’s see…. been a while since I had a young child.

But believe am like an overwhelming majority of Americans in thinking I’d have much rather had him see drag queens than watch that display of Lauren Boebert and her date groping each other in a public theater.

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Yes, Hunter Biden has made many mistakes in his life. But if it wasn’t him, does anyone doubt GOP wouldn’t have gone after some other family member, Ashley or Jill, for some imagined reason? Their ONLY goal is hurting Joe & making him look bad. And they know he loves his family.

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Only way many Republicans would have professed any sympathy for Hunter Biden? If Joe Biden had cut him off because of his addiction & other problems. THEN the Fox headlines would be “Cold-hearted President turns away from his troubled son during Hunter’s time of greatest need.”

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Hey fellow Democrats. As late great Molly Ivins titled her book “You got to dance with them what brung you.” 2024 ticket is going to be Biden-Harris. They won once, they’ll win again. We can fight about 2028 later, in meantime we need to focus extra energy on House-Senate.

SF Giants were rained out in Denver today. While Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Reds all lost. Which means Giants as of right now are the third wild card NL team.

So if weather knocks out the rest of the regular season, SF is in the playoffs.

“So you’re saying there’s a chance…”

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If you didn’t already love Jimmy Carter, his grandson says Jimmy, whose 99th birthday is on Oct. 1, faces “really significant physical challenges,” but he does spend time watching baseball games and seeing family “almost every day.”

(Good thing for Carter he’s a Braves fan… watching the Mets or Yankees this year might have killed him already.)

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Meanwhile tonight was the last Yankees Red Sox game of 2023. And it might turn out to be significant. For position in the 2024 MLB draft.

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Is there a single member of the House trying to tell us that Hunter Biden’s business dealings are the most important issue facing our country who also expressed the slightest bit of concern over business dealings of Ivanka, Jared, Eric and Don Jr? I’ll wait.

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There’s a silver lining to Kristen Welker’s interviewing Trump for her first “Meet the Press” show… Those of us, especially on the West Coast, who never bothered to get up early to watch Chuck Todd, know we can continue to sleep in on Sundays.

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So thinking logical conclusion of all this GOP outrage about Hunter Biden, while he was an addict, buying a revolver, is that Republicans would like drug testing for anyone buying a gun. I think that bipartisan legislation could be arranged.

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Okay, Hunter Biden is being indicted for lying about drug addiction. Per WebMD, one of symptoms of drug addiction: “You hide the drug use or the effect it is having on you from others.”

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In all seriousness…if this gun case against Hunter Biden goes to trial and is reported on daily, Hunter’s lawyers will no doubt point out this sort of thing is almost NEVER prosecuted since gun wasn’t used in a crime. Thinking GOP may regret that the plea deal didn’t hold.

Uh, oh, of the four NL West teams now jockeying for the last wild card spot, ESPN shows the SF Giants, at 39.7% chance, as the most likely of the Giants, Marlins, Cubs and Diamondbacks to make it.

Let’s hope this isn’t the kiss of death to San Francisco’s playoff hopes.

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Aaron Rodgers, 38, says after his season-ending injury “I shall rise again.”

Does he mean he’ll return to the NFL, or become a spokesperson for Viagra?

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For all the misogyny / ageism Nancy Pelosi gets about her decision to seek re-election she’s sharp as a tack & remains a Democratic fundraising queen. Also, sure seemed like Nancy, 83, got more out of her razor-thin majority in House than Chuck Schumer, 72, is getting in Senate.

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Tim Scott says Republican donors who want him to explain why he’s unmarried are only insinuating he’s gay because they “can’t say I’m Black. It sounds like we’re living in 1963 and not 2023.”

Uh, Senator Scott, with today’s GOP, try more like 1863.

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1. We’ve all attended plays with obnoxious people around. But how obnoxious do you have to be actually to be kicked out of a theater?

2. Maybe “Do you know who I am?” is not a great question to ask in Colorado when most reasonable people who know who you are, are also embarrassed you represent their state in DC?

#Boebert

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He was mediocre student, an acknowledged heavy drinker, known as a party animal & probable drug user. But his dad was VP & then President & he seriously benefited from connection & perceived influence/access. Hunter Biden? Not this time. Remember the young George W. Bush?

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Yeah, he has a nice office now in the US Capitol, but history is not going to be kind to Kevin McCarthy.

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Mitt Romney in his new book apparently talks about how GOP Senators laughed after Trump would leave a room.

Doesn’t matter if they laughed out loud at him behind his back, they kowtowed to him in public and not enough of them voted to impeach him. If they had after January 6 we wouldn’t be dealing with the nightmare of him running again. Sorry, but NOT giving these cowards credit.

SF Giants have now won 4 in a row, after losing 8 in a row. Has there ever been a team in MLB with fewer one or two game stretches of wins and losses in a season?

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Hard to believe just a couple days ago NY sports fans were thinking “Thank God baseball is almost over so we can move on from the Yankees and Mets to the Giants and Jets.”

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But hey, NY Jets may turn out to be undefeated in the Aaron Rodgers era.

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Am no Aaron Rodgers fan but you would think a multi-billion dollar league like NFL could spend their way out of their artifical turf problem.

The media loved the clickbait circus with Trump in the White House. They hate Biden’s calm competence. To put it simply, media would rather have democracy fail than have their ratings fall.

NY Times Frank Bruni though has a good question on age issues for 2024 candidates: “How would we even notice Donald Trump’s lapse into incoherence, when derangement is essentially his brand?”

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GOP claims to be pro-military. Yet Mitch McConnell cannot rein in a football coach freshman Senator who is inflicting serious harm on our Department of Defense. Who’s running the Republican party anyway?

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Donald Trump is actually fundraising by selling pictures of his mugshot with a fake signature in gold. A minimum $35 donation. Imagine what he will do with posters of himself in an orange jumpsuit

CNN headline “McCarthy faces a potential rebellion from his caucus.” Uh, Kevin McCarthy doesn’t have a GOP caucus. He has a circus in search of a tent.

Fox News reports Kevin McCarthy, will tell House Republicans that launching an impeachment inquiry into President Biden is “the logical next step.”

This might be first time in 2023 “logical” and “House Republicans” have been used in the same sentence.

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Finally, a rare moment of no snark. This is the 9-11 memorial in London. In Grosvenor Square. A small garden. Happened to be passing by on 9-11. Many tributes, and 67 white roses. The number of Britons killed that day.

Team USA failed to medal at the FIBA basketball World Cup as Team Canada won their first major international medal in men’s basketball in 87 years.

Not like media in the US cares that much… unless Fox and friends can blame it on Biden.

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Just doesn’t seem right as a Saints fan who doesn’t particularly like the 49ers, to see Sean Payton lose to a Jimmy Garopollo coached team …and have it be the Broncos vs the Raiders?

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Traveling overseas and seeing ESPN divided by sports and carelessly clicking on “football” is a good way to be reminded, the USA is not necessarily the center of the sports universe.

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Today is Chuck Todd’s last day at Meet the Press. Who says there is no good news these days?

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Trump was a disaster for America but great for cable TV ratings. So of course CNN wants him back in the White House.

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Sometime I think cable news reporters would cheerfully report on their own upcoming executions at the hands of an authoritarian leader than the to their minds boring competence of a democrat.

Because they’d go out with RATINGS!

Fox News headline “Why Florida’s surgeon general is advising people not to get new vaccine.” Uh, not only is Joseph Ladapo known as DeSantis lackey who spreads COVID misinformation, but also has anyone asked him why Deathsantis gave priority in 2021 for vaccines for his friends?

NOT satire. #NotTheOnion A Trump fundraising email “Now that his mugshot has taken over the Internet, he may just be the most famous man in the world.”

Uh oh, don’t tell Musk. Elon might block Donald again.

So if a grand jury recommends charges is there a statute of limitations? Asking for a country about a certain South Carolina Senator.

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Meanwhile, sure does seem like most people who want Nancy Pelosi to retire have something in common. As in a Y chromosome.

Nancy at 83 remains bad-ass.

The Kansas City Chiefs were the pre-season pick to win the Super Bowl this year.

So is it too soon for the 1972 Miami Dolphins to pop champagne?

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On Nancy Pelosi’s seeking re-election. Yes, I can understand giving someone younger a chance. OTOH, if Nancy were President no one would be talking about her not going for a second term. Even Republicans know she’s still at the top of her game.

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Again and not for the last time: DeSantis condemns drag queens. DeSantis does not condemn Nazis. When someone tells you who they are, believe them.

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So with Hurricane Lee now projected to be one of the biggest ever just how many record breaking storms do we need to have for some in GOP to realize climate change is real?

I’m so old that I can remember that Nazi was the second worst N word you could call someone. Now with some in the GOP, what’s next, someone claiming “Heil” is just another word for Hello?

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Fox News headline ” California city votes to ban universal COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates Huntington Beach was largely defiant of statewide mask mandates throughout pandemic.” Fine. Will Huntington Beach, the FL of CA, also demand residents avoid doctors if they get sick?

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Remembering a Winston Churchill quote that might be the perfect response for any day you feel temporarily overwhelmed by trolls on Twitter. “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

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Two women win Mexican primaries; one is likely to be first female president

Now Mexico will jump ahead of us! A favorite Amy Klobuchar debate moment. “Women are held to higher standard. Otherwise we could play game called ‘Name Your Favorite Woman President.”

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Fox News wants viewers to be apoplectic over President Biden leaving Medal of Honor ceremony early yesterday over COVID cautions. But Fox just shrugged when President Trump canceled attending 2018 commemoration in France for U.S. soldiers killed during WWI over not getting wet.

Donald Trump was a gift from the gods for CNN because they could count on “Breaking News” insanity on a daily basis.

The last thing CNN wants is four more years of Joe Biden.

Competence isn’t clickbait.

Traveling for the last week and time zones have made it near impossible to keep up in real time with SF Giants scores.

This week, unlike normally, has not been a bad thing..

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Okay, who would have thought this in spring training, as the Mets play the Nationals, the two teams in September 2023 would have almost identical records? Going into tonight – NY 63-74, Washington 62-76.

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Duke upset Clemson Monday night and it wasn’t close – 28-7. Probably a good thing for Stanford that this happened after the ACC formally invited them… Clemson might have vetoed “Nerd Nation” joining if they thought the Cardinal might actually ever beat them.

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US intelligence indicates that North Korea’s Kim Jong Un expects to engage with Putin in Russia to actively advance arms. So will Donald Trump write Kim Jong Un another love letter?

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Enrique Tarrios claiming remorse at sentencing: “I am not political zealot. Inflicting harm or changing results of election was not my goal. Please show me mercy. I ask you not take my 40s from me.” Uh, you know who had his 40s taken from him? And 50s & 60s etc? Brian Sicknick.

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While right-wing media went nuts in claiming that the US women’s team being overly diverse and/or woke caused their early World Cup exit, crickets on maybe the biggest post championship hangover in history. Spain’s Jenni Hermoso has now accused Luis Rubiales of sexual assault for kissing her on the lips without her consent after the final.

Thinking many in GOP and right-wing media know darn well Tommy Tuberville’s stunt in holding up military confirmations is risking lives. They don’t care. If/when Americans die, they will just blame Biden.

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Logic has a liberal bias. – examples 1 and 2 for the night.

Republicans try to tell us that 2nd Amendment is critically important and so felons should not necessarily lose their rights to bear arms. Also Republicans, because Hunter Biden was using cocaine and bought a gun, he should be locked up and his father impeached.

Trump attacking DeSantis “He shut down Florida. Tight as a drum. He had vax lines, was vaxxing everything… Also Don “BTW, 3rd-most deaths from COVID? Unfortunately, Florida. Horrible statistic…Ron was 3rd-worst in actual deaths from COVID.”

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You can tell how desperate the GOP is getting by the level of the lies. How long until they somehow come up with a story to link Barack Obama to Hunter Biden?

Although who the heck cares who anyone else has a sexual encounter with, as long as they are consenting adults? But if we’re going to start rumors. Uh, beauty-pageant level makeup on daily basis, dyed blonde hair that clearly takes hours to style… are we sure Donald Trump isn’t gay?

#5 LSU lost 45-24 to Florida State, their largest defeat as a ranked team in a season opener in the AP poll era (since 1936). No punchline – just thinking anyone who is not a fan of SEC hubris (and/or not a fan of Brian Kelly) will like reading this.

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Sometimes it sure does seem as if all the teams in the NL playoff races are simply jockeying for position as to when in the post season they’re going to lose to the Atlanta Braves.

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Supported Alex Cobb getting chance to complete no-hitter game last Tues. But in what universe did it make sense w/ team that loves bullpen games not to give Cobb extra day of rest after 131 pitches? No it’s not 2nd guessing to say this BEFORE today’s SF-SD game started. #SFGiants

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All you need to know about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is that he attacks drag queens in his state and seems to be completely fine with Nazis.

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Florida GOP Senator Rick Scott even showed up with President Biden as Joe toured some of the devastated areas of Florida after Idalia. Give DeSantis credit, didn’t think any Republican could make Rick Scott look good by comparison.

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If/when Truth Social folds and declares bankruptcy, who will Trump blame for losing all those millions as he returns to Twitter?

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Hoping everyone gets home safe but guess I’m an early adopter. Had absolutely no interest in Burning Man before yet another extreme climate event turned this year into a muddy land version of Gilligan’s Island.

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Yes, Velveeta Voldemort really is fundraising off a “Mugshot Mug.” It’s as if Nixon would have tried to fundraise selling Watergate Hotel key chains.

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Hawaii Rep Ed Case has COVID and missed a Congressional bipartisan tour of Lahaina.

When the House returns after Labor Day maybe Ed should fly to DC anyway to meet with all those COVID denying Republicans and help them prove their case.

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If you’re reading this on Labor Day with a day off, thank unions.

Cincinnati Reds have 4 pitchers plus staff on COVID-19 injury list & reportedly “are feeling bad.” As Braves, if healthy, look to be runaway favorites in NL, would GA GOP rep Marjorie 3 Names care to repeat in Atlanta she will shut down govt if US doesn’t stop COVID vaccines?

As Shohei Ohtani has another MVP season even with his recent injury, and Aaron Judge becomes the youngest player to hit 250 home runs, your reminder, both teams these superstars play for will not make the playoffs.

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In 2022, the Colorado Buffaloes football team beat ONE team – Cal

After opening weekend 2023, the Colorado Buffaloes have beaten one team – TCU

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Sad to hear of the passing of both Jimmy Buffett, 76, and Bill Richardson, 75,. Also admittedly sad, how young 75 and 76 feel these days.

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Good for Kentucky’s Democrat Governor Andy Beshear. He refuses to commit to appointing GOP replacement to Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat if Mitch needs to step down for health issues. Until 2021 a Governor of Kentucky could fill a Senate seat with a person of either party of their choice but GOP legilslature passed law saying he must pick a GOP Senator from one a list of three they give him. But that new law MAY not be constitutional.

Makes sense. It would actually almost be a tribute to Mitch McConnell,who has bent or broken every rule he could in the pursuit of power – if Governor Beshear disregards the power grab rule Kentucky GOP has tried to implement.

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Underappreciated Jimmy Buffett lyric from 1977 and even more appropriate now “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane”

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Right wing Daily Mail headline: “Not even hurricane can bring them together! Joe Biden & Ron DeSantis tour Idalia’s aftermath 50 MILES apart as they turn FL’s deadly disaster into bitter political battleground.” Not exactly. Pres. Biden reached out, DeSantis refused to meet him.

Florida GOP Senator Rick Scott even showed up with President Biden as Joe toured some of the devastated areas of Florida after Idalia. Give DeSantis credit, didn’t think any Republican could make Rick Scott look good by comparison.

So Stanford, along with Cal and SMU, is going to join the ACC

Maybe a good thing no one reminded the ACC about the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band. This could be fun.

(Reports were ACC presidents and chancellors had phone call Friday morning to discuss expansion – with Cal, Stanford and SMU as potentials. This is all getting so confusing. Are roses and fantasy suites involved?)

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92,003 fans showed up this week at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln to watch women’s Nebraska volleyball team beat Omaha 3-0. Sounds like a good decision for Nebraska fans. Much better than traveling to Minnesota or turning on to see Cornhuskers football team lose to the Minnesota Gophers.

(And Nebraska was shut out in the first half.)

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Is there a more bipolar team in 2023 in MLB than the San Francisco Giants?

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NFL won’t take action against Miami star WR Tyreek Hill for “alleged assault incident” in June.

Per WPLG-TV he allegedly hit marina employee during “disagreement.” Hill has 2015 domestic violence arrest & 2019 child abuse investigation. “If you’re a star they let you do it.”

President Biden will travel to Florida this weekend to visit storm damaged areas. Too soon to start a pool as to what excuse Governor Ron DeSantis will give for not showing up to join him?

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Marsha Blackburn claims letting Medicare negotiate drug prices is “socialist” & “will stunt development of lifesaving treatments & cures while granting govt more unnecessary control over Americans’ lives.” Would Marsha like to defend her anti-seniors view to reporters on camera?

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Fox News again attacks President Biden over Afghanistan withdrawal, including criticizing the President for not supporting our allies there.

Buried in story “Biden urged Congress to pass Afghan Adjustment Act, which would establish smoother path to permanent US residence in U.S. for Afghan allies.”

Why doesn’t Fox urge GOP Senators to vote for it?

CNN’s Manu Raju reports GOP Senators Thune & Cornyn’s offices, when asked about Mitch McConnell’s freezing again yesterday, responded “Senator McConnell sounded “fine, like his usual self.”

If they believe this, maybe it’s not just McConnell’s health we should be worried about.

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Don’t forget. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed voter suppression bill to make it harder for Georgians to vote & made it a crime to give water or snacks to voters waiting in line. But he has said he doesn’t support removing Fani Willis. So there IS a bottom.

Happy 84th birthday to the great Lily Tomlin. Many of this generation won’t get her Ernestine the Phone Operator character from Laugh-In but she was awesome: “We are the phone company, we are omnipotent!”

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