Left Coast Sports Babe

Diamondbacks Beat LA with win over Dodgers Friday night.

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Reminder, as bad as D’Backs are, they do, unlike Arizona Republicans, actually continue to play by the rules in search of legitimate victories.

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The Creamsicle uniforms still s*ck. But maybe the SF Giants decided the faster they score the sooner they can get this game over with and take them off.

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All you need to know about what is wrong with the Olympic games: During a COVID state of emergency in Tokyo smoking marijuana is considered disqualifying while not being vaccinated isn’t.

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Estimated wait time w/ Southwest tonight, 53 minutes. Reported wait time from client w/ American last night, 3 hours. Going to need more than Executive Order “suggestion” to DOT that airlines refund baggage fees after 12 hours to fix problems w/ our airline oliogoply system.

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Meanwhile, an Alaska Airlines flight from Las Vegas to San Francisco was delayed and then canceled tonight because it was TOO HOT FOR THE INCOMING PLANE TO LAND at Las Vegas Airport.

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I wish this were a joke. Voter fraud is fake. Climate change is real.

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So who had Senator Marsha Blackburn feuding with Taylor Swift on their 2021 batsh*t bingo card?

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CNN reporting that the percentages of people who voted for Joe Biden in many states almost exactly matched the percentage of people who have been vaccinated.

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Watching GOP hypocrisy over government healthcare regulation makes me really wish Planned Parenthood would introduce masks saying “My body, my choice.”

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Rand Paul wants to repeal mask mandates on planes. The more I learn about Rand Paul, the more I wonder, what took his neighbor so long?

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Need any more proof that Republicans stink at risk assessment? GOP: Voter ID requirements should be tightened. Also GOP: We should have NO ID required to prove if you’ve had a vaccine.

Wonder what kind of odds you could have gotten on the Padres with Max Scherzer on the mound for the Washington Nationals and an 8-0 lead into the bottom of the 4th against San Diego?

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We’re all hearing about Daniel Camarena & his grand slam off Max Scherzer tonight. But SFGiants fans know, Camarena’s still no Caveman. 1st grand slam by MLB reliever since Pirates’ Don Robinson on Sep. 12, 1985. 2 years before Robinson traded to Giants. #ForeverGiant

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The Astros’ Jose Altuve & Carlos Correa said they have decided to sit out the 2021 MLB All-Star game. Wonder if somebody gave them a sign?

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While I prefer Becky Hammon to succeed Gregg Popovich someday as coach of San Antonio Spurs, still irritating to see yet another team, now Orlando Magic, likely to hire another finalist, in this case Jamahl Mosley, as their head coach instead of her. #GoSpursGo

July 7 was anniversary of 1865 execution, by hanging, of 4 conspirators in assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Not that anyone will be executed for January 6. But that no member of Congress (or VP) was assassinated, certainly wasn’t for lack of some of insurrectionists trying – for starters to hang the Vice President.

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Shouldn’t Tomi Lahren be put on a no-fly list for calling flight attendants trying to enforce mask mandates “nazis of the air?”

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Mitch McConnell says he doesn’t want to stop ‘everything’ Biden proposes, just the ‘worst’ Translation, Moscow Mitch wants to stop EVERYTHING President Biden proposes.

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I guess it’s sadly not surprising that the same people who don’t believe in evolution don’t believe that viruses mutate.

Mitch. McConnell: “I’m perplexed by the reluctance of some to get vaccinated, totally perplexed.”

Also Mitch McConnell – “I’m going to keep genuflecting before the Former Guy who is still downplaying COVID and the need for vaccines.”

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If we were all vaccinated, not wearing a mask in public makes sense: But I don’t have a good feeling about the Venn Diagram overlap between those who believe the Big Lie about the 2020 election & those who will lie about being vaccinated to avoid wearing a mask.

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Definition of evil: When you’re smart enough to know virus is deadly, but hide it from everyone, then hide being seriously ill AND downplay your own vaccination, even though you know many of your disciples will die if they don’t get vaccine themselves. #VelveetaVoldemort

Five Tampa Bay pitchers combined for seven hitless innings in the second half of a doubleheader,, and the Rays beat the Indians 4-0. So a complete game with no-hits.

Uh, Rob Manfred, you changed the rule to make doubleheaders 7 innings games. Time to change the rules to call them no-hitters. (You can list them with an asterisk… HOF has plenty of those.)

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With the Olympics due to start in a couple weeks, Tokyo has declared a COVID state of emergency. It’s now quite likely NO fans will be able to attend, even locals.

Of all the stupid decisions the IOC has made over the years, will the stupidest turn out to be the decision to have these games at all?

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Uh oh, Jacob DeGrom is slipping. The Mets star allowed two solo home runs against the Brewers today. And his ERA rose to 1.08.

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Okay, I get he wants to rest his arm, but Jacob deGrom said Wednesday that he will not be attending the All-Star Game at Coors Field. Asked about showing up and not pitching DeGrom said he thought about it but he didn’t “think it’s beneficial for me to fly back to Colorado and back.”(In First Class…. )

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Putting people like Gym Jordan on the January 6 commission is like putting Mrs. O’Leary’s cow on the Chicago Fire commission.

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Thinking Alan Dershowitz didn’t get an invitation again this year to Martha’s Vineyard.

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If Ashli Babbitt had tried to sneak past security at Mar-A-Lago, the Former Guy would be lauding anyone who shot her as a hero

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How many Republicans downplaying Jan 6 insurrection are trying to tell themselves mob wouldn’t have hurt them if Capitol Police officer hadn’t shot that domestic terrorist. (I am TIRED of using her name. If we want to remember a name from Jan 6 it should be Brian Sicknick.)

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Its July 2021, 16 months after the crisis started in New York and Rachel Maddow is pointing out that parts of the US are again dealing with…. ventilator shortages? I missed GOP leaders taking credit.

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Wait, why is Velveeta Voldemort suing Twitter and Facebook for banning him because his new GETTR social media platform was going to be much better? This is SO confusing.

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So as these stories keep emerging in books about horrible things Velveeta Voldemort said and did, have to assume if he were re-elected all these people would have just stayed silent and enabled him?

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GOP wants to criminalize abortion. But what happens if a pregnant woman refuses a vaccine, gets COVID-19, then delivers a baby born too prematurely that dies? Asking for a friend who is tired of this so-called “pro-life” crap.

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Dear media: If you ask most Americans to name the first member of Congress who comes to mind, guessing a whole lot of them would say an ineffectual Representative from Georgia who has been removed from her committee assignments. This is on you. Do better.

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So how does a man who never pays people who work for him AND throws former employees under the bus still find lawyers to file lawsuits for him

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You know who hasn’t been banned on Twitter or Facebook and isn’t facing indictment? Hillary Clinton.

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So let me get this straight, GOP believes private businesses have a right to refuse customers who want cakes for weddings they don’t approve of, but a private social media platform has no right to refuse users who engage in behavior that incites violence?

So do NBA star players who are on the US Olympics team get regularly tested for marijuana?

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Not sure how long they’ll play. But someday SF Giants are going to throw the biggest retirement parties ever for Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado

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LA manager Dave Roberts doesn’t expect Trevor Bauer to immediately return when his 7-day paid administrative leave ends. Bauer makes $38 million in 2021 -more than 1/2 Rays payroll. But hey, Dodgers already have $249 million payroll, what’s another $30 mill or so to replace him?

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DC man is suing Orlando Airport over mask mandate “I can’t wear a mask because of my anxiety. I will not wear a mask. I cannot wear a mask because of my breathing difficulties.” Uh, there’re masks designed for exercise. & doesn’t it cause anxiety to give regular media interviews?

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Watching GOP members of Congress try to take credit for American Rescue Plan and Child Tax Credit at the same time they try to sabotage everything Biden does is a modern day version of the old Twister game.

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Two women were arrested in Texas after stealing $10,000 French bulldog puppy from pet store. And the puppy was returned safely.

Glad it worked out…. but a $!0,000 puppy???!

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So if GOP is so convinced January 6 insurrectionists were tourists, perhaps they can do a Republican only “Open House” at the US Capitol for their supporters? Am sure Democrats and Capitol Police will be happy to give them the run of the place for a day.

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Many in GOP pretending Ashli Babbitt, who was shot climbing on a window trying to break into House chambers, was a Patriot. Many of GOP also support “Stand Your Ground” laws that give permission to shoot someone who so much as sets foot on your property if they make you nervous.

Just wondering, so why would Russian need to hack RNC when they probably have so many GOP members of Congress already on payroll?

As someone who lives in California, I didn’t really care who won the NYC Mayor’s race. But do o want to scream at the 74% of Democrats in New York City who didn’t bother to vote in Primary: “Many of us are working SO hard for voting rights Republicans are trying to take away in USA – & you all couldn’t be bothered to take time to make your choice for city’s next mayor?

One more grumpy thought after seeing that only 26% of Democrats voted in New York City mayoral primary. If you have time to go on social media and bitch, you have time to vote in ALL local and state elections. Period.

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Yes, we liberals are more tolerant. You hear stories about conservatives who don’t want to do flowers for gay weddings. Have you ever heard a story about a liberal florist who refused to do flowers for a COVID-deniers’ funeral?

NBA Finals start Tuesday night, best of seven.

With four wins the Phoenix Suns can not only win a championship – they could again end up with more wins in July than the Diamondbacks.

(The Suns already won more games against the Clippers than the Dbacks did in June.)

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Look, Sha’Carri Richardson admitted she knew the rules and owned her mistake with marijuana. But underage drinking is also illegal in many countries, so should athletes under 21 be tested for that too?

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As SF Giants fan, good seeing Dave Stewart criticize LA for originally doing nothing about Trevor Bauer “Dodgers should have stepped up & they didn’t. You’ve got to have character standards.”

But espec. after 1989, seems really weird to have former Oakland A’s star Dave Stewart described as “Former Dodger,”

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Joe West would be a lot more infamous were it not for Angel Hernandez. Just saying.

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Georgia, now Arizona… well, at least in California we know Velveeta Voldemort didn’t bother to call our Secretary of State after the election.

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As COVID cases start rising in red states what’s the GOP going to do? Downplay the numbers? Or try to figure out a way to blame it on Biden?

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Florida has 6.5% of the US population. Florida has about 17% REPORTED of all COVID new cases in the US. Thank you, Governor Ron DeSantis. #DeathSantis

And it’s got to be much worse than that. DeSantis says COVID is basically harmless so if you’re a cult member and if you feel mildly sick there is no way you’ll go get tested…

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Not thinking you need to get the COVID vaccine because most other people are vaccinated is as stupid as deciding you don’t need to obey traffic laws on the highway because most other people are driving safely.

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Before seatbelt laws in California, my doctor warned us patients – you might survive auto-accident but if your face goes through windshield you’ll be scarred for life. It was effective. Wonder if we tell anti-vaxxers COVID may not kill them but will give them longterm ED?

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West Virginia has COVID vaccine lottery – prizes range from cash to pickup trucks to guns to hunting licenses, even hunting rifles .

Gov. Jim Justice to vaccine hesitant “if you’re vaccinated, we’re going to give you stuff… well you’ve got another lottery going on. And it’s the death lottery.”

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Store I was in today had sign “Masks required for unvaccinated people.” Except unvaccinated people are often the same people who don’t think they need to wear masks. I’m vaxxed AND keeping my mask on in stores.

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Another suggestion for Biden to increase vaccine rates would be to remind Americans of very common long term side effect – lost of sense of taste & smell. Has happened to 2 younger people I know-

Possible PSA “Get the vaccine or all beer will taste like Bud Light?”

I’d like Montreal Canadiens to win this Stanley Cup. (I know, very unlikely down 3-0)

But as a woman, who has frequently been dismissed with with “women don’t get sports” – this is one of the more cringe-worthy comments I have heard. Tampa mayor Jane Castor actually said it “”What we would like is for the Lightning to take it a little bit easy, to give the Canadiens just the smallest break, allow them to win one at home, and then bring it back to the Amalie Arena for the final and the winning of the Stanley Cup,”

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Our Vice President gets a lot of racist and misogynistic criticism.However, as SF Chronicle points out “Harris was busted once wearing a Dodgers cap, though her spokeswoman was quick to defuse the controversy by confirming, “She’s a Giants fan. She had to borrow a hat today because she didn’t bring one.” But does a Giants fan ever wear a Dodgers cap?”

#BeatLA

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How many baseball fans of teams potentially in the hunt for NL Wild Card are rooting for the Mets to win the NL East? Because NO ONE wants their season to come down to a potential one-game playoff with Jacob DeGrom.

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Beach Boys doing “God only knows” for “The Fourth in America” reminds me again how good the “Love Actually” soundtrack is.

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Aroldis Chapman with 4.71 ERA in 32 games is an All-Star.

Tyler Rogers, with 1.38 ERA in 39 innings is not And that’s before he got a save tonight. Player ballots have something to do with it, maybe MLB hitters can’t stand the fact a soft-tossing submarine righty gets them out?

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Foreigner, a popular band in my high school, tonight on CNN’s “The Fourth in America” doing “Feels like the First Time.” Not saying these guys are old. But it might be “Feels like the First Time” because they can’t remember any of the others.

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Isn’t “Defund NPR” cancel culture?

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Wonder again how much overlap there is between the anti-abortion crowd and the anti-vaxxers screaming “my body my choice?

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Something to be thankful for on July 4. The Former Guy no longer had the power today to demand fireworks be set off in a place at serious risk of wildfires.

Have to wonder, are many in GOP secretly trying to discourage Americans from getting their COVID vaccine, because they don’t want to give President Biden the “win” of 70% vaccinated?

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As even bribes and lotteries don’t work to get people willing to get their COVID vaccines with some Republicans…. Wonder if we could get the narrative out that liberals don’t want conservatives to get vaccinated because we are trying to reduce their numbers?

As we are at basically halfway point of the MLB season, didn’t we all have the SF Giants with the best record in baseball on July 4?

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“Siri, are unwanted bobbleheads recyclable?”

From LA Dodgers ticketing site:

Thursday Aug 19 7:10 PM New York Mets Promotion: Trevor Bauer Bobblehead Presented by Budweiser

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Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul says extra rest before NBA Finals has helped ailing right hand. And presumably given him time to figure how any medical bills could be paid by Medicare?

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Do I care who wins in the Bezos, Branson, Musk space race, no. Do I care how much in tax breaks the Former Guy gave them all, yes.

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9 states have fully vaccinated more than 1/2 residents: Calif, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Mass., Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, NY, Oregon, Penn, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington plus DC. Wonder what these states have in common?

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Ron DeSantis’s press secretary denied reports Gov. asked Velveeta Voldemort to cancel Florida rally while over 100 still missing at Surfside. “There was never, at any time, a ‘plea’ from Gov. DeSantis to cancel or postpone the rally.” Translation Ron is still afraid of Donald

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The Former Guy at his vanity rally in Sarasota Florida “You didn’t pay tax on the company car or a company apartment. You didn’t pay tax. Or education for your grandchildren. I don’t even know. Do you have to? Does anybody know answer to that stuff?” Uh, yes, IRS, Manhattan DA & NY AG know the answer. For starters.

And to be honest, I didn’t watch the rally, and I had no idea what Velveeta Voldemort would say at his vanity rally in Florida tonight. And I don’t really care. But one thing I’d bet he wouldn;t say “I’ve been vaccinated and you all should go get your shots as soon as possible too.”-

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Apparently the Former Guy claimed at his vanity rally tonight in Florida to be soliciting donations for the Surfside victims. Does anyone think the victims will actually get that money?

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Will no doubt post this again, but as we approach 2022 elections, this quote – “This demand for purity, this looking down your nose at people who want to compromise, is a recipe for disaster for the Democrats.”

Claire McCaskill, often criticized by left of party, after losing Senate seat in 2018 to Josh Hawley.

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Happy Fourth of July. And whatever our worries today as Americans, at least we’re not worried that our President might be starting a major wildfire at Mount Rushmore just for a vanity fireworks show.

There is a reason the 2021 Diamondbacks are approaching 1962 Mets numbers. They just pitched to Thairo Estrada , making his SF Giants debut, with a runner on 2nd, 2 outs and pitcher Alex Wood on deck. Wood was 0-20 with 17 strikeouts. And yes, Estrada got the RBI.

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But to anyone who thinks Thairo Estrada, 25, might be nervous in his first SF Giants start: In Jan 2018 Estrada, was shot in the hip during a robbery attempt in Venezuela. Bullet wasn’t removed until 6 months later in Tampa. Yeah, that might make you redefine pressure.

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Josh Gordon still on indefinite suspension from NFL since Dec. 2019 for violating substance abuse & PED policies- the wide receiver’s 6th suspension since 2013.. But Gordon has asked Roger Goodell for reinstatement for 2021 season. Part of league’s 10 strikes & you’re out policy?

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Will ANYONE explain to me how marijuana does anything for your performance in a race except slow you down? If Sha’Carri Richardson had only done something less serious, like vandalized a gas station and lied about it. #RyanLochte

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The Former Guy isn’t President anymore. But if he simply made an announcement – or gave an interview — saying that he has been vaccinated and all his supporters should follow suit he would save many lives. Just saying – “Failure to render aid” is a crime.

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New search request update tonight from USPS

“Your package has not yet been recovered, but every effort being made to locate your item(s). Search Request Details: Request Date: 01/04/2021 -(This was a Christmas gift mailed to Chicago)

Did Biden fire DeJoy by mail & Louis doesn’t know it yet?

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Stanford Football announced they are planning to allow fans at full capacity this fall. Uh, I’m an alum and a fan. But to be honest, how often lately pre-pandemic was the stadium filled to full capacity?

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Some conservatives angry w/ Kavanaugh & Barrett for siding w/ SCOTUS liberals in declining case of Southern Baptist florist who refused to sell flowers for a gay wedding. Wonder why none of these florists ever refuse to sell to a straight couple living together before marriage?

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New Kaiser Family Foundation poll found 67% of Democrats say their entire household is vaccinated compared to only 39% of Republicans. Dying to own the libs.

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Another poll found two-thirds of Americans believe democracy in the United States is under threat. Wonder how many of that other one-third are doing the threatening?

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Claire McCaskill being attacked for her comments comparing the attack on the US Capitol to Benghazi.

But Claire was right. January 6 WAS worse than Benghazi. More deaths – and a death toll that but for the Capitol Police would have been far worse. And at least with Benghazi we didn’t worry afterwards that terrorists were working with accomplices in the US government.

So glad the SF Giants are one of those teams who are at 85% vaccinated with COVID. Because otherwise these days I’d hear “Johnny Cueto has a bad cold” and feel a lot more nervous.

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American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who won the US 100 meter sprint trials, reportedly tested positive for cannabis & might thus be kept off Olympic team. Uh, shouldn’t if anything using pot have made Richardson SLOWER?

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Hey I’m a Stanford alum who saw him play in Maples Pavilion but even I didn’t have “Brook Lopez leads Bucks to game 5 win against Hawks” in my top ten (or 1000) possible headlines tonight.

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Wonder how Dodgers players, most of them married, many with daughters, feel about Dave Roberts treating Trevor Bauer right now as if everything is normal.

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Dave Roberts says “it’s out of our hands,” as far as Trevor Bauer’s scheduled start on Sunday. Uh, give me a bleeping break. In MAY 2021, Dodgers pushed back Bauer’s start just so he could pitch against the SF Giants. No joke.

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It’s been a week of unspeakable horror for those with friends and family members unaccounted in the Surfside condo collapse. Can you imagine if they had had to meet with the Former Guy on top of it?

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It’s so good to have a Comforter-in-chief again.

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If you’re paying sky-high rental car rates this holiday week… AvisBudget Group owns Avis, Budget & Payless. Enterprise Holdings owns Alamo, Enterprise & National. Hertz Global Holdings owns Dollar, Hertz & Thrifty. Competition policy & antitrust is NOT just about Big Tech.

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As Rachel Maddow covers today’s indictment of Trump Organization & CFO for tax crimes, your reminder that in a 2016 debate with Hillary Clinton, Velveeta Voldemort BRAGGED about not paying taxes and said “That makes me smart.”-

Maybe Royal Caribbean didn’t cave as much to Florida Governor De Santis as we thought. They’ve posted a list of places you can’t go if you’re not vaccinated on their ships. One of them is the Casino. So much for feeling lucky.

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Never watch the View, but to those who say liberals don’t want to hear different views – uh, my issue with Meghan McCain has not been that she says things that are conservative, but that she says things that are stupid.

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I understand loyalty. Susan McDougal went to jail rather than testify against Bill Clinton. Velveeta Voldemort is NOT Bill Clinton.

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Kevin McCarthy insisted he’s “not threatening” GOP members of Congress who agree to serve on Jan 6 select committee, but said it was “unprecedented” for Cheney to accept a spot on the panel. Uh, is McCarthy stupid, or does he think we are?

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Stephen Colbert tonight, after House GOP, most of who cowered in terror on Jan 6, mostly now cowered in terror at thought of joining Pelosi’s commission – “So we’ll now have 7 Democrats to grill seditionists. And if that doesn’t work we have 1 Cheney to shoot them in the face.

Well, that’s why they play the game. After NC State had to play one game with 13 players, and forfeit an elimination game due to eight players testing positve for COVID-19, Vanderbilt was set up with two first round draft choice pitchers to have plenty of rest for a 2 of 3 CWS final.

And then Vandy won game 1. So it was over, right? (Well I thought so.) But Mississippi State ran away with game 2, knocked out one of the Commodores’ stars tonight, and won a 9-0 one hitter.

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Somewhere, former Mississippi State and SF Giants star Will Clark is screaming at the television! Yes, I’m old enough I remember those F-bombs in 1987 on live TV when the Giants clinched the West. “I’ve been waiting for this since I was a bleeping amateur.”

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Wonder how many advertisers signed up expecting an NBA finals with the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets? Oops.

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Trevor Bauer is enough of a star that I hesitate to predict what MLB may do if he’s not arrested for the alleged sexual assault. I will, however, say tonight that I think here is zero chance he will pitch for the LA Dodgers against the SF Giants at Oracle Park in late July.

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So will Bill Cosby now write a book called “If I raped them?”

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There were young WOMEN in that celebratory crowd of Bill Cosby’s team outside his home today. Seriously what were they thinking?

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Velveeta Voldemort rejecting pleas from Florida GOP to postpone weekend rally in Sarasota while first responders are still combing through collapsed Miami condo looking for bodies. An unnamed Republican said Trump needs to “read the room.” Uh, does anyone think he reads ANYTHING?

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Only TWO Republicans, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, joined all Democrats in voting to establish a Jan. 6 select committee. For comparison, seven Democrats actually joined Republicans in 2014 in voting to investigate Benghazi.

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Do we think GOP would be more likely to go along with a January 6 investigation if the commission promised to spend one day on Benghazi?

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So the GOP plan is basically just to stall out the investigation of January 6 forever or until it’s followed by a worst insurrection?

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Donald Rumsfeld has died.

If you can’t say anything nice….

So, no comment.

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Open note to all television interviewers to any politician they have on their show. Ask them two questions. 1. “Who won the 2020 Presidential election? 2. “Have you been vaccinated?

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Don’t think monopolies matter? There are now only 3 major car companies in US – Hertz owns Dollar & Thrifty, Avis owns Budget, Enterprise owns National. Client had car booked tonight w/ Hertz, he showed up to find the location closed 1 hour early.

When I called the Hertz 800-number to make sure the booking would be held overnight, the recording while on hold said “Please make changes online. There will be a 5% surcharge to modify a reservation via a reservation agent.”

So at this point NBA finals could feature Bucks without Giannis Anteokounmpo, Hawks without Trae Young or Clippers without Kawhi Leonard. Western Conference finals a long way from over but ABC’s got to hope someone puts Chris Paul in bubble wrap.

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So who knew when Toyota’s been saying “Let’s Go Places,” they might have meant ‘to the US Capitol?”

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The Rockies’ German Marquez came a ninth-inning single away from a no-no against the Pirates tonight in Denver. Almost seems like a one-hitter at Coors Field should count as a no-hitter.

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Herschel Walker is running for Senate in Georgia? This is good news, for Senator Warnock.

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Maricopa County officials say they will not reuse voting machines that have been in the hands of Cyber Ninjas because they could have been tampered with… So on top of everything else, how much is this dangerous circus costing Arizona taxpayers?

– Report that eight NC State Players Tested Positive for COVID-19 Delta Variant

The Vanderbilt coach mentioned other teams going out on the town. And the College World Series has has capacity crowds over 20,00 per game. What could have possibly gone wrong?.

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Two doses of Pfizer and Moderna are reportedly 88% effective against the Delta variant. But okay, that leaves 12%. Only 10% of Americans are left-handed. As a leftie myself know that’s still a pretty big number… Not throwing away my masks.

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Many places in California now have signed, masks required only for unvaccinated customers. Only problem is, do we really think the people who are ignoring the science on vaccines will pay attention to the signs?

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Velveeta Voldemort had 4th of July rally in Mobile canceled by park commission.

“It became apparent it was going to be a partisan political event, rather than just a patriotic event planned for that evening,

How often do I say this? “Well-played Alabama.”

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The Pope told Secretary of State Anthony Blinken he has “affection” for the American people. How about affection for the U.S. President who is a good Catholic and one of the most decent men of faith in Washington DC?

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f you are upset by someone “disrespecting” the American flag at the Olympic trials, but not by someone using the flag like this on January 6, may I respectfully suggest you STFU?

“The WNBA says 99% of league’s players are fully vaccinated, all 12 teams have met threshold.” If we needed any more evidence to shatter the myth of male supremacy.

Definition of impossible: Watching Angel Hernandez umpire a baseball game without putting any money in the virtual swear jar. #SFGiants#Dodgers

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What time Tuesday does Vanderbilt get their College World Series trophy? (And will the Commodores thank NC State players who didn’t get vaccinated and basically handed them the championship.)

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GOP Rep Adam Kinzinger & I disagree on a lot. But when asked about MT Greene -She really doesn’t do anything but travel country & attack people & come up w/crazy conspiracy theories & try to be famous. She’s done a good job of being famous. We all know her, so congratulations.”

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Former Guy Chief of Staff Mark Meadows thinks it was “disgusting” Olympic athlete Gwen Berry turned away from flag during National Anthem at US Olympic trials. What Meadows didn’t call “disgusting?” Insurrectionists using flag poles to attack police at US Capitol on January 6.

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Rachel Maddow reports how the Apple Daily, last pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper sold final issue last Thursday & today police arrested one of their journalists trying to board a plane to London. If The Former Guy had won re-election this could be happening here. No joke.

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So who’s gonna be the first Republican to attack Nancy Pelosi’s January 6 commission for not being bipartisan enough? Gosh, if only there had been an option for a truly bipartisan commission.. #sarcasm

Fox News headline Monday was “Cops under siege.” I missed that headline about January 6.-

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Interesting stat from Hawaii Tourism Authority on visitors in late May. While 76% rated trip excellent, “those w/ household income below $100,000 were more satisfied w/ their trip than those w/ household income above $100,000.” Translation, rich ARE more likely to be snowflakes.

ESPN headline -“Are the Dodgers still MLB’s best team?” Uh, it’s only late June, but right now the Dodgers aren’t even the best team in the NL West.

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Seattle Mariners’ Hector Santiago, ejected for something in his glove, “all I used was rosin.” So is MLB going to have to start a program like drug testing for sticky substances they find?

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Since MLB is looking for everything else, what about good old-fashioned spit?

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The Diamondbacks had a 4-2 lead going to the bottom of the 7th against the Padres… which would have given them a two game winning streak.

Of course, they gave up 3 in the bottom of the 7th and lost 5-4.

#Consistency

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The Giants have won 50 games. The Dbacks MIGHT win 50 games this season. Maybe.

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Not that I really wanted her and hubby there for photo ops, but Ivanka is renting a condo in Surfside and now lives a block or two from collapsed building.. Absolute crickets from her on social media asking her 10 million plus followers to donate to support victims’ families etc. Very on brand.

Chair of Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Jose Diaz says once cause of building collapse is confirmed “I guarantee you, legislation will be taking place so this will never happen again.” & how long afterwards will Gov DeSantis say “we don’t need no stinkin’ legislation?”

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Wonder how many COVIDiots refusing vaccines and mask mandates because they’re “government interference” are still happily cashing their stimulus and child tax credit checks?

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Fox News headline “NYC Times Square shooting leaves tourist hospitalized. Two suspects – both described as Hispanic males – remain at large.” Man shot is in stable condition. But because suspects are “Hispanic males,” guessing Fox won’t say crowd had a “festive atmosphere?”

Why are we surprised that Fox News didn’t cover Trump rally last night. Their whole mission is to promote the Big Lie for their viewers & pretend he was and will be a great President. But actually seeing & listening to him now makes it obvious how pathetic he is

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Wonder who paid for Velveeta Voldemort’s plane ride to Ohio yesterday? Tangentially, wonder how long it took to disinfect Air Force One?

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I’m beginning to think Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn’t want to admit it, but she has a serious crush on AOC.

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Toyota turns out to be the number one donor, by a lot, to those in Congress who supported the Big Lie on January 6 and tried to overturn election results.

“We do not believe it is appropriate to judge members of Congress solely based on their votes on electoral certification,” Toyota spokesperson said in statement to Axios.”

What’s next, “we do not believe it is appropriate to judge actors solely based on their actions one night in Ford’s Theater?”

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A major crash in the Tour De France today happened when a fan with a sign saying hello to their grandparents got too far into the course, and dozens of cyclists went down, including one whole (Jumbo Visma) team

If you needed any more proof that the world forgot how to behave during the last year of this pandemic.

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We’re a LONG way from October. Less than halfway through the season. But the SF Giants, in June, have 50 wins. Las Vegas over-under on their wins for the season? 74.

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On the other hand. I don’t care that SF Giants won Saturday night’s game.

I still hate the extra innings man on second rule. It shouldn’t kick in until at least the 11th or 12th inning.

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Uh oh, Jacob deGrom gave up 2 runs in 6 innings Saturday. I hope this isn’t a sign of the apocalyse.

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So not only was Stanford one strike away from eliminating Vanderbilt, it looks now like the Cardinal was one strike away from the CWS finals… As NC State basically eliminated themselves.

(for those not following, as I understand it, the NCAA didn’t mandate all players be vaccinated, but all unvaccinated players had to be tested, and positive tests meant testing the entire team….)

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Headline “NC State’s baseball season ends in Omaha, dealt a final defeat by COVID-19 protocols.” Better headline “NC State players’ decisions not to be vaccinated against COVID protocols ends their season” (and hopefully doesn’t end any lives.)

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While some NCState players not being vaccinated caused team to be tested during College World Series, NCAA proves there is no situation they can’t make worse. None of 23,000 fans got tested. & “Masks are not required, though unvaccinated attendees are recommended to wear them.”

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Fox News is actually headlining the Miami condo collapse on their website. But for some reason I can’t find any of their usual stories bashing Biden and Democrats for excessive government regulations.

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Getting a lot of the “What’s your perfect White Claw moment” ads so finally figured I’d respond: My perfect White Claw moment is not drinking White Claw.

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While media discusses the Former Guy’s cult rally anyone know what the actual President of the United States was doing on Saturday night? (insert crickets here.) Nice, isn’t it?

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Dear Ohio: You put Sherrod Brown in the Senate. If you put Tim Ryan there to join him in 2022, Velveeta Voldemort will probably be so mad he’ll never come back to your state again. Love, democracy

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Since I have to assume almost everyone at tonight’s MAGA rally is unvaccinated how long until Ohio and neighboring states have a big spike in Delta variant cases?

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Guessing if you asked most Americans to name House Representative, other than their own, or maybe Pelosi/McCarthy, most of them would name AOC or Greene. That’s part of what is wrong w/ media & politics now. It’s not about making headlines, it SHOULD be about getting stuff done.

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I’m so old that I remember when Republicans pretended they wanted most Americans to vote.

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There are 34 Senate seats up for election in 2022 – 14 Democrats, 20 Republicans. Sinema and Manchin are NOT up for election until 2024. So can we as Democrats focus now on the seats we can actually potentially win next year? With a bigger blue majority they matter a lot less.

Now the 23rd MLB team has reached 85% COVID vaccination threshold for players & other on-field personnel, which allows relaxed protocols, but vaccinations have slowed to crawl. Can @MLB release names of 7 teams who haven’t met threshold so we can root against them if we don’t already?

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I admittedly know very little about the NHL these days. But when they ask pundits to predict the Stanley Cup Finals… uh, the Canadiens have been a near unanimous choice to lose to the Maple Leafs, the Jets AND the Golden Knights.

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N.C. State will have only 13 players for their College World Series game today vs. Vanderbilt due to one player testing positive & others held out due to COVID protocols. ALL of team & coaching staff had opportunity to be vaccinated. Not all unforced errors show in the box score.

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Wolfpack coach said he didn’t want to “indoctrinate” his players. Uh, if you have to use the word indoctrinate about a life-saving vaccine, you’re already indoctrinating them.

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More from NC State baseball coach Elliott Avent on team not being vaccinated: “If you want to talk baseball, we can talk baseball. you want to talk politics or stuff like that, you can go talk to my head of sports medicine.” “Politics or stuff like that?”

Who wants to tell him?-

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Another reason I really like SF Giants Lamont Wade Jr:

“Wade usually is an outfielder, but he does enjoy playing first, which is a much more social position.

He got a kick out of meeting Albert Pujols, for instance, when the Giants played the Dodgers.“

That was pretty cool, I talked to my dad about that,” Wade said. “You always say ‘hello’ and ‘good swing’ to the guys who come over there, just be professional and talk about other things. I know everybody’s out here working hard and that little moment that you get to relax is cool.”#adorable

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As the Surfside condo collapse potential death toll rises, Governor Ron DeSantis is responding – by sending 50 law enforcement officers from Florida to the Texas-Mexican border!!?

Uh, if he’s got extra manpower, maybe he should train those officers to inspect buildings?

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Florida Governor Ron De Santis says of the Surfside building collapse “this is a unique kind of tragedy.” Uh, considering how much De Santis hates regulations, maybe not so unique going forward.

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President Biden says he has spoken to Ron DeSantis about the Surfside building disaster and has offered federal help. And I bet our President didn’t tell the Florida governor to rake anything.

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Sad irony, one of the missing women in the Surfside condo collapse is a lawyer who, per NY Daily News “specializes in representing building owners, contractors and developers who run afoul of city codes and regulations.”

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Frontier Airlines instituted then rescinded a $1.59 per flight segment “COVID recovery charge” after bad press and passenger complaints. So wonder how many other airlines dropped planned “COVID recovery charges” they were planning on instituting this summer?

If Velveeta Voldemort thought it would have helped him get re-elected, he’d have cheerfully convinced his followers that seat belts were a Democratic hoax.

22 1/2 years isn’t as much as I would have liked. But it’s better than I was worried about him getting.

And don’t forget, Derek Chauvin still faces federal charges for murdering George Floyd.

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There is nothing I do not like about this headline: “Trump Organization could face criminal charges in New York as soon as next week.”

The Montreal Canadiens, who will now play the NY Islanders or Tampa Bay Lightning for the Stanley Cup, were the NHL team with the worst regular season record in the playoffs. Another team that had the worst regular season record in the postseason? The 2014 SF Giants.

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The Dodgers just got no-hit by four Cubs pitchers. No punchline. No punch in LA bats either.

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Japan’s Emperor Naruhito says he is”extremely worried” that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics could accelerate the spread of COVID-19. So will he be “extremely sad” after the Olympics when people start dying?

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So how long until GOP condemns Nancy Pelosi’s House select committee into January 6 and demands a bipartisan investigation? Oh wait, never mind.

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So it finally really is infrastructure week?

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Both Manchin and Sinema were part of the infrastructure deal. So if McConnell finds a way to scuttle it will this be the cover they need at least to adjust the filibuster rule?

This IS in many way a chess game.

Check.

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Has Mitch McConnell announced why he won’t vote for the infrastructure bill yet?

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Mike Pence contradicts the Former Guy about the election the same week stories emerge that Ivanka is distancing herself from her father and Ron DeSantis is a more popular choice for many conservatives for President in 2024.
Maybe Pence figures his former boss will be too outraged at Ron and Ivanka to notice?

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Anyone expecting Governor Ron DeSantis to tighten potentially lax building/inspection codes in Florida after today’s deadly condo collapse in Surfside, clearly hasn’t been following DeathSantis’s response to deaths from COVID.

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We don’t know and may not know for a while what caused the horrific condominum collapse today in Surfside, Florida. But pretty sure it wasn’t too much government regulation.

I’m sure it’s just coincidence that MLB decided MID-SEASON to start checking pitchers for sticky substances since hitting is way down… but ignored steroids for years during the “Chicks dig the long ball” era.

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Of course as a San Francisco Giants fan I want Giants to finish ahead of the San Diego Padres. But it still warms my little heart to hear the “Beat LA” chants at Petco Park.

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He was 0 for 5 with five strikeouts, then hit a three run home run in the 13rd.

“Hello, Southwest Airlines, this is the SF Giants, we’d like to cancel that booking we made today from Orange County to Sacramento – the last name is Tauchman.” #SFGiants

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After losing 17 games in a row, the Arizona Diamondbacks won Monday night, but now are on another two game losing streak. They are 28 out in the NL West.

I suppose it’s not quite possible to be eliminated from the postseason before the All-Star Break?

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Harrison Ford, 78, was injured filming a fight scene in his latest movie. Wonder what the title is “Indiana Jones and the Lost Keys, Wallet, Phone…?

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Same Florida Governor Ron De Santis who banned private companies from asking about vaccinations against deadly disease, just signed bill requiring public universities & colleges to survey students, faculty & staff about their beliefs & viewpoints.

Add satire to Florida’s hidden COVID death toll.

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Democrats have tried for years to tell people how much their votes matter.

But an unintended consequence of everything Republicans are trying to stop people from voting, might be to finally convince many of people how much their votes matter.

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Stephen Colbert showed Senator Klobuchar yesterday in the Senate talking about the voting rights bill “my Republican colleagues, this is not the end of the line”

And Colbert added “hanks to GOP, that’s something many a lot of voters will be hearing -‘this is not the end of the line…It stretches 3 blocks that way around the corner….& no one can give you water.'”

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Last week police raided newsroom of the Apple Daily, Hong Kong’s final pro-democracy publication, now, the newspaper says it has published its final edition.

If the Former Guy had won the 2020 election how wonder if any pro-democracy publications would have survived the next four years.

Do these numbers mean anything to you? 4,076,186 to 4,043,723 They should. They are the 2018 vote totals in Florida’s gubernatorial race. DeSantis beat Gillum by less than 32,500 votes.

Florida can rectify this mistake in 2022.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso arrested today in Texas for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Silly man, pot is legal in Los Angeles. In Texas he’d have been better off carrying a couple unregistered guns.

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So is it wrong to start rooting for a team just because their amazing goalie has the same name as your son? Asking for a friend, eh? #GoHabsGo

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Stephen Colbert perfectedly sums up the decision New Yorkers faced today “who will replace Mayor Bill DeBlasio as the person getting booed at Mets games?”

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So Max Scherzer and Sergo Romo came close. Who’s gonna be the first MLB pitcher actually to drop his pants upon being checked for sticky stuff by an umpire?

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No one ever accused MLB of putting ethics over profits. But by checking pitchers for Spider Tack etc, the league is showing they care more about integrity of a game than GOP cares about the integrity of elections.

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Apparently the Delta COVID variant from India now is responsible for over 20% of infections. Up from 10% 2 weeks ago & from 2.7% a month ago. Sadly, guessing unvaccinated COVIDiots are as good at expotential math as they are at science.

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Can anyone imagine if in California, where several close congressional races went for Republicans, the majority Democratic state legislature tried to overturn those elections with conjured up arguments?

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One thing to have 60 votes to pass a bill. But to require 60 votes even to TALK about a bill? Doesn’t seem very democratic to me.

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Many GOP Senators today touting how well 2020 election went with high turnout and claiming Democrats trying to change the system. Forgetting to say it’s because GOP led states ARE changing the system.

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The Former Guy was mocked for saying “I just want to find 11,780 votes.” But really, what Mitch McConnell is saying now against For the People Act boils down to “I just want to find a way to suppress enough votes so GOP will win.”

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Not that Andrew Yang is the only one guilty of this. But perhaps if he really wants to stay involved in politics he can find a place to start other than the “top?”

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In the NYC Mayoral Democratic primary with ranked-choice voting it could take weeks to determine the winner. They still might finish before the 2020 Democratic Iowa caucuses…

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Lisa Murkowski made a nice speech about voting rights on the Senate Floor today, but said ultimately she would vote against S-1 – the For the People Act. Okay, Senator Murkowski, I believe while we disagree on things that you act in good faith. So all snark aside, do what Joe Manchin did, talk to Amy Klobuchar and talk about what changes you would need to support the bill.

Minnesota Twins SF Bryon Buxon missed 40 games with a strained right hip. On Saturday he was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of his first game back, and X-rays revealed a fractured hand. Buxon will be out probably another month.

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After making probably MLB’s highlight reel for the year for taking advantage of several Pittsburgh Pirates brain cramps to steal a run, , Cubs star Javier Baez tonight forgot how many outs there were in the inning and ran all the way to third on a routine fly ball, only to be doubled off first.

“I lost the outs,” Baez explained.

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Another reason to love baseball. It has a way of reminding everyone rules are rules. And math, at least counting to three, is immutable.

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Carl Nassib, DE for Las Vegas Raiders, becomes first active NFL player to come out as gay

Good for him. “Openly gay” is of course the operative phrase. But look forward to the day when being openly gay is no longer a headline.

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Apparently Velveeta Voldemort didn’t realize Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is in Cuba. You mean he didn’t even watch “A Few Good Men?”

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Mitch McConnell today wore a tan suit. So by GOP standards this means we can impeach him, right?

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Remind me again what Senior White House Advisor position President Joe Biden appointed Hunter Biden to?

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Was it great that Sheldon Whitehouse defended his decades-long membership in an all-white private beach club as a “long tradition in Rhode Island?” No. But would the conservative pundits criticizing him like to tell us what clubs they belong to?

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As a California voter, I feel pretty confident my state will protect voting rights. As an American, I understand that democracy depends on voting rights in all 50 states.

Rolled my eyes at this headline -“Khloé Kardashian insists she’s only had one nose job.” But I must confess, I miss the days when headline writings looking for crazy clickbait could rely on the Kardashians more than GOP politicians.

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An anonymous friend told me Michael Bloomberg switched to run as Republican in 2001 New York mayoral primary because he didn’t want to deal w/ insanity of the Democratic primary. Never a huge Bloomberg fan, but more I see of New York City primary insanity the more it makes sense.

Just heard through a travel industry friend that clients in Mexico told of being approached with offers of fake COVID vaccine cards and/or negative COVID tests. We’re so not out of the woods on this pandemic… Please get vaccinated.

A New York Times article on the SF Giants improbable season “”Also notably beating the odds are three graybeards…”

They’re talking about Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt.

Posey and Crawford are 34. Belt is 33.

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The biggest media markets in the US: 1. New York 2. Los Angeles 3. Chicago 4.Philadelphia

Meanwhile: 10. Atlanta 12. Phoenix 36. Milwaukee.

If you’re expecting a bad Monday at work, imagine being an ad salesperson for the rest of the NBA playoffs.

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Just how bad are the Arizona Diamondbacks? The 4th place Colorado Rockies are 12 games under .500. And they’re still 10 games ahead of the D’backs.

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Jon Rahm had to drop out leading tournament 2 weeks ago, because he tested positive for COVID.. He had just recently had the shot before his positive test and says he waited too long to get vaccinated.

Today Rahm won the U.S. Open. Wonder how many MAGAs might now get the vaccine if they think it might help their golf game?

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-This December speaking tour with Bill O’Reilly and Velveeta Voldemort includes two men who based on past sexual allegations against them would not be allowed to volunteer in most public schools.

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Yeah, our grandparents may have been luddites. But the Greatest Generation wouldn’t have lost their collective sh*t over doordash being down on Saturday.

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RIP Champ Biden. Hope he’s already cavorting with Bo Obama in heaven’s dog park

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No fatalities but eight people, including two children, were shot after gun battle broke out between two groups having parties at adjoining banquet halls in Dallas early this morning. So wonder which of them were the good guys with guns?

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We don’t know yet if the man who ran his truck through a Pride Parade, killing at least one person, did it deliberately on not. Thanks to Ron DeSantis who legalized running over protestors, it doesn’t matter. The driver might even face more charges if it was accidental.

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After a six plus hour roundtrip drive to Sacramento I can attest that not only have people forgotten how to behave on airplanes, they have forgotten how to behave on highways too.

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Most Democrats in the Senate, heck, most Democrats in America, are to the left of Joe Manchin and the right of Bernie Sanders. So why does it seem the media talks to both of them more than any other Senators?

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Meanwhile, Rachel Maddow suggests Democrats cancel August recess at least until Senate gets big stuff done. These are moments I wish a mom was Majority Leader. It’s a bipartisan simple deal- “You want to go play, fine, but you’re staying inside until you finish your chores first.”