Left Coast Sports Babe

One week, and 5-6  games into the MLB season,  there are no teams without a win.   The Cleveland Browns and SF 49er are thinking, “amateurs.’

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Well, on a brighter note for  SF Giants fans, after the 1st week of season team  has the same number of wins as the Yankees.

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On another brighter note for SF Giants fans bullpen didn’t blow another lead tonight. #smallmercies

Not saying #SFGiants should considering signing Tim Tebow. But he has same # of hits as their 2017 left fielders. And prayer can’t hurt.

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All these measures to speed up the game and draw more fans.  Uh, it was the first Saturday of the MLB season & not a single game on national network TV. @CBS @NBC @ABC @FOX

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Going into tonight, well, it could be worse. SF Giants pitchers have the highest ERA in baseball so far, at just under 7. But Jeremy Guthrie started today for the Nationals and gave up 10 runs in the first. #wannagetaway?

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ESPN reports Dallas Mavericks will honor Tony Romo at their home finale Tuesday by making him “a Maverick for a day,” Nice gesture, and at least the Mavs don’t have any of that playoff pressure.

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Google being investigated for allegedly paying women less than men for same work. The company didn’t think workers could google salaries?

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Trump tweeted Saturday morning “Congratulations to our great military men and women for representing the United States, and the world, so well in the Syria attack.”
Well, at least he didn’t tweet out “Mission Accomplished.”

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Trump has declared April 9, “National Prisoner of War Day.” Not that he likes any of those honorees, bcause they were, you know, captured.

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So in the midst of all this craziness anyone but me notice we haven’t heard anything from Sarah Palin lately?

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30 triathletes suffered symptoms of hypothermia and 1 was hospitalized after they swam in 37 degree Lake Berryessa in Napa Valley this morning before biking. And millions of American couch potatoes will read this story and go “See!”

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One person killed and two others wounded in a shooting at a fancy Coral Gables mall today. Apparently not “terrorism” but a disgruntled former employee with a gun. Move along, nothing to see here.

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Should we really be surprised JJared Kushner is now such a close advisor to the President. It’s closest Trump can get to dating his daughter.

SF 49ers released CB Tramaine Brock after his arrest on domestic violence charges. Too soon to start a pool on which team desperate at the cornerback position will decide Brock deserves a 2nd chance?

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Friday night after  a Tiger-free tournament in Augusta. Anyone know who’s leading the Masters?  Yeah, me neither.

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2 home runs in a game?  Who does #BrandonBelt think he is? #MadisonBumgarner? #SFGiants

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Can someone connected with the #SFGiants bullpen put in an emergency call to Annie Savoy. #BullDurham

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Is there a record for number of lost leads by a team in a single season? Asking for Orange and Black friends. #SFGiants

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I miss the days when the biggest story of the morning in the US  would have been #AaronRodgers and #OliviaMunn breaking up.

An employee of the National Firearms Museum in Virginia, which is run by the NRA, was injured on the job Friday. He was taking part in firearms traning and accidentally shot himself.

Mean bitch karma and her friend irony for the win.

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A woman at Disney World was arrested and charged with child abus after she allegedly choked a teenage girl who she said was blocking her view of Magic Kingdom fireworks. Back on your game, Florida. #ifonlyshewasarmed

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#BrianWilliams described Syrian missile strikes as beautiful. Well, no doubt because he was so proud of building & launching them himself.

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Reports are that Bannon has been trying to insult Jared Kushner by calling him a “Democrat.” And Dems are going, “Wait, we don’t want him either.”

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USA Today heading “Big jobs miss: Employers add disappointing 98,000 jobs in March” Somehow missed the Trump tweet taking credit.

Report from KGW in Portland says that 858 TSA airport screeners tested positive for drugs or alcohol between 2010 and 2016. Makes a certain amount of sense, hard to imagine doing that job day in and day sober.

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Bus to hell time. A dismembered body was reportedly found inside a San Bruno home. “The San Bruno Police Department is investigating this incident as a homicide.”
Just guessing it wasn’t a suicide.

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So what if costs to taxpayers are $2.5 mill a weekend at Mar-A-Lago. Not as if any Trump donors are profiting from it….

Headline in the British #Guardian: “White House has no clear plan for next steps in Syria after missile strike.” You had me with 1st five words.

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Look, I don’t pretend that I know the answers in Syria. It’s a mess. But hope anyone supporting the idea of war is either ready to go fight in one, or send their children/grandchildren.

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And heck, Donald Trump has fired more missiles into Syria than he has accepted Syrian refugee children.

A Canadian comment from T.C.  “Donald J. has removed White House chief strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council. This is to make room for 11 year old Barron Trump to take over the position as soon as his school year in New York finishes in June.”

Early times. But thinking #SFGiants bullpen pitchers who were optioned to AAA this might not want to get too settled in Sacramento.

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Three days into the season, the only undefeated team in the National League is the Washington Nationals.    Maybe even the baseball gods are feeling sorry for D.C. these days.

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A Northern California woman sustained major injuries but is expected to survive after she tried to take a selfie in a restricted area of the Foresthill Bridge. Another Darwin #Misseditbythatmuch

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Germany may start fining social networking sites up to $50 million if they don’t remove hate speech/”fake news.” Will there be @POTUS exception.

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NBA game tonight featured Nets vs 76ers, with 46 wins between them. Five words “Thank heaven it’s baseball season.”

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At Johnny Cueto line drive to right field Tuesday night in his second at bat was first time an SF Giants pitcher has been retired in 2017. #pitcherswhorake

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Nothing is certain but death, taxes, and the Dodgers struggling against lefties.

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Lexi Thompson lost an LPGA tournament because a fan called in the next day saying officials missed Thompson slightly moving her ball. In related news, the St. Louis Cardinals called MLB. They want that 1985 World Series trophy. #DonDenkinger.

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Last night’s #nationalchampionship did answer one question “Whatever happened to all those replacement refs?”

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#TonyRomo is going to retire from professional football. So that still mean there’s a chance he could sign with the #49ers.

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Although it’s tough, Tony Romo retiring less than 6 months after the Cubs win the World Series.    Double blow for comedy writers.

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A picture is circulating of 6’5″ NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio crammed into a coach seat on a cross-country Delta flight. “Don’t even think about it” said Chris Christie.

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And I thought “He went to Jared” was irritating enough when it was just a jewelry commercial.

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Spicer attacks ProPublica, Trump Jr. says Pizzagate blogger deserves a Pulitzer. Just another day in the new abnormal.

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Got it, everything inherited that’s good, like low unemployment & a recovering economy is Trump’s doing, Bad stuff like Syria Obama’s fault.

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22 companies have pulled ads from Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News show. Could put the show in jeopardy, not for sexual harassment but for $$$.

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North Korea reportedly fired a ballistic missile towards Japan. Waiting for Trump to respond after getting intelligence briefing from Jared.

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Ivanka Trump says she doesn’t know what it means to be “complicit.” Well, another example of overrated expensive private school educations.

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Trump called Putin w/ his condolences on St Petersburg subway bombing, Vladimir appreciated it as he hadn’t heard from Donald in 12 hours.

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Trump now finds time to tweet about Drudge report but nothing on Russia bombing. Because no Americans killed & bomber wasn’t an immigrant?

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So while Trump is tweeting outrage on leaks think he could spare a little outrage and compassion for dead children in Syria?

Can Madbum play left field when he doesn’t pitch for the SF GIants? And bat fourth?

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One of Bumgarner’s two 400 plus foot home runs was against Zack Greinke.  Clayton Kershaw has to be really happy the Dodgers didn’t open against the Giants.

Two blown SF Giants save in one game. Too soon to talk about the curse of Casilla?

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This was not been a good opening day for closers. (Rodney, Melancon and Oh all gave up runs in the 9th)  Can we blame Trump?

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MLB Opening Day, firs game is Yankees – Rays?  In St. Pete.   What? The Red Sox didn’t want to risk their opener being snowed out?

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Derrick Rose is out for the rest of the NBA season. Making him luckier than Knicks season ticket holders.

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So a TV viewer watching Saturday”s 3rd round of the ANA Inspiration LPGA golf tournament on tape-delay Sunday contacted officials to say Lexi Thompson had very slightly moved her ball after marking it before putting for a tap-in. Thompson was then, while leading by 2, at the 14th hole of the final round, assessed a 4 shot penalty, 2 strokes of which were signing the suddenly wrong 3rd round scorecard. She ended up tying for the lead but losing in a playoff.
I don’t want to hear that the balk rule is the stupidest in pro sports ever again.

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As GOP tries to become party with best circular firing squad, maybe Democrats could stop infighting long enough to watch?

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Trump says “surveillance and leaks” are the problem. I suppose he thinks @washingtonpost & Deep Throat were the problem with Watergate

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Nikki Haley today “Certainly, I think Russia was involved in the election. There’s no question about that,”
Is Haley bidding to be President Pence’s VP choice?

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Jared Kushner is in Iraq right now. Trying to find a location for a Trump/Scion hotel Baghdad?

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Trump today in an interview with the Financial Times “Yeah, I don’t lose.” #alternativevictories?

More Trump to the Financial Times  “If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.” Well, sure, now that Trump’s already used his plan to beat ISIS.

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A newspaper in Juarez, Mexico says it is shutting down because too many journalists have been murdered. So yes, media attacks can get worse.

From Alex Kaseberg  “A survey shows the number of older women binge drinking has increased significantly. Asked to comment, Hillary Clinton said, “Shut up and do a Jager shot.”

Anyone but me still having a hard time getting adjusted to hearing “Defending World Champion Chicago Cubs?” #OpeningDay

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Another March Madness draws to close. Now the real challenge, getting millions of Americans as thoughtful & involved w/ voting as their brackets.

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Wonder how many turned #SouthCarolina #Gonzaga game off at half figuring it was over. & Zags had won. They were right. Sort of. #FinalFour

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And thousands of youth basketball coaches have the all time video to illustrate the lesson “box out.”. #Oregon #UNC #FinalFour

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James Harden claims Draymond Green punched him on his sore wrist last night Green responded He pinched me, so I punched his wrist,” Green said. “That’s pretty much it. He does it often actually, which is kind of adolescent, but whatever.”
Six words. “Thank God Opening Day is Sunday.”

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Feel for Jon Samuelson at Women’s Final Four.  He’s the  dad of Connecticut’s KatieLou & Stanford’s Karlie.   He was stressed about conflicting loyalties. But had to assume at least 1 daughter in final

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April Fool’s Day was a lot more fun when America didn’t have daily Presidential tweets rivaling any absurdity we could come up with.

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Maybe if Ivanka & Jared really want to do a holy thing on Sabbath they could take her dad’s phone with them when they go offline for day

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A homeless man was arrested & charged with arson in connection with the collapse of Atlanta’s I-85. So our infrastructure is in such wobbly shape terrorists don’t need bombs they can just set fires under freeways?

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And just guessing this homeless man will now end up with state-paid, and mandated, housing for from 5- to 15 years.

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As GOP tries to become party with best circular firing squad, maybe Democrats could stop infighting long enough to watch?

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The NY Times reports Bill O’Reilly or Fox have paid $13 million to five women since 2002 over sexual harrassment complaints “in exchange for agreeing to not pursue litigation or speak about their accusations against him.”
O’Reilly says it’s just because of his “high-profile job” that makes him “vulnerable.” Right, because every male celebrity pays out this kind of money regularly? #SMH

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Now there are reports security experts are worried about laptop bombs, which could lead to more restrictions in bringing them on planes. So we’re already spending over $7 billion a year on TSA, waiting hours in lines, can’t bring toiletries, bottled water or wine with us, and now we may not be able to work or entertain children on planes.
In many ways the terrorists have already won. #fearitself

5-time Olympic gold-medal swimmer Dana Vollmer, 6 months pregnant, plans to race in 50-meter freestyle next month. Weaker sex my ass.

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Wonder if Vollmer might actually have an advantage – swimming in the carpool lane?

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Tiger Woods says he will not be ready to play in #TheMasters. A shame that Tiger doesn’t feel able even to play two rounds of golf.

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Just what college sports needs, another all #SEC championship. Seriously,  congrats to #MississippiState, ending #UConn 111 game win streak in the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

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Probably more people had Gonzaga,  South Carolina, Oregon and UNC in the men’s final four than had South Carolina vs Mississippi State in the women’s final.

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Apparently the entire coal mining industry in this country employs few workers than Arby’s.  And moreover, as customers know,  Arby’s is a more consistent source of cheap gas.

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If V.P Mike  Pence feels it’s inappropriate to have dinner alone with a woman without his wife present fine. But really to avoid all appearances of impropriety why doesn’t he also eschew having dinner alone with other men?

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Condoleezza Rice met with Trump today in the White House, after reportedly meeting privately with Pence earlier. So presume due to the VP’s beliefs no food or drink was served?

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#FoxNews upset “private citizens” affiliated w/ Trump “wrongly unmasked…for political purposes.” Funny, I clearly missed their outrage over Valerie Plame.

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Pretty clear if Trump had social media during Watergate he’d be tweeting calls for prison time -for John Dean & “Deep Throat.”

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Jon Stewart would be proud. Trevor Noah on @TheDailyShow “Paul Ryan has turned into such a pussy it’s amazing Trump hasn’t grabbed him yet.”

Spurs had 16 point lead on the Warriors after 1st quarter and lost.  So will the league fine Popovich for resting his entire team for three quarters?

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The Warriors-Spurs matchup, one of the marquee regular season games, tipped off at 930pm ET, 830p central.   Even Major League Baseball is thinking, don’t you care about your fans?

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To be fair to Spurs that 8:30pm start meant 2nd half was past Gasol, Parker and Ginobili’s bedtimes.

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T.J McDonald suspended 8 games by NFL after being arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Hmm, so had he hit a woman instead of driving would he have only gotten six?

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Does it make you a snowflake if you get upset because your favorite #Starbucks is closing? Asking for a friend.

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Consumer confidence reportedly up.   Or it’s just Americans feeling, “We might as well spend, we’re all going to die.”

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Trump approval ratings now at 35% . Waiting for #SeanSpicer to explain how this is really like golf. Lowest scores win.

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Not sure what was worst, that Matt Cain gave up 4 runs in 5.1 innings  for the SF Giants. Or that the outing actually lowered his Spring Training ERA to 7.82.

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Trump & Christie pledge to fight opiod epidemic. No one told them GOP healthplan would strip coverage for mental health/addiction services?

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Chris Christie met with Donald Trump at the White House today, the same day one of his former top aides was sentenced to 2 years in prison over “Bridgegate.” Only the little people pay penalties.

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GOP-controlled Congress voted to let internet providers sell our browsing history.. So yep when it comes to privacy, these are the good old days

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So with this new bill gutting internet privacy rights is it too much to ask that Trump has filed his taxes online?

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Apparently none of the White House staff will attend annual correspondents’ dinner in “solidarity” with President Trump, Translation, “solidarity” means “keeping your job.”

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#Trump asked women today “Have you heard of #SusanBAnthony? No doubt he heard she & #FrederickDouglass are being recognized more & more

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Who says Trump is not a uniter? CNN reporting how the GOP vote to repeal internet privacy rules, a bill expected to be signed by the President, has been “panned by both the editorial board of The New York Times and by commenters on conservative media outlet Breitbart News.”

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“The Classic” concert just announced this summer will feature the Eagles, Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Journey, and Earth Wind & Fire. So based on the target audience demographic assume all tickets will include a senior citizen discount.

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Jeb Bush on Donald Trump “He should stop saying things that aren’t true.” Would Jeb care to opine on what things Trump says that are true?

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#Hawaii judge issues an injunction against Trump’s travel ban. Too soon to start a pool on the timing of #FakeState tweets?

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Ivanka Trump gets a White House desk & top level security clearance. Wonder if Donald will invite Tiffany to the Easter Egg Hunt?

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Iowa GOP bill would allow parents to stop abortion if “woman is less than eighteen years of age or unmarried.” #Bridgetothe19thcentury

And with Opening Day almost upon us.   Thanks to JD for this Carnac moment I had forgotten  “Another favorite Carnac memory: The answer is “Catch-22.” The question is “What do the Los Angeles Dodgers do with 50 fly balls?”

Roger Goodell seems to be so much in favor ot the #Raiders going to #LasVegas you almost wonder what kind of odds he got on the move.

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Didn’t really care between #SouthCarolina & #Florida. But going to miss watching Canyon Barry shoot underhanded free throws. @NBA take note

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This year’s Final Four features all teams from coastal states – Washington, Oregon and the Carolinas. No team from the Midwest or Kentucky.  Is this somehow still  Obama’s fault?

In Lexington, University of Kentucky students rioted after losing their Elite 8 March Madness game by lighting things on fire and chanting “f–k UNC” Just imagine what they might have done if the Wildcats had won?

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Tara Vanderveer would probably think coaching #Stanford men’s basketball would be at best a lateral move, but Cardinal could use her. #WomensFinalFour

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United denied boarding to girls wearing… leggings?  But hey, it’s an about an  offensive look they should refuse many male tourists boarding in shorts.

And okay, I get it, the girls were employee children and there is a dress code when using free tickets. But United’s Twitter feed didn’t try to strike a conciliatory or explanatory town, just doubled down on the airline’s “conditions of carriage”  #wannagetaway?

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Whoever is running #United‘s Twitter account is doing a good enough PR job to be considered for position as assistant to Sean Spicer

Uber halted self-driving car testing in Phoenix following crash involving 1 of their SUVs. Cars still probably safer than most snowbirds.

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15 people shot, 1 fatally in #Cincinnati. Not terrorism, just a good old-fashioned American night with guns. Move along nothing to see here.

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John Kasich on a possible 2020 Presidential run “I’m not really interested in running for political office again. You don’t close the door on anything, but I don’t have my eyes on that.”
Translation, only if I think I can win.

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Wait, Kellyanne Conway gets called out on ethics violations, justifiably for promoting Ivanka’s clothes & then President tells us to “Watch @JudgeJeanine on @FoxNews?” #WTF

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Reince Priebus “I think it’s time to potentially get a few moderate Democrats on board as well.” Does he think they’ll be easier to bully?

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Now talk of Trump trying to work w/ Dems. Yeah, it’s going to go real well when Bannon says “You have no choice you have to vote for this bill.”

The #1 seed Jayhawks, who’d breezed through their first three games,  were upset in basically a home game in Kansas City by Oregon.  Last time things were so unexpectedly turned around for Kansas, a tornado and witches were involved.

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Lonzo says he is one-and-done at UCLA. In related news, Trumpcare never had a realistic chance and water is wet.

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Meanwhile, the only exciting game out of Friday night’s Sweet Sixteen matchups – Wisconsin vs Florida – finished after midnight on the east coast.  So maybe NCAA with basketball really is considering themselves a major professional sport.

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Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang may miss the 2017 MLB season due to his being denied a US visa, possibly due to a DUI arrest. Yep, if you want to be a star athlete who drinks and drives, you better be born here in the USA.

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Today is #NationalCheesesteakDay To be followed tomorrow by National EKG day?

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USA Today reports that Baywatch’s David Hasselhoff now has his own cruise will host a five-night “fan cruise” this Fall on Costa Cruises. Think someone could manage to push him into a lifeboat?

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Former Penn State president Graham Spanier was convicted today of one count of child endangerment. He had chosen not to report Sandusky to the state Department of Public Welfare, despite the report from Mike McQueary about seeing him in the showers with a young boy. Apparently Spanier plans to appeal. On what grounds? That he thought he was running a Catholic university?

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CNN reports Trump aide says President “agitated” by Trumpcare bill process which he thinks is all “political.”   Hello…it’s politics.

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GOP just changed their Trumpcare Facebook status to “It’s complicated.”

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If GOP willing to eliminate all gender based healthcare from coverage with Trumpcare we could talk. Prostrate exams & ED drugs to start.

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Curiously enough, pulling out is also the GOP’s new birth control strategy. #KilltheBill

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Sean Spicer  “If you’re an older man, you can generally say you’re not going to need maternity care.” So how old was Trump when Barron was born?

Right about now, Obama might be forgiven a small smirk.

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Paul Ryan “We’re going to be living w/ Obamacare for the foreseeable future.” Well, better than dying w/ Trumpcare in the foreseeable future.

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While Dems celebrate, if some party leaders or wannabe leaders have ideas to tweak Obamacare, it  would be excellent time to put them forward.

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Amazing that Trump just didn’t rename #Obamacare & take the credit. Though no doubt that’s his plan B.

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Thinking Ryan had a lot more fun when he could blame all the GOP failures on Obama.

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Latest leak #fakenews CNN reports Trump is upset that his son-in-law and senior adviser was not around during this crucial week.” (Jared and family were skiing in Aspen.)
Actually this one has the ring of truth, if Trump is angry, it wouldn’t be at himself, or heaven forbid his perfect daughter.

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