Left Coast Sports Babe

SoFi Stadium has a capacity of 70,000.

Apparently 24,000 or so showed up to see Cal lose to UNLV at the “Art of Sport LA Bowl.”

Well, not as if either team was that close to the venue. It was an hour flight or whole 6 hour drive from Berkeley / 4 and a half hours from Vegas. #sarcasm

It’s all about programming for ESPN

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All you need to know about the Musk/Vivek ordered government shutdown. Fox News and other right wing media were just fine with the funding bill until Elon told his DonOld to kill it.

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When you can’t afford Christmas – or can’t visit a national park or museum – or face TSA chaos- because of the government shutdown that President Musk decided he wants just tell the kids that Elon said “we will be fine for 33 days.”

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A major flaw with this primary threat idea. If GOP screws up things as badly as it looks like they will be doing, Americans are likely to vote for people who are as distant as possible from the administration.

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Let’s be very clear. Trump was happily playing golf and picking ambassadors when President Musk decided he was unhappy about the continuing resolution to keep the government open. So DonOld had to call JD and they had to do as they were told. #Elonistherealpresident

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Marsha Blackburn complaining about government spending. Ted Cruz saying Congress spends like a bunch of drunken sailors.

Sorry folks, can’t take ANYONE seriously about the deficit who doesn’t say a word about Trump millionaire/billionaire tax cuts.

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Such lovely tributes this week to departing Senators, especially Bob Casey and Sherrod Brown. Was there a single speech by a fellow Senator about Kyrsten Sinema

A U.S Senate probe found Amazon manipulated injury data to make warehouses appear safer. Amazon’s warehouse injuries are twice as high as other warehouse jobs.

Well, in case you still wonder why Jeff Bezos pulled the Washington Post endorsement of Kamala Harris…

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So where can we sign up to predict on what day embattled New York City mayor Eric Adams will announce that he is becoming a Republican?

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Most of Fox News headline today on fear & crime -mostly they’re trying to tie to immigrants.

But one headline “Idaho murder victim’s mom breaks silence two years after daughter’s killing” doesnt mention suspect. Quadruple murder was awful. But it was committed by a US Citizen.

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Can we STOP with this “resounding victory” and “mandate” BS GOP is using to justify any and all drastic changes they want to implement?

49.8% is neither a resounding victory nor a mandate. It’s a plurality and a close election.

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What about making the USA into Canada’s 11th Province

Sherrod Brown, bidding farewell to the US Senate, for now. A standing ovation and some tears. A working class hero and beloved by his colleagues. Ohio, you made a mistake you can rectify in 2026.

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While Willy Adames signed with the SF GIants, still seems like almost all the offseason is stars going to the Dodgers, Mets or Yankees.

Tell me again how billionaire owners need tax cuts.

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As a Saints fan who believes in vaccines and dislikes the Falcons, my better angels are socially distanced on this story:

The Falcons just benched Kirk Cousins. Who signed a four-year, $180 million contract this offseason with Atlanta that includes $100 million guaranteed.

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As Trump’s latest idea to hurt average Americans is privatizing USPS, how many people know that the biggest thing affecting USPS solvency is requirement to pre-fund retiree healthcare benefits?

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Sometimes I just love President Biden He called for a ban on Congressional Stock Trading. “Nobody in the Congress should be able to make money in the stock market while they’re in the Congress.” He’s right.

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And in a Truth Social post Donald talked about the “Great State” of Canada and attacked their “Governor” Justin Trudeau.

Which would put Canada in the lead for the country he most insulted today. Except then he nominated Herschel Walker as Ambassador to the Bahamas.

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These days if the Star of Bethlehem appeared in the sky after Jesus’s birth, could we find three wise men to follow it? Or would everyone think it was a drone?

Although the Atlanta Falcons beat the Las Vegas Raiders 15-9, Kirk Cousins struggled again – he has nine inteceptions and one touchdown in his last five games. This is the same Kirk Cousins who had to sit out games in 2021 because he was unvaccinated and said he was “going to be vigilant about avoiding a close contact.”

Sounds like Cousins in 2024 needs to figure out about closer contacts with his receivers.

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Anyone remember who won the NBA cup?

Me neither

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As Trump nominees tour Capitol- did Senators learn NOTHING from Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett hearings?

They pretended to be reasonable about Roe and settled law & precedent etc.

Then once confirmed, turned around and became radical beyond many of our wildest nightmares.

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Seriously?

DonOld on how his daughter-in-law is qualified to be US Senator from Florida:

“Lara’s unbelievable. She’s so highly respected by women. Even her workout routines are through the roof. She lifts 150 pounds. By that token DeSantis should appoint Hulk Hogan to Senate.

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President Biden didn’t have to threaten his own Democratic party Senators to vote for his Cabinet picks. Pass it on.

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WTAF? Just caught a snippet from Velveeta Voldemort’s press conference: “The world leaders are calling me… I have spoken to way over 100… You wouldn’t believe how many countries there are.” So he’s telling us the list of things he knows nothing about includes geography?

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Media capitulating in so many ways. Amy Klobuchar said Sunday on Face the Nation that Presidential pardon process needs reform:

Headlines mention that she talked about Biden pardons or pardons in general: Not a single headline that also said – “Klobuchar said she disagreed with number of pardons that President-elect Donald Trump made during his first term.”

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The Orange Face Eating Leopard ranting this morning about how he’s filing more lawsuits against media he doesn’t like (translation anyone but Fox and right-wing wing media) “We have to straighten out the press.” Thanks ABC

It’s December 16.

Two college football games have already happened.

With the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl tomorrow, and the Boca Raton and Art of Sport LA Bowl Wednesday.

Ah for the simpler days of the when we all knew their names, like the late but still lamented Poulan Weed Eater Bowl

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The real winners of today’s Buffalo Bills-Detroit Lons game? People who bet the over (55.5) –

Final score Bills 48- Lions 42..

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There are no moral victories in football. But the New Orleans Saints came close. 20-19 loss with missed 2-point conversion at end after being left for dead, with Kamara injured on top of Carr & Taysom. 5 first downs in 1st three quarters, 12 in the 4th quarter. #WhoDat

CNN reports “8 incoming Cabinet picks (so far) & their spouses donated over $37 million combined from their personal accounts to aid Trump.”

Government of the billionaires, by the billionaires, for the billionaires. But tell me again how Democrats don’t get the working class?

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Unqualified people often crave power, including rich donors on both sides of aisle. That’s why Senate confirmation for cabinet members is so important. Unless GOP plan never to have another Democratic president they should want confirmation hearings for all Cabinet picks, period.

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As Elon Musk apparently is pushing Trump to discard a requirement for Teslas to report all self-driving vehicle crashes..

Opponents of regulation say, let the market decide. But what if the market doesn’t know.?

Not the Onion.

DonOld, who routinely has lied about saving Christmas, is actually sending this email to make money for himself: “Make your liberal relatives squirm by wrapping your gifts in MAGA Wrapping Paper!”

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Confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth will reveal a lot of truths. But in the meantime, why is anyone shocked that Pete is having pleasant conversations with some Senators? Hegseth is a news host. He can read from a script.

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ABC, with an eminently winnable case against Trump’s defamation allegations, caved and settled for $15 million.

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Uh, ABC, throwing some steak to the face-eating leopard just means the leopard has an appetizer before eating you.

OTOH ABC is owned by Disney. If they were trying to prove they are a Mickey Mouse organization.

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Now that his buddy NoJoy has made the USPS so much worse, Trump is considering privatizing it.

Have to wonder though, with so much of his support from red rural states and members of Congress who owe their jobs to rural voters, how’s that going to go over?

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Apparently US Ambassador to the United Kingdom is a position that often goes to top fundraisers.

So what’s doing on with DonOld not choosing someone for that nomination yet. Is he taking bids? Or just trying to think of who will most p*ss off the British?

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From the better Time Magazine interview this week:

Caitlin Clark “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege. A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them. The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that, and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important. I have to continue to try to change that. The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”

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People who are cheering RFK Jr. and his campaign against vaccines should spend some time in an old graveyard. And look at the number of tombstones for children.

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SF 49ers are apparently cutting ties with De’Vondre Campbell after he refused to play last night. Meaning the linebacker is likely to be able to sign with another team. And who wouldn’t want a player who flat out quits in the middle of a game?

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San Antonio Spurs down 17 with 8 minutes to go in the 4th quarter… and win 118-116. Not sure when Pop will be back. But his team, led by Wemby, is getting good at basketball. #GoSpursGo#PorVida

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Every interview with a Republican Senator before RFK Jr’s confirmation should start with a question: How do you feel about vaccinations for your children and grandchildren?

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If Leon gets his way Tesla won’t have to report crash statistics on self-driving cars. We already know Fox News doesn’t cover major Tesla crashes, including horrific Cybertruck fiery crash that killed 3 college students in Piedmont CA -they burned to death.

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So basically, it comes down to “trust me.” Got it.

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Wasn’t on the jury that decided not to convict the man who killed a homeless man with a chokehold, so will respect their decision.

But in what universe is killing an unarmed man experiencing a mental health crisis on the subway cause for celebrating that killer?

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Now Donald wants to end Daylight Savings Time. He didn’t get a big enough donation from the sun?

Tough year to be a New Orleans Saints fan. OTOH, at least expectations were low.

And who expected they’d have about the same record as both the Dallas Cowboys and SF 49ers?

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Reports now that Juan Soto signed with Mets in part because when he asked owner Steve Cohen how many world championships he planned to win in the next decade, Cohen answered “two to four.”

Bookmark this page.

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People Magazine had interview with Jude Law where they asked if he watched “The Holiday” with his family. And his laughing response.

“See dad with Cameron (Diaz)? I’m not sure.”

Yes, I can imagine it’s hard to see your dad with a woman not your mom.

Except that Jude has seven children with three ex’s and one current wife.

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Wonder how Fox News covered and explained Trump’s backtracking on lowering prices, along with making up a story about refrigerated apples? Surprise, surprise, surprise. Neither story is mentioned AT ALL on their website.

Imagine if Kamala Harris had won the Presidential election and had so much as invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House tree lighting ceremony let alone her inauguration….

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After Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his inaugural, XI declined. Poor Donald. Nobody loves him.

This is a good time to point out that unlike most past inaugurations there are actually rooms available in DC hotels a month out.

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Trump, now backtracking on lowering prices for Americans. “It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up…” Hmm, that’s not what Stormy Daniels said…

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Today it’s high prices are “hard.” How long before he backtracks on “no tax on tips?”

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And again, a reminder, Biden administration and (mostly) Democrats got the Kroger-Albertson merger blocked. Something that WILL help avoid higher prices. And media mostly just shrugs and ignores the story.

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As some GOP Senators face attacks from MAGA Trump supporters about confirming Donald’s more outlandish choices, one question. If they become completely neutered servants to a wannabe dictator king, what’s the point of being a Senator anyway?

Plurality: Noun – the number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority. If you know anyone who insists this Presidential election was a “mandate” perhaps refer them to a dictionary.

Does anyone really care about the NBA Cup?

Although apparently Trae Young taunted the NY Knicks by mimicking throwing dice at midcourt after the Hawks beat the Knicks to advance to Las Vegas for that NBA Cup,

At least he didn’t try to plant an NBA flag.

(Which an Ohio legislator is apparently trying to make illegal in their state. No joke. Hint to the Buckeyes. Don’t want a flag planted on your field? Don’t lose to your rival when you are favored by multiple TDs._

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Bill Belichick, 72, is going to be the Head Coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.

Was part of the deal that UNC would allow his girlfriend, Jordan Hudson, 24, to attend grad school?

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Why isn’t this bigger story? GOP cheers Sarah Huckabee’s push to make unhealthy foods & sugar-sweetened drinks ineligible for purchase w/ SNAP (food stamps.) Same GOP who lost their minds when Michelle Obama was pushing healthy food in schools etc. Only rich kids get junk food?

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As Nancy Mace continues to try to get headlines for her new campaign to convince Americans that transgender bathroom usage is the most important issue in this country, could someone ask her on camera why she never said a word when Republican Caitlyn Jenner visited the Capitol?

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Shooting healthcare CEO’s won’t change anything, except maybe higher premiums as they start paying for 24-7 security.

Could media step away from their fascination with the killer & talk about Trump putting RFK Jr & cronies in charge of HHS wlll probably mean even less government help for Americans facing insurance crises?

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In Coach Tuberville’s ramble today on the Senate floor he referenced something being like a “Charles Dickens movie.” A small thing in the grand scheme of things… But does he think Dickens was an actor, director or scriptwriter?

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Hitler was Man of the Year too. (In 1938) Just saying.

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Stephen Colbert reminds us about the sexual harassment alllegations that got Kimberly Guilfoyle fired from Fox News, including allegedly showing pictures of her former partner’s genitalia.

“She’s clearly got pics of Don Jr’s, Junior Dong.”

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We really really need to spend time amplifying the GOOD people in politics. Many Americans weren’t big Trump fans but had sense Democrats weren’t doing anything. Even now, blocking the Kroger-Albertson’s merger is big Biden/Democratic win for consumers… it barely got covered.

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Good news for New Orleans fans: Saints blocked a field goal to win their game today.

Bad news for New Orleans fans: They needed to block the field goal to beat the 2-11 NY Giants.

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Alabama fans are big mad that their 9-3 team didn’t make the college football playoffs. And their coach was complaining about their challenging schedule. Uh, out of conference games included Mercer, Western Kentucky and 5-7 Wisconsin (15th in the Big 10.)

And then Alabama lost to Vanderbilt, the Stanford of the SEC AND 6-6 Oklahoma 24-3.

Cry me a river tide.

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Elon Musk is spending far more time with Donald Trump than Donald’s wife Melania is..

Meanwhile, we ARE seeing more of Melania than we are of J.D. Vance.

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The fall of Syria is a great loss to Russia. On the other hand Russia has to feel that 2024 overall has been a positive year, what with winning the USA election and all.

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As Trump talks about pulling the US out of NATO remember: NATO has invoked Article 5 of its founding treaty, which commits each member state to consider an armed attack on one member state as an attack on all exactly once -in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on US

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Mike Johnson says “we’ve all made mistakes” & he “believes in redemption” regarding serial adulterer & alcoholic Pete Hegseth, credibly accused of sexual assault and nominated to lead US military. But how many taxpayer dollars has he spent on private citizen Hunter Biden?

Spokesman for Trump administration says his cabinet picks will “return health care to the Gold Standard.” Translation, the standard will be if you have lots of gold, you get healthcare.

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Simon Tisdall writing in the UK Observer “At 78, Trump more than ever is a capricious, egotistic, indecisive, irrational man child. He himself doesn’t know what he’ll do next, let alone anyone else.”

No lies detected.

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Billionaire from South Africa who never paid into US Social Securty hired to gut it.

Millionaire talk show host who never served in military hired to cut Veterans benefits.

Millionaire trust fund baby who doesn’t believe in science hired to cut NIH money. See the Trump pattern?

Bill Belichick, 72, now may be considering a job in college football coaching. So he now feels he can relate to young men in their 20s now that he’s dating a 24 year old?

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So now that there’s a tsunami warning for much of the California coast, over under on the number of would be Darwin Award winners who are going to go down to the beaches and look for the waves?

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Hegseth says of his potentially difficult Senate confirmation “And as long as Donald Trump wants me in this fight, I”m going to be standing right here in this fight.” Standing? Or swaying, as the the case may be?

(Being an alcoholic isn’t funny. But being a racist, misogynistic alcoholic in angry denial…. well, my better angels are sitting this one out.)

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So what exactly is the point of Democrats criticizing President Biden for pardoning his son?

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As GOP talks about cutting federal bureaucracy and eliminating works, we’re about to find out how many Americans think government is unnecessary until THEY need something from it.

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So what about making the United States Canada’s 11th province?

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MAGA will cheer if Trump fires as many civil servants as he threatends. . Until they try to get calls answered about Social Security or IRS issues, have issues with benefits, find out AFTER getting sick from contaminated food, wait in hours long TSA lines… Leaving aside issues like potential terrorist attacks because of a gutted FBI.

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About three million people work as civil servants in the Federal Government. Many live in suburbs outside the district If Trump fires half of them, wonder how GOP Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will feel when Donold tanks the state’s economy?

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You know you’re American when you are traveling in France and someone asks if you’ve heard about today’s shooting.. and as awful as it was with the healthcare CEO in NY, you Google it and are relieved it was only one person.

Friendly blue skies:

Captain on my United Airlines flight yesterday afternoon “Any Ohio State fans on board, I am so so sorry. Go Blue”.”

Ohio State coach Ryan Day, defending players after brawl started when Wolverine players tried to plant Michigan flag on field after upsetting the Buckeyes.

“There’s prideful guys on this team that weren’t just going to let that happen.”

Can’t imagine after Jan. 6 instigator got re-elected how Coach Day would think that any kind of violence would be a reasonable response to losing.

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Rough year for Stanford football…until Saturday’s announcement of incoming GM Andrew Luck. But at least at 2-6 in the ACC conference play, the Cardinal finished ahead of 1-7 Florida State

Donald Trump has now appointed Ivanka’s father-in-law as Ambassador to France, and Tiffany’s father-in-law as a senior advisor on the Mideast.

While he’s pushing his daughter-in-law to replace Marco Rubio in the Senate.

But tell me again how we’re supposed to get upset about Hunter Biden benefiting from his family name?

Charles Kushner is especially an interesting “pick” – Since his sister was cooperating in a case against him, , he hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, recorded their sexual encounter, and sent the tape to his sister,

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Remember when right wing media lost their collective minds when Biden only had Christmas stockings for 6 grandchildren, not Hunter’s child born from brief encounter in his addict days.

Meanwhlle crickets when Leon wasn’t with any of his 12 children & spent Thanksgiving with Don?l

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Spokesman for Trump administration says his cabinet picks will “return health care to the Gold Standard.” Translation,the standard will be if you have lots of gold, you get healthcare.

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Fox News calls Kash Patel a “reform-minded pick for new FBI director.” Reform-minded like an arson wants to reform buildings. Also they left out an “r” in pick.

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When someone has dementia, their decision making suffers along with everything else and can be increasingly unrealistic and reckless. Might explain a lot about some cabinet appointments.

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Shirley Chisholm would have been 100 years old today. My dad took me to meet her in Ann Arbor in 1972 when she ran for President. Impressive woman. He told me someday we’d have a woman President & someday a black President, but the first wouldn’t be both. He was sadly right so far on the last two.

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So how many Americans who don’t normally watch football will be thankful today for any excuse to focus on anything other than politics?

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And tomorrow’s afternoon marquee NFL matchup – NY Giants, 2-9, vs Dallas Cowboys 4-7. Can we officially designate it the Turkey Bowl?

(Siri, what is a game that sounded better when it was scheduled in the offseason?)

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Mark Zuckerburg was apparently seen “with a large security and staff presence” at Mar-A-Lago. So billionaire tech bros may vote for Trump, but in private they don’t trust their own safety to his idea of security clearances.

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Meanwhile Elon Musk wants to get rid of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Well, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau covers not just banks, but things like payday lenders and for profit colleges – and bitcoin. Heaven forbid they get in the way of billionaires being able to take advantage of middle-class and poor people.

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Why does anyone think the Muskrat – Velveeta Voldemort marriage will last even as long as Donald’s other marriages?

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For all that Trump loves to attack California and say how awful it is for people who live in the state, we California voters are actually much happier with Democrats than we are with him! Looks now as if Democrats may have flipped a third Congressional seat in the state as Adam Gray now leads GOP incumbent John Duarte by 105 votes in the 13th Congressional District (Central Valley)

PS Donald, you lost the state by over 3 million votes!

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Nt that Joe,would have done it but what a Dark Brandon moment it would have been if when Biden pardoned those turkeys he added… “I thought about pardoning a third turkey but he doesn’t need it now that he won the Presidential election.”

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And to close, as always, thankful to all my readers… you are the reason I write.

And all through the House…

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Not a creature was stirring….

Now back to snark.

The ACC may end up with more teams in the College Football Playoffs than the Big 12 and SEC. Well, at least if the Pac 12 had to be broken up sounds like Stanford and Cal may at least have ended up in one of the strongest conferences.

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So Snell’s going to sign with the Dodgers?

When are they going to sign Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes?

And how much will they defer salaries until about 2050?

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Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, is co-founder of MSD Capital. Never heard of MSD Capital? It was created to manage wealth of ONE billionaire family – Michael Dell. Phelan did donate over $800,000 to Trump this year.

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Stunning that the same people who falsely believe raising the minimum wage will greatly increase their prices for margaritas and guacamole, refuse to consider that tariffs on tequila and avocados will actually do just that.

Sometimes I wonder how Americans voters can possibly make such stupid decisions. And then I open a Trader Joe’s salad mix containing chopped vegetables, dressing mix, croutons and parmesan cheese. And on the side of the cheese packet there’s a warning – “contains milk.”

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So as caucasians in the U.S. increasingly become a minority how long until many folks cheering companies rolling back DEI programs demand new DEI programs for white peopl

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Caitlyn Jenner posted that “If I ran for (Governor of California), and it was ultimately against Harris, I would destroy her. Has someone checked Caitlyn for concussions?

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Apparently Tucker Carlson on a podcast said he believes Satan himself is really running Joe Biden’s White House. Well, every accusation IS a confession…

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Back when I was a college waitress, Reagan’s DOD secretary Caspar Weinberger spoke at Faculty Club dinner. All of us who worked that night had to sign up in advance and go through background check. For a man who claims to be terrified about his own safety, DonOld is pretty cavalier about his staff.

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So uh, are contracts included in those laws that SCOTUS said the President was above?? Imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico violates terms of United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Signed in 2020 by Donald Trump.

So do teams actually hang NBA Cup banners?

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Big Game Saturday. Stanford vs Cal for the Axe.

Just for one day can we take that bleeping ACC football logo off the field. (Of course, with the rain in California right now maybe it will wash away.)

Nothing says focus on the future like making one of your first priorities in 2025 to investigate your loss in the 2020 election…

What’s next, Trump will demand an investigation of how he hasn’t won an Emmy, Oscar or Nobel Prize?

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Thinking most women would rather be in a women’s restroom with a trans woman than in a bar with Pete Hegseth.

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If you think the lines are long at TSA now, imagine what will happen when Velveeta Voldemort throws a fit about them putting Tulsi Gabbard on TSA watch list and fires most of the staff.

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Washington DC hotels during Obama inauguration sold out early, were often in $1500-2000 a night range -and up, and even suburban hotels were over $1000, if you could find one. Even by Dulles Airport. Now for January 20, 2025, yes, not normal January prices. But many nice DC hotels still available in $1000 range, a few as low as $500. Out by the airport under $300.

Guess people just aren’t that into him.

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So has DonOld told his new Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt how many people she has to say attended his inauguration.

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As rumors swirl on who Trump wants to appoint as he plans to fire Christopher Wray,… reminder who hired the Republican FBI director in the first place. Yep, Donald J. Trump in 2017 Sooner or later, Velveeta Voldemort throws everyone under the bus.

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So JD Vance’s first actual VP task, helping Matt Gaetz connect with GOP Senators went so well that Gaetz withdrew his nomination the next day. Well this should quell the rumors that Musk is the real #2 guy. Not to mention the rumors that #ElonIsTheRealPresident

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I’m so old I remember when BIll Clinton’s first choice for attorney general, Zoe Baird, had to withdraw just because she had an undocumented nanny for her kids. Now we’re “oh, she only accepted a $25,000 bribe from Trump to drop a case against him.”

Kelly Loeffler’s Atlanta Home. And now she’s being nominated for Secretary of Agriculture. This is like a twisted remake of Green Acres.