Left Coast Sports Babe

So when this NCAA conference re-alignment settles down for a few months sometime later this year, who’s gonna be the first to use the phrase “Student-athletes” with a straight face?

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Give me a break. Megyn Kelly on the U.S. women’s soccer team: ‘I’m thrilled they lost’:

I guess no one told her the Swedish player, Lina Hurtig, who scored the winning penalty kick, is happily married to a former teammate and she and her wife have two children.

So since many on the far right are celebrating US Women’s National Soccer team losing in round of 16 in the Women’s World Cup, would they tell us who they ARE rooting for to win? Note, Russia doesn’t have a team.

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Got it. GOP wants to have an impeachment inquiry against President Biden – as soon as they figure out what excuse they will use as a cause.

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Last night Connie Schultz on Rachel Maddow: “The laziest thing in the world to be is a cynic, hope takes work.” Many people did a lot of work to get out the vote in Ohio. And some people probably had to work even to vote. In any case, hope won, democracy won.

Fox headline Aug 7:

“Ohio sees massive voter turnout on GOP ballot question to protect state constitution from liberal activists

Fox headline: Aug 8- “Change conservatives said needed to protect Ohio from radical liberal agenda, failed to pass in lopsided vote.” Voters smarter than GOP thinks.

Issue 1 in Ohio, put on the ballot by the GOP in the middle of the summer in hopes of a low turnout, lost 43% to 57% – About as resounding a result as can be imagined.

And yet, had it passed, by a single vote, 57% would not have been enough to enshrine abortion rights, or any other rights, in the state. Because it would have put in a 60% threshold for any changes to the state constitution.

Thank you Ohio.

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Fox News is making a major deal out of President Biden referring to “The Grand Canyon — one of the Earth’s nine wonders.” Gosh, Fox must have missed when Velveeta Voldemort said “our army manned the air, they took over the airports” during Revolutionary War in the 18th century.

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Just saw an op-ed “DeSantis’ decision to fire campaign manager is step in right direction” What would be a bigger step for Ron in the right direction? Suspending his campaign.

Wait, now Stanford and Cal are negotiating possibly to join the ACC? Because nothing says Atlantic Coast Conference like two schools that are both less than an hour from the Pacific Ocean.

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Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos didn’t like announcer Kevin Brown’s honest comments about the Orioles playing at Tropicana Field, so he apparently fired him. When Angelos didn’t like Jon Miller’s honest comments in 1996, and didn’t renew Miller’s contract, SF Giants fans were the beneficiaries. Wonder whose fans will be lucky this time?

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Love this: “People counted you out saying you’re past your prime—I know a little something about that,” Joe Biden to Dusty Baker.

Okay, how many SF Giants fans have both been watching six run ninth inning in Anaheim from this offense-challenged team with a mixture of happy shock and wondering “can you save some of these runs until tomorrow?”

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CNN actually covering that President Biden will head to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to “sell” Bidenomics. Now, will they cover what he says unless Joe stumbles over a word or two?

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Headline on Fox News. “Swing state sees massive turnout on ballot aimed at protecting state from liberals.” What’s actually happening? High turnout now in Ohio with Issue 1. Ballot measure wants to make sure ANY majority of Ohio voters can’t make decisions in their own state.

Listening to Rachel Maddow tonight: I did not have actual leprosy in Florida in 2023 on my Governor Ron DeSantis b*t shit bingo card.

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Not a Chris Christie fan but his line about Donald Trump bears repeating: “He is a criminal defendant out on bail in three different jurisdictions.”…

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Listening to Trump now alleging he just wanted to “pause” counting, how lucky are we on Jan 6, 2021, chair of Senate Rules was Roy Blunt, who quietly agreed with Amy Klobuchar to get electoral votes counted that night. Imagine if chair had been Rules committee member Ted Cruz.

So the US Women’s Soccer Team, was bounced out of the World Cup on an almost saved penalty kick.

And some conservative media wants to pin it on too much diversity.

The women lost to #3 Sweden, Funny, didn’t hear that when the men were bounced last year in the same World Cup round of 16. to the Netherlands, who were in turn beaten in the quarter finals by Argentina. And the US men lost solidly lost 3-1.

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Washington State football coachs Jake Dickert -“The old question of: How long would it take TV money to destroy college football? Maybe we’re here,”

But football is the marquee sport for TV. Most colleges and universities have 20 or more varsity sports. Imagine some of them now needing to go cross country for most of their games/matches. Besides the loss of TV revenue for all but the big three conferences? How long will these new conference realignments take to destroy all of college sports?

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Ted Cruz attacks on Barbie are going well. “Greta Gerwig’s Barbie grossed another $53 million at the domestic box office as it hit $459.4 million in North America and crossed $1 billion globally in a huge win for the filmmakers, Warner Bros. and Mattel.”

Meanwhile in Trump’s Sunday morning rant he claimed “tourists have fled DC.

Uh “Destination DC released 2022 tourism numbers that show 20.7 million domestic tourists visited DC last year, 91% of pre-pandemic 2019 numbers & spent $8.1 billion- almost matching 2019 tourist spending.”

So is Velveeta Voldemort daring the judge to put him in jail because he thinks it would be good for fundraising, or is he just too stupid to understand self-incrimination? Asking for a country.

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Can’t be said enough, whatever GOP tries to say now about her, Judge Tanya Chutkan is a strong and non-controversial judge. She was confirmed 95-0 in 2014 by the US Senate. Yes, 95-0. Even Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell were fine with her.

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Headline: “Heinz ketchup maker feels the pain as consumers push back on higher prices.” Are we sure this isn’t because of a shortage because so much of their product has ended up thrown against the walls at Bedminster and Mar-A-Lago?

Better late than never, but has any reporter thought to ask Mike Pence, if he knew what Trump was asking him was wrong, why did he seek advice from that known constitutional scholar former VP Dan Quayle?

NY Times online front page at midnight Aug 6 – 3 stories on Trump, none on Biden. Finally found Aug 4 story from Peter Baker – “Rising Tide Lifts Many Boats, but So Far Not Biden’ – how improving economy hasn’t helped Joe’s ratings. Maybe if media actually COVERED good news?

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If you didn’t already love Jamie Raskin: “Even if he did [believe the election was stolen], it makes no difference. You might believe that your bank owes you some money. You don’t have a right to go rob the bank.”

As conferences along with other leisure travelers cancel on principle, another reason not to travel to Florida, if you’re pregnant or might be pregnant and have a ectopic pregnancy or some other complication, not only could Florida be where “woke goes to die,” it could be where you go to die.

We all worry some days that we are not good at our jobs. And then there’s George Kliavkoff, who has been Pac 12 commissioner since 2021. When he started the conference actually had 12 teams….

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As Oregon and Washington become the latest two schools to leave the Pac 12 for the Big 10, thinking about how much fun it’s gonna be, for example, for fans from State College, PA to make it to Eugene Oregon, for a conference matchup.

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FL Gov. DeSantis doesn’t like NBA players criticizing Orlando Magic donation to his campaign “It appears NBA took break from protesting our anthem & bending the knee to Communist China to chirp about my policies.” Got news for Ron, the NBA is a whole lot more popular than he is.

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Wonder what if judge would call Barack Obama, “Mr. President” or “Mr. Obama?” Oh, wait, we don’t have to worry about that because Barack Obama didn’t commit crimes.

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“Just want to pause the vote” for 10 days” is not that different from “just want a bank teller to give me some money at gunpoint.” They are both crimes.

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Uh, WTF CNN?

CNN’s State of the Union Sunday morning has three guests: Trump’s lawyer, Mike Pence & Chris Christie. Know network is trying to present “both sides” of every issue, but giving a platform to three different Republicans is three shades of one side. Do better.

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Jack Smith is playing chess while Velveeta Voldemort thinks he can just hire people to play checkers for him.

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Trump trying to stay out of trouble now by saying his threatening tweet was just joking. Your reminder, Trump does not joke.

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Both Pentagon & Dept of Defense say Tommy Tuberville’s stunt of holding up military appointments is jeoparding National Security. Remember- Tuberville willing to risk lives to keep military women, who don’t choose where they are stationed, from obtaining reproductive health care.

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The Senate off for August but American Edge Project, funded by Meta etc is clearly scared. They’re -running fearmongering ads about “misguided lawmakers” & legislation that is “threat to our democracy.”

Actually a bipartisan group of lawmakers knows it’s now Big Tech & lobbying that’s a threat to our democracy..

As a childhood math nerd, I remember number progression games.

Here’s a sad one.

8-10-12-0

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ACLU suing Texas over SB 12 – “regulates sexually oriented performances” & restricts those performances on premises of commercial enterprise, public property, or in presence of anyone under 18.

Bill targets drag queens, but what about Hooters… or Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders?

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SF Giants win despite getting only two hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

But as quiet as Giants bats were still much more going with their offense n than the Trump Ford Bronco equivalent day covered nonstop on cable news.

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If President Biden gets in a motorcade and drives slowly through DC while reciting a litany of everything his administration and Democrats have accomplished THEN will the media cover it?

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My Florida public high school didn’t have AP classes, but our elective Psychology class designed for kids going to college. We did get two books banned when parent complained. (Cuckoo’s Nest & Go Ask Alice)

Seems so quaint by comparison. And uh, AP classes are SUPPOSED to be college-level.

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Whatever GOP says now about Judge Tanya Chutkan. She was confirmed in the US Senate in 2014 by a vote of 95-0. Yes, 95-0.

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Joe Manchin today called Fitch Ratings’s downgrade of U.S. credit rating a “historic failure of leadership by both political parties & the executive branch.” Yes, same Joe Manchin who torpedoed many efforts by Pres Biden & Democrats to lead us out of gridlock.

No Labels has No Shame.

For all those asking why it took the DOJ so long to decide they think Trump is guilty, I’d like to ask “what took Mike Pence so long to decide he thinks Trump is guilty?”

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Pence in his remarks Wednesday seemed to blame January 6 on “crackpot lawyers” who told Trump what he wanted to hear about the election.. So is Mike basically saying that his old boss Donald is an incompetent easily-led man?

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So it’s not IF Trump will disobey the judge’s order not to contact any witnesses in the January 6 case, it’s how many will he call, starting this weekend.

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I wish all these interviews with former Trump sycophants had an asterisk reminding Americans they used to be part of his treasonous team.

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So MAGA world is going nonlinear because the judge in the Washington DC federal trial was appointed by Obama. But they’re just fine with the judge in Donald’s Florida trial being appointed by Trump. Make it make sense…

Eight pitch save for Camilo Doval vs Arizona Diamondbacks. All wins are good, but as SF Giants fan nice to have the occasional win without torture.

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Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez, who won today after turning down a trade to Los Angeles:

“It’s nothing against the Dodgers. They have a really good team over there. Just thinking about my future and my family.”

SF Giants fans want to send particularly warm wishes to Rodriguez’s family!

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Mets owner Steve Cohen said he told Max Scherzer that the team was unlikely to make an aggressive pitch to sign top free agents in 2024.

Well, to be honest, after what has become a 2023 debacle, would any top free agent who really cared about winning sign up for the Mets circus?

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President Biden has had a very successful first term so far. If competence were clickbait, then Joe’s approval ratings would match.

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Sometimes a headline says it all. “DeSantis blasts DOJ while conceding, ‘I have not read the indictment’ of Trump.”

The book-banning Governor doesn’t read. Who’d a thunk it?

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NBA is proudly “woke,” and Orlando Magic had a pride night and has a Chief officer for DEI.

But Alex Schultz of SFGate (owned by SF Chronicle) found that the Magic donated $50,000 to Governor DeSantis this May.

Maybe Ron’s war on Disney’s isn’t about LGBTQ issues but rather pure political posturing, or that Disney didn’t donate to him. Magic gave him big $$$, and he’s not attacking them…

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Fox News’ Laura Ingraham “The bottom line is this: Trump was charged… for adopting and pressing an unconventional and controversial legal view. That the electors in this presidential race could be replaced with new electors.”

“An unconventional and controversial legal view.” I don’t think I could write a joke as funny as that.

Although would Laura say Jeffrey Dahmer had unconventional and controversial eating habits?

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Mike Pence, now claiming he knew he had no right to overturn the election. “I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this…I am a student of American history…” Uh, if Pence was really a student of American history, he’d understand the concept of treason.

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In Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 indictment against Trump – Rudy Giuliani to then new AL Senator Tommy Tuberville “Try to just slow it down.” “Slowing it down” seems to have become Tuberville’s mantra. Are his military holds in part to hope something bad happens so GOP can blame Biden.

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The easy joke over the Trudeaus’ separating is “He’s available.”

But pretty sure this was not an easy decision for them, nor has it been easy for Justin and Sophie’ marriage with him as Prime Minister. Wishing them and their children the best.

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Any reporter interviewing a Republican politician right now who starts ranting against the latest Trump indictment should ask one simple question before continuing: “Have you read the indictment?”

Not only can money not buy you love, but also for the 2023 Mets it couldn’t even buy them a wild card playoff spot.

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So maybe the SF Giants didn’t win the trade deadline. OTOH Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodríguez vetoed a trade to the Dodgers. Maybe the Giants should send him flowers?

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So wait, the Astros got Justin Verlander back, and had the Mets chip in $53 million on his contract? Of course if one of the two prospects turns out to be a star the trade will look different. But forget signs, this might be a legal steal.

(And again for SF Giants fans, Verlander didn’t get traded to the Dodgers!)

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Once more for those in the back, I like Presidents who don’t get indicted.

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Sen. Murkowski tweeted evidence shows Trump “played key role in instigating (Jan 6) riots. Lisa encouraged Americans to read Tuesday’s indictment to “understand very serious allegations being made in this case.” How crazy is it that for GOP encouraging people to read is a BFD?

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Trump fundraising email. “As you know, I did nothing wrong. It’s well-documented that I told Americans to act “PEACEFULLY” and discouraged the use of any violence

” Yeah, that’s what his tweet “Big protest on January 6 in DC. Be there, wlll be wild” this sounded like.

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Anyone who heard Donald Trump telling police “don’t be too nice” and talking almost gleefully about alleged extreme violence committed by immigrants, along with women “raped at levels you’ve never seen”, etc, shouldn’t be surprised January 6 plan included violence. Pretty clear he enjoys it.

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Tommy Tuberville said Biden’s decision not to relocate Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Ala was a “disastrous mistake” & claimed Biden was playing politics. And the man single-handedly holding up 300 military appointments said it with a straight face?!

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Seriously NY Times? Front page headline ‘Old Trump habit is seen at heart of new charges.” Old “habit” is obstructing justice. Meanwhile, when Joe Biden, who stuttered as child & HAS had long habit of verbal misteps, stumbles now over words, NY Times makes it age-related BFD.

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Wonder if anyone who still thinks RFK Jr is a Democrat used to think Tulsi Gabbard was a Democrat too.

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How the world has changed. Several teen girls in airport restroom line. Giggling with phones. Phones aren’t that new. But conversation is all like “Have you posted yet?” “Yes I already liked your post.”. Etc.

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Some would say this looks like paradise.

Starry the cat would disagree.

So as Women’s World Cup moves into the second round will be interesting to see how conservative media balances “USA USA USA” with their desire to see USWNT lose so they can blame it on diversity or being woke.

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NY GM Billy Eppler says Mets are not holding ‘fire sale’ despite trades. So what are they calling it “a lot of smoke” sale?

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Nothing is certain but death, taxes and you don’t run on Patrick Bailey. #SFGiants

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San Francisco Giants went 6-for-36 with runners in scoring position during weekend series against the Red Sox. So a rough weekend.

Wait Giants won 2 of 3?

Better to be lucky than good.

(And yeah, not a great year to be a Red Sox fan.)

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WTF USA Today?!! This headline “After breaking with Trump, Pence is selling kindness. Is anyone buying?” Kindness to WHO? Certainly not women whose rights he wants to further restrict, and seniors and almost-seniors whose Social Security and Medicare pence wants to cut.

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Ten top headlines on Fox News website tonight. THREE of them are about Hunter Biden. And a secondary headline is about Hunter flying on a private plane. (Uh, Fox, for starters it would be a bigger story if one of Trump spawn flew commercial.)

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Some compare turning Twitter into X to the New Coke fiasco. But it’s as if Coca-Cola changed Coke not to New Coke but to X-Cola.

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Just saying, if after Jan 6 when most of USA, even many GOP leaders, briefly admitted Trump was unfit for office & responsible for insurrection, GOP could’ve voted to impeach him & moved for fresh start in 2024. Instead, they tethered themselves to their sinking ship cult leader.

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Jimmy Carter lost his bid for re-election & was almost ostracized by Democrat party for years. Hillary Clinton was told to “go home and knit” after WINNING the popular vote. So why is GOP so enthralled by & subservient to a man who soundly lost the 2016 Presidential election?

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We should all pay more attention to GOOD Senators, like Brian Schatz.

A brilliant simple truth from Hawaii senator on Tuberville “Yes, a senator has enormous power. I could probably block defense bill this week, if I wanted. But I won’t. Want to know why? Because I’m not a maniac.”

Will the last school to leave the Pac 12 please turn out the lights?

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NY Mets trade their closer and become one of the first teams officially to start selling at the trade deadline. Now the highest payroll ever in MLB was never going to guarantee the Mets a World Series win.

But you’d think it might have kept them in Wild Card contention.

Didn’t expect this but sure seems lately like in 2023 the two players SF Giants really can’t afford to be without are Thairo Estrada and Brandon Crawford.

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When Tuberville was a football coach, Auburn paid him over $5 million to go away and not coach anymore. Then University of Cincinnati, which has far less money in the end also paid him over $1 million to go away.

They were smarter than Alabama voters.

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Tuberville had neither political nor military experience when he ran for Senate. Just ex-coach fired from 2 of his last football jobs. Now he’s wreaking havoc on the military. How much did America dodge a bullet when Georgia re-elected Reverend Warnock over Herschel Walker?

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(Seriously, can we imagine what stunts Walker might have pulled in his first term?)

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So we’ve gone from “but her emails” to “but his son.”

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Even the San Francisco Chronicle. – The story of Hunter’s taxes placed higher than the story of former New York mayor (and one of Trump’s former lawyers & closest advisors) admitting to lying about the election.

NY Times Op-Ed “Ron DeSantis Has a Personality Problem”

As in he doesn’t have one?

Fox News etc attacked President Biden for not acknowledging granddaughter & Fox posted pictures of the cute little girl. Now Joe talks about her, says it’s family matter & 2 Fox headlines, one about “Hunter’s child with ex-stripper” & another criticizing Joe’s timing. #CantWin

So for college football, Colorado and Utah in 2010 decided to move to the Pac 10, which then became the Pac 12 conference

And for many old-time Pac 10 fans especially messed up the conference schedule.

Now, with USC and UCLA going to the Big Ten in 2024, Colorado has said they too will exit and return to the Big 12.

Maybe it would be easier if we could just admit NCAA football is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NFL, the SEC and the Big 10?

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Okay, so Angels have decided to stay with their superstar Shohei Ohtani and hope for postseason magic.

And for the rest of us, including SF Giants fans, we don’t have to imagine a 2023 postseason where Shohei s interpreter has to say he always really felt like he was a Dodger or Yankee.

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Former President of the United States is finding out what I as a travel agent and most non-technical people who work with computers know – a good IT person is invaluable. And when you find one be really really nice to them.

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But “The boss’ wanted the server deleted,” is real mob stuff.

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Wait, ex-football coach Tuberville, holding up military appointments for dangerous misogynistic stunt, voted “No” on Senator Gillibrand’s amendment for World Trade Center Health Program funding? What an anti-life troll he is. Actually makes me miss Jeff Sessions.

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It’s only now being reported Mitch McConnell, 81, has had multiple falls this year, not just one that put him in hospital in March. If Biden so much as stumbles but catches himself, it’s front page news. Ditto Feinstein’s wheelchair was news, not that she’s now walking unaided.

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Kevin McCarthy said that he is not concerned for Mitch McConnell’s health. I believe it. Does anyone think Kevin McCarthy is concerned about ANYONE’s health, except his own?

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CNN headline”Supreme Court hands Manchin & Biden win over activists” (Mountain Valley Pipeline is controversial but has Congress & Biden’s support.)

Wouldn’t know it from Fox headline: “Supreme Court strikes down ruling on big gas pipeline in major blow to environmental groups.”

Way down in the Fox story: “The Biden administration filed a brief with the Supreme Court in support of the pipeline’s developer last week. ” But heaven forbid their readers know Biden might agree with them, or that Joe might get a win!

SF Giants are undefeated in the Marco Luciano era.

And while Luciano, the Giants’ prized prospect went 0-2 and was robbed of a hit in his first AB, San Francisco did score 8 runs today. Approximately the same total they had all last week.

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Northwestern has fired their football coach over hazing and their baseball coach over bullying allegations.

Now a 2015 book by the school’s AD has some controversial passages about women, with a chapter titled “Women, Our Greatest Distraction.”

This is not doing much for that reputation of “Midwestern Nice.”

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WY GOP Senator Barrasso “Often wonder if these elitists from coasts have any idea where their energy & food come from.” Wonder if elitists in WY have any idea “No state relies more on funding from fed government than Wyoming, where 56.43% of state’s revenue comes from DC.”

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“For every $1 dollar in income tax that’s paid in Wyoming, the state receives $1.36 in federal funding. Federal workers also comprise 3.37% of the workforce in Wyoming, the 9th-highest percentage in our study.” https://smartasset.com/data-studies/states-most-dependent-on-the-federal-government-2022

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Let’s be honest, the only way conservative media would make a big deal about Mitch McConnell’s medical incident Wednesday is if they could blame it on Hunter Biden.

Mitch McConnell stole two SCOTUS seats for Donald Trump, which has made Joe Biden’s Presidency much more difficult.

Yet Biden called McConnell after the GOP Senate Minority Leader had an apparent medical incident during a press conference today

Donald Trump has said nothing since two days ago when he attacked “Republican ‘leadership’ in the Senate” because they had not “spoken up and rebuked Crooked Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats….”

See the difference?

Apparently Grassley may be the Senator who has been blocking the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act.

Hoping Chuck changes his mind. But would be sad irony if America fails in our moral example we showed world in World War II, because of one of the few Senators who REMEMBERS World War II.

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As Angus King points out about the ex-football coach from Alabama’s stunt to hold up defense department nominations. “China and Russia must be loving this… Hard to imagine one of our enemies doing this to our military leadership. And we’re doing it to OURSELVES.”

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Trump keeps talking about the stollen election. Maybe all that stollen is why Donald looks a little less than svelte in his clothes.

With a 2-1 win over the Oakland As, the SF Giants have ended their six game losing streak. With only four hits and one of those runs unearned, however, fans who want to see serious scoring would be much better off lately watching Women’s World Cup soccer.

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SF Giants fans joined A’s fans tonight at Oracle Park in chanting “Sell the team” – in reference to Oakland A’s owner John Fisher

And after the SF Giants just staggered back from a sweltering East Coast-Midwest road trip, thinking Giants players concur. Imagine a few extra road games a year outdoors in Las Vegas – until a new stadium would be built.

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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will probably be suspended four games for recruiting violations, a heavier penalty than relatively minor offenses might have called for…except that he allegedly lied to investigators.

The suspension will be against ith or without Harbaugh, Michigan figures to be a heavy favorite in its first four games against Eastern Carolina, UNLV, Bowling Green and Rutgers. Yeah, that’ll teach him.

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Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign has now laid off a third of his staff. So is he going to blame it on Bud Light or Barbie?

GOP in 2022 election tried to attack Democrats by fearmongering about the economy, crime and caravans. That didn’t work. So now in 2023 they’re trying Bud Light, books and Barbie. Shudder to think what election year 2024 will bring.

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From June 2023. Should have been a bigger story. GOP platform has become hate. “I’m talking about cutting taxes, people go like that,” Trump said while making muted applause gesture. “Talk about transgender, everyone goes crazy. “

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Remember this 2021 Tweet.

“”To be clear, I do support vaccines in general & covid vaccines specifically. The science is unequivocal. In very rare cases, there is an allergic reaction, but this is easily addressed with an EpiPen. — @elonmusk April 7. 2021

Yes, Musk tweeted it, And he had his kids vaccinated.

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Now of course Muskrat is opining with no evidence that Bronny James might have had cardiac arrest due to the Covid vaccine.

Maybe it’s time to trade the Twitter logo from the bird and then the X to a troll.

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Great news. UPS and Teamsters have last minute deal to avert a strike! Wonder if out of habit GOP will instantly blame Biden. Oops, wait, never mind.

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I’m so old I remember when impeachment used to be for “high crimes & misdemeanors.”

Bad enough we had Newt Gringrich’s GOP impeaching Bill Clinton for lying about consensual relationship. Now we’ve got Kevin Mcarthy’s GOP deciding to impeach Biden & figuring out a reason later.

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And yeah, Kevin McCarthy just said GOP investigations into business deals of Biden’s family members are “rising to level of impeachment inquiry.” But Trump’s family making millions & his overriding experts to make Jared & Ivanka special advisors w/ security clearances…that was just fine?

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No serious injuries fortunately, but apparently enroute to Tennessee fundraiser a sudden traffic slowdown caused four cars in Ron DeSantis’s campaign motorcade to crash into EACH OTHER. If that isn’t a metaphor for DeSantis’s whole campaign I don’t know what is.

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Thanks to a FB friend, finally got to read America Ferrera monologue at the end of Barbie where Senator Amy Klobuchar tweeted yesterday ” I hope A LOT of people who work in Washington DC watch that part! “

SF Giants have been beyond abysmal this last week. But what’s going on with summer heat and NL West over last 10 games? With 6 losses in a row Giants 4-6. Dodgers have lost 2 in row so so 6-4 Dbacks 2-8 Padres 4-6

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Seven players now have been suspended indefinitely by the NFL this offseason for betting on games in 2022.

Now, the hypocrisy of how important gambling is to football aside, here’s the question I have… Just how STUPID do you have to be to place bets as an NFL player somewhere, and think you won’t get caught?

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Trivia for the night. I use the word, “lede” for “bury the lede” in a story.

And realized this week some people think it’s a mistake. Nope “The introduction to a news article is called the ‘lede’ and is usually in the first paragraph as in an essay. The ‘lede’ is a deliberate misspelling of ‘lead’ to prevent confusion in the days when printing was done with lead type.”

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Clickbait world doesn’t just mean political problems.

Lots of headlines on Amsterdam banning cruise ships. Yes, that’s the new PLAN. But while travelers may be getting riled up & travel agents are getting calls – the truth is “Despite Amsterdam’s Intentions to Curb Cruising, No Changes Right Now.”

(So yeah, probably next year…things could change, and yes, next year Americans will probably have to do an E-visa type thing for Europe. But we don’t have to freak out right NOW about either.)

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Again about the US Citizen caught at border with 18 pounds of cocaine in cheese:

For as much fearmongering as some media, especially right-wing media, does, anyone who’s seen pictures of migrants trying to cross knows they often just have clothes on their backs.

Serious smugglers need vehicles or suitcases.

And to drive or fly you need to be US citizen or at least legal visitor.

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Just heard that Ron DeSantis’s Presidential campaign is trying to get “leaner and meaner.” Uh, pretty hard to imagine how Ron could get meaner.

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Dear Mark Zuckerberg. Since most websites are already set up with a virtual button when you can share something to the little blue bird app, may I suggest using the now available little bird for Threads?

Sometimes during a baseball season I’ve taken trips for a week or so out of the country where it’s been almost impossible to keep up on what’s going on real-time with SF Giants . Sadly this last week was not one of them.

Buying Twitter and getting rid of the blue bird is like buying the NY Yankees and saying “Nah, I don’t like pinstripes.”

Most media, even non-sports media, covered USNWT’s 3-0 opening win in World Cup. Some sportwriters said team a bit sloppy. But on Fox News, headline ignores win but calls them “unpatriotic” – some women didn’t sing or put hands over heart during national anthem. (They all stood for the anthem.)

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Heard today that there’s a chance SF Giants might try to get Matt Duffy back and that makes me irrationally happy!!

Maybe if it happens SF Giants fans can chip in to buy Matt a kitten

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Las Vegas Aces are now 21-2 in WNBA season.

Of course the players deserve most of the credit. But how many NBA teams passed on Becky Hammon because they didn’t think she would be a good head coach?

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Wonder what Musk would do if after he changes this app’s logo to an X, Zuckerberg then changes Threads’ logo to a little blue bird.

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Story today about US Customs finding cheese wheels filled with cocaine at the border: Two important things: First, the word is SEIZED: U.S. Customs under President Biden did their job . Second, the buried lede: “The 22-year-old driver, a US citizen…”

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CNN “Recent poll found Americans think re-electing Biden would be more of “setback or disaster” than re-electing Trump” & one of their analysts has idea why? Uh… 1. The only poll that matters is voting total. 2. Because CNN would rather lead with ANYTHING but Biden’s successes?

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Biden has many prominent Democratic leaders on campaign advisory board glad to act as Joe’s surrogates with media. Maybe even appear on Fox News if asked. Senators include Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar & Elizabeth Warren

But which “Democrat” was asked for Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures?” this week?

RFK Jr. Nuff said.

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So why aren’t MAGA Republicans enjoying outdoor weather when it’s over 100 degrees? Weather is only science and Trump, DeSantis, etc have told them to disregard science.

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Again, if you only watch Fox.

Here’s the headline. “Book a cruise recently? You could be forced to change vacation over ‘woke’ agenda”

Not exactly about “woke.” Amsterdam just moved to stop cruise ships from using downtown port because of crowds & day tourists overwhelming city.

Imagine if there were a port in Palm Beach near Mar-a-Lago

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While President Biden is taking aim at junk fees, here’s a couple travel agent examples from random weeknights in September in Las Vegas: Excalibur $53 a night. Resort fees $35 a night Rio Suites $20 a night. Resort fee $45 a night Hotel fees ARE out of control.

As World Cup gets started got to be tough for some haters. Favored USNWT team has 7 black women, 2 Mexican Americans and 3 gay women. As the LA Times says – “The team looks like the country it represents.”

Not just that Oakland A’s are historically bad after 100 games in MLB season at 27-73, but their run differential is -260. Yes, 2.6 runs, a game.

And to put this in perspective, the Washington Nationals (who beat the Giants tonight) and the Colorado Rockies are the worst teams in NL right now. Each of them wins about 4 of 10 games.

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If MLB owners approve the move and Nevada gets the A;s is there the sports equivalent of a lemon law?

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Yes, Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s actions against women and children at Rio Grande are horrific. But also doesn’t it seem with labor shortage in USA & potential immigrants willing to risk their lives to come here and work…that we should be able to figure something out on a bipartisan basis?

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So remind me what Special White House advisor position President Biden appointed his son Hunter to?

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-Have to give Ron DeSantis a small bit of credit here: For all his cruel stunts, Ron’s rewriting Florida textbooks to appeal to the worst in the Republican party gave Democrats and Vice President Harris a chance to speak out on a subject the media will actually cover.

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Senator Amy Klobuchar posted a story today about Johnson & Johnson being the latest pharmaceutical company suing to try and stop Medicare’s drug price negotiations. 

Now, not everyone may be aware, but Johnson and Johnson gross profit for the twelve months ending March 31, 2023 was $64.377B.

Yes, $64.377 BILLION.

Who says there’s no bipartisan agreement in Washington DC? Think Democrats, Republicans and Independents are all thrilled that the owner of the Washington Commanders is no longer Dan Snyder!

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SF Giants lineup lately can have up to 4 rookies at a time. Means youthful exuberance & at times youthful stupidity. But assuming Gabe Kapler didn’t have to point out story of Mariners OF Jarred Kelenic, 24 – having his best year before he kicked water cooler & broke his foot.

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Even though some of Ivanka, Donald Jr & Eric’s business deals were controversial, Democrats didn’t spend time on nonstop investigations when Speaker Pelosi had the gavel.

Why? Because Democrats were actually focused on GOVERNING & getting stuff done for the American people.

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A tornado destroyed a Pfizer plant in North Carolina – which will reportedly lead to long term shortages of medicines, including anesthesia and other sterile injectables for U.S. hospitals. Waiting to see how GOP and some media make this Biden’s fault.

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Yes, the House hearing with RFK Jr Thursday morning was a circus. But the Senate Judiciary Committee at the same time was talking about and voting to advance legislation that would require the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt a binding code of ethics.

Guess which one cable news was seriously covering?

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Understand that expanding the Supreme Court is a controversial issue. But how can ANYONE with a straight face be against a Supreme Court code of ethics, for judges regardless of politicial orientation? And yet this is the GOP position now.

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Marjorie Three Names said pictures of Hunter Biden having sex, when he admits to having being an addict, are “evidence the American people deserve to see.”

Imagine if Greene’s ex, who filed for divorce, amid rumors of her having affairs, leaked sex pictures of her because he decided Americans deserved to see them?

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On top of the insanity in Marjorie Three Names’ behavior on House floor Wed., she ranted about how Hunter Biden, who has never held office, has paid prostitutes. While she’s backing GOP candidate for President who lied about having his lawyer pay off one of his prostitutes,

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When cable news gives RFK Jr more attention than Joe Biden And when cable news gives Joe Manchin more attention than any other Senator… We, and democracy, have a problem.

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I realize people can register for whatever party they choose. But wish we could stop referring to RFK Jr as a “Democratic Presidential Candidate?” He might have a “D” by his name but he’s no more a Democrat than say, Tulsi Gabbard, who finally admitted it.

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Who says there’s no bipartisan agreement in Washington DC? Think Democrats, Republicans and Independents are all thrilled that the owner of the Washington Commanders is no longer Dan Snyder!

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In Texas, anti-choice “expert witness” testified in FAVOR of forcing women to carry nonviable pregnancies to term & said holding dead infant could “improve the grief” process for parents & even young children. So drag queens will traumatize kids but not seeing dead baby sibling?

Baseball is great for those of us who believe in small mercies and finding the good in every day.

Like today, when the SF Giants had their seven game win streak broken in a 3-2 game they should have won.

But the other orange and black team, the Baltimore Orioles moved into first place in the AL East by beating LA Dodgers.

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Weird stat in the Giants Reds game.

The Reds won 3-2. They only batted in eight innings since they had the lead. But in SEVEN of the eight innings, they were retired in order. Yep, seven of eight perfect innings. But in that one other inning, four hits including a three run home run.

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Northwestern, once a perennial Big Ten doormat, has become recently known as a bright light among universities for combining academics with top athletic programs.

Not sure what’s more horrific, the stories coming out now about hazing? Or wondering now at how many other top athletic schools the hazing might be as bad or worse.

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Many Republican actions make sense IF you realize GOP plan in 2024 is not to win a majority of votes but to keep people who disagree with them from voting.

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Has a single GOP member of Congress condemned Marjorie Three Names’ showing Hunter Biden’s private nude pictures today?

I’ll wait.

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And uh, C-Span is available through many cable TV packages and streaming and on phones.

After Marjorie Three Names’ stunt with Hunter Biden nude pictures today, shouldn’t GOP demand her future appearances be blocked from schools, libraries etc?

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In-N-Out Burger forbidding workers in 5 Western states from wearing COVID masks unless they have doctor’s letter. GOP claims to care about religious freedom. What if worker quotes Bible “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak” & says they’re protecting elderly & at-risk?

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Am reminded today of that great courtroom scene from Miracle on 34th Street, when the judge finally rules that yes you can say- “Mr. Kringle IS Santa Claus.” As today a real judge rules that yes, you can say Donald Trump IS a rapist.

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Donald Trump is reportedly furious that Sarah Huckabee Sanders won’t endorse him “Nobody has done more for her than I have.” What a whiny little child he is. Does Donald think he’s running for President or homecoming king?

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ND Governor Doug Burgum is giving out $20 gift cards for new donors who give $1. (He’s trying to get enough donors to make Presidential debate stage.) Don’t claim to be an expert on campaign finance law but can you imagine if a DEMOCRAT tried something like this?

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Stanford’s President resigned today, over concerns about his research. One thing the national news isn’t highlighting.

“The university launched its inquiry in December after a campus newspaper, the Stanford Daily, reported that there were concerns” about his published research. The reporter was a freshman!

Local journalism, including student journalism, matters!

Camilo Doval after his second save for SF Giants in six hours today, “I just leave it up to God.”

Watching the end of game one, suspended after hours of rain last night which ended up 4-2 Giants and then the bizarre game two, delayed by rain tonight which ended up 11-10, SF Giants over Cincinnati Reds, thinking if God was watching those baseball games She/He has a twisted sense of humor.

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The Yankees, still a few games above .500 are 1-4 since the All-Star break and the NY media is ready to turn the page on their season. For all those who imagine Shohei Ohtani in pinstripes The man seems to have fun playing baseball, WHY would he put himself in line for that?

(especially when other teams will match the half a billion plus reasons.)

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Mitch McConnell today talked about “radical climate ideas” and about Democrats being “oblivious to the real world.” Uh, has Mitch turned on the news, including the Weather Channel, lately?

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Chuck Grassley rambling on Senate Floor against Biden’s nominee for Deputy VA Secretary – says he gets “a lot information from whistleblowers. He has done same to accuse Hunter & Joe Biden. Are whistleblowers Grassley’s version of “big strong men with tears in their eyes?”

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So how do most of these Republican candidates for President expect us to think they can stand up to “all enemies foreign and domestic” when they can’t even stand up to a 77 year old loser with multiple criminal indictments?

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Trump World in 2023 – President Biden is a incompetent doddering old man who can barely tie his shoes. President Biden is personally directing and overseeing a vast conspiracy reaching into every level of Government to take down Donald Trump. Make it make sense.

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I don’t forget who Chris Christie is. And I remember that bridge shutdown – . Won’t ever vote for him. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy listening to Christie some days now on occasion. Sometimes when your opponents are pushing each other into holes, you just smile and stand back and watch.

Has there been an MLB season with TWO teams under a .300 winning percentage? Oakland As and Kansas City Royals are both well on their way…

On pace each to win fewer than 50 of 162 games.

Once again, turn on the television and Senators making headlines are the extremists. Those holding things up or the No Labels guy.

Not saying their names. What does the media have against good politicians actually doing their jobs???? (Yeah, I know, competence isn’t clickbait.)

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Tommy Tuberville presumably spent the weekend and Monday with the Senate off at fundraisers or relaxing after another week of holding the US military hostage. Amy Klobuchar was in Minneapolis with Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough talking about the bipartisan but Democrat-led PACT Act, passed last year finally to expand health benefits for vets..

See the difference?

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And yes, US Senate not in session Monday. And summer break goes from July 31 to Sept 7. Now some Senators are working. But with GOP Senators pulling dangerous stunts of blocking nominees and requiring slow confirmation process, why not cancel days (& nights) off and make them come vote?

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Still blows my mind that same GOP who accuse President Biden of trying to overreach his power with executive orders etc, have no problem supporting a man who has indicated past and future desires to be a dictator king.

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Should we start calling him Ron Disappointis?

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Think you’re safe as GOP only is going after trans people? Rachel Maddow tonight – TN, KY, AR, GA & MS (total of 19 GOP states) Attorney Generals want rights to get private medical records re potential out-of-state abortions? If you’re not terrified you’re not paying attention

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Does anyone think red states that are going after medical records for trans people and women seeking abortions will stop there? What’s next? Seeking private information on contraception, on fertility treatments (IVF is considered abortion by some)… on what books you buy?

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Since out-of-wedlock sex is frowned upon (mostly) in the Bible, imagine if a religious woman AG demanded access to private medical records for men traveling to obtain or mail ordering Viagra.

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From my very funny friend Neil Berliner. “Call a Republican politician today and tell him/her to not use air conditioning today, because Global Warming is just liberal propaganda.”

Meanwhile, if you’ve ever thought you had a bad day at work and your coworkers didn’t care…

This grounds crew member was eaten by the tarp 😭😅 pic.twitter.com/G0m80IQHO2

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 18, 2023

At Wimbledon, today it’s called the “Gentlemen’s Final.”” Djokovic is an incredible talent. Not exactly a gentleman.

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And just saying. “Even if we don’t want to (have the vaccine), we all have to do it and so do I. It is the best solution to end the virus and live a normal life as soon as possible.” Carlos Alcarez, then 18, in April 2021.

Yeah, it’s been a rough year for the NY Mets. But SF Giants fans would like to thank them for tonight’s walk off win against the LA Dodgers.

From my funny friend Marc Ragovin. “I’m not saying the NY Mets are longshots to make the playoffs, but MLB just renamed them the “Doug Burgums.””

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As SF Giants fan, would love to see Shohei Ohtani in Orange & Black at Oracle Park. And understand big price would have to be paid, especially if he’s traded. But if SF trades star prospects better be sure they can sign him. Remember Zack Wheeler for 2 months of Carlos Beltran?

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As Ron DeathSantis’s Presidential campaign falters…will residents of the state someday realize he hurt so many people and destroyed Florida’s public education system, healthcare, tourism industry etc, for nothing?

Jason Aldean, who was singing on stage when during Las Vegas concert massacre in 2017 – 60 dead, over 400 injured, now has a song “Try That In A Small Town.”

Lyrics are about how he and his friends will shoot you if you try to take their guns.

Of all the people spouting crazy gun nonsense, Aldean and Steve Scalise are two that I just really don’t get. Both of them came close to dying because people who shouldn’t have had guns had guns.-

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Something which isn’t spoken about enough. Carrying a nonviable pregnancy to term is not only emotionally devastating, it also at the least delays a woman who wants a child from getting pregnant again. And could cause complications that make a future pregnancy impossible.

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As GOP right-wing inserts banning abortion access into the Defense bill, why don’t they go further to reduce number of unwanted pregnancies (and thus potential abortions by demanding that men in military not be covered for Viagra?

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Would never vote for Chris Christie for President. But the former NJ Governor is clearly out of firetrucks to give. He’s being honest. And he is having fun.

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Going to keep saying this. Even many Republicans know Tommy Tuberville’s stunt in holding up military confirmations is not just stupid but also dangerous. So why can’t Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, who is 81 years old, rein him in? Is Mitch too old to do HIS job?