Left Coast Sports Babe

The way things are going, while I know the NBA wanted a Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers finals, looks like maybe with enough $$$ to make it worth their time, both teams will be available next weekend for a celebrity video game or golf tournament.

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The Oakland As, at 10-38, have a minus 168 run differential. Yes, that’s over 3 runs, almost 3 1/2 runs PER GAME.

By comparison, only four other teams, three in the AL Central are worse than -51. (The Royals are -71, – 54 for the White Sox and Marlins, -51 for the Tigers.)

If this were Premier League soccer the As would be the odds on favorite for relegation.

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Bo Schembechler’s son Shemy resigned 3 days after he was hired as assistant director of recruiting at Michigan after it came to light his Twitter account “liked” numerous racist and insensitive posts. So how long until he gets hired by Fox News?

Trans athletes are a complicated issues. But GOP is now trying to convince people that they care SO much about girls’ and women’s sports, your reminder that when Title IX first passed in 1972, Rep John Tower (R-Tex) had tried to propose an amendment that would have exempted athletics departments.

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But if GOP is bound and determined to die on the gender bathroom hill why not make all public bathrooms unisex with private stalls and not worry about it?

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So has Elon Muskrat commented on his pal Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s new taxes on electric cars yet?

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I’m quite fond of Garth Brook, who has just started a residency in Las Vegas.

And he has that line “when we’re free to love anyone we choose…we shall be free.”

So is MAGA going to cancel Garth next? (Might make for nicer audiences.)

In 1536, Henry VIII had a priest named William Tyndale executed.

His crime – translating the Bible into English. The King didn’t want ordinary people to be able to read it and think for themselves. Some Republicans these days aren’t that different from King Henry.

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Florida has a two consecutive term limit for Governors.

So when Deathsantis doesn’t make it to the White House what’s next?

Trying for Senate, big $$ in private industry, or browbeating legislature into trying to change law? (Actually, by then he may have worn out welcome even with Republicans.

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Why aren’t members of the media regularly asking GOP members of Congress spewing lies about the debt ceiling and the deficit why rescinding some tax cuts even for BILLIONAIRES aren’t on the table? Asking for a country tired of having the middle class subsidize rich people.

Tyler Rogers replacing his identical twin Taylor Rogers in the eighth inning of an SF Giants game, and then getting the save, is such a great moment on so many levels.

Especially for fans of junkballers.

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Meanwhile, the Mets are bringing up catcher Gary Sanchez. And Yankees fans are just giggling.

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Miami Heat came back again in Boston to put the Celtics in a 2-0 hole. But when you have 2 leads late in game where ESPN thinks you have over a 93% chance of winning each time, either ESPN needs to adjust their software, or the Celtics need to figure out how to play 4 quarters.

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Headline today in Orlando Sentinel about hotels with “stubborn staff shortages.” Well, DeSantis making Florida inhospitable to immigrants (or anyone who looks like an immigrant), LGBTQ community & women of childbearing age. Not that any of those groups work in hotels. #sarcasm

If President Biden invokes the 14th Amendment, Republicans are going to throw a temper tantrum and vow not to cooperate with anything. As opposed to what they are doing now?

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GOP is now going after remote work for Federal agencies, and trying to force workers back into the office instead of teleworking. Uh, if we needed proof that showing up isn’t exactly a guarantee of productively, House GOP are mostly showing up in DC and getting nothing done.

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Knew Ron and Casey DeSantis were married at Disney World, but a Politico article today adds “It rained on their reception at the Italian pavilion at Epcot.” Wonder if that adds to Ron’s hatred of Disney. How dare they have allowed it to rain on their wedding reception?

Starry’s first NHL overtime playoff games. She finds it amusing but would prefer the puck were lit up like a laser pointer.

Forget being from Canada. There isn’t a single team left in the NHL playoffs from north of the Mason-Dixon line.

(although almost half the players are Canadian.)

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Dodgers canceled Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who feature drag nuns, from Pride Night in LA, after some complaints including from FL’s Marco Rubio. Sisters have been around since 1979. Uh, that’s almost 10 years before LA won their last (non-COVID short season) World Series!

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Why isn’t media talking about the fact that an octogenarian Senator was moved aside for a younger senator to be chair/ranking member on Senate Judiciary committee? Oh, right, they are talking about Feinstein. My bad, I meant Chuck Grassley who was pushed aside for Lindsey Graham.

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And has a single member of media asked if Mitch McConnell, 81, is getting regular physical and cognitive tests, after he had a serious fall last year that included a concussion? And what about Chuck Grassley, who will be 90 in September? I’ll wait.

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GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts quotes Chuck Grassley attacking Biden nominee Nancy Abudu as “One of the most activist judicial nominees we have ever seen.”

But GOP has no problem with activist SCOTUS judges overturning decades of settled law. Make it make sense.

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As US governmen, on a somewhat bipartisan bases but led by GOP wants to or ban Tik Tok, look, I do understand the worry that Chinese-owned TikTok might use data to create misinformation campaigns for US elections.

So how is that different from what Muskrat may be doing with Twitter?

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OK Sen. James Lankford gives long speech on “Federal Fumbles,” -where Federal Govt spends taxpayer money on things that sound silly. Fair enough.

Would Lankford also like to list some of the things American billionaires spend money on that they got with GOP/Trump tax cuts?

Subtle but important point: Yes, if Feinstein resigns Newsom can appoint replacement. But GOP do NOT have to let Dems appoint anyone to replace her on Judiciary Committee, where Dems have 1 vote advantage.. Which would mean some Biden nominees would never get to Senate floor.

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With GOP debt ceiling hostage crisis Chuck Schumer now says members “should remain aware & be able to return to Senate within a 24 hour period to fulfill our responsibilities to avoid default.”

If any Republican Senators end up having Memorial Day plans wrecked hope they thank Kevin McCarthy

Disney has now canceled a $2 billion campus they were planning to build in Florida, expected to bring more than 2,000 jobs in digital technology, finance and product development. Mostly in the six figure range. They cited “changing business conditions.”

We are in the FAFO stage of this Ron vs the Mouse saga.

SF Giants this year not only started out with a mediocre record, but also they often weren’t much fun to watch. This changed when Casey Schmitt showed up. For those who remember 1986 – You gotta like this kid.

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And yeah, now about a quarter through MLB season and SF Giants are at 20-23.

Not great, but only 1/2 game behind highest payoll in MLB NY Mets, 1/2 game better than 3rd highest payroll SD Padres, and Giants just swept the 4th highest Philadelphia Phillies.

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Remember when Erik Spoelstra coached the Miami Heat “Super Team & conventional wisdom said he didn’t have to do a thing for the ring? Between other “Super teams” crashing and burning plus the Heat so far in NBA playoffs this year, thinking conventional wisdom was way wrong.

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House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries filed a discharge petition which could force a vote on increasing the debt limit. Kevin McCarthy responded “I think America is tired of political games.” And Kevin said it with a straight face.

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Lauren Boebert, who has told us repeatedly how much she believes in marriage, has made the life-altering decision to file for divorce, and now wants us to respect her difficult choice. Okay then…

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A party line vote today referred resolution to expel George Santos from Congress to the House Ethics Committee. Shocking. This GOP led-house HAS an Ethics Committee?

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Apparently a proposed trucker boycott in Florida over immigration hasn’t really happened.

Yet. But have to wonder, as someone in the travel industry, an industry with a LOT of LGBTQ people, what happens if LGBTQ people in travel and hospitality – restaurants and hotels – decided not to work in Florida?’-

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Trump fundraising email whine of the day “I’m disgusted that the Biden-appointed Special Counsel is harassing, threatening, and terrorizing my staff.”

That’s not only a lie, but also apparently Donald thinks harassing, threatening and terrorizing his staff is his job.

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GOP trying to use Comstock Act from 1873, from before women could vote, against mifepristone. Act prohibits mailing of anything “intended for prevention of conception or procuring of abortion.” or “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” materials. So wouldn’t that ban mailing Viagra?

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As summer travel season approaches, remember, since 2006 Americans can’t bring even a half bottle of sealed wine in carry-on because of alleged plot to put bombs in soft-drink bottles. And how many mass shootings has America had just in 2023 without any changes in gun laws?

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is famous both for his love of drafting internation players, and for his love of wine…. Wonder what French wine he opened tonight?

Victor Webanayama said he didn’t have preferred destination, but Spurs are popular team in France because national basketball legends Boris Diaw & Tony Parker thrived and won titles in San Antonio. And he called it “a special moment”

Spurs fans agree.

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Yes, the Lebron James-led Lakers have been really impressive lately. But your reminder, the chopped-liver Denver Nuggets were in 1st place most of the season and finished 10 games ahead of Los Angeles.

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CBS gives a 60 Minutes interview slot to Marjorie Taylor Greene. CNN gives a Town Hall to Donald Trump. NBC gives an interview to Elon Musk What’s next – a network giving a full hour special to George Santos?

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North Carolina State Rep. Tricia Cotham, who won in a deep blue district, then inexplicably switched parties, has HERSELF had an abortion.

And she was the deciding vote to overturn Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of 12 wk abortion ban.

GOP motto has truly become, “Do as I say, not as I do.

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Kevin McCarthy saying he doesn’t think Biden should travel now “Don’t think I’d spend 8 days out of the country. Think country wants an American President focused on solving American problems.” Like a toddler throwing a tantrum and saying Mommy should stay home from work.

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Tommy Tuberville has done the impossible – make reasonable people miss Jeff Sessions.

Tommy Tuberville, supported by Mike Lee, holds up all Pentagon appointments over DOD’s travel policy for military women seeking reproductive care. Imagine if Democratic senator held up ALL military appointments over unmarried men getting Viagra. Or even over gun control.’

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Or, if it’s about pregnancy…. what about vasectomies. Cue Monty Python’s “Every Sperm is Sacred.”

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Elon Muskrat is ducking a U.S. Virgin Islands subpoena & denying that he ever got advice from or would listen to Jeffrey Epstein. And although Musk and Ghislaine Maxwell were seen together at a 2014 Vanity Fair party, he’s denied knowing her. “Everyone but me is lying.”

Pattern sound familiar?

The largest city in the US with a Republican mayor.” “What is no longer Jacksonville?” Political Jeopardy for DeSantis, who endorsed the GOP nominee.

Newly elected Jacksonville mayor Donna Deegan: ” I believe 2 things can be true: Police have very dangerous job & we need more officers on streets & I will fund those, I also believe that Black mamas shouldn’t have to worry every time their kids step out of the house.”

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Watching media talk about GOP manufacture debt ceiling crisis. Next time someone takes hostages in a bank robbery will they say the police are equally to blame for risking those hostages’ lives by not negotiating?

The Oakland A’s drew an announced crowd of 2,064, their smallest for a home game fans were allowed to attend since 1979.

2,064….. ?! Even old Montreal Expos are thinking that’s pathetic.

And for comparison, at Sunken Diamond on the Stanford campus, the Cardinal drew 2061 for a random game last Saturday against the University of Arizona.

And the Giants, whose attendance is down probably in part due to a mediocre at best start and a lack of star power, drew 23,819.

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Meanwhile over in SF,

This Casey Schmitt kid is seriously fun! #SFGiants

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Roy Cooper had a outdoor joyous rally Saturday to protect women’s rights by vetoing North Carolina’s 12 week abortion bill. Ron DeSantis signs Florida’s six week bill under cover of darkness and announces it later. See the difference?

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We don’t know a motive yet and not speculating. But NOTHING on Fox News website about the baseball bat attack on staffers for Virginia Democratic representative Gerry Connelly. If staffers for a GOP US representative were as much as heckled at lunch it would be headline news.

A new super PAC backing Mike Pence as a 2024 presidential candidate launched Monday.” This might be the first time the words “Super” and “Mike Pence” have been used in the same sentence.

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So has Florida banned Mulan yet?

And what about Little Mermaid (inter-species relationship.)

And Zootopia? (Bucky and Pronk.)

For that matter… seven little men living alone in one cottage until a woman shows up & none of them are interested in her? Seems gay to me.

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Media acting like Kevin McCarthy is being normal on debt ceiling when he says “it doesn’t seem yet that Biden wants a deal. It’s as if Kevin said “if parents don’t want to negotiate with kidnappers holding their child hostage it doesn’t seem yet that they want their kid to live.”

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Sen. John Cornyn speaking on National Police Week & touting his bipartisan bills with Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons & Gary Peters. All well & good, but if Cornyn wants to “Back the Blue” how about assault weapon legislation to limit cops facing civilians armed with weapons of war?

It has been 30 years since a Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup. And as the Las Vegas Golden Knights eliminate the Edmonton Oilers, that streak will continue.

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But before the game, ESPN was tonight talking about “a very important game six between the Golden Knights and the Oilers in the NHL playoffs.”

Ok, in a best of seven series in sports is there ever a non-important game six?.

Kenley Jansen got his 400th save this week. In his next two games, Friday and Saturday, he blew the saves. That’s baseball.

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Interesting times to be a Denver Nuggets fan. Sports pundits seemingly trying to decide if Lakers, Celtics or Heats are favorites to win the NBA championship. And all the Nuggets have done is won the Western Conference after spending 105 days in first place.

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SF Giants pitcher Anthony DeScalani may not win the Cy Young this year but “dropping a piano bench on your toe” is in the running for the most bizarre baseball injury of 2023.

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Have no idea what is going on in Ja Morant’s head…. and NBA stars probably have to deal with a lot of unwanted attention. But seriously, if he was actually concerned about his safety, the guy could hire a licensed security team.

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Remembering on Mother’s Day that my mom actually taught 2nd grade for a couple years. When she got pregnant with me she felt fine, but had to quit when she started to “show.” Used to laugh about how puritanical USA was back in the day…sadly we’re heading back in that direction.

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If Daniel Penny were black and Jordan Neely were white, does anyone think Ron DeSantis and others in the GOP would be calling Penny a hero and Good Samaritan?

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Trump canceled his rally last night due to tornado warnings. Translation – he didn’t want to muss up his hair?

So with Ron DeSantis’s new law saying health care providers have “right to opt out of health care services on the basis of conscience-based objections,” if, for starters, if a married man comes in with an STD he didn’t get from his wife, can a doctor refuse to treat him?

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USA has, and needs, hardworking immigrants from all over, especially in today’s labor market. But GOP attacks immigrants from the southern border because it’s convenient. Not say, Vietnam. Because even GOP knows there’d be bipartisan rage if women couldn’t get their nails done.

Going through Twitter- Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi, Lisa Murkowski, even Mitch Mcconnell… all posted lovely warm messages on Mother’s Day. And the Former Guy ranted about the “radical left.” Very on brand.

Nothing is certain but death, taxes, and the Toronto Maple Leafs breaking their fans’ hearts in the playoffs.

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Many thought the Western Conference finals would be between the evenly matched Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. Instead, the most even match is that the Suns lost their elimination game by 25, and the Warriors by 21.

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For anyone who saw the actual shot/heave – this might be one of the NBA basketball understatements of the year: From ESPN Gamecast in Warriors-Lakers game, end of 2nd quarter. “0.0 – Austin Reaves makes 54-foot three pointer.”

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Two regular season play-in teams will make the conference finals. So wonder how many top NBA teams, already being criticized for resting their stars too much during the regular season, will decide the solution to win in the playoffs will be to sit those stars even more?

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I would hereby like to nominate SF Giants Ross Stripling to pitch All-Star week. Specifically in the Home Run Derby. Stripling has now pitched 28 innings and given up 10 home runs.

NY Times has this headline lower down the front page… “Border Is Calm as Crowds Continue and Administration Fights Court Ruling.” Yes. “Border is Calm.” But media is, again, rooting for disaster.

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Linda Yaccarino, newly appointed CEO of Twitter, appears to be quite competent and certainly no pushover. Too soon to start a pool on how long she’ll last?

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Ron Deathsantis apparently has failed in his latest punishment effort for Disney – trying to put state inspectors in charge of ALL Disney rides. Yeah, the same state inspectors who were in charge of buildings like Champlain Towers South, the Surfside condo that collapsed.

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What Republicans especially don’t talk about with immigration. Caitlin Dickerson: “Employers are desperate: Hearing from sources in New York that within days every migrant that arrives is working 6-7 days a week, cleaning houses, offices, making or delivering food…”

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Again, it strikes me people who are willing to walk for months, to risk their & their children’s lives, for a better life and the chance to work hard at a job, might be pretty good employees. Especially with a US labor shortage. We need reasonable immigration reform.

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Gov DeSantis just signed a bill mandating inclusion of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) history in Florida’s K-12 curriculum. While he has rejected African American history. So just cynically dividing communities of color? Or does Ron have big AAPI donors? Or both.

Somebody apparently didn’t tell Kevin Durant that karma has decided “join a super team get a free ring,” is a one-time deal.

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Apparently the Denver Nuggets are staying tonight in the same hotel in Phoenix as the San Francisco Giants. Hope none of the Giants hoped to go back to the hotel bar for a quiet night.

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Uh, the story on SF Giants prospect Casey Schmitt was that he was “good field no hit.” Casey has hit two balls well over 400 feet in three games….

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Peloton is recalling 2.2 million exercise bikes due to seat post breaking during use. The bikes were sold between 2018 and 2023. Considering how much Americans stick to exercise plans, wonder how many of the bikes sold going back 5 years are actually still being used anyway?

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Mitch McConnell says he disagrees with Tommy Tuberville blocking Pentagon appointments to make a point about the military allowing women to travel for reproductive health issues, but he can’t do anything about it.

Uh, Mitch has had serious health issues, but is the GOP Senate leader. And he can’t rein in a first term Senator on a matter of National Security.??? Where are the calls for McConnell, 81, to retire?

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Usually have watched CNN’s “Inside Politics” in the morning here in California. Thursday it was far more appealing to watch Senate on C-Span 2 vote on whether or not to repeal the Endangered Species Act protections for the northern long-eared bat.

So next up will CNN do a prime-time special of an hour showing actual train wrecks?

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Muskrat says today he has found a new CEO of Twitter and she starts in six weeks. I’m sure the fact that Velveeta Voldemort is dominating headlines today after his televised train wreck had nothing to do with the timing.

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Biden has announced a 2024 re-election advisory board – 50 Democrats including Senators Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Chris Murphy, Patty Murray and Tom Carper. All are strong supporters and will campaign for the President. And guessing mostly they’ll get less media coverage than if Joe Manchin complains about something Joe does.

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Headline from Orlando Sentinel: “DeSantis ramps up executions as bid for president nears With his signing of a death warrant for Duane Owen on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis has now approved four executions in less than four months…” Time to really call him Ron DeathSantis.

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Ironic. Yesterday the Senate Commerce committee reported out the Railway Safety Act, a bipartisan bill by Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance with bipartisan support. But this got zero coverage.

Especially compared to the televised train wreck on CNN. Do better media!

Lived in Toronto from 4-6th and then again 8th grade. Know how bad it’s become for Maple Leafs fans when Toronto hangs on to win a 3-0 elimination game, and half -or more, of the social media comments are about it only prolonging the torture.

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West Virginia suspended men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins after an especially awful homophobic slur, repeated more than once, in an interview about his former Cincinnati rival,Xavier. And they reduced his salary by $1 million.

If West Virginia is SERIOUS about making a real statement that what their basketball coach said was wrong they would take that $1 million salary reduction and donate it to LGBTQ causes.

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Tommy Tuberville, defending his holding up defense nominations over women’s reproductive rights, (NOT, not US taxpayers paying for abortions, but allowing women time off for legal medical procedures that could be banned where they are deployed) has had 30 days off this year.

He has a point. Fine, so Chuck Schumer can you cancel nights and weekends until Tommy stops this stunt. We’ll see how much his GOP colleagues like it.

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“Woke” beer is one of the new GOP perceived threats. And just read that Ron DeSantis says he prefers Guinness to Bud Light… Uh, Ron, Guinness was “woke” before “woke” was a thing. “Guinness drops sponsorship of anti-LGBT NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade -March 16, 2014”

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Rumors CNN offered Kaitlin Collins, for moderating their Town Hall, the 9p news anchor job.

For CNN???!!!

Quote from Sir Thomas More, who Richard Rich lied to condemn to be named AG of Wales? “Why Richard, it profit a man nothing to give his soul for whole world. but for Wales!”

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I get it sadly with places like deep red Alabama, where they voted out a good moderate man in Doug Jones in favor of Tommy Tuberville. But Wisconsin, you elected Tammy Baldwin, how the h*ll did you re-elect Ron Johnson?

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Whatever you think of Dianne Feinstein, if she retires, GOP still must APPROVE a replacement on Judiciary mid term. Process is same as for temporary replacement:

And even Mitt : “Romney told CNN even if Feinstein retired, he still doesn’t see GOP helping Dems replace her on Senate Judiciary Committee

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First Kevin McCarthy started kowtowing to Donald Trump.

Then Kevin McCarthy starting kowtowing to Marjorie Three Names.

Now Kevin McCarthy is kowtowing to George Santos? How low can you go?

As a disappointed SF Giants fan, nothing personal against Carlos Correa. (Scott Boras OTOH) But ouch. Correa was booed in Minneapolis, while going 0-5, stranding six runners, and dropping his batting average to .185.

Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make.

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Meanwhile, Casey Schmitt made his major league debut at short today in San Francisco. Hit a pitch during his second AB 412 feet. Got a second hit later, and had a potential double just go foul.

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First Kevin McCarthy said he wouldn’t expell George Santos or have him resign because he hadn’t been indicted or charged with a crime. Now that Santos has been indicted McCarthy says he hasn’t been convicted.

And if George IS convicted, watch, Kevin will say he won’t expel him until the appeals process is done.

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So if you’re a star they let you do it, in New York is Trump no longer a star?

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Meanwhile, guess the ketchup-cleaner at Mar-A-Lago is getting overtime pay this week.

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Ron DeSantis just got a bill passed requiring Florida teachers who want to be in unions to mail in written checks every month. Yes, the same Ron DeSantis who just got a bill passed to make it harder for Floridians to vote by mail. Make it make sense.

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During Teacher Appreciation Week, remember, the same GOP who trusts teachers to be armed, doesn’t trust them to choose books for children.

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So tired of GOP claim “America has a spending problem” Not saying we can’t talk about spending and possible cuts…

But Democrats need to keep reminding us: “America has an undertaxed billionaire problem.”

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It’s actually pretty simple. If CNN gets millions of outraged people to tune in to watch Trump town hall they will consider it a win. If they have the worst ratings ever they will consider it a mistake. Watch something else. Anything else.

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Senate just unanimously passed HR 346 – NOTAM improvement act after Jan ’23 NOTAM system failure brought US domestic flights to temporary halt. Lead sponsor Amy Klobuchar with Shelly Moore Capito, Jerry Moran, Maria Cantwell. Never gets coverage when Senate does something GOOD.

But loved this quote from Senator Klobuchar apparently walking through a crowd of reporters at the end of the day today “you guys have enough news to cover?”

If Lakers win the series against Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles should send flowers at least to the San Antonio Spurs for letting Lonnie Walker IV go.

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And if the Warriors come back no one will remember the game because East Coast media is all focused on the NY Knicks being now on the brink of elimination.

Got confused and thought SF Giants had Monday night off. Looks like their offense, against the lowly Washington Nationals, thought the same thing. (5-1 loss, 0-8 with runners in scoring position, and only run a home run in the 9th)

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Oakland A’s Glen Kuiper suspended for carelessly mispronouncing Negro League, for which he apologized. (I’m not disagreeing with the suspension.)

But West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said, and repeated in an interview, a deliberate anti-gay slur against Xaiver – his former in town rival when Huggins coached at Cincinnati Bob has an 863-389 career record and a .689 winning percentage. Let’s see what happens to him.

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President Biden and Pete Buttigieg pushing a rule to require airlines to compensate fliers for cancellation and delays. Seems like this would be universally popular. So waiting to see how GOP comes out on the side of travel misery.

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I like Biden’s new rules for mandatory compensation for delays except for weather.

Although, as a travel agent I can anticipate one issue: If a delay is caused by multiple factors, and many of them air, the airline will CLAIM weather was main factor. They already do that.

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A Russian oligarch is publicly criticizing Putin’s war in Ukraine. So how long until he falls out of a window?

NBC News interviewed resident of Florida’s The Villages who said she & husband decided not to renew Disney World annual passes after CEO’s comments against DeSantis’s “don’t say Gay” law.

Cool, the fewer hateful people, the more Disney will be “Happiest Place on Earth” for rest of us.

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Mitch McConnell says he “would’ve love to had” Kyrsten Sinema caucus with Republicans but Sinema says she won’t join GOP. Makes sense, Kyrsten isn’t stupid. How many GOP women Senators do you hear much about? (maybe Susan Collins?) But Sinema has far more power and gets more attention where she is.

So are all these pro-gun Republicans who think they’re going to keep their kids safe by homeschooling them going also now to tell their kids they can’t go to the mall?

And are GOP women going to stop going to fancy outlet malls?

Asking for a tired country.

In the “it’s a start” department, a new bill in Texas advanced by a GOP House committee would raise minimum age to purchase certain semi-automatic rifles.

Works for me.

Could I suggest the minimum age be 99 years old?

To put things in perspective, Mage won yesterday’s Kentucky Derby in 2:01.57. One of the faster Derbies… Secretariat in 1973 was over two seconds faster. He’d have won by about 10 lengths.

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“My Old Kentucky Home” has the line “it’s summer, the people are gay” in it. So Ron Deathsantis now going to try to cancel the Kentucky Derby too?

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ESPN’s Karl Ravich actually asked Mookie Betts if the Los Angeles Dodgers – San Diego Padres rivalry was as big as the Red Sox – Yankees.

And SF Giants fans just threw up.

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Though I lived in Toronto for four years and became a big Leafs fan as a kid, I don’t follow hockey that much anymore. Just as well, because nothing is certain but death, taxes, and the Maple Leafs falling apart in the playoffs.

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Prince Harry apparently flew to his Father’s Coronation the day before on a regularly scheduled American Airlines flight. Maybe Harry wanted to leave it to fate as to whether he made it for the ceremony on time or not?

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Ticketmaster in UK now offering West End shows in London for no ticketing fees!

Why? UK Standard newspaper: “unlike US, where Ticketmaster has “significant presence” UK has wider range of ticket providers- GigsandTours, SeeTickets etc…”

This isn’t hard. Monopolies hurt consumers.

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Next week on American Idol is “Disney Week.”

Many Republicans as well as Democrats love American Idol.

Waiting to see if Ron Deathsantis is going to try to cancel “Idol.”

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WTF?

From Trump fundraising email: As your next president, I will mandate federal employees to take a civil service test to demonstrate a TRUE understanding of our Constitution – and bureaucrats who do not pass will be FIRED.

They will be quizzed on due process rights, equal protection, free speech, religious liberties, 4th Amendment protection against unreasonable search & seizure & your many other constitutional liberties.” As if he himself and GOP members of Congress could pass that test.

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GOP hates math. But while conspiracy theories are flying around, amplified by some of the congressional crazies, this simple fact:

A 2021 investigation by Voice of America found that only 23% of mass shooters from 1966 to February 2020 took psychiatric medication.

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So this weekend there was a mass shooter at Texas outlet mall.

Does Cancun Cruz want armed guards now in malls as well as schools?

Let’s make it simpler. Where does Ted think we DON’T need armed guards? (Anything but sensible gun law reform.)

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If anyone doesn’t believe a Latino man can be a racist, or even a White Supremacist, suggest you watch John Sayles’ movie “Lone Star.” If for nothing else than the fact people are complicated. And there are all kinds of hierarchies and layers of racicm.

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I’m so old I remember when biggest worry going to an outlet mall was parking. Not being shot.

Mental health problems happen for people in countries all over the world. Regular mass shootings only happen and kill people in the USA. It’s the guns, stupid.

76ers coach Doc Rivers brushed off criticism of James Harden for his Las Vegas partying trip during three days off in Philadelphia’s first round playoff series vs Brooklyn.

Well, if Harden keeps playing like he did tonight in today’s loss against Boston, James is less than a week away from being able to spend all the time in Vegas he wants.

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New York Yankees payroll , $279,647,478

Tampa Bay Rays payroll, $74,537,681

Tampa Bay just beat NY and are now 10 games ahead of the last place Yankees. No punchline, I just like writing it.

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Neera Tanden, President Biden’s new domestic policy advisor, once referred to Mitch McConnell as “Voldemort” and wrote “Vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz.”

No lies detected.

Fox News website didn’t find space to cover… The video of Trump’s E. Jean Carroll deposition Eight fake electors accepting immunity deals. Great US jobs report. Fox did find space for a headline whine about Biden and Harris going to lunch at a DC taqueria. #Priorities

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Ron DeSantis, in escalating his feud with Disney “No one should be exempt from rules that everyone else has to follow.” So the Florida Governor is for a SCOTUS code of ethics. Okay then.

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Let’s make this clear. Right-wing GOP wants to have more restrictions – including potential body searches, on Americans entering public bathrooms than they want to have on Americans carrying guns.

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Wonder what happens when the Proud Boys figure out not only that their cult leader not only won’t save them, but also that he never gave a d*mn about them in the first place.

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CNN’s John King talks about both sides sitting down like adults to avoid economic disaster &figure the debt out. Uh, he leaves out that GOP refusing to pay our bills is NOT an adult position to start with. Adults cannot and should not negotiate with toddlers throwing tantrums.

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And Terry points out that when I mentioned Kayleigh McEnany and Ted Cruz as Harvard’s potential biggest mistakes that I left out Ron DeSantis. And yes, the Florida Governor is working hard to win that title.

What were the odds on either of these?

Tampa Bay Rays, 26-6

Oakland As, 6-26.

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Justin Verlander gave up two runs in five innings in his New York debut, but the Mets were shut out and lost 2-0. So maybe Verlander really will be the new Jacob DeGrom.

Understand that GOP members of Congress would never actually try to impeach SCOTUS justices. But no one, even Susan Collins, is expressing even mild disapproval or concern?

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Convicting the Proud Boys without eventually convicting the person who instigated their seditious conspiracy would be as if a jury convicted Sharon Tate’s killers and let Charlie Manson walk.

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Would some reporter like to ask Senators and House members of the “law and order” GOP why they continually ignore jury verdicts that prove how serious the sedition on January 6 was? I’ll wait

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Kayleigh McEnany, who will at least temporarily replace Tucker Carlson as Fox News’ Liar in Chief, is a Harvard Law Graduate. She might give Ted Cruz competition for “worst mistake Harvard ever made.”

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CNN’s Trump Town Hall will be moderated by Kaitlan Collins. You can take the girl out of the Daily Caller, but you can’t take the Daily Caller out of the girl…?

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Wonder if/when we’ll learn the identity of the person who worked at Mar-A-Lago, who is now reportedly cooperating with Federal prosecutors on classified documents? And how many minutes after their identity is revealed will Trump claim he never met them?

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Five members of the Proud Boys found guilty by a jury of felony seditious conspiracy for January 6. Fox News website has nothing on the story. They did, however, find space to cover Trump attacking Biden for not going to King Charles III’s coronation.

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And later today- I’m sure you’re all shocked to know that Fox News not only isn’t defending Clarence Thomas, but also they haven’t even mentioned how Harlan Crow paid the tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew at two private schools.

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So CNN’s Town Hall with Velveeta Voldemort is scheduled for next Wednesday at 8pm. Thinking a good goal would be the show ending up with CNN’s worst ratings ever.

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Two mass shootings in two days in Georgia. On January 1, Governor Brian Kemp signed a new law saying you longer need a permit to carry a gun in Georgia. It’s the guns, stupid.

ESPN headline “Young Jets players in awe of new teammate Aaron Rodgers.”

Wait until Aaron screams at them to get off his lawn.

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Not sure what’s more improbable, that the Tampa Bay Rays are the best team in the American League. Or that their closest competitor in the league is the Baltimore Orioles?

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How much worse do the Oakland A’s have to look before Las Vegas says, “Never mind, don’t come, we’re holding out for a major league team?”

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Seriously, the 1962 Mets lost 120 games. – The A’s are on pace to lose 130.

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Turns out Herschel Walker was grifting so brazenly you wonder if he was auditioning to be Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate.

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150,000 ride Walt Disney World’s monorail daily. System has had ONE (human error with a switch) fatality since opening 1971.

Ron DeSantis got bill passed to require State Dept of Transportation to start inspecting monorail.

Florida’s king of petty.

Your tax dollars at work

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Is it considered a gender discussion in Florida if you refer to Ron DeSantis as a whiny little b*tch? Asking for a friend.

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So Cancun Cruz thinks we should have armed guards in all school. Does he think we need armed guards at all offices, bars, parties etc, since mass shootings now are happening everywhere. Police departments can’t even hire enough qualified people. It’s the guns, stupid.

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Just saying, since Muskrat is all about attention, positive or negative, would the fastest ever destruction of a company’s reputation and brand be considered enough a win for him that he could sell Twitter and move on?

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Media needs to keep reminding Americans of two facts: 1. Using debt ceiling, paying bills for money already spent, as leverage for budget is basically hostage taking move. 2. Complete BS to say Democrats won’t negotiate when GOP won’t even put BILLIONAIRE tax cuts on table.

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A new law that Florida Governor Desantis will sign allows state law enforcement officials to conduct random audits of businesses suspected of hiring undocumented workers. Over under on number of white employers who will go to jail over this? I guess you can’t go below zero.

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The E. Jean Carroll rape trial, with supporting witnesses testifying, reminds us of a question again…. How many people have to be lying for Donald Trump to be telling the truth?

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The debt ceiling is not the budget. The debt ceiling is not the budget. The debt ceiling is not the budget. Why is this so hard for the media to say?

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They’d only be in their early 70s now. 53 years ago, May 4, 1970. RIP Allison, Wiliam, Jeffrey, Sandra. #KentState

NHL Florida Panthers are restricting sales for their playoff home games against the Toronto Maple Leafs fans to American residents, in hopes of keeping Leafs fans from buying too many tickets and taking away their home ice atmosphere.

Well, I’m sure that won’t fire up Toronto fans or get them to ask American friends to buy tickets which they could pay them back for…

It’s now approaching three weeks SF Giants outfielder Bryce Johnson, 27, has been on injury concussion list with no return date in site. Johnson is a young man in top physical condition. After HIS concussion, is anyone testing Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is 81?

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In NBA’s Western Conference, 1, 4,6 & play-in 7 seeds are left. In Eastern Conference it’s 2,3,5 & play-in 8.

League complains about fans being hurt by players sitting for load management, maybe NBA needs way to make regular season wins give a team a bigger playoff advantage?

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Seems to me we could sum up the debt ceiling potential crisis in one sentence: Democrats believe we are obligated to pay our bills. Republicans don’t.

RIP Gordon Lightfoot. If you’re thinking about whether or not you should see one of those living legends from your youth when they’re touring — the answer is yes.

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Montana legislator Zooey Zephyr is suing for being censured by Republicans. And look, no one said GOP has to like Zooey and what she says. But if annoying colleagues was grounds for censure or removal, for starters Ted Cruz and Rand Paul would be out of the U.S. Senate.

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Robert Kennedy Jr. is now claiming he’s a “Kennedy Democrat.” Oh please, the only Kennedy he resembles is Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, who left Democrat party & now despite Vanderbilt/Oxford education pretends to be an “aw shucks Foghorn Leghorn” man of the people.

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It’s Sunday. So are all the restaurants who decided to make a point about boycotting Bud Light over their partnership with a trans woman closed for business? Because if it’s all about God & Bible, I do remember that commandment – “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Right wing media making a hero of 12 year old boy who said he was sent home from school to change his shirt that said “there are only two genders.” Uh, wait, I thought GOP is trying to legislate that children can’t talk about gender in school, period.

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Spent weekend at New Orleans Jazz Fest, so feeling qualified to opine about bathrooms.

1. Porta potties are gender neutral so who cares?

2. With the bathrooms labeled mens/women; 99% of folks don’t give d*mn what your gender at birth was as long as you don’t dawdle & keep line moving.

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First grade memory, going with my father Saturday night late to the newstand to pick up first edition of Sunday New York Times. There wasn’t a paper I grew up respecting more.

And now this BS headline “Rape Case Places Trump in Legal Jeopardy. Politically, He’s Thriving.”

Apparently on April 30, for anyone who is reading this on Twitter, Muskrat has stopped WordPress being able to post simultaneously. Has to be manual

Not that I expect this to be earth shattering.. But for anyone who reads my blog on Twitter, will do my best to remember.

And will get one more co-post in…

Two teams combined for 11 home runs.. and that’s just game 1.

Baseball played in Mexico City Is enough to make SF Giants and San Diego pitchers long for a pitching friendly park like Coors Field.

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Moved as a child to Toronto in 1968, a year after the Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup. Now there are kids old enough to vote who for the first time who have seen the Leafs just win a PLAYOFF series.

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All you need to know about NFL draft grades on day one – “A Newsday poll of 20 NFL general managers in 1998 had 14 of 20 saying Colts should have drafted Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning:”

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Looking at Sunday morning talk show list and wondering, on a bipartisan basis, is it all members of Congress not funny enough to be at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?

Ron DeSantis called Disney’s lawsuit against him “political.” Some statements don’t even need a punchline.

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Although while Florida deals with algae blooms, insurance issues, flooding, Ron has been gallivanting around the world.. And Ron DeSantis might have already made himself less popular in the United Kingdom than Liz Truss. Time for a new lettuce challenge?

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Tiffany Justice – a “Moms for Liberty” (oxymoron) co-founder, when asked about books she wants to remain in schools “Let’s just put the bar really, really low. Books that don’t have incest, pedophilia, rape.” So she’s for banning the Bible. Okay then.

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Even SNL writers are going “We can’t top this.”

Marjorie Three Names “People are not affecting climate change. You’re not going to tell me that back in the ice age, how much taxes did people pay, and how many changes did governments make to melt the ice?

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Justice Samuel Alito said that he has a “pretty good idea” who was responsible for leaking Dobbs opinion last year.” Remember, with today’s GOP, every accusation is a confession.

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Fond first grade memory, going with my father Saturday night late to the newstand to pick up first edition of Sunday New York Times.

There wasn’t a paper I grew up respecting more. And now this BS headline “Rape Case Places Trump in Legal Jeopardy. Politically, He’s Thriving.”

All you need to know about NFL draft grades on day one –

“A Newsday poll of 20 NFL general managers in 1998 had 14 of 20 saying Colts should have drafted Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning: “

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The Atlanta Braves have been celebrating their home runs with an oversized baseball cap in 2023 but MLB says they can’t do it any more after complaints from New Era, who did not manufacture the big hat being used by players in the dugout.

Meanwhile, the chop, which doesn’t offend any MLB partners but does offend millions of other Americans, for it’s racism and sheer obnoxiousness,, that’s just fine.

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Fox News trying to get people outraged with dishonest headline about “Trans female runner who beat 14,000 women at London Marathon” & her offer to give back a medal. Uh, over 48,000 people ran the London Marathon, almost half women.

And she was talking about a FINISHERS medal.

A truthful headline about the trans woman who ran the London marathon is that she finished the middle of the pack for women. But if you read right wing media it’s all about the number of women she beat. For too many in GOP and conservative media, it’s all about the hate.

I’m so old I remember when the most outrageous show on TV was Jerry Springer and not C-Span covering GOP-led House.

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As GOP in Montana insists they are banning transgender rep Zooey Zephyr over “decorum”, your reminder that when Republican Governor Greg Gianforte was running for Congress, he BODY SLAMMED and punched a reporter. No joke.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/05/25/fox-news-crew-watched-in-disbelief-as-gianforte-slammed-and-punched-reporter/

ICYMI Several GOP “corn belt” members voted for House budget bill only after McCarthy amended bill to protect ethanol tax credits.

Again, GOP proves they don’t give a d*mn on adding to deficit with tax cuts. GOP just doesn’t want to spend money to benefit poor & middle class Americans.

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Amy Klobuchar on women & girls who suffer under GOP laws after rapes or dangerous pregnancies: “Women who come forward with these stories are incredibly courageous,” “They are real people, real children.”

Wonder how many women & girls don’t come forward because they end up dead.

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A six week abortion ban was blocked in Nebraska in part because of Sen. Merv Riepe. Riepe, 80, (Biden’s age) is longtime Republican who’d have been decisive vote to advance bill, abstained over his concern 6-week ban might not give women enough time to know they’re pregnant.

Age & experience might be underrated.

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Montana GOP barred transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from House floor for rest of 2023 session because they didn’t like her speech last week. If not liking to listen to someone is grounds to ban them from floor thinking US Senate could get bipartisan agreement to ban Ted Cruz.

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Mitch McConnell defended the integrity of Clarence Thomas. Mitch just returned to the Senate after a really bad fall and concussion. Has anyone given him a cognitive test?

And who had today’s Giants-Cardinals game coming down to 1-2 count on rookie Blake Sabol, two out, in the bottom 9th with SF Giants down 4-3? Now all you liars put your hands down.

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Of course, the reason the SF Giants were down in the 9th was their pitchers forgot a Cardinal rule – Nothing is certain but death, taxes, and the fact that the SF Giants should never pitch to Paul Goldschmidt with the game on the line.

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Tommy Tuberville has now slowed down the usually automatic confirmation for 184 Pentagon nominees…with some trumped up excuse about trying to stop military allowing women deployed in red states to travel for abortions and other reproductive care.

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Your reminder that politics aside Auburn University was so fed up in the end with coach now Senator Tommy Tuberville they paid him over $5 MILLION to go away and stop coaching. And the University of Cincinnati ended up paying him $1.5 million to leave. No joke.

Thinking Schumer should call Tuberville’s bluff and cancel nights and weekends while Senate goes through the time consuming process of confirming nominees in spite of Tommy’s holds. Will see how how long his GOP colleagues put up with it.

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Russia TV apparently offering Tucker Carlson a job. Well, now that Tucker has free time, I guess he can work for Russia full time instead of as a side hustle.

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If GOP is really going to push for life beginning at conception and banning abortion accordingly, why not go all the way and regulate, uh, “emissions?” Time for a rousing chorus of Monty Python’s “Every sperm is sacred.”

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As Midwestern states now face major flooding, we know two things. 1. President Biden will help residents of all states, whether or not they voted for him. 2. Republicans will ask for help, but without giving Joe any credit for giving it, and without acknowledging climate change.

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President Biden talking about GOP economic plan – “Trickle down dressed up in MAGA clothing…. only worse. Because if they don’t get their way they’re going to let the country default on its debt.” I love this Dark Brandon guy

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Last weekend Amy Klobuchar & Dick Durbin both said clearly President Biden should negotiate on budget with McCarthy, but only SEPARATELY from debt ceiling issue & that Congress must pass clean debt ceiling bill without holding economy hostage. Media.

Let’s focus on Joe Manchin.

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Your regular reminder, Mitch McConnell is older than Joe Biden and has been hospitalized twice in past few years. Most recently after a bad fall. Media isn’t calling for HIM not to lead GOP in the Senate.

And ICYMI Joe is only about a year older than Mick Jagger and some months younger than Paul McCartney.