Left Coast Sports Babe

The Ruben Rivera baserunning school of coaching

If you know, you know.

Not in this clip was Tim Hasselbeck saying “In all my years of watching football, that was the single worst coaching decision I’ve ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/0kMRK06oQ2

— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) October 8, 2023

Seeing Justin Verlander starting ALDS ame 1 against Bailey Ober (who?), reminds me as SF Giants fan of WS 2012 game 1, Verlander against Zito. Never been so sure I was going to watch Giants lose. Baseball’s a funny game.

Guess the Twins needed Pablo Sandoval.

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Suppose we SF Giants fans shouldn’t giggle over playoffs Clayton Kershaw being back.

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New Big Ten 2024 schedule out: Oregon away games include Michigan, Purdue & Wisconsin. USC plays at Maryland, Michigan & Minnesota, UCLA will go to Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers.

#Pac12 RIP

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So much anti-semitism lately in GOP, especially among Trump followers. And yet they also manage in their minds to blame Biden for the Hamas attack on Israel… Logic has a liberal bias.

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So since GOP suddenly cares about US military, on Tuesday all Republicans in the Senate are going to rein in their anti-American colleagues – Paul, Vance and especially Tuberville and get our Ambassador to Israel and military leadership confirmed, right?

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NY Times headline “From the Fringe to the Center of the G.O.P., Jordan Remains a Hard-Liner.” Better headline? “Jim Jordan remains on the right-wing fringe… but the GOP has come out there with him.”

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Did not have Steve Scalise being the more rational GOP candidate for House speaker on my 2023 batsh*t bingo card.

So much drama for teams getting to playoffs with the expanded wild card but not a single game 3 needed in wild card round… Four sweeps. Now no baseball until Saturday. A sad little hint of approaching winter “It breaks your heart, it was designed to break your heart…”

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RIP Dick Butkus, 80. My dad used to tell me I saw him play in 1st college football game he took me to at University of Illinois in 1962. I was 3 so sadly. don’t remember it. Apparently I liked game just fine until halftime & they shot off cannon in William Tell Overture… (Then apparently I screamed, a lot.)

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Just for fun non-politcal tweet — For those claiming NY Yankees didn’t make playoffs only due to superior division. 2-3 of 3 wld card teams from NL East. including 99 win Blue Jays.. Both were swept. Only Baltimore Orioles remain.

Sorry not sorry Yankees-Red Sox fans.

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But how cool is it for those of us longtime baseball and trivia fans? The Washington Nationals were eliminated a LONG time ago But TWO teams who were former Washington Senators are still alive in the 2023 MLB postseason.

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For all that the media acts like there is no solution to the House circus, there is ONE solution:. Vote Blue in 2024. Democrats may not agree on everything, but we are quite simply now the party of grownups.

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Donald Trump has now given Jim Jordan his “complete and total endorsement” for House Speaker. Only about 9 months after he gave McCarthy his endorsement for House Speaker. Best thing about this? We know #ETTD

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All you need to know today’s jobs report – “Economy adds 336,000 jobs in September, in a stunning gain” is that Fox News isn’t even mentioning it.

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Meanwhile

Media attacked Hillary Clinton nonstop because her secure private email server MIGHT have put our national security at risk. Velveeta Voldemort’s bragging about details of US nuclear submarine secrets gets less coverage than Biden’s dog Commander biting Secret Service agents.

CDC study found 63% of those hospitalized this year for COVID were over 65, only 24% of those up to date on COVID vaccines. This group was also nearly 90% of COVID -related deaths. No wonder GOP working so hard on voter suppression. Their anti-vax leaders are killing their base.

Guess it’s already time to retire the Kevin McCarthy cocktail. Russian vodka originally straight up, but mixed with sour orange & bitters puts it on the rocks.

Looking at the MLB post season, while the NL has a few TV favorites, Braves, Dodgers, Phillies, AL is basically all non-marquee teams plus the Astros. And Fox has the ALDS and ALCS plus the World Series. Couldn’t happen to a nicer network.

(Personally, I’m rooting for one of the smaller market underdog teams…. but cackling a bit at the thought of the national ratings.)

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Both NY teams out of the MLB playoffs, both NY teams 1-3 in the NFL. Do sports fans in New York City realize the best team they may get to root for all year are the WNBA Liberty?

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Congrats to the Twins. 18 game losing streak is over. The last time Minnesota won playoff game was October 2004. Same day as the VP debate between John Edwards and Dick Cheney. (Yeah, so long ago we all thought Edwards was a good guy and Cheney was the worst the GOP could be.)

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Both NY teams out of the MLB playoffs, both NY teams 1-3 in the NFL. Do sports fans in New York City realize the best team they may get to root for all year are the WNBA Liberty?

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With former Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly, two things can be true. 1. Yes, it would be nice if he spoke up sooner about Trump. 2. Better late than ever. And yes, the question again, how many people have to be lying for Velveeta Voldemort to be telling the truth?

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Lady Jane Grey, the 9 days Queen of England Kevin McCarthy, the 9 months Speaker of the House. At least Kevin escapes with his head.

Soon after Jan 6, Kevin McCarthy was recorded saying he’d push Trump to resign immediately “I’ve had it with this guy,” he told GOP leaders. If he’d only stuck to that, he might still be Speaker. Sold his soul for 9 months of a gavel & becoming & historical cautionary tale.

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Is there a head of lettuce somewhere cackling right now?

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Aaron Rodgers claims he can return this season “This is just my mindset. I believe in the power of intention. I believe in prayer. I believe in your mental status and the power of will. I believe in making room for the miraculous to happen.”

Fine, since anti-vaxxer Rodgers thinks it’s about mental status not medicine why doesn’t he fire all his doctors then?

As Trump’s first trial continues, your reminder again, if the entire country is so powerful and biased against Donald, why didn’t they just find Hillary Clinton fewer than 80,000 votes in 2016. (About 79,000 votes in three states would have flipped the election

Nancy Pelosi: “With important decisions new GOP Leadership must address, one of 1st actions from Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry ordered me to immediately vacate my office in Capitol,..I am in CA to pay tribute to my dear friend Dianne Feinstein & unable to retrieve my belongings at this time.”

Patrick McHenry made headlines in 2011 for falsely accusing Elizabeth Warren, appointed by Obama to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, of lying regarding a committee hearing.

His local paper said McHenry should apologize – “unacceptable for any member of Congress to treat a witness in manner in which he treated Warren.”

So he has a problem with strong women. Got it.

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CNN headline “House is in chaos after McCarthy’s ouster.” Dear CNN, was this GOP House ever NOT in chaos?

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As Trump trial starts and some wonder why cult members still support Donald, this quote from LBJ comes to mind.

“If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”

San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler said in a statement Monday morning that the current leadership team “continues to have my full support.”

So Bob Melvin’s managerial job appears to be safe.

OTOH, anyone remember George McGovern saying he was behind Thomas Eagleton 1000%?

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RIP Tim Wakefield, much too young at 57. Cancer sucks Many quotes about the knuckleball, a favorite that hasn’t been seen too often was from Jason Varitek: “You know, catching the knuckleball, it’s like trying to catch a fly with a chopstick.”

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Reading some of these MAGA trolls on social media about Russia and Ukraine, and pretty clear their reaction in the 1940s would have been – “It’s not our problem, who who cares if Hitler takes over a few more European countries?

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Glad our government isn’t shutting down- for now- but your regular reminder that when Democrats had a razor thin majority in the House under Trump this sort of insane drama didn’t happen. Nancy Pelosi could herd her cats.

Thinking if President Biden really wants to get media attention for all the good things he and his administration have accomplished Joe should start running commercials each announced to have a few new random pictures of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce together.

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New COVID-19 hospital admissions have decreased for a second consecutive week in California. California’s Gov. Newsom and Dept of Public Heath have been recommending the booster since early September and CA locations offering vaccines have been jammed. Coincidence?

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GOP’s Darrell Issa challenging Newsom’s choice of Laphonza Butler to replace Feinstein, claiming Laphonza lives in Maryland though she has house in California. So when is Issa challenging Josh Hawley, who only owns a house in Virginia & Tuberville who lives mostly in one of his two houses in Florida?

Is it too much to ask, that Laphonza Butler, an impressive lesbian black married woman with a daughter, will be seated next to Tommy Tuberville in some Senate committee hearing?

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Fox News headline: “COVID vaccine poll finds more than half of adults are likely to say ‘no thanks’ to the vax Meanwhile, 70% of Democrats say they’ll get the new vaccine, the survey found.” Alternate headline -” Are anti-vax GOP leaders killing their base?”

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So with all these claims Velveeta Voldemort is making on how highly valued his properties SHOULD be, wonder what he’s saying about them on his tax returns.

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Ron Deathsantis claims he will lower gas prices in US to $2 a gallon, in part by allowing offshore oil drilling. Just not in Florida, he’s fine with it off coasts of Louisiana &Texas. As long as Florida beaches don’t get messed up. No, not a joke . But Ron is a bad joke.

Looking at NY witness list and thinking a man who has spent his life throwing everyone under bus may be about to have the favor returned.

One consoling thought for SF Giants fans this weekend. At least we’re not Cubs fans.

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Not always fan of Gabe Kapler’s decisions & not sure how much he was told to make those decisions. But this 2023 SF Giants season feels a bit like putting a bus together with cheap spare parts & then firing bus driver when bus breaks down.

(AJ Pollock and Paul Dejong? Really?)

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Despite being a respected protege of Gregg Popovich, and despite interviewing for several jobs, the NBA thought Becky Hammon wasn’t head coach material.

The Las Vegas Aces, coached by Hammon, are defending WNBA champions. And they just completed another postseason sweep – this time of the Dallas Wings – to go back to the NBA finals.

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Some say it’s not fair to criticize Speaker Kevin McCarthy because who could possibly govern with such a slim majority? Nancy Pelosi, that’s who. Madam Speaker Emertia looks more impressive every day.

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She became mayor of San Francisco after Moscone/Milk assassinations my sophomore year in college. Known even then as one of Stanford’s best graduates. And yes for the youngsters who only remember an aging Senator, Dianne Feinstein was not only brilliant but beautiful.

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Supported both these women when they ran for Governor – 1990 and 1998. Either would have been a great first woman Governor of California. Jane Harman and Dianne Feinstein.

Turns out to have been the last picture taken of Feinstein the night she died.

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John Fetterman “The damage to our nation’s reputation and critical programming, and chaos for America’s families is because of a small group of GOP peckerheads in the House.

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Thank you Senator, and thank you Pennsylvania, for electing John Fetterman to the Senate. Peckerheads might be my new favorite word!

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As House Democrats vote to keep the government open – the bill Saturday passed 335 to 91 – with 209 Dems and 126 GOP voting yes, again your reminder… Democrats fundamentally have the same job as those who attend to animal sanitation at some circuses… they clean up after elephants.

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Public servant to the end: Jane Harman, who visited Feinstein night before she died, said DiFi “felt she had to stay on job to make sure California was taken care of in the budget.” Senate works on Seniority, Padilla has been there less than 3 years. Sadly, Dianne wasn’t wrong.

President Biden “You can’t love your country only if you win.” You’d think regardless of party that message would at least resonate with sports fans.

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Angel Hernandez, umpiring 3rd base, ejected Bryce Harper today after Harper got upset with him Hernandez mistakenly saying he swung at a pitch.

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In a polarized world, we can agree on very few things. But guessing we have have bipartisan agreement that Angel Hernandez sucks.

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As the Cubs get swept by the Braves, it is just possible that of the 13 biggest payrolls in MLB, only six of them… Rangers, Phillies, Dodgers, Astros, Blue Jays and Braves will make the playoffs.

Kevin McCarthy told CNN if the GOP stopgap fails “I still got time, I got time to do other things.” Okay, many of us have pulled a few all-nighters to get a last minute paper or assignment done but most of us grew out of that after our college days.

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GOP about to shut down government Oct 1, which will affect almost all Americans, from those depending on govt paychecks to those who travel or want to use any govt service. And House is focused …on trying to find reasons to impeach President Biden? Make it make sense.

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The House under Nancy Pelosi voted to impeach President Trump twice, and managed to keep the government open while they did it. Just an unvoted-upon inquiry seems to be paralyzing the GOP House. On top of everything else, Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time.

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GOP demanding increased money for border security. Could Democrats say, okay, IF it’s coupled with immigration reform? Employers in many industries are desperate for workers & people are risking their lives to come here for jobs, seems we should be able to work something out.

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Someone at Newmax talking about impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden actually complained about the “impossibly high bar” of “direct firsthand evidence.” #NotTheOnion Gosh… just imagine our justice system if prosecutors didn’t need to worry about evidence.

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Biden at event honoring McCain. “I was able to get Infrastructure bill passed. Majority of has gone to red states who didn’t vote for me – I represent ALL Americans. I’ve tried my very best, whether you voted for me or not. Because that’s the job”. I love having a President.

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Another BS headline, this time from “The Hill.” “Trump, Biden duel over autoworkers’ support.” Uh, President Biden showed up to show support to workers on the picket line. Donald showed up for a vanity rally at a NON-UNION factory. #DoBetterMedia

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Again for those in the back. Pres. Biden didn’t have to negotiate on debt ceiling in June. But he agreed to meet with McCarthy to get budget deal & stave off govt shutdown. Now Kevin is abandoning deal & blaming Biden’s refusal to negotiate, again.

Why should Joe believe him?

Mets didn’t tarp their field during a storm resulting in it being too sloppy to play last night. Which meant DH vs Marlins today that messed up Miami’s pitching plans & hopes of a playoff berth. NY apologized to Marlins. Wonder if Mets will end up getting flowers from Cubs.

117 errors so far in 2023 for SF Giants. Leading the majors, Perhaps some players might consider putting their gloves aside after the season for the 2024 Junior Giants glove drive. Not like many of tthose gloves have gotten much use

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This SF Giants team is seriously out of gas, and has been on fumes for what seems like months.

Although looking at the Cubs and Marlins stumbling into the last weekend right now…. does anyone really want that third wild card spot?

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How serious is AI “deep fake’ threat for both parties?! Senator Amy Klobuchar talking today in Rules committee hearing how she and Josh Hawley are actually leading bipartisan bill to fight it. And whatever you think of Hawley, have to grudgingly admit, he’s a smart man.

(And it affects both parties, in rules hearing Amy talked about an AI generated fake Liz Warren who supposedly said GOP shouldn’t vote. And then picture of Trump hugging Fauci)

But is there a purple heart for bipartisan bills? If so partnering with Hawley should get Klobuchar a nomination.

Senator John Fetterman has had enough. Apparently he told his colleagues today that he will wear a suit when delivering speeches on the floor. Our long national nightmare is over.

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Senate Leadership now in order #1 Chuck Schumer, #2 Dick Durbin, #3 Debbie Stabenow, #4 Amy Klobuchar. Klobuchar, Stabenow and now Durbin have all called for Menendez to resign. 4.3.2… Your move, Majority Leader Schumer.

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GOP – Business deals of private citizen Hunter Biden are one of the most important things issues facing our country? Also GOP – So who cares about the business deals of U.S Senator Bob Menendez?

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It all makes sense if you realize that Republicans don’t want government to work!

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US officials say Travis King, the US soldier who crossed into North Korea 2 months ago is now in American custody. So where is the bipartisan praise for President Biden? If he were released under Trump’s watch GOP would be saying Donald should have the Nobel Peace Prize.

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If I didn’t already feel good about choosing not to watch tonight’s GOP debate just heard that I missed Mike Pence’s attempt at a sex joke…

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JD Vance lying on Senate floor today that Dept of Justice is focused on politics not justice.

J.D. continues to block judicial appointments, claiming people have lost confidence in DOJ because it has become political…

Uh, can someone ask Vance on camera about SCOTUS?

Elon Musk posted on Twitter/X tonight that he has just fired the entire ‘Election Integrity Team’ at Twitter.

Shocking, Musk still HAD an “Election Integrity Team?

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WTAF? Kevin McCarthy held the country hostage and insisted President Biden sit down and negotiate a deal in June to avoid a goverment shutdown. So after Joe got a deal done, now McCarthy is saying Biden needs to do it again. This is why you don’t negotiate with terrorists.

At least the SF Giants, one of worst road teams in baseball, have been spared the potential humiliation of being shut out in a Wild card series on the road.

Well, a number of people I like are Twins fans. So I could root for Minnesota, back in postseason for 3rd time in 5 years….

Except uh, last time the Twins won a playoff game, let alone a series? 2004.

So maybe they’re do.

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Mets and Yankees have been eliminated.

Jets and Giants are 1-2.

Has it occurred yet to New York sports fans, that their best chance for postseason glory going forward is unquestionably the NY Liberty.?

(And I say that as a fan of coach Becky Hammon and the Las Vegas Aces.)

First Amy Klobuchar, #4 in Democratic Senate, called for Menendez to step aside. Now Debbie Stabenow, #3 in leadership, also says Menendez should resign. Okay Durbin and Schumer. You’re up. #WomenLead

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And hate this “”The Hill” headline. “Rosen becomes fourth vulnerable Democratic senator to demand Menendez resign.” Uh, at least 24 Senators have called for him to resign. Including Booker, Klobuchar, Gillibrand, Warren, Blumenthal, Duckworth, Sanders…all in pretty strong positions.

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ICYMI, or a reminder, Cassidy Hutchinson is a Republican. She still describes herself as a Republican. Country over party. Shame more GOP elected leaders don’t feel the same.

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WTAF? CNN is actually leading the 5pm hour with a story that Biden’s German Shepherd bit another Secret Service agent. Channel changed.

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Matt Gaetz has now asked for his own pay to be withheld during potential government shutdown. Translation, Gaetz has enough money saved he has no problem paying living expenses while waiting for back pay after govt reopens. Too bad millions of Americans don’t have that luxury.

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Myy Senator in California, Alex Padilla, like Bob Menendez, is Latino. He knows about racism.

He also knows Menendez is not being indicted because of his race, Bob’s being indicted because of his behavior. Come on Alex Padilla, join the chorus in calling for his resignation.

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Senate votes to begin debate on a bill to keep the government open. Tommy Tuberville voted “No.” The ex-football coach, fired from his last 2 jobs, claims his blocking of military promotions is about abortion. What Tuberville just really wants to do is shut USA down.

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19 Senators voted against keeping govt open: Blackburn, Braun, Britt, Budd, Cruz, Daines, Fischer, Hagerty, Hawley, Johnson, Lee, Lummis, Marshall, Paul, Ricketts, Schmtt, Rick Scott, Tuberville, Vance. Rich can survive shutdowns. But 19 in GOP put politics over people’s lives.

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WTAF? Ted Cruz thinks there’s “very significant” chance of Democrats replacing President Biden w/ Michelle Obama as their nominee next summer. Michelle has ALWAYS said she won’t run for office. But there might be a more significant chance of that then of Ted Cruz acting human

Notre Dame had 10 men on the field for last 2 plays of their loss to Ohio State. Coach Marcus Freeman said changes are being made to prevent this happening again. Like teaching Fighting Irish players how to count?

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Well, the SF Giants have stayed alive longer in the playoff hunt than the NY Yankees.

Even without Arson Judge.

If SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler hadn’t removed Logan Webb after 8 2/3 shutout innings on Aug 13, Logan would be tied for the MLB lead in complete games. That number for the lead — is 3. Mickey Lolich had three complete games in the 1968 World Series alone.

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Dear Media: EVERY single time you make a point of Biden’s age you should point out that his top rival as of now in 2024 is an overweight junk-food loving 77 year old. Thank you. Americans tired of this constant one-sided criticism.

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Try to doublecheck outrageous statements before posting on social media and -this surely seemed satire.

Trump: “Senate Democrats should all resign based on Sen. Bob Menendez! They all knew what was going on & way he lived.” Nope, it’s true. When are GOP resigning who knew about Donald?

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Senate is back in DC Tuesday. Which means a whole lot of Democrats are going to have to come up with a good statement on Robert Menendez, or play hide and seek with DC reporters.

If GOP shuts down the government, nearly seven million women and children across the country would be at risk of losing critical WIC nutrition assistance.

WIC isn’t a luxury- it serves about half of all infants born in the United States. Why aren’t so-called “pro-life” members of the GOP demanding a solution to avoid a MAGA government shutdown?

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Cassidy Hutchinson talks to Rachel Maddow about being concerned for her own security. “I’m not only one..sadly. won’t be last. That’s what he does to people who speak out against or detract from him. It’s one of most dangerous things about about Donald Trump.” She’s right!

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“He almost destroyed democracy in one day and wants to do it again.” Why is it so hard for other Republicans, many who have taken an oath of office to serve our country, to say what Cassidy Hutchinson has the courage to say?

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Cassidy Hutchinson interview with Rachel Maddow was brave, informative & scary. Although also scary, her warnings about how dangerous Donald Trump would be in a 2nd term have gotten less press than her scoffing at Matt Gaetz’s claim they dated – “‘I Have Much Higher Standards.’

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Leaving everything else aside about Trump… if ANY CEO had hired as many people who after they left his employ claimed he was a crook – and his response was to say they were all liars -at the very least you’d never want someone with such poor judgment to run anything again.

Rough day for Saints and Vikings fans, among others in the NFL. But there are these five comforting words “At least the Cowboys lost.”

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Clemson football is now 2-2 in the ACC with losses to Duke and FSU. Wonder if the Tigers will now be lobbying to get Stanford and Cal into the conference earlier.

Heck, at this point the Tigers would probably be happy to schedule the University of Phoenix.

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Senator Bob Menendez is now claiming accusations against him are racist. Actually same “racism” accusation Angel Hernandez makes about not being chosen to umpire postseason games. Racism is real. But Hernandez is incompetent and Menendez certainly appears to be a crook.

Chris Christie says he has no interest in running for Bob Menendez’s US Senate seat in New Jersey.

Chris Christie knows he would lose running for US Senate in New Jersey.

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Have MAGA Republicans figured out a fantasy that links Bob Menendez to Hunter Biden yet?

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Lauren Boebert, part of a far-right group with Matt Gaetz, voting against Kevin McCarthy’s funding measures says they “are doing the real work to avoid a government shutdown.” That’s almost as good as her claiming she and her groping partner were on a first date.

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Now it’s attending Koch brothers’ events. Pretty clear that Clarence Thomas feels like he can kill judicial codes of ethics and norms in plain sight and not lose his SCOTUS seat.

Hoping this writers’ strike really is settled for many reasons, mostly how many livelihoods are affected. But after this week and the House meltdown, along with the Senate dress code change and Menendez indictment, how much did we miss SNL and Stephen Colbert.

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Newest iPhone, which costs $1199, uses a USB-C port – which non-Apple devices have had for years, and is now required by European regulators to reduce waste and save money. Why is Europe so much braver in dealing with Big Tech than the US is?

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Your regular reminder that Donald Trump is 77 years old.

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All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men and women not to vote.

Tyler Fitzgerald’s 1st home run as SF Giants finally beat the Dodgers 5-1 was as reminder this SF Giants team potentially has a great future.

But normally sure-handed Patrick Bailey’s passed ball on strike 3 allowing tying run to come to the plate against LA Dodgers in 8th was reminder it’s time for 2023 season to end.

OTOH, the Giants are still having a better season than the Mets, Padres, and Yankees.

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Washington State and Oregon State believe they’ll know within the next month whether it makes sense to rebuild under the Pac-12 brand.

But as awful as this whole college football re-alignment mess has become, does anyone think the current situation will last? Why don’t they just say college football a paid minor league for the NFL and be done with it.-

Congrats to the Minnesota Twins, with their third AL West Central Title in five years.

It will be their 8th trip to the postseason going back to 2004. Which was the last time the Twins won a game in the postseason. Even the Minnesota Vikings think that’s rough.

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President Carter will turn 99 on October 1.

On top of many wonderful things Jimmy Carter has done for USA, he’s for many people made hospice less terrifying.

Hospice can be short but instead of trying to cure something incurable, it’s about quality of life, emotional & spiritual needs. Jimmy deserves all the comfort in the world.

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Allegations against Bob Menendez are pretty shocking, not just bribes involving gold bars but with foreign governments involved. If he wasn’t a Democrat you’d think Menendez would be auditioning to be Donald Trump’s running mate.

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Politics is compromise. In a perfect world, I hope Kyrsten Sinema doesn’t run for re-election in Arizona. But if she does and as an independent wins the Democratic primary to run against Kari Lake, yes I would support her.

(I much prefer Ruben Gallegos. But Kari Lake would be a disaster.)

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Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson says he is leaving the Democratic party to become a Republican. He’s been an elected Democrat in Texas since 2010, and staunchly pro-choice. Too soon to start the pool on when he’ll announce his conversion on the issue?

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If your employer finds out you lied on a job application, you get fired. Voters are politicians’ employers. So if you lie about your party affiliation on a ballot, shouldn’t you be fired?

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Cassidy Hutchinson, 27 years old, with a wise beyond her years comment about Velveeta Voldemort: “Trump doesn’t care if you dispute him or call him a liar. Only silence bothers him. Being ignored drives him mad.

Mike Yastrzemski forgetting there were only two outs and allowing Dodgers’ Will Smith to score on a ball that was probably too shallow to be a sacrifice fly sort of sums up this SF Giants’ season.

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Former Golden Bear Tony Gonzalez to former Cardinal Richard Sherman during halftime of Thursday Night Football “We all know you only go to Stanford if you can’t get into Cal.” Sherman just laughed it off. But a fight between them might have been more compelling than 49ers-Giants game.

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Mohammed bin Salman, crown prince of Saudi Arabia to Fox News: “If sportswashing [is] going to increase my GDP by way of 1 percent, then I will continue doing sportwashing. I don’t care.”

Well, considering that education and geography and everything else have fallen prey to money and TV, how long until the Saudis buy college football?

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Hey Washington Post. Why do we NEVER EVER see this kind of headline on men politicians? “Katie Porter & the politics of real life The California Democrat, famous for her viral confrontations, is admired by fans and resented by some ex-employees. Now she’s running for Senate.”

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Ron Deathsantis and his puppet surgeon general is warning against boosters as Florida leads US in hospitalizations. And this is number Florida ADMITS are hospitalized with COVID. You know they don’t test everyone. And you know most MAGAs won’t go to hospital unless they feel they are dying.

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As GOP twist themselves into pretzels trying to defend Tommy Tuberville and his right to object, imagine if a Democratic Senator had put a hold on all military confirmations because they didn’t like one of Trump’s DOD policies?

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Well, it makes sense that House GOP can’t get anything done. They only have 222 members, 4 more than 218 needed for majority. Oh wait, that was Speaker Emeritia Nancy Pelosi. Who got a LOT done. Kevin McCarthy started with 222, now has 221 and he can’t pass a kidney stone.

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In case anyone still believes GOP House cares about Americans. All members of Congress were sent home this weekend rather than work on the spending bill. They’re getting paid. Meanwhile with a government shutdown, starting next weekend millions of Americans won’t be.

In case you thought Tim Scott was one of sane GOP – asked about Tuberville’s holds – “Under Biden, holding up promotions not necessarily bad thing…today’s military is too much focused on DEI & gender issues, vaccine mandates etc. So he’s dissing Pentagon leadership. OK then.

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As it seems like nonstop headline on polls saying Americans are unenthused about the 2024 election, I get the dark mood Velveeta Voldemort engenders. But trying to remember last time a major network or newspaper praised Dark Brandon for one of his many victories. #DoBetterMedia

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MN rep Angie Craig introduced “My Constituents Cannot Afford Rebellious Tantrums, Handle Your Shutdown Act,” AKA “MCCARTHY Shutdown Act,” to halt members’ pay during govt shutdowns. Because “it’s ridiculous we still get paid when TSA has to wait for a paycheck.” She’s right.

And when potentially you wait a really long time in a TSA line and get a really cranky agent next weekend, thank your favorite Republican.

Angeles manager Phil Nevin says Shohei Ohtani is “in good spirits” after elbow surgery.

Makes sense, Ohtani’s surgery apparently went well.

And on top of that, Shohei knows next year he doesn’t have to play for the Angels.

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After dropping both games in Az, SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler says, “The math is starting to work against us.”

Well, doesn’t take much math to know being 6-12 in September is not working for them.

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Meanwhile the Tampa Bay Rays say they are planning for the postseason without All-Star Wander Franco, who is on n administrative leave indefinitely by Major League Baseball last month while authorities in the Dominican Republic investigate him for alleged relationships with minors.

“Relationships”, plural. An old line, “First someone calls you a horse you punch him on the nose, the second time someone calls you a horse you call him a jerk but the third time someone calls you a horse, well then perhaps it’s time to go shopping for a saddle.”

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Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz last month on Tuberville’s military appointment stunt.

“Every Senator has enormous power. I could probably block the defense bill this week. But I won’t. And you know why? Because I’m not a maniac. “

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In case you had any question about Republican priorities, even in the semi-sane Senate. GOP Senators have not felt compelled as a group to speak out over Tommy Tuberville’s military appointment holds, but 46 of them wrote a joint public letter about John Fetterman’s clothes.

And personally I don’t care what the GOP’s favorite Senator Sinema wears. Even if Wednesday it was a skin-tight leopard sundress with sneakers. But can GOP Senators, especially men, quit saying their issue with Fetterman is “decorum?”

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Another crazy moment in the House, when Rep. Victoria Spartz defends January 6 insurrectionists, saying some showed up with “strollers and kids”

What’s next, Rep. Spartz claiming that the Place de la Concorde in Paris during the French Revolution wasn’t that scary because Madame Defarge showed up with her knitting?

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Some days I quite like Eric Swalwell. Saying how Jim Jordan, accusing Garland of contempt of Congress, “is quite rich, as Jim is about 500 days into evading HIS own subpoena. Mr. Attorney General you are serious, they are not.”

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So Republican David McCormick indicates he may run for Senate again against Democrat Bob Casey in Pennsylvania.

Now apparently McCormick bought a home property in Pittsburgh last year. But per the AP, he still lives on Connnecticut’s “Gold Coast – in a $16 million ansion in Westport that features a 1,500-bottle wine cellar, an elevator and a “private waterfront resort” overlooking Long Island Sound.

What is it with GOP in PA that they can’t even find a candidate who lives in the state?

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A cybersecurity attack on Clorox apparently has led to shortages of cat litter brands like Fresh Step, Scoop Away and Ever Clean..

Waiting to see how GOP will claim this is Joe Biden’s fault.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear,r, running for re-election, has ad from rape victim “This to you, Daniel Cameron. To tell 12-year-old girl she must have baby of her stepfather who raped her is unthinkable.”

Cameron says ad is despicable.

Uh,. Mr. Cameron, despicable is making child have her rapist’s baby

SF Giants leading MLB with one stat – errors. 109, most in baseball and they’re 10 ahead, or rather behind, the Boston Red Sox with 99.

So yeah, throw the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball.. .two out of three ain’t bad. But also ain’t enough to win a playoff spot.

Two silver linings with the SF Giants latest error-fest.

1. They still will be mathematically alive in the post season longer than the Yankees.
2. Am a fan of coach Becky Hammon and now the Las Vegas Aces. So more time to watch WNBA playoffs.

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Washington Post headline “House flounders as GOP fails to appease hard-right members on funding.” Uh, couldn’t they start a headline every day since January 2023 with “House flounders…?”

ICYMI, GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell “has made clear he does not agree with Tommy Tuberville’s tactics holding up military promotions but has been unable to find a way to end military promotion holds for over 6 months.” So Mitch is too old to do job? Or just too ineffectual? Nancy Pelosi could herd her cats.

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If Donald Trump had made the same deal that Joe Biden did to bring hostages home from Iran, GOP politicians and right-wing media would be demanding he win the Nobel peace prize.

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Almost 30 tons of ground beef sold in three midwestern states has been recalled due to possible E.coli. Wait, why don’t they just keep selling the meat with an advisory. Since this is just science thinking MAGA’s might be even more inclined to buy the meat to own the libs?

Senator Amy Klobuchar is fighting hard against Big Pharma lawsuits against Medicare being able to negotiate drug prices.

Sherrod Brown is marching on picket lines with UAW.

Susan Collins is joking about wearing a bikini.

Guess who’s getting the most coverage?

#DoBetterMedia

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Marjorie Three Names among GOP members of Congress attacking Senate dress code change for Fetterman. “Dress code is one of society’s standards that set etiquette & respect for our institution. Stop lowering bar!” Missed Marge weighing in on Bobo & standards in public theaters?

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Ron Deathsantis actually said of Fetterman “show up in US Senate & not have decency to put on proper attire. I think it’s disrespectful to the body.” Uh, Ron, what’s disrespectful to ‘the body’? Telling women they have no rights over their OWN bodies 4 weeks after conception!

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While we’re all obsessed with politicians and clothes and maybe swimsuits, thinking we could put this whole age thing to rest fast if we could get both Joe Biden and Donald Trump to show up to debate each other wearing only bathing trunks.

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Clickbait headline of the week goes to “The New Republic.” “The Only Opponent Who’d Make Adam Kinzinger Vote for Trump.” To save you the mistake of clicking as I did – his spokesman said “Adam would only vote for Donald Trump if the opponent is actual Satan,”

Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, batting .230 for the year, left Monday night’s game after one inning after aggravating plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

SF Giants had a lot of things go wrong in last year’s offseason.

Failing to sign Carlos Correa may not have been one of them.

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A Colorado State player had a late hit against a Colorado player in Saturday night’s game, resulting in an injury. Not good, he was penalized for unnecessary roughness and maybe be suspended.

Now he’s apparently had his and his family’s cellphone numbers addresses posted on Social Media and received death threats.

Folks, we can argue if the entire sport is too violent. But it IS still a game.

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Over the last two weeks the New Orleans Saints have not looked pretty. But they are 2-.0. And as both a Saints and SF Giants fan, the past two weeks have also been a good reminder. Wins and losses are not about style points. And moral victories, while not quite an oxymoron, are overrated.

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May never happen. But if as Elon Muskrat claims “most important reason we’re moving to small monthly payment for use of Twitter/X system – only way to combat vast armies of bots.”

2 words. Yeah. Right.

Seems like half blue checks on Twitter are now bots who someone’s paying $9 a month for.

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Since GOP wants us all to be apoplectic about the US national debt surpassing $33 trillion which of them will be the first to admit we can’t afford Trump’s millionaire/billionaire tax cuts?

I’ll wait.

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“Biden takes a political hit but brings Americans home.”

Fox News headline? No, CNN.

How about “Biden brings American hostages home” period? CNN can’t quit Trump.

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CNN’s Dana Bash asks Gavin Newsom about Biden’s age, Newsom strongly defends Joe and his vitality and experience. So Jake Tapper pivots to “if only we had truth serum.”… In other words, it doesn’t matter WHAT Biden’s defenders say if it gets in the way of media narrative.

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Remember the Oscar slap? Even with 20 seconds ABC had time to edit Chris Rock & Will Smith’s profanity out so that most viewers didn’t hear the f-bombs.. NBC had days to edit Trump’s Meet the Press interview and/or to add disclaimers about his lies. They did neither.

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Got my lastest COVID Booster

Long line at Walgreens in California even with appointment. And starting to wonder, with so many Republicans making being anti-vax part of their brand, will they need to work extra hard to suppress Democratic votes since their base is more likely to be permanently unavailable?

With 12 games left in the MLB season, thinking in spring training that SF Giants fans would have been happy to think their team in September would have an identical record to the NY Yankees.

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And small mercies, but looks like the SF Giants will at least stay alive in postseason contention longer than the NY Yankees.

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Denver Broncos blew a 17 point lead against the Washington Commanders but still had a chance to tie late after a Hail Mary – until officials missed a clear defensive pass interference on what would have been a game tying two point conversion.

Coach Sean Payton losing a game over a missed PI, who’d a thunk it? Who dat?

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ESPN reports it’s “not out of the question” that Aaron Rodgers could return this season. Is he treating himself with ivermectin?

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But seriously, Aaron Rodgers hopes to play in 2023 because he had “innovative surgery” w/ “advanced medical technology” on his Achilles? S

Since he’s such a media darling can someone ask him on camera how he can believe in innovative surgery few can get but not a simple vaccine used by millions?

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So ICYMI, Republicans are trying to tell us that a drag queen reading a book will damage children, but a congresswoman engaged in sexual behavior in front of them in a public theater is just a “little bit eccentric?”

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In a speech last night Donald Trump warned if we re-electe “cognitively impaired” Biden he will lead the U.S into ”World War Two.” Who needs SNL?

Their writers couldn’t come up with anything as funny as that.

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As the Texas Senate somehow ignores all evidence and votes to acquit Ken Paxton just five words:

Damn I miss Molly Ivins.

So if you already were basically boycotting Meet the Press because of Chuck Todd, what do you do now? Asking for a country.

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NY Times top two headlines “Top Democrats’ Bullishness on Biden 2024 Collides W/ Voters’ Worries”

& “A Terrible Mistake’: Trump Criticizes DeSantis on Abortion Ban.” (not saying Trump in June said he was proud to be most pro-life president’ in US history.)

Dear NBC.

Republicans already watch Fox News Sunday and Fox’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” They’re not going to switch. So who exactly do you think you will get to watch “Meet the Press” when independents and Democrats boycott?

NY Times wants Trump back.

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If a gay Democratic politician were even seen kissing their boyfriend or girlfriend in a public place with children present, GOP would be demanding their impeachment or resignation. But haven’t heard one Republican even express mild reproach about Lauren Boebert’s behavior.

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As Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron, who is running for Governor, indicates he’d like to restrict birth control in the state, I’m so old I remember when we heard worrying about Roe v. Wade being overturned was silly because it was settled law…

Hey, when even Stanford has a game against, checks this, Sacramento State, you know that week three in college football doesn’t have too many marquee match ups.

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Saddest thing about tonights 3-2 Giants walk off loss to Colorado. Until 1 out in the Rockies 8th, SF Giants were on pace to be the 7th team since 1906 to win a game despite being no hit.

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Trump likes that Putin praised him. Trump wrote love letters to Kim Jong Un. Why do MAGAs support a man who is friends with people who hate America?

“I genuinely did not recall vaping that evening when I discussed the night’s events with my campaign team while confirming my enthusiasm for the musical,” Boebert said in a statement. “It’s clear now that was not accurate.” I like “somebody pushed me into a lifeboat better.”

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Is there a single Republican railing against drag queens as being inappropriate for children to see said a word about Lauren Boebert’s R-rate performance where she and her boyfriend, on top of vaping etc, were fondling each other in a public theatre? I’ll wait.

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So let’s see…. been a while since I had a young child.

But believe am like an overwhelming majority of Americans in thinking I’d have much rather had him see drag queens than watch that display of Lauren Boebert and her date groping each other in a public theater.

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Yes, Hunter Biden has made many mistakes in his life. But if it wasn’t him, does anyone doubt GOP wouldn’t have gone after some other family member, Ashley or Jill, for some imagined reason? Their ONLY goal is hurting Joe & making him look bad. And they know he loves his family.

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Only way many Republicans would have professed any sympathy for Hunter Biden? If Joe Biden had cut him off because of his addiction & other problems. THEN the Fox headlines would be “Cold-hearted President turns away from his troubled son during Hunter’s time of greatest need.”

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Hey fellow Democrats. As late great Molly Ivins titled her book “You got to dance with them what brung you.” 2024 ticket is going to be Biden-Harris. They won once, they’ll win again. We can fight about 2028 later, in meantime we need to focus extra energy on House-Senate.

SF Giants were rained out in Denver today. While Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Reds all lost. Which means Giants as of right now are the third wild card NL team.

So if weather knocks out the rest of the regular season, SF is in the playoffs.

“So you’re saying there’s a chance…”

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If you didn’t already love Jimmy Carter, his grandson says Jimmy, whose 99th birthday is on Oct. 1, faces “really significant physical challenges,” but he does spend time watching baseball games and seeing family “almost every day.”

(Good thing for Carter he’s a Braves fan… watching the Mets or Yankees this year might have killed him already.)

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Meanwhile tonight was the last Yankees Red Sox game of 2023. And it might turn out to be significant. For position in the 2024 MLB draft.

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Is there a single member of the House trying to tell us that Hunter Biden’s business dealings are the most important issue facing our country who also expressed the slightest bit of concern over business dealings of Ivanka, Jared, Eric and Don Jr? I’ll wait.

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There’s a silver lining to Kristen Welker’s interviewing Trump for her first “Meet the Press” show… Those of us, especially on the West Coast, who never bothered to get up early to watch Chuck Todd, know we can continue to sleep in on Sundays.

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So thinking logical conclusion of all this GOP outrage about Hunter Biden, while he was an addict, buying a revolver, is that Republicans would like drug testing for anyone buying a gun. I think that bipartisan legislation could be arranged.

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Okay, Hunter Biden is being indicted for lying about drug addiction. Per WebMD, one of symptoms of drug addiction: “You hide the drug use or the effect it is having on you from others.”

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In all seriousness…if this gun case against Hunter Biden goes to trial and is reported on daily, Hunter’s lawyers will no doubt point out this sort of thing is almost NEVER prosecuted since gun wasn’t used in a crime. Thinking GOP may regret that the plea deal didn’t hold.

Uh, oh, of the four NL West teams now jockeying for the last wild card spot, ESPN shows the SF Giants, at 39.7% chance, as the most likely of the Giants, Marlins, Cubs and Diamondbacks to make it.

Let’s hope this isn’t the kiss of death to San Francisco’s playoff hopes.

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Aaron Rodgers, 38, says after his season-ending injury “I shall rise again.”

Does he mean he’ll return to the NFL, or become a spokesperson for Viagra?

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For all the misogyny / ageism Nancy Pelosi gets about her decision to seek re-election she’s sharp as a tack & remains a Democratic fundraising queen. Also, sure seemed like Nancy, 83, got more out of her razor-thin majority in House than Chuck Schumer, 72, is getting in Senate.

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Tim Scott says Republican donors who want him to explain why he’s unmarried are only insinuating he’s gay because they “can’t say I’m Black. It sounds like we’re living in 1963 and not 2023.”

Uh, Senator Scott, with today’s GOP, try more like 1863.

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1. We’ve all attended plays with obnoxious people around. But how obnoxious do you have to be actually to be kicked out of a theater?

2. Maybe “Do you know who I am?” is not a great question to ask in Colorado when most reasonable people who know who you are, are also embarrassed you represent their state in DC?

#Boebert

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He was mediocre student, an acknowledged heavy drinker, known as a party animal & probable drug user. But his dad was VP & then President & he seriously benefited from connection & perceived influence/access. Hunter Biden? Not this time. Remember the young George W. Bush?

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Yeah, he has a nice office now in the US Capitol, but history is not going to be kind to Kevin McCarthy.

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Mitt Romney in his new book apparently talks about how GOP Senators laughed after Trump would leave a room.

Doesn’t matter if they laughed out loud at him behind his back, they kowtowed to him in public and not enough of them voted to impeach him. If they had after January 6 we wouldn’t be dealing with the nightmare of him running again. Sorry, but NOT giving these cowards credit.

SF Giants have now won 4 in a row, after losing 8 in a row. Has there ever been a team in MLB with fewer one or two game stretches of wins and losses in a season?

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Hard to believe just a couple days ago NY sports fans were thinking “Thank God baseball is almost over so we can move on from the Yankees and Mets to the Giants and Jets.”

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But hey, NY Jets may turn out to be undefeated in the Aaron Rodgers era.

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Am no Aaron Rodgers fan but you would think a multi-billion dollar league like NFL could spend their way out of their artifical turf problem.

The media loved the clickbait circus with Trump in the White House. They hate Biden’s calm competence. To put it simply, media would rather have democracy fail than have their ratings fall.

NY Times Frank Bruni though has a good question on age issues for 2024 candidates: “How would we even notice Donald Trump’s lapse into incoherence, when derangement is essentially his brand?”

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GOP claims to be pro-military. Yet Mitch McConnell cannot rein in a football coach freshman Senator who is inflicting serious harm on our Department of Defense. Who’s running the Republican party anyway?

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Donald Trump is actually fundraising by selling pictures of his mugshot with a fake signature in gold. A minimum $35 donation. Imagine what he will do with posters of himself in an orange jumpsuit

CNN headline “McCarthy faces a potential rebellion from his caucus.” Uh, Kevin McCarthy doesn’t have a GOP caucus. He has a circus in search of a tent.

Fox News reports Kevin McCarthy, will tell House Republicans that launching an impeachment inquiry into President Biden is “the logical next step.”

This might be first time in 2023 “logical” and “House Republicans” have been used in the same sentence.

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Finally, a rare moment of no snark. This is the 9-11 memorial in London. In Grosvenor Square. A small garden. Happened to be passing by on 9-11. Many tributes, and 67 white roses. The number of Britons killed that day.