Posted tagged ‘politics’

Tonics.

June 10, 2024

SF Giants found one cure for the baseball doldrums. Play the Houston Astros

U Conn coach Dan Hurley has turned down a six-year, $70 million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to stay in college basketball

So he didn’t want the stress? Or he the Lakers didn’t offer Dan enough of a severance package for when LeBron James was going to get Hurley fired?

Sports media is spending far more time on Caitlin Clark being snubbed for USA Olympic team than they are covering some very good and exciting WNBA games. Like Las Vegas Aces vs Los Angeles Sparks last night. Far more competitive and closer than Mavericks-Celtics.

And that the Connecticut Sun are now more fun to watch than the Phoenix Suns were this year.

NY Mets owner Steve Cohen says his team can still turn around its season and fans “have been through worse.” Well, yes, in 1962 for example.

As GOP gleefully try to spin and spread a satiric post as truth about Trump’s felony convictions, thinking these are the people in my wayward youth we convinced to go on a snipe hunt.

Apparently Donald Trump is terrified of sharks, which partially explains a rambling rant about boats and sharks at his Las Vegas rally.

So which enterprising Biden supporters will show up at his next rally playing the theme from Jaws?

Found this buried in AP story on Trump Vegas rally.

“Clark County Fire Department said most of the medical calls were related to the heat, and six people were sent to a hospital & 24 others were treated on site.”

SIX sent to hospital? Seems like that should be a bigger story.


So how do you virtually pee in a cup for a probation officer? Asking for a convicted felon who is not a friend.

NY Times does front page story headline “Biden Loves to Tell Tall Tales – We Cut Them Down to Size.” But no headline on Trump’s rambling word salad speeches – or his accidential truth yesterday “I don’t care about you, I just want your vote.

Sorry media, you don’t get to cover billionaire David Sacks having a Silicon Valley fundraiser for Donald Trump without saying that Sachs ALSO had a big fundraiser last year for RFK Jr.

I trust Four-Star General John Kelly a lot more than I trust convicted felon Donald Trump.

Increasing reports of people requiring medical aid & even needing hospitalization after Trump’s vanity rallies in scorching heat. Assume numbers are worse than reported since some of his followers would rather die than report attending Velveeta Voldemort’s rally made them sick.

Stretched out…

June 7, 2024

After Game one of NBA finals, there’s a break for 48 hours until game two. Game seven, if necessary, is June 23.

If Major League Baseball spread out their playoffs like the NBA did, World Series Game 7 could be Christmas Eve

One reason to be careful demoting MLB players to minors: Cubs’ IF Nick Madrigal had hand broken by pitch in 1st game in AAA.

Yes, talent level is lower… But pitchers’ control is not as good in minors.

In 2015 SF Giants Hunter Pence had forearm fractured in Spring Training by prospect Corey Black who never pitched in MLB


For some reason while Fox News is headlining the Hunter Biden trial and has space on their website front page for “Matrix star leaving Hollywood,” they have NOTHING on Steve Bannon being ordered to report to prison on July 1. I am sure it’s just a coincidence.

Fox also has nothing on President Biden’s D-Day speech. So we know it was good.

And wasn’t it nice that the weather forecast didn’t matter at Normandy Beach? Isn’t it nice that it doesn’t matter. We now have a President we knew would show up for the D-Day ceremony rain or shine.


Would be very interesting to know how many wealthy Republican women – including wives, daughters and girlfriends of GOP politicians – in deep red states have flown to a blue state for an abortion since Roe was overturned.

New Yahoo News/YouGov poll: “After Trump felony conviction, Biden leads for 1st time in month”

Okay, which newspaper or cable news site is first going to ask “Did Biden peak too soon?”


AP:US hiring & wage growth picked up last month in sign of sustained economic health

CNN: US economy added whopping 272,000 jobs in May

NY Times: The pace of hiring was unexpectedly robust in May, showing gain of 272,000 jobs, but it wasn’t all good news..

Are we surprised?

FL GOP Sen: “My youngest daughter has been undergoing IVF treatments to grow her family. I’m Rick Scott & this grandpa will always protect IVF. You can count on it.”

So Scott means he will support abortion- ie selective reduction when successful IVF results in too many fetuses? (And it happens pretty frequently.)

U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention says 162 people have reported illness & 54 people have been hospitalized with salmonella following a cucumber recall by a Florida producer. So waiting for Trump & DeSantis to say – “Eat Florida cucumbers. Own the libs!”

Even when NY Times grudgingly acknowledges President Biden being a strong leader… And so much better than the Former Guy.

This is the headline. “Forty Years Later, Biden Seeks to Echo Reagan’s Legacy of American Leadership.”

Many GOP and right wing pundits making big deal out of Hunter Biden allegedly deliberately purchasing a gun while using drugs. So would Republicans like to work with Democrats on a federal law to drug test anyone who buys a firearm

Boys of summer?

June 5, 2024

The NHL and NBA playoffs start June 6,

NHL Game Seven would be June 24. NBA Game Seven would be June 23

How long until they stretch these postseasons out to overlap with the NFL?

(They already overlap the Canadian football league)

And you think your team is having a bad month. The Chicago White Sox, 15-47, have now lost 13 in a row.

Begging the question – how did they ever win 15 games.

We interrupt all the controversy around the WNBA right now to remind sports fans there are some very good teams playing very good basketball. The Las Vegas Aces led by A’Ja Wilson and coached by Becky Hammon for example. Who just knocked off a solid Dallas WIngs team 95-81.

Headline in San JoseMercury News

“VP Kamala Harris’ quiet stops in Bay Area met w/ Gaza ceasefire protest Demonstrations were latest sign many in Bay Area’s most progressive corners have soured on Harris & President Biden.

Spare me. “Progressives” have hated Joe since he beat Bernie. Actually they hated him as Obama’s VP. They didn’t think Obama was liberal enough either.

As Hunter Biden is on trial for buying a gun while an addict, shouldn’t GOP be lauding him on gun rights?? Remember, this is GOP trying to make it easier for vets with mental illness to get guns & would cheer if SCOTUS rules domestic abuses w/ restraining orders can buy firearms.

John Cornyn insists right to contraception is not under any jeopardy & “this afternoon’s vote is a show vote.”

And as GOP is now pretending they aren’t going after contraception. Amy Klobuchar points out only 14 states protect right to contraception. While many “extremists are racing to State capitols to see who can be 1st to take women’s rights away”

She’s not kidding. And SCOTUS will help them

Uh, does he listen to the man he endorsed for President “things really have a lot to do with the states & some states are going to have different policies than others.”

Donald Trump has apparently sent vetting materials to some on his VP list. Uh, since being a convicted felon charged with countless other felonies isn’t disqualifying, what exactly is he vetting for?

Lawrence O’Donnell makes great point. Almost all Americans believe in right to contraception. Would have been so easy for GOP to take issue off table in Nov. by voting for bill. (which has nothing to do with abortion.) They couldn’t even do that. I

It’s. A. Cult.

What’s the over-under?

June 5, 2024

MLB suspended four players for betting, and permanently banned Tucupita Marcano after determining that the Padres’ infield bet on baseball.

So will there be a documentary about the investigation sponsored by Fan Duel or Draft Kings?

Whatever you think about the current controversies in the WNBA, at least people are talking about women’s basketball. Let’s hope they keep talking and turning in. (Btw, the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty are especially good teams with superstars…

GOP’s latest lie is that DOJ is completely weaponized against Republicans. So how do they explain indictments against Democrats Bob Menendez and Henry Cuellar? Not to mention the Special Counsel instigated case against Hunter Biden.

I’m waiting.

Trump WTF fundraising email today. Encouraging supporters to donate to win a private trip with him

: “Want to take a trip together? Just the 2 of us. We’ll talk about my rigged conviction, we’ll have amazing dinner & at end of it all we’ll take a picture so we can remember this day FOREVER!”

Has anyone ever seen anything, even in conservative media, about a “lucky winner?”

Democrats aren’t posturing or pontificating outside Hunter Biden’s trial in hopes of currying favor with his father. The people actually supporting Hunter at his trial are his family who love him.

What a concept.

Pres. Biden urges Congress to pass bipartisan border legislation.

GOP Senators scuttle bipartisan border bill on Trump’s orders & say Biden has authority to fix border himself. Biden issues executive order on border. GOP attacks him for doing it.

GOP WANTS border to be a problem.

What a POS. Florida Governor Ron Desantis, attacking Washington DC and President Biden.

“We don’t typically depend on federal government.. Hurricane recovery is a bottoms-up thing. You don’t want Washington directing anything.”

Ron, he didn’t mention more than $9 billion Washington pumped into Florida following Hurricane Ian in 2022.. not to mention other disaster relief.

Progressives are not happy with President Biden’s executive order on the border and immigration. I get it, the situation is complicated. But I’ve been an active LIBERAL Democratic volunteer for decades.

Progressives are rarely happy about anything Democrats do, period.

What are the odds?

June 4, 2024

ESPN reports that sources say the San Diego Padres’ Tucupita Marcano faces MLB ban for betting, reportedly on Pirates games when he played for Pittsburgh and was on the IL.

Wow. Incredibly stupid of Marcano if so.

Wonder how this will affect odds for Padres games going forward, as posted daily by ESPNBet.

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Katie Britt on the Senate Floor accusing Democrats of scare tactics about contraception. Uh, just last month “Trump says he is open to restrictions on contraception before backing away from the statement.” When someone tells you who they are, believe them, the first time.

As bird flu increasingly seems to be a problem in the US why aren’t MAGA Trump supporters rushing to buy and eat birds diagnosed with the disease? It’s only science. Own the libs!

Katie Britt on the Senate Floor accusing Democrats of scare tactics about contraception.

Uh, just last month

“Trump says he is open to restrictions on contraception before backing away from the statement.”

When someone tells you who they are, believe them, the first time.

As Hunter Biden’s trial begins for allegedly lying about being drug user when he purchased a gun…

Donald Trump Jr. is an avid hunter. Presumably he has filled out many forms attesting that he did not use any drugs at the time he purchased his hunting guns.

Just saying.

Has a single GOP politician ranting about the politics of indicting former President Trump (on 34 counts!), said a word about indicting President Biden’s son over purchasing a gun he didn’t even fire when he was an addict? I’ll wait.

As Eric Trump’s wife Lara, pontificates on the U.S. Justice System we should all take her very seriously. Because before becoming RNC chair she was a Fox News producer with a BA in communications from NC Carolina State who also studied at the French Culinary Institute in NY.

Fox News Laura Ingraham saying “President Biden believes in nothing at all, except building his own brand to help his family become rich.”

How much botox does it take Laura Ingraham to say that BIDEN is the candidate out to make his family rich with a straight face?

Meanwhile on CNN

They’re giving ajor coverage to Hunter Biden trial…

And analyst Carrie Cordero talks about case “involving the son of a former President who has been charged by a special counsel…. They don’t correct her..

Not a one woman show

June 2, 2024

Big Caitlin Clark fan but hate this headline. “Clark struggles, Boston exits as Fever routed by Liberty.” Fever got #1 WNBA draft pick for a reason. They were bad. And coming off a back to back.

Liberty were 32-8 in 2023, were expected to beat Las Vegas Aces in finals & are 7-2 in 2024. Give NY women their due.-

But how cool was it that the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever were on National television – ESPN on Saturday?

Thank you Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.

(And even rookie of the year Wemby couldn’t get the Spurs more than the 4th worst record in the NBA.)

It’s been 31 years since any team from Canada won Stanley Cup.

And Edmonton Oilers are in NHL finals.

There was the usual nice display of sportsmanship with Dallas Stars shaking hands at end of game. Wonder if Trump or one of his Texas minions will call the Stars “losers” & claim the series was rigged?

Tonight’s Trump fundraising email…. “A jury just convicted Trump! This is SICK!” No, this is justice.

Mitt Romney actually said Alvin Bragg should have settled the case against Donald. “as would have been the normal procedure,” instead of bringing it to trial.

Uh, Mitt is not a stupid man. Presumably he knows that to settle a case a defendant has to admit SOME responsibility.

Meanwhile, as Senate returns this week, Politico headline “Eight Senate Republicans vow to oppose all Biden nominees, Democratic legislation.” The far-right Republicans are led by Mike Lee & include VP wannabes J.D. Vance & Rick Scott. So it’s a day ending in Y?

GOP pretends they care about issues that matter to Americans. What is House doing? Fighting internally, sabotaging border bills, defending a convicted felon & having performative hearings like next’s week’s attack on Dr Fauci.

Democrats are the party that cares about our lives.

As we approach the 80th anniversary of D-Day imagine if we had today’s Republicans at the time. GOP would have opposed the invasion, claiming that Hitler guy wasn’t really a threat to us, and because it could have helped FDR against Dewey.

1st: Donald Trump was convicted in STATE not Federal Court & President Biden had nothing to do with the trial. 2nd:

if Joe Biden was both all-powerful & unscrupulous enough to use courts for his personal gain, wouldn’t you think he’d have made Hunter Biden’s charges go away?

In “As Good as it Gets,” Jack Nicholson says to Helen Hunt “You make me want to be a better man.”

Joe Biden inspires us all to be better men and women.

Watching the increasing level of anti-democracy vitriol from Trump supporters, it’s clear he wants them to be worse.

Today’s GOP: There’s no problem with supporting Donald Trump, a convicted felon with other pending cases, to be re-elected as Presidentf.

Also today’s GOP: Joe Biden’s unconditional love for his son, who is facing charges from his addict days, makes him unfit to be President.-

Meanwhile, congratulations to Claudia Sheinbaum, who will become Mexico’s first female president. And Mexico becomes yet another country to leapfrog the United States.

Neighbor to the north lights?

May 31, 2024

Oilers 3 -Stars 1.


Which puts Edmonton one game away from the NHL finals.

One step closer to a Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993.

(Side note if you are lookng for a reason to root for a Canadian team. The country has very tight laws about visitors convicted of crimes, even misdemeanors. But felons are generally banned. So the country is a potential vacation Trump free zone.)

Was and remain a Barry Bonds fan. But while I booed him getting walked, I also understood why any smart team would do it. Having said that, why does ANYONE pitch to Aaron Judge right now with a base open?

Hate to see SF Giants shortstops struggling. And yes, I miss Brandon Crawford. Or what Crawford used to be. But with St. Louis Cardinals in 2024 entering tonight Crawford is hitting .097 on the season – 3-for 31.

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Something we can get bipartisan agreement on? SO tired of hearing from Major League Baseball announcers “it’s a challenging strike zone tonight.”

There is only ONE strike zone, whatever drama queen umpires want to say. Time for robot umps, or at least challenges.

President Biden today was talking about a possible roadmap towards a lasting cease-fire in Gaza A roadmap that no doubt his administration helped negotiate. It got a bit of coverage. But competence isn’t clickbait.

So Trump & supporters claiming he can’t be treated fairly in New York court. Fine. so let Donald stop trying to delay his trial in Florida, where he feels beloved. Tell Judge Cannon to start asap. If he’s innocent & gets acquitted, THEN he can scream “Witch Hunt.” Problem solved

Give me a break. Trump was convicted of falsifying records to interfere with an election. But it doesn’t matter what it was. If he had just been convicted of stealing and selling classified documents, Donald’s acolytes would still attack the judge and verdict. It’s A Cult.

JD. Vance calls Trump’s 34 felony convictions “A paperwork violation.” Presumably Vance, who wants to be vice president, would consider Donald’s stealing and possibly selling America’s classified documents also to be “paperwork violations?”

Some experts – “Trumps’s advanced age might be a factor in not sentencing him to prison.” We shouldn’t share that… it would be very embarrassing for Donald Trump, who turns 78 in a couple weeks, to escape prison because he is elderly.

So far the only negative comment from a GOP Senator about Trump guilty verdict was Lisa Murkowski who said “a Republican nominee without this baggage would have a clear path to victory.” Bill Cassidy, who I had hopes for, said the verdict was wrong.

Anyone seen Mitt Romney?

Meanwhile, seems like this should be a bigger story: “Google said it was scaling down the use of AI-generated answers in some search results, after the tech made high-profile errors including telling users to put glue on their pizza and saying Barack Obama was Muslim.”

Just a bit outside

May 29, 2024

Retired MLB Umpire Joe West, 71, defended Ángel Hernández’s career as an umpire: ‘He Was Good At It”

71 is young for dementia issues so have to assume that West mean “good” as in Angel Hernandez made other umpires look less bad?

Caitlin Clark Tuesday night became the first rookie to record 30 points, 3 blocks and 3 steals in a game in WNBA history.

And the Indiana Fever still lost 88-82 to the LA Sparks.

And anyone who followed the Spurs and Wemby will just laugh.

(Unanimous Rookie of the Year,and San Antonio was still one of worst teams in NBA.)

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Los Angeles Dodgers were on a five game losing streak.

But they discovered the cure-all. AKA the Mets bullpen.

Justice Samuel Alito claimed his wife flew an upside down flag in January 2021 in response to an argument with a neighbor. Now a NY Times story, buried in the paper, says that argument happened in February 2021.


You would think for a major national paper like the NY Times that “SCOTUS judge caught in lie” would be a bigger story.

Regarding that freezing cold courtroom. Years ago I took computer course in Dallas in July. Brought every work appropriate sleeveless summer dress I owned. Almost froze in 65 degree airconditioning.

And ended up wearing my airplane sweater daily. Does Trump not have sweaters, or does he think they make him look fat?

How lucky is Velveeta Voldemort that the courtroom IS cool.

If it were warmer, with all those people in it, which raises the temperature, thinking by the end of the day his orange makeup would start running..

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Seriously NY Times?

“Trump Leans Into Outlaw Image as Criminal Trial Concludes”

Underneath is REAL headline: “Preparing for potential verdict in NYC, Trump increasingly aligns himself w/ fellow defendants & people convicted of crimes.

Outlaw sounds more romantic than criminals and crooks.

Trump and MAGA pretending to be outraged by what they say is Biden campaign “staged media stunt” with Robert DeNiro outside former guy’s New York City criminal trial.

As opposed to the VP tryouts & other cult member media stunts Donald staged almost every day outside the trial?

Libertarians actually had a good idea. What if people start showing up to Trump events with rubber chickens because the former President chicken was afraid to testify?

Trump’s lawyers are trying to paint Michael Cohen into the worst and most selfish person of all time… who also decided on his own to pay $130,000 out of his own money to help out his boss. Two words – “Yeah, right.”

So close

May 26, 2024

Two big leads lost late in three games. Who do the Indiana Pacers think they are? The NY Mets?

Whatever happens this season, the SF Giants at least won’t have fans turning off the game early.

It’s less that Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever got their first WNBA win yesterday, against the LA Sparks.., with Clark’s late three being the dagger. But that millions of sports fans and media, actually cared. The #WNBA is for real.

Washington Post Headline “Trump loudly heckled and booed at Libertarian National Convention.

NY Times “Trump Will Address the Libertarian Convention. Some Members Are Outraged.”

Waiting for them to say how this is bad for President Biden.

Let’s sum it up for today’s GOP. To be considered as a possible VP candidate for the Republican candidate in 2024 election. You have to promise you won’t accept election results unless you win.

RFK Jr actually compared wearing a mask to being a slave, and said he’d rather die of COVID than wear one.

So presume he doesn’t wear a seatbelt either?


Washington Post didn’t cover Alito’s upside down flag when they first learned about it in Jan 2021, because they decided it was just his wife’s doing. But Washington Post has no problem covering & amplifying Trump’s lies about Judge Merchan’s daughter.

As insane as Donald Trump is sometimes, there’s a way in which his insistence he is winning every state makes sense. Because then when he loses in November he can scream “stolen” and get his cult members to try to overturn the election again.

Can’t be coincidence that today’s Trump fundraising email is to launch his new MAGA flag.

My father, a professor at Duke, passed away 4 years ago. We didn’t agree on much politically but he’d have appreciated logical falacy that Democrats’ Biden & Merchan are influenced by their adult children, but GOP judges Thomas & Alito pay no attention to their wives’ doings.

Meanwhile, would President Biden get more attention for his accomplishments if he promised to talk about them in a press conference where he took no questions

Not closing time.

May 21, 2024

SF Giants, up 6-2 with one out and nobody on in the bottom of the 9th, manage to lose 7-6 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Absolute worst loss of the season.

Indiana Pacers up 3 with 10 seconds left AND possession to inbound the ball against the Boston Celtics… “hold our beer.”

Nothing is certain but death, taxes, and fouling when you are up 3 with under 10 seconds to go…

Even LeBron James on Twitter :”And yall still wanna know why I would foul up 3 EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Velveeta Voldemort is still ranting in fundraising emails that he’s “been forced to sit fully gagged while Biden’s cronies spread vicious lies.” If only Donald Trump had been given the opportunity to testify…. Oh wait, never mind.


How can Donald Trump have the unmitigated gall to ask voters to elect him to defend our country when he doesn’t even have the courage to defend himself?

Former Maryland Governor and current GOP U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hogan claims now he’ll support abortion rights.

But if Biden is re-elected Hogan will vote against Joe’s judicial nominees. And if Trump is elected he’d vote to confirm all Donald’s choices.

Maybe Susan Collins will give him some lessons in being “concerned?”

So for all the media coverage of attacks on Fani Willis, including plenty of puritanical piling on for her relationship choices.. seems like it should be a big story that she won her primary for re-elections with 87% of the vote.

Also hey media, if you’re so fascinated by Donald Trump why isn’t anyone doing investigative story on potential medical issues which could cause someone to be constantly and uniquely complaining about being cold?

Some are quite serious.

One of today’s Trump fundraising rants. SECURE TRUMP MEMO: NIKKI HALEY NOT UNDER VP CONSIDERATION! But, I wish her well… Translation “Nikki is too popular, isn’t abject enough and would outshine me, there’s no CHANCE I’d have ever chosen her.”

Politico figures out the simple headine so much of the major national media couldn’t. “New York trial winds down — without Trump’s testimony The former president declined to take the witness stand as the defense rested its case.”


And today Senate Judiciary Committee had a hearing on presciption drug prices…. Crickets in the national media. They’d far rather cover Velveeta Voldemort’s latest insane rants on his failing social media platform.

Go midwest young man?

May 20, 2024

So the NBA conference finals are set.

No team West of the central time zoon

Dallas-Minnesota – Indiana-Boston

Who is more disappointed? Knicks fans? Or ESPN, ABC, TNT, and advertisers without a New York team in the Eastern Conference finals?

So many trolls so little time.

Amy Klobuchar, as did many Timberwolves fans, posted some happy tweets tonight after the Timberwolves came back to win game seven.

Now, I get sports rivalries, I get sour grapes.

But the trolls who say she’s never watched or can’t name a player on the team.. ? Give me a bleeping break, Amy Klobuchar, daughter of sportswriter Jim Klobuchar, loves and knows more about sports than most people. Including most men.

“Bring Ya Ass” – Anthony Edwards response to Charles Barkley talking about not having been in Minnesota, would probably sell a lot more vanity license plates than 10,000 lakes. Just saying.

So who’s happier with the Mavericks knocking the Thunder out of the playoffs? Dallas. Or Seattle?

(for non-sports fans, Oklahoma City is considered by many to have stolen the former Seattle Super Sonics from Seattle.)

So have the SF Giants come alive with a sweep this weekend over Colorado?

Or is landing with three games with the Rockies the sports equivalent of a dead cat bounce?

NY Times headline: “Donald Trump accepted an N.R.A. endorsement in Dallas as President Biden made a pitch to Black voters in Atlanta.” Fixed it for them. “Trump dishes out word salad before NRA in Dallas while Biden talks about his accomplishments to Black voters in Atlanta.”

Give me a break. Fox News actually making a story out of there not being big crowds lining streets to see President Biden’s motorcade in Atlanta. Not that you can see anything with dark car windows. Has it occurred to them, you can support a President without being in a cult?

Senator Marco Rubio says he won’t accept 2024 results if ‘it’s an unfair election’ So we’ve now reached the point that if you hope to be elected VP for GOP you have to say that elections are unfair if you lose. It’s. A. Cult.

Trump won’t testify. But an innocent man in a sham trial would take the stand in a red hot minute. Velveeta Voldemort is guilty as heck and he knows it.

Fellow sports fans.

We all like to complain if our team loses & even say “we wuz robbed.” (which can be true.)

But imagine if losing teams refused to accept defeat, never shook hands, & claimed championships were fake. Sports would fall apart.

That’s where GOP is w/ elections

Is one a streak?

May 16, 2024

The Giants win a game, the Giants win a game! #BeatLA

SF Giants had signed Curt Casali to a one-year contract on Wednesday after all their recent injuries, including to three of their catchers.)

(Casali is less 2 years older than Buster Posey. Say, didn’t manager Bob Melvin used to catch? )

SI reports that on May 24 Joe Buck is set to call his first MLB Game in three years, Cardinals-Cubs, with Chip Caray.

“I’ve really missed hearing Joe Buck calling a baseball game” said nobody.

Am a San Antonio Spurs fan so haven’t been laser-focused on the NBA playoffs. But in a world where Red Sox-Yankees still dominates baseball, seems a bit odd that we are a game away from Boston-New York Eastern Conference final and sports media so far is strangely quiet.

More trial news out of New York. We have a jury in the Senator Bob Menendez trial. I’m a Democrat, if he’s found guilty he should go to jail. See how easy that is?

Florida Governor Ron DeathSantis just signed GOP legislation that will make climate change a lesser priority in Florida and largely disappear from state statutes.

Of course as Florida increasingly suffers from climate disasters DeSantis will demand more federal aid.

Trump responds to backlash over Noem killing her dog: ‘We all have bad weeks.”

You know who wishes they had bad weeks these days? Cricket.

After Don’s interview aired, Biden campaign statement, “At the Biden campaign, we are proudly anti-puppy-killing & don’t think those who murder puppies are ‘terrific.’”

Many GOP Senators on Senate Floor Wednesday talking about National Police Week and memoralizing fallen officers.

For some reason none of them mentioned Brian Sicknick.

Tuesday Biden hit Chinese electric vehicles & chips w/h higher tariffs.

Asked on Trump’s claim China now “eating our lunch” economically, Dark Brandon replied “He’s been feeding them for a long time.”

Little coverage in national media. Would it help if Joe insulted reporters?

So will Donald Trump ask Hannibal Lecter to attend the first debate?

Media is all over former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan running for U.S. Senate and saying how bipartisan he supposedly is..


Has anyone asked Larry Hogan who he is voting for for President in November?

Faded memory?

May 13, 2024

Tommy Tuberville says attending Trump trial was “‘Most depressing thing I’ve ever been in’ Did Coach Tubby forget about that 2008 36-0 Auburn loss to Alabama? (It was after that year Auburn paid him $5 million to go away)

So would Senators J.D. Vance and Tommy Tuberville like to explain to their constituents how they are promoting family values by attending the trial of a man charged with election crimes over paying to cover up sex with a porn star?

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Okay. SF Giants manager Bob Melvin said Luis Matos will “get a good shot here” in center field with Jung Hoo Lee out.

Cue a rousing chorus of “I am not throwing away my shot” from Luis Matos. (Three run home run that at the time gave SF Giants a 3-1 lead.)


Jimmy Carter is 99 years old and I’ll bet he wouldn’t confuse Donald Trump with Braves catcher Chadwick Tromp.

Donald Trump was attacking President Jimmy Connors. How long until he starts ranting about Senator Chris Evert and DOT Secretary Pete Sampras?

KC Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker attacked Biden in speech at Benedictine college for being Catholic but pro-abortion. As Trump courts evangelical voters while on trial for paying illegal hush money over sex with a porn-star & his Playboy bunny mistress.

NY Times & other major media love to write about young people being upset with Biden over Mideast. Shame they don’t have time or space to cover Trump’s regular promises to institute Muslim ban, arrest & deport pro-Palestine protesters & his absolute support for Netanyahu.

New York Times/Siena College nationwide poll last month found that 31% of registered women voters think Trump respects women. Uh, what would Donald he have to do to convince them he doesn’t respect women? Sexually assault someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue?

Maybe he just went about it wrong. If Bill Clinton had tried to pay hush money to Linda Tripp and others to cover up his affair with Monica Lewinsky would the GOP have supported him?

Even Stan Barnes, an Arizona GOP strategist gets it on Kari Lake. “She regrettably, has been on record on all sides of abortion issue. And the 1 thing you cannot do in the pro-life, pro-choice argument as a political figure, is to be on more than 1 side.”

Ruben Gallego is an easy choice for Arizona

Trump fundraising email. “The FILTHY BIDEN JUDGE could throw me in jail at any moment. So before I step back into that New York courtroom tomorrow & face possibility of LIFE IN PRISON, I need to know: Are there any final words you’d like to share with me?” Should we tell him?

Worth watching

May 9, 2024

Over 13,000 people showed up in Indianapolis today to watch Caitlin Clark in her first WNBA preseason game.

For the record, that’s about three times what the Oakland A’s drew earlier this week.

Meanwhile Colorado Rockies put 9 runs on the board today against SF Giants The Rockies have been so bad, their 9 runs now matches their win total for the season. (They are 9-28.) As an SF Giants fan, this season is painful.

No one runs the table, or rather the court, in the NBA postseason. But who expected the last undefeated team left in the playoffs after Thursday night would be the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Four of Trump’s children are RNC delegates, plus Don Jr’s fiancee & Tiffany Trump’s husband.

While Eric’s wife is RNC Chairman. But sure, let media promote GOP talking point that it’s abuse of power simply that President Biden loves & supports his former-addict son who isn’t involved in politics.


Trump is saying in PUBLIC that he will change laws for donors, free convicted January 6 criminals, weaponize the federal government.. and oh yeah, “Russia, do whatever the hell you want.”

Can you imagine what Donald thinks he needs to keep secret?

SMALLEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED is trending on social media and it turns out to be about a Taylor Swift concert. But okay, I can’t be the only one who thought, was this something that came up in cross-examination of Stormy Daniels about Trump today?

MAGA world: A man who cheats on all of his wives, including with at least two women while his current wife is home with their baby son, is perfectly fine to be President. But a single woman who has a consensual affair with a co-worker shouldn’t be able to be a prosecutor.

Story just posted today & is already off front page of NY Times website: Former & would be President told oil companies executives to donate $1 billion to his campaign because, if elected, he would roll back environmental rules.

This should be a bigger headline.

Donald Trump is also fundraising today off by selling t-shirts with his mug shot. “NEVER SURRENDER – IN STYLE!” A minimum $47 donation! Though the site prefers $75 or even $100 Imagine how much Trump will charge for a picture of him behind bars.

Ted Cruz today on Senate floor complained of United Airlines trying to stop additional flights out of National Airport because of their near monopoly at Dulles.

While I hate agreeing with Ted Cruz he’s right.

But Ted’s might have a have tough time getting upgraded on his next United flight to Cancun.

Rocky Mountain Highs and lows

May 4, 2024

So Mavericks beat the Clippers.

And as they join the Timberwolves, Thunder, and Nuggets in the next round, time to officially call it the Midwest Conference? (Yes, okay, Denver is only about 1,000 miles from the coast?)

The Colorado Rockies trailed in each of their first 31 games this year, a modern-era record.

But today they broke a 0-0 tie with three runs in the 6th and held onto the lead to beat the Pirates 3-2.

As an SF Giants fan watching a VERY offensively challenged team, why do I think they’ll get their second win without trailing when San Francisco comes to Colorado next week.

From my funny friend Pat. “The Lakers fired Ham? That’s just not kosher.”

Give me a bleeping break.

Kristi Noem’s spokesperson says there will be “corrections” to “small errors” in future editions of her book.

Guaranteeing those with original will buy both to look for changes?

How long til Noem says she shot puppy as he was about to kill kids?


Some of the same Republicans who don’t trust women to make a choice regarding their own bodies seem to be fine with Kristi Noem’s impulsive choice to kill a puppy. (And for good measaure, a goat.)

CNN State of the Union Sunday lineup:

North Dakota Billionaire

GOP Governor Doug Burgum Former GOP Senator & current University of Florida President Ben Sasse (now being paid over $1 million a year.

After a week of all Trump all the time, they still couldn’t find any Democrats?

As Trump defenders say Donald just wanted to protect his family from hearing about his mistresses…. I’m so old I remember when GOP wanted to impeach Bill Clinton over a consensual affair.

Getting awfully tired of the “that’s just how men are” and “that’s just how men talk.” defense of Donald Trump’s bad behavior.

You know who isn’t like that and doesn’t talk like that? President Joe Biden.

Setting in the West

April 29, 2024

As Lebron James’ Lakers bow out in 1st round, understand King James’ desire to play with his son Bronny at least briefly. But beyond that, maybe Lebron might give some thought, as beloved son of Ohio, into challenging JD Vance for UA Senate in 2026?

Clippers blew 31 point lead but still beat Dallas Mavericks yesterday 116-111 to even up series 2-2. Otherwise with Minnesota Timberwolves sweeping Phoenix Suns, and Lakers losing Monday, we’d be awfully close to a 2nd round in NBA’s Western Conference with not one team left from Pacific time zone.

(even half the year as Phoenix is)

Not that Nancy Pelosi wasn’t magnificent as Speaker. But no f**ks to give Nancy as Speaker Emeritus with Katy Tur was chef’s kiss.

“PELOSI: He had the worst record of any president. If you want to be an apologist for Donald Trump, that may be your role.”

And Nancy Pelosi’s very accomplished daughter Christine praised mom on Twitter Monday.

Cannot imagine what it would have been like as a teenager growing up trying to sneak something past Nancy.

Mitch McConnell says he doesn’t ‘currently’ see path forward for national abortion ban. Translation if GOP gets the Senate back they will block Biden from getting judges confirmed including SCOTUS judges. And if Trump gets elected and GOP has Congress they will pass ban THEN.

Trump’s election interference/hush money trial was not in session today as it’s one of last days of Passover. Which means Donald, who’s been whining about not being able to campaign, spent the day on the trail…

Oh, who are we kidding? Have no idea what he did but he spent day at his resort, golfing and rage posting.

Limping into the weak-end…

April 27, 2024

Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery thinks goaltender Jeremy Swayman’s dominance against the Toronto Maple Leafs has gotten in Toronto’s heads.

How about the fact that every year Toronto finds some way to lose in the Stanley Cup playoffs is in the Maple Leafs’ heads?

Ouch. Three of ESPN top headlines this morning:

-D-backs ace Gallen exits in 6th with tight hammy

Brewers lose LHP Miley to Tommy John surgery

Marlins LHP Luzardo scratched with elbow issue

Is Jamie Moyer still around and interested in a comeback?

Julie Andrews is staying active at 88 and still writing books with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton They just finished their 35th together.

Hope Joe Biden invites her to his 2nd inaugural.

GOP apparently sent a letter to the Secret Service as they want protesters kept further away from the venue for July’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. “Further away?” Preferably in Madison?

President Biden talking about his opponent “I’m a grown man running against a 6-year-old.” This could be considered insulting. To parents of 6-year-olds.

If President Biden started attacking the media regularly would they give him more positive coverage?

Forget a New York Times interview. Who else wants to see President Joe Biden aka Dark Brandon show up for the cold open or Weekend Update on SNL Saturday Night Live?

All your need to know about today’s GOP “Barr, who said Trump shouldn’t be near Oval Office, says he will vote for him in 2024” Profiles in cowardice.

Wrap your head around this one. And this doesn’t even count people too powerful to charge like Ginni Thomas & her SCOTUS husband. “Fifty-three people who tried to keep former President Donald J. Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election have now been criminally charged.”

I know MAGA Trump world doesn’t want much history taught in schools. But remember it being a pretty basic tenet that America fought the revolutionary war and declared independence because we DIDN’T want a dictator king.

After Republicans deified Kyle Rittenhouse for fatally shooting two protesters he didn’t agree with, who knew they’d draw a line at one of their women leaders killing a dog?


I’m so old I can remember the worst thing a GOP politician could do to their dog was strap it to the roof of the family car.


Midwest update: Amy Klobuchar joining Gretchen Whitmer in showing us how real leaders and decent people treat dogs.

Lower than low

April 23, 2024

Just how bad are the Chicago White Sox?

Not just 3-18 bad, but they’ve allowed 129 runs while scoring just 50. No team except the Atlanta Braves (133) has scored more runs than the White Sox have allowed.

Don’t look now, but the SF Giants are one game below .500.

Why is it so shocking how old Donald Trump looks in court? His public appearances have been carefully scripted, made for TV, short appearances at rallies, on TV, or at his resorts. Ask any woman of a certain age, easy to look younger for short-term photo-op. Not all day.

-ICYMI.

Trump and Putin did not want aid to Ukraine. Congress just passed aid to Ukraine. Is the orange chokehold loosening?

Tommy Tuberville today ranting GOP in House has sold out by voting to send aid to Ukraine. And claiming Senate should be voting on border legislation. Which he and Donald helped scuttle. Tubby is so orange & awful, does he really think Trump might pick him as a running mate?

Yes, New York City hotels are expensive. But is it time to start talking about sequestering the Trump jury?

Meanwhile, tuition at Columbia University over $66,000 Wonder how many student protesters who shut down university have tuition paid by wealthy parents? And how many of those parents are fine with kids’ actions because they think it will help Trump get re-elected & ensure their tax cuts?


Thinking students protesting & attacking President Biden over not helping Palestians & Gaza enough should listen to Republicans like Rick Scott. Scott & other GOP accuse Democrats of being anti-Israel & pro-Hamas. They demand ALL aid to Gaza should stop. Why not protest THEM?

So as Donald complains again that the courtroom is freezing. Isn’t another sign of dementia losing the ability to do simple things like put on a sweater?

Meanwhile President Biden is in Florida. Talking about things that matter – Now in America today in 2024, women have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers had — because of Donald Trump,”

And yes, he’s not the first to say it, in January 2023 Amy Klobuchar’s statement: “We’re not backing down or giving up and we won’t settle for a reallity where our daughters have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers.

But Joe’s the President, a Catholic at that, and if we just vote in November he’ll sign the bill to codify Roe V. Wade into law.

Say what?

April 22, 2024

Hunter Wendelstedt warned Aaron Boone after the Yankees manager claimed he missed an Oakland A batter swinging at a pitch: ” You got anything else to say, you’re gone.”

Next pitch, a fan behind the dugout yelled at the umpire and Wendestedt ejected Boone.

So Hunter is hard of hearing as well as maybe losing his eyesight.

Reminds me of a story I read as a child, I think it was about Casey Stengel. When an umpire told his team to zip it and then someone from dugout yelled one more thing. Ump said “You’re out of here.” Stengel said who did you toss? Ump named the player. Casey said ‘Better yell louder than that, I sent him to AAA last week.”

76ers blew game to Knicks after taking a five-point lead with 47.3 seconds to go.

Hold our beer, said Lakers, up 20 over Nuggets in the 3rd quarter.


The lawyer for a known liar is basing his defense on calling the defendant’s previous lawyer a liar. Got it.

Travel agent PSA Trump claims he cannot campaign due to trial. His NYC trial adjourned 1230p. He has 757 plane. Means several important states within 2 hour flight. NH, OH, PA, VA, NC – for starters If Donald weren’t so lazy he could campaign in one & be back tonight.

Hey CNN, You’re talking this am about Donald Trump not taking opportunities to campaign (he has all afternoon and evening today, plus his own plane) while President Biden is out on the campaign trail. But you don’t COVER Joe Biden on the campaign trail.

Ditto

No-name Dem Rep. from Minnesota (Dean Phillips) primaries Pres. Biden. Nonstop national coverage.

Senate leader & 2020 Presidential candidate (Amy Klobuchar) is top Biden surrogate again in 2024. and spent much of last weekend opening Biden-Harris field office in New Hampshire

-Crickets from major media.

World according to today’s GOP.

It is critically important that President’s son, who was never elected to office, and admits his mistakes, is former addict who used prostitutes.

But the former President paying off a porn star and paying to kill stories about his mistress – move along, nothing to see here.


Alina Habbas, trying to say Trump did nothing criminal in paying off a porn star. “You hire lawyers to solve problems, lawyers solve those problems. That’s it.” Shame Henry II didn’t have Alina around when he asked about Becket “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”

Has any media outlet covering the anti-Israel student protests also including the rather important sidebar that Donald Trump has promised, besides his Muslim ban, to revoke student visas for protesters and DEPORT THEM? I’ll wait.-


Okay who else saw Donald Mustard trending on Twitter today and thought Trump had run out of ketchup bottles?

Changes in attitudes..

April 18, 2024

You know one person has made a difference when you see this headline on ESPN.com “Olsen, nation’s No. 3 scorer, transferring to Iowa.”

And you assume, correctly, that it’s a women’s college basketball story

And Caitlin Clark is apparently about to sign an eight figure shoe contract with Nike.

While she has an under $80,000 a year rookie contract in the WNBA.

Most people really making under $80,000 a year probably couldn’t afford to buy the shoes.

Los Angeles Dodgers – 2024 payroll – even with Ohtani and other deferred salaries – $227,309,737.

Record 12-9

Milwaukee Brewers – 2024 payroll – $107,606,690

Record 11-6

No punchline, I just like writing it.

NBA announced Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter has been banned from the NBA for life over a gambling scandal. Stay tuned for in-depth reports on the story sponsored by Fanduel and ESPN Bet.


United said Boeing’s problems this year have cost the airline $200 million. How long until they institute a “Boeing fee?”

Alaska Airlines had a ground stop for ALL their planes this morning for an hour due to an IT issue. Again, this travel agent PSA. If you really have to be somewhere this spring summer, from a cruise to a wedding to a critical meeting… allow extra time.


Despite Trump’s claims, Judge Merchan hasn’t said he can’t attend his son’s high school graduation, saying it will depend how the trial is going.

How mad will Donald be if judge does adjourn for the day and he actually has to go to Barron’s graduation?

If President Biden fell asleep two days in a row in public it would be national headlines and CNN breaking news.

Some of GOP seems completely focused on the idea of prosecuting anyone who lies to Congress. Okay, then, can we start with going after Senators and House members who claim Donald Trump is not influencing their votes?

Kansas GOP Sen. Roger Marshall waneds to adjourn Mayorkas proceedings until Nov 6; day after election so “American people can have a vote on this impeachment trial. Where was this concern for Americans having a vote when GOP rushed through Amy Coney Barrett SCOTUS nomination?

Hey, GOP, when you are done throwing tantrums over this failed impeachment, maybe you could talk to your own Senator Lankford about resurrecting his BIPARTISAN bill to fix some border issues?

Ted Cruz, upset that the Senate dismissed impeachment charges against Secretary Mayorkas: “I don’t know that there has been a more shameful day in the US Senate than today…” Well, this one for starters.