Just How Bad Are The 2024 Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox have lost 17 games in a row and might very well end up as the worst team in MLB history. 

As of this writing, the Chisox are 27-84. They are 40 games back of the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. They are also 26 games back of the fourth place Detroit Tigers. 

Prior to this season, the longest losing streak in franchise history was 100 years ago in 1924 when the team lost 13 consecutive games en route to a last place finish in the AL. 

That record has been broken in 2024 not once, but twice. Prior to their current losing streak, the Chisox lost 14 straight games between May 22nd and June 6th. Their longest winning streak in 2024 was four games between May 8-11 when they beat the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field before winning three consecutive games against the Guardians at home. 

Their last victory took place exactly three weeks ago today when they beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. The Twins beat them in the nightcap. From there, the Chisox have been swept in succession by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and the Royals yet again. 

After going 3-21 in July, the South Siders have an off day tomorrow before starting a six-game road trip against the Twins and the Oakland A's. 

The worst team in modern MLB history by won-loss record is the 1962 New York Mets who went 40-120 in their inaugural season. By winning percentage, that record belongs to the 1916 Philadelphia A's who had a winning percentage of .235 following a 36-117 campaign (back when the MLB season was 154 games). The Chisox (who currently have a winning percentage of .243) could do worse on both counts. 

There are a couple of silver linings. One is that the Chisox will get the top pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. The other is that they might not be that bad for very long. 

Both the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks are three years removed from losing 110 games. The O's are currently in first place in the AL East while the D'Backs won the NL pennant last year and have a legitimate shot at the post-season again this year. 

Let's also remember that 6 of their 17 consecutive losses came at the hands of the Royals. A year ago, the Royals lost 106 games. This year so far, they currently have the third AL Wild Card spot and have already won more games this season than they did all of last year. 

The Chicago White Sox could be a vastly improved team in the next couple of years. But they still have to finish this godawful season first.

Perhaps Harris Will Pick Shapiro After All

A couple of days ago, I mused why I didn't think presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris would pick Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to be her running mate.  

Now I'm having some second thoughts. Harris and her running mate will make their first public appearance together on Tuesday, August 6th in Philadelphia. 

While the Harris campaign is cautioning that nothing has been finalized, it would be weird for Harris to introduce her running mate in Pennsylvania and it is not Governor Shapiro. It would be kind of a letdown.

There are a lot of so-called progressives who certainly think Harris is going to pick Shapiro because they are demanding that Harris pick anyone (preferably Minnesota Governor Tim Walz or Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear) but Shapiro.

If Harris does pick Shapiro, it will demonstrate that she can stand up to the far left. While some might remain "uncommitted", I think the sight of Shapiro wiping the floor with J.D. Vance on a debate stage might help some people come around.

A Couple of Thoughts on Hezbollah's Attack Which Killed 12 Druze Children in Israel's Golan Heights

On Saturday, Hezbollah bombed a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a town is Israel's Golan Heights resulting in the deaths of 12 children all members of the Druze community. 

Now Hezbollah has been launching missile attacks into northern Israel since the day after the Hamas attack resulting in the deaths of 24 Israeli civilians and 18 IDF soldiers and reservists. But given how this attack targeted children there is fear of an expanded war with the U.S. demanding Israel exercise restraint.

A couple of thoughts.

First, had the IDF bombed a soccer field in Gaza resulting in the deaths of 12 Palestinian children the international outrage would have been swift and unambiguous. But when it comes to Hezbollah killing children inside of Israel (even non-Jewish children), the reaction is meh. 

Second, there has been great emphasis on Hezbollah denying responsibility for the attack with many pointing out that it rarely denies responsibility for its action. I heard this on Bloomberg from some professor from Columbia University (quel surprise). On the contrary, Hezbollah has long denied responsibility for its actions. Besides, who else could have been responsible for the attack? Presbyterians?

Why I Don't Believe Harris Will Pick Josh Shapiro as Her Running Mate

Presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has reportedly narrowed her VP choices down to three men - Arizona junior Senator Mark Kelly, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. 

Of those three, I am most enthusiastic about Shapiro. Perhaps his most significant achievement during his term as Governor was overseeing the rebuilding of a section of I-95 which collapsed in flames in only 12 days. 

And yes, I take pride that Shapiro is Jewish and unabashedly pro-Israel. As a board member of the University of Pennsylvania (albeit a non-voting member), Shapiro's criticism of then President Liz Magill's handling of anti-Semitism essentially sealed her fate. He also won praise for denouncing an anti-Semitic protest outside of a restaurant called Goldies, owned by an Israeli Jews. Shapiro then subsequently showed his support for the restaurant by buying lunch there.

Consider what I wrote a week ago when President Biden announced his withdrawal:

But let's assume Harris does get the nomination. Who does she choose as her running mate? I'd like to see either Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg or Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Either of them would tear J.D. Vance to pieces. Then again, I'm not sure if Democrats would accept a Jewish running mate or if the country at large would accept an openly gay man running with a biracial woman. Yet if that is the case then it says more about the country than it does about them.

A few hours later, CNN's John King said this about Shapiro when asked about him by Anderson Cooper:

Well, he certainly under consideration, I know that from key Harris allies. He’s a first-term governor, he’s Jewish, there could be some risk in putting him on the ticket.

Jeff Jacoby, the lone conservative columnist at The Boston Globe, remarked on X, "In America today, antisemitism on the left is a given." 

Well, certainly on the far left. A "No Genocide Josh" website has been launched in an effort to persuade Harris not to choose Shapiro to be her running mate. The website has been denounced by NY Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres who remarked:

Every potential nominee for Vice President is pro-Israel. Yet only one, Josh Shapiro, has been singled out by a far-left smear campaign calling him ‘Genocide Josh.’ The reason he is treated differently from the rest? Antisemitism. The antisemitic far left must never be given veto power over the selection of a presidential running mate.

Now one could argue that Shapiro might not be selected by Harris because of his support for school vouchers . While teachers' unions are an important constituency of the Democratic Party, I don't think school vouchers is animating the far left of the Democratic Party in the way support for Israel does. 

As I argued yesterday, Harris is treating Israel and Hamas as if they are morally equivalent. If she is looking to put space between herself and supporting Israel, then she will not choose Governor Shapiro. Lord knows, she doesn't want a spectacle of Democratic delegates denouncing Shapiro's selection which would only reinforce notions that a critical mass of the Democratic Party does not want a Jew on the ticket. But given that Americans are more supportive of Israel than Hamas, Harris would be wise to ignore these considerations when determining Shapiro's virtues for the Democratic ticket.

This isn't to say that Kelly and Walz don't have their merit. If she selects Kelly, it might help neutralize some of the criticisms she received over her role as "border czar." Kelly was one of the Senators heavily involved in the ill-fated bipartisan border deal which Trump scuttled much to Kelly's disgust. Meanwhile, Walz is a successful two-term Governor. 

But if he were to be selected it would signal that Democrats are worried about holding onto Minnesota which hasn't gone Republican since 1972. Yet I think Pennsylvania is a far more crucial state for Democrats to hold onto than both Arizona and Minnesota.

I sincerely hope I am wrong about this assessment. Indeed, if Harris does choose Shapiro as her running mate while intensifying her criticisms of Israel, she can dismiss Republican critics by saying, "My running mate is Jewish. So is my husband." 

With that said, I hope she will both choose Shapiro while not intensifying her criticism of Israel. That might be asking a lot, but it would demonstrate that Harris has some backbone against the far left.

What Does Trump Mean When He Says Christians Won't Have to Vote Again After 2024?

During a speech yesterday at Turning Point Action's Believers Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, former President Trump declared that it will not be necessary for Christians to vote after the 2024 election:

I don't care how, but you have to get out and vote. Christians get out and vote. Just this time. You won't have to do it anymore.

In four more years, you know what? It’ll be fixed. It’ll be fine. You won't have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. We'll have it fixed so good. You're not going to have to vote.

What exactly does this mean?

If Christians won't have to vote in four years' time, does Trump mean that for people of all faiths?

If yes, does this mean there will be no elections after 2024 should Trump be re-elected?

Does that make Trump President for Life?

And what is exactly that will be fixed? The border? A national abortion ban? The abolition of gay marriage? The termination of the U.S. Constitution?

Of course, the Trump campaign is minimizing the former President's comments. Spokesman Steven Cheung issued a statement:

President Trump was talking about the importance of faith, uniting this country and bringing prosperity to every American, as opposed to the divisive political environment that has sowed so much division and even resulted in an assassination attempt.

No, Trump was speaking of the importance of sending him back to the White House. Talk of faith, unity and prosperity much less the assassination attempt doesn't explain why Trump would tell his audience they wouldn't ever have to vote again.

If Kamala Harris entertained the idea that people would not have to vote again after this year, Trump and MAGA nation would go ballistic and not without justification. 

Of course, Trump's authoritarian talk of not having to vote, of being "dictator for a day" and "terminating the Constitution" will persist. Yet the question remains if Americans want our democratic experiment to carry on. 

Kamala Harris Is Treating Israel & Hamas as Moral Equivalents

On Thursday, following her one-on-one meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Vice-President Kamala Harris said some good things and some not so good things.

Here are the good things:

Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization.  On October 7, Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans.  Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and took 250 hostages.

There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza: Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Edan Alexander, Keith Siegel, Omer Neutra.  And the remains of American citizens Judy Weinstein, Gad Haggai, and Itay Chen are still being held in Gaza. 

I have met with the families of these American hostages multiple times now.  And I’ve told them each time, they are not alone and I stand with them.  And President Biden and I are working every day to bring them home.

The Times of Israel noted, "The vice president made a point of reading out the names of all eight American-Israel hostages still held captive by Hamas — something no other US official has done."

She said their names.

But here are the not so good things:

I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians.  And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there, with over 2 million people facing high levels of food insecurity and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.

What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating — the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third, or fourth time.  We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies.  We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering.  And I will not be silent.

While there is no question Palestinian civilians have been killed, the Hamas run Gaza Health Ministry makes no distinction between civilian deaths and those of Hamas terrorists. Harris, too, fails to make this distinction.

While it is true that the deaths of some Palestinians civilians are as a result of Israel's defensive military operations, it is also true that Hamas uses its own people as human shields. Harris again fails to make this distinction.

Claims of hunger, famine and starvation are equally dubious. Yet Harris sees fit to spread misinformation. 

In so doing, she undermines her rhetoric about U.S. hostages in Hamas' captivity by treating Israel as Hamas' moral equivalent. So long as Harris places pressure on Israel instead of Hamas, the hostages will remain in captivity. 

While former President Donald Trump pounced on Harris' remarks, he has shown himself to be no more sympathetic to Israel's plight imploring Netanyahu to "finish it up and get it done quickly." If only it were that easy.

Unfortunately, given Harris' vow not to be silent concerning the Palestinians, I suspect we will hear more of this rhetoric from her which in the long run will do more harm than good especially for the hostages. 

No doubt some of this rhetoric is motivated by recapturing the support of "uncommitted" Democratic delegates alienated with President Biden's support for Israel which earned him the nickname "Genocide Joe".  Minnesota's uncommitted delegates have indicated they will not support Harris and it is unclear if her remarks changed anything. If they haven't changed anything then I shudder to think what Harris might say about Israel to earn their support. 

The Pros and Cons of The MBTA Red Line Partial Shutdown

 

For the past two weeks, the MBTA's Red Line has been partially shut down from track repair work between Alewife and Kendall Square. The closure has also extended to Park Street during the evening.

This has made getting to and from work between Cambridge and Boston very interesting with both pros and cons. 

Mind you, I have recently experienced other prolonged MBTA Red Line shutdowns. There was a 10-day shutdown between Alewife and Harvard Square back in February. This particular shutdown wasn't onerous as it made for a pleasant walk to Harvard Square. In early May, there was a 9-day partial shutdown between Park Street and JFK/UMass. Again, this shutdown didn't affect me too adversely as it only affected my route between Park Street and South Station which made for a short shuttle bus trip. There were several occasions when I opted to walk from Park Street to South Station and one occasion when I walked straight from Park Street to work in the Seaport District.

However, this shutdown which commenced on July 12th and will conclude tomorrow (July 28th), affected the Cambridge portion of my commute which necessitated more strategic planning on my part. While I don't start work until 9 a.m., I made a point of setting my alarm for 4:50 a.m. so as to allow as much preparation time as possible. 

Initially, I would catch the shuttle bus on Mass Avenue. The first day was great as there was hardly anyone on the bus. But most people work from home on Mondays and Fridays. The following day proved far more chaotic. Fortunately, the MBTA devised a two-pronged approach to shuttle buses. 

There was one set of shuttle buses which made all stops between Alewife and Kendall Square while there was another bus which went express from Porter Square to Kendall Square and on most days, I opted to take this bus. However, this past Wednesday morning, the lines were unusually long for the express bus, and I ended up taking the local shuttle and barely got to work on time. The MBTA had a similar strategy on the return home. Passengers could take buses to Central Square, Harvard Square and Davis Square or could opt for bus service to Porter Square and Alewife. 

This being the MBTA there were invariably other wrinkles. On the first day, a lot of us couldn't use our Charlie Cards to enter Kendall Square and there was no MBTA staff on hand to help. The next day there was plenty of MBTA staff present and they made their presence known. As I was making my way to the train, one MBTA worker shouted at me, "Hurry up, dude!!!" To which I replied, "Don't call me dude!!!"

For the most part, the buses we used were charter buses which were clean and had plenty of air conditioning. Although I do remember having to take a minibus to Porter Square in which I had to stand for the entire duration of the trip. Standing on a subway train is one thing. Standing on a minibus is another. 

Still, I was amazed how the bus drivers could make those tight turns without hitting anything. That is until one evening a bus driver collided with a car as we pulled into Porter Square knocking the driver's front fender clean off. While I could disembark, those headed to Alewife had to stay put until the police arrived to settle things.

However, things would become chaotic this past Wednesday evening. I actually got out of work 15 minutes early due to cutting my lunch short to help a client. This delighted me as I was supposed to meet a friend for dinner in Davis Square and I figured I would have plenty of time to spare.

Wrong.

A man jumped to his death in front of a train at South Station resulting in a temporary shutdown of the entire Red Line. There was a large police and fire department presence. An MBTA worker notified us that "an extreme emergency" had taken place and that shuttle buses would be coming soon. 

This meant having to take a shuttle bus all the way from South Station to Davis Square which took almost two hours. Despite the lengthy trip, I arrived at my destination not long after my friend and we had a splendid dinner on a cool evening.

The biggest virtue of this partial shutdown was all the time I now had at my disposal before getting to work. There were several occasions when I arrived at Seaport before 8 a.m. I would use this time to shop at Trader Joe's, walk around Boston Harbor and eat breakfast before needing to clock into work at 9 a.m. It would liken it to a morning siesta. 

My co-worker Scott asked me if I was going to continue getting up earlier once the shutdown ended. I think I'll try a happy medium as I do want to catch up on my sleep. But at the same time there is a joy in arriving at work with time to spare before needing to start work. This I would like to continue. But we shall see.

Further partial Red Line shutdowns are scheduled for both August and September. The former will take place between August 19-25. While this shutdown will be shorter in duration, it will affect my entire commute as the shutdown is between Alewife and JFK/UMass. It will be interesting to see what the MBTA's shuttle bus strategy will be during this shutdown. Fortunately, I get to miss the September shutdown which goes from JFK/UMass from September 6-29. 

However, for better or for worse, these partial shutdowns are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. I also wonder if the Red Line will have a total month-long shutdown as the Orange Line did in August-September 2022. This is the price we pay for not making public transportation and infrastructure improvement a priority for far too long.

"Hamas is Comin'" is Very Ominous

It should come as no surprise that pro-Palestinian protesters, objecting to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress, would deface monuments, take down American flags and burn them and make anti-Semitic statements. This is their stock and trade. 

But what I found most ominous about yesterday's spectacle was the piece of graffiti at the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain at D.C.'s Union Station which read, "Hamas is comin'."

What this means to me that Hamas is coming to launch an attack in the United States as we are viewed as Israel's benefactor. FBI Director Christopher Wray does not discount the possibility.

Such an attack could take many forms. They could target an American synagogue or a Jewish community center. They could also attack U.S. government landmarks with large numbers of visitors such as the Lincoln Memorial. They could attack an Amtrak passenger train or perhaps a large sporting/musical event. If such an attack by Hamas were to come to pass, it would be at the behest of Iran, its main sponsor. 

One could dismiss "Hamas is comin'" as yet another piece of propaganda. But if such sentiment does exist then that sentiment can be put into action. The question is if we'll be ready enough to stop it in its tracks.

Padres Pitcher Dylan Cease Amazes with No-Hitter

San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease tossed a no-hitter en route to a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals in the Nation's Capital. 

It was both the second no-hitter of the 2024 season and second no-hitter in Padres' franchise history.

The first no-hitter of the 2024 season was thrown by Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco on April 1st against the Toronto Blue Jays. Cease's teammate Joe Musgrove tossed the first no-hitter in Padres' history on April 9, 2021, against the Texas Rangers. 

As for Cease, he struck out 9 batters while walking three over 114 pitches. He improves to 10-8 with a 3.50 ERA and leads with NL with 168 strikeouts. The only offense the Padres needed was a bases loaded single by Ha-Seong Kim in the first inning. 

Cease, 28, was acquired by the Padres from the Chicago White Sox during spring training for four players including pitchers Drew Thorpe and Steven Wilson. Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 6th round of the 2014 MLB draft, he was sent to the crosstown Chicago White Sox in July 2017 along with Eloy Jimenez for pitcher Jose Quintana. Cease would reach the majors in 2019.

His best season came in 2022 when he finished runner up in AL Cy Young balloting to Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros. That year, Cease went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA although he did lead the AL in walks with 78. He also came within an out of throwing a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins when it was broken up by Luis Arraez. Well, now Arraez is his Cease's teammate, and he handed him the ball to celebrate. As the late Joe Garagiola used to say, "Baseball is a funny game."

Baseball has been fun for the Padres lately as the no-hitter extends their winning streak to five games and currently have the third NL Wild Card spot behind the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. However, the Padres travel to Baltimore to face the AL East leading Orioles for a weekend series before returning home to be greeted by the AL West division leading Los Angeles Dodgers. 

But at least for tonight, the Padres celebration will not cease. 

A Few Thoughts About Kamala Harris

I am still saddened and angered by the way President Biden was pushed out of the race. 

And please don't tell me that President Biden was selfless. Democrats didn't leave him with much of a choice. 

But my feelings aside, what is done is done. 

Kamala Harris, barring any unforeseen circumstances or skeletons, will be the Democratic Party's standard bearer against Donald Trump.

In which case, this isn't a tough call. It is Kamala Harris every single time.

With that said, I am not without my reservations.

For starters, I am worried that Harris has been cast against Trump as prosecutor vs. felon. Yet when I think of Harris on the debate stage, I always remember how her 2020 presidential bid imploded against Tulsi Gabbard. At the time, I wondered:

Here's my question. How could Harris not have been prepared for Gabbard's onslaught? She and her staff had to know it was coming. Gabbard had been telegraphing her punch for three weeks. My guess is that Harris simply didn't take her seriously or was polling too low to be taken seriously. Whatever her reasoning she wasn't prepared for what she should have known was coming.

Following the debate, Harris fired back at Gabbard calling her "an apologist" for Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. An hour late and a few million dollars short. The damage was done.

Needless to say, if Harris cannot handle Gabbard then how the hell is she going to handle President Trump?

Five years later, the question still remains. Now, given the circumstances and the stakes involved, perhaps Harris will be far better equipped to handle Trump. Nothing would delight me more. 

But I have a feeling that expectations are being raised high, possibly too high. And if Harris falls short of those expectations, then watch out. Those who saw fit to push out Biden only for Harris to falter will have a lot for which to answer.

Then there is also the question of how far she will go to appease the Hamas wing of the Democratic Party. During her time in office as VP, when she has been confronted by people accusing Israel of committing genocide, she tells them how she values and respects their voice or how their truth cannot be suppressed. 

This is a pet peeve of mine. There isn't your truth or my truth. There is only the truth. To say otherwise reeks of cowardice and pandering. 

But the fact that Harris has done this twice makes me think there's bound to be a third. Should this come to pass it will be in the context of speaking as a presidential candidate. If she speaks in such a way which is perceived as indulging claims of Israeli genocide or even worse accuses Israel of committing genocide, then there will be a sliver of Jewish voters which will be Trump's for the taking. Or at the very least it could force a segment of Jewish voters not to support either Harris or Trump. 

With that said, Harris has been vocal in denouncing Hamas for its use of rape and sexual assault against the hostages. She's no Jamaal Bowman. 

Of course, Republican attack on Harris over Israel have to be taken with several grains of salt. House Speaker Mike Johnson took Harris to task for "boycotting" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress. 

Nonsense. Harris was no more boycotting Netanyahu's address than Republican VP nominee J.D. Vance who was also a no-show. Indeed, Harris met with Netanyahu beforehand.

Still, I have a feeling Harris might step into it where it concerns Israel and not know how to step back out and regain her footing.

Despite my reservations, I am fully prepared to cast a ballot for Kamala Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket if it means denying Trump the presidency once more.

7 Reasons Why I'm Saddened & Angered That Democrats Pushed Out President Biden

 

I was walking in Somerville's Davis Square when a homeless man said to no one particular, "Biden's out!!!"

He said it with a hint of sadness. 

A few minutes later, after walking along the Somerville Community Path his words turned out to be true. President Biden announced he would not be seeking a second term. The reality truly hit after I entered Mike's Foods and Spirits for a late lunch with many of the TVs tuned into the breaking news.

I shared the sadness of that homeless man. I also felt angered that this has come to pass. Here are seven reasons why.

1. Democrats Got What They Wanted - Now They Must Live with The Consequences

Since President Biden's disappointing performance in his debate with Donald Trump on June 27th, there has been a rising chorus among that he not elected officials and donors in the Democratic Party that he not run again. 

Well, 25 days later, they got what they wanted. But if their gambit doesn't pay off and we end up with Trump again then they must live with the consequences of their actions. Because it will have been they who are responsible for hastening Trump's return to office. Although Trump has consistently led the polls since the debate, that lead has been within the margin of error. 

Loathe as I am to agree with AOC, she is right to say this has not been well thought out:

It has been confirmed by the Republican Speaker of the House that Republicans are already preparing legal challenges to any change on ballot that may happen. The possibility of our elections being decided by the Supreme Court ruling skyrocket.

This is what happens when you press the panic button. It makes a far bigger mess of things than it ever actually was in the first place.

2. President Biden's Achievements Don't Matter

What this effort by Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media to toss President Biden from a cliff tells me is that his achievements don't matter.

Lower drug prices for seniors, expanded access to health care, the largest infrastructure bill in more than half a century and a booming economy - none of it counts. One bad debate negated three and a half years of good governance. 

And if it doesn't count for President Biden, it sure isn't going to count for Vice-President Harris or any other Democrat. 

As the old saying goes, "But fart just once...."

3. A Decline of Standards

As I have previously argued, Democrats have also succeeded in making a bad debate grounds to withdraw from a presidential race. But having 34 criminal convictions is just fine. 

Yes, it says a lot about the Republican Party that not one Republican called upon Trump to withdraw from the race upon being found guilty in a New York courtroom. But it also says a lot about Democrats that they are so eager to give up on someone who has done so much. Indeed, most Democratic voters were more than happy to give Biden another term in office. But those votes (including my own) evidently don't count. 

4. Democrats Played Right into Trump's Tiny Hands

A fortnight ago, I made the case that this effort by Democrats to oust President Biden played right into the hands of former President Trump. Because Democrats have done in 2024 what Donald Trump could not do in 2020 - defeat him.

This could not have turned out better for Trump if he had planned it himself. Notwithstanding Biden's bad debate, there is no guarantee Trump would have won. Whether Democrats choose Kamala Harris or somebody else, he will have the advantage going forward. He is virtually guaranteed to win. It will be his election to lose. 

Everyday voters see Republicans standing firm with Trump while seeing Democrats waffle and wobble with Biden in favor of someone else are more apt to go with Trump. And what if the Democratic National Convention turns out to be a disaster? Voters will ask how they can run the country if they cannot run a convention.

5. What if Biden's Successor Has a Bad Debate Against Trump in September?

There is still the question of the second presidential debate on September 10th. What happens if Biden's successor (be it Vice-President Harris or anyone else) also has a bad debate against Trump? Will there be calls for that candidate to step aside after they have been nominated?

I could easily see Trump telling his debate opponent, "Uh oh! It looks like the Democrats are going to replace you too." And it would be all over.

6. The Democratic Party Never Entirely Accepted Joe Biden

The truth of the matter is that the Democratic Party never entirely accepted Joe Biden. His White House bids in 1988 and 2008 utterly floundered and it looked like the same would happen in 2020. Despite serving under Barack Obama for eight years, Democratic Party activists lustily booed Biden at Democratic Party debate watch parties I attended in NYC in 2019 and 2020. If not for COVID (and Jim Clyburn's critical endorsement of Biden in South Carolina), Democrats probably would have nominated Elizabeth Warren who would have been quashed by Trump. 

Democrats support of President Biden turned out to be a mile wide, but an inch deep. Both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama enjoyed a deeper reservoir of support amongst Democrats than did Biden. Indeed, it was Obama and his minions who saw fit to undermine Biden. I cannot emphasize it enough. If Trump is returned to the White House, Obama will have more to answer for than most Democrats. 

7. So, What the Hell Happens Now?

The Democratic National Convention commences four weeks from tomorrow on August 19th in Chicago. Will the Democratic Party coalesce around Kamala Harris? President Biden endorsed Harris as have the Clintons. So too has Senator Warren along with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Patty Murray along with Representative Clyburn. However, both Obama and Nancy Pelosi have not endorsed Harris. Ditto for Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries.

Suppose Democrats don't choose Harris. This would be sure to alienate African-American women voters in particular which are a core Democratic constituency. 

Then again, I hope Obama isn't withholding support from Harris because he wants the former First Lady to run in her place. If nothing else, I would hate to see Joe Rogan become an oracle. 

But let's assume Harris does get the nomination. Who does she choose as her running mate? I'd like to see either Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg or Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Either of them would tear J.D. Vance to pieces. Then again, I'm not sure if Democrats would accept a Jewish running mate or if the country at large would accept an openly gay man running with a biracial woman. Yet if that is the case then it says more about the country than it does about them. Nevertheless, it also illustrates the risks in ousting Biden from the ballot. 

Conclusion

Joe Biden is the first Democrat for whom I cast a ballot as President. I think he has done a good job. I think he was a better President than Trump and he would have received my vote. Chances are his successor will also receive my vote because a second Trump term would mean the end of democracy in the United States. But I cannot say the same for millions of other voters. 

The efforts of Democrats to change horses in midstream is a risky proposition that is more likely to fail than it is to succeed. 

Astros Knock Mariners Out of First Place in AL West

Yesterday, the Houston Astros shut out the Seattle Mariners 3-0 and, in the process, knocked the Mariners out of first place in the AL West.

Although the Astros have been perennial contenders for most of the past decade, they got off to a rough 10-19 start under new manager Joe Espada. However, on May 1st, I made the case they would not be in the cellar of the AL West for long. Exactly two months later, the Astros climbed over the .500 mark. Less than three weeks later, they are in first place.

After going 17-10 in June, the Astros have continued their torrid pace with a 10-5 mark thus far in July. The Mariners had been solid until recently. They are 5-9 in July thus far and have lost five straight games. 

Of course, the dog days have scarcely begun. If the Mariners beat the Astros this afternoon, then it's back to a first-place tie.

Still, considering where the Astros were, Joe Espada could end up as AL Manager of the Year only months after the sports media was claiming he had lost control of the clubhouse. Espada had big shoes to fill with Dusty Baker's retirement. But it appears Espada is filling his own shoes just nicely. 

Thomas Matthew Crooks is More Like Arthur Bremer Than John Wilkes Booth

It has been one week since Thomas Matthew Crooks made an attempt on the life of former President Trump. While he wounded Trump, he ended up killing an attendee while wounding two other men. 

Trump's supporters including his VP pick J.D. Vance have laid the blame directly at President Biden.

Yet Crooks internet search history reveals he also did research on President Biden and the upcoming Democratic National Convention. 

While we will probably never learn his motive for trying to assassinate Trump, it would appear that Crooks is more like Arthur Bremer than John Wilkes Booth.

Booth, of course, supported the Confederacy and was motivated to assassinate Abraham Lincoln because of his decision to abolish slavery. Bremer, on the other hand, was an outcast who wanted notoriety as a means to end what had been a miserable life. Although Bremer shot and wounded George Wallace, his initial objective was to assassinate President Nixon. Indeed, Bremer tried to carry out his plan to assassinate Nixon during a state visit to Canada but couldn't get close to the 37th President. 

There is nothing in Crooks limited online and social media history which would indicate he despised Trump in the same way Booth despised Lincoln. Given Crooks' internet research on Biden and the Democratic National Convention, it is quite possible that he could have just as easily targeted President Biden had the opportunity presented itself.

Of course, Bremer wrote An Assassin's Diary. Crooks did not leave any such extensive documentation. But like Bremer, Crooks was an outcast. In which case, it is possible Crooks thought he would gain glory by assassinating Trump. 

Unlike Crooks, Bremer survived, served 35 years in prison and was paroled in 2007. Bremer's parole ends on June 15, 2025 - less than a year from now. He has chosen to remain silent on the subject living quietly in Cumberland, Maryland. Yet given what happened a week ago, Bremer might understand Crooks in a way no one else ever could. 

It's The Same Old Donald Trump

I have just finished watching Donald Trump's lengthy acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. 

The former President, sporting a bandage on his right ear, spoke for more than 90 minutes. It made J.D. Vance's 37-minute speech yesterday look economical by comparison. 

Frankly, the speech was about an hour too long. Then again, Trump could have pulled a Fidel Castro and spoken for 8 hours, and his cult wouldn't have dared to budge. 

To be fair, Trump did speak at length regarding the assassination attempt against him. At one point, he said, "I'm not supposed to be here." To which the delegates replied, "Yes you are!!!"

On stage next to him was Corey Comperatore's fire helmet and uniform which Trump kissed and embraced before asking for a moment of silence. He should have ended the speech there.

Because from that point forward, he was the same old Trump engaging in blatant hypocrisy, demagoguery, lies, and projection. 

Trump said we must stop weaponizing our justice system. This is also the same Trump who wants Liz Cheney tried by military tribunal on live TV. 

Trump praised Aileen Cannon as "a highly respected judge" praising her dismissal of the 32 charges in the top-secret documents case. The only people who highly respect Cannon are Trump who appointed her and his devotees. He made no mention of the fact that the decision is being appealed to the 11th Circuit Court. 

Trump had the temerity to claim he is saving democracy, but he doesn't respect the will of the voters who reject him.

When discussing his sons Don, Jr. and Eric, he bizarrely blamed Nancy Pelosi for them being subpoenaed. What does a politician from California have to do with subpoenas issued in New York?

Trump bragged of creating jobs in Wisconsin when Foxconn all but abandoned the project begun with high fanfare during the Trump Administration. 

Trump spoke of an inflation crisis claiming it caused a depression. But how is that possible with our 4.1% unemployment rate. If Trump had been running for re-election with unemployment at 4.1% and inflation at 3%, he'd be telling us he created the best economy ever. 

Trump repeatedly used the term "illegal immigrant invasion" erroneously claiming it was killing hundreds of thousands of Americans but it was he who quashed a bipartisan deal which would have reduced crossings. 

Trump had the audacity to claim he would build roads, bridges and dams when it was the Biden Administration which was responsible for the largest infrastructure bill in more than half a century. All Trump ever did during his term was hold multiple "Infrastructure Weeks".

I could have also done without the praise of Kim Jong-un and Hungary's authoritarian leader Viktor Orban. 

There is much to criticize concerning the Biden Administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan, but it was Trump who set it into motion with the Doha Agreement with the Taliban.

Trump claimed crime was skyrocketing when in fact it is plummeting. 

Trump claimed Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown had suffered like no other Senate candidate. While it is true that Brown suffered devastating injuries, the late John McCain spent more than half a decade in a POW camp. But then again, Trump doesn't like veterans who were captured. 

The Donald Trump of 2015 is the Donald Trump of 2024. No assassin's bullet is going to change that.

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that he spoke for so long. Because the longer he speaks, the more likely he will remind people of why they tossed him out in favor of Joe Biden four years ago. In which case, perhaps history can repeat itself.

I Was Lucky Enough To See & Hear Bob Newhart Perform Live Twice

This afternoon came the news of the death of comedy legend Bob Newhart at the age of 94. 

The Greatest Generation remember his comedy albums, Baby Boomers and GenXers remember The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart while Millennials and Gen Zers remember his appearances in Elf and The Big Bang Theory. 

I had the opportunity to see and hear perform his old routines at Boston's Wilbur Theatre in May 2014 and November 2016. I wrote about the first experience when I was still contributing to The American Spectator while the latter account can be found here which took place shortly after the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series title in 108 years much to the delight of a man who was born and raised in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park. On this evening, I was joined by my friend and then roommate Christopher Kain.

Christopher sent me a message earlier this evening telling me how glad he was we got to experience his humor firsthand. With that let me pay tribute with his famous "Driving Instructor" routine. R.I.P.

Thoughts on Shabbos Kestenbaum & The Neutra Family Speaking at the RNC Last Night

Yesterday, I was focused on Republican VP nominee J.D. Vance's speech but would like to take a moment to single other two other speeches given last night at the RNC - Shabbos Kestenbaum and The Neutra Family. 

Kestenbaum is the Harvard Divinity student who is the lead plaintiff suing the university for failing to deter anti-Semitism on campus and not penalizing students and faculty who engage in it. A registered Democrat who has supported both Bernie Sanders and Jamaal Bowman, Kestenbaum made an eloquent and fiery speech denouncing the far left while praising former President Trump. 

I shared Kestenbaum's anger at the university administration for tolerating anti-Semitism at Harvard and for the far left making a central part of its ideology. Yet I don't see how President Biden is part of the far left in anyway. Indeed, they hate Biden as much as any delegate at the RNC. 

I also have a feeling Trump will disappoint Kestenbaum just as Bernie and Bowman have. When asked by The Forward about Trump's infamous dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes, Kestenbaum gave Trump's explanation the benefit of the doubt. Given that Trump is not known for being truthful, I am not inclined to give him such a benefit and I think it is a mistake for Kestenbaum to accept Trump's explanation at face value. 

A little later on, Ronen and Orna Neutra took to the stage. They are the parents of Omer Neutra, who has been held in captivity by Hamas since October 7, 2023. Back in January, when I went to march demanding the hostages be released here in Cambridge, Neutra's cousin Tamar Davis Halper spoke at the event and described how his parents have been lobbying the Biden Administration for their son's release. 

During that event, the refrain, "Bring Them Home!!!" rang out and would do again last night at the RNC at the behest of Ronen Neutra. He praised Trump for calling them personally during their time of need. 

I can scarcely imagine what the Neutras have been going through since October 7th. No doubt they feel tremendous anger and frustration with the Biden Administration for the lack of progress concerning their son's release and can understand how Trump's phone call might have provided a source of comfort. With that said, I think Hamas would bear more responsibility for their anger and frustration. The Neutras might also wish to have a conversation with the parents of Otto Warmbier where it concerns their son and Trump's behavior concerning his captivity. As with Kestenbaum, the Neutras might be equally disappointed with Trump given his scathing anger towards the Israeli government in recent months.

Then again, given how Democratic Party activists are more likely to demand ceasefires than the release of the hostages, I cannot imagine the DNC slotting a spot for either Shabbos Kestenbaum or the Neutra Family. Consequently, the Republican Party sees an opportunity with Jewish voters and are taking it and with it might very well take back the White House for Donald Trump. That is unless, Democrats are smart enough to defy their radical wing and show their unequivocal support for Israel. 

J.D. Vance Comes Across as a Phony

I just finished watching J.D. Vance's address to the Republican National Convention.

Vance began his remarks at 10:47 p.m., more than an hour and 15 minutes behind schedule, and spoke for 37 minutes.

In those 37 minutes, Vance came across as a phony especially when it came to his effusive praise of Donald Trump. When you liken someone as a combination of Hitler and heroin, it is hard to take efforts to kiss up to that someone with any degree of seriousness and I think it showed. While the RNC didn't boo Vance, they weren't very enthusiastic either. I noticed many delegates scrolling through their phones as Vance spoke. In many respects, Vance spoke like a boilerplate politician and there are plenty of them to go around in both parties and in other political parties around the world. It is hard to take his "working man" and "working families" rhetoric seriously given his background as a venture capitalist. It is also hard to take Vance seriously when he said the Republican Party was the party of ideas when it worships at the altar of Trump lock, stock and barrel.

However, there were moments when Vance tapped into Trump style demagoguery as when he stated, "Democrats flooded the country with illegal aliens." From there he blamed illegal aliens for housing shortages and "Biden's inflation crisis."

Perhaps Vance isn't old enough to remember when President Reagan declared amnesty. Indeed, he would have been all of 2-years old. Vance also isn't old enough to remember that when Reagan won 49 out of 50 states, inflation was at 4%. Today, it is at 3%. It might be useful for Vance to brush up on his history. 

It is worth noting that Vance made a point of stating that President Biden had been a politician longer than he's been alive. This is certainly true. But then he said that Vice-President Harris was "not far behind." While Harris is 20 years Vance's senior, she has certainly not been an elected official his whole life. She was first elected as San Francisco DA in 2003, the same year Vance deployed to Iraq. 

As awful as Trump is, he is authentic in the sense that he believes his own bullshit. The same cannot be said for Vance and it shows.

Thoughts on President Biden Testing Positive for COVID Again

President Biden has tested positive for COVID once more and is experiencing mild symptoms. He tested positive for COVID twice previously during the summer of 2022. 

His diagnosis comes Biden shortly after an interview with BET in which he indicated he could drop out of the race if a medical condition emerged.

It also doesn't help that prominent Democratic Congressman and California U.S. Senate candidate Adam Schiff today called upon Biden to drop out along with reports emerging that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer privately called upon Biden to drop out prior to the assassination attempt on former President Trump. 

I still think Biden dropping out would be a mistake. It's O.K. to have 34 convictions to your name and run for President, but one bad debate and you're out. 

But Biden's position is looking increasingly untenable among his party. The fact that Biden suggested a medical condition could force him from the race and has now yet again been diagnosed with COVID seems to indicate the writing is on the wall. 

If so, then what a shame.

Red Sox OF Duran Wins MLB All-Star Game MVP as AL Rebounds in 2024

After losing for the first time in 11 years in 2023, the American League rebounded against the National League in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game with a 5-3 victory at Globe Life Park, home of the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers.

The NL had the upper hand when Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Shohei Ohtani slammed a 3-run HR off Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck in the top of the third. However, the AL would answer with 3 runs on a double by New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto and a single by Cleveland Guardians catcher David Fry.

The tie would be broken in the bottom of the fifth by Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran who slammed a 2-run HR off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene. For his efforts, Duran was named All-Star Game MVP. 

On a personal note, I really hate the garish league uniforms. Fortunately, MLB is considering going back to having players wear their team uniforms. We'll see what happens at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game which is scheduled to take place at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. 

Five Thoughts on Trump Picking Vance as His Running Mate

This afternoon, former President Trump selected Ohio freshman Senator J.D. Vance to be his running mate on the GOP ticket. Here are four thoughts.

First and foremost, Vance started out as a Never Trumper who called Trump "cultural heroin" and "America's Hitler". However, Vance had a fix of Trump and cannot get enough while seeing fit to appease him. That makes him the worst kind of quisling of all.

Second, despite Trump's pledge to deliver a speech emphasizing "unity" on Thursday night, Vance pinned the blame for the attempted assassination of Trump over the weekend on President Biden and Trump has not signaled his disapproval. Why would he? While Adam Kinzinger and David Axelrod said Vance's blame of President Biden should disqualify him from a place on the ticket are forgetting we are talking about Trump. After all, scarcely a fortnight ago Trump accused Biden and the FBI of trying to assassinate him. So blaming Biden for the attempted assassination of Trump would be every bit a prerequisite as claiming the 2020 election was stolen. The only unity between Trump and Vance is one of demagoguery and division.

Third, Vance is about as pro-Putin as Trump with his vigorous opposition to military aid for Ukraine, opposing their membership into NATO and demanding they concede land to Russia. President Reagan would spin in his grave if he saw what the Republican Party has become where it concerns Russia. 

Fourth, Vance is an anti-choice fanatic who dismisses pregnancies arising from rape and incest as "inconveniences" while calling upon women to remain in violent domestic relationships for the sake of the children. Gee, sounds like a hell of a guy.

Finally, at least for most Republicans, it wasn't going to matter who Trump picked. They are with Trump all the way. The question is whether independent and swing voters are going to like Vance very much. Assuming Democrats aren't still bent on trying to drive President Biden from the race, it will be interesting to see how a debate between Vance and Vice-President Harris goes assuming a debate comes to pass. If I had to hazard a guess the more people see of J.D. Vance, the less they are going to like him. Then again one doesn't have to necessarily be liked to be elected. Vance also has time on his side. He turns 40 next month and he could be a prominent figure in Republican politics for decades to come.

If Judge Cannon Deems Jack Smith's Special Counsel Appointment is Unconstitutional Then What of Robert Hur?

Today, Judge Aileen Cannon tossed out all charges against former President Trump in the classified documents case on the basis that Attorney General Merrick Garland's appointment of Jack Smith as Special Counsel in the Trump classified documents case was unconstitutional because he was not confirmed by the Senate. 

If Garland's appointment of Smith as special counsel is unconstitutional then what of his appointment of Robert Hur in the Biden classified documents case? Neither Smith nor Hur was confirmed by the Senate nor is it the practice of the Senate to confirm Special Counsels. 

Somehow, I suspect if President Biden's attorneys had seen fit to challenge Garland's authority (or that of any Attorney General) to appoint Hur or any other special prosecutor up to and including Jack Smith in his case before Judge Cannon she would have rejected it out of hand.

As with the U.S. Supreme Court in the presidential immunity case, Judge Cannon has demonstrated time and again that her oath is to Donald Trump, not the U.S. Constitution. This ruling, however, will be what cinches her Supreme Court appointment should Trump get back into the Oval Office. And if there is no vacancy then Trump might very well create one for her. After all, who would stop him?

Smith has already indicated he will appeal Cannon's decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals where there's a good chance they will overturn Cannon's decision. Of course, Trump will appeal to the Supreme Court who will likely overturn the decision of the 11th Circuit.

I suspect Cannon knows her decision will be overturned by the 11th Circuit. As with all her other decisions, the objective is to delay justice against Trump until such time that he is re-elected so that he can quash it on his own or direct his new Attorney General to do so. 

There's a very good chance that when all is said and done that Donald Trump can do whatever the hell he wants with classified documents be it showing them off to his visitors or selling them to the Russians. 

President Biden Condemns Political Violence, But Will Anyone Listen?

(Erin Schaff/AP)

This evening, President Biden gave an Oval Office address which lasted just under 10 minutes in which he condemned the assassination attempt against former President Trump last night in Butler, Pennsylvania while mourning the death of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who died shielding his family from bullets. 

Biden emphasized that we do not know what caused the would-be assassin to act as he did last night and urged Americans to lower the temperature and to not see each other as enemies. The President condemned all political violence which has taken place in recent years be it the attempted assassinations of members of Congress (Democrat Gabby Giffords in 2011 and Republican Steve Scalise in 2017), the kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th and the attack against Paul Pelosi, husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

The question is will anyone listen.

Based on the fact that Republicans are not only not lowering the temperature, but are blaming President Biden for the shooting as they enter the Republican National Convention tomorrow while Democrats are still wavering as to whether they want Biden to seek another term despite these baseless attacks, I'm not sure how effective the speech will be in the long run. 

Going forward, the best Biden can do is go out there, tout his achievements and notwithstanding how deplorable the attack against Trump, it does not change the fact that he is a convicted criminal who tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. 

Of course, this does not guarantee that anyone will listen. But President Biden must try in good faith. 

In which case, Biden's best hope is that Trump and Republicans go too far in trying to blame Biden instead of waiting for the facts to come out about the would-be assassin.

Republicans Blame Biden for Attempt on Trump's Life; Will Democrats Rally to President's Defense?

In the wake of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Republicans wasted no time in laying blame on President Biden. 

It began with Georgia Republican Congressman Mike Collins claiming on X, "Joe Biden sent the orders."

Collins' comment was in response to President Biden stating six days ago, "We're done talking about the debate, it's time to put Trump in a bullseye." 

This is, of course, sheer rubbish. President Biden no more caused the assassination attempt of Trump with his bullseye comment than Sarah Palin's crosshairs ad caused the assassination attempt of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in January 2011. 

But as I pointed out when writing about the assassination attempt on Trump that we are not living in an age of reason. The House Judiciary Committee and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert echoed Collins' sentiments.

Even more specious is Ohio's junior Senator J.D. Vance who could very well be named as Trump's running mate tomorrow. Vance claimed on X:

Today is not just some isolated incident.

The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs.

That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.

Again, more rubbish.

In the unlikely event Vance does have evidence to this effect then he ought to share it with the FBI. 

The fact is we don't know what motivated 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a registered Republican and gun aficionado, to make an attempt on Trump's life and neither does Vance. 

Hell, we don't even know how long Crooks had been planning to assassinate Trump much less why he tried to do so.

But the facts be damned!!! Republicans are going to run with this at full speed and I shudder to think what Trump will have to say when he accepts the GOP nomination at the Republican National Convention this Thursday. 

If Trump does accuse President Biden of being responsible for his assassination attempt, then will Democrats cease their efforts to ask Biden to leave the ticket and rally around him?

I certainly hope so. Because if Trump accuses Biden of being responsible for his attempted assassination and Democrats sit on their hands then it is truly over for the President. It would also represent a triumph of demagoguery over democracy. 

None of this would bode well for the country.

Some Thoughts for Dr. Ruth, Richard Simmons & Shannen Doherty

It is said that things happen in threes. 

Within 24 hours, three prominent public figures passed away - Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Richard Simmons and Shannen Doherty. Dr. Ruth and Simmons came to fame in the 1980s while Doherty rose to stardom in the early 1990s. Dr. Ruth passed away a little over a month after turning 96, Simmons passed away a day after his 76th birthday while Doherty was only 53 following a near decade long battle with cancer. 

Dr. Ruth Westheimer was so famous that she was simply referred to as Dr. Ruth. She was the world's most known sex therapist through her radio call in show and frequent TV appearances. I think in great part Dr. Ruth could get away with speaking very candidly about sex in part because she was middle-aged, diminutive, had that German accent and had such a cheerful disposition. 

Her cheerful disposition was remarkable considering the circumstances of her childhood in Nazi Germany. After her father was taken away by the Gestapo following Kristallnacht, her mother and grandmother sent her to Switzerland early in 1939. She would never see them again. After WWII, Westheimer moved to British Mandated Palestine and would fight in Israel's War of Independence and sustain serious wounds from an exploding mortar shell. By the age of 20, Westheimer had endured more than most of us do in a lifetime. That she managed to live her life without anger and bitterness and sought to help others is a remarkable tribute to her spirit. R.I.P.

While Richard Simmons didn't face the same harrowing circumstances as Dr. Ruth did during her childhood, he certainly had his share of trials and tribulations. For much of his childhood, Simmons was obese weighing as much as 270 pounds. In early adulthood, Simmons lost nearly 150 pounds and sought out to help others by opening his own gyms when he saw that other gyms were not catering to people who were overweight. Simmons would come to national prominence in 1980 during a segment on the NBC talk show Real People. Simmons was brash, boisterous, outrageous yet completely sincere and genuinely wanting to help others. A syndicated TV show would soon follow and later in the decade came a VHS series Sweatin' to the Oldies. Simmons was a frequent guest on everything from Late Night with David Letterman to General Hospital. 

A decade ago, Richard Simmons retreated from public life which would eventually lead to concerns about his well-being accompanied by conspiracy theories although it appeared a double knee replacement rendered him unable to continue his career as an exercise guru and simply wish to leave public life as quietly as possible. R.I.P.

Shannen Doherty began her acting career as a child, and I remember her from her appearances during the latter seasons of Little House on the Prairie in the early 1980's. But Doherty would ascend to far greater fame in the early 1990's as a cast member of Beverly Hills, 90210 playing Brenda Walsh. Beverly Hills, 90210 was appointment TV during my freshman year of university at Carleton University. 

Unfortunately, stardom was a bit much for Doherty to handle and her onset and offset behavior became fodder for the tabloids and she would eventually depart the show after its fourth season. Doherty would have similar trouble on Charmed following turbulent relations with co-star Alyssa Milano, as she had with Jennie Garth on Beverly Hills 90210. Doherty would eventually enjoy a solid career in made-for-TV movies and on reality TV until her breast cancer diagnosis in 2015. She did, however, make a guest appearance on Riverdale following the death of her former 90210 co-star Luke Perry in 2019 at the age of 52. Of course, one can die at any age. Being in my early 50's, when someone in my age group passes away, one cannot help but think of one's own mortality and I'm sure her contemporaries are having the same thoughts. R.I.P.