ICE Killed Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo for Making a Living

 

Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo was just trying to make a living as he had done for over three decades as a resident of Houston, Texas.

While on his way to work a construction job two days ago, Salgado was confronted by ICE agents and killed in cold blood.

For their part, ICE claims that Salgado was evading arrest and using his vehicle as a weapon and that their officer shot him in self-defense.

I do not believe ICE.

Given ICE's dishonesty in the cold-blooded murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis earlier this year, ICE is not entitled to the benefit of the doubt.

As it happens, the individuals who assailed and assassinated Salgado were not wearing their bodycams.

Well, isn't that convenient.

Salgudo's son Ronaldo believes his father may have believed he was being carjacked for his tools as he was approached in unmarked vehicles which is ICE's stock and trade.

The notion that a man who had no criminal record in the 35 years he resided in this country was a lunatic intent on murder doesn't pass the smell test.

Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo was a productive, hard-working member of his community who raised a family send his three American born children to college.

In other words, he was the embodiment of the American Dream.

But for the Trump Administration, his brown skin and his immigration status made him subhuman and thus unworthy of life and liberty let alone any notion he might have of pursuing happiness. 

He would have been happy to live a quiet life, but the Trump Administration wasn't going to allow that happen.

Salgado's family will clamor for an independent investigation. Of course, the Trump Administration might decide to target them next for daring to keep their father's memory alive.

Worst of all is that Salgado won't be the last person to be murdered by ICE. Not as long as it operates as Trump's secret police.

R.I.P. Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo.

Justin Verlander to Retire at End of 2026 Season

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander announced on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of this season. 

The announcement came after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred selected Verlander as the legends pick for the AL All-Star Team. The 2026 MLB All-Star Game will be played in Philadelphia next Tuesday.

In February, Verlander returned to the Tigers with whom he pitched from 2006 through most of the 2017 season before he was traded to the Houston Astros with whom he would win two World Series rings in 2017 and in 2022. 

At the time, I expressed excitement about Verlander joining a Tigers rotation with back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and his former Astros teammate Framber Valdez. I mused that Verlander, who is eighth on MLB's all-time strikeout list, had the chance to surpass Don Sutton, Tom Seaver and Bert Blyleven. 

This proved to be a rose-colored assessment. Verlander has only pitched in one game this season back in March against the Arizona Diamondbacks who roughed him up for five runs on six hits in only 3.2 innings pitched. He went on the injured list with hip inflammation in April. Then last month, as he was set to return to action, he strained his hamstring. 

But he could still help the Tigers who for the most of this season have been arguably the most disappointing team in the AL especially after going 6-22 in May. However, the Tigers have won four in a row, 7 out of their last 10 and are only 4 games back of the third AL Wild Card spot. The Tigers are not out of the playoff picture by any stretch of the imagination, and neither is Justin Verlander.

Phil Regan Was Truly a Baseball Lifer

Former MLB pitcher, scout, coach and manager Phil Regan passed away today at the age of 89.

A native of Michigan, Regan signed with the Detroit Tigers prior to the 1956 season and would reach the big-league club in 1960. Regan spent parts of six seasons with the Tigers primarily as a starting pitcher. Hi best season in a Tigers uniform came in 1963 when he went 15-9 with a 3.86 ERA striking out a career high 115 batters. However, by 1965, Regan had lost his form, and the Tigers demoted him to their Triple-AAA club in Syracuse.

Following the 1965 season, the Tigers traded Regan to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Dick Tracewski. Regan would thrive in Chavez Ravine working exclusively out of the bullpen as he was a crucial component of a Dodgers team which would win the NL pennant in 1966. Regan went 14-1 with a 1.62 ERA while leading the NL in saves with 21. He would earn his lone All-Star selection, finish 7th in NL MVP balloting and earn NL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

It was during that season that Regan would earn the nickname "The Vulture" from teammate Sandy Koufax. When Regan would come into the game, the Dodgers would often be tied or down a few runs only for the Dodger bats to wake up to earn him the win. Unfortunately for Regan, the Dodgers would be swept in the World Series by the upstart Baltimore Orioles.

Early in the 1968 season, the Dodgers dealt Regan along with utility player Jim Hickman to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pinch hitting specialist Ted Savage and pitcher Jim Ellis. Regan would save a career high 25 games for the Cubs that season along with a 12-5 record and sterling 2.27 ERA.

By 1970, Regan's effectiveness began to diminish. He would finish his pitching career in 1972 splitting the season in Chicago between the Cubs and the White Sox. In 13 big-league seasons, Regan made 551 appearances (including 105 starts) for a record of 96-81 with a 3.84 ERA along with 92 saves in 1372.2 innings pitched.

In 1973, Regan returned home to Michigan to become the baseball coach at Grand Valley State University, a position he held for a decade. In 1983, Regan returned to the professional ranks as a minor league pitching instructor and advance scout for the Seattle Mariners. The following year, the Mariners would appoint Regan as their big-league pitching coach. 

After three seasons in Seattle, Regan returned to the Dodgers organization as an advance scout from 1987 through 1992. In 1994, Regan served as the pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians and the following year was hired as the manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Regan was on hand when Cal Ripken, Jr. surpassed Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak. Unfortunately, the O's left Regan go in favor of Davey Johnson after a single season.

In 1996, Regan rejoined the Dodgers yet again to manage their Triple-AAA affiliate in Albuquerque. He would return to the Cubs organization in 1997 and serve as their pitching coach for two seasons before returning to the Indians as their pitching coach in 1999. 

In 2000, Regan was the pitching coach for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Sydney. In 2002, Regan rejoined the Tigers organization to manage the West Michigan Whitecaps, their High-A affiliate for two seasons.

After managing several Venezuelan winter ball clubs, Regan would eventually join the New York Mets organization in 2009 and serve mainly as a minor league pitching coordinator. In the middle of the 2019 season, Regan would return to the big leagues as the Mets pitching coach after Dave Eiland was dismissed. Unfortunately, Regan's relationship with the Mets ended on bad terms and he ended up suing the club and then GM Brodie Van Wagenen for age discrimination and wrongful termination in 2023.

Phil Regan spent parts of eight decades in baseball. He was truly a baseball lifer. R.I.P.

Memo to Haley Stevens: The Danger to Jews in America & Around the World Does Not Come from Netanyahu

 

(Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance)

To give you an idea of the state of the Democratic Party, Haley Stevens is turning her ire not towards Abdul El-Sayed, her primary opponent in the Michigan Senate Democratic Primary but towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,

Stevens recently stated, "Benjamin Netanyahu has made us less safe. He has frankly put Jews in an uncomfortable position across the country." When CNN's Dana Bash brought Stevens' statement to his attention, he quipped that she is "probably trying to excuse anti-Semitism."

Hours later, during her debate with El-Sayed, Stevens went even further. She said, “It is very clear that Mr. Netanyahu has not made us safer, has not brought us closer to peace, and he is a danger to Jews in America and around the world.”

What complete and utter rubbish.

The danger to Jews in America and around the world comes not from Benjamin Netanyahu, but from Hezbollah inspired attacks against synagogues in Michigan. An attack which El-Sayed has excused. 

The same could be said for the attack during Chanukah celebrations Bondi Beach in Australia, the attack at Manchester, UK synagogue during Yom Kippur, the shooting at the D.C. Capital Jewish Museum or the Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder against those who just wanted Hamas to release the hostages. Jews are in danger from those who want to kill Jews because they are Jews.

As for Stevens, perhaps she should pay more attention to what is going on in her state instead of trying to curry favor with those who would never vote for a Jew in the first place.

Thoughts on The Old Pfizer Building on East 42nd Street

As some of you might know, I worked at the Chrysler Building in New York City for 18 months circa 2018 through 2020 before the COVID pandemic hit.

During my lunch hour, I would often walk around the neighborhood and sometimes I would pass the old Pfizer Building at 235 East 42nd between Third and Second Avenues.

Today, much of the area had to be evacuated because the old Pfizer building was in danger of collapsing as several columns buckled causing floors to cave resulting in a widespread evacuation. 

I was not aware that Pfizer moved to Hudson Yards in 2023. After Pfizer left, plans were put in place to convert the old site into residential apartments with it being joined with another building down the street at 219 East 42nd Street. An additional 19 floors are being added to the latter address. 

To say that this is massive undertaking would be an understatement with very little margin for error. Efforts are being made to stabilize the area.

All things considered, I am amazed there aren't more incidents of these types. Of course, it is quite possible there are these sorts of incidents happen with some regularity, and we are unaware of it. But when things of this nature happen in New York City, it makes the news. I experienced this firsthand with a blackout in July 2019 and a busted water main in January 2020. 

One can only hope the area is safe. However, I suspect that those who can work from home will work from home. For those who have to work in the area, they will tread lightly in and around East 42nd Street.

The Western Journal Tries To Give The Patriot Front a Veneer of Respectability

 

(Cheney Orr: Reuters)

America's 250th anniversary may long be remembered for the image captured by Reuters photographer Cheney Orr of an African American woman who has now been identified as Bernita Bowlding surrounded by members of the Patriot Front, a white supremacist riding the D.C. Metro.

It is an unsettling image. 

Even more unsettling are those who make excuses for these white supremacist groups.

Take a right-wing rag like The Western Journal which posted an article complete with pro-Patriot Front tweets trying to give the group a veneer of respectability. The article highlights posts on X contrasting the Patriot Front with the murder of the Ukrainian refugee named Iryna Zarutska who was stabbed to death on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina last August by an African-American male. 

What the Western Journal doesn't tell you is that the man who took Zarutska's life was found not competent to stand trial last month. Simply put, those who invoke the murder of Zarutska in simply wish to paint African Americans with a broad brush. 

Another tweet from an account called Mostly Peaceful Memes highlighted noted the following:

So a black lady road on a subway with a bunch of “Nazis” and they made sure she had a seat and didn’t harass her in any way? Wow really makes you think

Of course, this assumes that Bowlding boarded the train after the Patriot Front members did so. We don't know if "they made sure she had a seat". And until we hear from Bowlding, we won't know if there was any interaction between them - positive, negative or neutral.

The Western Journal also does not mention that the fact that the Patriot Front viciously assaulted an African American man while hurling racial epithets against him when they marched in Boston's Back Bay on Fourth of July weekend in 2022. Last year, a federal judge awarded Charles Murrell III $2.75 million in civil damages.

In view of these facts, Bowlding or any other African American riding on that subway car with the Patriot Front had grounds to fear for their life. 

There is nothing respectable about the Patriot Front nor those who try to glorify them like The Western Journal.

Hamas Isn't Relinquishing Power in Gaza

Much is being made of Hamas' announcement yesterday that it was dissolving its government in Gaza and turning over authority to NCAG (National Committee for the Administration of Gaza) which is backed both by President Trump's so-called Board of Peace and the UN. 

From where I sit, it is utterly meaningless. For starters, NCAG is based in Cairo and not on the ground in Gaza, a point even Hamas apologists will cede. It can scarcely be called a government in exile.

But even if NCAG were in Gaza, Hamas is still armed and isn't about to give up their arms much less their ability to construct tunnels unless they are forced to do so. NCAG would act at the pleasure of Hamas just as any civilian authority in Lebanon operates at the pleasure of Hezbollah. 

This so-called resignation is cosmetic. Peel off the makeup and you will see Hamas is running the show in Gaza. Dissolving a government isn't the same thing as relinquishing power let alone laying down their arms.

Darrell Jackson Led a More Successful Life After Baseball Helping Others

Former MLB pitcher Darrell Jackson, who pitched parts of five seasons with the Minnesota Twins between 1978 and 1982, passed away on July 5th at the age of 70 of complications of lung cancer.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Jackson played baseball at Locke High School where he was teammates with future Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith. Jackson would play collegiate baseball at Arizona State pitching in three College World Series and was teammates with the recently departed Bob Horner. 

The Twins long coveted Jackson originally selecting the southpaw right out of high school in the 6th round of the 1973 MLB Draft. Of course, Jackson opted for Arizona State. But the Twins bid their time and selected him again in the 9th round of the 1977 MLB Draft. 

Jackson would make his MLB debut with the Twins the following season and, only his fourth big-league appearance, tossed a complete game 3-hit shutout against the Oakland A's. As it turned out, it would be his only big-league shutout.

For most of his career, Jackson shuttled back and forth between the Twins and the Triple-AAA Toledo Mudhens. Jackson's only full season at the big-league level was in 1980 when he went 9-9 with a 3.87 ERA in 32 appearances (25 starts). By 1981, Jackson developed shoulder troubles and would be out of the big leagues by June 1982. Aside from a brief stint in the Mexican League in 1983, Jackson would never play professional baseball again. In 102 big league appearances (60 starts), Jackson went 20-27 with a 4.38 ERA striking out 229 and walking 186 in 411 innings pitched.

Jackson would have issues with alcohol, drugs, women and money. In a 2022 interview, Jackson admitted he wasn't ready for the big leagues and lacked the discipline and focus of his high school teammates Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith. 

For Jackson success would come after baseball and after finding religion. He would spend the better part of 40 years helping at risk youth in L.A. running a small non-profit called the 10-20 Club. Jackson would become a pillar of the community. 

From that 2022 interview, Jackson summed up success in this way:

My obituary will hopefully define that success, but today, as we talk right now, I'm a success. I have to live by principles in order to stay sober. We try to do the right thing when nobody is looking.

My success is based on one, not picking up a drink and not getting drunk....I'm more successful now than when I was a pitcher in Minnesota.

Darrell Jackson led a successful life after stepping off the mound and helping others. R.I.P. 

Al Holland Always Wanted The Ball

Former MLB pitcher Al Holland, best known for serving as the closer for the 1983 NL champion Philadelphia Phillies, passed away on the Fourth of July at the age of 73. 

Born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, Holland attended North Carolina A&T State University, a historically black college, where he played both baseball and football. While attending North Carolina A&T State University, Holland was drafted twice. First by the Texas Rangers in the 30th round of the 1974 MLB draft and then the following year by the San Diego Padres in the 5th round of the MLB draft. However, Holland declined in order to complete his college education.

Holland would sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the summer of 1975 as an amateur free agent at the behest of Branch Rickey III. He would briefly pitch with the Bucs as a September callup during the 1977 season. 

After spending all of the 1978 season with the Pirates Triple-AAA affiliate in Columbus, Holland was sent to the San Francisco Giants in the middle of the following season along with fellow pitchers Fred Breining and Ed Whitson in exchange for then two-time NL batting champion Bill Madlock, journeyman Lenny Randle and pitcher Dave Roberts. The trade would help the Pirates win the 1979 World Series.

As for Holland, it would give him an opportunity to pitch which he earned during the 1980 season after posting a 1.75 ERA in 54 appearances out of the bullpen. Holland would finish 7th in NL Rookie of the Year balloting. 

After two more seasons mainly out of the bullpen with the occasional spot start, the Giants sent Holland along with future Hall of Famer Joe Morgan to the Philadelphia Phillies for future NL Cy Young Award winner Mark Davis and future 20-game winner and Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow. Holland was an integral part of the Wheeze Kids which would win the NL pennant earning 25 saves and a career high 100 strikeouts. Holland would finish 6th in NL Cy Young balloting and 9th in NL MVP balloting. 

In 1984, Holland would save a career high 29 games and earn his only All-Star Team selection as the Phillies would regress to being a .500 team. Early in the 1985 season, the Phillies would send Holland back to the Pirates in exchange for fellow reliever Kent Tekulve. Holland's second tenure in Pittsburgh was marred by his involvement in the Pittsburgh drug trials. By August, the Bucs sent Holland along with fellow southpaw John Candelaria and veteran hitter George Hendrick to the California Angels. 

After accepting a suspension, community service and wage garnishment, Holland would finish his career with the New York Yankees pitching with the Bronx Bombers in the 1986 and 1987 seasons. In 384 career appearances (373 out of the bullpen) over parts of 11 seasons, Holland went 34-30 with a 2.98 ERA saving 78 career games striking out 513 while walking only 232 over 646 innings pitched. 

In a 1985 interview with Baseball Digest, Holland said, “I’ve always said that when I die, I want to have engraved on my tombstone the words: ‘Give me the ball,’”

I have no doubt that Al Holland's family will grant him this wish. R.I.P.

Sure, Now Democrats Want Nothing To Do With Graham Platner

 

Amid a report from a woman who came forward to allege that Maine Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner sexually assaulted her, Democrats are now falling all over themselves trying to rescind their support after backing him with unbridled enthusiasm including California Congressman Ro Khanna who saw fit to travel to Maine to rally on his behalf only a month ago.

Mind you, at the time Khanna endorsed Platner, the so-called oyster farmer had been accused of physical abuse of a former girlfriend. But since she is a Republican, the Ro Khannas of the world didn't really give a shit what Platner did to her.

I can't say I'm surprised that a guy who sports a Nazi tattoo on his chest would physically assault one former girlfriend and then sexually assault another. There was a time where people would have given pause to sporting a Nazi tattoo. Not no more.

Needless to say, I have no sympathy for Maine Democrats who chose to stand with the swastika. Platner, who once said a soldier shot multiple times by the Taliban didn't deserve to live, earned almost quadruple the vote of sitting Governor Janet Mills. Graham Platner is an awful person and Maine Democrats got the candidate they deserved.

As such, I don't think Maine Democrats will want Mills. They want someone who hates Jews who hasn't raped anyone. Swastikas are optional.

McMorrow Drops Out of MI Democratic Senate Primary Leaving Two-Way Race Between Stevens vs. El-Sayed

{Mallory McMorrow (L), Haley Stevens (C) & Abdul El-Sayed (R)}

Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow today suspended her bid for the Democratic nomination of the open U.S. Senate seat in the Wolverine State.

This now makes it a two-way race between Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Hamas apologist Abdul El-Sayed. In recent polls, El-Sayed has led Stevens between 2 to 9 points with McMorrow polling in the single digits. McMorrow's suspension might aid Stevens, but this is far from guaranteed.

Given the recent success of virulently anti-Israel candidates like Graham Platner in Maine, a trio of congressional candidates backed by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Melat Kiros unseating longtime Congresswoman Diana DeGette in Colorado last week, one cannot discount the possibility of Democrats nominating El-Sayed. Back in April, El-Sayed made excuses for the terrorist attack on a Michigan synagogue by the brother of a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.

One might think such apologism would deter the voters, but if NY Democrats weren't deterred by Avila Chevalier's attendance at a pro-Hamas gathering the day after the October 7th attacks, then is there any reason to believe Michigan Democrats would behave any differently?

Stevens did get a boost after McMorrow's announcement when Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel endorsed her. But then again endorsements only go so far in this day and age.

As for McMorrow, she did not endorse either candidate but pledged to support the winner. McMorrow, who was once seen as the future of Michigan's Democratic Party after giving a viral speech in which a Republican lawmaker accused her of grooming and sexualizing children, still wants that future and is hedging her bets.

The vote will take place on August 4th.

My Thoughts on America at 250

 

Today, of course, marks the 250th anniversary of American independence from the British crown. 

I have called the United States home for over 26 years now. Barring any unforeseen events, by October 2027, I will have resided in the U.S. longer than in Canada.

Most of my time in this country has been spent in Boston and Cambridge. As to my day-to-day life, I am satisfied. I consider this country to be my home for better or for worse.

Unfortunately, when it comes to my country things are worse - at least where it concerns things over which I have little or no control.

I distrust both the Trump Administration and its opposition in equal measure. I believe both intend harm upon people or at least certain segments of the populace.

A fundamental part of the American experience has been people from other lands coming here to make a better life for themselves and their families. Consider the lyrics from Neil Diamond's "America":

Home, to a new and a shiny place

Make our bed, and we'll say our grace

Freedom's light burning warm

Freedom's light burning warm

Everywhere around the world

They're coming to America

Every time that flag's unfurled

They're coming to America

Got a dream to take them there

They're coming to America

Got a dream they've come to share

They're coming to America

They're coming to America

They're coming to America

They're coming to America

They're coming to America

Today, today, today, today, today

The Trump Administration, however, has made it loud and clear that most are not welcome here unless you a white South African. That the Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship as constitutional means precious little. It certainly means little to those who lost their Temporary Protected Status by the same Supreme Court. 

Look for the Trump Administration to begin aggressively expelling Haitians from Ohio which might make the unrest in Minneapolis look like a Sunday school picnic. That Haitians have started businesses and contributed to our civic life mean nothing to Trump and his apologists who judge people by the color of their skin instead of the content of their character.

Under those circumstances, backing the Democratic Party might be a no-brainer. However, Democrats are more concerned with Gaza than good governance and are falling over themselves over who can accuse Israel of committing genocide the loudest or claim they won't take money from AIPAC. 

The result is the city with the second largest Jewish population in the world electing an anti-Semitic Mayor with Democratic primary voters enthusiastically nominating Senate and congressional candidates who openly support Hamas while being unable to condemn violence against Jews. I truly believe this will lead to October 7th style attacks against Jews in New York and elsewhere in the country.

This does not bode well for this country's future. Worse still, this is what we have chosen for ourselves. Needless to say, I cannot trust this country's welfare and well-being with anyone. Not our elected officials and not the people who put them there. Of course, I am all but powerless to prevent the horror which has already transpired and the horror which is to come. The best that I can do is to trust my own counsel to ensure none of this horror befalls me. But even I could not escape jury duty. Yet another constitutionally enshrined institution in which I have little faith.

One way to do so is to do my best to find the joys in life wherever I can find them. As for today, I had planned to go the Brattle Theatre to see their annual screening of Jaws, a movie I had managed to never see until three years ago. 

Unfortunately, I was notified this morning by email that the movie will not be shown due to air conditioning troubles in the theatre. I should mention that we are in the midst of a four-day heatwave including back-to-back 100 degree plus days marking the first time Boston has seen consecutive days of 100 degrees since 1944. 

Had I gone to the movie, I would have then proceeded along Mass Ave from Harvard Square to the Harvard Bridge to watch the fireworks. At this point, I am playing things by ear. Temperatures should start to cool after 8 p.m., but there is a possibility of thunderstorms. We shall see.

There are worst risks than rain. After all, when it comes to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness there is always an element of risk. The act of writing the Declaration of Independence was a risk. Many who did would lose everything for which they had worked. 

They may not have benefitted from their risks but millions upon millions of others most certainly have. The question remains for how much longer we will see the benefits of their risk much less be prepared to recognize them for it.

Will it be another 100 years? 50 years? 5 years? Or less than that? 

Only time and how we use that time will tell.

On Viewing Cape Verde's Near Upset vs. Argentina in The World Cup

 

For starters, I am not a soccer fan.

The game has simply never appealed to me. 

Oh, I remember occasionally playing on the schoolyard in Thunder Bay. But watching a soccer game has never drawn my interest.

Last night, however, for the first time in my life I found myself caught up in the excitement.

I decided to have supper at Pho 'n Rice, a Thai-Vietnamese restaurant in Somerville which I have frequented over the past five years. 

Normally there is contemporary music playing in the background, but on this occasion, the World Cup matchup between Argentina and Cape Verde was airing with Argentina leading 2-1 during extra time.

At first, I wasn't paying much attention. I was looking at my phone while awaiting my food. But then Sidny Lopes Cabral tied the match with a stunning goal.

As little as I know about soccer, even I knew the significance of this goal. After all, Argentina is the defending World Cup champion, and their star player Lionel Messi might arguably be the best soccer player who ever graced a football pitch. The thought that Argentina could be ousted by the 67th ranked team in the world with a population of all of half a million people off the West African coast was a staggering one.

Now I was vested. I wanted Cape Verde to pull off the upset. They gave Argentina everything they had, but Argentina went ahead eight minutes after Cabral's goal which the Cape Verdean goalkeeper deflected into his own net on a kick by Cristian Romero.

Cape Verde gave Argentina everything they had in the next 9 minutes but ultimately fell short as Argentina advances the round of 16 against Egypt on Tuesday evening. 

As I was about to exit the restaurant, the woman behind the register and I shared an almost identical thought. She too was not a soccer fan was exhilarated at what she had seen in her establishment. I added that Cape Verde might have fallen short but that it won't be the last we hear from their soccer team. 

Who knows? They might even beat Argentina next time.

Democrats in Colorado Nominate Candidate Who Won't Call Boulder Attack Anti-Semitic

Last night, Democratic voters in Colorado's first Congressional District unseated a 30-year incumbent in favor of a candidate who refuses to characterize last year's anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Boulder an anti-Semitic terrorist attack. Melat Kiros unseated Diana DeGette by more than 7,000 votes.

Kiros' entire campaign focused on Israel. To give you an idea of how focused, Kiros minimized the Boulder terrorist attack:

I don't know what was in the heart of the perpetrator. All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed. I don't even know what the people that were at that protest believed, too, In fact, most of them were just there to ask that the people who were kidnapped during Oct. 7 be returned home to their families.

Nonsense.

Had the perpetrator saw fit to throw Molotov cocktails at African Americans, LGBTQ persons or Muslims, Kiros would not hesitate to declare what was in the perpetrator's heart. Kiros simply cannot bring herself to admit the obvious and explicitly condemn anti-Semitism even if it is a matter of public record that the perpetrator made anti-Semitic utterances as he tossed the Molotov cocktails.

Alas, the same now goes true for most of the Democratic Party and it is only going to get worse.

The more Jews are physically attacked and injured by those doing so in the name of freeing Palestine or ending Zionism the more Democrats will refuse to call out the anti-Semitism screaming in our faces.

Why Hegseth Could Be Trump's Heir Apparent

The U.S. Constitution clearly states that a U.S. President cannot serve for more than two terms. But since when has President Trump felt compelled to be restrained by anything much less the U.S. Constitution? 

Lest we forget that Trump has publicly mused that it ought to be "terminated." Let us also remember that Trump has seen fit to unilaterally tear down the East Wing of the White House and install in its place a ballroom larger than the present White House. This is not the act of a man who intends to relinquish his office. In view of these facts, we cannot discount the possibility that he will seek a third term in office, the Constitution be damned. 

But let us assume for the sake of argument that Trump abides by the Constitution and does not run in 2028. Then it is question of who will succeed him at the mantel of MAGA. 

At the moment, the two most likely successors are either Vice-President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  

Yet I am not so sure about either of them. It appears that Trump isn't sure about them either.

Vance comes across as a bully's accomplice as he best demonstrated when he falsely accused Ukrainian President Zelensky of not being thankful to the United States in the infamous Oval Office ambush. Meanwhile, Rubio's body language communicates that he didn't like Trump or Vance's behavior. But he also prefers to be in Trump's good graces. So, Rubio publicly demanded that Zelensky apologize.

Neither Vance nor Rubio project strength. Vance certainly didn't project it in his interactions with Iranian negotiators. Rubio does project an air of competence in an otherwise incompetent administration. While this might earn Rubio a salute from CBS news anchor Tony Dokoupil, I cannot see MAGA embracing him on account of his Latino background. Besides, since when does Trump give a shit about competence? For Trump, Rubio will always be "Little Marco".

In Trump's mind, in order to project strength, you have got to look good on TV. 

Enter Secretary of Defense, er, War Pete Hegseth.

Although Hegseth served in the military intermittently over two decades, Trump knows him best from his decade with Fox News. Trump views Hegseth as a youthful warrior full of machismo. It would not be unreasonable to believe that he sees himself in Hegseth even if he never served a day in uniform. Hegseth has shown a willingness to expunge all that is woke within the U.S. military. If that means destroying the Pentagon from within then so be it. Hegseth has been Trump's "good soldier" where it concerns implementing his agenda and Trump might very well reward him with command of the Republican Party and MAGA at large.

Well, up to a point. 

If Trump doesn't run in 2028 and the country ends up electing a Republican President, I still believe the real power will remain with Trump. Assuming it is Hegseth who becomes President, Trump will become Prime Minister Putin to Hegseth's President Medvedev. Or perhaps Hegseth will give Trump an honorific title such as "President Emeritus". I believe Hegseth will be more eager to go along with such a scheme than either Vance or Rubio. 

Of course, I do not believe that Pete Hegseth would be a good President. But the point isn't whether I think he would be a good President. It's whether Trump thinks Hegseth could play President on TV.

Mamdani's Disingenuous Statement on Israel

In an interview yesterday with Jonathan Karl of ABC News, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he could not support Israel as a Jewish state.

Mamdani said he “support[s] the state of Israel as a state with equal rights" but added, "I think any state that privileges one religion over the other is one that I can't tell you I support, whether it be Israel or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else.”

This statement is utterly disingenuous. 

For starters, Karl asked Mamdani if he supported Israel as a Jewish state due to the DSA not supporting a two-state solution. The DSA is not out in the streets objecting to Saudi Arabia as a Muslim state. The same can be said for Iran which DSA characterizes its Islamic regime as "a popular revolution." Needless to say, Israel is far more egalitarian than the Iranian regime which subjugates women and LGBTQ persons and yet DSA refers to Israel's establishment as "Nakba" while supporting "a liberated Palestine from the river to the sea."

Mayor Mamdani, like the DSA, directs his ire to one country in the entire world in both word and deed - Israel. How else does one explain why Mamdani characterizes AIPAC as "monsters" but not Hamas? He, like the DSA, does not support Israel in any way, shape or form. Mamdani and the DSA simply want Israel eliminated from the face of the Earth.

When I Was Contacted by a Mass Murderer

 

This morning I learned of the death of Valery Fabrikant. 

Fabrikant was an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Concordia University in Montreal. He was also an abrasive and paranoid man who had grievances with nearly everyone he encountered be they faculty, staff or students. In August 1992, Fabrikant shot and killed 4 of his fellow professors while wounding a staff member. 

I remember this horrific attack as I was living in Ottawa at the time where I was about to begin my second year as an undergraduate student at Carleton University. 

Fast forward to February 2010 when a similar attack took place at the University of Alabama in Huntsville which claimed the lives of three professors while injuring three other people. Like Fabrikant, Amy Bishop, who had been an assistant professor of biology, was a paranoid woman who had grievances with nearly everyone she encountered be they faculty, staff or students. 

At the time of the incident, I could not help but think of what had occurred at Concordia University nearly 20 years earlier. Indeed, I made a point of writing about it most likely on the blog of The American Spectator where I was contributing articles at the time. 

Alas, I cannot find the substance of what I wrote. But what I do know is that it infuriated Fabrikant because he contacted me in the comments section. As it turned out, Fabrikant's thoughts (such as they were) had been posted online mainly by his son and had been for many years.

How he managed to maintain an internet presence let alone continue to write academic papers I'll never know. Needless to say, I had no desire to correspond with a mass murderer. 

Now that he is gone, I will give him no further thought. Whatever thoughts I have regarding the Concordia University massacre will be with his victims and their families.

Phoivos Ziogas

Matthew Douglass

Michael Hogben

Aaron Jaan Saber

R.I.P.

Celebrating Mel Brooks' 100th Birthday at The Brattle

(YouTube screenshot from CBS Sunday Morning)

Today marks the 100th birthday of actor, comedian, writer, director, producer and all-around mensch Mel Brooks.

In honor of the occasion, I went to the Brattle Theatre both yesterday and today to take in several of his films - Young Frankenstein, History of the World, Part I and The Producers. 

Alas, Blazing Saddles was not part of this retrospective. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention seeing Blazing Saddles in the presence of the man himself in October 2016 when he was a mere lad of 90. At the time, I wrote, "Mel Brooks has lived a full life and yet he has so much more to do." Indeed, Spaceballs: The New One is due to come out in April 2027. Let us hope that he is there for the premiere. 

Until then, here are my thoughts on what I saw yesterday and today.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

The proceedings began yesterday afternoon with Young Frankenstein. I should mention that I saw Young Frankenstein at the Brattle during my Memorial Day Reverie in 2024. Since my last viewing of the film, both Teri Garr and Gene Hackman passed away leaving Brooks the last living link to the film.

There was enthusiastic and uproarious laughter to Young Frankenstein from start to finish. The laughter was spread around all the main cast members - Gene Wilder (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein - That's Frankensteen), Peter Boyle (The Creature), Marty Feldman (Eye-gor), Cloris Leachman (Frau Blücher) (cue the horse sound), Teri Garr (Inga, Frederick's lab assistant and later wife), Kenneth Mars (Inspector Kemp) and Madeline Kahn (Elizabeth, Frederick's fiancée and later the wife of the Creature). An honorable mention goes to Hackman who played a blind man who wishes to befriend The Creature who has unexpectedly come into his home only to cause The Creature one agony after another.

As hilarious as Young Frankenstein is, it remains faithful to the story crafted by Mary Shelley more than two centuries ago while also using some props created by Kenneth Strickfaden which were part of the original Frankenstein movie from 1931. As I noted in my previous dispatch on Young Frankenstein, the intro music produced by John Morris is melancholic. While it is among the funniest films ever committed to celluloid, Mel Brooks made it with the utmost care and seriousness. 

History of the World, Part I (1981)

This was the second half of the Saturday afternoon double feature with Young Frankenstein. I first saw History of the World, Part I 40 years ago during a Canadian Jewish Congress sponsored camping weekend outside Peterborough, Ontario. It was the same program which would culminate in my only trip to Israel two years later.

To give you an idea how well received History of the World, Part I was received, we watched it on two consecutive nights, and the second viewing was just as funny as the first. Early in the film there is a depiction of Sid Caesar dropping a stone on a young man's foot and he reacts by wailing. Immediately after this scene I exclaimed, "And this is how heavy metal was invented," to a big laugh. It was one of the first times I ever remember people laughing with me than at me. So, I did it again the following night. They laughed with me again.

History of the World, Part I was also popular in the Goldstein household. The film culminates with the early days of the French Revolution. In this vignette, Mel Brooks portrays both Louis XVI and Jacques, the piss boy. In the years which followed, if I ever found myself in an undignified position in a work setting, I would tell my family that I was the "piss boy". During my unpleasant two months with soon-to-be UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, I referred to myself as the "parliamentary piss boy".

Needless to say, History of the World, Part I holds a special place in my heart. Yet I was disappointed by the audience reaction to this film compared with both Young Frankenstein and The Producers. Perhaps they were uncomfortable with Dom DeLuise uttering "faggot" during his portrayal of Emperor Nero in the Roman Empire vignette. Or maybe they didn't like it when Mel Brooks would say "It's good to be the king!" after Louis XVI would make advances at various young, well-endowed women. 

I must admit that in a world of resurgent anti-Semitism, I did feel a tad uneasy with the musical number during the Spanish Inquisition sequence. There is always the risk of minimizing the suffering Jews endured. On the other hand, our ability to laugh even in the darkest of times has helped ensure our survival. 

Of course, certain actors will get a warm reception no matter what. In the case of History of the World, Part I this would apply to both Madeline Kahn as Empress Nympho during the Roman Empire skit and Harvey Korman as the Count de Monet (a.k.a. Count the Money) in the French Revolution skit. 

I suspect that most people prefer both Young Frankenstein and The Producers in higher regard than History of the World, Part I. But for me, History of the World, Part I is second only to Blazing Saddles amongst Mel Brooks' filmography.

The Producers (1967)

Fast forward to today which marked the first time I had seen The Producers in almost 25 years. I previously viewed it at the Harvard Film Archive which is situated less than a mile away from The Brattle. At the time I saw the film at the Harvard Film Archive, it had been revived on Broadway with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick playing Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, respectively. The Broadway production of The Producers would win 12 Tony Awards. Of course, Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder would play these roles in the film version.

Aside from the film's basic plot, I did not remember much of the actual story. The one thing I clearly remember from that screening was how big a reception Gene Wilder got when he showed up on the silver screen. Today wasn't that much different. There is simply something about Wilder's manic charisma which transcends generations. 

The film's basic plot has Bloom, a young high-strung accountant, join forces with failed Broadway producer Bialystock to produce a Broadway flop as they are convinced it will make them more money than a hit. In order to guarantee this outcome, they produce the most offensive play they can find - "Springtime for Hitler" written by an ex-Nazi soldier Franz Liebkind (Kenneth Mars). Bialystock and Bloom's plan backfires when "Springtime for Hitler" becomes a hit after L.S.D. (Dick Shawn) portrays Hitler as a stoner. 

As with the Spanish Inquisition scene in History of the World, Part I, I do have some unease with "Springtime for Hitler". Yes, Brooks is mocking the Nazis just as he mocked racism in Blazing Saddles and anti-Semitism in History of the World, Part I. Yet what struck me was Franz Liebkind's monologue comparing Hitler and Churchill:

Nobody ever said a bad word about Winston Churchill, did they? No! "Win with Winnie!" Churchill! With his cigars. With his brandy. And his rotten painting, rotten! Hitler, there was a painter. He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon! Two coats!

This monologue is as funny now as it was nearly 60 years ago. The difference now is that there is a critical mass of people who believe Churchill was the bad guy in WWII and this narrative is being legitimized by the likes of Tucker Carlson. 

Don't get me wrong. The Producers is a funny film. I'm only afraid of those who view the Nazis as the good guys having the last laugh.

Whatever my fears, Mostel, Wilder, Mars and Shawn deliver manic performances which continue to evoke manic laughter. The foundation of these manic performances was Mel Brooks' screenplay which would earn him an Oscar.

Epilogue

It is delightful that Mel Brooks made it to 100. Perhaps he will live long enough to become the 2,000-Year-Old Man after all. G-d willing!!!

"What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?" Shows David Clayton-Thomas at the Height of His Powers

 

I have been on something of a Blood, Sweat & Tears kick since the passing of its former lead singer, David Clayton-Thomas, earlier this week.

Truth be told, though, I have been listening to Blood, Sweat & Tears for as long as I can remember. The group's eponymous second album which represented Clayton-Thomas' debut with the group is among the first albums I ever remember listening to as a child. Dad told me how I would bounce around the room when I heard "Smiling Phases". That album would spawn three Top 5 singles - "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "Spinning Wheel" along with "And When I Die" and would best The Beatles' "Abbey Road" to win the Grammy for Album of the Year for producer James William Guercio who would also produce the likes of The Buckinghams, Chicago and Moondog.

Yet I needed something more by which to remember Clayton-Thomas. When I saw that the 2023 documentary What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? was available for viewing on YouTube, I leapt at the chance to see it. Directed by John Scheinfeld, What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? tells the story of their 1970 tour of the former Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland and how it would lead to the group's decline. I only wish I had saw it in a movie theatre to get the full glory of the sights and sounds.

When Blood, Sweat & Tears played in the Soviet bloc, they were the first rock 'n roll group to play behind the Iron Curtain. However, this was a tour that Blood, Sweat & Tears had no desire to embark upon but did so under duress. The reason for this duress was that Clayton-Thomas had been arrested for an alleged assault and faced revocation of his Green Card as he was a British born Canadian citizen. To make matters worse, Clayton-Thomas had a criminal record as a juvenile growing up in Toronto.

In an effort to prevent Clayton-Thomas' deportation, their manager Larry Goldblatt made a secret deal with the U.S. State Department. In exchange for Clayton-Thomas to remain in the U.S. they would partake in this cultural exchange. Less than a year earlier, President Nixon had visited Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu in an effort to promote detente. However, several of the group's members particularly guitarist and occasional lead singer Steve Katz were strong critics of not only the Nixon Administration but their escalation of the Vietnam War and thus felt uneasy about their involvement. But for the sake of Clayton-Thomas they reluctantly went along with it.

For his part, Clayton-Thomas made a point of saying he was not as political as Katz but did share his opposition to the Vietnam War. While not mentioned in the film, it is well worth noting that before Clayton-Thomas joined Blood, Sweat & Tears, he had fronted a Toronto-based group called The Bossmen which had a minor Canadian hit with a song called "Brainwashed" which was an anti-war song with jazz undertones. The song featured Clayton-Thomas singing "damn" which was bleeped out for radio airplay. That was heady stuff in 1966.

During their time in the Eastern bloc, the band members were followed not so inconspicuously by local spies while having their rooms trashed by some other not so conspicuous local spies. Accompanying Blood, Sweat & Tears on the tour was a film crew led by first-time director Donn Cambern who had recently completed work as a film editor on Easy Rider. Cambern and his crew would capture the sights & sounds of Romanians loving the music, chanting "U.S.A." and Ceaușescu's goons turning their dogs on people who wanted nothing more than peace, fun and music. 

Cambern's crew would also capture representatives of the State Department pressuring the group to emphasize jazz over rock, tone down their gestures and to dump long-haired members of their road crew. To their credit, Blood, Sweat & Tears ignored their edicts. Unfortunately, this was not what either the Nixon Administration or the Ceaușescu regime wanted to see. So, the original documentary never saw the light of day. While Cambern had a successful career as a film editor and would earn an Oscar nomination for editing the 1984 film Romancing the Stone, he would never direct another film. Sadly, Cambern died a few months before the release of the documentary, and it is dedicated to his memory.

When Blood, Sweat & Tears returned to the U.S., the group was not treated as cultural Ambassadors for peace but as tools of the Nixon Administration as Clayton-Thomas, Katz and drummer Bobby Colomby fielded hostile questions during a press conference. The group still opposed Nixon and the Vietnam War but had a newfound appreciation for American freedom after being exposed to the repressive nature of Eastern bloc Communism.

Then as now, there was little appreciation for nuance. The group would subsequently face a slew of negative articles in the press and would become the bête noire of the New Left culminated by a protest led by Abbie Hoffman outside a Madison Square Garden concert dubbed Blood, Sweat & Bullshit! During the performance, an audience member hurled horseshit on stage striking Colomby's drum kit. Meanwhile, conservatives assailed the Nixon Administration for subsidizing supposedly long-haired radicals to a Communist country. This was a no-win situation for Blood, Sweat & Tears. Clayton-Thomas expressed sadness for putting the group into said no-win situation.

What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? essentially argues that this tour represented the end of the group. I think it would be more accurate to say that it was the beginning of the end. At the time of the tour, Blood, Sweat & Tears had just released Blood, Sweat & Tears 3. While not as successful as their previous album, it did yield two Top 40 hits - "Hi-De-Ho" and "Lucretia MacEvil" both of which were played during the Eastern Bloc tour. The following year, the group would release B, S, & T 4. This would yield "Go Down, Gamblin'" which would prove to be their final Top 40 hit. Another single "Lisa, Listen to Me" would peak at #73 on the U.S. Billboard charts but would get more airplay in Canada. 

Clayton-Thomas along with founding members Dick Halligan and Fred Lipsius would depart the group after B, S & T 4. By 1975, Clayton-Thomas would return to the group but by this time Blood, Sweat & Tears would be for all intents and purposes a nostalgia act which remains the case to this day under the direction of Colomby. There have been over 150 members of Blood, Sweat & Tears. 

What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? gives the most important members of the band the opportunity to share their firsthand experiences. Along with Clayton-Thomas, Katz and Colomby, Jim Fielder and Fred Lipsius also share their insights. We also hear from Clive Davis who signed the group to Columbia Records back in 1967. Davis passed away two days before Clayton-Thomas. Perhaps the most joyful aspect of the film was hearing David Clayton-Thomas sing songs originally sung by Al Kooper on their debut album Child is the Father to the Man such as "Something Goin' On", "I Can't Quit Her" and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know". While I enjoy Kooper's performances, Clayton-Thomas takes those songs to places which Kooper couldn't. We get to hear Clayton-Thomas' voice at the height of its power.

If nothing else What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? gives the uninitiated to see and hear how the innovators of jazz-rock got to the top of the mountain even if it also meant seeing their inevitable fall. R.I.P. David Clayton-Thomas.

Mets Give Mendoza His Marching Orders; Name Ex-Padres Skipper Green Interim Manager

Exactly halfway through the 2026 MLB season, the New York Mets have parted ways with manager Carlos Mendoza. Andy Green, who managed the San Diego Padres from 2016 through most of the 2019 season, has been named interim manager for the rest of the year.

The Mets began today 34-47 amid a six-game losing streak and have already lost their first game under Green. Both the Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies began the season with a record of 9-19. On April 28th, the Phillies dismissed Rob Thomson in favor of Don Mattingly. Under Donnie Baseball, the Phillies have gone 37-17. They are the top seed in the NL Wild Card race and are only 3½ games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

From April 28th through June 18th, the Mets treaded water going 25-22 before dropping back-to-back games to the Phillies and being swept in a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs which precipitated Mendoza's firing. Back on April 18th, I reflected on Mendoza's job status after the Mets had lost 10 in a row in what would ultimately be a 12-game losing streak:

For starters, the Mets have the second highest payroll in MLB. This means the Mets are expected to win and to win now.

Let us also consider Mendoza himself. Hired prior to the 2024 season on a three-year deal with a club option for 2027, the Mets would earn a NL Wild Card berth and reach the NLCS falling to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. But then there was last year. Things were looking very good for the Mets. In mid-June, the Mets had the best record in MLB with a 45-24 and had a 5½ game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. The Mets were not so amazin' going 38-55 the rest of the way. As Mets announcer Gary Cohen put it at the time, "And the Mets agonizing, three-and-a-half-month, slow-motion collapse, is complete."

This collapse has now lasted more than a year. Fittingly enough, it began on Friday the 13th beginning a 7-game losing streak going 3-13 for the rest of the month and it hasn't got much better since.

Unless, the Mets go on a Knicks-like surge, Andy Green will be a short-term solution to get the team to the finish line. During his near four-year stint in San Diego, the Padres never finished better than 4th place as the Los Angeles Dodgers began their dominance of the NL West. I'm not sure if even Danhausen could uncurse the Mets at this stage.

3 Candidates Endorsed by Mamdani Will Be Headed to Congress

(Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani displayed his clout this evening as all three congressional candidates he endorsed won their Democratic primaries including two candidates who unseated incumbent Democratic Congressmen.

Brad Lander, the former New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate, unseated two-term incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman winning his primary in New York's 10th Congressional District by more than 30 points.

New York's 13th Congressional District proved a closer contest, but Darializa Avila Chevalier unseated incumbent Adriano Espaillat by 3.5%. Espaillat had served five terms in Congress and was the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Chevalier was part of Mamdani's DSA.

Meanwhile, New York's 7th Congressional District was an open seat, but Mamdani's pick, Claire Valdez bested Antonio Reynoso, who was endorsed by retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, by nearly 18 points. Valdez is also a DSA member.

Given that these are safe Democratic seats, all three of these Democratic nominees will be elected to the next Congress in November.

What is unsettling is how Israel was a defining issue in these races and, in so doing, has become a litmus issue among Democrats. How else does one explain a business openly bragging about wishing they could deny service to soon to be former Congressman Goldman? Or for that matter how Mayor Mamdani can call AIPAC monsters when he won't use that term to describe Hamas?

But most frightening of all is how this sentiment among Democrats is not confined to New York City as we have seen in Maine with Graham Platner, in New Jersey with Adam Hamawy and perhaps in Michigan with Abdul el-Sayed or possibly Nithya Raman in Los Angeles or Janeese Lewis George in Washington, D.C.

Andy Burnham Was a Horrible Boss

When I wrote my lament for soon to be former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, I mentioned that I had firsthand experience working for his likely successor, Andy Burnham.

Back in 1995, I was an undergraduate political science student at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. I was selected to partake in an academic exchange with the University of Leeds during which I would intern for a UK Member of Parliament (MP). 

As I was a card-carrying member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), I wanted to intern for a Labour MP. I would be assigned to Tessa Jowell, a MP representing a constituency called Dulwich which was situated in South London. Jowell would later serve as a cabinet minister in both the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and subsequently was appointed to the House of Lords. Sadly, she passed away of brain cancer in 2018. 

There were two staffers working for Jowell, one of whom was Andy Burnham. He was for all intents and purposes my boss. I'm sorry to say that he was a horrible boss.

To put it bluntly, Burnham treated me like shit. He constantly talked at me as if I were a buffoon. Indeed, both he and his assistant Duncan went out of their way to belittle my intelligence. They would tell me that I had limited intelligence.

Needless to say, I was largely confined to opening mail and was often sent downstairs to an empty desk where for the most part I would catch up on my homework. The problem with this arrangement was that in order for me to graduate I had to demonstrate what kind of parliamentary work I was doing be it at the constituency or policy level. The fact that I could not demonstrate this put my university graduation into jeopardy. Burnham was well aware of the situation, but he did not give a toss. 

There were occasions when I was asked to attend surgeries. In the context of UK politics, a surgery is where a MP will meet directly with their constituents. In Canada, MPs have permanent constituency offices for that purpose. 

I didn't have a problem being involved with that process. The problem was that I had to get there on my own. While I had my Nicholson's Guide to London, I was nevertheless in unfamiliar territory and frequently got lost often in very rainy weather. By the time I would arrive there would be nothing for me to do except stand around soaking wet while Burnham would laugh at me derisively.

I do remember Burnham getting very angry with me after he found out I had contacted Tony Benn, a legendary Labour MP who would serve in the House of Commons for nearly half a century. My undergraduate thesis was a comparison between the youth wings of the NDP and the Labour Party. The reason I wanted to get in touch with Benn was to interview him due to his support of Andy Bevan, who had been hired as the party's official youth organizer, despite considerable resistance from the party establishment.

In any case, Burnham made a point of accusing me of "sleaze". Sleaze? This wasn't cash for questions. I was trying to fulfill my academic requirements. Nothing more.

I should mention that I did interview Tony Benn. In the years that followed, I was not crazy about Benn's softball interview of Saddam Hussein. But when I visited Benn at his home, he treated me with the utmost courtesy and respect and I did the same. Tony Benn provided me with more courtesy and respect in 30 minutes than Andy Burnham could muster in two months.

I'm not sure why Tessa Jowell wanted an intern. I'm also not sure why Andy Burnham treated me the way he did. All I know is that I was miserable and things got to a point where University of Leeds faculty agreed to reassign me to a different MP. I would be placed with a Scottish Labour MP named Jimmy Wray who gave me the following advice after telling me he thought I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown:

You're the boss!

Don't worry and don't hurry!

A man who never made a mistake is a man who never made anything!

Needless to say, my time with Jimmy Wray proved a far better use of my time and Jimmy's. And yes, I was able to graduate.

Now, I write all this with the understanding that this took place more than 30 years. Burnham would subsequently be elected to the House of Commons in his own right in 2001. He would later serve in Gordon Brown's cabinet and twice sought the leadership of the Labour Party in 2010 and in 2015. 

Following the ascension of Jeremy Corbyn in 2015, Burnham was smart enough to leave Westminster and successfully seek the mayoralty of Manchester. He would be re-elected to the same post twice before making his successful return to Westminster last week.

Going to Manchester was a shrewd move on Burnham's part. He managed to create a power base for himself outside of London and I'm sure other MPs may take a similar path should he end up living at Number 10 Downing Street.

So, I will be the first to acknowledge Burnham's success. I can only hope that he treats the people who work for him now a lot better than he treated me more than 30 years ago.