Why Did I Watch Trump's 107 Minute SOTU Address?

 

I know there were a great many people who skipped watching President Trump's SOTU address including nearly half of all Democratic members of both Houses.

Of course, much of it was going to be bullshit just like his 100-minute address to Congress last March.

True to form, Trump told some whoppers.

He claimed that America was raking in trillions in tariffs from foreign government when in reality it is paid by American importers and passed onto consumers.

He claimed to have ended 8 wars when the U.S. is not party to most of these ceasefires or peace agreements.

He claimed America had record inflation under President Biden. In fact, America had much higher inflation both after the end of WWII and during the Watergate scandal.

He claimed America saw the sharpest drop in its murder rate in history. Except that the study didn't include either Jackson, Mississippi or Birmingham, Alabama which had the highest murder per capita rates in the U.S. in 2024. Even so, the murder rate has been declining for years save for a spike during COVID in 2020.

He claimed the price of eggs have declined by 60%. Perhaps the wholesale price, but not the retail price.

He claimed to have obliterated Iran's nuclear program but wants to go to war with them because their nuclear program is still in operation.

But then it got ugly. 

Trump claimed corruption was plundering America and laid all of it at the feet of "Somali pirates" in Minnesota. Says the President who is using his office to profit to the tune of nearly $4 billion off crypto schemes.

Well, President Reagan had the War on Drugs.

Well, now Trump has started the War on Fraud and is appointing JD Vance to lead the charge. 

You know the guy who created stories about Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs. 

What could go wrong?

Based on what's already gone wrong, I shudder to think about that.

After all, the demagoguery of the Trump Administration against the Somali community is what eventually resulted in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Trump castigated Democrats for not funding DHS claiming they were impeding snow removal. Yeah, well here in Massachusetts, Governor Healey declared a state of emergency and called in the state National Guard. She didn't need Trump to take action.

This isn't to say that Trump didn't reward genuinely good deeds as he did with 100-year-old Navy Captain Royce Williams for his service in Korea bestowing him with the Congressional Medal of Honor. But like always, Trump made it about himself and said he wanted to give himself a Congressional Medal of Honor. Indeed, a few days ago, Trump said he should have received a Congressional Medal for visiting Iraq during his first term in 2018.

So why did I give 107 minutes of my time to a bullshit artist?

Because it is my duty to do so as an act of citizenry. If we are to effectively criticize Trump, then we have to remind ourselves of what he tells us and what he intends to do so no matter how nonsensical it is. Like it or not, Trump is President and that makes him a dangerous man. We need to shine a light to that danger and do everything in our power to make that danger stop.

In her SOTU response, Virginia Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger noted:

In his speech tonight, the President did what he always does. He lied, he scapegoated and he distracted. And he offered no real solutions to our nation's pressing challenges, so many of which he is making actively worse. He tries to divide us. He tries to enrage us. To pit us against one another, neighbor against neighbor. And sometimes he succeeds. 

With that said, I would have preferred it if Democrats showed up and then walked out en masse as he was decrying Somalians. It would have made for compelling drama. 

At the same time, decades pass in days. Chances are very few people will remember what Trump said tonight. Some, of course, have tuned him out. But others among us because he will have said and done so many other egregious things. When you flood the zone with shit, some of it will remains and its stench will linger.

Thoughts on Another Snowstorm: Well At Least I'm Not in Fall River, MA or Providence, RI

As you may be aware, much of the Northeast United States was pummeled with snow. 

Here in Cambridge, we just got a little over a foot of snow. But we still have the snow from last month. And then there was the wind. 

Last night, I did some shoveling and my left arm is still sore.

Still, it could have been much worse.

Had I lived in either Fall River or New Bedford, I would have faced more than 3 feet of snow as the two southeastern Massachusetts communities received 41 and 37 inches of snow, respectively. 

Providence, Rhode Island also received exactly 3 feet of snow. The 28.6 inches it received during the Blizzard of '78 now seems paltry by comparison.

As for me, with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey's state of emergency order, I worked from home yesterday. 

I will be working from home again today. While the snow has ceased to fall, the MBTA is operating on Sunday service. I am sure there will be residual delays for the rest of the week as was the case last month. 

I'll make my way to the office tomorrow. But for today I don't want to take any chances. I am at a stage in my life where I do not want to rush carrying my laptop and other stuff knowing full well that I would not be on time for work no matter how early I left.

Less is more. 

Well, maybe except when it comes to snow.

Bill Mazeroski Was So Much More Than His Game Winning HR in the 1960 World Series

 

Bill Mazeroski, best remembered for hitting a game winning HR in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, passed away yesterday at the age of 89.

Mazeroski's death comes only a week after that of his longtime Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Elroy Face. With Mazeroski's passing, pitcher Vernon Law and outfielder Bob Skinner are the last living members of that 1960 World Series champion Pirates team which upended the powerhouse New York Yankees against all odds.

Yet Mazeroski was sometimes maligned for that HR with some mistakenly believing it was the only reason he was elected by the Veterans Committee into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mazeroski was the greatest second baseman in the NL from late 1950s into the late 1960s winning 8 Gold Gloves at the position between 1958 and 1967. While his offensive production was modest with a lifetime batting average of .260 with 138 HR and 853 RBI over 2163 career games. His 2016 career hits as a second baseman puts him at 22nd on the all-time list although at the time of his retirement he would have been 11th which just goes to show how second base has emerged as a more offense-oriented position. Those 2016 hits put him 8th on the Pirates all-time list.

I cannot emphasize enough that Mazeroski spent his entire 17-year MLB career with the Bucs. Not only did he win a ring with the Pirates in 1960, but he also did so again in 1971. Maz and Roberto Clemente were the only two players who won rings with both teams though Danny Murtaugh did manage both teams. Bill Virdon played on the 1960 Bucs and by 1971 was on Murtaugh's coaching staff. 

Bill Mazeroski earned his place in baseball history not only through his historic HR off Ralph Terry to make the Pirates champions, but with his stellar play with Pittsburgh throughout his career. He belongs in Cooperstown.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my trip to Wheeling, West Virginia last June. Of course, Mazeroski was born and raised in Wheeling which is about 60 miles west of Pittsburgh. Right across the street from the hotel where I was staying was a sports tavern with a mural of sports legends who were either from the Wheeling area or had spent time there. Mazeroski had a very prominent spot on that mural. He will always have a spot on that mural, a spot in Cooperstown and a soft spot in the hearts of Pittsburgh Pirates fans everywhere. R.I.P.

Man on the Run: Paul McCartney Has Slowed Down But He Isn't Standing Still

This evening, I attended a special screening of Man on the Run, a documentary covering the life of Paul McCartney from the breakup of The Beatles, the origins of his solo career and the rise of Wings through the assassination of John Lennon.

Early on in the film we see footage of McCartney's farm in Scotland in its early days. Macca tells us that he didn't know if he'd ever write another song after The Beatles disbanded. This I did not find convincing considering that most of the footage of him is singing or playing the guitar even in casual moments. Music would always be a part of his life. The question was would it be accepted by the public let alone measure up to The Beatles.

McCartney's early solo efforts (McCartney, Ram) and early efforts with Wings (Wild Life, Red Rose Speedway) were maligned and misunderstood. Greater success would come in the form of Wing's seminal album Band on the Run followed by Venus and Mars, Wings at the Speed of Sound and Wings Over America, the live album documenting Wings' viability as a live act. Of course, even with these successes, McCartney's work with Wings would always be measured against The Beatles although Wings' 1977 "Mull of Kintyre" would be a bigger hit in the U.K. than any Beatles single. 

Of course, there was always hope of a Beatles reunion whether it was $3,000 from Lorne Michaels in the early years of SNL to the hundreds of millions of dollars. Alas those hopes were forever shattered with John Lennon's assassination in December 1980.

Grounding McCartney during this period was his wife Linda who was an integral part of Wings. Although Linda McCartney has been dead for nearly 30 years, she remains very much a part of his life through his memories and through his children. 

Following the screening, there was a bonus clip of McCartney speaking with Man on the Run director Morgan Neville. What struck me most about their dialogue is how old Macca is getting. Yes, he is still touring but he was laboring to play both "1985" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" on the piano and did not attempt to sing either song in Neville's presence. 

Yet we must remember that McCartney will turn 84 in June. In other words, "When I'm 64" will be commemorating a 20th anniversary of sorts. The fact remains that McCartney could sell out any stadium in the world. Most people understand that one cannot do at 83 what was one was able to do at 23 and 33. 

It is worth noting there was a clip of a reporter questioning McCartney's ability to perform at 33 which the reporter viewed as old age for rock 'n roll. Macca invited the reporter to see the show and then come backstage after and tell him if he still had it or not. In our present age, I suspect most people are just happy to be in Paul McCartney's presence for a couple of hours even if he can't hit the notes he once hit with ease. Macca's music and The Beatles at large have a larger meaning for people. As such, people want to appreciate Paul McCartney while he is still here. For his part, Macca still hopes we will enjoy the show. 

Tony Clark Resigns as MLBPA Executive Director Following Internal Investigation Amid Federal Probe

(Associated Press)

Tony Clark abruptly resigned as Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) today following an internal investigation which uncovered an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law who had been in the employ of MLBPA since 2023.

Clark's resignation comes following a federal investigation of the MLBPA launched last year amid a whistleblower complaint that Clark had been profiting off licensing fees and other programs launched under his leadership. Before stepping down today, Clark had led the organization since December 2013 following the death of his predecessor Michael Weiner. Clark was the first former MLB player to lead the organization. He played in the big leagues for 15 seasons primarily with the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks along with stints with the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres.

The shakeup comes amid the expiration of the CBA between MLBPA and MLB come December 1st. With MLB seeking to impose a salary cap, speculation has abounded that the 2027 MLB season could be awash as the owners are prepared to impose a lockout. 

The players could select an interim director as soon as tomorrow and Bruce Meyer, the union's lead negotiator, is the most likely choice to succeed Clark. Although Meyer has rankled some feathers among MLBPA's ranks and some would prefer Harry Marino, the labor lawyer who unionized minor league baseball, to succeed Clark. It is conceivable that down the line the players could choose Marino as their Executive Director and retain Meyer as their lead negotiator. 

I shudder to think what Marvin Miller would have thought of this spectacle. Miller was chosen as the first Executive Director of the MLBPA 60 years ago when it be ceased to be a company union making it one of the most powerful unions in American history. Of course, Clark has not been charged with a crime and is innocent until proven guilty if charges come to pass. As such, I could imagine Miller looking at the accusations against Clark with some skepticism especially only months before the expiration of the CBA. 

Yet I also cannot help but think that Miller would be disgusted by Clark or any union leader using their office for personal gain. I also cannot imagine Miller engaging in such nepotism even without the impropriety of an inappropriate relationship.

Like a lot of other things in this world, the MLBPA ain't what it used to be.

Thoughts on AOC Accusing Israel of Genocide on German Soil

While participating on a panel at the Munich Security Conference last Friday, New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused Israel of committing genocide. Her comment came in response to a question from Hegar Shazaf, a journalist from the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz concerning the reevaluation of military aid to Israel:

I think that, personally, the idea of completely unconditional aid, no matter what one does, does not make sense. I think it enabled a genocide in Gaza, and I think that we have thousands of women and children dead … that was completely avoidable.

Not surprisingly, AOC spares Hamas from any criticism or culpability. After all, it is Hamas which has long used their civilian populace as human shields in an effort to turn them into involuntary martyrs. Egypt, Jordan and other Arab states could have opened their borders to the people of Gaza, but it is so much easier for them to vilify Israel. 

Of course, AOC engaging in defamation against Israel is nothing new under the sun. But what makes this particular accusation different is the fact that she uttered it on German soil. That she did so was no accident. Indeed, in accusing Israel of genocide on German soil was AOC's way of likening the Jewish State to the Nazis. 

Yet in accusing Israel of committing genocide while on German soil, AOC reveals her ignorance of what genocide actually is. The Nazis sought to eliminate Jews from the face of the Earth, a goal shared by Hamas. Israel merely wishes to protect itself from yet another entity which wishes to exterminate Jews from the face of the Earth. 

Alas, this will fall on deaf ears of most Democrats and AOC knows is all too well as speculation abounds for a White House bid in 2028. And if AOC sees fit to launch a White House bid, "the Israel is guilty of genocide" will become a focal point of her stump speech. Unfortunately, I suspect that nearly all Democratic aspirants for the White House in 2028 will fall over themselves trying to render Israel an international pariah with few dissidents. Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman rebuked AOC during an appearance on Fox News stating, "Why is she so eager to criticize Israel, but I don't recall her saying anything as Iran executed thousands of protestors! There was never a genocide in Gaza."

And this is exactly the point. There is no genocide in Gaza. AOC's assertion that there is every bit as much of a lie as Donald Trump's claim that he won the 2020 election. No amount of screeching will change the fact.

The problem though is that far too many people believe lies to be true and sometimes those beliefs are expressed at the ballot box. In this respect, an AOC presidency would be every bit much of an assault on the truth as the continuation of the Trump presidency or a successor dedicated to implementing the MAGA agenda. AOC is every bit as much a demagogue as Trump or his minions and thus every bit as dangerous to the future of American democracy as Trump and MAGA are.

Robert Duvall Had a Quiet Gravitas

Actor Robert Duvall passed away yesterday at the age of 95.

In a career which spanned seven decades, Duvall earned himself a place among the heavyweights of American actors in the late 20th and earliest 21st centuries. His credits are simply staggering:

To Kill a Mockingbird

Bullitt

True Grit

M*A*S*H

The Godfather

The Godfather, Part II

Network

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Apocalypse Now

The Great Santini

Tender Mercies

The Natural

Rambling Rose

Falling Down

The Apostle

Deep Impact

A Civil Action

Gone in 60 Seconds

Secondhand Lions

The Judge

Hustle

In recent months, I saw Duvall in The Natural in tribute to Robert Redford where he portrayed the conniving, cynical sports reporter Max Mercy. Last summer, I saw Duvall's Academy Award nominated performance in Apocalypse Now which I described as "a manic intensity but is unaffected by chaos and explosions going on around him". Well, I suppose a high surf and the smell of napalm can do that. 

Yet when I think of Duvall, I think of his performances in some lesser-known movie from the 1990s namely Falling Down, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway and Phenomenon. 

In Falling Down starring Michael Douglas and Barbara Hershey, Duvall plays a cop who is on his last day on the job. He is disrespected by nearly all of his colleagues at work and has to deal with a mentally ill wife at home. Yet he manages to stay two steps ahead of everyone as it becomes clear to him who it is that snapped and wreaking havoc on the city while he must break the news to Douglas' character D-Fens that he is the bad guy.

In Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, he co-starred with Richard Harris as a lonely widower who develops a crush on a waitress played by a young Sandra Bullock and wishes to dance with her. I should mention that Duvall's character is Cuban. In this day in age, a white actor playing a Latino would be verboten. But Duvall played his role with the greatest care, dignity and restraint. As with a great many of his characters, you forget that it is Duvall as he subsumed himself into the role. I particularly remember how his character, in the hope of dancing with Sandra Bullock, would practice tangoing alone in front of the mirror. Duvall did the little things which made you remember him.

In Phenomenon, Duvall portrays a kindly local doctor alongside John Travolta, who after seeing a flashing light, suddenly becomes full of infinite powers. When the townspeople turn against the Travolta character, it is Duvall who rushes to his defense and publicly shames those who forsake their friend who had never asked anything of them.

I also remember some of Duvall's early TV work on The Fugitive and on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, the latter of which he played an undersea alien who temporarily takes over the Seaview. Then again who didn't temporarily take over the Seaview?

Whether Duvall was playing the hero or the heavy, a small role or a big one, he always carried himself with a quiet gravitas even as he retreated into his character. Robert Duvall may be gone but his quiet gravitas will carry on for decades to come. R.I.P.