Flynn's Pursuit of Immunity is a Reminder That Trump Doesn't Pick The Best People

The fact that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is seeking immunity with regards to Congress' investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election should demonstrate to all of us that President Trump doesn't pick the best people. This is only reinforced by Trump's tweet encouraging Flynn to pursue immunity.


Yes, President Trump did appoint Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and picked Nikki Haley to be our Ambassador to the UN. But we've also ended up with Rex Tillerson, Steve Bannon, Sean Spicer and Andrew Puzder before he had the good sense to withdraw his name from consideration. Batting 2 for 6 is not much better than his present approval rating.


Of course, a similar criticism can be leveled at President Obama. After all, Obama did appoint Flynn to head up the Defense Intelligence Agency towards the end of his first term. But Flynn fell out with Obama and is associated with Trump in such a way that it overshadows his association with the 44th President. Flynn joined Trump at the hip the moment he led the Republican National Convention in chants of "Lock Her Up."


There are those who are downplaying the significance of Flynn seeking immunity. But as Flynn himself put it just over six months ago,“When you are given immunity, that means that you probably have committed a crime.” Well, if the shoe fits.

The Trump University Settlement is a Reminder That Our President is a Fraud

Today, the $25 million settlement in the Trump University case was finalized by Judge Gonzalo Curiel.


Of course, Trump's cruel and racist treatment of Curiel during the election campaign was among the ten reasons which made it too unbearable to vote for the Republican standard bearer. That Trump settled the case less than two weeks after his election only increased my contempt for him.


However, I would like to turn my attention the student body of Trump University. Those who enrolled into Trump University were swayed by Trump's promises. "I can turn anyone into a successful real estate investor, including you," said the future President in a Trump University infomercial. All things considered it's not all that different than when Trump started telling voters, "We will have so much winning if I get elected that you may get bored with winning." In a sense, the 2016 election was a large scale version of Trump University. It didn't cost anything to vote for Trump, but we are now paying dearly and we have only just begun.


I know Trump has only been office for 70 days, but I am not seeing much winning. Certainly not enough to get bored with it. Trump might have thought he could easily win the case, but the Trump University settlement should be a reminder to all of us that our President is a fraud. Well, at least Trump University students are getting their money back. The same cannot be said of the American voter. Our only recourse is not in the courtroom but rather at the ballot box. But 2020 seems so very distant.

If Liberals Think Pence is Bad For Being a Devout Husband Then What Does That Make Trump?

Vice-President Mike Pence evidently does not eat alone with a woman other than his wife Karen nor does he attend social events where alcohol is served without her by his side. This is evidently beyond the pale for Heather Schwedel of Slate:


As writer Laura Turner and others pointed out on Twitter, some of this has roots in evangelical Christian communities, where “the Billy Graham rule” dictated not meeting alone with women other than one’s wife. We don’t know how strict Pence is about following this rule or how far he takes it, but this kind of thinking does point toward a pretty radically retrograde mindset on the part of its adherents, one that doesn’t respect women as humans with thoughts and skills to contribute but rather sees them primarily as sexual temptations.


So if Pence has a "radically retrograde mindset" for his fidelity to his wife then what does make President Trump? Former President Clinton has nothing on Trump when it comes to infidelity.


Let's be honest. If Pence were a Democrat and had the same relationship with his wife, Schwedel would be praising Pence as a progressive family man.


Don't get me wrong. I have plenty of issues with Pence. They arise out of his public statements, policies and willingness to associate himself with Trump. But as for Pence's devotion to his wife, I say Mazel Tov.

Why Having Ivanka in The West Wing is a Good Thing

Notwithstanding the ethical questions surrounding Ivanka Trump occupying space in the West Wing of the White House, on balance I think this is a good thing for one simple reason.


Ivanka Trump may be the only person in the world who can tell Donald Trump no.


She might not be able to do this all the time, but there have been occasions when the President's eldest daughter has put her foot down as was the case with Corey Lewandowski's departure from the Trump campaign and last month when and she and her husband Jared Kushner thwarted efforts to rollback anti-discrimination protections President Obama enacted in 2014 protecting LGBTQ workforce members in the employ of federal contractors.


Of course, Ivanka's presence in the West Wing won't stop her father from accusing Obama of wiretapping Trump Towers & from tweeting other crazy things. This is Donald Trump we are talking about.


Nor am I suggesting there aren't valid ethical concerns. But as long as Donald Trump is President the country is better off with Ivanka as near to her father as possible.

Anti-Trump Activists Must Choose Its Battles Wisely (2020 U.S. Census LGBTQ Edition)

It was with considerable fanfare that the LGBTQ community went on the offensive yesterday by claiming the LGBTQ community was being excluded from the 2020 census. Meghan Maury of the National LGBTQ Task Force claimed, "Today, the Trump Administration has taken yet another step to deny LGBTQ people freedom, justice, and equity, by choosing to exclude us from the 2020 Census and American Community Survey. LGBTQ people are not counted on the Census—no data is collected on sexual orientation or gender identity."


The only problem is that the Census has never asked questions pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity and as Guy Benson (who is gay himself) of Townhall.com points out the person overseeing the 2020 Census is an Obama appointee. So if the LGBTQ community wants to direct anger it should have directed towards President Obama in equal measure.


Now there are plenty of reasons to oppose the Trump Administration but this isn't one of them. Anti-Trump activists, be they part of the LGBTQ community or not, must choose its battles wisely. Otherwise energy is being wasted and anti-Trump forces will be perceived as fighting for the sake of fighting. If Trump is to be defeated in 2020, his opposition must be seen as rational and sober. In other words, everything that Trump is not. Should anti-Trump activists blame him for everything under the sun including the weather the people who need to be persuaded to abandon Trump will stop listening if they haven't already.

Chuck Schumer is Insufferably Annoying on Neil Gorsuch

As much as I disdain President Trump, I am equally unimpressed by Senate Democrats where it concerns Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Particularly annoying is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer who said yesterday that Gorsuch is going to have an uphill battle to obtain Senate confirmation. Schumer stated, "The bottom line is very simple, and that is that Gorsuch did not acquit himself well at the hearings and did not impress our caucus."

Yet if Gorsuch is so unimpressive a figure then why was he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on July 20, 2006? Think about it. Think about all the Democrats who were in the Senate at the time - future President Barack Obama, future Vice-President Joe Biden, 2016 Democrat presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, 2004 Democrat presidential nominee John Kerry, future Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Christopher Dodd, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Patrick Leahy, Ted Kennedy, and drum roll please....Chuck Schumer. And none of them had an unkind word about Gorsuch that July day. More than a decade later,

It's not like Senate Democrats care only about the Supreme Court. Keep in mind many of these Senate Democrats were crucial in keeping the likes of Miguel Estrada and Charles Pickering off the Appeals Courts during the Bush 43 years.

Last month, Schumer wrote a New York Times editorial piece against Gorsuch in which he questioned his ability to be independent and compared him unfavorably with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts:

My fellow senators should know that Judge Gorsuch was eerily similar to Judge Roberts. He played the part but was entirely unwilling to engage in a substantive discussion that — crucially — could have given me confidence in his independence as a judge.

Schumer's use of Chief Justice Roberts as an argument against confirming Gorsuch is an odd one. When President Bush appointed Roberts in 2005 who would have known that nearly seven years later he would have wrote the majority opinion upholding Obamacare? Who can say that in seven years from now that Gorsuch won't strike down a significant policy of the Trump Administration or uphold the constitutionality of a policy of a future Democrat Administration? 

But in the eyes of Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats, Neil Gorsuch is the worst person in the history of humanity and must be kept of the Supreme Court at all costs, but are perfectly content for him to keep his place on the 10th Circuit bench. 

As arbitrary and capricious as the behavior of President Trump is, Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats are hardly paragons of virtue. This isn't to say that there aren't grounds for Senate Democrats to oppose Trump. But where it concerns Neil Gorsuch, Schumer and Senate Democrats are opposing Gorsuch for the sake of opposing him. I wish Senate Democrats (and the The Left at large) would choose their battles more wisely.

Despite himself, President Trump will make good decisions from time to time and appointing Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court is one of them. 

Get Well Soon Colin Blunstone

I had been looking forward to seeing The Zombies perform their Odessey & Oracle album in its entirety this evening at the Wilbur Theater here in Boston.

However, shortly after tweeting that I would be in attendance, I received a reply indicating the show had been cancelled. I decided to investigate for myself and made my way to the box office. It was there I was told that Zombies lead singer Colin Blunstone developed a bacterial infection most likely on the plane ride to Boston. I was told the group was hopeful they could make their performances in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Of course, that does me no good. Regardless, I hope Blunstone makes a full and speedy recovery. 

Until then we will have to be content with the record.

We'll have to say we don't mind.

A Night With Billy Crystal & Bonnie Hunt

On Friday evening, I went to see Bonnie Hunt interview Billy Crystal at the Boch Center Wang Theater here in Boston.

Crystal, who turned 69 earlier this month, spent two and a half hour reminiscing  about his four decade plus career. He spoke at length about his relationship with Muhammad Ali (who referred to him as his little brother), Sammy Davis, Jr., Robin Williams, Jack Nicholson, Jack Palance, opening for Blood, Sweat & Tears and having to cover for them when David Clayton-Thomas told a Scranton, Pennsylvania audience to fuck off not once, but twice, Billie Holiday taking him to see Shane and did a bit of Howard Cosell covering the Trump White House ("The Secret Service tackled the President for our protection.") Apart from his career, Crystal also spoke of his 47-year marriage and his four grandchildren including teaching 7-year old Hudson all of Hyman Roth's lines from The Godfather, Part II.

The length of the program was too much for some audience members who walked out in the latter stages of the show. Well, the show was called Spend The Night with Billy Crystal and I guess there were those who fell like they had been there all night. But the loss is theirs. In many ways, Crystal only scratched the surface. He didn't once mention baseball. Given his status as a Yankees fan it might be just as well.

As for Hunt, the Chicago native endeared herself to the Boston crowd when she said the two cities share the same culture. "We get each other," said Hunt. Crystal and Hunt have worked together previously, but decided to collaborate when they attended the dedication of the Robin Williams Center in New York City last fall.

Billy Crystal has lived funny and rich life and it was well worth the two and a half hours.

Team U.S.A. Wins 2017 WBC

Team U.S.A. has won the 2017 World Baseball Classic with a decisive 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico. It is their first triumph in a tournament which began in 2006.

Marcus Stroman threw six no-hit innings and did not surrender a hit until the 7th inning. In his previous outing against Puerto Rico, Stroman had surrendered six straights hits and allowed fwrour runs. It is worth noting that Stroman had been invited to play for Puerto Rico (his mother was born there) and had taken some heat from opting to play for the U.S. However it motivated him, Stroman's performance earned him the tournament's MVP.

There was plenty of offense with a two run home run by Ian Kinsler in the third, RBI singles by Christian Yelich and Andrew McCutchen in the fifth. A three run rally came in the 7th with a two run single by Brandon Crawford and a RBI single by Giancarlo Stanton. McCutchen would add another RBI single in the 8th.

While Stroman might have been the tournament MVwP, it is Adam Jones who will be remembered for his iconic catch robbing his Baltimore Orioles teammate Manny Machado of a home run in a win against 2013 WBC champion Dominican Republic. During the victory ceremony, Jones said the team had been motivated by Puerto Rico's plans to have shirts printed up and to organize a parade and that it did not sit well with them. A few months back, Jones said baseball was a white man's game. Tonight, Jones was both an ambassador for baseball and an Ambassador for America.

This was also a sweet moment for Team USA manager Jim Leyland who skippered his final game. A choked up Leyland, who guided the Florida Marlins to the 1997 World Series title, dedicated Team USA's triumph to our troops.

A word about Team Puerto Rico. Entering the game, they were undefeated and favored to triumph. Instead for the second tournament in row they are a bridesmaid. They fell short to the Dominican Republic in the 2013 WBC. Sooner or later Puerto Rico will join Japan, the D.R. and the U.S.A. in the winner's circle.

At the outset of the tournament, Tyler Kepner of The New York Times wrote a piece titled, "It's Hard to Be Excited About World Baseball Classic When U.S. Players Aren't". I'm not sure that's entirely true when a lot of teams don't want their players in the tournament. But if American players weren't interested in the WBC this will now surely change. If winning doesn't do that then nothing will.

If nothing else my appetite has been whetted for the 2017 MLB season which begins on April 2nd. The season cannot begin soon enough.

Dallas Green, R.I.P.

Former major league pitcher, manager and general manager Dallas Green has passed away at the age of 82.

Green had an undistinguished 8-year big league career primarily with the Philadelphia Phillies along with stints with the Washington Senators and the New York Mets. Green joined the Phillies front office in 1968,

Late in the 1979 season, Green replaced the beloved Danny Ozark as Phillies manager. The Phillies had won three straight NL East titles between 1976-1978 but couldn't advance beyond the NLCS. To say that Green was unpopular with his players would be an understatement. He made Billy Martin and Dick Williams look like pussycats. But Green would lead the Phillies to their first World Series title in 1980.

Green would leave the Phillies after they were eliminated by the Montreal Expos in the 1981 NLCS to join the Chicago Cubs front office as general manager and Executive Vice President. It was during his tenure the Cubs won the NL East in 1984 marking their first post-season appearance since winning the NL pennant in 1945.

After the Cubs dismissed Green following the 1987 season, he would return to the dugout with both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. He would last less than a season with the Bronx Bombers in 1989. The Mets were more patient with him but he did not manage the team to a winning season during his tenure between 1993 to 1996.

Over the past two decades, Green serve as a special adviser to the Phillies.

In 2011, Green would return to the headlines when his granddaughter Christina Taylor-Green was one of six people killed in the Tuscon shooting in which former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was wounded. In his 2013 memoir The Mouth That Roared, Green wrote, "They say time heals. Time, I don't think, will ever heal that part of my life. I still tear up when I see something that reminds me of Christina." Perhaps today Dallas Green is now at peace.

Thoughts on the Terrorist Attack at Westminster UPDATE

When I learned about this morning's terrorist attack outside the British Parliament which has thus far resulted in one death, I immediately thought about the October 2015 attack in Ottawa at the Canadian House of Commons.


I thought about this because both attacks began outside the respective parliaments. The Ottawa attack began with a shooting at the National War Memorial before the assailant made his way to Parliament Hill while today's attack involved a vehicle on the Westminster Bridge before he proceeded to the House of Westminster. In both cases, the assailants were shot and killed on parliamentary grounds. And, on a personal note, I worked as an intern in both the Canadian and British House of Commons and am familiar with the places were both attacks occurred.


As of this writing, it has yet to be established if the terrorist was a Muslim although given the target and the mode of attack it is not an unreasonable supposition. If this is the case there will be questions of whether the attacker was British born and affiliated with ISIS, al Qaeda or any other Islamic terrorist entity.


And if such is the case we will hear President Trump tout the virtues of his travel ban even if the perpetrator is not from any of the countries involved. We will also hear from those who say that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. That position is equally wrong. The fact is there a critical mass of Muslims who have organized around the world for the purpose of carrying out attacks on innocent civilians in an effort to force the West to submit to the establishment of an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. Of course, most Muslims don't engage in nor support such activity but not enough condemn it much less put a stop to it. Unless the Muslim world changes its outlook (possibly along the lines of a Reformation as advocated by the likes of Ayaan Hirsi Ali) this is the world in which we live. So long as things don't change we will have one side that denies that Muslims have anything to do with terrorism and another side which says all Muslims are terrorists. Why cannot there be a sensible middle ground.


In the meantime, Western civilization mourns yet again.


UPDATE: The death toll has now risen to four including the police officer who was stabbed. This marks yet another commonality with the Ottawa attack - the death of a man in uniform.
UPDATE II: Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative MP and government minister, performed CPR on the fallen officer who later succumbed to his injuries. Ellwood has a military background achieving the rank of captain in the Royal Green Jackets. This is not the first time Ellwood has been touched by terrorism. His brother was among the 202 people killed in the Bali bombing in October 2002. It is always heartening to know there are those among us prepared to spring into action when lives are at risk. We must take silver linings wherever they can be found.

Chuck Barris, R.I.P.

Chuck Barris, best known for hosting The Gong Show in the mid to late 1970's, has passed away of natural causes at the age of 87.


Before coming to national prominence, Barris worked behind the scenes first as a songwriter. His most notable composition was Freddy Cannon's 1962 hit "Palisades Park".

But Barris found his niche producing game shows most notably The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game. Barris would have probably remained behind the camera if not for John Barbour (who would later co-host Real People) balking at the show's format shortly before its debut. NBC executives suggested Barris host the show instead and the rest, as they say is history.


I do remember watching The Gong Show during its heyday. I was a wee lad back then and I certainly didn't get a lot of the bawdy humor. But I did know that it was mostly people performing badly (i.e. The Unknown Comic & Gene Gene The Dancing Machine) with Jamie Farr and a variety of other celebrities putting it to a mercifully end by striking the gong. I also understood that as zany as the performers were it was Barris who was the craziest of them all.

If you are under 40 you might remember Barris from the 2002 movie Confessions of a Dangerous Mind which starred Sam Rockwell as Barris and was directed by George Clooney. The movie was adapted from the autobiography of the same name in which Barris claimed he was a CIA assassin. Hey, I told you he was the craziest of them all. Then again Barris is certainly no crazier than the man who sits in the Oval Office. Chuck Barris also brought a great deal more good humor to the world. R.I.P.

Jimmy Breslin Saw Right Through Donald Trump Decades Ago

As you know by now iconic New York newspaperman Jimmy Breslin passed away today. Some reports listed his age at 86 or 88.

Breslin wrote eloquently on both comic matters (the 1962 New York Mets) and tragic ones (the man who dug President Kennedy's grave). In 1986, he would earn a Pulitzer Prize for championing ordinary citizens.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that a man like Breslin saw right through a man like Donald Trump. In honor of his passing, Newsday reprinted three of Breslin's columns on Trump from the late 1980's and early 1990's. To wit:

Trump, in the crinkling of an eye, senses better than anyone the insecurity of people, that nobody knows whether anything is good or bad until they are told, and he is quite willing to tell them immediately. His instinct appears to tell him that people crumble quickly at the first show of bravado, particularly members of the media, which is the plural of mediocre. Trump cannot be blamed for taking advantage of people who love to be victims of press agentry. He will tell the shoe-shine boys of the press that he plans to have his Eastern Airlines shuttle fly into space, and they will treat it as exciting news. As far as getting publicity whenever he wants it, Trump is the white Al Sharpton.

Breslin wrote those words nearly 30 years ago and they are truer today than when he wrote them. People are more insecure now than they were then and Trump knows how to tell people what they want to hear with much of the media and political rivals crumbling quickly. He is every bit the demagogue that Sharpton is, but while Sharpton became a power broker in the Democratic Party, Trump took over the Republicans and then the country. 

With the loss of Breslin comes the loss of the wisdom necessary to recognize a phony and call him out. It very much remains to be seen if anyone can fill Breslin's enormous imprint. R.I.P.

Without Chuck Berry There Would Be No Beatles or Rolling Stones

Last November when I went to see Robbie Robertson plug his autobiography, he said that he was producing a TV documentary with the founding fathers of rock 'n roll - Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino & Jerry Lee Lewis. Robertson said the time had come to do such a documentary really, really well. I offered that Robertson needed to do this really, really fast.

As you are no doubt aware by now, Chuck Berry passed away on Saturday at the age of 90. Without Chuck Berry there would be no Beatles or Rolling Stones. The Beatles, Stones and countless bands after them were reared on Berry's hits from the mid-1950's through the early-1960's - "Maybellene", "Roll Over Beethoven", "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)", "Rock 'n Roll Music", "Sweet Little Sixteen", "Johnny B. Goode", "Memphis, Tennessee" and "No Particular Place to Go".

Berry remained an active performer up until a couple of years ago when he performed monthly gigs at Blueberry Hill in St. Louis to standing room only crowds. At the time of his death, Berry was in the midst of recording his first album of new material in nearly 40 years.

Yes, Berry did some really weird shit (quite literally). But we live in a world where people who have done worse go on to get elected President of the United States. In the grand scheme of things, Berry brought more joy than pain to the world in his 90 years. Pulp Fiction would have been far less delightful without John Travolta and Uma Thurman dancing to his music.

Here's an Berry made with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show in November 1987. Berry energized the audience so much, Carson bumped his two other scheduled guests that night.

Go!!! Go Johnny go!!! Johnny B. Goode!!! R.I.P.

Who Wants To Use An All-Gender Restroom?

This is our not so brave new world. It is not the first time I've encountered one, but it's the first time I've actually seen a sign.

Just so I'm clear this isn't a single occupancy washroom. This is co-ed.

Now this particular venue in The People's Republic of Cambridge does cater to a LGBT crowd so perhaps a case can be made there is a demand in these circumstances. Let's remember that we live in an age where even President Trump says Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner should be able to the use the bathroom of his/her choice at Trump Tower. Bu it's one thing to accommodate someone who identifies and appears as a woman in the ladies' room, but its quite another to make washrooms all genders all the time.

Now for those of you progressives who liken my attitudes to those which prevailed during Jim Crow let me share this thought. I am one of two males in an office of 14 people. Somehow I doubt any of those dozen women would want me sharing the restroom with them.

Could you imagine being on a date at a restaurant? Nothing would kill romance than having your date in the stall beside you after having lasagna.

I had to use a couple of times. The first time I prayed that no one would come in and was grateful no one did. The second time was right after the show had ended. Of course there was a rush. Invariably, a woman entered and said, "I won't look at the stalls."

This is uncomfortable for all parties involved and no one wants to do it except for those who wish to impose it upon us in the name of progress.

Kate Ferber Was Born To Carry On The Music of Laura Nyro

This evening I went to see Kate Ferber's one woman show "One Child Born: The Music of Laura Nyro" at The Oberon in Cambridge. I actually saw the show at the same venue in December 2015 and wrote about it in conjunction with Billy Childs' "Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro".

Ferber's set was pretty much identical to the one she performed the first time around. She alternated between songs (mostly from Eli & The Thirteenth Confession) and stories from Nyro fans she's met over the years including a Russian woman who learned English from Nyro's songs, a woman who met Nyro on the streets of New York City who ended up in Nyro's Upper East Side apartment where they got high and ate tuna fish and a Texas dog breeder who thought Nyro is still alive surrounded by German Shepherds.

When it comes to the music, Ferber has only her voice and the piano and, like Nyro, it is all she needs. Ferber has been passionate about Nyro and her music since she was in grade school. When her passion began, Nyro had already been dead for more than five years. In a sense when Nyro died and was gone, Kate Ferber was born to carry on her music. Have a listen below.

The 10-4 on Trump's 1040

I just finished watching Rachel Maddow's program during which she unveiled two pages from President Trump's 1040 form in his 2005 federal tax return. The document had been sent to financial journalist David Cay Johnston through the mail.

Depending on which Trump supporter you talk to Maddow should be indicted by Jeff Sessions or she is the Geraldo Rivera of this generation and Trump's return is the equivalent of Al Capone's vault with supporters pointing to the $38 million he paid in federal taxes in 2005. Whatever their reaction this will not dissuade them from supporting their man. If Trump believes he can shoot people on Fifth Avenue then he can get away with releasing his taxes or not releasing them.

For those who believe Trump is the anti-Christ, the tax returns potentially represent the gateway to his business ties with the Russians & other foreign entities. But if there's nothing beyond tonight then it is but a footnote. After all, if Trump can get into the White House without formally releasing his tax returns once why can't he do it again?

Naturally the question is who sent this tax return to Johnston. For his part, Johnston isn't ruling out Trump himself noting that the President has leaked information to him and to other reporters information over the years. There's a certain logic to it. If Trump is going to release a tax return he'll release a partial return that shows he paid millions in taxes though not the sources of his income.

But if it isn't Trump then whom? Could there be a maverick in his organization? A Deep Throat if you will? If so then this it could be the tip of the iceberg that sinks the Trump presidency.

Sean Spicer is a Racist

There is no question that Shree Chauhan harassed White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer while he was shopping at an Apple Store over the weekend.

There is also no question that Sean Spicer is a racist.

Spicer could have taken the high road and simply ignored Chauhan. Instead he told her,

"It’s such a great country that allows you to be here."

For the record, Chauhan was born and raised in the United States.

Why would Spicer tell Chauhan this country "allows" her to be here if not for the color of her skin? Would Spicer have uttered such a phrase had he been confronted by a white person?

Honestly, this is no different than President Trump stating Judge Curiel could not preside over the Trump University because he's a Mexican.

As such I do not expect anything to happen to Spicer. Hell, I'm sure Spicer's attitude are why he got the job in the first place.

Of course, Spicer's comments have been overlooked by KellyAnne Conway's microwave oven as listening devices fantasy. But this shouldn't be overlooked. Yes, Chauhan was rude but Spicer should have kept his damn mouth shut. He should have just walked away.



Trump's Firing of Preet Bharara Shows He's Not Serious About Draining The Swamp

It is true that U.S. Attorneys, like any other federal appointee that does not have a lifetime sinecure, serve at the pleasure of the President. So President Trump is fully within his rights to fire U.S. Attorneys or ask for their resignation. In this respect, Trump is behaving no differently than Presidents Obama, Bush or Clinton.


But just because a President can do something doesn't mean he should. If there was one Obama appointed U.S. Attorney that Trump ought to have kept it would be New York's Preet Bharara. Like any good prosecutor he pursued terrorists and white collar criminals. But he also did not play favorites as demonstrated by his bringing down New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as well as his efforts to root out corruption in New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's office and especially New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.


If there was any prosecutor committed to draining the swamp Bharara was surely it. You would think Trump and his supporters would want to keep Bharara. The fact that Trump has seen fit to dismiss him demonstrates he is not serious about rooting out corruption. Could it be that Trump fears Bharara will come after him next? Whatever the reason, New Yorkers and all Americans will be poorer for Bharara's absence in the U.S. Attorney's office in New York's Southern District at least for now.


If Democrats are smart enough to nominate an honest man to run for the White House in 2020, President Trump may rue the day he dismissed Preet Bharara.

I Hate The WBC Extra Inning Rule

This afternoon I was watching a sensational game between the Dominican Republic and Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. Colombia appeared to have upset the D.R. by scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 9th, but the home plate umpire called the runner out. (Unfortunately, there is no instant replay in the WBC save for reviewing home run calls).

So we went to extra innings and were treated to this spectacle. From the 11th inning forward, there are runners placed on first and second to start the inning. Obviously the intent to is shorten the length of the game and to conserve pitching. But why? The runner should earn his place on base. Pitchers and defensive players shouldn't be punished for being effective in preventing runs from being scored.

Predictably, with the benefit of runners on first and second with no out, the Dominicans had a seven run rally in the top of the 11th and beat Colombia 10-3 turning what would have been a classic game into a blowout. What made it worse is that commentators John Smoltz and Matt Vasgersian love the idea saying it makes thing more like other sports like hockey, soccer and college football. Well, if I wanted to watch those sports then I'd watch those sports. In an vain effort to save time such measures destroy what makes baseball unique.

Evidently MLB is planning to test out this rule in the Rookie Leagues.

God help us.

Why is Trump Legitimizing Abbas?

Yesterday, President Trump invited Mahmoud Abbas to the White House to meet with him.

The reason is quite obvious. Trump wants to broker a Middle East peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and be written into the history books.

But why does Trump (or for that matter any other democratically elected leader) confer legitimacy upon Abbas? In January 2005, Abbas was elected Palestinian Authority President. His term expired in January 2009. In other words, his four year term expired eight years ago. Yet he remains Palestinian Authority President.

No doubt because the State Department believes the alternative would be worse. But what makes anyone think Abbas wants peace with Israel? Less than six months ago, Abbas was demanding an apology from Britain for the Balfour Declaration which commemorates its 100th anniversary this year. The Balfour Declaration, of course, recognized the establishment of a Jewish state in the Middle East. Abbas called it "the crime of the century."

If Abbas can't accept the idea of a Jewish state what makes President Trump think he can make Abbas accept its reality?

Another Meaning of The Statue of Liberty Going Dark

When the Statue of Liberty went dark last night it was widely interpreted as a premature start to #ADayWithoutWomen or as symbolic of President Trump's renewed Muslim travel ban.

May I offer a third interpretation?

The Statue of Liberty going dark is emblematic of living in an age where nothing works right anymore. Yes, we live among remarkable technology scarcely conceivable 25 years ago. But in a country that cannot deliver health care, educate our children or get the Best Picture Oscar right it is only a matter of time before things dim on Lady Liberty.

Right before I found out about last night's events, I was watching a Night Court episode where an evicted homeowner buys New York City landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and even lives in the torch. Of course, this was pre-Giuliani New York and the Big Apple would experience a renaissance not long after.

There is and must be hope for the future. But a hopeful nation doesn't elect a man like Donald Trump much less give him a moment's consideration. A man like Trump doesn't get elected unless millions of people think things aren't working. So what happens when people come to the realization that Trump can't fix things either?

Meet The New Muslim Ban, (Mostly) The Same As Old Muslim Ban

Okay, I know. President Trump's new Muslim travel ban will probably withstand judicial muster. Thankfully Iraqis are no longer subject to the travel ban. Including them in the previous ban was a slap in the face to those Iraqis who risked their lives to support our efforts.

But the new Muslim ban is really the same as the old Muslim ban. It still won't stop Muslim terrorist attacks. There's a very good chance that the next Muslim terrorist attack will be committed by a) someone born and raised in this country (as was the case in San Bernardino and Orlando) or b) committed by someone from the list six Muslim majority countries. Perhaps the terrorist will be from a country where the Trump family has opened a new golf course. What then?

Should this come to pass I have no doubt the Trump Administration will give us an endless supply of excuses and lies.

Check Out My 2nd Article on NRO

Today, I had my second article published at NRO.

It is titled, "George W. Bush, Liberals' New Hero".

Enjoy!!!

Who Told Trump That Obama Had Him Wiretapped? UPDATE

President Trump dropped a bombshell this morning when he accused President Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower during the election campaign.

Trump tweeted, "Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my "wires tapped" in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!"

So how exactly did Trump find out about this (assuming, of course, he isn't lying through his teeth)?

Here are my choices:

a) James Comey
b) The Russians
c) Kanye West
d) His hairstylist
e) The voices in his head.

Let's just say that when a sitting President accuses his predecessor of having his home and offices bugged those aren't the words of a man who has put trivial fights behind him.

UPDATE: Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post may have an answer. The Trump White House is evidently relying on a Breitbart article written by Joel Pollak about conservative talk radio host Mark Levin's demand on his show Thursday night that Congress investigate Obama.

If this is the case does this mean President Trump "found out" from Steve Bannon?

Regardless of how Trump found out what does this accusation accomplish? Very simple. It mobilizes Trump's supporters, a group of people who are already energized. Say what you will about Trump supporters. They will run through a wall for him and then build a new one in its place.

Trump Is Still Fighting The Trivial Fight

Towards the conclusion of his Joint Address to Congress, President Trump drew derisive laughter when he stated, "The time for trivial fights is behind us."

Trivial fights are Trump's stock and trade.

Trump's address to Congress took place on the evening of February 28th.

Less than 48 hours later, Trump had accused Democrats of conducting a "witch hunt" against Attorney General Jeff Sessions concerning his less than candid response on whether he had dealings with the Russians during the election campaign,

By Friday morning, Trump said it was "pathetic" that Democrats hadn't confirmed all of his cabinet choices (last I checked Republicans are in firm control of the Senate). By Friday afternoon, he was demanding investigations of both Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi for their contacts with Russian officials. While I find both Schumer and Pelosi to be contemptible figures neither of them denied having meetings with Russian officials while under oath.

This morning shortly after 3:30, President Trump had accused President Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower. Two hours later, he was calling Arnold Schwarzenegger pathetic after he had announced his departure from The Apprentice claiming he had been fired.

Despite his words to the contrary, President Trump is still fighting the trivial fight.

There's More To This Wave of Anti-Semitic Attacks in U.S. Than One Crazed Left-Wing Former Journalist

Yesterday I asked who could be responsible for the wave of anti-Semitic threats and attacks in 2017. Today some light was shed following the arrest of former journalist Juan Thompson. Supporters of President Trump are having a field day. Thompson, a left-wing radical, used to write for Glenn Greenwald's The Intercept until he was fired for having faked his stories. The suspect was part of the media and has written fake news.

Of course, no one likes to be accused of anti-Semitism and it has been suggested that Trump's supporters are behind these threats as well as the desecration of several Jewish cemeteries. But Trump's supporters shouldn't gloat. Thompson is only believed to be responsible for a handful of these threats. The person and people responsible for nearly 100 other threats are still at large. Trump supporters should be more concerned about bringing the people responsible for this outrage to justice rather than lumping all who oppose them in with someone like Juan Thompson who appears to been motivated to do this after his girlfriend dumped him last summer. This guy appears to be a bonafide wacko.

While these threats appear to have been started overseas and are unlikely to have been committed by Trump supporters one cannot entirely rule out the possibility either given the President's popularity among white supremacists. Their laughter today might be short-lived.

Who is Responsible For The Rising Anti-Semitism in The United States?

With all the threats against Jewish community centers across the country and vandalism in Jewish cemeteries we must naturally ask who is responsible for the rising anti-Semitism in the United States.

Given that much of this has taken since Donald Trump was elected to President and his initial refusal to condemn the violence, it is tempting to lay this at the feet of emboldened white supremacists.

But at least where the threats to Jewish Community Centers are concerned it appears these threats came from overseas and there just aren't that many Trump supporters outside the U.S.. Given the level of organization involved in these threats and the anti-Semitic violence outside the United States over the past two decades against Jewish institutions such as the Hezbollah bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, the attack on the Chabad-Lubavitch House in Mumbai, the terrorist attack against the Jewish Museum in Brussels, the shooting at the Copenhagen synagogue plus numerous attacks against synagogues in France, one would be foolish to rule out Islamic extremists as possible perpetrators.

Whoever is responsible for these acts and threats the sooner we can find out who is responsible the sooner we can combat it properly.

Ned Garver Was The MVP of The 1951 St. Louis Browns

Former big league pitcher Ned Garver passed away on February 26th at the age of 91. Garver pitched in MLB from 1948-1961 with the St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics and the expansion Los Angeles Angels.

Garver's 129-157 record was misleading as he was a good pitcher on bad teams. Despite a 13-18 record during the 1950 season, he led the AL in complete games with 22. But his career year came in 1951.

When one discusses the 1951 St. Louis Browns one invariably thinks of Eddie Gaedel, the dwarf who made one plate appearance for the team that August. Gaedel walked on four pitches and his uniform 1/8 walked into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Gaedel stunt was, of course, the brainchild of Bill Veeck who had bought the Browns earlier that year. Veeck needed all the publicity stunts he could use. The Browns were a terrible team and getting worse. At the end of the 1953 season, Veeck sold the team and it moved east and became the Baltimore Orioles.

Despite losing 102 games in 1951 and finishing 46 games back of the New York Yankees, the Browns could have been worse if not for pitcher Ned Garver. Somehow Garver went 20-12 with a 3.74 ERA. Garver is the only MLB pitcher in the last century who has won 20 games for a team that lost 100 or more games. His performance earned him a runner up status in the AL MVP balloting as he was narrowly beaten out by Yogi Berra. Garver might not have won the AL MVP, but he was certainly the MVP of the 1951 St. Louis Browns.

With the Browns losing money, Veeck traded Garver late in the 1952 season to the Tigers. Garver would pitch for another decade but was never the same pitcher again. The video above was filmed in 2011 and shows Garver reminiscing about the 1951 season. R.I.P.

The Passing of The Intentional Walk

Today marked the noteworthy passage in the history of Major League Baseball.

Pitchers will no longer be permitted to throw four pitches to issue an intentional walk. The signal will now be issued by the pitcher's manager subject to the approval of the home plate umpire.

All of this is supposed to quicken the pace of the game.

If MLB wants to quicken the pace of the game they would intentionally remove the number of commercials in between innings.

I think baseball loses something by taking the intentional walk out of the pitcher's hand.

Never again will we see Rollie Fingers and Gene Tenace trick Johnny Bench into striking out in the World Series.

Nor will we see Miguel Cabrera hitting a pitch that got a little too close to the plate for a go-ahead base hit.

For these reasons I shall not give the new intentional walk a free pass.