I Hope Trump Supporters Are Serious About Boycotting The Georgia Runoff Elections

Given that Republicans have lost the White House one would think they would be fighting tooth and nail to hold onto their Senate majority in January's two runoff elections here in Georgia on behalf of David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, respectively.

But to be a Republican these days is to be a Trump supporter first and foremost and Trump supporters are taking aim fellow Republicans rather than at Ossoff and Warnock. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was besieged by questions from Trump supporters in Marietta over the weekend demanding to know why they should vote for Perdue and Loeffler when the election has been rigged. All of which has Trump supporters calling for a boycott of the runoff elections. President Trump has fanned the flames by calling Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp "an enemy of the people" because he won't overturn election results which saw Joe Biden win the Peach state's 16 electoral votes and now wants Kemp to be challenged in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2022. 

But by Trump focusing his supporters' energy on a race that won't be decided for another two years instead of race which will be decided in a little over a month he has given Democrats a great big gift they will happily accept without lifting a finger.

I, for one, hope Trump supporters are serious about boycotting the Georgia runoffs. Because if they are then Americans will finally get some serious COVID relief with Biden in the White House and Democratic control of both the House and the Senate. Even with Biden in the Oval Office, a Republican controlled Senate unwilling to provide COVID relief will only bring about more misery. 

Let me put it this way. Since Republicans are generally miserable creatures, I'd rather they be miserable to each other than to the rest of us.

Going Duckpin Bowling on Saturday Afternoon Might Have Saved My Life

On Saturday afternoon, I went duckpin bowling at the Painted Duck. It was the second time I had done so since moving here just over a month ago.

Had I not gone duckpin bowling, I would have made my way to the newly opened Bowlero Atlantic Station for some tenpin bowling as I did two weekends ago.

The decision to go duckpin bowling might have very well saved my life.

This past Saturday, a brawl among teenagers broke out at Bowlero Atlantic Station and spilled out onto the street. The brawl involved an estimated 300 teens and children sending one teen to the hospital.

Aside from the fact these youths assembled without supervision and during a pandemic is cause for sufficient concern, but then add the violence and you have both a public health and a public safety hazard.

Now I'm sure if I were to go to Atlantic Station in a couple of weeks the security would be beefed up. But if it's all the same I think I'll stick with duckpin bowling. 

In which case I hope these restless youths don't get any ideas about other forms of bowling.

November Has Seen More Than 4 Million COVID-19 Cases in the U.S.

November has not yet ended but there have been more than 4 million COVID-19 cases recorded in the United States more than doubling the 1.9 million cases recorded last month. 

This means several things.

The past 30 days (or at the very least the past four weeks) have accounted for 30% of the total COVID-19 cases which currently stands at more than 13.3 million cases (13,376,113 as of this writing).

Given the current 2% mortality rate, It also means we can expect 80,000 more COVID-19 deaths in this country. Should we record 2,000 deaths a day we could reach those additional 80,000 in less than six weeks from now.

The most disturbing thing of all is that we can expect December to be worse. A fitting way to end this awful year.

David Prowse, R.I.P. UPDATE

Actor, bodybuilder and weightlifter David Prowse, best known for being the man who appeared as Darth Vader in the Star Wars trilogy passed away yesterday. His cause of death was not released, but Prowse has had a myriad of health problems in recent years. He was 85.

While Prowse physically appeared as Darth Vader, the voice belonged to James Earl Jones. In later years, he would be publicly recognized at appearances during many Star Wars fan conventions before a falling out with George Lucas led him to be banned from such appearances. In 2015, Prowse was the subject of a documentary titled I Am Your Father.

I remember Prowse best from his brief appearance in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange as Julian, the bodyguard of writer F. Alexander. Lucas saw A Clockwork Orange was impressed with Prowse's physical stature and offered him the role of Darth Vader because of it. Well, you be the judge. R.I.P.

UPDATE: According to Prowse's daughter, he succumbed to COVID-19. As of this writing, 66,713 Britons have died of COVID-19. Only the U.S., Brazil, India and Mexico have seen more COVID-19 deaths than the U.K. 

Another 6 Days, Another 1 Million as U.S. Tops 13 Million COVID-19 Cases

There have been some ugly patterns in November.

On November 9th, the U.S. recorded its 10 millionth COVID-19 case. 

Six days later, on November 15th, the U.S. recorded its 11 millionth COVID-19 case. 

And six days after that, on November 21st, the U.S. recorded its 12 millionth COVID-19 case.

Well, another six days have passed since then and, well, you guessed it. We are now at 13 million COVID-19 cases.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States has now recorded 13,047,202 COVID-19 cases and along with it 264,624 deaths. This is a mortality rate of 2%. Over 90,000 Americans are currently hospitalized as a result of COVID-19.

There are three more days left in November and, in another day or so, 4 million Americans will have been diagnosed with COVID-19 this month alone. To put that number into perspective it took until July 23rd until America recorded its 4 millionth COVID-19 case. Now we've done in the space of a month.

If this wasn't scary enough all this Thanksgiving travel (not to mention the Christmas holidays) is only going to accelerate the pace of transmission no matter how soon a vaccine is put in place. 

There are things for which we can be thankful. This is surely not one of them.

I Have a Lot For Which To Be Thankful During Thanksgiving 2020

I am spending Thanksgiving Day all by myself. This is not the first time this has happened nor do I suspect it will be the last. 

But this is quite alright. Because for all the death and misery which has been wrought upon us by COVID-19 this year, I have a great deal for which to be thankful this year.

First and foremost, I still have my health and, God willing, it will stay that way. Knock on wood and other disinfected substances. Needless to say there are many who are sick and even those who are recovering may never be the same. 

Second, I have landed on my feet. I have now been in Atlanta for almost a month and will be getting my first full paycheck tomorrow. Millions of other Americans are far less fortunate.

Third, we had the good sense to elect Joe Biden earlier this month. Though he will not take office for another 55 days there is hope on the horizon for this country that we have not had for some time now and we can look forward to this change in our state of affairs. For this we can certainly be thankful.

Fourth, I am thankful for simple pleasures such as practicing tai chi, walking to and from work through Piedmont Park or immersing myself in the music of Fanny.

Whether you are alone or with others (hopefully wearing masks and socially distanced) I hope you are having a joyful and safe Thanksgiving.

Biden Picking Blinken Sec'y of State Angers Anti-Semites Like Tlaib

I am delighted with President-elect Biden's selection of Tony Blinken to be his Secretary of State if for no other reason than it makes anti-Semites like Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib angry.

Upon learning about the appointment of Blinken, who is Jewish, Tlaib reacted by stating, “So long as he doesn’t suppress my First Amendment right to speak out against Netanyahu’s racist and inhumane policies.” 

Of course, Tlaib''s claim is belied by her public statement. She is bestowing a power upon Blinken he doesn't have by suggesting that he is someone whose loyalty is to Israel. As Taylor Swift says, "Haters gonna hate."

I, for one, hope Biden isn't finished adding Jews to the White House because in so doing he will demonstrate the difference between moderate and sensible Democrats and those Democrats who are governed by bigotry every bit as much as their Trumpist counterparts.

The Transition to Biden Finally Begins But At a Steep Price

I'm not sure if it was the sheer incompetence of Rudy Giuliani along with the insanity of Sidney Powell, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers voting to certify the election for Joe Biden or the impending sense of doom of having to answer questions under oath from Congresswoman Katie Porter, but GSA Administrator Emily Murphy finally signed off on the funds necessary to allow the transition from a Trump to a Biden presidency.

While one could say better late than never, the fact is this certification should have done at least a fortnight ago. These are two weeks that the Biden transition team will never get back. Over these past two weeks, more than 2 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19. It would have been nice if the Biden transition team had the information necessary to formulate a policy to combat the pandemic be it mitigation or vaccine distribution. But Trump doesn't want us to have nice things. 

This doesn't take into account the state of government departments and agencies which have been mismanaged by the Trump Administration nor does it take into account the level of cooperation the Trump Administration will provide between now and January 20, 2021. It is safe to say the Trump Administration will provide nowhere near the level of cooperation the Bush Administration provided to the Obama Administration. Indeed, there is every evidence to suggest that the Trump Administration is doing everything possible to undermine a smooth transition.

The silver lining in all of this is President-elect Biden's vast experience and prudent judgment. Given the millions of Americans who are getting sick and the thousands upon thousands who are dying, Biden is going to need every bit of his vast experience and prudent judgment as possible.

It Took Six Days For The U.S. To Go From 11 Million to 12 Million COVID-19 Cases

The United States has now surpassed 12 million COVID-19 cases. According to Johns Hopkins University, as of this writing, there have been 12,044,934 cases of COVID-19 in the United States along with 255,541 deaths. This represents a mortality rate of 2.1%.

It took all of six days to go from 11 million to 12 million COVID-19 cases. To quote the late Yogi Berra this is case of deja vu all over again because it took six days to go from 10 to 11 million cases. With Thanksgiving arriving in five days from now and millions of Americans planning to travel despite pleas from the CDC to the contrary the pace of cases is bound to accelerate. The news of possible vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna is of cold comfort so long as the virus proliferates at breakneck speed resulting in shortages of both hospital beds and hospital staff.

Of course, the COVID surge is hardly confined to the United States. In Canada, Toronto and a portion of the surrounding Peel region went into lockdown yesterday for four weeks. Although Canada has been experiencing a COVID surge over the past month or so it has just over 325,000 cases as of this writing (325,711). 

To put that number in perspective, Canada has more than 100,000 fewer COVID-19 cases than all of Georgia (which is currently at 440,591) with nearly four times the population. There are 10.6 million people living in Georgia as compared to just over 38 million people in Canada. 

Even more starkly, the United States has had nearly three times as many new COVID-19 cases in the past six days as all of Canada has had since recording its first case in late January. It bears worth repeating. The U.S. has recorded nearly three times as many COVID-19 cases in the past six days than Canada has had in nearly 10 months.

And it appears things are going to get much worse.

Another Thought for Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow resumed hosting duties this evening on MSNBC albeit from her home in Western Massachusetts where she is still quarantining after a close contact was diagnosed with COVID-19. Earlier this month, I wrote, "I hope her quarantine is uneventful and that she returns to MSNBC's airwaves posthaste."

As it turns out her quarantine has been anything but uneventful. The close contact in question is Maddow's long time partner Susan Mikula who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and nearly died of it. Fortunately, Mikula is now come back from the brink of death and is recovering. You can watch Maddow's account of this ordeal here.

The sad truth is that Maddow's story is one among that of millions of American families. She is fortunate to have a platform to share her story with millions of Americans and warn us that this is not something we want to experience for ourselves and that we should do everything we can not to get COVID-19. In Maddow's case her story will have a happy ending though not without its challenges along the way. For the families of more than 250,000 Americans there are no happy endings. 

Georgia Secretary of State Confirms Biden Wins Recount

While I am dismayed by the turn of events in the Georgia Senate races, I am delighted to hear that Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has confirmed what we knew - Joe Biden won Georgia.

Although President Trump gained about 1,400 votes in the recount, Biden won the race here by more than 12,000 votes.

I'm sure that won't satisfy Trump while he summons Michigan Republicans for a powwow at the White House as Rudy Giuliani makes a fool of himself in Pennsylvania and a recount is underway in two Wisconsin counties with large African-American populations. No doubt he will demand yet another recount in Georgia.

Bring it on!!! 

Every challenge will prove the same thing. The American people chose Joe Biden to be their next President of the United States instead of Donald Trump. 

Ossoff Calls Warnock a Friend of Israel (Some Friend)

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff has come to the defense of his fellow Democratic Senatorial candidate Raphael Warnock amid allegations of anti-Semitism. 

In an interview published yesterday by The Forward, Ossoff stated, “Reverend Warnock is a beloved friend and ally of Georgia’s Jewish community and a friend of Israel,” said Ossoff, "Kelly Loeffler’s baseless attacks on the Reverend make me sick.”

Now given the stakes that are involved I suppose that politically speaking Ossoff had to come to Warnock's defense. The control of the United States Senate rides on Democrats winning both races. 

But with friends like Warnock who needs enemies? . Reverend Warnock signed a petition likening Israel to Apartheid Era South Africa. Reverend Warnock wantonly accused Israel of shooting unarmed Palestinians like birds of prey. Those are not the words of a friend of Israel. Senator Loeffler is guilty of many things, but she did not make this up out of whole cloth. 

Now it might be the case that Warnock is in good standing with Georgia's Jewish community by virtue of his position at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. 

Yet Warnock's statements do not sit well with me nor does Ossoff making excuses for him whatever the political expedience in doing so. 

For the record, I recently gave Ossoff a small donation. He will not be getting another. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm not voting for either Loeffler nor David Perdue. But as much I don't want Republicans remaining in control of the Senate, I cannot vote for a Democrat if I believe they are hostile towards my people and see fit to single out the world's only Jewish state for criticism. 

And to think that I was so excited about these Georgia Senate races less than two weeks ago.

Rudy Giuliani Reminds Me of Willie Mays And Not in a Good Way

Two tales of Rudy Giuliani in the courtroom.

First from The New York Times Magazine on June 9, 1985 when he was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York:

How have years of investigation by hundreds of Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, city police, state and Federal prosecutors come - for so much of the public - to be embodied in one man? How has it come to be Rudolph Giuliani versus the ''mob''?

Part of Giuliani's secret has been hard work, an innovative legal mind and a courtroom flair. At the same time he was supervising 130 attorneys in the nation's largest Federal prosecutor's office, he was personally devising the imaginative strategy for one of the most significant Mafia cases in recent times.

Until a decade ago, law-enforcement tactics had been directed at individual Mafia members. More recently, the F.B.I. has concentrated on individual Mafia family leadership. Giuliani's brainstorm was to go the next step: Attack the board of directors guiding all of New York's Mafia families in loan sharking, drug trafficking, labor racketeering and contract murder. Next fall in a single trial at the Federal courthouse in Manhattan, Giuliani will prosecute the purported heads of the Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, Colombo and Bonanno families.

And this from The Associated Press today as President Trump's errand boy:

Rudy Giuliani, representing a client inside a courtroom for the first time in nearly three decades, showed some rust as he tried to make the case that President Donald Trump has been robbed of reelection.

The former federal prosecutor and New York City mayor, who has taken over Trump’s efforts to cast doubt on the election results, entered a courthouse Tuesday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with a few dozen Trump supporters cheering him from across the street.

Over the next several hours, he fiddled with his Twitter account, forgot which judge he was talking to and threw around unsupported accusations about a nationwide conspiracy by Democrats to steal the election.

Not only has no such evidence emerged since Election Day, but the federal government’s top election security officials have deemed it the most secure U.S. election ever. In Pennsylvania, an Associated Press canvass of county election officials likewise unearthed no significant problems.

Nevertheless, Giuliani plowed ahead Tuesday, needling an opposing lawyer by calling him “the man who was very angry with me, I forgot his name.”

He mistook the judge for a federal judge in a separate Pennsylvania district who rejected a separate Trump campaign case: “I was accused of not reading your opinion and that I did not understand it.”

The former New York City Mayor reminds me of another New York icon - Willie Mays and not in a good way. The Say Hey Kid is best remembered for that sensational over the shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series robbing Vic Wertz of at least a double. But nearly two decades later during the 1973 World Series, Mays flailed about and fell down while trying to run down a routine fly ball.

The Rudy Giuliani who was bringing down the mob in the 1980's was Willie Mays leading the New York Giants to a World Series title. The Rudy Giuliani who is acting as consigliere to President Trump in 2020 is Willie Mays letting the World Series slip away from the New York Mets. 

Most people would rather remember Willie Mays at his finest hour. I think the same can be said of Rudy Giuliani whether he was bringing down the mob or comforting the nation after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Sadly, Giuliani's finest hour passed long ago and isn't going to come around again.

Theo Epstein Belongs in Cooperstown; Robinson Cano Doesn't

Earlier this week, I discussed what my 2021 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot would look like if I were a voting member.

Let me make an addendum of sorts. Although not eligible to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame until 2022 when the Today's Game Era Subcommittee of the Veterans Committee convenes, I think Theo Epstein will soon have a plaque in Cooperstown.

Yesterday, Epstein stepped down as President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs. Speculation abounds that Epstein, who turns 47 next month, will join the New York Mets' front office under new owner Steve Cohen. 

If Epstein never works another day in MLB he has earned enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Epstein was in the driver's seat when not one, but two franchises earned World Series glory after prolonged droughts. Epstein, scarcely in his 30's, was the General Manager of the Boston Red Sox when in 2004 they won their first World Series title in 86 years. Epstein would earn a second World Series ring with the Bosox three years later. Fast forward nearly a decade, the Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years with Epstein at the helm of the front office. 

To have broken the drought with one of these teams would have been a remarkable feat, but to do so with both of the teams is without precedent. Simply put, Epstein is in a class by himself. It is only a matter of time before Epstein is part of a Hall of Fame class.

The same cannot be said for New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano. For the second time in just over two years, Cano has been suspended for PED use. Cano, 38, was suspended for 80 games after his first positive test while a member of the Seattle Mariners during the 2018 season. The Mariners subsequently traded Cano to the Mets prior to the 2019 season. Because of this second positive test, Cano will miss the entire 2021 season. Cano is under contract with the Mets through 2023. A third positive test would result in a lifetime ban from MLB.

Cano is pretty much in the same boat as his Dominican countryman Manny Ramirez who was also twice suspended by MLB for PED use. While both have Hall of Fame credentials the fact they flagrantly broke the rules on multiple occasions casts a pall on their achievements. After four years on the BBWAA ballot, Ramirez has failed to exceed 30% of the vote (75% is required for enshrinement). 

Of course, Cano has a chance at induction should Ramirez be inducted. The likelihood of Ramirez's enshrinement is dependent on whether Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are enshrined either this year or next year. But even if Bonds and Clemens are inducted it should be kept in mind that their alleged PED infractions came about before MLB imposed its disciplinary regime. Given these circumstances, Cano (and Ramirez before him) have flaunted the rules and I doubt the BBWAA will be inclined to reward his foolishness and nor should they do so. 

The UK Labour Party Still Has An Anti-Semitism Problem

Last month, I praised U.K. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer for suspending and removing the party whip from his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn after Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission found the party guilty of tolerating anti-Semitism under Corbyn's watch and Corbyn's subsequent dismissal of the report. At the time I wrote:

Assuming Labour doesn't reinstate Corbyn or otherwise resist efforts to stop anti-Semitism, Starmer will have the space necessary to compete with Boris Johnson whose incompetence in handling of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly rivals that of President Trump. In the long run, Britain will have a loyal opposition ready to responsibly assume the reigns of power should the voters be prepared to grant them such a responsibility. 

Alas, Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) saw fit to reinstate Corbyn yesterday although Starmer has stood firm and won't grant him the party whip rendering him an Independent MP.  

The fact the NEC saw fit to restore Corbyn's membership tells me that the Labour Party still has an anti-Semitism problem. If Corbyn tolerated harassment of Muslims in the Labour Party there is no way the NEC would entertain reinstating him. But Jews are a different matter where it concerns Labour. In which case, Starmer must continue to stand firm and be able to withstand a storm. 

Yes, this will weaken Labour in the short term and blunt its criticism of the Tories' COVID policy even in light of the formerly COVID-19 positive Prime Minister Johnson going into isolation because of exposure to a close contact. But because of Corbyn's legacy,  Labour is going to have to decide whether it wants to be a party which is welcoming to Jews or one that willfully singles out Jews for derision. 

I hope Starmer stays the course and I hope Labour stands by him.

No Vaccine Can Bring Back The 250,000 Americans Who Have Died of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has now claimed the lives of 250,000 Americans. According to Johns Hopkins University, as of this writing, 250,140 Americans have died because of it. 

Worldwide, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of nearly 1.35 million people (1,346,677) with the U.S. accounting for 18.6% of global deaths. Only two other countries in the world have more than 100,000 COVID-19 deaths (Brazil and India). 

Of course, there is a distinct possibility that good news could be in store with both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna claiming their vaccines are 95% effective. But even if their claims come to pass it won't bring back the 250,000 plus Americans who lost their lives due to COVID-19 as well as more than 1.1 million people outside of the United States.

As I argued last week, even under the best of circumstances, the logistics involved in disseminating the vaccine and the time it will take to demonstrate its efficacy to get to herd immunity will mean that millions more people are going to contract COVID-19 and thousands more people are going to die - most of them in the United States. We are now approaching 11.5 million COVID-19 cases in the U.S. (11,492,593). Mind you we hit the 11 million mark scarcely 72 hours ago.

President Trump's Operation Warp Speed might very well prove to be a long term success with regard to the development and dissemination of a vaccine or multiple vaccines. But this country has paid a heavy price with his administration's resistance to basic mitigation measures which proliferated the spread of COVID-19 thus prolonging our national agony as exemplified by his campaign rallies with no social distancing and a scarcity of masks. Earlier this month, researchers at Stanford University reported that Trump's rallies held between June and September caused 30,000 cases of COVID-19 leading to 700 deaths. 

It is remarkable though not surprising how little sorrow Trump has shown to the 250,000 plus Americans who have died of COVID-19 and their loved ones. Any elected official capable of derisively saying "COVID!!! COVID!!! COVID!!!" is an elected official who richly deserves defeat and rebuke. Any other elected official with such a preventable loss of life would have hung his or her head in shame and lived out their days in infamy. But Trump is incapable of shame and thrives on infamy as demonstrated by his repeated claims that he won the election despite all evidence to the contrary. 

President-elect Joe Biden wants to reverse course, but Trump's refusal to acknowledge the obvious will only add to the death toll which will continue to climb in the early months of a Biden Administration. 

We all hope a COVID-19 vaccine will save millions of lives all over the world as quickly as possible. But we must never forget those who could not be saved especially in the United States. Nor can we forget those who shirked their responsibility to their fellow Americans. R.I.P.

Biden Will Be The Next POTUS & There's Nothing Republicans in Wayne County Or Anywhere Else Can Do About It

Earlier this evening, alarm bells were raised when the Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers in Michigan refused to certify election results in favor of Joe Biden. But after considerable public pressure, the GOP members of the board have been suitably chastened and shamed and have reversed course.

Republicans, whether be they members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers or Senator Lindsey Graham trying to pressure Georgia's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to throw out votes, Rudy Giuliani making a damn fool out of himself in open court in Pennsylvania or GSA administrator Emily Murphy delaying the presidential transition, need to get it through their heads that Joe Biden won the election and that Donald Trump will be leaving the White House nine weeks from tomorrow and there's not a damn thing they can do about it.

The longer Republicans resist this reality the longer they defy the clear will of the voters who want a President who will put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed nearly 250,000 Americans.

Former MLB Pitcher Lindy McDaniel Dies of COVID-19

Lindy McDaniel, who pitched in MLB for 21 seasons for five teams primarily out of the bullpen, has died of COVID-19. He was 84.

The Oklahoma born McDaniel signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a bonus baby in 1955 making his big league debut that September. McDaniel's younger brother Von also briefly pitched for the Cardinals in 1957 and 1958. In 1960, McDaniel had a finest season going 12-4 with a 2.09 ERA earning 27 saves and was named to the NL All-Star team twice (this was when there were two All-Star Games) finishing third in MLB Cy Young balloting and fifth in the NL MVP race.

The Cardinals traded McDaniel to the Chicago Cubs prior to the 1963 season. In his inaugural season at Wrigley, McDaniel saved a league leading 22 games. Prior to the 1966 season, the Cubs traded McDaniel to the San Francisco Giants in a deal which included Bill Hands and Randy Hundley. In the middle of the 1968 season, the Giants dealt McDaniel to the New York Yankees for pitcher Bill Monbouquette. In 1970, McDaniel saved a career high 29 games. The Yankees traded McDaniel to the Kansas City Royals prior to the 1974 season for a young outfielder named Lou Piniella. McDaniel would end his career following the 1975 season. In 987 appearances (only 74 starts), McDaniel went 141-119 with a 3.45 ERA while recording 174 saves.

During his playing career, McDaniel was as well known for his preaching as his pitching. A devout Christian, McDaniel published a newsletter called "Pitching for the Master" and would influence the Bible study which remains a staple of MLB to this very day. At the time of his death, McDaniel was an elder at the Lavon Church of Christ near Dallas. 

By all appearances, McDaniel led an active life. Sadly, McDaniel is now among the nearly 250,000 Americans we have lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and his community is the poorer for it. R.I.P.

My 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot (If I Were a BBWAA Member)

The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) released its Hall of Fame ballot for 2021. 

BBWAA can select up to 10 players on their ballot. Were I member of the BBWAA this would be my 2021 ballot for Cooperstown:

 1. Curt Schilling

 2. Omar Vizquel

 3. Scott Rolen

 4. Andruw Jones

 5. Billy Wagner

 6. Jeff Kent

 7. Barry Bonds

 8. Roger Clemens

 9. Todd Helton

10. Torii Hunter

Eight of the ten players on my ballot were on my 2020 ballot including Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens who are in their 9th year of eligibility. So too is Curt Schilling who received 70% of the vote a year ago. While I loathe his politics, I have long argued that he belongs in Cooperstown. Given the election we've just been through and are still going through I wonder if some anti-Trump BBWAA members will hold this against him. 

The other possibility is that Schilling will be elected with at least one other player. I don't think it will be with Bonds and Clemens. Having one controversial selection is one matter, but three would be far too much. But given that the BBWAA has elected at least two players in each of the past seven years I don't think Schilling will be inducted alone. If this is the case I'm guessing it will be a non-controversial player like Omar Vizquel who received 52.6% of the vote in his third year on the ballot. 

If Vizquel gets in then I hope it opens to door to other great glove men like Rolen, Jones and first time Hall of Fame candidate Torii Hunter who won 9 consecutive Gold Gloves for his outfield defense. 

I've always had a soft spot for Jeff Kent despite his unpopularity during the course of his career and I keep putting him on my ballot knowing full well he'll be lucky to get a third of the vote. 

Billy Wagner certainly belongs in the same class of closer as Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith. Wagner is certainly the greatest lefthanded closer in MLB history and should be recognized as such.

The only other addition to my ballot is Colorado Rockies legend Todd Helton who is entering his third year on the ballot. While one could argue that Helton's peak might have been short (1998-2004) and his power declined significantly after he turned 30, he consistently hit above .300 and was consistently at or near .400 in OBP. Indeed, Helton had a OBP of .400 or better in nine seasons. Helton ended his career with a lifetime batting average of .316 and an OBP of .414. Of course, the problem is that Helton's offensive numbers were substantially better at Coors Field than away from it. While Helton had a lifetime batting average and OBP of .345 and .441 at Coors, he was far less immortal outside of Colorado at .287 and .386. The same holds true for his power numbers. 

Yet if we go by that approach then we effectively preclude any player who spent a significant portion of his career with the Rockies. The admission of Larry Walker into Cooperstown earlier this year might ease Helton's path a little although I suspect he will probably have to wait until his ninth or tenth year of eligibility to gain admission. But for my money Helton is worthy of induction right now.

The BBWAA will announce its vote on January 26, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Class of 2020 and 2021 will be inducted on July 25, 2021. 

It Took Six Days For The U.S. To Go From 10 Million to 11 Million COVID-19 Cases

Today, the United States recorded its 11 millionth COVID-19 case. According to Johns Hopkins University, as of this writing, there have been 11,003,469 COVID-19 cases in this country along with 246,073 deaths for a mortality rate of 2.2%.

What is most disturbing of all is that it took only six days to go from 10 million COVID-19 cases to 11 million COVID-19 cases. Keep in mind that the first COVID-19 case was recorded on January 20th - exactly 300 days ago. 

Exacerbating matters is President Trump's refusal to concede defeat and grant access vital COVID data to President-elect Biden although they are doing to their best to work around Trump's obstinance by communicating with state governors, the scientific community and the private sector. However, these efforts won't stop the escalation of COVID-19 cases.

The longer Trump remains in office the more COVID=19 cases we will get.

The longer Trump remains in office the worse things will become.

January 20, 2021 cannot come soon enough. 

There are 66 days to go. We could have 20 million COVID-19 cases by then.

Warnock in 2018: Israel Shoots Unarmed Palestinians "Like Birds of Prey"

In May 2018, during a sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia Democratic Senatorial candidate Raphael Warnock claimed Israel shot unarmed Palestinians like "birds of prey" following violent protests after the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem resulting in the deaths of 58 Palestinians:

It’s been a tough week. The administration opened up the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Standing there [were] the president’s family and a few mealy-mouthed evangelical preachers who are responsible for the mess that we found ourselves in, both there and here — misquoting and misinterpreting the Scripture, talking about peace.

Meanwhile, young Palestinian sisters and brothers, who are struggling for their very lives, struggling for water and struggling for their human dignity, stood up in a non-violent protest, saying, ‘If we’re going to die, we’re going to die struggling.'

Yes, there may have been some folk who were violent, but we oughta know how that works out.

We know what it’s like to stand up and have a peaceful demonstration and have the media focus on a few violent uprisings. But you have to look at those Palestinian sisters and brothers, who are struggling for their human dignity and they have a right to self-determination, they have a right to breathe free …

We saw the government of Israel shoot down unarmed Palestinian sisters and brothers like birds of prey. And I don’t care who does it, it is wrong. It is wrong to shoot down God’s children like they don’t matter at all. And it’s no more anti-Semitic for me to say that than it is anti-white for me to say that black lives matter. Palestinian lives matter.

Where do I begin?

Well, for starters, relocating the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has been longstanding U.S. policy - a policy supported by President-Elect Joe Biden. Why Warnock would characterize longstanding U.S. policy as "a tough week" is at the very least peculiar.

Second, the notion the demonstration by Palestinians was peaceful and that they were unarmed is sheer fantasy. As the AP noted at the time, "Throughout the day, Gaza protesters set tires ablaze, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air, and hurled firebombs and stones toward Israeli troops across the border." Warnock's claim that Israel wantonly shot and killed unarmed Palestinians is an outright lie.

Third, in the months leading up to the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Palestinians in Gaza had been protesting the joint Israeli-Egyptian blockade which has been in place since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007. Indeed, these violent protests occurred on a weekly basis until they were scaled back in December 2019. This is well worth mentioning because Warnock claims criticizing Israel does not make him anti-Semitic. But it does when he fails to mention Palestinians were also protesting against the Egyptian government much less condemn violence committed by Egyptian forces against Palestinians. In proclaiming Palestinian lives matter, Warnock also fails to say that Jewish lives matter. This speaks volumes.

In view of these facts, I cannot in good conscience cast a ballot for Warnock. None of this means I intend to cast a ballot for Kelly Loeffler. Her and David Perdue's baseless call for fellow Republican Brad Raffensperger to resign earlier this week because Trump failed to win Georgia makes her come off like she's entitled to the public office and its trappings. 

Yet as much as I do not want Republicans to retain control of the Senate, I will not vote for a man who willfully promotes hatred against Israel. Given how poorly Democrats did in down ballot races it would behoove them to seek out better candidates.

I'm Delighted Kim Ng is Finally Getting a Chance to be a Baseball GM

There have been very few things about MLB in 2020 that have given me delight. Today was exception upon learning the Miami Marlins had hired Kim Ng to be their General Manager. 

Not only is Ng the first woman to be named a general manager in any professional sport, but is also the first person of Asian descent to be hired in such a capacity.

I was singing Ng's praises long ago. Alas most of that praise has been scrubbed from the web but there this tiny nugget from 2011 when I hoped the Chicago Cubs would hire her. 

Frankly, Ng should have been a GM 15 years ago - at least. Lord knows Ng, who turns 52 next week, has paid her dues. Her career in MLB began 30 years ago when she was an intern with the Chicago White Sox. She remained with the Chisox and in 1995 was promoted to the team's Assistant Director of Baseball Operations. In 1997, she spent a year working at the office of the American League and was in charge of approving all waivers.

The following year, the New York Yankees named Ng the team's Assistant General Manager working under Brian Cashman. She spent three seasons in the Bronx (during which they won three World Series rings) before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in the same capacity in 2001. After the Dodgers fired Paul DePodesta following the 2005 season, Ng was in the running for GM but the team opted for Ned Colletti. To his credit, Colletti kept Ng on as Assistant General Manager. In the years that followed, Ng was interviewed for GM vacancies with the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and the San Francisco Giants without success.

Since 2011, Ng has been MLB's Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations. Frankly, I thought Ng would have a shot at succeeding Rob Manfred as MLB Commissioner (and do we need a successor). But I did not think any MLB team would take that leap of faith.

Then again if we can have a female Vice-President of the United States then we can surely have a female baseball general manager. I'm glad it is Ng who will be the first.

AL MVP Awarded to Abreu; Freeman Finally Wins NL MVP

A pair of first basemen have won AL and NL MVP honors.

Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu won his first AL MVP while Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves won his first NL MVP. It's the first time two first basemen have been so honored since 2006 when Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins and Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies won the AL and NL MVP, respectively. 

The Cuban born Abreu led the Chisox to their first post-season appearance since 2008. Abreu, 33, played in all 60 games and led the AL in hits (76), RBI (60), slugging percentage (.617) and total bases (148). He also hit .317 - matching what he hit when he won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2014. Abreu is the first member of the White Sox organization to win AL MVP honors since Frank Thomas did it back to back in 1993 and 1994. He is under contract to the Chisox through 2022. 

Meanwhile, Freeman also played all 60 games despite a battle with COVID-19 which at its worst gave him a fever of over 104 degrees. Freeman led the NL in doubles (23) and runs scored (51) while hitting .341 (finishing second to Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals in the NL batting race) en route to a third straight NL East title. The 31-year old California native has finished in the Top 10 in NL MVP balloting four times prior to 2020. He has spent his entire professional career with the Braves who selected him in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB draft. Freeman is the first Brave to win NL MVP honors since Chipper Jones in 1999. He is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season. 

A hearty congratulations to both Abreu and Freeman.

If Warnock Opposes BDS Then Why Does He Liken Israel to Apartheid Era South Africa?

Earlier this week, I was dismayed with Georgia Democratic Senatorial candidate Raphael Warnock signing a petition last year which likened Israel to Apartheid Era South Africa. In an article in The Forward, Ari Berman tries to make a case justifying Georgia Democratic Senatorial candidate Raphael Warnock signing a petition likening Israel to Apartheid Era South Africa:

On Nov. 5, Jewish Insider published an article headlined “Raphael Warnock signed letter likening West Bank to apartheid South Africa.” The article refers to a statement that Warnock signed, along with a group of Black and South African Christian clergy, after the group toured Israel and the West Bank in 2019.

The statement expresses the group’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and says that the group toured Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum and memorial, and visited a refugee camp. According to the letter, the group learned about living conditions in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank and participated in a bible study with a rabbi.

The statement is highly critical of Israel’s military occupation and of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which it said served to “render the proposed two-state solution unworkable.”

But its comparison between Israel and apartheid South Africa — an equivalence rejected by nearly all American Jewish groups — is more nuanced that the one suggested in Jewish Insider’s headline.

In a section listing “patterns that seem to have been borrowed and perfected from other previous oppressive regimes,” the statement includes “The heavy militarization of the West Bank, reminiscent of the military occupation of Namibia by apartheid South Africa.” (South Africa held Namibia under military control from 1915 through 1990, an occupation deemed illegal by the United Nations.) Jewish Insider quotes this section of the clergy’s statement in the ninth paragraph of its story.

Berman notes that Warnock opposes BDS. Indeed, Warnock put out a statement objecting to BDS' "anti-Semitic overtones and its refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist." While I appreciate Warnock's position it raises this question. If Warnock indeed imposes BDS then why would he sign a statement likening Israel to Apartheid Era South Africa - a regime which was subjected to an international BDS campaign? If one does not think Israel should be subject to a BDS campaign then why agree in principle with a statement likening it to one of the world's most despised regimes?

I would love nothing better than to direct these two questions to Warnock himself. 

Bieber & Bauer Win AL/NL Cy Young Awards

The AL Cy Young Award and NL Cy Young Award have been bestowed upon Cleveland Indians starter Shane Bieber and Cincinnati Reds starter Trevor Bauer, respectively.

Only in his third big league season, Bieber won the pitching Triple Crown leading the AL in wins (8), ERA (1.63) and strikeouts (122) in only 77.1 IP. Bieber, 25, finished fourth in AL Cy Young balloting in 2019. This time the vote was unanimous. 

Bauer, a former teammate of Bieber, had a reversal of fortune in 2020. After being traded to the Reds in the middle of the 2019 season, Bauer posted a 6.39 ERA in 10 starts with the Reds down the stretch. In 12 starts for the Reds this season, Bauer led the NL with a 1.73 ERA despite a modest 5-4 record. Astonishingly, the 29-year old Bauer become the first pitcher in Reds history to win NL Cy Young honors. But Bauer probably won't be a Red for a very long as he is a free agent. No doubt the Cy Young will boost his value in the free agent market.

Tomorrow the BBWAA will announce the winners of the AL and NL MVP awards.

Georgia Can Have As Many Recounts As It Likes Because Biden Will Win Every Time

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced this morning there would be a hand recount of all ballots cast in the state during last week's presidential election. The hand recount is expected to be completed by November 20th. 

No doubt Raffensperger made this move after Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler called for his resignation earlier this week. I have little doubt the recount will reaffirm and possibly expand Biden's lead in the vote tally in these parts. It probably won't stop the Trump campaign from requesting a recount of its own. I say fine bring it on. Have all the recounts in Georgia you want. Not only will it take away resources much sought by Perdue and Loeffler, but the more recounts there are the more it will reinforce the fact that Joe Biden wrested Georgia away from Trump and that he will be sworn in as the next President of the United States 10 weeks from today.

Cash & Mattingly Named AL & NL Managers of the Year

Kevin Cash, manager of the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays, has won AL Manager of the Year while Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly has been named NL Manager of the Year.

Cash guided the Rays to an AL best 40-20 record and team's first AL pennant since 2008. However, this award is small consolation to falling short to the Dodgers in the World Series. Unfortunately, Cash will be best remembered for prematurely lifting Nate Snell in Game 6. Meanwhile, Mattingly led the Marlins to their first post-season appearance since 2003 despite being plagued by a COVID-19 outbreak. Both managers richly deserved their honors.

Tomorrow the BBWAA announces the winners of the AL and NL Cy Young Awards.

Mariners' OF Kyle Lewis & Brewers' Reliever Devin Williams Win AL/NL ROY Honors

MLB began handing out its awards today starting with AL and NL Rookie of the Year. Seattle Mariners centerfielder Kyle Lewis won the AL Rookie of the Year while the NL Rookie of the Year was bestowed upon Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams.

Lewis, a Georgia native, won AL ROY honors unanimously. A first round draft pick by the Mariners in 2016, Lewis hit .262 with 11 HR and 28 RBI in 58 games. Lewis, 25, becomes the first Mariner to win the AL ROY since Ichiro Suzuki did so in 2001.

Meanwhile, Williams made his mark in middle relief striking out nearly two batters per inning. In 27 innings pitched, Williams fanned 53 batters while walking only nine batters en route to recording a 4-1 record with a miniscule 0.33 ERA. Born and raised in Missouri, Williams was a second round draft pick of the Brewers in 2013. Williams, 26, becomes the first Brewer to win the honor since Ryan Braun in 2007, the first relief pitcher since Craig Kimbrel in 2011 and the first pitcher (starter or reliever) to earn the distinction since Jacob de Grom in 2014. 

Given my general lack of attention to MLB in 2020, I must admit I was largely unfamiliar with both players. But there's a good chance that will change in 2021.

Tomorrow the AL and NL Managers of the Year are announced.

I Hope Biden Picks Rahm Emanuel To His Cabinet Just to Annoy AOC

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is trying to throw around her weight by demanding that President-Elect Biden not appoint former Obama Chief of Staff and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to his cabinet.

In an interview with The New York Times, AOC described Emanuel as "a pretty divisive pick." While AOC cited the controversial police shooting of Laquan McDonald by Chicago PD, I believe there are other factors at play. Namely that Emanuel is Jewish and unapologetically pro-Israel. 

Frankly, I don't know if Biden is considering Emanuel for a post. But now that AOC has drawn attention to herself yet again and is making demands she expects to be met, I think Biden should appoint Emanuel just to annoy her and to remind her that he is the President and he can appoint who he sees fit. 

If Biden does pick Emanuel and AOC makes a big stink then he can always get President Obama to back him up. In which case, AOC might regret picking fights she ends up losing. 

Georgia Republicans Begin The Bloodletting

Although Georgia Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler face tough challenges in the January runoff from Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, respectively, the GOP incumbents drew first blood against a fellow Republican. Perdue and Loeffler issued a joint statement calling upon Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to resign. 

The dynamic duo claims there were "too many failures in Georgia elections this year". I think they mean Raffensperger failed to ensure that President Trump would carry the state and are afraid to face a similar fate in January. To his credit, Raffensperger stood his ground stating, "As a Republican, I am concerned about Republicans keeping the U.S. Senate. I recommend that Senators Loeffler and Perdue start focusing on that."

It's hard to argue with that point. If Perdue and Loeffler were smart then they would direct their attention at their runoff opponents. But in directing their attention towards Raffensperger they convey both a sense of entitlement and a lack of confidence that they will prevail at the polls. 

Unless Georgia Republicans clot the wounds this bloodletting could turn into a bloodbath of their own making. The end result would be the loss of Republican control of the U.S. Senate. In which case let them bleed.

COVID Tops 10 Million in U.S. Amid Hope of a Vaccine From Pfizer

The United States has now crossed the threshold of 10 million COVID-19 cases. According to Johns Hopkins University, as of this writing, 10,018,278 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 along with 237,742 deaths.

However, earlier today, came news from Pfizer and BioNTech that their vaccine could be 90% effective based on preliminary data. 

While we are a world starved for good news it is important to exercise caution. Public Citizen considers the release of "preliminary and incomplete trial data" to be "terrible science" and that "we should temper our expectations."

But let us for the sake of argument take the position that the data presented by Pfizer and BioNTech is the real deal. Let us say the vaccine will become available on April 1, 2021 (yes, I know April Fools Day). Aside from the time it will take to inoculate the American public, let us also consider that the vaccine would be administered in two doses three weeks apart. Then it will take another two months to determine if the vaccine is actually effective. Best case scenario we wouldn't begin to see results until June 2021.

In the meantime, President Trump remains in office for another 72 days. If we average 125,000 new COVID-19 cases a day between now and time Joe Biden is inaugurated the total number of COVID-19 cases will nearly double to 20 million. Even when Biden assumes office and he approaches the vaccine in a more serious manner and implements stricter mitigation measures it very much remains to be seen if certain states, municipalities and various segments of the population will comply. In other words it might be a long time before we get below 100,000 new cases a day let alone have a vaccine ready for distribution.

So even if the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine works it is going to be a long time before it bears fruit. Until it does, more people are going to get sick and more people are going to die. There might be a silver lining but we are still far from rounding the turn.

I Am Dismayed By Warnock Likening Israel to Apartheid Era South Africa

Only 48 hours ago I noted that I had picked one hell of a time to move to Georgia now that it has become the center of the political universe.

Should Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock win their runoff elections on January 5th then Democrats will take control of the Senate. I mused about the possibility of volunteering for Ossoff, Warnock or even both of them.

But I now have second thoughts about Warnock. Last year, Warnock was a signatory to a statement which likened Israel to Apartheid Era South Africa after he was part of delegation which travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories on behalf of The National Council of Churches. The statement claimed Israel's separation barrier was "reminiscent of the Berlin Wall." The analogy is historically inaccurate and defamatory. The Berlin Wall kept East Germans in. Israel's separation fence keeps suicide bombers out. 

I am dismayed by Warnock's stance and unless he reconsiders his position then I cannot volunteer for him much less cast a ballot. It pains me to say it because I don't want Republicans in charge of the Senate. Their inaction on COVID relief measures is unconscionable. But it would be equally unconscionable to vote for someone who believes Israel bears any resemblance whatsoever to Apartheid Era South Africa. 

Fortunately, I still have the option of volunteering for Ossoff. I shall look into what I can do to help him defeat David Perdue whose campaign had the temerity to resort to utilizing an anti-Semitic caricature of Ossoff's nose. 

Nevertheless, I am profoundly disappointed and dismayed by Warnock's stance.

Alex Trebek, R.I.P.

Following a day of jubilation, 2020 comes back to kick us in the gut with the news of Alex Trebek's death. The Canadian born host of the long running syndicated game show Jeopardy! passed away this morning of pancreatic cancer which he was diagnosed with last year. He was 80.

Trebek's career as a broadcaster lasted nearly 60 years beginning when he joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in 1961 working in both radio and television. His first foray as a game show host was for the high school quiz show Reach for the Top which aired on the CBC affiliate in Toronto.

Trebek would move to the United States in 1973 and hosted a variety of game shows such as The Wizard of Odds, High Rollers and Battlestars. But Trebek would find his calling in 1984 when he was offered hosting duties for the revival of Jeopardy! after its original host Art Fleming declined to resume his duties. He nearly hosted the show for half of his life and his presence made it become part of the American cultural landscape. Trebek's appeal transcended generations helped greatly by the show's annual College Week episodes. 

When someone is omnipresent it is easy to think they will always be there. Trebek's cancer diagnosis reminded us that all things come to an end. It gave us an opportunity to cherish Trebek's contributions and to savor them one last time. 

On November 8, 2020 the world lost the man who had the answers. Who is Alex Trebek?

R.I.P.

An American Catharsis (Or VT Day - Victory Over Trump)

 

In the nine hours or so which have passed since Joe Biden became President-Elect and Kamala Harris became Vice-President-Elect there has been a catharsis in the United States. This catharsis can be seen in car horns beeping for hours on end and spontaneous street parties. 

My own catharsis began as I dragged a suitcase of my clothing to the laundromat in my neighborhood in Midtown Atlanta. As I was about to enter the laundromat, I was stopped by Pierre Bouvier, a journalist with Le Monde. He stopped me because I was wearing my Biden hat and asked me why I supported him. I spoke of the pandemic and that Biden understood what it was to suffer. 

Over the course of the day, I've seen people wearing Biden-Harris paraphernalia, carrying signs and American flags and standing in cars as if every sports team in the country won a championship today. Today was a celebration for Team America. The common denominator is the sense that there is a light at the end of the Trump tunnel. While Trump does have 74 more days in office and with it more damage, disease and death will come. But there is world of difference between 10 weeks and four more years. Nevertheless, there is a collective sense of relief. A sense that life in America will get better soon.

Had Donald Trump been re-elected, I would have been making long term plans to return to Canada. These plans have now been rendered unnecessary. Which is good because I am as far away from Canada as I have ever been. 

Still, the catharsis is not yet complete. Aside from the fact President Trump remains in office for another 10 weeks (and is not eager to concede), we are still in a pandemic and while I did partake in some of the reverie I did not stick around long. Obviously there was cause for celebration but social distancing has been disregarded at the worst possible time. We are topping 120,000 new COVID cases a day. As of this writing, there are more than 9.8 million COVID cases (9,841,444 as of this writing) and we will likely hit the 10 million mark sometime on Monday. Alas it is a challenge to celebrate with caution.

The catharsis will accelerate when Biden is sworn into office on January 20, 2021. It will be complete once the pandemic has been ended. Unlike the inauguration there is no definite date when this comes to pass. But this date will be far more likely to come with a President who acknowledges there is a pandemic and emphasizes with those who have suffered from the disease and with the goal to provide relief from COVID-19 and the economic hardship it has caused.

But today was the first stage of the American Catharsis. November 7, 2020 will be forever remembered as VT Day - Victory Over Trump!!!

We Can Now Call Him President-Elect Biden

It took three and a half days, but Joe Biden can now be called President-Elect.

Earlier this hour, the AP called Biden's native Pennsylvania clinching him the electoral college. This comes exactly 48 years ago to the date that he won his first election to the Senate. When it is all said and done, Biden will very likely carry Arizona, Georgia and Nevada giving him 306 electoral votes - the exact number Donald Trump received in 2016. Trump becomes the first one term since George H.W. Bush.

Biden will become the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021. Or the 47th President should Trump resign to leave it to Mike Pence to hand over the reins of power.

Whether Biden is the 46th or 47th President, Kamala Harris will be the next Vice-President - the first woman and woman of color to hold this office. 

Our long national nightmare isn't over just yet. But we shall wake up from it in 74 days from now and Trump cannot do a damn thing about it.

The Lincoln Project Did Much More To Help Biden Than AOC Ever Did

Although the election results have yet to be made official, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saw fit to take pot shots at The Lincoln Project in a series of tweets. AOC claimed The Lincoln Project, without any evidence, that it was "def in scam territory" for the $67 million it purportedly raised and "take the L and publicly pledge to give a lot of their fundraising to the people who actually made a big difference."

I would venture to guess she would like some of that money to come her own way. If she has evidence of wrongdoing on the part of The Lincoln Project then she can report it to the Federal Elections Commission, but I suspect that's not going to happen.

Frankly, AOC is on weak ground when it comes to criticizing The Lincoln Project who did more to help Joe Biden than she ever did. Hell, AOC wouldn't even endorse Biden. 

Yes, there are numerous people to thank when it comes to Biden's imminent victory whether it's Stacey Abrams' organizational efforts down here in Georgia or The Lincoln Project trying to move a sliver of Republicans. But there is no thank you for AOC. Because when it comes to Biden with friends like AOC than who needs enemies?

AOC should be careful for what she wishes. Because The Lincoln Project might one day set their sights on her.

Len Barry, R.I.P.

1960's singer, songwriter and producer Len Barry passed away yesterday of bone marrow cancer. He was 78. 

Born Leonard Borisoff, the native of Philadelphia first gained fame as the lead singer of doo wop outfit The Dovells with their 1961 hit "Bristol Stomp". Four years later, Barry released his best known hit "123" which has long been a staple of oldies radio. Although co-written by Barry, the melody matched The Supremes' "Ask Any Girl" to warrant Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting credit. But decide for yourself. R.I.P.

A Thought for Rachel Maddow

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow has placed herself into quarantine after revealing she was in close contact with someone afflicted with COVID-19. Consequently, Maddow is not participating in the network's post-election coverage. Maddow is not currently experiencing any COVID symptoms. 

Over the past few months, Rachel Maddow has become nightly appointment TV. During my American Spectator days, that would have been inconceivable as I wasn't much of a Maddow fan.

I have found Maddow to be an introspective, thoughtful commentator. Which she is certainly of liberal inclination, she isn't dogmatic, relies on the facts and asks insightful questions in search of answers. Her sobriety is a welcome antidote to the noise of both right-wing media and leftists who overly rely on slogans as a substitute for thought.

I hope her quarantine is uneventful and that she returns to MSNBC's airwaves posthaste. 

Ken Hensley, R.I.P.

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ken Hensley, best known for playing keyboards for the British progressive rock and heavy metal band Uriah Heep, died on Wednesday following a brief illness. He was 75.

Hensley was Uriah Heep's principle songwriter. I remember listening to their standout 1972 album Demons & Wizards in my early adolescence featuring the Hensley penned "Easy Livin'". My Dad described the music of Uriah Heep as "heavy metal with a brain."

Hensley's passing comes just over a month after the death of drummer Lee Kerslake. The only surviving original member is lead guitarist Mick Box.

Here is Uriah Heep performing "Easy Livin'" in 1973 following by a brief commentary by Hensley in 1985. R.I.P.

Red Sox Rehiring Alex Cora Makes Me Unable to Root For Them

The Boston Red Sox have re-hired Alex Cora to be their manager. Cora managed the team to a World Series in 2018 before taking a step back in 2019. MLB would suspend Cora during the 2020 season due to his role in the 2017 Houston Astros' sign stealing scandal and the Red Sox would dismiss him.

The decision was not a surprise although there were indications the team was giving serious thought to Sam Fuld who currently works in the Philadelphia Phillies' front office. 

This development is going over very well in Red Sox Nation. Case in point: Jared Carrabis of Barstool Sports:

If you're one of those "I don't want 'em; he's a cheater" pussies, then let's have a little chat. Everybody deserves a second chance. All too routinely, players are suspended for PEDs or off-field actions, they're welcomed back with open arms by their clubs, and fans cheer for them again. Why is this any different? First of all, we're talking about a sports infraction that was not carried out by one singular person and rather a large group of people in this particular case. We're not talking about re-signing Aaron Hernandez here.

Cora was part of the 2017 Houston Astros, and we all know what they did. He was scapegoated after he left because the Astros only tried to rat out those who were no longer in the organization, and the man had just dusted their asses in the 2018 postseason en route to a World Series title. It was clear as day. MLB did their investigation and Cora was cleared of having done anything wrong in Boston. It was all in Houston. If the Astros never wanted to employ him again, I'd understand it. Why he wouldn't get a second chance in Boston is beyond my understanding.

And the biggest thing of all, for me at least, is that AJ Hinch got a job a week ago already. Yeah, we associate Cora with being a manager now because he managed a team to a title, but he was the bench coach in Houston. Hinch was the manager. And that motherfucker got a job in two seconds. Why should Cora be punished more than or held to a higher standard than the captain of the ship? Makes no sense to me. He did his time. He sat out a year. The other thing, and I won't get into details, but the punishment went beyond just having to be away from baseball for a year. This greatly affected his life away from the field and the people close to him. It was a lot. So, yeah. He paid his debt to baseball society and he deserves his second chance. And he deserved to have that second chance in Boston.

Carrabis' argument simply doesn't hold water. Cora was no "scapegoat". He devised the damn system. Nor am I impressed with the A.J. Hinch argument as I made the case the Tigers' decision to hire him sent a bad message and Carrabis is delivering it.

I came close to going back to Boston and, under the circumstances, I'm glad I didn't because I could not bring myself to root for the Red Sox. If Houston Astros' players deserve our ongoing derision then so does Cora. The Red Sox could have chosen to move ahead and chosen a manager whose character is beyond reproach. Instead they have chosen to wear the stench of scandal. 

I Picked One Hell of a Time to Move to Georgia

I arrived in Atlanta only 9 days ago and now Georgia has become the center of the political universe.

This morning Joe Biden pulled ahead of Donald Trump in the vote tally. At this point, Biden has a lead of fewer than 1,000 votes and President Trump would be well within his right to demand a recount. But given the fact that no Democrat has won this state since 1992 this is a remarkable turn of events.

So too is that the fact there will be not one, but two Senate runoffs in the state - Ossoff vs. Perdue and Warnock vs. Loeffler. If Democrats win both races then they take control of the Senate. Warnock's attack ad on himself is shades of the late Paul Wellstone. If he can inject a little levity into the situation then this is going to be one fun time to be alive. It makes me think that I should volunteer for his campaign or Ossoff or perhaps both.

If Trump loses then Republicans will fight tooth and nail to hold on to Georgia and there will be much nastiness. But nothing can match the cruelty of more than 232,000 deaths. Republicans have only exacerbated the misery. The timing of my move to Georgia is auspicious. I think someone's trying to tell me I could be a small part of American political history.

Counties Hardest Hit By COVID-19 Supported Trump

What an astounding report by The Associated Press:

U.S. voters went to the polls starkly divided on how they see President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. But in places where the virus is most rampant now, Trump enjoyed enormous support.

An Associated Press analysis reveals that in 376 counties with the highest number of new cases per capita, the overwhelming majority — 93% of those counties — went for Trump, a rate above other less severely hit areas.

Most were rural counties in Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Wisconsin — the kinds of areas that often have lower rates of adherence to social distancing, mask-wearing and other public health measures, and have been a focal point for much of the latest surge in cases.

The report goes on to state, "Trump voters interviewed by AP reporters said they value individual freedom and believed the president was doing as well as anyone could in response to the coronavirus."

Trump voters might want liberty but they end up with death. So much for being pro-life.

I don't see how any reasonable person can conclude Trump could do as well as anyone could in response to COVID-19. Last I checked, New Zealand, a country of 5 million people, has had fewer than 2,000 cases (1,973) and 25 deaths. According to Johns Hopkins University, at this hour, the United States now has passed 9.6 million cases with 234,876 deaths. Today, there were more than 109,000 new cases on top of the 104,000 cases yesterday. Suffice it to say, President Trump is no Jacinda Ardern. 

While many U.S. counties voted for Trump despite the COVID surge, should Joe Biden be elected President of the United States it will be because of Trump's malevolent response to COVID-19.