Canada's Premiers Unite Behind Carney - Except for One

In a near remarkable display of unity seldom seen, most of Canada's Premiers have lined up behind Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to walk away from trade negotiations with the Trump Administration.

Keep in mind, there is only one province in Canada currently led by a Liberal government. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said, “New Brunswickers have been fiercely loyal to our local businesses and producers. Now, more than ever, we need to double down on buying local and supporting New Brunswick businesses and workers.”

Canada's two NDP Premiers - David Eby of British Columbia and Wab Kinew of Manitoba are also behind Carney. Eby stated, "The suggestion that Canada would not trade with other countries or reduce our trade with other countries ... would reduce us to the economic equivalent of the 51st state." For his part, Kinew was even more direct:

Everybody has got Prime Minister [Mark] Carney's back today. I'm glad the prime minister has walked away from what would have been a bad deal.

These tariffs that he's putting on us because he's got some sort of need to try and look macho or whatever, is completely wrong and we as Canadians should never accept it — we should always push back.

Canada's remaining 7 provinces are governed by right-of-center parties. Six of those Premiers have been unequivocal in their support of Carney. 

Quebec Premier Christine Frechette, who leads the Coalition Avenir Quebec, came out in support for Carney due to unwillingness to negotiate French language and culture as well as Canadian sovereignty. Frechette stated: 

Our culture, our language is central to our identity, and it is important to exclude that from the negotiation table.

It’s something that is crucial for us and it won't change, even though we are threatened with different tariffs, it won't change. We will stay the way we are.

It is worth noting that Quebec voters go to the polls in October and Frechette, who succeeded François Legault back in April, is not expected to prevail. The sovereigntist Parti Quebecois has been leading in the polls and is expected to win and Paul St. Pierre Plamondon is expected to become Quebec's new Premier. The PQ, first elected 50 years ago under the leadership of Rene Levesque, has long been dedicated to Quebec independence.

PQ governments under Levesque and Jacques Parizeau have initiated unsuccessful referendums in 1980 and in 1995, respectively. While Plamondon has pledged to hold another referendum against the wishes of Quebec voters, recognizing the unique danger presented by President Trump, announced last week that he would not launch a referendum so long as Trump remains in office.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, leader of the province's Progressive Conservative Party, not only backs Carney but has forcefully denounced President Trump. Following Carney's remarks yesterday, Ford said this about Trump:

Let me tell you about President Trump: President Trump is the type of person that would steal your lunch money the first day. He'd steal the toque off your head the second day. And the third day he'd steal your running shoes. He is not to be trusted whatsoever. We need to stay united.

If that wasn't enough, Ford wrote Carney a letter with a demand that he imposes additional retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. states which are "politically significant to the current administration's base of support." The states Ford identified are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Texas and Wisconsin. 

The Progressive Conservative governments of three Maritime provinces - Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island are also solidly behind Carney. 

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston issued this statement which reads in part:

I continue to stand ready to support and work with the Prime Minister. We will work together to do everything possible to protect the massive number of Nova Scotian and Canadian families, workers and businesses that have now been added to the large list of those directly impacted by President Trump’s devastating tariffs.

It’s clear that we cannot trust or rely on the United States as we once did. This reality must make us more determined than ever to make Nova Scotia and Canada stronger. For Nova Scotia that means developing our own energy, developing our own natural resources and finding new markets for Nova Scotian goods and services.

Houston concluded his statement with, "Let's go Team Canada!"

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham issued this statement on Facebook:

Newfoundland and Labrador stands firmly with Team Canada. I want to thank the negotiating team for their hard work and dedication in navigating discussions with an unpredictable partner.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has my full support as we maintain a united Team Canada approach. Newfoundland and Labrador stands ready to do its part.

PEI Premier Rob Lantz also issued a statement on Facebook which emphasized the Team Canada theme:

The Team Canada approach has kept us strong and united throughout these negotiations, and we need that same strength and unity now.

I will continue working alongside Premiers and the federal government to stand up for Canadian interests and make sure Prince Edward Island has a strong voice in the path forward.

Island workers, businesses, and exporters can count on our government to stand with them and be there for those impacted.

Going out west, Saskatchewan, once the cradle of Canadian social democracy, has been governed by the right-wing populist Saskatchewan Party since 2007. Scott Moe has been Premier of Saskatchewan since 2018. Outside of Ontario's Doug Ford, Moe might have been made the most forceful statement in support of Carney while showing his contempt for the Trump Administration in bold green:

Moe begins by stating "the United States is violating the CUSMA deal." That would be the Canada United States Mexico Agreement which Trump helped negotiate and came into effect in July 2020.

Moe also declared that any attempt by the United States to dictate Canada's trade relationships with other countries is "a non-starter" adding, "Decisions about who Canada trades with must be made by Canada."

For good measure, Moe declared that Carney "made the right decision to not accept an unfair and unreliable, and we support the Prime Minister's decision to enact dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on U.S. products."

Alas, there's always one.

Enter Alberta Premier Danielle Smith of the United Conservative Party.

In recent months, Smith has been leading the charge on a disingenuous Alberta referendum about whether to have another referendum.

While Smith ceded that terms set out by the Trump Administration made it "untenable for us to sign off", she came out against Carney's retaliatory tariffs. Smith also to go along with other provinces in not stocking U.S. liquor and will not delay this October's referendum on whether to have another referendum. Smith also wants Carney to go back to the negotiating table with the Trump Administration.

Let's be clear. The Trump Administration negotiates with Canada in bad faith up to and including forbidding Canada from entering into trade agreements with other countries and Smith wants more of the same.

Danielle Smith is with a Team Trump, not Team Canada as demonstrated by her visit to Mar-a-Lago last year. When Alberta voters have the chance, they should give her a one-way ticket to Florida. Should she return to Canada, Smith should have a tariff imposed upon her.

Nevertheless, that Mark Carney was able to get 9 out of 10 provincial premiers on board with his decision to walk away from trade talks with the United States is a remarkable achievement. Now it is a question if they will stay on board or be lured by Smith to join Team Trump.

Late Fame is a Reminder The Past is Sometimes Best Left Behind

 

This evening, I went to the Brattle Theatre to take in a screening of the film Late Fame starring Willem Dafoe. 

Before I discuss the movie, an update about the Brattle. Tonight was the first time I had been to the Brattle in over a month. I was last there five weekends ago for a retrospective tribute on what would have been Harry Dean Stanton's 100th birthday.

The Brattle would then be closed for 10 days for the purpose of installing a new floor and new seats. The floor looks cleaner and feel more comfortable to walk on. Even the men's washroom looks cleaner. Now if it only it was bigger. 

Late Fame is adapted from a 19th century novella written by Austrian author and playwright Arthur Schnitzler. Dafoe portrays Ed Saxberger, a poet whose 1979 book Way Past Go earns the attention of a new generation of mostly college aged artists and actors. Until the rediscovery, Saxberger had been working for USPS for nearly 40 years. 

Indeed, poetry is but a distant memory for Saxberger. But this doesn't stop his newfound "friends" from trying to land him a publishing deal to write his memoirs and perform new poetry. Of course, if his "friends" had truly understood the creative process one cannot force a poem to the surface any more than one can force a song or a sculpture to form. Saxberger's poetry is so far in the rearview mirror that none of his longtime friends know about his life previous life as a poet. The last thing Saxberger wants is for these two worlds to collide. Complicating matters is Gloria (Greta Lee), an actress at least 30 years younger than Saxberger with whom he becomes infatuated.

This movie hit home for me in an uncomfortable way. During my early years in Boston, I was part of the local poetry scene. I would regularly attend open mics and self-published a couple of chap books. Many of my poems had a conservative political bent which would occasionally draw the ire of certain audiences. On one occasion, I had a Coke can tossed at my head at the Cantab Lounge here in Cambridge. Eventually, I would be given a lifetime ban at the Cantab and I've not set foot in there in more than 15 years. I cannot remember the last time I wrote a poem.

It was just as well because by this time I was regularly contributing articles to The American Spectator which I would do for another 5 years before I was told that Donald Trump was beyond criticism. That was a decade ago. There would be a few articles for National Review Online. Aside from writing in this space, the last time I had an article published was in The Forward. That was more than 5 years ago.

I have pitched articles to several publications in the years which followed without success. As time has gone on, I have accepted that my life's work is in legal records. All things considered, I am a happier person for it.

Nevertheless, I do feel the need to write. I don't know if I'll ever write another poem again. But I do feel the need to speak my peace. I write my articles here and post the links on Facebook, Threads and Blue Sky. If people get something out of it then great. But I have no expectations or illusions of fame or prosperity. Indeed, when I do get feedback, it is far more likely to be negative than positive. But I am a big boy and can take care of myself. For the most part, however, there is just indifference. Frankly, it is probably just as well.

If I were in Ed Saxberger's place and a stranger on the street were to compliment me on a poem I wrote 20 years ago or an article I wrote 10 years ago, I would most likely politely thank them and move on with my day. Admittedly, that might be more of a challenge if the person in question happens to be an attractive woman. Nevertheless, such encounters are probably more trouble than they are worth. In Ed Saxberger's case, the best he could have done was to run away from his past as fast as possible. Sometimes it is best to leave the past behind.

Mike Rogers Distancing Himself From AIPAC Plays Right Into El-Sayed's Hands

This story from Axios concerning Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers asking AIPAC not to run ads on his behalf is most disconcerting:

The move by Rogers' team angered AIPAC officials, who had spent more than $30 million to try to defeat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary and prepared to spend millions more to help elect Rogers, according to people familiar with the conversations.

The article also notes that Rogers' allies urged AIPAC to get involved without putting the group's name front and center.

In other words, the Rogers' campaign wants AIPAC resources without giving them credit. 

This is a foolish strategy which plays right into the hands of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Should the pair debate, El-Sayed can say, 'Even Republican Mike Rogers doesn't want AIPAC's money,'

Rogers is also legitimizing the demonization of not only AIPAC but Jewish organizations in general and their ability to participate in the political process and in civil society at large.

After all, AIPAC stands for American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Americans who advocate for Israel are no different than Americans who advocate for China, India, Ukraine or the United Arab Emirates. Rogers should welcome AIPAC's support without apology or reservation.

But El-Sayed and his allies single out American Jews who support Israel and now Rogers is afraid to associate with AIPAC. What Rogers should be doing is putting El-Sayed on the defensive for his support of CAIR, an organization which has long had ties to Hamas.

After El-Sayed won the Democratic Party nomination, I stated that if I were a Michigan resident that I would vote for Rogers with reservations. In light of Rogers all but publicly disavowing AIPAC those reservations have grown considerably.

Carney Reveals Trump Admin Wanted to Prevent Canada from Negotiating Its Own Trade Deals

 

I watched Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's press conference this morning. During the press conference, Carney discussed the breakdown of trade negotiations with the Trump Administration.

What I found most revealing during the Q&A were the specific issues which led to Carney suspending talks. Carney cited three reasons - shifting auto tariffs, objections to protection concerning Canadian culture with regard to the French language and the ability of Canada to negotiate other trade deals.

Needless to say, this last reason really jumps out. 

The United States has no business telling Canada with whom it can enter and negotiate trade deals. For the Trump Administration to make such a demand sends a clear message that they view Canada not as a partner but as one of its territories. In other words, the 51st state. 

Underscoring of all this is the bad faith of the Trump Administration. As Carney noted, “We’ve recognized from the start that America has changed. We recognize that sometimes, its signature is written in pencil.”

With that, barring a dramatic shift from the Trump Administration, Canada plans to implement its dollar-for-dollar tariffs against the United States on September 8th, the day after Labor Day.

Carney Walks Away From Trade Talks with Trump; Will Match U.S. Tariffs Dollar for Dollar

(Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

When President Trump announced a month ago that he would impose a 50% tariff on Canadian alcohol, auto parts and dairy products because of the forest fires that were occurring in Northern Ontario, I made this observation:

Carney's smartest move would be to walk away and ignore Trump and not return his calls. Yes, that will make Trump angry. But Trump would get angry if his Diet Coke was flat. Canada is getting nowhere with the United States. The United States is wasting Canada's time. Canada's time is better spent engaging in negotiations with countries which actually want to negotiate with it in good faith and for mutual benefit not with a country which begrudges Canadians for forest fires.

Just before midnight, Prime Minister Carney did exactly that. Canada will match U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar. Carney issued a statement which reads in part:

We have recognised from the beginning that America has changed, and that we will not return to our old relationship. Our government understood, before many, that America is altering all its trade relationships. Putting tariffs on its closest allies and charging for access to its vast market.

We have worked in that context. To strike a fair deal that would provide the best access to the U.S. market and greater certainty to Canadian businesses and workers. Throughout, our goal has been to secure the best deal for Canadians, never a deal at any price or on any deadline.

In recent weeks, we made important progress toward improving Canada’s position as having the best deal in the world with the U.S.

However, that progress has not been enough to meet our objectives for Canadians. As a result, this evening, I have decided to suspend trade negotiations with the U.S. and have directed Canada’s negotiators to return to Ottawa. They have worked hard, in good faith, to defend the interests of Canadians throughout these negotiations up until the very last minute. However, last-minute changes in the U.S. proposed terms were unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.

Carney went to say that in the coming days that the Canadian government "will introduce additional measures to support Canadian workers and businesses." This tells me that Carney believes Canada will be in a trade war with the Trump Administration for the long haul. I suspect that Canadians will be granted either a stimulus or a rebate or perhaps of combination of both in an effort to compensate for financial strain as a result of the implementation of U.S. tariffs.

Recent federal polls have given Carney's Liberal Party a lead over Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party ranging from 7 to 20 points. I suspect that the Liberals will consistently lead the Tories by double digits in the coming weeks and months. 

These reciprocal tariffs could also have an effect on U.S. midterms especially in Senate races in states bordering Canada namely Maine and Michigan and could help Democrats Troy Jackson and Abdul El-Sayed in their respective races. Jackson has been particularly vocal about Trump's tariffs although nearly 30 years he was part of an effort to blockade the Canada-U.S. border to prevent Quebec loggers from working in Maine. For her part, Republican incumbent Susan Collins has opposed Trump's tariffs with equal vigor. 

In Michigan, unlike Collins, Republican candidate Mike Rogers has defended Trump's tariffs with dubious claims they are bringing back American jobs. In view of these reciprocal tariffs, this gives El-Sayed an opening. Mind you, El-Sayed might be too busy denigrating Jews and Israel to give a damn about tariffs.

At this point, however, Carney has called Trump's bluff and is now in the driver's seat having put his foot on the gas pedal ready to sell Canadian auto parts, alcohol and dairy to other parts of the world on more favorable terms. 

North Korea Fires Missiles at South Korea After Trump Scales Back Military Partnership with Seoul

Yesterday, North Korea fired 10 short range missiles at South Korea only days after President Trump announced the U.S. would scale back its military partnership with Seoul:

That Trump would diss South Korea is nothing new under the sun. Early in his first term, Trump threatened to cancel the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement. A new trade agreement would be negotiated the following year. Also, during his first term, Trump willfully lied about sending an armada to South Korea when in fact it was headed to Australia for joint military exercises.

It also isn't the first time Trump has cozied up to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. In 2018, he infamously proclaimed that he and Kim had fallen in love during a rally in Wheeling, West Virginia. (Yes, that Wheeling, West Virginia). 

That love was a one-way street. In 2019, Trump dropped a U.S. demand that North Korea give a full accounting of its nuclear program while also absolving Kim of any responsibility for the death of Otto Warmbier, an American student who was detained by North Korean authorities and was essentially released brain dead.

And what did Trump get in return from Kim? Absolutely nothing.

Coming back to the present, if Trump doesn't berate our military alliance with South Korea, then I submit that North Korea doesn't launch those missiles. President Trump has emboldened Kim Jong Un while shitting on a reliable ally. Of course, this is very on brand for Trump. Just ask the Ukrainians. 

Because of Trump's belligerence, stupidity and his admiration for dictators, China sees an opening with South Korea and has grabbed it with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung just yesterday. 

Of course, China is a cruel dictatorship. Just ask the Uyghur Muslims. But Beijing knows how to speak softly. Something Trump is utterly incapable of doing. Given Trump's public rebuke of South Korea, why wouldn't Seoul accept overtures from Beijing? If the United States is unwilling to protect South Korea from North Korea, then China will happily fill the breach and, in so doing, expand its power while running circles around President Trump.

Are The Padres & MLB Letting Oswaldo Pirela Twist in the Wind?

On Sunday, ICE detained San Diego Padres minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela at El Paso International Airport where he was planning to fly back home to Peoria, Arizona. The team's Triple-AAA affiliate is based in El Paso.

At the time of his detainment, Pirela was carrying a work permit which expires in 2029. The Venezuelan born Pirela had a brief minor league career as a teenager in the Texas Rangers organization before seeking asylum along with his family due to his opposition to the regime of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro.

For its part, DHS acted with its usual grace:

FACT CHECK: This Venezuelan illegal alien, Oswaldo Jose Pirela Dominguez, was granted permission by the Obama Administration to remain in our nation until February 10, 2018. In violation of our nation’s laws, he overstayed his welcome by more than 8 YEARS. NOBODY is above the law, and he will remain in ICE custody pending removal. Being in detention is a choice.

Given the callousness of the Trump Administration, I am rather concerned about the reaction of the Padres and MLB to Pirela's detainment.

The Padres issued the following statement: 

We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas. We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.

The Padres aren't exactly going out on a limb here. Meanwhile, MLB has said nothing.

Frankly, the Padres and MLB are afraid of the Trump Administration. Should they speak up then perhaps DHS will go after players at both the minor league and major league level. The Padres' roster features several players from Venezuela (Bradgley Rodriguez, Freddy Fermin & Luis Rengifo), the Dominican Republic (Fernando Tatis, Jr; Wandy Peralta & Randy Vasquez), Cuba (Adrian Morejon) and Aruba (Xander Bogaerts).

When MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred lifted the lifetime bans against Pete Rose and the 1919 Black Sox after meeting with President Trump last year, he acknowledged the "ingress and egress" of "foreign born players". As I wrote at the time:

I think I know exactly what Manfred was worried about. I'm sure that Trump basically told him, 'Either you reinstate Pete Rose, or all foreign-born players will be asked to leave the country.' Or perhaps he limited the edict to players from Latin American countries which comprise about 25% of all active MLB players.

If MLB isn't going to stick up for their star players, then they are certainly not going to go to bat for a minor league catching instructor who was just doing the job the Padres asked of him.

As it stands, I believe the Padres and MLB are letting Pirela twist in the wind. If push comes to shove, then the Padres will wash their hands of Pirela.  

Aside from being fundamentally unAmerican, it will serve to alienate a good portion of this country's Latino community which supports baseball more than any other population in America.

If the Padres and MLB let Pirela twist in the wind then it might be left to a former player, perhaps a Hall of Famer, to speak out on Pirela's behalf. But I'm not counting on it.

In which case, we can expect ICE to detain more foreign born (particularly from Latin American countries) personnel within MLB. As with most things concerning the Trump Administration nothing good can come from it especially if ICE is involved.

Thoughts on a Near Hit-and-Run Incident Outside a Boston Synagogue

 

(Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe in Brighton, MA)

A most disturbing incident here in the Boston neighborhood of Brighton via Boston.com.

A driver sped up and yelled an antisemitic slur at a couple crossing the street to attend Shabbat services Friday evening at an Orthodox synagogue in Brighton, the rabbi there said. 

The newly married couple was walking across the closest crosswalk to Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe on Washington Street when a driver sped up and they had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit, said KTM Rabbi Daniel Aldrich, who spoke directly with the couple.

“He yelled antisemitic epithets as he drove by and then the very shaken couple came into our synagogue, and we immediately called the police,” Aldrich said. 

A spokesperson for the Boston Police Department said they received a report of an incident that occurred in the Brighton community at 101 Washington St. around 7:30 p.m Friday. The Civil Rights Unit is investigating whether there are any bias indicators involved in the incident, and no arrest has been made at this time, the spokesperson said. 

I would suggest that bias indicators are self-evident when someone attempts to use their vehicle as a weapon while yelling anti-Semitic slurs at Jewish people.

What worries me is that no arrest has been made at this time. This could mean a couple of things. It could mean that authorities have no idea who committed this act. It could also mean that authorities do have a possible suspect but have seen fit not to pursue the matter. 

I cannot help but think that this driver may have done something like this before and his victims were too afraid to reach out for help perhaps because they have come to believe that authorities do not care about Jews.

In which case, I also cannot help but think that as long as this driver remains at large that he will try something like this again and when he does there will be bloodshed.

Perhaps he won't use his car. It is quite possible that he might walk into a synagogue and disrupt services just like what happened at Central Synagogue in NYC right around the same time at this attempted hit-and-run incident.

Or perhaps he will use his car to storm a synagogue and bring other weaponry just as the perpetrator did at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan last March. Should this come to pass then Abdul El-Sayed will have another opportunity to claim that "hurt people hurt people" and once make excuses for those who commit violence against Jews. 

Even if the man responsible for this act does not commit any further acts there will be someone else who will be more than happy to commit violence against Jews for being Jews. And the more this happens then the more violence against Jews is tolerated and eventually accepted as appropriate behavior in polite society.

Mixing Business & Family in NYC with a Touch of Tony Danza

I spent the better part of last week and the start of this week in New York City for my third business trip to Big Apple. 

My previous business trips to New York took place in April 2025 and in May 2026. Those previous business trips as well as my business trip to Wheeling, West Virginia in June 2025 took place between a Monday and a Wednesday. This business trip took place between a Wednesday and a Monday.

This meant that I took an Amtrak train down to NYC last Wednesday morning, arrived in NYC by 12:30 p.m., worked in the office for ½ day before spending all of Thursday and Friday in the office and another ½ day this morning before taking the train back to Boston.

While my previous NYC business trips had elements of family by virtue of staying with Dad, this time around my brother Ezra was also in town. I should add that the NY office is operating on summer hours which meant I could clock out a couple of hours early. This meant more time with the family in the evening as well as both Saturday and Sunday. Also going back to Boston on a Monday is considerably less expensive than doing so on a Sunday.

For those that don't know, Dad has a YouTube channel called Gugie Goldstein. Dad mainly shoots videos of various musical happenings around the city. Among his regular haunts is Manny's Bistro which is situated on Columbus Avenue near West 70th Street. On late Sunday afternoons & early evenings, there is a jazz band which plays right outside the premises led by former 20/20 producer Victor Neufeld. This band also regularly features guest appearances by actor Tony Danza who one might remember from Taxi and Who's The Boss?

I should mention that Danza, who turned 75 back in April, lives on the Upper West Side, and I saw him walking around the neighborhood on several occasions when I lived in NYC between 2018 and 2020. Dad has a bit of history with Danza. One night at a neighborhood restaurant, Dad gave Danza the "call me" sign. This did not amuse Danza one bit and he called him out on the carpet for it. 

However, over time, Danza has seen Dad videotaping the sessions at Manny's, has been appreciative of Dad's work and has accommodated his requests for several songs. Are they friends? Not by a long shot. But mutual respect will do just fine.

Ezra and I were on hand for Dad's latest session at Manny's yesterday. It was an overcast day, but Danza brought a lot of energy when he joined in the festivities especially by people who are walking by not expecting Tony Danza to be singing on the street in front of a restaurant. There were also a couple of tango dancers which also livened things up considerably. While this wasn't my first time viewing the proceedings, I had never been so delighted to be on hand for it.

Of course, all things must come to an end. While there were no issues on Amtrak this time around, no sooner had I arrived back in Boston there was power failure on the MBTA Red Line which forced the shutdown of the AC on the subway. After about five minutes of sitting on a sweltering train, I decided to take a cab in rush hour traffic back home. While this cost me some money, I will be reimbursed for it because in this particular circumstance, this cab ride is a business expense. Business travel does have its privileges. 

The only thing which would have made it better is if Tony Danza were driving the cab. Or maybe Marilu Henner who I met many, many moons ago. But that is another story for another day.

A Thought for Hayden Panettiere

 

Yesterday afternoon, I was in Barnes & Noble in NYC's Union Square. On my way out of the store, I noticed that actress Hayden Panettiere had an autobiography titled This is Me: A Reckoning. I'm not sure why it caught my eye, but it did.

A few minutes ago, I look online and see she has died five days shy of her 37th birthday. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know a great deal about her career aside from her days as a child actress in the film Remember the Titans which frequently airs on TV and on the TV show Heroes. Nevertheless, she left an impression and now she is gone. Perhaps she is at peace. Still, it is sad that she did not live a full life.

As of this writing, no cause of death has been released. However, given her youth, one cannot help but think that her passing was not natural. Saddest of all, she leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter. 

Tommy John Should Have a Plaque in Cooperstown

Former MLB pitcher, coach and broadcaster Tommy John passed away yesterday at the age of 83. 

John's passing was not unexpected as it came just over a week after he had released a written statement was which read during Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium announcing his time was coming soon. In recent years, John had been in poor health with a serious case of COVID and was subsequently diagnosed with bladder cancer.

Although John last toed a big-league mound in 1989, his name is known by baseball players everywhere by virtue of the medical procedure known as Tommy John surgery. The procedure was performed on his pitching elbow by Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974 and ended up extending his career by 14 seasons retiring at the age of 46. Towards the end of his career, John joked, "My body is 46, but my arm just had its bar mitzvah."

A native of Terre Haute, Indiana, John signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1961 and would make his MLB debut with the Tribe as a September call up in 1963. Prior to the 1965 season, Cleveland traded John to the Chicago White Sox in a three-way trade with the Kansas City A's in a deal which included Rocky Colavito and future New York Mets star Tommie Agee.

John would spend seven seasons on the South Side of Chicago as a mainstay of the Chisox rotation along with Joe Horlen and Gary Bell. After winning 82 games in a White Sox uniform and earning an AL All-Star Game selection in 1968, the Chisox traded John to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 1972 season for Dick Allen who would win the AL MVP. John held up his end of the bargain becoming a dependable part of a Dodgers rotation which included future Hall of Famer Don Sutton, Claude Osteen and Andy Messersmith.

In 1974, John was en route to a possible NL Cy Young campaign. In 22 starts, John went 13-3 with a 2.59 ERA when he injured his elbow in a start against the Montreal Expos in mid-July shortly before the All-Star Game. 

Not only did John miss out on the Dodgers' NL pennant triumph but there was a good chance that his career was over. John made the fateful decision to allow Dr. Frank Jobe to perform reconstructive surgery on his left elbow by transplanting a tendon from his right wrist. Prior to Tommy John surgery, going under the knife would not extend his career.

John would return to the Dodgers in 1976 going a serviceable 10-10 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts. However, in 1977, John would exceed all expectations with his first 20-win campaign finishing runner up in NL Cy Young balloting to future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton. John would also reach the World Series for the first time in his career and would do so again the following season falling short against the New York Yankees.

Prior to the 1979 season, John signed with the Yankees as a free agent. He would win 21 games and finish runner up to Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan in AL Cy Young balloting. In 1980, John would win a career best 22 games finishing fourth in AL Cy Young balloting behind Yankees teammate "Goose" Gossage, Oakland A's hurler Mike Norris and Baltimore Orioles hurler and future broadcaster Steve Stone. John would earn an NL All-Star Team selection in 1978 and back-to-back AL All-Star Team selections in 1979 and in 1980.

In 1981, John would return to the World Series for the third time in his career, but the season was overshadowed by the tragedy of his son Travis sustaining a serious head injury when he fell out of a third story window. The following season, John would have a falling out with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner when Yankees brass brought up his son during his pitching struggles. Late in the 1982 season, the Yankees would trade John to the California Angels, a team which would win the AL West.

John would spend all of 1983 and 1984 with the Halos before being traded to the Oakland A's during the 1985 season. In 1986, John would return to the Bronx Bombers to finish out the final four seasons of his career. 

In 26 seasons, John appeared in 760 games (700 starts) with a record of 288-231 with an ERA of 3.34 striking out 2245 while walking 1259. Between 1995 and 2009, John was on the BBWAA Ballot and only topped 30% of the vote during his last year of eligibility.

In 2025, John fell five vote shorts of Hall of Fame induction by the Classic Baseball Era Committee which elected Dave Parker and Dick Allen (the man for whom he was once traded).

Yet it is worth noting that Jim Kaat was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Days Era Committee in 2022. Kaat, who pitched 25 seasons in MLB, had remarkably similar stats (283-247 with a 3.45 ERA, 2,461 strikeouts along with 1.083 walks.)

If Jim Kaat has a Hall of Fame plaque, then why doesn't Tommy John?

I wouldn't be surprised if John was enshrined posthumously. That might give his family a small measure of comfort, but Tommy John wouldn't get to see his moment in the sun.

As it happened, while John did enjoy a broadcasting and coaching career, his world would fall apart when his son Taylor took his own life in 2010. A Hall of Fame plaque can only bring so much joy.

Hall of Fame plaque or not, Tommy John makes an indelible legacy on baseball every time a pitcher gets his elbow surgically repaired and career extended. Tommy John made his bones. R.I.P.

Joshua Báez Hits 3 HR in MLB Debut for The Cardinals

Joshua Báez put himself on the map in his MLB debut on Saturday afternoon for the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 23-year-old Boston native hit 3 HR in his first 3 at bats driving in 5 runs in an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Báez becomes the first MLB player to hit 3 HR in his big-league debut. He belted all 3 of his HR off Cubs starter Matthew Boyd. 

The Cardinals selected Báez in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft straight out of Dexter School in Brookline, Massachusetts. Perhaps Báez will prove to be the spark necessary for the Cardinals to gain a NL Wild Card berth. If Báez continues to hit in this manner, then he could win NL Rookie of the Year honors despite only six weeks of playing time.

Mamdani is Shocked, Shocked That Jews in Prayer Would Be Assaulted in NYC

 

It is amazing how I can be somewhere, and my mother knows about it before I do. 

As it happens, I am in New York City. After awaking a short time ago, I saw a text from Mom about the assault which took place during Shabbat services last night at Central Synagogue. It is a Reform Temple located on Lexington Avenue & East 55th Street. When I lived here, I would often pass Central Synagogue on my way to work at the Chrysler Building.

During the incident, which was livestreamed, a hooligan comes in ranting and raving and punches a 63-year-old woman in the face. The punk also headbutted a security guard and spat at him as well as desecrating the synagogue.

True to form, NYC Mayor Mamdani was "shocked, shocked" such a thing would happen:

This despicable act has no place in our city, and our administration will do everything in our power to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe.

I trust Mamdani to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe about as much as I trust President Trump to protect women from sexual assault.

Now I suspect that this bum probably has a deep-seated hatred for Jews, but that Mamdani's recent taxpayer funded video tirade gave this hatred legitimacy and emboldened him to commit this heinous act. Since Mamdani issued his irresponsible statement, we have seen two stabbings on the Upper West Side plus the brick throwing incident at a synagogue in Sarasota, Florida in which the suspect specifically stated he was inspired by Mamdani.

Sooner or later, Mamdani words and deeds will get Jews killed in NYC and beyond. 

As far as the safety of Jewish New Yorkers goes, the surest way to ensure is to see to it that Mamdani is defeated in the next election. Although by then, a lot of death and damage will have been done.

A Thought or 54 for Butch Huskey

Former MLB player Butch Huskey died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism today. He was only 54.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Huskey was a 7th round draft pick of the New York Mets out of high school in 1989. Huskey would reach the Mets for a cup of coffee in 1993 and again in 1995 before becoming a mainstay of their lineup between 1996 and 1998. His best season was in 1997 when Huskey hit a career best .287 with 24 HR and 81 RBI. Huskey played in the outfield, third base and first base. 

Between 1999 and 2000, Huskey would have stints with the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and the Colorado Rockies. His professional career ended after the 2001 season during which he played in the Cleveland Indians system before rejoining the Rockies organization. In parts of 7 MLB seasons, Huskey played in 642 games collecting 555 hits for a lifetime batting average of .267 with 86 HR and 336 RBI. 

During tonight's New York Mets-Washington Nationals game, Mets announcer Gary Cohn choked up when announcing Huskey's passing. Cohn spoke about Huskey's big-league debut on September 8, 1993 against the Houston Astros. As it happened, the Mets were on the wrong end of a no-hitter by Darryl Kile. During the game, Kile struck out Huskey thrice. Cohn noted that Huskey was upset following the game thinking he wouldn't be able to get a hit in a big-league game but was assured that no one could hit Kile that evening. Four days later, Huskey would collect his first MLB hit and RBI against the Chicago Cubs.

Of course, for those who know, Kile would die suddenly during the 2002 MLB season while a member of the St. Louis Cardinals at the tender age of 33. Kile was the first MLB player to die during the season since New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash in 1979 at the age of 32.

While Huskey didn't die nearly as young as either Kile or Munson, he certainly left this world sooner than he ought to have. Huskey's passing hits me as I am due to turn 54 in just over one month - G-d willing. This ought to have been Huskey's middle age with decades left in the tank. Alas, the only guarantee in life is that it will end. We have little control over when. R.I.P.

Man Throws Brick Through Synagogue in Sarasota After Viewing & Sharing Mamdani's Anti-Israel Video

Last month NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's taxpayer subsidized rant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resulted in a pair of stabbings on the Upper West Side including a man leaving a synagogue.

Unfortunately, Mamdani's words have caused damage beyond New York City. As per the New York Post:

A Florida man charged with a hate crime for hurling a brick through a synagogue window was motivated by a video of Mayor Zohran Mamdani calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal,” his police interview suggests.

Sarasota resident Brayton Laschinger, 30, admitted he targeted the Chabad House on July 29 and told detectives he became enraged by “propaganda on social media that was making him mad,” the Sarasota Police Department said.

“Laschinger admitted to deliberately throwing the brick at the window of the synagogue because it was a Jewish temple,” Sarasota Police Department Detective Frank Castro wrote in the probable cause affidavit dated July 30.

“He stated he was anti-Israel,” Castro added.

The only political content found on his public Instagram account was Mamdani’s July 21 video labeling Netanyahu with the “war criminal” moniker.

“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” New York’s socialist mayor said in a video address that repeats unproven, pro-Hamas talking points.

This act of hate would not have happened had Mamdani not seen fit to disseminate this video. It is only a matter of time before Mamdani words result in death. The frightening thing is that even if his words do result in deaths, he will say those deaths have no place in our society and then continue to use his office to incite further violence against Jews.  

Strolling & Trolling in North Kingstown, Rhode Island

For the third summer in row, I took a daytrip to Rhode Island to see my friend Christopher Kain. 

Two years ago, our focus was Providence with stops at the RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) Museum, the Providence Athenaeum and Brown University before taking in the WaterFire along the Providence River. It was a fabulous time until I fell, bloodied my knee and ripped my pants and then discovering the Commuter Rail back to Boston was inoperable due to a felled tree on the tracks in Canton. Last year, we ventured to Newport highlighted by a visit to the Castle Island Lighthouse and dinner at the Valley Inn Restaurant in Portsmouth.

This year, we made our way to North Kingstown which is just under 25 miles south of Providence. Our first destination was an art installation of a troll by Thomas Dambo in Ryan Park. These trolls are wooden sculptures made mainly of recycled materials. This troll you see below is called the Iver Mudslider and is Troll 161 out of an estimated 170 which are situated all over the world. After we concluded our visit, several people asked us if we had been trolling. Indeed, we had.

From there, we made our way to Wickford which is a village within North Kingstown which has a large number of 18th Century colonial homes. It is Christopher's favorite spot in all of Rhode Island. Before we explored the area, we had lunch at Tavern by the Sea where I enjoyed salmon, veggies and rice pilaf without any dressing or sauce and it was quite refreshing. Equally refreshing was the level of service provided by our waitress, Leah. 

After our meal, Christopher showed me several antiques store before we made our way onto Main Street to look at these houses. Christopher then led me to the Old Narragansett Church which is believed to be the oldest Episcopalian house of worship in New England. We met with the church caretakers who showed us the pipe organ built in 1680 which has been with the church since 1800.

As you can imagine, this church was not air conditioned. So, we went back out in the 90-degree weather to cool off and made our way down to the ocean. After all, we were in the Ocean State.

We concluded the afternoon with a visit to the Village Ice Cream & Soup shop. I was hoping there would be gazpacho on this hot day. But I settled for a scoop of vegan cookies 'n cream ice cream before heading back to Providence where Christopher dropped me off at the train station.

Honestly, it doesn't seem like we did all that much, but what I described to you took place over a period of 6 hours. This was truly a day trip.

So, what will my next Rhode Island adventure be? I would like to go duckpin bowling. It is something I have not done since I was in Atlanta. Or perhaps we can pick some tulips next spring. Who knows? Maybe we venture to Westerly and bump into Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

In such a small place the possibilities are endless.

A Thought for Mike Krukow

Yesterday, Mike Krukow announced he will be retiring from broadcasting San Francisco Giants games at the end of the 2026 season. Krukow has been in the Giants broadcast booth, mainly with Duane Kuiper, since 1990. The pair, both former MLB players, are affectionately known as Kruk & Kuip. 

Prior to joining the Giants broadcast booth, Krukow pitched in San Francisco for 7 of his 14 MLB seasons from 1983 to 1989 with his best season coming in 1986 when he won 20 games and finished third in NL Cy Young balloting. Krukow has spent more than half of his life with the Giants organization.

Krukow is retiring with great reluctance. Sadly, for the past 20 years, Krukow has been battling inclusion body myositis, a degenerative muscle disease. It has affected his ability to move to the point where he has been broadcasting games remotely from his home in Reno, Nevada for the past several seasons. Kruk hopes to remain with the Giants in some other capacity. Some suggest that the Giants make him a special pitching adviser given his encyclopedic knowledge of pitching. 

I have occasionally viewed Kruk and Kuip cover Giants games on the MLB Network over the years. The pair have an easy camaraderie. Krukow is particularly knowledgeable without going over people's heads. Both men bring a joy to broadcasting and Giants fans tune in to find that joy even in a season which has been so disappointing for the Giants. 

The Giants enter tonight 21 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. At this point, the only reason to tune into Giants games is to hear Kruk & Kuip together for one last summer. Because after this year, it just won't be the same. 

Jon Stewart Doesn't Think Israel is Part of The Jewish Community

 

I've never thought Jon Stewart was particularly funny. Not when he had a syndicated talk show more than 30 years ago and not today.

I've also never taken Jon Stewart seriously as a political analyst. Whenever he would be overmatched by someone who knew what they were talking about such as John Yoo, Stewart would by default say, 'I'm a comedian,' Well, that's a debatable proposition. In any case, I believe Stewart is daft.

Case in point was his testy interview with Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman over his support for Israel. At one point in the interview, Fetterman told Stewart that he supports Israel in part because when Jews are persecuted "things end badly." Stewart shot back, "The Jewish community and Israel are not the same thing, brother-man. That is not the same thing."

If that is true then why did Ayman Mohamad Ghazali drive his truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan armed with a rifle and with explosives? In the days which followed, newspaper headlines proclaimed the shooter's family had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. What was not mentioned was that Ghazali's brother was a Hezbollah commander. Abdul El-Sayed, now the Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, excused Ghazali's action stating that "hurt people hurt people." Those who hate Jews make no distinction between Jews in Israel, Jews in San Jose or Jews in the Philippines. 

Stewart's comment, on its face, is also absurd. Israel is a part of the Jewish community. Nearly half the world's Jewish population is in Israel. A country which emerged out of the ashes of the Holocaust after most of the world refused to admit Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler. Frederick Blair, the civil servant in charge of Canada's immigration system proclaimed, "None is too many."  It is those attitudes which necessitated the creation of Israel and necessitate its continuation. Indeed, the cradle of Judaism is to be found in Jerusalem. To suggest that Jews have no ties to Israel is akin to suggesting that Muslims have no ties to Mecca.

Of course, while Stewart is Jewish it is clear that he is woefully ignorant of his people's history and culture. I also suspect that Stewart is ashamed of being Jewish and hence his hostility to a non-Jew like Fetterman who goes out on a limb to support Israel and the Jewish community at large. After all, his real name is Jon Leibowitz. Alas, he is not the first Jew to Anglicize his name and sadly he won't be the last.

Seven Thoughts on El-Sayed Becoming The Democratic Nominee in the Michigan Senate Race

I have some thoughts I would like to share about Abdul El-Sayed becoming the Democratic nominee in the Michigan Senate race last night.

No Double-Digit Victory for El-Sayed

El-Sayed was widely expected to crush Haley Stevens by double-digits last night based on recent polls. Although he never trailed, El-Sayed only prevailed by 1% (48.5% to 47.5%) which adds up to all of about 15,000 votes. Somehow, Mallory McMorrow who dropped out last month earned 4% of the vote. How would those 61,000 votes have been split had she been off the ballot? El-Sayed might still have prevailed, but this was no cakewalk. He and his people have an air of overconfidence, and it nearly cost him. 

A Narrow Victory for El-Sayed is Still Very Cold Comfort

The fact that El-Sayed by a narrow margin is very cold comfort to me. After all, a plurality of Michigan Democrats didn't care they were voting for a vile anti-Semite. His proclamations of love to the Jewish people and Judaism ring hollow so long as he insists on palling around with Hasan Piker who champions Hamas, the organization responsible for the deaths of the most Jews since the Holocaust while making excuses for the terrorist attack on a synagogue in his own state.

I Partially Agree with Trump's Assessment of El-Sayed

After El-Sayed had been declared the winner, Trump wrote on Truth Social:

Great news for the Republican Party. El-Sayed, a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel, is the projected winner in his race with the Socialist.

I agree with Trump when he says El-Sayed hates Jews and Israel. However, I think it would be more accurate to describe El-Sayed as an Islamist with a leftist facade. I'm also not sure if El-Sayed's victory is such great news for Republicans.

Republicans Are Overconfident Against El-Sayed

Matt Vespa of Townhall.com thinks El-Sayed's victory all but guarantees Republicans will retain control of the Senate. It is certainly a possibility that Mike Rogers will pick up this seat for Republicans against El-Sayed, but there is a lot of ground to cover in Michigan over the next three months.

For starters, El-Sayed has a strong ground game. Trump can scream fraud all he wants but El-Sayed has demonstrated he can get voters to pull the lever for him.

Speaking of Trump, he looms very large in this race. His disapproval rate in Michigan reflects the national average and isn't likely to get any better over the next three months. El-Sayed will do everything he can to tie Rogers to Trump.

Mike Rogers had better campaign with everything he can muster because he will need every bit of it.

If I Lived in Michigan, I Would Vote for Rogers with Reservations

I am thankful that I do not live in Michigan just as I am grateful that I do not live in Texas. But if I were a Texas voter, I could not bring myself to vote for either Republican Ken Paxton or Democrat James Talarico.

But if I were a Michigan voter, I would cast my ballot for Rogers. My vote would be more against El-Sayed than for Rogers. Again, El-Sayed is a vile anti-Semite. I don't want vile anti-Semites elected to the U.S. Senate. Unlike Paxton, Rogers does not have a history of corruption and knows how things work.

When it comes to Israel, I hope Rogers will put El-Sayed on the defensive and tie him to Hamas and Hezbollah and take him to task for his irresponsible statements concerning the synagogue shooting in West Bloomfield Township.

Yet I am not without reservations where it concerns Rogers. When Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in the 2020 election, Rogers urged Trump to accept the results. Rogers doesn't say such things anymore and has indulged Trump's conspiracy theories when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024 (narrowly losing to Elissa Slotkin) and in his current run for office.

Like other Republicans, I have no doubt Rogers doesn't believe any of Trump's nonsense where it concerns elections. The reality however is that the price of admission for running under the Republican Party banner is to indulge in Trump's election denialism.

Stevens is Fully Backing El-Sayed Days After She Accused Him of Engaging in Anti-Semitism

Yet let us not kid ourselves. The Democratic Party has a price of admission to run under its banner and in our current age that price of admission of is for its candidates to accuse Israel of genocide.

If Stevens wants to have a future in the Democratic Party, then that means she is going to have to support openly anti-Semitic candidates for office.

As mentioned, a few short days ago, Stevens castigated El-Sayed for wanting "to blame all of your problems on Jewish Americans." But when asked by CNN if she would support El-Sayed if he won the primary, Stevens said, "You bet."

Now perhaps Stevens will endorse him but keep her distance and not campaign with him. But if Stevens wants to return to Congress or decides she wants to run for Governor if Republican John James beats Democrat Jocelyn Benson, she will very likely have to back El-Sayed to the hilt. Of course, Stevens could do this, and Democratic primary voters will decide she is a Zionist and roundly reject her.

Conclusion: El Sayed's Election to the U.S. Senate Would Be Another Step in Legitimizing Anti-Semitism in America

While Democratic voters at large do not universally support anti-Semitic candidates, a plurality does and that plurality is likely to grow in years to come. Although Republicans sense an opportunity to gain a seat, they and especially Rogers would be foolish to underestimate El-Sayed's organization and the albatross that is President Trump.

If El-Sayed is elected to the U.S. Senate, then it would be another step in the legitimization of anti-Semitism in this country and perhaps a step more significant than the election of Zohran Mamdani in New York City. While NYC is a firmly left-wing city, the same cannot be said for Michigan. His election would demonstrate there is broader acceptance of anti-Semitism beyond left-wing precincts.

Michigan voters have three months to decide if they want to play a role in legitimizing anti-Semitism in this country or if they want to vote for decency.