What Private Sector Employer Would Hire Ex-Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer?

Today, Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned as President Trump's Secretary of Labor. 

Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican Congresswoman from Oregon, is the third member of President Trump's cabinet who has departed in less than two months. In March, Trump demoted Kristi Noem from Homeland Security to Special Envoy for the Shields of America and earlier this month Trump fired Pam Bondi as Attorney General.

In Chavez-DeRemer's case it was corruption and personal misconduct. Among other things, Chavez-DeRemer allegedly found time to have an extramarital affair with a subordinate, drank on the job while her aides masked personal travel under official government business. Chavez-DeRemer's husband Shawn DeRemer was also barred from the Labor Department's HQ after several female employees accused him of sexual harassment. Chavez-DeRemer was due to meet with the Department's Inspector General concerning the allegations. 

What gets me is that White House Deputy Press Secretary Steven Cheung's explanation that Chavez-Demer was departing the Trump Administration "to take a position in the private sector." Yes, I know the Trump Administration is trying to save face here. But given what has happened at the Department of Labor under her watch what private sector employer would to see fit to hire her?

Well, I suppose she could always work at Fox News or somewhere in the conservative media ecosystem. I cannot imagine anyone else hiring Chavez-Demer.

So, who will be next to be fired or forced out of the Trump Administration?

My money would be on FBI Director Kash Patel, defamation lawsuit or no defamation lawsuit. If Chavez-Demer needed to leave the Trump Administration for drinking on the job and using government resources for personal business, then Patel deserves the same fate for his own behavior in these areas.

Reflections on The Boston Marathon

Today, I took the day off of work to watch the Boston Marathon in person.

It was the first time I had done so since 2022, just under a year after returning the Boston area. Upon looking at my posts, for whatever reason, I did not see fit to write about it at the time. Perhaps I just wanted to experience it and keep the memory for myself. But that isn't like me.

Yet given that the Boston Marathon is an event known all over the world and I've had a chance to view it firsthand on a number of occasions, I think it warrants a few thoughts.

For those who don't know, the Boston Marathon occurs on Patriot's Day which is observed in Massachusetts and in Maine (which was originally part of the Massachusetts colony) as the start of the American Revolution. On that same day, the Boston Red Sox play a home game which starts at 11 a.m. which aside from the Washington Nationals' 11 a.m. start time on the Fourth of July are the only morning games on MLB's schedule.

When I first lived in Boston, I lived in the Fenway neighborhood. Some years, I would go to see the Red Sox play in the morning and then saunter over to Commonwealth Avenue to watch the marathon. In other years, when I was at work, I would walk from Downtown Boston to the Back Bay and take in the marathon from Commonwealth Avenue or even make my way to Boylston Street near the finish line.

I remember the 2012 Boston Marathon as temperatures neared 90 degrees. Not ideal weather in which to run a marathon.

Then came the 2013 Boston Marathon. 

That year, I decided to go to Concord and visit Minuteman National Historical Park and stand on the bridge where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. This may very well saved my life.

While I was there, Mom phoned to tell me of the Boston Marathon Bombing. Yes, in the internet age, Mom knew about the terrorist attack from her living room in Thunder Bay, Ontario earlier than I did as I stood less than 25 miles away.

I immediately made my way home.

It was a tense week as the bombers remained at large and then the whole city was placed on lockdown on Friday until the last bomber was pinned down in Watertown. Much of Boylston Street was shut down for more than a week. I remember watching people in white hazmat suits from Newbury Street. It was right out of a sci-fi movie and every bit as eerie.

Under the circumstances. I was determined to be at the Boston Marathon in 2014 and made good on my vow. But one could not get near Boylston Street. From that year onward, I would watch the marathon near the intersection of Mass and Commonwealth Avenue (as you can see in the picture above) about ½ mile from the finish line.

Of course, I left Boston for a few years. I didn't see the New York Marathon although I saw many of its participants on the Upper West Side. Since returning here, aside from today and in 2022, I have spent most of my Patriot's Day traveling from or to New York. During last year's Boston Marathon, I headed to NYC for my very first business trip.

Today, I probably spent a little over half an hour watching the 130th running of the Boston Marathon. In that time, I probably saw hundreds, perhaps over 1,000 runners. There was a mix of men and women, young and old of all shapes and sizes. Most were running, some walked. Several wore military uniforms. For some, this was not their first race while for others this was the first time they made it over Heartbreak Hill. There were people from all over the world passing by in that short space of time. I'm not sure how they did it, but they did. I have no doubt all of those people spent a lot of time and effort preparing for this race. 

Could I do such a thing? Perhaps if I spent all my waking hours doing so. I've never been much good at running. Never had much speed. Although this is race of endurance. Alas, I am prone to shin splints. Besides I prefer to get my exercise in the swimming pool.

I do remember running a 2K race when I was in the eighth grade. It took place on the campus of Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. I remember running by one of the campus residences and a fellow opening his window and shouting out at me, "Fuck you, asshole!!!" That wasn't exactly the kind of encouragement I was seeking. Mom did tell me that a couple of runners from Thunder Bay made their way here to compete in this year's event. It turns out one of them also struggled during his first 2K race.

Truth be told, when it comes to running be it the Boston Marathon or a 2K road race, I think I am content to be an observer and a spectator.

Michigan Democrats Oust Jewish Incumbent in Favor of Pro-Hezbollah Candidate for University of Michigan Board of Regents

(Amir Makled on the left & Jordan Acker on the right)

In some very disturbing news, Democrats in Michigan have ousted Jordan Acker, a Jewish pro-Israel member of the University of Michigan Board of Regents in favor of Amir Makled, a candidate who has praised Hezbollah.

Last I checked, Hezbollah is still a terrorist organization.

Acker was targeted by Makled because he opposed efforts by the BDS movement to divest university funds from Israel while also supporting disciplinary actions against anti-Israel students who had occupied the campus. For his positions, Acker's home has been vandalized on multiple occasions.

Of note, Michigan Democrats did renominate Paul Brown. Like Acker, he opposed efforts by the BDS movement to divest university funds from Israel while also supporting disciplinary actions against anti-Israel students who had occupied the campus. 

Yet there was no challenge to Brown's candidacy much less any violence visited upon his home.

Makled targeted Acker because he is Jewish and Michigan Democrats went along with it.

Shame on them!!!

This could be a harbinger of things to come. Michigan Democrats could very well nominate Abdul El-Sayed this August, a man who has made excuses for the pro-Hezbollah attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township.

Even if Michigan Democrats do not nominate El-Sayed, I suspect that both Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow will be very circumspect in whatever support they have for Israel, let alone Michigan's Jewish community so as not to alienate El-Sayed's base of support in the Democratic Party.

If El-Sayed is nominated and wins the general election, it will demonstrate mainstream acceptance of anti-Semitism especially if Maine voters also choose Hamas sympathizer Graham Platner over Susan Collins in that Senate race.

On the other hand, if El-Sayed is nominated, it could also motivate a sliver of Democrats and independents to defect and result in the election of former GOP Congressman Mike Rogers. This would be a Republican gain in what is expected to be a Blue Wave against Trump this November. In which case, a Republican gain is also possible in the University of Michigan Board of Regents election.

As much as I loathe MAGA, this would probably the best possible outcome as it might teach Democrats a lesson that it's not a good idea to support candidates who are pro-Hamas, pro-Hezbollah and anti-American.

Harris Claims Netanyahu "Pulled" Trump Into War with Iran

During an appearance at Michigan Democratic Party event yesterday, 2024 Democratic nominee Kamala Harris claimed that Israeli Prime Minister "pulled" President Trump into war with Iran.

When Harris says that Bibi pulled Trump into war does she mean by puppet strings?

If she does, then Harris is promoting an anti-Semitic trope. 

Let's keep in mind that it was Harris' campaign who in vetting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate questioned his loyalty to this country on account of his Jewish faith.

Of course, Harris remarks concerning Iran were utterly incoherent. While accusing Netanyahu of pulling Trump into military actions, Harris also claimed Trump was using the war to distract the country from the Epstein files.

So, which is it? Are we at war with Iran because Trump is doing Bibi's bidding or because Trump is trying to distract us from the Epstein files?

Trump's actions in Iran certainly warrant criticism and I have given my share of it. But if Harris and Democrats insist on responding to Trump's demagoguery with demagoguery of their own, they will not inspire my confidence.

It is also difficult to take Harris' claims about Bibi seriously when we consider Trump's public admonition on Friday that Israel refrains from any military action against Lebanon even if fired upon by Hezbollah. 

Yet it would appear that Harris is serious about another White House bid. If this is the case, Harris (and probably every other Democratic Party hopeful) is going to make Israel public enemy number one and, by extension, make it clear that America's Jewish community is not welcome in the Democratic fold unless they renounce Israel.

Unlike 2024, Kamala Harris will not have my vote however revolting Trump, Vance & company are. At this point, I do not trust anyone, Democrat or Republican. Those who do not have my trust are not entitled to my vote.

Mets Lose 10 Straight After 7-4 Start; Is Mendoza Nearing The End of The Line?

The New York Mets have lost their 10th consecutive game falling 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

The Mets began the 2026 MLB season winning 7 of their first 11 games and actually had a ½ game lead in the NL East following an extra inning victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 7th. They are now 7 games back of the Atlanta Braves. During this 10-game skid, the Mets have been outscored 60-16 and shutout thrice.

Although we are scarcely into the second inning of the season, it is reasonable to wonder if Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza is nearing the end of the line.

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

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

Of course, the Mets underwent a significant overhaul during the offseason. Pete Alonso signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles with closer Edwin Diaz doing the same with the Dodgers while Jeff McNeil was traded to the Athletics. Brandon Nimmo was shipped to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien. The Mets did acquire the services of former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette but really wanted Kyle Tucker who signed with (who else?) the Dodgers as well as Luis Robert, Jr. from the Chisox not to mention Devin Williams from the crosstown Yankees. They also acquired Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta.

Much of this is beyond the control of Mendoza. But Mendoza did lift Peralta in favor of Brooks Raley this afternoon who promptly gave up a pinch hit 3-run HR to Carson Kelly. Losing to the Cubs must add an extra sting when you consider that current Cubs skipper Craig Counsell was their top choice after they dismissed Buck Showalter following the 2023 season, but Counsell didn't want a bite of the Big Apple.

Bichette (.227 1 HR & 9 RBI) and Semien (.216 1 HR & 8 RBI) are struggling at the plate along with Francisco Lindor (.214 1 HR & 1 RBI) and Brett Baty (.190 0 HR & 7 RBI) who are hitting at or the below the Mendoza Line. That would be Mario, not Carlos. Still, Mario Mendoza isn't sitting on the hot seat.

Their pitching hasn't been much better. Although Peralta (1-2 4.05 ERA), Nolan McLean (1-1 2.28 ERA) and Clay Holmes (2-2 1.96 ERA) have pitched serviceably, both David Peterson (0-3 6.41 ERA) and Kodai Senga (0-3 8.83 ERA) have been getting hammered. Williams has been ineffective in the closer role with his 6.75 ERA, and the Mets are now relying on Craig Kimbrel. While Kimbrel is a future Hall of Famer, he has not saved a game since 2024.

As Jeff Passan noted, only four teams in MLB history have reached the post-season following a losing streak of 10 games or longer although one of those teams was the Cleveland Guardians from last season. Indeed, the Guardians were 15½ games back of the Detroit Tigers on Fourth of July weekend only to win the AL Central.

The Mets aren't that deep in the hole, and they are expected to get Juan Soto back off the injury list before the end of the month. Let us also consider that the rest of the NL East outside of the Braves isn't exactly lighting the world on fire. The Philadelphia Phillies, who are coming off four straight post-season appearances including back-to-back NL East titles and the NL pennant in 2022, have had an almost equally disappointing start. The Miami Marlins have lost 7 of their last 8 games following an 8-5 start. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals could be headed for their 7th straight losing season after winning the World Series in 2019.

So, with a scant 141 games to play, the Mets have time to turn the corner. However, there remains a question if that will happen with Carlos Mendoza in the dugout.

Tom DiMenna Could Have Read Gordon Lightfoot's Mind

 

For those who have the privilege of truly knowing me will be aware that my musical wheelhouse is centered firmly in the early 1970s with a special emphasis on singer-songwriters - Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens and Gordon Lightfoot among others.

This afternoon, I ventured to the Church of the Presidents in Quincy, Massachusetts (just south of Boston) to see and hear Maine based folk singer Tom DiMenna pay homage to Chapin, Stevens and Lightfoot in a spring edition of the Story Songs of the 70s. 

I did have some slight trepidation in attending this event. In September 2024, I saw an outfit called Wild Taxi perform a tribute to Cat Stevens and Harry Chapin at City Winery in Boston. The experience was a mixed bag. Their set for Stevens was remarkable but decidedly lackluster with Chapin despite having his longtime drummer Howie Fields in their group. I should note that Wild Taxi is part of a larger group called Satinwood which also has a fine tribute show for Gordon Lightfoot and Jim Croce called Rainy Day People which I attended at City Winery's Haymarket Lounge in August 2022.

During DiMenna's 16-song, 75-minute set, there were only three Chapin songs - "Taxi", "I Wanna Learn a Love Song" and "Cats in the Cradle", the latter of which he noted is his 2-year-old son's favorite song. DiMenna also noted that many in his audience firmly believe that Stevens, not Chapin wrote "Cats in the Cradle". This is something that Stevens (a.k.a. Yusuf) has also debunked apparently to no avail.

As for Stevens, DiMenna sang five of his songs - "The Wind", "Moonshadow", "If You Want to Sing Out", "Oh Very Young" and "Father and Son". Whereas Wild Taxi covered much of the Tea for the Tillerman album, "Father and Son" was the only song from that album which made the cut during DiMenna's set.

A very amusing thing happened before DiMenna played "If You Want to Sing Out". DiMenna recounted a story from the set of Harold and Maude where Stevens saw Ruth Gordon play the song on piano. Stevens then pulled director Hal Ashby aside and said her rendition was terrible. Ashby reminded Stevens that he missed the point of his own song, a point which Stevens had to concede. After telling this story, the MC came on the microphone in the back of the room and informed DiMenna that Gordon was born in Quincy. To which DiMenna replied, "Thank you, G-d!!!", to uproarious laughter.

After the song, I shouted out "Rest in Peace Bud Cort" in tribute to the Harold and Maude star who passed away in February. This proved to be a mistake. A woman sitting in the pew to my right shot me an angry, dirty look. Perhaps some things are best left unsaid. Or perhaps I'm not the right person to say it.

DiMenna is definitively closest in both sound and in spirit to Gordon Lightfoot. Indeed, DiMenna has Lightfoot's vocal inflections and made a point of saying he was in "a Gordon frame of mind." When I heard DiMenna's renditions of Chapin and Stevens, I heard a lot of Lightfoot in there. In all, DiMenna sang eight Lightfoot songs: "Pussywillows Cattails", "Early Morning Rain", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Rainy Day People", "The House You Live In" and a rousing rendition of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" before ending the show with a two-song encore of "Carefree Highway" and "Race Among The Ruins".

DiMenna confessed that he was unfamiliar with "The House You Live In" until he was approached by someone at a gig in Vermont to play the song. When DiMenna told the fan he was not familiar with the song, the fan whispered in his ear, "You need to learn this song." DiMenna then asked why and the fan whispered. "I think it speaks to the times," and then promptly walked away.

Before playing "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", DiMenna mentioned there was a recently a show in which a couple was dancing to the tragic epic. For his part, DiMenna said if the audience chose to dance to "The Wreck" "there was no judgment from this side of the stage." Ably accompanying DiMenna onstage were Dan Clayderman on bass and harmonies and Frank Fotusky on guitar.

If you are a fan of early 1970's singer-songwriter music, then you will enjoy your time with Tom DiMenna especially if you're a Gordon Lightfoot. It was as if he could read his mind.

Maine Democratic Senate Candidate Platner is a Nazi Tattoo Wearing Hamas Apologist

 

(WGME)

Last week, I focused on Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's excusing the terrorist attack against Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township last month.

Sadly, El-Sayed is not the only Democratic Senate hopeful with dubious views.

Graham Platner, who is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate in Maine, has a long history anti-Semitic words and deeds.

A few days ago, it was revealed the Platner had praised Hamas in 2014. During a Hamas raid which killed five Israeli soldiers, Platner posted on Reddit, "I dig it."

Platner also recently amplified a social media post by white supremacist Stew Peters (before deleting it). What is not so easily deleted was his interview in January with anti-Semitic podcast host Nate Cornacchia who has claimed that Israel is responsible for the assassination of both JFK and Charlie Kirk. Platner describes himself as "a longtime fan" of Cornacchia.

And there is the Nazi tattoo. Platner says the tattoo is now covered. But his hate for Jews is plain to see.

In a different time, civilized society would have shunned Platner.

But in most polls, Platner is leading sitting Governor Janet Mills by a 2-1 margin.

Platner has earned the endorsement of Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego and will be campaigning with Massachusetts' own Elizabeth Warren this weekend.

From where I sit, this makes Platner far more dangerous than El-Sayed in Michigan at the moment. The only Senate endorsement El-Sayed has received is from Bernie Sanders who is technically an Independent although he caucuses with the Democrats and has twice sought the party's presidential nomination.

If Democratic voters nominate either Platner or El-Sayed then they are no better than the ICE supporting MAGA who make up Trump's base.

What good is accomplished by replacing one set of hateful bigots with another?

If Democrats in Maine do choose Platner, he will face Republican Susan Collins who is seeking her sixth term in office. She cannot be said to be true MAGA. Although one can reasonably criticize Collins for not learning her lesson when it comes to President Trump she has been effective in working behind the scenes in minimizing the impact of his administration's budget cuts. However, this might not matter in mid-term elections where anti-Trump sentiment is running high and deservedly so. 

Collins knows how to govern. All Platner is good at it is being a performative asshole who digs Hamas while trying to hide an anti-Semitism which can never be removed.

Garret Anderson May Have Been The Greatest Player to Wear an Angels Uniform

 

Former MLB player Garrett Anderson passed away suddenly yesterday of an apparent heart attack. He was only 53.

On a personal note, I am also 53. This is the sort of thing which makes one sit up and take notice and take stock.

Anderson played 17 MLB seasons - 15 of them with the Angels. Whether it was the California Angels, Anaheim Angels or Los Angeles Angels, Anderson wore the uniform well and, outside of Mike Trout, might have been the greatest Angel of them all. 

Drafted out of high school by the Angels in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft, Anderson would have a cup of coffee with the big-league team during the strike shortened 1994 season. In 1995, Anderson finished second in AL Rookie of the Year balloting to Minnesota Twins slugger Marty Cordova. That 1995 season was marred by the late season collapse which resulted in the Seattle Mariners' first ever post-season appearance.

Anderson reached the peak of his career between 2000-2003 driving in 100 plus runs each of these seasons. In 2002, Anderson would be a crucial figure in earning the Angels' lone World Series title. Anderson's bases loaded double off Livan Hernandez in Game 7 of that Fall Classic against the San Francisco Giants proved to be the game winner. He would finish fourth in AL MVP balloting that season hitting .306 with 29 HR and 123 RBI along with a league leading 56 doubles. In 2003, Anderson would again lead the AL in doubles with 49 and also earned the All-Star Game MVP going 3-for-4 with a two-run HR off Woody Williams en route to a 7-6 AL victory at Chicago's Comiskey Park.

Anderson played with the Halos through 2008. He spent 2009 with the Atlanta Braves and finished his career in Southern California in 2010 with the cross-town rival Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2228 career games, Anderson collected 2529 career hits for a lifetime batting average of .293 with 287 HR and 1365 RBI. Those 1365 RBI ties him with Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda for 87th on MLB's all-time list.

Those totals will likely be surpassed by MLB's active RBI leader Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers later this season. Freeman enters tonight with 1336 RBI, one ahead of Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and one behind Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. As it happens, Anderson was Freeman's favorite player growing up. The two became friends and Freeman remembered Anderson as "a beautiful man." 

While it has been nearly 20 years since Anderson last wore an Angels uniform, he remains the team's all-time leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), RBIs (1,292), doubles (489), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796) and grand slams (eight). Anderson's 2529 hits place him 96th on MLB's all-time list while his 522 career doubles place in a three-way tie for 50th on MLB's all-time list with Johnny Damon and Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty. Anderson hit only 2 fewer doubles than Ken Griffey, Jr. He was in some very, very good company.

Alas, Anderson would only receive a single vote on the 2016 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. There's a crowded outfield in Cooperstown. Perhaps there isn't a spot for him but surely, he warranted more than a single vote. Perhaps the Contemporary Era Committee will give him a look one of these years. 

Hall of Fame or not, Garret Anderson will always be an Angel in the outfield. R.I.P.

Carney Cobbles Together a Liberal Majority Government Nearly a Year After Canadian Federal Election

Tonight, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has gone from a Liberal minority to a Liberal majority government.

Thus far the Liberals have earned two by-election victories in the Toronto area - one in the riding of University-Rosedale which is in downtown Toronto and the other in Scarborough Southwest which is situated east of downtown. The latter riding was won by Dolly Begum who began 2026 as the Deputy Leader of the Ontario NDP before she jumped from provincial to federal politics and in the process jumped ship to the Liberals. 

The Liberals could win one more byelection in Quebec having pulled ahead of the Bloc Quebecois in the constituency of Terrebonne, a north shore suburb of Montreal. In last year's election, the BQ won the seat, but a recount gave it to the Liberals by a single vote until the Supreme Court of Canada annulled the result in February and ordered the by-election. If the Liberals sweep that will give them 174 seats - a two-seat majority but a majority just the same.

But the journey from minority to majority has been months in the making. Nearly a year ago, the Liberals hung onto a minority parliament under Carney's leadership. President Trump's jingoistic gave the Liberals a lifeline with Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

In the year since the election, the Liberals have cobbled together a majority government primarily through defections from both the Conservatives and the NDP. Between November 2025 and February 2026, three Tory MPs jumped ship to the Liberals - Chris d'Entremont from Nova Scotia, Michael Ma from Markham, just northeast of Toronto and Edmonton area MP Matt Jeneroux.

Last month, the Liberals earned a defection from the NDP in Lori Idlout, who is an MP from the Nunavut territory. Then last week, another Conservative MP joined the Liberal ranks. Marilyn Gladu, an MP from Sarnia, Ontario situated on the bottom of Lake Huron about three hours southwest of Toronto, became the latest and most surprising defection. A former federal leadership candidate for the Tories, Gladu is known for her socially conservative views on LGBTQ issues.

There are those who question the legitimacy of the Liberals getting to a majority government primarily by floor crossings. Many moons ago there was a NDP MP from Nova Scotia named Peter Stoffer who vigorously opposed floor crossings and proposed a private members bill which would not permit floor crossings. Any MP who left his or her party would either have to sit as an independent or if they wished to join another party, resign their seat and run in a by-election under their new party affiliation.

On a personal note, I twice interviewed with Stoffer for job in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Needless to say, I was not selected but found him to be an affable fellow. 

While I am not unsympathetic to Stoffer's argument, as Michael Barone has long argued, "All process arguments are insincere." 

Poilievre rails against floor crossings. But if Poilievre had the chance to lure Liberal, NDP and maybe even a Bloc Quebecois MP into the Tory fold so he could become Prime Minister, does anyone honestly think he would pass up the opportunity?

The fact is that Mark Carney is better than Pierre Poilievre at politics. If Poilievre had done a better job of building relationships within his caucus, then perhaps there would not be a Liberal majority today. Meanwhile, the NDP is a sinking ship at the federal level. Avi Lewis might excite the far-left grassroots, but he literally accepted his party's leadership in front of a Palestinian flag, not a Canadian one. 

The Liberals under Carney want to govern while the Tories and NDP want to appeal to their lunatic fringes. So long as this is the case coupled with Donald Trump's presence in the White House then the Liberal majority is staying put for the foreseeable future.

This isn't to say that I don't have concerns about Carney. I am deeply concerned about Carney's priorities where it concerns Israel and Canadian Jews and their institutions being expelled from civil society. Alas, the NDP is even worse when it comes to Israel and the status of Canadian Jews while I'm afraid the Tories are merely paying lip service.

As it stands, Carney gets the Liberals back into the majority government column. We'll see if Canadians will want to keep this Liberal majority in 2029. If Trump decides to create a constitutional crisis and run for a third term or if we choose another Republican President hostile to Canada, then Mark Carney will call 24 Sussex Drive home for years to come.

Orban Concedes After Being Ousted by Hungarian Voters; Trump Would Never Do The Same

After ruling Hungary with an iron fist for more than 15 years, its voters have decidedly ousted Viktor Orban's Fidesz Party in favor of Peter Magyar, a one-time ally of Orban who broke with him a couple of years ago.

Most crucially Orban, an ally of both Vladimir Putin and President Trump, conceded defeat. Considering the amount of control Orban had in Hungary and his alliance with both Putin and Trump, this is a remarkable development. If nothing else, it demonstrates that Hungarians can still choose their own destiny and that the will of the people counts for something.

Of course, it is entirely possible that Magyar will prove to be every bit as autocratic as Orban. And who can say Orban, who is only 62 (but looks decades older) won't be returned to power in a few short years as we in America chose to return Trump to power despite his incompetence and corrupt ways.

Nevertheless, I cannot emphasize Orban's concession enough. Because this is the crucial difference between Trump and Orban. Trump will never publicly accept the results of the 2020 election much less acknowledge that Joe Biden was the President of the United States. Indeed, Trump will never accept the result of any election which he does not win. What complicates matters is Trump may very well contest the 2028 presidential election despite the 22nd Amendment. And even if he doesn't run, should we elect a Republican President then Trump will be the defacto President much in the way Putin was when he held the position of "Prime Minister" when Dmitri Medvedev held the title of Russian Federation President.

For many years, the MAGA crowd has held Orban with deep affection. Indeed, Orban was warmly received at CPAC in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Both Vice-President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio gave what amounted to campaign speeches for Orban during this election not to mention Trump's full-throated support on Truth Social. 

Given today's results, it is clear their intervention did Orban more harm than good. The Hungarian people simply had enough and Orban could not reject their verdict much less suggest it was fraudulent in any way. 

The same cannot be said for Trump who by tomorrow might tell us he didn't know Orban very well. It is inconceivable that Trump would utter the words Orban spoke when he said, “The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us.” Such words are not part of Trump's vocabulary, nor would they be a part of any Republican seeking the White House in Trump's stead should he choose not to run. Trump has never let the facts or truth get in the way of what he says or posts on social media. Why would he start now?

Unfortunately, a plurality of the American people has never let the facts and truth get in the way of their support for Trump and probably never will.

Phil Garner Lived Up to His Scrap Iron Nickname as a Player & Manager

Yesterday, former MLB player and manager Phil Garner passed away of pancreatic cancer. He was 76.

A native of Jefferson City, Tennessee, Garner would play collegiate baseball at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. The Montreal Expos would pick Garner in the 8th round of the 1970 MLB draft, but he opted to remain in Tennessee. The following year, Garner would sign with the Oakland A's after being selected third overall in the draft.

Garner would have cups of coffee with the A's in 1973 & 1974 although he would not share in the team's World Series glory. Nicknamed Scrap Iron for his hard-nosed play, Garner would become the team's everyday second baseman in 1975 and would earn an AL All-Star selection in 1976.

Prior to the 1977 season, amid Charlie Finley's deconstruction of the A's, Garner was sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 9-player deal. This was a positive development for Garner as he would follow manager Chuck Tanner to the Steel City. Several months earlier, Finley had traded Tanner to the Pirates in exchange for catcher Manny Sanguillen in a rare manager for player trade. Garner was part of the "We Are Fam-a-lee" Pirates team which won the 1979 World Series splitting his time at second, third and short. While in a Bucs uniform, Garner earned back-to-back NL All-Star Team selections in 1980 & 1981.

Late in the strike-shortened '81 season, Garner would be dealt to the Houston Astros where he would spend the bulk of his career making post-season appearances with the club in both 1981 and 1986. Garner also had brief stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants in the 1987 and 1988 seasons. In 1,860 games over 16 seasons, Garner collected 1,594 hits for a lifetime batting average of .260 with 109 HR and 738 RBI along with 225 stolen bases.

Garner would return to the Astros in 1989 as a member of Art Howe's coaching staff where he would remain for three seasons before being named manager of the Milwaukee Brewers prior to the 1992 season. Garner would lead the Brew Crew to a 92-win season finishing only 4 games behind the eventual World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. Garner would remain in the Brewers dugout for the rest of the decade but would post seven consecutive losing seasons before being dismissed late in the 1999 season. Despite not earning any post-season appearances during his 8 seasons in Milwaukee, his 563 wins as Brewers' skipper is second most in franchise history with only Craig Counsell topping Garner with 707 wins.

In 2000, Garner took over the helm of the Detroit Tigers but had no further success in the Motor City through two more losing seasons before being dismissed 6 games into the 2002 season. 

Garner's managerial career appeared to be over, but the Astros would unexpectedly hire him to replace Jimy Williams in the middle of the 2004 season. Garner would lead the team to a NL Wild Card berth and came within a heartbeat of besting the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. In 2005, the Astros would struggle out of the gate with a 15-30 record before surging to another NL Wild Card berth. They would face the Redbirds in the NLCS yet again but would prevail in second games winning their first and only NL pennant before their move to the AL. Unfortunately for the Astros, they would be swept by the Chicago White Sox who won their first World Series title in 88 years.

Garner's managerial career ended in late in the 2007 season when the team dismissed him in favor of Cecil Cooper. In 15 seasons as a big-league manager, Garner had a record of 985-1054. Aside from a tenure as a special advisor for the Oakland A's in the early 2010s, Garner's baseball days were behind him as he pursued other interests in the oil & gas, agriculture and cattle ranching.

I remember Garner's distinctive mustache although late in his playing career, he sported a clean-shaven look which rendered him almost unrecognizable. The mustache would return during his managerial career.

Garner's passing comes only 72 hours after the death of former MLB player and manager Davey Lopes. The pair were both part of the 1986 NL West champion Houston Astros. Of further note, it was Lopes who succeeded Garner as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers prior to the 2000 season.

Phil Garner lived up to his Scrap Iron moniker as both a player and a manager. R.I.P.

MI Dem Senate Candidate El-Sayed Says There's No Justification for Temple Israel Attack & Then Justifies It

Abdul El-Sayed, who is vying to be the Democratic Party nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, has excused the terrorist attack which took place last month against Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan under the guise of stating nothing justified the violence:

Nothing justifies the heinous attack that we saw on Temple Israel. I also think it’s just critical for us to understand that hurt people do hurt people, and the circumstances happening 6,000 miles away can affect the lives that we live here, and if we stand against violence, we’ve got to stand against violence, all violence. 

Of further note:

When a reporter from The Free Press pressed El-Sayed on his claim, asking whether a similar argument would have allowed sympathy for a Jewish person attacking a mosque after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel, he suggested the circumstances were not the same. 

“After Oct. 7, there was a whole genocide against Palestinians,” El-Sayed said. 

If El-Sayed truly deplored anti-Semitic violence, then he would have simply stated, "Nothing justifies the heinous attack that we saw on Temple Israel." Full stop. 

But he didn't stop there. Hurt people hurt people? No, most people who lose loved one managed to go through life without killing anyone. 

Then El-Sayed went further in justifying the attack on Temple Israel by effectively saying synagogues are legitimate targets for violence because of "genocide against Palestinians."

Never mind that the attacker's family was Lebanese, not Palestinian. Of course, El-Sayed neglects to mention that the attacker's brother was a Hezbollah commander. I suppose in El-Sayed's eyes members of Hezbollah are honorary Palestinians as they joined Hamas attack against Israel on October 8th.

It must be further mentioned that El-Sayed made these comments while campaigning with Hasan Piker, who can be best described as Nick Fuentes without the intellectual pretensions. Piker is someone who has praised Hamas, said he does not care if Hamas committed rape while claiming Orthodox Jews are inbred. El-Sayed tells me a great deal about himself when he excuses violence against Jews attack while campaigning with someone who publicly supports Hamas and promotes hatred against Jews. Furthermore, El-Sayed wants Democrats to publicly embrace Piker and many young Democratic activists are doing exactly that.

El-Sayed is in a three-way race in the Democratic primary with Congresswoman Haley Stevens and State Senator Mallory McMorrow. The winner of that race would face Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in this November's mid-terms. El-Sayed has not previously held public office although he previously made an unsuccessful bid for Governor in 2018 in a race which Gretchen Whitmer prevailed. 

If El-Sayed wins the Democratic Party nomination, it will demonstrate how deeply entrenched anti-Semitism has become in the party. If El-Sayed wins a seat in the U.S. Senate, then it will demonstrate how mainstream anti-Semitism has become in the United States. This neither bodes well for the future of either American Jewry or American democracy.

Davey Lopes Spent 50 Years in Baseball; Will Be Best Remembered as Part of Dodgers Infield with Garvey, Cey & Russell

 

Former MLB player, coach and manager Davey Lopes passed away today of complications of Parkinson's Disease. He was 80.

Lopes will be best remembered as being part of a four-man Los Angeles Dodgers infield which stayed together for 8½ seasons. Joining Lopes at second base was Steve Garvey at first, Bill Russell at shortstop and Ron Cey at third. The foursome played in four NL pennant winners (1974, 1977, 1978 & 1981) earning a World Series ring in 1981.

Born and raised in East Providence, Rhode Island's tight knit Cape Verdean community, Lopes would play collegiate baseball at both at Iowa Wesleyan University and later at Washburn College in Topeka, Kansas. Lopes opted to remain at Washburn after the San Francisco Giants made him their 8th round draft pick in 1967. But he would sign with the Dodgers when they made him their second-round draft pick the following year.

Originally an outfielder, Lopes converted to second base under the tutelage of his manager Tommy Lasorda when he was a member of Triple AAA Spokane Indians in 1970. Lopes would his make big-league debut with the Dodgers late in the 1972 season. In 1973, Lopes would finish 6th in NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

Lopes' greatest strength on the diamond was his baserunning as he would lead the NL in stolen bases in back-to-back seasons in 1975 and 1976 with 77 and 63, respectively. Between 1978 and 1981, Lopes was selected to four consecutive NL All-Star Teams giving Joe Morgan a run for his money as the best second baseman on the Senior Circuit. In 1978, Lopes would earn his lone Gold Glove. Lopes would also be named team captain,

After earning a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 1981, Lopes would be traded to the Oakland A's where he would spend nearly three seasons before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs late in the 1984 season. Lopes would be reunited with Cey as the Cubs would win their first NL East title. The Cubs would fall to the San Diego Padres in the NLCS led by the former infield mate Garvey. The Cubs would send Lopes to the Houston Astros during the 1986 season and would enjoy one more post-season as a player as the Astros earned the NL West title.

Lopes' playing career ended following the 1987 season. Over 16 seasons, Lopes appeared in 1,812 games collecting 1,671 hits for a lifetime batting average of .263 with 155 HR and 614 RBI along with 557 stolen bases. Those 557 stolen bases put him 26th on MLB's all-time list. To put that number into perspective, no active MLB player is in the Top 100 in stolen bases with Starling Marte of the Kansas City Royals tied for 102nd with 361 career steals - nearly 200 fewer than Lopes.

Following his playing career, Lopes spent nearly 30 years as a big-league coach and manager. Lopes had stints as a coach with the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres (twice), Washington Nationals (twice), Philadelphia Phillies as well as five seasons back with the Los Angeles Dodgers as their first base coach between 2011 and 2015. 

In 2000, the Milwaukee Brewers hired Lopes as their manager. Following back-to-back losing seasons, the Brew Crew fired Lopes early in the 2002 season replacing him with Jerry Royster. It was probably just as well because Lopes loved teaching the art of baserunning and stolen bases. 

In his capacity as a coach, Lopes would return to the World Series thrice. First with the San Diego Padres in 1998 and with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 & 2009 with Lopes earning his second World Series ring in 2008. Lopes would retire from baseball after the 2017 season when he coached under his former Dodgers teammate Dusty Baker with the Nats. It is not known if Lopes had been diagnosed with Parkinson's at this point. 

What is clear is that Davey Lopes spent half a century of his life in baseball - 20 as a player at both minor and major league level and nearly three more decades as a coach and manager. Lopes will also be remembered in Providence where he had a sports and recreation center named after him following his retirement as a player.

While Lopes' career fell short of Cooperstown, he enjoyed a solid playing career and built an even deeper legacy as a mentor. R.I.P.

Hours After Claiming "A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight", Trump Gives the Iranian Regime Yet Another Lifeline

This morning, President Trump proclaimed "a whole civilization will die tonight."

By this evening, some 10½ hours later, Trump had given the Iranian regime yet another lifeline and accepted their 10-point proposal as "a workable basis on which to negotiate" via Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir. In the meantime, there is to be a 2-week ceasefire.

Portions of this 10-point plan include giving Iran $2 million for every ship which passes through the Strait of Hormuz, ending all sanctions against the Iranian regime and all military action against Iran's allies in the Middle East including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. 

This is every bit as deranged as telling the whole world that "a whole civilization will die tonight." The Iranian regime now has something it did not have before, and we can thank President Trump for it. Yet there is nothing for which to be thankful.

Needless to say, there is no proposal from Iran about ending its nuclear program, its desire to annihilate Israel or extending more freedoms to its populace. Of course, the Iranian regime isn't interested in these things, and neither is Donald Trump. The Iranians know Trump is looking for a way out and they knew he would take anything they offered him.

Last week, the Iranian regime had rejected a 15-point proposal from the Trump Administration. One of its chief problems was that no one knew what the hell was in the proposal. Not that it mattered much due to Trump's eagerness to accept their own proposal. 

Now don't get me wrong. Trump's rhetoric concerning "a whole civilization will die tonight" was certainly unhelpful and made him come across as more maniacal than the Iranian regime.

Yet when one reads Trump's statement, it his third sentence which is the dead giveaway.

However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen.

In a subsequent Truth Social post, Trump made reference to an official statement from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.  

Araghchi has been Iran's Foreign Minister since August 2024 and was previously the chief negotiator of the Iran nuclear deal from which Trump saw fit to withdraw in 2018.

Where exactly is this Complete and Total Regime Change to which Trump is referring?

Last month, Trump claimed there had been regime change in Iran "because the leaders are all very different than the ones that we started off with."

Yet as I pointed out at the time, "Oh, there might be some new faces, but the regime is exactly as it was before."

The only difference now is that Iranian regime is stronger now than it was before. They are grinning ear to ear because of Trump's bravado and desperation. Perhaps the Iranian regime will name a sewer after him.

Trump Spent 90 Minutes Telling the World How Deranged He is

 

If a Trump supporter wants to accuse you of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) then please refer them to today's White House press conference. 

Because he spent 90 minutes telling the world how deranged he is.

The world was treated to Trump telling us, among other things, that he could run for President of Venezuela and win while easily learning Spanish in the process, brags about how great he gets along with North Korea's Kim-Jong un, that the real reason he is mad at NATO is because they won't let him have Greenland and that Vladimir Putin has explained NATO to him. 

Now, I'm sure Putin has explained his view of NATO to Trump. The fact that Trump accepts Putin's word at face value is both deranged and delusional. It is also treacherous.

Of course, Trump has been deranged for many years.

The difference now is the derangement is accompanied by incoherence with a splash of incontinence as Trump demonstrates his unseriousness concerning Iran.

Because anytime the President orders our troops into battle it must be done so with the utmost seriousness and sobriety and making a clear case as to why Iranians and the world are better off without a regime which has been a cancer to the world for nearly a half century.

But as long as Trump insists discussing his political aspirations in Venezuela, his chumminess with Kim, how he covets Greenland and everything he knows about NATO is from Putin coupled with his cruelty towards American civilians (whatever their legal status), Trump has succeeded in making the world more scared of the United States than Iran and (dare I say) Russia and China. That is some doing.

Tom Nieto Only Hit 5 Career HR But One of Them Was a Game Winner

Former MLB player and coach Tom Nieto passed away suddenly of a heart attack on March 27th. Nieto was 65.

Nieto spent parts of 7 seasons in MLB from 1984 to 1990 playing with the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins and the Philadelphia Phillies as a backup catcher. 

Following his playing career, Nieto was a big-league coach with both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets from 1995 to 2002 and 2005 to 2008, respectively. He would also return to both the Cardinals and Twins organizations as a minor league manager.

Nieto was with teams which reached the World Series 4 times during his playing and coaching career. As a player, Nieto was part of both the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals and the 1987 Minnesota Twins. The Redbirds would fall to the Kansas City Royals in controversial fashion. However, two years later, Nieto would earn his first World Series ring in the Twin Cities besting his former Cardinals teammates though he did not play in the Fall Classic. Nieto would get to go back to the World Series as the catching coach for the New York Yankees in 2000 and 2001 earning a ring in 2000 in the Subway Series against the New York Mets while falling short the following year against the Arizona Diamondbacks thanks to Luis Gonzalez's Game 7 heroics against Mariano Rivera.

Like many backup catchers, Nieto was a light hitter. He had a lifetime batting average of .205 with 5 career HR in 251 games played. 

However, one of those 5 HRs was a game winner. While with the Montreal Expos in 1986, Nieto hit a walk off HR off Ron Davis of the Chicago Cubs. As it turned out, it was Davis' Cubs debut after having been acquired from the Twins.

Tom Nieto was not a household name, but he got to live his big-league dream and spent a good part of his life in baseball. Not a bad way to live. R.I.P.

Pam Bondi Kissed Trump's Ass & It Still Wasn't Enough to Save Her Job

 

During Pam Bondi's 14-month tenure as United States Attorney General, she displayed an extraordinary degree of obsequiousness to President Trump.

South Park infamously lampooned Bondi with having shit on her nose. 

Yet for all her loyalty to Trump, it wasn't enough as he fired Bondi from her post.

Unlike Kristi Noem, Bondi will not be demoted to government job with a snazzy title with little authority.

All Trump had to say for Bondi on Truth Social was that "she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future."

Well, maybe she'll end up working for the Qataris again and have some nice things to say about Hamas.

In the meantime, Bondi is desperately hoping Trump will change his mind stating she will "continue fighting" for him.

Therein lies the problem. Trump doesn't think Bondi fought hard enough for him. She likely sealed her fate during her disastrous congressional testimony back in February over the Epstein files which only heightened the perception she was covering up for Trump's behavior during the time he palled around with Epstein. Worse still, was Bondi's unwillingness to acknowledge Epstein's victims who were present at the hearing.

Bondi's abrupt dismissal might have more to do with the fact that she was scheduled to soon testify again on Capitol Hill in front of the House Oversight Committee on April 14th. Dismissal or not, Bondi will likely have to testify once more unless House Republicans should decide to quash the subpoena.

It has long been said that Trump has sought the DoJ to act as his personal law firm. Well, Bondi's successor (at least for now) will be Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche who, well, had been Trump's personal attorney until being appointed to his present position following the 2024 election.

Yet personal attorney or not, Blanche might prove only to be acting successor. Speculation abounds that Trump might move former NY GOP Congressman, gubernatorial candidate and current EPA Director Lee Zeldin into the role.

Whoever Trump ultimately names as Bondi's permanent successor, he/she will need to be able to defend Trump at all costs and do so without making Trump look bad. Pam Bondi succeeded at the former and failed at the latter. All it cost Bondi was her last shred of dignity.

It is Fitting That Trump Would Address the Nation on April Fool's Day

 

I did not see all of President Trump's White House address ostensibly concerning Iran.

But I didn't really need to see it all to catch its essence.

I would estimate I watched between 5 to 10 minutes of his speech.

In that short time, Trump utilized his usual catchphrases - "like never seen before", "never been anything like it and "like you wouldn't believe."

And therein lies the problem.

I don't believe him. Well, at least mostly.

Of course, I am hardly alone in thinking this way.

In which case, it is fitting that Trump should choose to address the nation on April Fool's Day.

In between talking about the purported military triumph against the Iranian regime, Trump found the time to claim we had "the highest stock market ever", with "no inflation" and "larger refunds than ever thought possible" due to the Big Beautiful Bill.

As to said military triumph, Trump said it would be a great "investment in our children's and grandchildren's future."

Although Trump has concluded the Iranian regime is no longer a threat and that we have beaten them, we will be there at least another two to three weeks.

Trump incredulously claimed that he "never said regime change was our goal" when he encouraged Iranians to "take over your government."

Trump reiterated that regime change had taken place in Iran because "all their original leaders are dead" while characterizing the "newer group" as more "moderate and reasonable."

Well, maybe this so-called new Iranian regime is more amenable to Trump because he lifted sanctions against Iranian oil thus giving them a lifeline.

As I argued a week ago, "Oh, there might be some new faces, but the regime is exactly as it was before."

The Iranian regime still regards the United States as the "great Satan" and views Israel as "little Satan." While they may very well be diminished in their capacity to act against the United States and Israel, as long as the Iranian regime remains in its present form, it will bide its time and will strike when neither we nor Israel see it coming.

It must be said that the April Fool's joke of Trump's address is on us for having once again put him into the position where, in between publicly delighting in the death of a former FBI Director, musing about withdrawing from NATO and attending a Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, he can make White House speeches in which he describes B-52 bombers as "beautiful."

We have a fool for a President because we were foolish enough to elect him President - again.

Stephen Lewis Left Canada & The World a Better Place Than He Found It

Stephen Lewis, former leader of the Ontario NDP and later Canada's Ambassador to the UN, passed away today following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 88.

Lewis' death comes only 48 hours after his son Avi was chosen the new leader of Canada's NDP. His father David served in that same role between 1971 and 1975.

Elected to the Ontario legislature when he was only 26, Lewis would become leader of the Ontario NDP seven years later. In 1975, Ontario voters gave the NDP official opposition status. Lewis was a formidable foe to Ontario Premier Bill Davis who was at the zenith of the four decade plus long Tory dynasty in Canada's largest province.

Perhaps Lewis' most notable achievement in his 15 years as a provincial parliamentarian and as the leader of his party occurred in 1974 amid the wildcat strike of uranium miners in Elliot Lake, a community in Northeastern Ontario situated between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. The miners walked off the job in protest of dangerous working conditions which caused many of them to be diagnosed with silicosis, an incurable lung disease. Lewis' efforts pressured the provincial government to create a commission on mine safety which later resulted in the passage of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

A decade later, Lewis would be appointed Canada's Ambassador to the UN. The most surprising aspect of this appointment was that it was issued by Brian Mulroney, a Tory. It would be like President Trump appointing Hillary Clinton to be his Ambassador to the UN. Although political rivals, the pair presented a common front in the fight to impose international sanctions on South Africa's Apartheid system. In this century, Lewis spent many years campaigning to eradicate HIV/AIDS in Africa as a UN special envoy. After leaving the UN, Lewis established his own organization dedicated to this very mission.

In short, Stephen Lewis left both Canada and the world a better place than he found it. R.I.P.

Ken Clay Had His Moment in the Sun in Game 1 of the 1978 ALCS

 

Former MLB pitcher Ken Clay passed away on March 26th due to heart and kidney failure. He was 71.

Born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, Clay was a second-round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 1972 straight out of high school. 

After five plus seasons in the minors, Clay would make his MLB debut with the Bronx Bombers during the 1977 season earning a World Series ring. He would also earn a second World Series ring the following year as the Yankees bested the Los Angeles Dodgers in back-to-back Fall Classics.

Despite earning World Series rings in consecutive seasons, Clay did not live up to expectations and was publicly maligned by both Yankees owners George Steinbrenner and Yankees manager Billy Martin. This was no small feat considering how Steinbrenner and Martin hardly ever agreed on anything.

By 1980, Clay was in a Texas Rangers uniform before finishing his big-league career with the Seattle Mariners in 1981. His professional career was over at the age of 27. In 111 career games (including 36 starts) over five seasons, Clay went 10-24 with a 4.68 ERA. Control was a problem for Clay as he would issue 141 walks against 129 strikeouts.

Life after baseball proved difficult with a myriad of bad choices which led to frequent run ins with the law with charges and convictions of grand larceny and DUI which would lead to jail time. It does not appear Clay had any legal infractions after being released from prison in 2012. One can only hope that Clay's last decade or so had some measure of peace.

As to his time on the mound, Ken Clay did have a moment in the sun. It happened on October 3, 1978, when the Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the ALCS. It was the day after the Yankees earned the AL East crown in Boston on an infamous HR by Bucky Dent. In that first game of the ALCS, Clay pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief earning a save despite issuing three walks. 

Ken Clay may have more bad times than good both on and off the field, but the good times he had can never be taken away from him now or ever. R.I.P.

Avi Lewis Takes Over NDP But He Will Be Nothing Like His Father & Grandfather

 

This morning, Avi Lewis was announced as the new leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP).

Lewis succeeds Jagmeet Singh who resigned nearly a year ago after losing his seat in the 2025 Canadian election. He won 56% of the vote on the first ballot nearly doubling the total of his closest rival Heather McPherson who is one of only 6 current NDP Members of Parliament. Last month, Lori Idlout crossed the floor to join Mark Carney's Liberals who may soon have a majority government. 

Lewis is part of the first family of Canadian socialism. His grandfather David led the NDP from 1971 to 1975 while his father Stephen led the Ontario NDP from 1970 to 1978. Between 1972 and 1974, David Lewis led NDP held the balance of power keeping Pierre Trudeau's Liberals afloat. Between 1975 and 1977, Stephen Lewis was the leader of the Official Opposition against the Progressive Conservative dynasty led by Bill Davis. It was the closest the NDP would come to power until winning the 1990 Ontario election under Bob Rae.

Somehow, I don't think Avi Lewis will be anything like his father or grandfather.

However, before I go any further, some disclosure. When I was active with the Ontario NDP about 30 years ago, I was acquainted with Michael Lewis (Avi's uncle) who was working with the United Steelworkers of America. On one occasion, he was nice enough to invite me out for lunch.

When I say Avi Lewis won't be anything like his father and grandfather, I mean that he lacks pragmatism. When his father and grandfather sought their respective party leaderships, they had to deal with the Waffle Movement which wanted to nationalize all industry and were essentially a party within a party. Both father and son purged the Waffle from the NDP. 

Fast forward to a decade ago, the NDP was faced with the Leap Manifesto, essentially a modern-day version of the Waffle. Unlike his father and grandfather, Avi Lewis was a key figure with the Leap Manifesto along his wife author Naomi Klein.

One of the key platforms of the Leap Manifesto is for Canada to have 100% clean energy by 2050. Needless to say, Lewis' ascension to the NDP leadership has been met with a less than enthusiastic response by the Alberta NDP and Saskatchewan NDP led by Naheed Nenshi and Carla Beck, respectively. Nenshi stated that Lewis' victory "is not in the interest of Albertans" while Beck stated she will not meet with Lewis unless he "publicly reverses" his position against fossil fuels.

Another key area where Avi Lewis differs from his father and grandfather is Israel. The younger Lewis is virulently anti-Israel and an enthusiastic supporter of the BDS Movement who has seen fit to shame and shun those who support Israel. This presumably would have included his father and grandfather. Although David Lewis could not be characterized as a Zionist per se, he did forge strong relationships with fellow Israeli socialists like Golda Meir and Shimon Peres while Stephen Lewis, during his tenure as Ontario NDP leader, demanded the UN cancel a conference to be held to Toronto due to presence of PLO members. Although I should note that Avi Lewis now claims his father, now 88, regards Israel as "a rogue state". Perhaps this is the case now, but when Lewis was in a position of actual responsibility, he, well, acted responsibly.

Of course, when it comes to Israel, it wouldn't matter much who leads the NDP. All five candidates who sought the party's leadership claim Israel is committing genocide. McPherson wore a keffiyeh in the House of Commons and introduced a petition to criminally investigate any Canadian who served with the IDF. But with Lewis being Jewish, he and his supporters can say, 'Even a Jew is saying Israel is committing genocide,' and 'Criticizing Israel isn't anti-Semitic,', etc.

Yet truth be told, the governing Liberals aren't much better with their concerted effort to remove tax exempt status from various Jewish non-profit organizations thus shunning Jewish institutions from Canadian civil society.

As it stands now, Lewis does not have a seat in the House of Commons. He ran for office twice before and was soundly defeated. The best-case scenario would be for the NDP to win zero seats in the next federal election. In which case, the NDP could be put out of its misery or perhaps a responsible social democratic party could rise in its place. Such a party could keep the Liberals and Tories honest in creating a more equitable Canada while eschewing more impractical notions such as living without fossil fuels and without legitimizing anti-Semitism.