Michigan AG Nessel Saying Jews Must Place The Needs of The World Above Our Own Survival is a Suicide Note

In an address to the Michigan Jewish Democratic Caucus yesterday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stated:

We have a moral imperative to place the needs of the world above even our own self-interest and, yes, even our own survival.

Mind you, this is the same individual who only last month publicly made it known she did not feel safe attending her own party's state convention.

It is clear to me that Nessel will endorse Abdul El-Sayed after his so-called apology to Jewish Democrats over his equivocation on the terrorist attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan.

Given her role as Michigan's top law enforcement officer, it is dereliction of duty for her to tell Jews to set aside our very survival. 

How exactly are the needs of the world incompatible with the survival of the Jewish people?

And where is the morality in sacrificing our survival and that of our children?

She is telling Jews we have nothing to offer the world and are thus expendable.

As Rabbi Hillel asked, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?"

Nessel is giving Jews a false choice. Her declaration amounts to a suicide note for the Jewish people. 

She also displays a remarkable ignorance about Judaism by misrepresenting the story of Queen Esther:

It is perhaps up to us now to follow in her path and sacrifice the comfort, safety and security and even the very future of our own people in exchange for the opportunity to save the rest of humanity.

Except that Esther did not sacrifice the future of her own people to save humanity. She saved the Jews of Persia from a pogrom at the hands of Haman by having an audience with King Asasuerus without being summoned, an act punishable by death. Esther's intervention allowed the Jews to defend themselves from Haman. Jews celebrate this triumph during Purim.

Yet, by Nessel's logic, Esther saving her fellow Jews failed to consider the needs of the world at the time. If Nessel has such as a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning of Purim, I shudder to think how she understands Chanukah and Passover. 

Then again, for Dana Nessel, being a Democrat in good standing with Abdul El-Sayed is more important than being Jewish in good standing with G-d.

Trump's Lake Ontario Renaming Stunt Proves Yet Again He Does Not See Canada as a Partner

 

A little over 72 hours ago, President Trump saw fit to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America by an Executive Order.

This move is, of course, reminiscent of when he renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America on his first day in office of his second term.

As silly and stupid as Trump's Executive Order is, it still carries weight and Google Maps has gone along with it for users in this country.

For Canada and the rest of the world, the easternmost of the Great Lakes will remain Ontario. 

Yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford erected a large sign near Grimsby, Ontario bearing the inscription, "Lake Ontario Now and Always" in both official languages.

Ford stated, “Long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario.” 

Above all else, it demonstrates once more that Trump does not view Canada as a partner but as a nuisance because it will not roll over and play dead. 

Yet I would not be surprised if the Trump Administration makes overtures to Canada to return to the negotiating table between now and Labor Day weekend as Canadian counter-tariffs are due to take effect on September 8th. 

But as long as CUSMA is a dead letter, these tariffs are in place, and the White House insists on using the Lake America moniker then there is nothing for Canada to discuss with the Trump Administration.

Thoughts on El-Sayed's Non-Apology Apology to Jewish Democrats

(Andrew Lapin/JTA)

Yesterday, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed made the following statement to the Michigan Jewish Democratic Caucus regarding his infamous comment that "hurt people do hurt people" following the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan:

My comments may have been misconstrued to justify something I did not mean to justify. To anyone who feels like my comments might have been hurtful, I’m really sorry. That was not my intention.

What I was trying to do was offer context for why it happened, but it wasn’t the time for context, and you don’t ever want to trample somebody’s pain.

This is a self-serving, non-apology apology if I have ever heard one.

After all, it is worth remembering that El-Sayed was specifically asked if his "hurt people do hurt people" analogy would apply to a Jewish person whose family had been murdered by Hamas during the October 7th attacks. El-Sayed replied that the analogy did not apply and stated, “After Oct. 7, there was a whole genocide against Palestinians.”

In other words, El-Sayed doesn't believe his own bullshit. For El-Sayed, "Hurt people do hurt people" only applies to those who wish to seek revenge against Israel. Jewish victims of terrorism do not count because Hamas and Hezbollah are committing acts of resistance. 

So why did El-Sayed make his statement?

Let me offer a couple of reasons.

For starters there was Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel appearing on David Frum's podcast a few days earlier stating:

A lot of us perceived that as sort of making excuses for somebody who sought to murder over 100 pre-K school children, and that’s the kind of mentality that bothers me a lot. You can’t make excuses for that kind of domestic terrorism.

Let us remember this the same Dana Nessel who did not feel safe attending this very gathering of her own party due to anti-Semitic hostility towards her.

Now, I don't think that Nessel's statement alone would have been enough to persuade El-Sayed to make his so-called apology. Although recent polls have El-Sayed ahead of Republican Mike Rogers, I suspect his internal polling is less optimistic.

The question now is whether El-Sayed's statement for Nessel as well as Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and Jeremy Moss, who is seeking to succeed Haley Stevens in Congress, to come around and endorse him. I wouldn't be surprised if they do as Jim Clyburn has already done so. 

Although El-Sayed's alleged apology might be sufficient for Democrats on the fence about him, it remains to be seen if that will be the case for Michigan voters. A lot of it will depend on whether El-Sayed makes any future statements perceived as hostile to Jews or if any past statements come to light which he cannot adequately explain. 

And even if El-Sayed does face more scrutiny, Michigan voters might be more concerned by the impact of Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mike Rogers' support for them.

Then again, it is not crystal clear if Jewish Democrats in Michigan are buying El-Sayed's explanation. In which case, t is quite possible that some of those delegates might be pulling the lever for Mike Rogers in November. 

Sam Neill's Overlooked Performance in "The Piano"

 

This evening I went to the Brattle Theatre to attend a screening of The Piano starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin and Sam Neill. 

It marked the first time I had seen The Piano since my stint in London more than 30 years ago. When I stayed at the International Students House, sometimes there would be films shown on Sunday evenings. It was a good film but not one I would go out of my way to see again. An evening of light entertainment it is not. As you might imagine, the impetus for seeing The Piano was prompted by the passing of Sam Neill last month of pneumonia following a several years long battle with cancer at the age of 78.

The Piano would win three Academy Awards out of eight nominations. Holly Hunter deservedly won for Best Actress. Seldom has a performance said so much without uttering a word. Anna Paquin won Best Supporting Actress in her debut acting role at the age of 11 displaying a maturity well beyond her years. Director Jane Campion would also win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Campion would earn an additional Oscar nomination for Best Director becoming only the second woman ever to receive consideration. Lina Wertmüller was the first woman to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Director for the 1976 film Seven Beauties. For her part, Campion would eventually win Best Director for the 2021 film The Power of the Dog. 

Stuart Dryburgh, Janet Patterson and Veronika Jenet also received Oscar nominations for cinematography, costume design and film editing, respectively. The film, which was set in New Zealand, is also significant for its use of British sign language and the Māori language. 

Amid all these things, the New Zealand born Neill's performance as Allisdair Stewart gets lost in the shuffle. Stewart arranges to be married to a deaf pianist named Ada McGrath (Hunter) who journeys to New Zealand from Scotland with her daughter (Flora) with a piano in tow. Stewart's right-hand man George Baines (Harvey Keitel) acquires the piano ostensibly to take lessons. But in reality, Baines is aroused by Ada and makes his intentions known to her. Although initially repelled by Baines, Ada gradually falls in love with him. 

Stewart learns of their tryst but is initially forgiving. The pair try to consummate their marriage without success. Stewart's forgiveness turns to rage when Flora gives him a message Ada intended for Baines. During this rage, Stewart chops off Ada's finger much to the horror of Flora who tearfully tells Baines what has happened. Baines wants to kill Stewart, but Flora pleads with him not to do so. 

However, Stewart has his own ideas about killing Baines. Yet when Stewart holds a gun to Baines' face, he has an epiphany and realizes it is best that Baines be with Ada and that they return to Scotland with Flora. In his performance as Stewart, Neill is capable of both cruelty and kindness. 

Next month, The Brattle will have a tribute called "The Weird Wild World of Sam Neill" which include films like Jurassic Park, Possession and Event Horizon. I'm not sure if I will attend but I have not ruled it out at this point. Yet, from where I sit, The Piano is a key part of Sam Neill's acting legacy. R.I.P.

Larry Christenson Was a Stalwart Member of The Phillies During The Late 1970s & Early 1980s

 

Former MLB pitcher Larry Christenson, who spent his entire 11-year MLB career with the Philadelphia Phillies, passed away suddenly yesterday during a family fishing trip in Washington state. He was 72.

Christenson grew up in suburban Seattle and was selected out of high school as a first round draft pick by the Phillies in 1972. In fact, Christenson was the third pick in the nation just behind Dave Roberts (not to be confused with the current Los Angeles Dodgers manager) and Rick Manning and just ahead of Roy Howell.

Christenson would make his big-league debut with the Phillies early in the 1973 season with a complete game victory over the New York Mets. However, Christenson would not establish himself in the Phillies starting rotation until 1975 joining the likes of future Hall of Famers Steve Carlton and Jim Kaat as well as former AL Cy Young winner Jim Lonborg.

From 1975 through 1978, Christenson would reach double digits in victories earning a career high 19 wins during the 1977 season. Christenson was a core part of those Phillies teams which won 3 consecutive NL East titles but would fall short in the NLCS to both the Big Red Machine and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Christenson did earn a World Series ring with the Phillies in 1980, but injuries limited him to only 14 starts that season. He would start Game 4 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals but was knocked out in the first inning. Christenson's only post-season victory came in Game 3 of the NLDS during the strike-shortened 1981 season against the Montreal Expos. Alas, the Expos would prevail in 5 games.

Although Christenson was a member of the 1983 NL champion Phillies, injuries kept him out of the post-season and he would retire at the end of the campaign. In 243 career games (220 of them starts), Christenson went 83-71 with a 3.79 ERA striking out 781 batters while walking 395 over 1402.2 innings pitched. Although Christenson batted a paltry .150, he did have some pop in his bat blasting 11 career HRs including 3 in 1977.

Christenson remained in the Philadelphia area involved in the community as an entrepreneur and with charitable causes. R.I.P.

Why I Watched "Coyote vs. Acme"

 

On Friday evening, I attended a screening of Coyote vs. Acme at the AMC Boston Common 19 Theatre. 

I am normally not one for big budget movies much less attending movies at big chain theatres due to all the commercials and coming attractions. But I made an exception for Coyote vs. Acme for one special reason.

My maternal grandfather.

I don't talk much about my family, but I think a brief note on my maternal grandfather is warranted here. Jack Marconi lived most of his life in Coleman, Alberta in the Crowsnest Pass spending 43 years of his life as a coal miner starting at the age of 15 during The Great Depression.

We would usually see him and my grandmother Anna once a year when they would visit Thunder Bay during the summer. There were a couple of occasions when we visited them in Coleman during my Dad's sabbatical year in Victoria, B.C. 

During his visits, my grandfather was the one who spoiled us with candy and treats and would take us out on walks. What I also remember about my grandfather is that one of the things he truly wanted in life was for the Coyote to capture the Roadrunner. Because of this I always rooted for the Coyote and felt sorry for him when he came up short.

Of course, the Coyote isn't meant to capture the Roadrunner. A little over 15 years ago, Seth MacFarlane envisioned a scenario in which the Coyote captured and ate the Roadrunner only to become depressed and suicidal before finding Jesus Christ. Wile E. Coyote must have a purpose in life even if that purpose in life will never yield success.

The genesis of Coyote vs. Acme came more than 35 years ago in a fiction piece which appeared in The New Yorker written by Ian Frazier:

The sequence of collisions resulted in systemic physical damage to Mr. Coyote, viz., flattening of the cranium, sideways displacement of the tongue, reduction of length of legs and upper body, and compression of vertebrae from base of tail to head. Repetition of blows along a vertical axis produced a series of regular horizontal folds in Mr. Coyote’s body tissues—a rare and painful condition which caused Mr. Coyote to expand upward and contract downward alternately as he walked, and to emit an off-key, accordionlike wheezing with every step. The distracting and embarrassing nature of this symptom has been a major impediment to Mr. Coyote’s pursuit of a normal social life.

The film was supposed to have seen the light of day in 2023, but Warner Bros shelved it as a tax write-off in favor of Barbie. Following significant backlash, Warner Bros opted to sell the distribution rights which was purchased by Ketchup Entertainment last year. Needless to say, there has been great anticipation for this film.

While the film's script isn't quite as clever as Frazier's original treatment, there is still plenty of humor and wit to go around. After yet another failed attempt to capture the Roadrunner, the Coyote hears a TV ad from a personal injury law firm called Avery Jones Maltese (a nod to Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese who were responsible for creating many of the Looney Tunes cartoons). 

But as it turns, the firm's main attorney Kevin Avery (Will Forte) is going through the motions and settling cases with Acme for three figures as he is no match for Acme's top attorney Buddy Crane (John Cena). But Avery has never had a client quite like the Coyote. 

Before viewing the film, I was thinking of the Coyote as Sisyphean type of character. Lo and behold, a central plot to the film is Acme having a secret operation called Project Sisyphus in which products meant for humans are tested on cartoons. And no more is more of a test subject than the Coyote.

Coyote vs. Acme is a very enjoyable film. However, I'm not sure if my grandfather would have cared for it. Although the Coyote is pursuing the Roadrunner for the purpose of eating it, as it turns out the Roadrunner is portrayed as needing the Coyote as much as the Coyote needs the Roadrunner. 

The pair have a symbiotic relationship bordering on friendship notwithstanding the objective of cannibalism. My grandfather simply wanted the Coyote to catch the Roadrunner and be done with it. Nevertheless, I wish he was here so I could watch it with him.

Trump Threatens to Tear Down Kennedy Center Unless His Name Appears on the Building

Here is something which truly exemplifies the character of President Trump or, more aptly, lack thereof.

The DoJ, which now acts as President Trump's personal law firm, has filed a motion in federal court demanding that Trump's name be placed somewhere on the premises of The Kennedy Center or that it be torn down.

The motion claims that the Kennedy Center is "decrepit" and "dilapidated”. Let's say that this is true. If the Trump Administration genuinely cared about the future of The Kennedy Center, it would not attach naming it after Trump as a condition.

As usual, this is all about Trump. The public good means nothing to him. If it's not putting Trump's name on the Kennedy Center, then it's naming a Naval Carrier after Trump while erasing the heroic contribution of Doris Miller because it is too DEI for their taste or the construction of the so-called "Arc de Trump" between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.

That Trump wants to put his name on the Kennedy Center is a desecration and an obscenity. After all, The Kennedy Center is a "living memorial" to President Kennedy.

Of course, President Trump does not care about such details. He cares only for his own glory and if that means tearing down the Kennedy Center then so be it.

Don't be surprised if the Kennedy Center is bulldozed in the dead of night.

If President Trump is prepared to tear down half the White House and get away with it while he still occupies it then what makes anyone think that he wouldn't do the same to the Kennedy Center?

With Trump being humiliated on the international stage by both the Iranian regime and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, he needs a win. Anything where Trump can get his way would count as a win. In which case, the destruction of the Kennedy Center could come sooner than you think.

Dolly Parton Was a Kind Woman Who Happened to Sing Beautiful Songs

 

Like many people, the news of Dolly Parton's death hit me like a thunderbolt. 

While I did not grow up a fan of her music in particular or country music in general, I was very aware of who she was at a young age. She was a larger-than-life figure, and her resonance went well beyond her music. That resonance was grounded in her kindness, warmth and self-deprecating wit which kept her humble despite the fact she was among the most recognizable people in the world.

I found out about her death during a late lunch. Upon my return to the office, I shared the sad news with my colleagues who were genuinely saddened and stunned. Over the next couple of hours, I played YouTube videos of her appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson during the late 1970s. Her disposition and temperament were the same nearly half a century ago up until the day she died.

I suspect that if Dolly Parton hadn't become a world-famous country music singer, she would have probably become a successful businesswoman in Tennessee, sung songs in church and given her time and money to those in her community. As it stands, Dolly Parton was a kind woman who happened to sing beautiful songs known in every corner of the world and used her platform to help people on a very large scale in the areas of literacy, disaster relief and medical research including funding for the Moderna vaccine against COVID. She also consistently stood up for the LGBTQ community, a group which has often been treated less than kindly.

Dolly Parton lived a good life and strived to spread that goodness to as many people as possible. R.I.P.

El-Sayed Cannot Distance Himself From Piker After Stating Jews Who Support Israel Are Inviting Violence

 

Last Thursday, left-wing darling Hasan Piker claimed Jews who support Israel are inviting violence against themselves:

People don’t f*** with Israel any longer. If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action, not against the State of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews.

I don’t know how people don’t recognize how dangerous this predicament is, how dangerous this is for Jews. You’re running around basically tying your entire identity to a country that inevitably will be seen as Jewish ISIS and you’re saying, as Jews, this is all we care about. You’re making antisemitism worse.

Mind you, as Piker was saying this, he held up a picture of Jeremy Moss, the Jewish Democrat who is running to succeed Haley Stevens in Congress. Moss has notably declined to endorse Abdul El-Sayed who defeated Stevens for the Democratic nomination in the Michigan Senate race. Of course, Piker was a key supporter of El-Sayed and Moss' unwillingness to support El-Sayed evidently set off Piker.

Piker's threat towards American Jews and Moss, in particular, angered Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Hilary Scholten who issued this statement which read in part:

Hasan Piker's talk of violence against American Jews, and directly naming a Michigan elected official, and future member of Congress, Jeremy Moss, is unacceptable. Full stop. Piker is a hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe because he lacks substance. It's dangerous for everyone. We should all be calling out this disgusting rhetoric so it loses its grip on our politics once and for all. It has no place in Michigan, and no place in our country.

The only problem with Scholten's statement is that her party has welcomed Piker with open arms. Possible Democratic presidential candidate AOC is more than happy to be in his company. College Democrats effusively embraced Piker. Don't be surprised if Piker is a keynote speaker at the 2028 Democratic National Convention and is greeted with even more enthusiasm.

As for El-Sayed, although he said "anti-Semitism is a scourge" he did not denounce Piker. On the contrary, El-Sayed stated:

But I wanted to be crystal clear, nobody speaks for this campaign beside me and my campaign spokespeople.

And while politicians and pundits try to make this race about a Twitch streamer, we're going to be talking about gas, groceries, good schools, and healthcare. Because that's what Michiganders keep asking about. It's why I'm fighting to get money out of politics, money in your pocket, and Medicare for All.

No, Abdul, politicians and pundits didn't make this race about a Twitch streamer. You did.

No one forced you to campaign with him. 

You were more than happy to share your space with him just this month.

And why not?

You share Hasan Piker's values.

You support Hamas and want Israel destroyed.

You make excuses for those who attack Jews in their houses of worship in your own state.

Let's not pretend otherwise.

Without Piker, you are not your party's nominee for the U.S. Senate.

Hasan Piker owns you.

It is why you cannot condemn him by name any more than you could condemn Hamas by name.

Hasan Piker made you and he can break you. So can Hamas.

If we want to break free of Trumpism, we cannot support a Democratic Party which embraces its own brand of illiberalism which willfully promotes hatred against Jews. Piker, El-Sayed and those who aid and abet them are every bit as poisonous as Trump and Trumpism. 

Replacing one poison with another is not antidote. On that note, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is practicing bad medicine when he pushes Piker's poison.

Astros Let Go GM Brown While Espada Will Hand Over Managerial Reigns at End of Season Despite Chance to Make Playoffs

(Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (L) & former Astros GM Dana Brown (R) when they were hired in November 2023)

The Houston Astros enter tonight tied for first place in the AL West with the Texas Rangers.

First place or not, as of today, the Astros no longer have a GM, and their manager will step down at the end of the 2026 season.

The Astros began the day by parting ways with GM Dana Brown. They nearly did the same with manager Joe Espada but he was given the option of remaining as manager for the rest of this season which he accepted.

Despite being tied atop the AL West, the Astros do have a losing record of 65-66. Up until recently, however, the Astros had played well. After being swept by the Baltimore Orioles after the All-Star Break, Houston would win 11 of their next 12 games. Between July 20th and August 14th, the Astros went 16-6. As of 10 days ago, the Astros were 63-60 and had a 3-game lead in the AL West.

However, since August 14th, the Astros have lost 6 of their last 8 games falling to inferior AL West rivals such as the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels and the Athletics. Yesterday, the Astros had a 6-0 lead on the Athletics and lost the game 7-6. The Astros are off today and head to New York for a six-game road trip against both the Yankees and the Mets.

It sounds to me like Astros owner Jim Crane was looking for a reason, any reason, to dump both Brown and Espada. The question is what is it that would satisfy Crane?

Let us remember that after the Astros won the World Series in 2022, Crane fired both GM James Click and Assistant GM Scott Powers. If winning a World Series isn't enough to satisfy Crane, then I think he is in the wrong line of business. 

Click would hook on with the Toronto Blue Jays as their VP of Baseball Strategy prior to the 2023 season and would return to the Fall Classic last year. The Blue Jays didn't fire Click after the team didn't prevail against the Dodgers. As for Powers, he decided to go into academia and accepted a position at Rice University in their Department of Sport Management.

Espada had the unenviable task of succeeding future Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker prior to the 2024 season. The Astros would start out slow in 2024, By mid-July the Astros were atop the AL West and would win the division although they would be ousted by the Detroit Tigers in the AL Wild Card round led by former Astros skipper A.J. Hinch.

In 2025, the Astros missed the post-season on a technicality. The Astros and Tigers had identical 87-75 but Detroit got to play October baseball and Houston didn't because the Tigers had won the regular season series. It antithetical to the spirit of competition and one of the reasons I have soured on baseball.

The best-case scenario for Joe Espada is if the team rallies around him. Despite Crane's history of firing personnel despite winning the World Series, it is one thing to fire a member of the front office it is another to fire the public face of the organization. If the Astros were to win the World Series under Espada, there would be public calls for Crane to allow him to remain skipper. 

Not that Crane would listen. But if he let Espada walk after winning the World Series, Crane would be the most hated man in MLB while other big-league teams would offer Espada a chance to manage their team. That is assuming there is no prolonged lockout by Crane and the other owners. Of all 30 MLB teams, I think the Astros would probably be the worst place to work given Crane's mercurial disposition. 

Yet over the next month or so, the Houston Astros have a chance of becoming the most interesting team in all of baseball. Perhaps this time for a good reason.

Catherine O'Hara at Her Best & Most Mighty

 

This afternoon, I went to the Somerville Theatre to watch a double feature of Best in Show and A Mighty Wind as part of a weekend long tribute to Catherine O'Hara who passed away in January. 

A great deal of Catherine O'Hara's legacy is tied with that of Eugene Levy. The pair collaborated for the better part of half a century. This collaboration began at Second City & SCTV and ended with Schitt's Creek. In the middle were a series of movies directed by Christopher Guest which he co-wrote with Levy.

Between 1996 and 2006, O'Hara and Levy were a core part of a company actors who appeared together in four films - Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003) and For Your Consideration (2006). Best in Show and A Mighty Wind make for the best pairing as O'Hara and Levy are cast as a married couple and a formerly married couple so there is a lot of screen time with the pair. 

In Best in Show, O'Hara and Levy play Cookie and Gerry Fleck, a Florida based couple who travel to Philadelphia to compete in a dog show which they ultimately win. The pair cannot go anywhere without running into of Cookie's former paramours much to the chagrin of Gerry who literally has two left feet.

In A Mighty Wind, O'Hara and Levy play Mitch Cohen and Mickey Crabbe who were a folk music duo known as Mitch and Mickey. However, the couple have been estranged for years and only reunite when the man who started their career dies, and a tribute show is held in his honor at New York City's Town Hall. 

Both films are uproariously funny. Aside from O'Hara and Levy, we see in both films Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge, John Michael Higgins, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Ed Begley, Jr., Larry Miller, Bob Balaban, Jim Piddock, Don Lake, Deborah Theaker and Michael Hitchcock. This is a remarkable company of actors, and O'Hara and Levy are first among equals.

Of the two films, A Mighty Wind resonates with me more deeply. For starters, I care about more 1960's folk music than I do about dogs. That detail aside, I think O'Hara and Levy do some of their most interesting work onscreen. While plenty funny, O'Hara is far more self-contained as Mickey Crabbe than in other roles while Levy, who is usually the straight man of the pair, plays against type as the unpredictable and volatile yet sensitive Mitch Cohen. Among the laughs, there are moments of warmth and tenderness between the two.

O'Hara and Levy also get to show off their considerable musical talent. "A Kiss at the End of The Rainbow" would have been a great 1960's folk song.

If the loss of Catherine O'Hara was a kick in the gut, I cannot begin to imagine the grief Eugene Levy has been feeling. In June, Levy paid tribute to his friend of more than half a century at the Canadian Screen Awards. 

Levy summed up O'Hara in this way, "For me, she was the one person I spent the most time working with over our 50-year careers and that is something I take great pride in being able to say. Catherine O'Hara was simply the best." R.I.P.

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.