When I read Katie Pavlich's Townhall piece about Hillary Clinton appointing Loretta Lynch to The Supreme Court my mind began racing.
Sure it began racing as to what Lynch and Bill Clinton discussed on the airport tarmac a few months ago.
But it also made me think of Ted Cruz's endorsement of Donald Trump. Did Trump make Cruz an offer he couldn't refuse? Did Trump promise Cruz a seat on the Supreme Court in exchange for his support?
It would be an astute move on Trump's part. In one fell swoop, Trump would keep the court conservative while ridding himself of a potential rival in 2020.
Of course, all of this would be contingent upon the GOP retaining a majority in the Senate. Nevertheless, it would go a long way in explaining Cruz's about face.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Could Someone Please Pass a Joint to Gary Johnson?
So first Gary Johnson asks "What's Aleppo?"
Now he can't name his favorite foreign leader.
Could someone please pass a joint to Gary Johnson?
Johnson, of course, is an avid pot smoker who made a point of quitting right before entering the presidential race.
A colleague told me that he may have done this because marijuana use could have got Johnson disqualified off the ballot in a number of states. I'm not sure this is the case. But whatever the reason, I think his decision to stop smoking up has thrown him off his game. Some people function better under the influence.
Of course, I think Donald Trump's lack of foreign policy knowledge is far more egregious. But Trump gets away with it because he pretends he knows what he's talking about. This, after all, is a man who claims to know more about ISIS than our generals. Gary Johnson, on the other hand, looks like a dear in the headlights and admits he's having "an Aleppo moment". Unfortunately for Johnson, these Aleppo moments simply do not inspire confidence.
Put it another way. Gary Johnson should light up or leave us alone.
Now he can't name his favorite foreign leader.
Could someone please pass a joint to Gary Johnson?
Johnson, of course, is an avid pot smoker who made a point of quitting right before entering the presidential race.
A colleague told me that he may have done this because marijuana use could have got Johnson disqualified off the ballot in a number of states. I'm not sure this is the case. But whatever the reason, I think his decision to stop smoking up has thrown him off his game. Some people function better under the influence.
Put it another way. Gary Johnson should light up or leave us alone.
Obama's Answer as To Why He Won't Say "Islamic Terrorism" Contradicts What He Said at The 2015 National Prayer Breakfast
On Wednesday night's CNN Town Hall, President Obama was asked by a Gold Star mother why he won't use the phrase "Islamic Terrorism". He said in part:
If you had an organization that was going around killing and blowing people up and said, 'We're on the vanguard of Christianity.' As a Christian, I'm not going to let them claim my religion and say, 'you're killing for Christ.' I would say, that's ridiculous. That's not what my religion stands for. Call these folks what they are, which is killers and terrorists.
But this contradicts what he said at the National Prayer Breakfast in February 2015, You know the one where he told us to get off our high horse about ISIS beheading people:
And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ.
So if President Obama is prepared to kill Christians killed in the name of Christ during The Crusades then why he is unwilling to say ISIS kills in the name of Muhammad? ISIS might well be perverting Islam but who is Obama as a Christian to say so? Is Obama claiming to know more Islam than Muslims?
Of course, it was Obama who famously said at the UN that the century did not belong to those who slandered Muhammad. Interestingly, he was silent about the status of those who slandered Christ.
In any case, most people understand that it would be foolish to claim every single Muslim engage in terrorism. Yet it would be equally foolish to deny that a critical mass of Muslims engage in terrorism and that it is a global problem. President Obama is squarely in this latter category and will remain there until the end of his presidency and beyond.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Red Sox Blow Lead in 9th Against The Yankees, But Celebrate Winning The AL East
As Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel took the mound in the top of the 9th, we learned that the team had clinched the AL East when the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays.
But Kimbrel didn't have it tonight as he walked the bases loaded. I took to Twitter and wrote:
It would be very weird if the Red Sox blew this game & then went into the clubhouse to celebrate winning the AL East.
Kimbrel was removed in favor of Joe Kelly who retired two hitters before giving up a walk off grand slam home run to Mark Teixeira to give the Yankees a 4-3 win.
The Red Sox didn't know what to make of things. But manager John Farrell told his men not to let one inning take away the fact they won the AL East. And then the celebration began complete with Big Papi dropping f-bomb after f-bomb on live TV. The loss could be a bad omen but Farrell has a way of putting things into perspective.
From this point forward the Red Sox, Indians and Rangers will see who ends up with the best record in the American League and home field advantage throughout the post-season.
The other thing to be determined is the two AL Wild Card spots. The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles have the two spots but the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros and New York Yankees still have a chance with four games left in the regular season. It will be a very exciting weekend indeed.
But Kimbrel didn't have it tonight as he walked the bases loaded. I took to Twitter and wrote:
It would be very weird if the Red Sox blew this game & then went into the clubhouse to celebrate winning the AL East.
Kimbrel was removed in favor of Joe Kelly who retired two hitters before giving up a walk off grand slam home run to Mark Teixeira to give the Yankees a 4-3 win.
The Red Sox didn't know what to make of things. But manager John Farrell told his men not to let one inning take away the fact they won the AL East. And then the celebration began complete with Big Papi dropping f-bomb after f-bomb on live TV. The loss could be a bad omen but Farrell has a way of putting things into perspective.
From this point forward the Red Sox, Indians and Rangers will see who ends up with the best record in the American League and home field advantage throughout the post-season.
The other thing to be determined is the two AL Wild Card spots. The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles have the two spots but the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros and New York Yankees still have a chance with four games left in the regular season. It will be a very exciting weekend indeed.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
I'll Never Forget What Shimon Peres Said When He Spoke in Ottawa in March 1993
I have just learned of the passing of former Israeli Prime Minister & President Shimon Peres. His passing does not surprise me following a stroke he sustained two weeks ago which took a turn for the worse today. Peres was 93.
In March 1993, I got the opportunity to meet Peres when he visited Canada. At the time, Peres was Minister of Foreign Affairs in Yitzhak Rabin's cabinet. I was attending Carleton University and was working as a parliamentary intern for Iain Angus who was then a NDP MP from my hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Knowing my passion for Israel, Iain arranged for me to attend the Canada-Israel Committee Parliamentary Dinner at the National Conference Center just down the road from Parliament Hill.
Seated at my table were former NDP leader Ed Broadbent and Canadian Labour Congress President Bob White. A who's who of Canadian politics was there including Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. But my eyes were fixed on Shimon Peres and I would get a chance to meet him very briefly.
What I remember the most about that evening was something Peres said during his remarks. Let's remember that he and Rabin were in the midst of negotiating with PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat with the aid of the Clinton Administration. Peres said, "Negotiation is not so much a matter of convincing the other side as it is convincing your own."
Six months later, Peres and Rabin were shaking hands with Arafat in the Rose Garden. Two years later, Rabin would his life at the hands of an Israeli (something I predicted would happen). Sadly, Peres and Rabin weren't able to convince all Israelis of their position.
Of course, Arafat's word turned out to be meaningless and his successor Mahmoud Abbas is no better. But Peres and Rabin had to give it a try. They negotiated in good faith and got burned at both ends.
Nevertheless there is truth in what Peres said that night. Any country that is truly committed to the democratic ideal will must expend a good faith effort to convince their citizenry of its aims and objectives and the policies which derive from these aims and objectives. Unfortunately, most democratic nations fall short of this standard. But Peres did his best to meet this standard. Israelis didn't always appreciate him for it, but I think there is a understanding that Shimon Peres was an honest man of good character. Something that is sadly in short supply within our borders.
R.I.P.
In March 1993, I got the opportunity to meet Peres when he visited Canada. At the time, Peres was Minister of Foreign Affairs in Yitzhak Rabin's cabinet. I was attending Carleton University and was working as a parliamentary intern for Iain Angus who was then a NDP MP from my hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Knowing my passion for Israel, Iain arranged for me to attend the Canada-Israel Committee Parliamentary Dinner at the National Conference Center just down the road from Parliament Hill.
Seated at my table were former NDP leader Ed Broadbent and Canadian Labour Congress President Bob White. A who's who of Canadian politics was there including Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. But my eyes were fixed on Shimon Peres and I would get a chance to meet him very briefly.
What I remember the most about that evening was something Peres said during his remarks. Let's remember that he and Rabin were in the midst of negotiating with PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat with the aid of the Clinton Administration. Peres said, "Negotiation is not so much a matter of convincing the other side as it is convincing your own."
Six months later, Peres and Rabin were shaking hands with Arafat in the Rose Garden. Two years later, Rabin would his life at the hands of an Israeli (something I predicted would happen). Sadly, Peres and Rabin weren't able to convince all Israelis of their position.
Of course, Arafat's word turned out to be meaningless and his successor Mahmoud Abbas is no better. But Peres and Rabin had to give it a try. They negotiated in good faith and got burned at both ends.
Nevertheless there is truth in what Peres said that night. Any country that is truly committed to the democratic ideal will must expend a good faith effort to convince their citizenry of its aims and objectives and the policies which derive from these aims and objectives. Unfortunately, most democratic nations fall short of this standard. But Peres did his best to meet this standard. Israelis didn't always appreciate him for it, but I think there is a understanding that Shimon Peres was an honest man of good character. Something that is sadly in short supply within our borders.
R.I.P.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Cleveland Indians Win 1st AL Central Title Since 2007
The Cleveland Indians earned their first AL Central title since 2007 with a 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
When the season began, the Chicago White Sox went off gangbusters. But as the Chisox fell in May, it looked like the Kansas City Royals would be on their way to a third straight AL pennant. But by early June, the Tribe had taken over the lead in the AL Central and never looked back. They arguably have the best starting rotation in MLB with Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar, Josh Tomlin, Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco. Throw in an unexpected 30 plus HR, 100 RBI season for Mike Napoli and the emergence of Jose Ramirez at third base and Terry Francona in the dugout and you've got a championship club.
The Indians, of course, haven't won a World Series since 1948. If Tito can lead both the Red Sox and the Indians to World Series titles then he is bound for Cooperstown. If the Tribe & Cubs get into the World Series then all bets are off.
When the season began, the Chicago White Sox went off gangbusters. But as the Chisox fell in May, it looked like the Kansas City Royals would be on their way to a third straight AL pennant. But by early June, the Tribe had taken over the lead in the AL Central and never looked back. They arguably have the best starting rotation in MLB with Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar, Josh Tomlin, Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco. Throw in an unexpected 30 plus HR, 100 RBI season for Mike Napoli and the emergence of Jose Ramirez at third base and Terry Francona in the dugout and you've got a championship club.
The Indians, of course, haven't won a World Series since 1948. If Tito can lead both the Red Sox and the Indians to World Series titles then he is bound for Cooperstown. If the Tribe & Cubs get into the World Series then all bets are off.
The Miami Marlins Were Inspiring in Honoring Jose Fernandez
In the midst of an awful debate between Hillary Clinton & Donald Trump, I found inspiration in the Miami Marlins.
Of course, the Marlins are in mourning following the sudden death of their top starting pitcher Jose Fernandez which resulted in the cancellation of yesterday's game against the Atlanta Braves.
Fernandez had been scheduled to start tonight's game against the New York Mets. Dee Gordon put Fernandez's spikes, cap & glove on the mound before the game. All the Marlins wore Fernandez's number 16 jersey and it seemed to give them inspiration.
Gordon began the game by hitting on the right hand side of the plate and impersonated Fernandez's batting stance. He then returned to the left hand side of the plate and on the next pitch crushed the first home run of the year. Gordon would later say that he had never hit a ball that far. "If I don't believe in God, I'd better start now," Gordon would say after the game which the Marlins won 7-3.
Indeed, the slow footed Justin Bour hit his first triple. Not just in the majors, but at any level. Gordon added, "We had some help out there."
Following the game, the Marlins circled the mound and Giancarlo Stanton led the team in prayer. Christian Yelich suggested that the team leave their caps on the mound.
There's little doubt that the Marlins are playing on sheer adrenaline. One of two things will happen. The Marlins will go on a crazy run and end up with a NL Wild Card berth. But it is far more likely that with a funeral still to come that the Marlins will crash and burn with the enormity of Fernandez's death truly hitting them. But if the latter happens, look out for this team next year. I say this because the Marlins suddenly had to grow up very, very fast. It will be a difficult passage, but everything happens for a reason even if the reason isn't a good one.
But for the moment, I found that the Miami Marlins exhibited a kind of maturity that was sorely lacking on the debate stage tonight.
Of course, the Marlins are in mourning following the sudden death of their top starting pitcher Jose Fernandez which resulted in the cancellation of yesterday's game against the Atlanta Braves.
Fernandez had been scheduled to start tonight's game against the New York Mets. Dee Gordon put Fernandez's spikes, cap & glove on the mound before the game. All the Marlins wore Fernandez's number 16 jersey and it seemed to give them inspiration.
Gordon began the game by hitting on the right hand side of the plate and impersonated Fernandez's batting stance. He then returned to the left hand side of the plate and on the next pitch crushed the first home run of the year. Gordon would later say that he had never hit a ball that far. "If I don't believe in God, I'd better start now," Gordon would say after the game which the Marlins won 7-3.
Indeed, the slow footed Justin Bour hit his first triple. Not just in the majors, but at any level. Gordon added, "We had some help out there."
Following the game, the Marlins circled the mound and Giancarlo Stanton led the team in prayer. Christian Yelich suggested that the team leave their caps on the mound.
There's little doubt that the Marlins are playing on sheer adrenaline. One of two things will happen. The Marlins will go on a crazy run and end up with a NL Wild Card berth. But it is far more likely that with a funeral still to come that the Marlins will crash and burn with the enormity of Fernandez's death truly hitting them. But if the latter happens, look out for this team next year. I say this because the Marlins suddenly had to grow up very, very fast. It will be a difficult passage, but everything happens for a reason even if the reason isn't a good one.
But for the moment, I found that the Miami Marlins exhibited a kind of maturity that was sorely lacking on the debate stage tonight.
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