by John Walters
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
The Reds and the Braves led off an unprecedented day in Major League Baseball yesterday that had eight, count ’em eight, playoff games (the results are in: we loved it!). And they staked themselves to their own unprecedented moment, as the the two Senior Circuit clubs combined to strike out an MLB-postseason record 37 times while taking a scoreless game to the 13th inning.
Reds starter Trevor Bauer, whom his former Ohio team really could have used yesterday, led the way with 12 strikeouts. The batter who whiffed most was Braves player Adam Duvall (4). The Braves won it in the bottom of the 13th on a Freddie Freeman single.
No Dubs NBA Finals
For the first time in six years there’s no Golden State Warriors—the Dubs—in the NBA Finals, so this Dubs didn’t watch any of Game 1. We were glued to the Yanks-Indians 10-9 mini-classic. Anyway, the Lakers went up by as much as 32, Goran Tragic and Jimmy Butler were injured, and this series looks over as soon as it started. Too bad.
Pope Says “No” To Pomp
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requested a pre-election visit (and photo op) with Pope Francis in the Vatican and the incorruptible Jesuit said, “Walk that sh*t back.”
The Pope refused to see him! Can we vote for the Pope?
I’m sure the White House will spin this that the Pope is instigating a War on Catholicism.
Is There An Adult In The Room?
This has been my question for months now: When Donald Trump loses the popular vote AND the electoral college in 33 days by a not insignificant margin, and when he refuses to cede, who will be the adult in the room that enforces the election results?
The Secretary of State? I don’t think so.
The Attorney General? I don’t think so.
The Senate Majority Leader? I don’t think so.
You can visit 270ToWin.com (click on the “Historical Elections Timeline”), which breaks down in simple graphics the election results (popular vote, electoral college) from every presidential election. President Trump’s intimidation tactics notwithstanding, it seems highly probably that Joe Biden will win by a margin at least on par with the average winning margins of the elections from, say, the last 60 years.
Of those elections, only one went to a Supreme Court decision: 2000. That was the year when George W. Bush allegedly won by 5 electoral votes and only about 500,000 (of 100 million ballots cast) popular votes. This election will NOT be that close.
So President Trump is doing everything he can at this moment to get the election sent to the Supreme Court. But there will be no physical voting evidence to suggest this needs to be done. So, again I ask, who will stand up to him and tell him he must leave (besides CNN and MSNBC)?
A few thoughts on this:
–Perhaps, but I am not counting on it, we’ll find a few more Republicans like this guy, Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker, who actually have spines:
–The men I referenced above—Mike Pompeo, William Barr and Mitch McConnell, but particularly the first two—have their political careers tethered to Donald Trump. If he goes, they go. Again, not so much McConnell. He got his judges and that’s mostly all he cares about. But Pomp, Barr, all of the Trump/Kushner clan, you figure they’ll scratch and claw because they know what awaits as soon as they cede power.
–We can envision a scenario where Trump agrees to leave the White House if and only if he and his children are promised federal immunity from all crimes. Or if he receives a pardon (he could resign, install Mike Pence as lame-duck prez, and have Pence grant him a pardon). I would not give him that satisfaction. It’s like a 7 year-old saying he’ll only go to bed at the appointed time if you give him five cookies. Get your ass in bed before I give it five smacks.
–The more I see Trump, the more I begin to understand that Brutus wasn’t really a traitor or villain. If you read up on Julius Caesar, he had installed himself as “dictator perpetuo” (dictator for life) in early 44 B.C. (they of course did not call it 44 B.C. themselves). And this is where the term “crossing the Rubicon” comes from. The Roman senate, after Julius Caesar had conquered Gaul, ordered him to disband his armies and return to Rome as a civilian. He refused, crossing the Rubicon river with his legions and thus demonstrating that he was the sole power of Rome and had “my great military, whom I love so much” at his back.
It was left to Brutus and other Senators to hatch a conspiracy to murder Caesar in order to save the republic. Of course, no one got off with clean hands, but Brutus’ intent was to not let Rome devolve into a dictatorship. Et tu, Brute? You’re bleeping right, Julius.
–If Trump refuses to leave, if the hand-picked Kangaroo Supreme Court hands him the election, every American who opposes him should simply refuse to participate in American life. Peacefully. Here’s my first idea. Driving cars into Washington, D.C., and simply parking them in the middle of streets, bottle-necking traffic. They can’t tow everyone (I’d suggest they do this in New York City but who’d notice the difference?).
–Now look, if by some mysterious quirk of fate Donald Trump wins this election, he stays in office. I’ll be in Costa Rica, but you kids have fun back here. However, if he loses by a margin consistent with other elections, no deals. No Supreme Court. And if we have to go Brutus on him, god bless us. The Pope has our back, and I hear he’s got the ear of some pretty Important Figures.
Up, Up And Away
If you want to make a solid argument in favor of devolution (the idea that civilization is regressing), check out the list of nominees and winners from the 1968 Grammy Awards. Wow.
The 5th Dimension, somewhat headlined by the lovely Marilyn McCoo, won Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Group Performance of the Year. In that last category the quintet beat out the Monkees, the Association and the Beatles. Pret-tee, pret-tee good.
Enjoy the song that made it all happen.
Last note: Imagine singing a song this joyous and ethereal in the midst of one of the worst years in American history: MLK, RFK, Tet offensive, Nixon gets elected. Yeeesh.
Last thing: belated happy birthday to Ms. McCoo, who turned 77 yesterday.