Archive for June, 2024

Trump Takes a Page from the Tip O’Neil Playbook

Posted: June 19, 2024 by datechguy in Uncategorized
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All Politics is Local

Tip O’Neill

I noticed this piece concerning the aftermath of the Donald Trump endorsement of Larry Hogan in Maryland.

The former Maryland governor did not seek the endorsement or know about it in advance, according to a person familiar with the campaign. And the campaign’s response to the endorsement didn’t embrace or even acknowledge it — instead saying in a statement: “Governor Hogan has been clear he is not supporting Donald Trump just as he didn’t in 2016 and 2020.”

Hogan has one of the toughest challenges of the cycle, winning a federal office as a Republican in such a blue state. He’s widely popular in Maryland and seen as essentially the only Republican who could potentially flip the Senate seat, and national Republicans are supportive of his effort to win the state without embracing Trump.

There are a few places, for example Citizen Free Press who are upset at the Hogan reaction, here is the line:

Trump endorses Larry Hogan in Maryland, then Larry disrespects Trump.

But it doesn’t seem to bother Trump all that much and I suspect the reason why is something Tip O’Neill used to tell pols back in the days where there was such a thing as conservative democrats who were practicing Christians who really believed in God and didn’t support abortion, you know in the days before the Democrats drove such working class people out of the party.

O’Neill followed Rayburn’s rule that a congressman’s first duty is to get re-elected and was very blunt in saying to his fellow democrats that if it helped them to run against him, that’s fine with him.

Trump knows that a GOP majority in the Senate will be necessary to do what he wants to do and also knows he has only four years to do it with so if it means that there will be one member of the GOP who attacks him in the senate on MSNBC while giving him the critical vote on leadership and on all those priorities he wants to get done, well that’s fine with him and if he loses him on a vote or two that he wins, he won’t care, think Pelosi on the final Obamacare vote, she let every dem she didn’t need vote against her (didn’t save them, but she let them do it).

That’s the way to do it, and Trump is not only old enough to know that way works, he, unlike Biden is still competent enough to remember that it does too.

Who’s bankrolling anti-Israel demos?

Posted: June 18, 2024 by chrisharper in Uncategorized

By Christopher Harper

A variety of foundations and high-rollers have been funding the anti-Israel demonstrations.

In a recent editorial, Investor’s Business Daily
outlines some of these links.

–The Rockefeller Brothers Fund has bestowed nearly a half million dollars during the past five years to one of the organizers of the student demos at Columbia University and other campuses, the anti-Zionist  “Jewish Voice for Peace.”

–George Soros’s Tides Foundation finances the Adalah Justice Project, which was involved in the Columbia demonstrations. Tides has assisted the Palestine Legal Defense Litigation Fund, offering representation to the demonstrators. Soros also backs Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity, whose website promotes pro-Palestinian agitation.

In the last several years, California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom raised more than $11 million for the Tides Foundation, almost all of it from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, established by the late Tulsa-based Russian emigre and oil tycoon Charles Schusterman.

In an earlier analysis in City Journal, N.S. Lyons reports on the support the Ford Foundation provides to anti-Israel groups.

For example, prominent activist Linda Sarsour has participated in several high-profile demonstrations that attack Israel and support Hamas. Sarsour, an American of Palestinian heritage, has received $300,000 from the Ford Foundation for MPower Change, which states its work is “to build grassroots Muslim power.”  

“The Ford Foundation’s history of funding radical, even openly violent, racial identitarian groups extends back far earlier than the 2010s. One could even say that the foundation helped invent American identity politics as we know it today,” Lyons writes.

It is a stretch to argue that these foundations and bigwigs have formed a conspiracy to help Hamas. What is clear, however, is that a lot of money is going to agitators with an anti-Israel agenda and pro-Hamas bent.

Five Celtics Championship Thoughts Under the Fedora: Nothing Like Being Wrong, A Fair Exchange, Brown of Tatum, The Bounces and Questions

Posted: June 17, 2024 by datechguy in Uncategorized
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When Marcus Smart was traded away for Kristaps Porziņģis I thought this was one of the biggest mistakes the team had ever done.

How delightful to be wrong although in fairness getting Holiday was likely just as important if not more.

Derick White had his face smashed into the garden floor in the first have which cost him a tooth. As the game. White says he’d lose them all for a title. If you look at that play in slow motion you’ll be surprised that he was able to come back in.

Was a tad surprised that Brown got the MVP over Tatum. I thought Jason played one of his best games, particularly in terms of passing but Brown has been first rate right along as well.

I suspect this won’t be a bid deal to anyone except for sports writers on talk radio looking for something to argue about.

Dallas actually didn’t play a bad game at all but had plenty of shots that really should have fallen but didn’t.

Of course Dallas’ biggest problem was the Celtics defense that was smothering.

If Dallas adds a piece or two I would not be surprised to see a rematch next season.

Now that the title is in had a few questions:

  1. Does Horford retire now that he has a title?
  2. Given their salary cap situation do they simply try to run it back with the same team?
  3. With a title in hand will the Celtics still be hunger enough to repeat?
  4. Will Jason Tatum finally get credit as a leader by the Boston press (I’m guessing maybe)

The Celtics Remind us Why Brady is as good as Russell or Berra

Posted: June 16, 2024 by datechguy in nba, nfl, Sports
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One of the side effects of the Boston Celtics being blown out in game four vs the Mavericks after winning the first three is to remind us just how Great Tom Brady is and why he deserves a place in the Pantheon with Bill Russell (11 rings) and Yogi Berra (13 Rings) or maybe even beyond them.

Both Yogi and Bill had an advantage that Tom did not, the ability to either:

  1. Have a bad game
  2. Have your opponent have a great game

This advantage is inherent to a playoff series. You can lose a single game or multiple games, you can have a bad night, your team can have a bad night, you can make a huge mistake in a game, and you can still win because it’s a best of seven series.

Not Tom Brady.

In football it’s one and done, if you have a bad day, tough luck, you’re out.

If your opponent has an incredible game (think Pats Eagles) even if you played great, tough luck you’re out.

If your opponent has a lucky break (Think Pats Giants and the Helmet catch) tough luck your out.

That’s why it’s so hard to win at that level in football and that’s why Tom Brady is and will remain the GOAT until someone matches his level.

Brady’s Pats were not allowed a game like the Celts had that why even if the green raise the trophy over their heads in the Garden Tomorrow, they will not be anywhere near Brady level great.

Bill Russell is in my opinion the greatest basketball player who ever lived and no man is more valuable in a world series that Yogi Berra, but when it comes to greatness Tom Brady is right there if not higher.

Period!

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