NATIONAL KICKBALL DAY UPDATES
Kickball - Urban Soccer For People Without Goals or Just Another Method of Collective Bullying? Discuss ...
-As of this morning, seven jurors have been seated for Ex-President Trump (R-apist) LXXXVIII’s New York trial involving catching and killing the Stormy Daniels sexual encounter story from hitting the media just before the 2016 election (or “campaign interference,” if you will) – and while Judge Juan Mercan is satisfied enough with the pace of finding jurors (five full jurors and six alternates left to go) that he has set this Monday for opening arguments, the talk dominating the first two days of the case continues to involve the man the tabloids have alternately labelled “Don Snorleone” and/or “The Nodfather,” noting that in the early hours of both days in court the man who has railed against who he called “Sleepee Joe Bye-Dun” is clearly having a very, very difficult time staying interested enough to stay awake. Or it could he his clear lack of physical well-being and/or ALLEGED (eyeroll) drug use and/or being 77 and under massive stress … who can say?
-One thing is for sure: whatever Trump’s mind condition is, it is clearly focused on the important stuff, like his long social media post about a man at the center of the trial … or just at the center of the pudding in his skull … late-night nemesis Jimmy Kimmel. Trump railed against “Stupid Jimmy” (showing off his third-grade-level nicknaming skill he is so renowned for) and doubling back to last month’s “failing” Oscar telecast (which actually was at a four-year ratings high) – likely because previous social media postings attacking Kimmel were laid to waste with Kimmel’s “Isn’t it past your jail time?” one-liner, but also because amid the jokes among Trump’s narcolepsy, Kimmel came back by calling Trump “Doze-o The Clown.” More points to Kimmel!
-The proceedings also prompted Trump to make a staged appearance at a Harlem bodega in an effort at what he sees as African-American voter outreach. Staged appearances with supporters of color are not new to Trump – indeed, over the weekend a “spontaneous” hug from a black woman at, of all places, a Chik-Fil-A Restaurant, was revealed to be a former Democratic operative angling for a position (paid? HAHAHA – sorry!) in Trump’s GA campaign “office,” and Trump himself has bragged that his mug shot adheres him to black voters because, well, in Trump’s mind most blacks have been arrested. (Prove me wrong!)
-These staged appearances do appear to be Trump’s entire outreach plan for voters of color, as the reorganization of the Republican National Committee by Trump failson-wife Lara has included the firing of all who were hired by the RNC for outreach to voters of color as well as shutting down all RNC offices dedicated to whatever effort there was to do that kind of outreach that does not involve stunts.
-Finally, hay was trying to be made the last few days by Trump and failson Eric “Eric” Trump over Trump’s request to be able to attend son Barron’s high school graduation. Since Judge Merchan did not immediately grant the request, cries of UNFAIR have pealed down from Fox and friends and colleagues. What was NOT said is that (a) all Merchan said was he was not making that call until the trial got underway, (b) the graduation is not until May 17, (c) reports indicate Trump did not attend the high school graduations of any of his other kids, and (d) Barron’s name was actually typed and remembered by Trump and not one of his aides.
-This morning’s news about what appears to be a vote on a long-delayed Ukraine aid package in the U.S. House comes as Russian attacks amp up and fears continue that a longer delay will result in reversals in advances made by Ukraine in the two years since Putin’s invasion began. A missile attack in the downtown area of the city of Chernihiv killed 17 – the deadliest such attack in weeks – and rationing of bullets is now common among Ukrainian forces on the front line. That aid may take the form of ‘loans’ and use of seized assets, as House Speaker-Right-Now Mike Johnson (R-Jay-EE-Zuz!, LA) intends to craft his own bill rather than simply pass the aid bill the Senate crafted that also includes aid to Israel and Taiwan. Johnson claims a vote on individual bills to cover this aid will take place Saturday evening …
-… and if it does, it will almost certainly need to happen with more Democratic support than Republicans, as the UltraMAGA Base has amped their criticism of Johnson up over daring to actually legislate. A Motion To Vacate has been promised by UltraMAGA Leader Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Z-Q-R, GA) has received the support of another prominent MAGAt, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), and that all but likely means any vote to allow Johnson to hold the gavel will need Democratic support – and the prospect of a mid-term switch to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) will tempt many Democrats to resist support of Johnson, even with a legislative deal on Ukraine (since Israel is a problematic vote for many members of the progressive Left in the House). Gird your loins …
-… and as always, SLAVA UKRAINI!
-Also in the House, an array of MAGAts – including Greene – are awaiting the Senate for further action involving the House ‘impeachment’ of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for not doing enough to shut down the Mexican border (“But what about the bill the MAGAts killed that would’ve made the Mexican border stronger? Doesn’t that make them resposi-LET ME GO! LET ME GO!!!”), and the question is not whether the impeachment will pass the Senate (it will not) but how much humiliation Senate Majority Leader Schumer may want to deliver on the act. The best way to do that would be to table or bring it to a vote without debate at all, but there may be some consultation with Mayorkas to see if a hearing or two may be useful to rehab what knicks the hearings may have made on Mayorkas.
-Now, if we want to hear about actual incompetent civil servants that may deserve to lose their jobs, let’s once again talk about a guy everyone thought would be out of a job by now but inexplicably is still working: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The Trump appointee testified before a Senate committee and heard an earful about his actual plans to make the Post Office even more inefficient and stressed than it already is – the states of AZ and GA (rEEEEEly?!) are reporting mail is being set at on-time rates as low as 36%. DeJoy, as always, was nonplussed by the criticism, and calls to resign are being made again - along with asking why the now-Democratic majority on the Board of Governors of the Post Office have not gotten rid of DeJoy yet. No answer has been given and no word is out that his job may be in jeopardy, so give yourself time if you need something at the Post Office in the near future …
-We close with Hollywood Union News involving generational childhood icons … this morning, SAG-AFTRA-Equity announced that a supermajority of 1,700 workers at Walt Disney Corporation amusement parks and attractions have formed Magic United, and have asked for recognition as a full union with the National Labor Relations Board in order to begin work on their first-ever collective bargaining agreement. That news comes after 35 Writers Guild members who work for Sesame Workshop, the company that now produces Sesame Street, unanimously approved a vote to strike as contract negotiations continue there. All of which make me go … Hi-HO - Can you tell me how to get to Solidarity!!!! SPELL U-N-I-O-N!
-Good note to get to the landmarks!
-On this date in 1961, Fidel Castro’s forces repelled an American-funded attempt at a coup at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba. On this date in 1970, the Apollo 13 command module (well, the capsule) returned to Earth after an explosion of an oxygen tank forced the abandonment of landing on the moon and endangering the three astronauts aboard. On this date in 1975, the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia. And on this date in 2002, GENERAL HOSPITAL ran its record 10,000thepisode.
-Notable debuts: Mickey Mantle with the New York Yankees (1951), the Ford Mustang (1964), The Band (1969), the first Beatles solo album (McCARTNEY, 1970). Canada as a sovereign state (1982), TWILIGHT – LOST ANGELES 1992 (1994), HBO’s GAME OF THRONES (2011).
-Happy Birthday to John Ford, Samuel Chase, Alexander Cartwright, Cap Anson, Isak Dinesen, Senor Wences, Thornton Wilder, William Holden, Harry Reasoner, Don Kirschner, Daffy Duck, Jan Hammer, Olivia Hussey, Michael Sembello, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Pete Shelley, Dwayne Casey, Nick Hornby, Sean Bean, Boomer Esaiason, Joel Murray, Maynard James Keenan, Liz Phair, Marquis Grissom, Adam McKay, Redman, Jennifer Garner, Tony Boselli, Theo Ratliff, Victoria Beckham, and Rooney Mara.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Morey, Eddie Cochrane, Frank McGee, Dick Shawn, Louise Nevelson, Ralph Abernathy, Chaim Herzog, Linda McCartney, Kitty Carlisle, Danny Federici, Michael Sarrazin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Doris Roberts.
-Feed the Worms: OG Oligarch J.P. Morgan entered Earth on this date. Later generation oligarch John Paul Getty Jr. and wife and mom to two ignominious Presidents Barbara Bush bought it on this date.