Russia/Ukraine/The Former President
There is no question in my mind there is a link between the former president and Putin. The former president’s comments about allowing Putin to do whatever Putin wanted to do to NATO members who didn’t pay up, his lack of support for Ukraine, the pressure he is putting on his followers in congress to not approve aid to Ukraine, his comments about admiring Putin because of the way Putin operates Russia, and Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election all point to a relationship between the former president and Putin. I have always wondered what Putin has on the former president, because no person who truly loves the United States would act the way the former president acts toward Putin. It turns out, I am not alone in these thoughts.
From Heather Cox Richardsons’ Letters from an American, in The Bulwark today, conservative commentator Mona Charen noted that Ukraine president Volodomyr Zelensky this week warned the U.S. that Ukraine will lose the war against Russia’s aggression if it does not get U.S. aid.
“Putin seems to have pulled off the most successful foreign influence operation in American history,” Charen wrote. “If Trump were being blackmailed by Putin it’s hard to imagine how he would behave any differently. And though it started with Trump, it has not ended there. Putin now wields more power over the [Republicans] than anyone other than Trump…. [T]hey mouth Russian disinformation without shame. Putin,” she said, “must be pinching himself.”
Through the former president, Putin’s influence appears to have reached into the halls of congress. Putin appears to be collecting from the former president a payment on a favor to broaden Putin’s sphere of influence.
I hope voters take a hard look at this relationship between Putin and the former president when they vote in November.
A President on Trial
It was a historic day in the U.S today, as the former president’s trial begins today for making illegal hush payments and then declaring them as consulting fees and deducting them as business expenses. It has taken 45 presidents and 246 years for this day to come. The sad part is that we are scheduled to do this three more times in the next year.
Think about it. We have had some bad presidents, but not one has ever been charged with a crime. What does that say about our former president? Yet, the MAGA/Kamikaze Party has chosen him to be the standard-bearer for their party in the November election. You cannot make this stuff up.
The Masters
Scotty Scheffler showed why he is the number one player in the world. His final round 68 was a work of art as he pulled away from the field to win his second Masters.
Tiger Woods made history on Friday as he made this 24th cut in a row. He broke Gary Player’s and Fred Couple’s record of 23. It was an especially taxing achievement, as Woods had to complete 6 holes in the morning to complete Thursday’s round. Then he had to complete the 18 holes of Friday’s round in the most brutal of conditions. Woods finished one over par to easily make the cut and break the record. Unfortunately, it all caught up with him on Saturday and Sunday as he finished the worst four rounds of his Master’s career.
Iconic announcer, Verne Lundquist, completed his 40th and final round announcing at the Master’s. Lundquist has long been a fan favorite, with his voice calling some of the most memorable moments on the par-3, 16th hole, including a Tiger Woods chip-in that will be replayed for the rest of time.
Here is my Quote of the Day. “What a run for Verne Lundquist. One of the all time broadcast voices across sports. From SEC football games, to NCAA Tournament games to the Masters. One of my all time favorites.” Seth Toupal podcaster.
Jackie Robinson Day
Today is Jackie Robinson Day in major league baseball commemorating the day he broke into the major league. Everybody throughout the league wears Robinson’s 42. It is the only time players in the MLB are allowed to wear 42, which has been retired by major league baseball in honor of Robinson.
My good friend Rich Kerns played college baseball at the University of South Alabama, who at the time was coached by Eddie Stankey, who played second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers when Robinson first came up to the MLB. Coach Stanky was instrumental in having Robinson’s back in the Dodger locker room when many players did not want Robinson on the team because he was black.
Over the years, Kerns has shared with me some of the gut wrenching stories that Coach Stanky told his players at South Alabama about being Robinson’s teammate. One of my takeaways was that Robinson deserved to be in the MLB. Robinson’s talent was undeniable. His drive to overcome all the barriers and obstacles that were put in front of him is beyond my comprehension. After his career, Robinson continued his quest for equality as he was a major player in the civil rights movement up until his death at age 53, in 1972.
See my Video of the Day
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Second Quote of the Day: “That was about as happy as you could be to be off of a golf course. That was so hard. We got the sand shower to end our day. So it was kind of the golf course saying, ‘Get the hell out of here.” Max Homa following Friday’s round at the Masters, where the wind was blowing so hard, players were getting sand blasted from sand in the bunkers while they were on the green.
Onion of the Day: The former president.
Question of the Day: Can you imagine having to go through what Jackie Robinson had to go through to reach his dream of becoming a major league player?
Video of the Day: Jackie Robinson and Eddie Stanky as portrayed in the movie 42.
42 – Jackie Robinson dealt with racism from Ben Chapman (youtube.com)
Unfortunately, yes.