So much for team play. In yesterday’s Daytona 500, Brad Keselowski hit his Penske Racing teammate, Joey Legano on the bumper on the last lap allowing Michael McDowell to fly by them and take the checkered flag. McDowell was glued to Keselowski’s bumper, watching and waiting for his chance to win the Daytona 500. Legano was the leader, McDowell was certain Keselowski would go for it and when he did, McDowell would play his hand. On the final lap, Keselowski attempted to dart around Logano, but Logano threw a block on his teammate that crashed them both. McDowell stayed right where he was, flat on the gas, and drove through a crash scene for a stunning upset. I am wondering how the conversation went with Roger Penske after the race.
When I sat down to watch Michigan men’s basketball team yesterday my expectations were low. This is a game I had circled as a loss long before U of M went on a 23 day pause. I expected Michigan to play well on the defensive end, but I figured they would struggle offensively with their shot and with their execution. The first half went as expected, with Michigan down by 12 at the half. I am not sure what was said in Michigan’s lockerroom at half time, but they came out a different team as they held Wisconsin to only 20 points in the second half to win by 8 points. It is great to have a team that can make in-game adjustments to turn the game around. I hope Harbaugh was watching.
Saturday’s impeachment trial was both confusing and historic as initially the Democrats decided to ask for witnesses. This was a result of new information that came to light late Friday. The House managers wanted to bring Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler (R-Wash.) in to testify.The night before, Herrera-Beutler issued a statement recounting a story she’s told detailing a heated call between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Trump during the middle of the violent insurrection. After a 55-45 vote for approval to bring in witnesses, the House managers then reversed themselves after receiving pushback from Democrats. In the end, former President Trump was aquitted in a 57-43 vote to convict (67 votes were required for conviction) , with seven Republican senators voting to convict. This was not surprising. What followed next was! Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a scathing speech on Trump’s guilt of inciting the insurrection, but McConnel couldn’t vote to convict on the grounds that impeachment is for the sole purpose of removing the president from office and since he was already out of office, McConnell couldn’t vote to convict. We all know Mitch McConnell is the consumate politician who chooses his words wisely. It is going to be interesting to see how much impact this speech will have on McConnell’s power within the Republican party. The attack on the seven senators who voted to convict has already started.
Justice delayed is justice denied. Last week I reported on the continued delay in the trial of Nick Lyon, former Michigan Director of Health and Human Services related to the Flint Water Crisis. As reported last week, Nick was to have a pre-trial hearing on February 18. That hearing has now been cancelled and moved to June 24. The delay is because the State has not completed typing up the trancripts from the grand jury indictment. As I have said on multiple occasions, this case has no business in criminal court. The State has already settled this case for $640 million in civil court. This move by Attorney General Nessel is looking awful familar to the move that previous Attorney General Bill Schutte used in 2017 as a way to gather voter support from Flint voters prior to his running for governor in 2018. In 2017 Schutte filed criminal charges agains Lyon, but those charges were dropped after the 2018 election. Now Nessell is going to be up for re-election in 2022 and it appears she is doing the same. In the mean time, it has been nearly four years since Lyon and his family have had criminal charges hanging over their heads. I have said it before and will continue to say it, this case has no business in criminal court. Nick Lyon and his family deserve better from our politicians and Attorney General Nessel
Quote of the Day: “If I ever decide to commit a crime, I am going to make sure that the people who helped me plan it, carry it out, and who also advise my defense counsel are on the jury who will decide by fate” Annonymous.
Orchid of the Day: The Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team for their victory over Wisconsin on Sunday after a 23 day pause. It is one of the most impressive victories I can remember in my 50 years of following Michigan basketball.
Onion of the Day: Mitch McConnell, for saying that Trump was guilty of inciting the insurrection but not voting for conviction because he was out of office. I can’t help but feel the speech he made following Trump’s acquittal was McConnell’s way of asking for forgiveness. It seems he wants it both ways.