Author: Becky Sarwate

Grandpa Rossy’s DWTS Run Extends 2016’s Fun Ride

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Image: Chicago Sun-Times

“I hadn’t watched an episode of Dancing with the Stars in years. And I don’t suppose anything other than a member of the 2016 World Series Chicago Cubs accepting the challenge to compete would have enticed me to return. This is an abnormal moment in American history. The former host of The Apprentice is now Commander-in-Chief. And the spiritual leader of the greatest Cubs team in modern history is faithfully shaking his sequined moneymaker every week on live TV. How can I reasonably stay away?

I admit that when I first learned Rossy would take on ballroom dancing, the idea seemed to make as much sense as giving a thirsty person a glass of saltwater. After years spent in a crouched position racking up concussions, no way was David Ross a threat to flexible fellow contestants like Olympic Gold Medal gymnast Simon Biles. But the catcher is retired from baseball and always demonstrated a flair for the silly in the Cubs dugout (treat yourself to this video of Rossy playing air drums during Phil Collins classic “In the Air Tonight”). Why not try something scary and new?”

Read the full post at Wrigleyville Nation.

We Bombed Syria. What Now Trump?

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“I was not a fan of President Obama’s ‘red line’ followed by a general approach of confusion and inaction toward a ravaged Syria. But neither am I in favor of unilateral violence ordered by a President cloaked in corruption, scandal and general, inhuman oddity.

The first two and a half of months of the Trump administration have been a break necking blur of stupidity and heartlessness. However, the third leg of this gang’s unholy stool is incompetence and while they’ve tried to illegally ban certain immigrants and wrench grateful Americans from their Obamacare, we can be grateful they’re too disorganized to succeed. But Syria has been bombed, officially. It has never taken genius or coordination to fire weapons and indiscriminately kill.”

Read the full post at Contemptor.

The Week’s Bipartisan Misogyny: Andrea Mitchell, the Healthcare Debate & Mansplaining

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“It’s an unprecedentedly silent time from the government’s foreign policy apparatus, and Mitchell has a duty to represent the public interest. Without a flow of information, the correspondent refused to act the part of photo op handmaiden for the administration. For this presumptive violation of First Amendment boundaries in the Trump era, Mitchell was all but shoved from the press room. Though her would-be intimidators included Trump staffers of both genders, it’s hard not to wonder if a male journalist like CNN Jake Tapper’s physical space would have been so casually invaded.

Then yesterday, my partner showed me a clip from the House Energy and Commerce Committee debate over Speaker Paul Ryan’s atrocious new bill – the “American” Health Care Act. Republican Representative John Shimkus characterized pool coverage for prenatal care as a constraining “mandate” placed upon our male citizenry. Obviously this is so misogynist and wrong on so very many levels, I CAN’T EVEN. But that, in my opinion, was not the most troubling aspect of Shimkus’ conversation with Democratic Representative Mike Doyle.”

Read the full post at Contemptor.

Mainstream Media Owes America More Than a Defensive Crouch

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“It’s time for a new question. The people seem to be hanging tough enough. See South Carolina Senator and faux “Never Trump” Republican Lindsey Graham’s latest Town Hall meeting as evidence. The frustrated masses are fired up and ready to go, but is President Trump exhausting members of the journalistic profession?

Things have gotten so bad that my dude, CNN Contributor and all-around eyes-wide-open smarty pants Van Jones was ready to be snookered after Trump’s Tuesday evening State of the Union-lite. ‘He became President of the United States in that moment, period.’ Are the beleaguered, harried members of the ‘liberal’ mainstream media so desperate for normalcy that a speech with a nativist, fear-mongering policy centerpiece is celebrated as statesmanlike?”

Read the full post at Contemptor.

Are Americans Wearing Down President Trump?

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“A series of strange events launched with the 45th President’s inauguration on Friday, January 20, 2017. The introduction of the country to Press Secretary Sean Spicer and “alternative facts,” protesting crowds at the Women’s Marches far exceeding attendance at the President’s own parade. And Chuck Todd remembered he was a journalist. Writer Egberto Willies and others have offered measured praise: “Recently Chuck Todd has been doing his job in reducing the spin by pointing out unadulterated facts when Republicans enter their lying mode.”

So anyway, Trump has been President for three weeks and I’m three for three with Meet the Press. These are strange times indeed. On today’s edition, the topic wasn’t explicitly discussed by the panel or guests. But with each installment of the suddenly reinvigorated program, Chuck Todd gets closer to verbalizing a question on the mind of many Washington talking heads. This week Politico published Trump Vexed by Challenges, Scale of Government. Writers Alex Isenstadt, Kenneth P. Vogel and Josh Dawsey report, “The new president’s allies say he has been surprised that government can’t be run like his business.”

Two thoughts and queries immediately present themselves.

  1. No shit, Sherlock.
  2. Is Trump going to give the nation the gift of resignation?”

Read the full post at Contemptor.