mtutiger

Probably COVID IL, at least if it's like how they announced Vest. That sucks, he was playing well

The thing that isn't remembered much about the Independent Commission deal that was reached (before McCarthy reneged) is that it was set to expire on 12/31/2021. When you add in how McCarthy pulled all his folks off the current Select Committee, you start to understand how bad at politics the guy is. One thinks that the set up they have now, assuming the format is a lot like yesterday, without grandstanding, may be the strongest possible format... It will be clear, it will be concise, and it will be free from bad faith obfuscation... all of these things alone will give it more credibility than the average Congressional hearing.

MickeyB leaving the last board was the most instructive departure. Deep down, I really don't know that he believed all the Trumpism BS, but he had no choice but to follow the party.

I dont remember it, but I'm sure my hands were all over that argument... Amtrak's success and failures are incredibly hard to discuss without knowing how the system operates or the fact that it owns so little of the track that it operates on. But it's a good example of the difference between politics and policy... whether it's this committee or abortion or healthcare or inflation, Archie's here for political trolling. He's not here to discuss policy.

I guess I'm not of the view that believing that homosexuals should be able to live free from discrimination and without fear of prejudice and violence for how they live on earth really matters in terms of one's value judgment on the lifestyle itself.

And do they have the right to exist? Bringing it back to the "patch" issue (which prompted the creation of this thread), a lot of why pride month exists is because it is a class of people that historically has faced discrimination and hardship in the American experience. Not unlike Black Americans or Hispanics, who also have months dedicated to their experience. I'm sure this will be seen as namby pamby liberalism to some, but as I see it, regardless of whether I agree with the lifestyle or whether my religion condones it or not, I don't see why it is controversial to believe that, here on earth, gay people have the right to live with the expectation of not being discriminated against. And going against that seems like just another way to force my religion onto others.

Good news, although I'm honestly surprised that Perez would even be on MLB Pipeline's radar at this point lol

It seems that whenever this debate has come up, at least when I've observed it, there's a real lack of ability to understand the context of the Old and New Testaments. And the fact that Jesus, through his sacrifice on the Cross and thereafter, gave himself up as a sacrifice in order to establish a New Covenant. https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=9216 In so doing he brings to an end the entire sacrificial system contained in Leviticus. He is the reality that the symbols of the Jewish religion point to. He is the agent in whose person and by whose action fallen human beings can resume their rightful place as royal priests who bring the world back to its original purpose, who help the universe achieve its own destiny. That is what is at stake! By no means am I a biblical expert, but this is pretty central to how I was taught as a Catholic. It doesn't make the Bible contradictory, per se, but it's more that there's a narrative arc to the text that often gets lost when people just cherry pick verses from certain books to apply to contemporary politicial issues

Leviticus 11:7-8 KJV: And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. Something to keep in mind the next time you order that pork chop.

I was under the impression that the former President wouldn't be watching.

So, about Nestor Cortes' splits with/without mustache.... any thoughts there?

As the old saying goes, the fish rots from the head. The work of a team of quality employees can all be undone by bad management. Doesnt matter if it's law enforcement or engineering or whatever.

The vast majority of cops are good, but it isn't just the quality of the cops, it is the quality of the departments that employ them and the leadership therein. That is why the "blue line" flags and "back the blue" virtue signaling bothers me... one doesn't have to believe in defunding the police in order to believe that there are a lot of poorly run police departments out there that need reforming. Especially in a country the size of ours. Uvalde is one example, but there are others as well. But alas, it's "back the blue no matter who!" with a lot of folks.

I keep saying it, but the Twins and White Sox (for various reasons) are both flawed teams. Just keep trying to chip away, there's still some time

Almost like the Yankees are really really good.

Meanwhile...

I'm sure that is by design - they do not want these hearings to turn to business as usual as it would detract from their goals. To that end, Kevin McCarthy did them a big solid by pulling all of his picks off the panel... this exercise will be far more clear and functional without Jim Jordan up there yelling at the witnesses

Has anyone called Officer Edwards a "crisis actor" yet?

Quested's testimony is extremely compelling... very unique access to these groups

Again, you are probably right. But it all needs to be on the record regardless, might as well try to break through

Wow

More generally, I don't think it's all about convincing hard core Trumpers... it's about people in the middle who aren't very tuned into politics. And the historical record more generally. I dont know that it will be successful in the former, I'm pretty cynical these days, though it probably will in the latter

Multiple Congresscritters asking for Presidential Pardons would have been a career ender in the past.... that's unreal

ERos has 9 strikeouts in four innings so far for Toledo tonight.

Cannot make it up, folks!