I'M OVER HERE IN THE HEDGE

Well, not really but then most of what the toy boy and his boss say and do falls into the "not really" category.
There is so much to say but much of it seems redundant except for the comedians who help me make it through the night.  Two hilarious skits on SNL this past Saturday--one with Alec Baldwin by himself and then another with him and Melissa McCarthy.  There are also the two recent Sunday Doonesbury comic strip which are hysterical.    Now, this is not to deny or ignore the so called real world.  But it is to say that humor is very helpful as we face this lunacy.  Moving on.

--It is even more offensive (almost) when one has to see and hear Mitch McConnell reflexively say no special commission--he has got marbles in his mouth or a big chaw.  But he represents what is worse about the Republicans.  They simply cannot or will not stand up to POTUS.  There are a couple of exceptions and Susan Collins is one of them.  But don't go and tell me how wonderful McCain has been or Graham.  I don't buy it.  Not enough.
--That bus ride and photo op celebrating pretty much the repeal of Obamacare was revolting.  All the white boys,and a few white girls, celebrating yet another take away from poor people.  What a spectacle.  One can only hope about the Senate.  Speaking of which, does it bother anyone that Rhode Island has two Senators as does New York?
--The vote in France was welcome news in the face of Brexit and POTUS.  But things are not resolved in France and they have major problems facing up to their own immigrant situation.  Better this than LePen.
--Yates and Clapper were terrific but what difference will it make.  Washington Republicans are moving at the speed of molasses and may never get to really investigating anything. Unless we find his hand in the till, impeachment is a fantasy.
--POTUS fires Comey, admits it was his decision, and denies it has anything to do with Russia.  Just boggles the mind.  He both uses and abuses the press and those 3 good ole boys down there sipping bourbon just love it. They do not listen to or care a fig about Jeffrey Toobin who excoriated POTUS for the firing. I love Toobin but he is preaching to the choir--he should go down to the bayou and talk to the boys.
--Culture alert:  Heard Fred Wiseman in conversation a couple of weeks ago. I can only hope that in my 80's I am as lucid and bright as he is.  Also saw a terrific documentary called "Body and Soul".  About the relationship between Jewish composers/lyricists and Black musicians in the twenties and thirties.  Ever read Alexander McCall Smith?  He writes a number of different series but one I recently read is called "44
Scotland Street".  Very funny.
--Two items of local news.  Apparently last summer, our Mayor decided to close off to vehicles a major downtown shopping area called Newbury Street.  Double apparently, he was criticized for wearing cargo shirts--really.  So sad.  Then the local big time importante Parochial High School may need to go coed to ensure higher enrollment.  But yikes, many complaints from folks very afraid of the boys getting a bit distracted by young women.  Oh my,
--Due to lack of interest the contest is null and void.

SPORTS TALK
A few, not so minor, social distractions at Fenway in the last ten days.  Seems a few of our drunken attendees decided to use the "N" word in verbal attacks on an Oriole player  Happened more than once and with witnesses who in one case really got the attacker evicted.  But still. The Celtics may regret blowing a 5 point lead with 90 seconds to go the other night.  I love Mr. Thomas but he was the villain in that game no matter how many points he scored.  Who will close for the Yanks with Chapman on the DL?  we await word from on high.

Shalom

A VERY COMPETITIVE CONTEST

Not.  Slackers all of you and yes, you have disappointed me--so sad.  If I indulged in fake news, I could say that the meager response to my effort to increase readership was stupendous.  But I refuse to indulge in the same fantasies that POTUS subscribes to (subscribes, get it?).  You have two more weeks so get onto it--and I am calling you out AG.  Bam.

Moving on. A thought or two about the first lady and her husband.  And I am talking about, don't you know, Ivanka and Jared.  He apparently is in charge of half the government if not more.  She is likely in charge of the other half but that's the half that is not important.  Once Jared resolves the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, he is to move on and make the government more efficient.  Ivanka, in her half of the draw, will solve all issues related to day care and then move onto other issues of interest to women--unless they involve Planned Parenthood.  Good for the Berlin crowd who hissed and booed her as she attempted to defend poppa. John Oliver eviscerated them on 4/23.  His bottom line is that neither of them ever earned anything having been given huge responsibilities by daddies.  One of whom is a convicted felon and one of whom is a bully.  You guess.

ENDS AND ODDS
--Sebastian Gorka is leaving the White House but they will likely lie and not say it is because he is virtually a Nazi.  It will be an amicable parting.  He will land in some soft spot in the alt right and keep spewing.
--I do not care one whit about the death of Aaron Hernandez.  He is no loss unless it is to his daughter who will now not have a father figure.  But him being some sort of role model for his daughter is really stretching it.  He was a violent man who shot a bunch of people.  And his lawyers are keeping the fires stoked for god knows what reason.  Publicity is my guess.
--This French election could be a nightmare.  Le Pen is right up there with POTUS in her immigrant bashing and nationalistic rants.
--Please tell me where many of the homeless folks on the corners learned to "god bless me".  I am thinking they believe it will induce me to give them some spare change tho I am already induced and often feel like telling them to shove that god shit.
--I do think little Baron will be in long term psychotherapy.  He is a child who dresses like an adult (I mean have you ever seen him in blue jeans or sneakers?) but by age is a child.  What can he be like in school?
--What to make of "Mother Pence"?  Is that out of Little House on the Prairie or what.  It is too late for her to benefit from therapy.  But be careful of wishing for an impeachment--having Mother and Father in the White House will not be any less ugly.
--Two important congressional races in Montana and Georgia.  The guy in Georgia won the primary mainly because there were about a dozen Republican candidates.  Now there is only one.  The good news is that if he keeps all the folks who voted for him and picks up about 5% of new voters, he can win.  Give whatever you can.
--Breaking news:  POTUS and the boys are after Obamacare again.  POTUS dies not understand why the Civil War kind of could not be negotiated..  Those three good ole boys in Lousiana must love this slavery denial.  Why maybe the Mayor of New Orleans will put those statues back. But his recently passed budget includes no money for the wall but does include money for Planned Parenthood.

SPORTS TALK
--I am not giving them the pennant but I love the youth and exuberance of the Yankees.  And yup the Red Flops miss Big Papi.  Serious baseball talk will not occur until after 7/4.The talking heads of sports radio are at loose ends since they predicted a Celtic loss after two home defeats to the Bulls--and now of course the Wizards will take them out.  Maybe/maybe not.  No one gets by Lebron anyhow.  I go to the BB Hall of fame next week with my Western Mass relative--first visit and am very excited. See ya JC.

Ta Ta