Author: opinionstogo

President Biden and former President Trump are having two debates (CNN and ABC), both without live audiences. That, hopefully, will tap down the buffoonery and performance optics of the challenger. But don’t count on it.

Trump, even if snoozing or gas-passing, is adept at creating his own center stage and hogging the spotlight–especially when he knows there’s a TV audience in the multi-millions.

When preparation focuses on bumper-sticker memes, sophomoric insults and dog whistles to a cult-follower base, no one will think about Lincoln-Douglas or Kennedy-Nixon. Trump is still, alas, Trump.

One other point. Few viewers find debates determinative. Most discerning voters have already made up their minds. Most of the rest will see and hear what they want to see and hear.

Hardly shocking that public trust in the Supreme Court is at its lowest in memory. Reversing Roe v Wade, adding three Federalist Society-vetted Trumpers and retaining Ginni Thomas’ husband, helps explain it. Now add Justice Samuel Alito, where an upside-down American flag flew outside his home after the D.C. insurrection. Displaying the flag in such a fashion is symbolically associated with Trump’s election-fraud lies. Could Alito actually be impartial in upcoming cases involving that nefarious, democracy-demeaning Capitol attack? Recusal shouldn’t be an option. It should be a mandate.

* President Biden has created the White House Office of Gun Violence Protection. It will be overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris. It does not have the NRA’s blessing.

* In-person, minority message: President Biden delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College.

* In-person message Part II: Biden visited France to symbolically mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day. It was also to geopolitically mark the continued support of European security.

* The “Abandon Biden” movement: Muslim activists who are organizing in swing states. What would Muhammad say? Maybe “But now you’re helping an Islamophobe!” 

* West Virginia’s pseudo Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who is retiring after this term, says he has (officially) left the Democratic Party to become an independent.

* “The People vs. The Powerful.” That was Al Gore’s 2000 slogan. It should still resonate.

* There’s a reason, alas, this old joke still has currency: “War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography.”

* Favorite spoonerism: “It’s kistomary to cuss the bride.”

* “Like.” “I mean.” “Y’know.”–“Eliminate them and some conversations might shrink by fifty percent.” That was the late, wry journalist/author/lecturer Edwin Newman, on redundant colloquialisms, but then, you know, you’ve probably, like, noticed.

* Plan Hillsborough projects that this county, the third largest in Florida, will be home to 2 million residents by 2050. According to the 2020 census, Hillsborough had been a little less than 1.5 million. The 2024 estimate is 1.55 million.

* Amid all the changes planned for the mixed-income West River community, none, arguably, will be more appreciated than a planned Publix. That’s a revitalization catalyst and a de facto vote of confidence for an important, urban-renewal project that helps facilitate community roots.

 

* Last year nearly 4 out of every 5 vehicle burglaries in Tampa were to UNLOCKED cars, according to TPD. From those unlocked vehicles, 197 guns were stolen. Leaving a gun in an unlocked car is beyond stupid. It’s being a clueless crime enabler and societal threat.

* One of the five finalists for Florida Teacher of the Year is Hillsborough County’s Blake High Science Teacher Clayton Nyland. The winner will be announced next month.

* Along I-95, not far from Mar-a-Lago, is a George Conway-sponsored billboard: “Vote For Joe, Not The Psycho.”

* Could it get worse? Governor Gaetz!

* “We’re rejecting the agenda of the radical green zealots.” That was, no surprise, Gov. Ron DisAstrous, who has signed a bill making climate change a lesser priority. Lesser than what? Existential reality?

* Another priority update: Anxious concerns continue apace over the problematic property insurance industry. However, there is consumer protection for Brazilian butt lifts.

* According to a Wall Street Journal report, MSNBC’s median audience age is 70; Fox News is 69; and CNN is 67.

* “We wouldn’t have had a prayer without that gadget.”–John F. Kennedy on the impact of TV.

* More than 170 million Americans have accounts on Tik Tok. Among them: Donald Trump.

* Mexico has elected its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City. Her challenges–from a roiling stock exchange to weakened democratic institutions to border chaos and continuing cartel violence–are daunting. But she doesn’t have to worry about re-election scenarios. No presidential re-elections are allowed. Buena suerte, Señora.

* “Horrific and apocalyptic.” How living conditions in Rafah have been described by the World Food Program.

* USF is breaking ground Oct. 18 on its on-campus, 35,000-seat football stadium.

* The name, image and likeness era means the end of major college (revenue-producing) sports as we have known them. University football will look more like MLB farm teams, with signing bonuses into the multi-millions and then de facto free agency for transferring. Athletes as pseudo students majoring in eligibility. And head’s up for all the scandals on their way.

* Florida is the 36^th state to permit high school athletes to benefit financially from name, image and likeness. There’s no turning back.

* UT won its 9^th Division II baseball championship.

* UF won its 3^rd straight NCAA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

* USF won the AAC men’s indoor and outdoor track championships this year.

* The Memorial Weekend Sunday game between the Rays and Royals included respectful shout outs to veterans and the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” The players stood at attention with caps over their hearts. The cameras showed some close-ups. Oops. Regardless of the context, baseball players do what baseball players do. At least one (Royal) had to work in a spit.

* Miami Marlins home crowd for recent game with the Rays: 8,778.

* Congrats to Jesuit High for winning its 7^th (5A) state baseball championship.

* History will provide the ultimate verdict on Trump. MAGA minions and Felon followers won’t matter.

* “Biden’s DOJ was authorized to shoot me (during the Mar-a-Lago raid).”–D. Trump. Not true, however tempting.

* The wild card: When Nikki Haley and her “zombie campaign” pulled in more than 20% of the primary vote in Maryland and Indiana, it should have been a signal to Trump that he could still face more opposition with the Republican Party. Avoiding global humiliation and supporting true country-first priorities could still, seemingly, be a motivator for some GOPsters. Yeah. And now Haley supports Trump. So much for the zombie vote.

* “There’s no backbone in her decision.”–Former Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, on Haley’s support for another Trump presidency.

* Trump says Biden should take a drug test before the debates. Maybe Biden should say Trump ought to take a polygraph test during the debates.

* Veepstakes: Spineless toadies who prioritize their MAGA connection as a Trump prop.

* The Reich Stuff: Political opponents are “vermin,” his enemies should “rot in hell,” and he embraces being a “day one” dictator. So, why would anyone be surprised that Trump worked a “unified Reich” in America reference into a video posted to his social media?

* “You all know I stand by the truth, and if I put my name on something, I truly believe in it.” That was bankruptcy-hammered Rudy Giuliani, who still stands by the avatar of prevarication, in rolling out ads for his personally-branded “Rudy Coffee.” What’s next? “Rudy Steaks?” “Rudy Bibles?” “Rudy Hair Dye?”

* RFK Jr. said that if president, he would appoint a special counsel to examine whether Trump allies were unfairly singled out for prosecution.” Whatever.

* Low-caliber update: The NRA endorses Trump.

* “I violated my moral compass, and I suffered the penalty, as has my family.” Forever frowning Michael Cohen, on his Faustian-deal as Trump’s “fixer.”

* Candid Cohen on Trump: A “boorish cartoon misogynist” and a “Cheeto-dusted” villain who belongs in a “cage.”

* A Trump gag order: Isn’t that an oxyMORON?

* “This ridiculous (hush-money) prosecution is not about justice. It’s all about politics.” That was 2020 election challenger House Speaker Mike Johnson, when he became the highest-ranking GOPster to show up at Court with Donald Trump. He also called the trial a “sham.” But nothing about all the America-diminishing, inherent sleaze that not even the felon’s wife could show up for.

* In a recent USF poll, 17% of respondents said that “the candidate’s personal character and integrity” will be a key determinant of how they vote. Beyond sobering and worrisome when a certain candidate is unethical, immoral, unhinged, misogynistic and a proven pathological liar and fraudster—and for 83% of respondents that’s not a big vote factor.