Quick Hits: Volume CLXXX

- Have you seen the virtue-signaling advertisement released by Gillette where they condemn "toxic masculinity?"

If not, here it is:





I'm not going to deny that a small part of this ad has merit. But the universal dismissal of the old saying "boys will be boys" misses the mark, per Matt Walsh.

In any case, "boys will be boys" does not generally function as an excuse. It is a cliche but, like many cliches, it contains great wisdom. Boys will indeed be boys, and should be boys, and should be allowed to be boys without their natural boy-ness being constantly suppressed. Boys are energetic, aggressive, creative, competitive. They need safe and accepting outlets for these impulses. Incidentally, rolling around and roughhousing is one such outlet. The ad shows an enlightened man swooping in to stop a couple of young boys from wrestling around in the grass, which is exactly the wrong approach. As long as it's all in good fun, and nobody is getting seriously hurt, and it is not a case of assault or actual bullying, then the fatherly instinct to step back and let the boys be boys is correct.

I'd love to see a Venn diagram of those who invalidate the "boys will be boys" mantra and those who find it perfectly acceptable for young boys to dress in drag to perform for adults.


- Say, did you hear the bizarre story about the Menendez brothers showing up in the background of New York Knicks guard Mark Jackson's trading card from nearly 30 years ago? That particular game (where Lyle & Erik sat court side) was one of the activities in which they partook after murdering their parents.

Check out the crazy story here.


- A bipartisan group of Minnesota's elected officials gathered Tuesday to discuss plans on easing the burden of the state's federal workers (and those on federal assistance) due to the government shutdown.

The complete impact of the shutdown on Minnesota won’t be understood for a while, but some things have already become clear: It’s costing the state money — an estimated $100 million so far — and Minnesota leaders aren’t afraid to demand every penny in federal funding the state is owed.

Walz, with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, state lawmakers from both parties and religious leaders at his side, reassured residents Tuesday that a lack of federal funding won’t hurt the safety net so many rely on — for now.

So, $100 million, huh? Perhaps the state can recoup that amount which went missing in the daycare fraud saga. I'm certain new MN Attorney General Keith Ellison is ON IT!!!

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All I could think of....

.....when I saw this......

Hey @daveweigel here is what appears to be logo/theme mockups for @amyklobuchar Presidential campaign. Left on a table at a DC coffee shop in NW. pic.twitter.com/LMBVn5XZbu

— Max Marshall (@maxgmarshall) January 15, 2019

...was this:

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Depraved

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
-Matthew 18:6


Allowing a 10-year old male child to dress in drag is twisted enough. But then to allow him to be photographed with a mostly nude adult drag queen?!?!?! Appalling.

Young Nemis, whose drag name is "Queen Lactacia," was shot by photographer Jonathan Frederick Turton for the spread. In one of the shots that did not make the magazine, Nemis, in full drag makeup and a black dress, is posing for a photo with the Season 7 winner of "RuPaul's Drag Race," Violet Chachki. In the shocking photo, Violet is wearing nothing but a pair of heels and a small piece of fabric covering his genitals.

When reading a story like this, the first question which comes to mind is where are the parents of this child? Sure enough, Nemis' mother provided her insights.

“We would never try to overtly sexualise our child. But if he wears something that makes him feel beautiful, what right do I have to stop him wearing that dress because it might cause people to think things they shouldn’t be thinking?"

What right do *you* have?!?!? YOU'RE THE CHILD'S MOTHER AND LEGAL GUARDIAN!!!! It should be instinctual to keep your child from being exposed to such depravity, to say nothing of indulging in it. I don't care how mature you believe your 10-year old to be. Drawing battle lines is part of being a parent.

Have I mentioned lately how we live in very stupid times?

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Don't look back, you've been there........

Another Sunday in the Patriot bunker where I'll be broadcasting my weekly radio program The Closer. The 2-hour bonanza kicks off at 1:00 PM Central Time.

On the national level, I'll discuss the latest in the federal government shutdown and the leftists' inability to avoid stepping on proverbial rakes. On a local level, the DFL is pulling out all the stops to put through draconian "gun control" bills.

At 1:30, author James Robbins will check in to discuss his latest book Erasing America: Losing Our Future by Destroying Our Past. 

Then at 2:30 my friend and basketball wonk Mike McCollow will join the broadcast to discuss the Timberwolves' firing of head coach and President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau and the Wolves path forward. I'l definitely be interested in Mike's perspective on interim coach Ryan Saunders whom Mike has known literally since the day Saunders was born.


So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 or, if you're near downtown Minneapolis/West Metro area, 107.5 FM on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio as well as Amazon Echo (just say "Alexa, play The Patriot Minneapolis"). If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #NARNShow or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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2018 NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round

Indianapolis Colts (+5-1/2) at Kansas City Chiefs: These teams met in the postseason five years ago, and oh what a memorable game it was. Trailing by 28 points in the third quarter at home, the Colts made a furious rally to escape with a 45-44 victory. Add to that the fact the Chiefs haven't won a home playoff game since the 1993 postseason (when Joe Montana was their quarterback), they have some serious demons to exorcise. Given Kansas City had the top ranked offense in the 2018 regular season in terms of yardage and points scored, they're in a good position to break through. However, Andrew Luck and the Colts will get theirs against KC's defense which ranked 31st in yards allowed.
Kansas City 45 Indianapolis 44




Dallas Cowboys (+7) at Los Angeles Rams: After a blistering start to the regular season (11-1), the Rams cooled off down the stretch, finishing 2-2. Sure, they still finished the season with the second ranked offense in scoring and yardage, but their run defense is in a very vulnerable spot this game. In the regular season, the Rams allowed a league worst 5.1 yards per carry, which has to have Cowboys running back (and NFL rushing champion) Ezekiel Elliott licking his proverbial chops. 
Dallas 31 Los Angeles Rams 27


Los Angeles Chargers (+4) at New England Patriots: Chargers QB Philip Rivers is 0-7 lifetime in head-to-head matchups with Pats quarterback Tom Brady. And the head coach-QB duo of Bill Belichick and Brady is 19-3 in home playoff games, including 8 consecutive postseason wins on their home field.

Once again I stick with my simple philosophy that I don't go against Belichick/Brady at home in the postseason.
New England 27 Los Angeles Chargers 24


Philadelphia Eagles (+8) at New Orleans Saints: This is a rematch from Week 11 where New Orleans crushed Philly 48-7. The Eagles fell to 4-6 after that game, so there was no scenario I could envision where they'd have another crack at the Saints in the postseason, but here we are.

The Eagles had two first half turnovers in their game last week against the Chicago Bears. However, a pedestrian Bears offense could only muster 3 points off those two miscues. If Philly turns it over against the Saints, Drew Brees and Co. will make them pay big time.

I don't see New Orleans prevailing by 41 points again but I do believe they win comfortably.
New Orleans 38 Philadelphia 21




My 2018 Postseason Record:
Against the Spread: 1-2-1
Straight Up: 2-2

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Dim Jim

President Donald Trump's detractors (especially within the media) are always so eager to "own" him that all too often they embarrass themselves silly. I've never understood that mindset, especially since Trump provides more than enough fodder to make himself look foolish. Just air unedited video of Trump speaking and it'll more than suffice.

Perhaps the most imbecilic individual among high profile Trump critics is CNN's Jim Acosta. About two months ago, Acosta made an absolute jackass of himself when challenging the president's assertion that the migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. from Central America was looking to cause chaos. Not only was Acosta's methodology in questioning Trump utterly obnoxious, he was also proven wrong when the caravan did indeed cause an incident at the Mexico-U.S. border.

Just when one figured that Acosta couldn't come off as any more of a buffoon, he managed to do so Thursday in McAllen, TX, which is less than 20 miles from Mexico.

I found some steel slats down on the border. But I don’t see anything resembling a national emergency situation.. at least not in the McAllen TX area of the border where Trump will be today. pic.twitter.com/KRoLdszLUu

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 10, 2019

To summarize, Acosta is using this area of Texas as an example why Trump's demand for a border wall is unnecessary because the area is quite peaceful....THANKS TO THE BORDER WALL HE'S POINTING OUT.

I've been a frequent critic of President Trump, but I am willing to give him props for any noteworthy accomplishments. In this case, his ability to cause his most fervent critics to look utterly stupid is most definitely a gift.

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Dream Team

Former South Carolina governor and recently departed U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley was at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA Monday evening to watch her home state Clemson Tigers take on the University of Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game. While there, Haley received a visit from former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.


Twitter user @KNayyeh speculated on how the two could team up for an even bigger cause.

Can you even imagine if a Haley-Rice ticket came to fruition in, say, 2024? How amazing would it be to watch in real time how the sacred concept of "intersectionality" would no longer be the Dems' top prioirty, particularly if a lily white male Biden-O'Rourke ticket emerged as the opposition?

Dare to dream.

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