Quick Hits: Volume LXXVI

-Not surprisingly, there have been polarizing opinions regarding the recent "filibuster" (though technically not a filibuster) put on by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in protest of the funding of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). The left and even some Republican politicians/supporters chided it as a colossal waste of time since Obamacare is now the law of the land. Others (specifically the Tea Party and its ilk) view it as an opportunity to inform the public at large what a resounding blunder it was to not support those who were committed to repealing that abominable law. Depending upon whose perspective you subscribe to, this whole fight to de-fund Obamacare has either won the future for the GOP or has crippled it. Definitely both viewpoints are worth poring over.

But, as usual, it was the mainstream media who once again showed what a fraudulent entity it continues to be. On Wednesday morning, Dylan Byers of that well known conservative stronghold Politico highlighted the MSM's hypocrisy when covering Cruz and, in June this year, Texas state Senator Wendy Davis (a Democrat). In essence, Davis's 11-hour speech in protest of the Texas legislature passing a bill putting minor restrictions on abortions was widely lauded. The fact it would not stop the legislation was irrelevant to lefties and the MSM (pardon the redundancy). On the other hand, Cruz's 21-hour talk was seen as little more than grandstanding since the Democratic controlled Senate would never pass a Continuing Resolution de-funding Obamacare.

Even though you pretty much know how the story ends in terms of the MSM reaction, go ahead and read Mr Byers entire piece.


- After three weeks of the 2013 NFL season, there have been certain things which haven't gone as planned. For instance, the San Francisco 49ers (with a record of 1-2), New York Giants (0-3) and Washington Redskins (0-3) have significantly underachieved. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins (3-0) and Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) are by the far the biggest surprises this early season.

So just when I started to concede that very little is happening in this NFL season that is supposed to happen, I came across a couple of stories on espn.com the other day.

• Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was cited for disorderly conduct on Monday. 
• Also on Monday, Baltimore Ravens WR Jacoby Jones was injured in an incident involving a stripper at (who else?) Bryant McKinnie's birthday celebration. As Jim Rome once said, professional athletes and strippers go together like peanut butter and jelly. 

Big Mac and Pac Man having brushes with the law. That is how you know it's at least a somewhat typical NFL season.


- Let's hope this local story can finally die it's merciful death.

The Minnesota Senate will pay former Republican staffer Michael Brodkorb $30,000 to settle a wrongful termination lawsuit.

The settlement announced today heads off a trial that was set to begin next year. It was also far less than the half million dollars in damages that Brodkorb had been seeking. He lost his Senate job in 2011 after the revelation of his sexual affair with then-GOP Majority Leader Amy Koch. Brodkorb claimed in the lawsuit that his firing was unfair compared to other employees who had been caught up in similar circumstances.

Brodkorb went on to say that he was grateful he wasn't forced to reveal names of other staffers (specifically female) who were allowed to keep their jobs despite having extramarital dalliances with legislators (even though details of those affairs were "accidentally" leaked).

As far as where Brodkorb goes from here, who knows? I can't believe he'll ever be relevant again in politics to the degree he was as Senate GOP communications director or deputy chair of the MN Republican party. Regardless, Brodkorb seemed very genuine when expressing his sentiment of sheer relief that this whole ordeal is over. As a taxpayers here in the state of Minnesota, who are on the hook for approximately $300,000 in legal fees, we wholeheartedly echo that sentiment.

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