The rhythm of the street sure knocks you off your feet....

I'm closing out this weekend's Northern Alliance Radio Network programming and the month of April in today's edition of The Closer. The one-hour extravaganza gets started at 2:00 PM Central Time.

Right at 2:00, I will be joined by Alpha News writer/editor and The Hill contributor Preya Samsundar. Preya was in attendance at yesterday's MN Republican Party State Central meeting where a new Chair and Deputy Chair were elected. I'll also discuss Preya's opinion piece at The Hill where she focused on the media derangement during President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. 

If time permits, I also hope to discuss the liberal fascism which took place at UC-Berkeley this past week. 

So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 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. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast if you so desire. Check it out here.

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

Until then.....

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Epic trolling

Even though I'm still not over Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson pushing off on Vikings DB Nate Wright in the 1975 playoffs, I'm lovin' Mr. Pearson after Friday night.

Throughout the second round of the NFL draft, which began Thursday evening in Philadelphia, each NFL team had a former player announce the draft pick. As you can expect, the former Cowboy Pearson didn't get much love in Eagles country when stepping to the podium to announce Dallas's pick.

His response was epic:


Drew Pearson Roasts Eagles As Dallas Picks Awuzie


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E(xit)SPN

I have yet to comment on the mass layoffs which took place earlier this week at cable TV sports giant ESPN. To be honest, other than indulging in ESPN's terrific 30 for 30 documentary series, I have rarely felt compelled to tune in to their network over the past decade or so.

Many of my fellow political conservatives were quick to indulge in schadenfreude at the news of ESPN's further demise given the network's penchant for wading into leftist politics. While that may be a factor in this most recent purge, it is hardly the singular reason for their issues (Sean Davis at The Federalist gave a laundry list of ESPN's poor decisions, including the political angle). Personally, I'm not a fan of taking pleasure in one's unfortunate circumstances. It's quite likely that the vast majority of employees let go have families to support financially. High paying media jobs are hardly ubiquitous these days, so I sympathize with those who are too young to retire and thus may have to venture into another career path altogether. Besides, some of the most egregious offenders of spouting left-wing chanting points remain with ESPN (for now), so the proverbial cackling with glee on the political right makes even less sense from that standpoint.

Speaking for myself, I have a cable package which includes NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV and NHL Network. If I want to see highlights/analysis within a particular sport, any of those aforementioned channels fulfill that specific need. As such, I don't have to endure, say, NCAA Lacrosse highlights while awaiting footage of the latest Twins game. I am perfectly happy seeing what is happening in other MLB games before a recap on my favorite club. And how can you beat the NFL Network from Noon until 7:00 PM Central Time on game day Sundays with NFL Red Zone? And you're not going to find more insightful commentary or more timely news items than NFLN during football season.

I have no idea what happens to ESPN from here. What I do know is it appears their current business model is not sustainable. Of the more prominent personalities who remain, it wouldn't surprise me if they begin in earnest to look elsewhere for employment.

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Profiles in liberal fascism

Liberal fascism prevails once again.

Ann Coulter said Wednesday that she is canceling her planned speech at the University of California, Berkeley, because she had lost the backing of conservative groups that had initially sponsored her appearance.

Ms. Coulter, in a message to The New York Times, said, “It’s a sad day for free speech.”

Despite insisting that she would go to Berkeley regardless — even after the university said it could not accommodate her on the date and time it had initially scheduled her because of threats of violence — Ms. Coulter said she did not see how she could go forward. The school said she could speak only at a later date and an earlier time of day, when there were likely to be fewer students on campus and less of a likelihood for violent outbreaks.

Late on Tuesday, the conservative group that was helping Ms. Coulter in her legal efforts to force Berkeley to host her, Young America’s Foundation, said it could no longer participate. “Young America’s Foundation will not jeopardize the safety of its staff or students,” the group said.

I certainly understand YAF's perspective, especially since there's no guarantee of Berkeley cops doing their job.

There was a time I enjoyed Coulter's biting commentary despite not being a fan of her gratuitous insults. But she lost me a couple of years ago when she became an insufferable shill for Donald Trump's presidential run. I say that because I hate having to defend someone like Coulter whom I clearly detest. But if we're going to be intellectually consistent in our support of the First Amendment, it should include defending provocateurs on whom we wouldn't urinate were they set ablaze (metaphorically speaking of course).

The Editors at National Review (themselves not exactly adoring Coulter fans) had a stern message for those who used heavy-handed threats to undermine this event.

For those at Berkeley celebrating what they believe to be a moral victory, consider this: As much as you may detest Ann Coulter, she has never used violence or the threat of violence to keep someone from speaking. She is a better citizen than you are, with a deeper commitment to genuinely liberal and humane values. You may call yourselves the anti-fascists, but your black-shirt routine — along with your glorification of political violence and your rejection of liberal and democratic norms — suggest that the “anti” part of that formulation is not entirely appropriate. Perhaps you are only young and ignorant, but if you had any power of introspection at all, you would see that you are the thing you believe yourselves to be fighting. You are the oppressors, the censors, the violent, the hateful, the narrow-minded, the reactionary.

So what does it say about UC-Berkeley when someone as loathed as Coulter comes off as the more dignified party in this saga?

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It'll be a frosty September evening in Minneapolis

Perhaps the best running back in Minnesota Vikings history finally has a new home.

Adrian Peterson plans to sign with the New Orleans Saints, he told ESPN's Josina Anderson Tuesday morning.

The deal, while technically covering two years, is a one-year deal plus a one-year option.

Peterson told Anderson that the deal is worth a base total value of $7 million. Here are the terms Peterson says he has agreed to at this point: The 2017 compensation is $3.5 million (all guaranteed at signing), which includes a $1 million guaranteed salary in 2017 and a $2.5 million signing bonus.

The maximum incentives package is $8.25 million and whatever incentives are reached in 2017 get added to the per-game roster bonuses in 2018.

The 2018 compensation is $3.5 million, none of which is guaranteed. It includes $2.4 million in total roster bonuses (which includes a $750,000 roster bonus earned on third day of free agency plus $1.65 million in per-game roster bonuses), a $1.05 million salary and a $50,000 workout bonus.

Oh, and the Saints' week one opponent in 2017? That would be Peterson's former club in Minneapolis on Monday Night Football. And the narrative is already being floated on how AP wants to stick it so his former club.

Peterson relishes the opportunity to prove people wrong, as he did when ran for 2,097 yards and won league MVP honors in 2012 after returning in nine months from a torn ACL. He bristled at the notion he couldn't be effective after returning from a torn meniscus in three months last season, and has offered reactions ranging from amused to annoyed when his age (32) is used to suggest he might not be able to produce the way he has in the past. He undoubtedly will be intent on making a statement in 2017, and his first chance to do it will be against the team that drafted him, employed him for 10 years, brought him back after his 2015 suspension, but ultimately let him go when it decided to get younger.

If indeed Peterson has an effective game week one, it wouldn't be the first time he's assisted the Saints in defeating the Vikings.

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Not your grandparents' Democrat party

Former Democrat governor of Vermont and former DNC chair Howard Dean recently declared that "hate speech" is not protected by the First Amendment (he even doubled down on that false claim over the weekend). This was in response to someone conveying that Ann Coulter's speaking style, while deplorable, is protected by the First, thus her invitation to speak at the University of California-Berkeley should not have been rescinded. Even someone as uber left as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) knows this.

Then last Friday, current DNC chair Tom Perez essentially said that any pro life Dem politician/candidate is not welcome in today's Democrat party. Meanwhile, Sanders recently campaigned on behalf of Heath Mello, a pro-life Democrat seeking the office of Omaha, NE mayor.

So there you have it. When it comes to free speech and abortion, an avowed socialist is politically to the right of today's mainstream Democrat party.

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Box Score of the Week

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Baltimore Orioles - August 14, 2009.

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That time when notorious free swinger Vladimir Guerrero (then with the Angels) got a base hit on a pitch that bounced in front of home plate. 





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Switching things up

With my friend and Northern Alliance Radio  Network colleague Mitch Berg on assignment yesterday, I assumed the reins of his regular time slot. Today, Mitch fills in for me from 2:00 until 3:00 PM Central Time.

Hop over to his place to see what he has planned for today's show.


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No fire brigade, just pyromania....

With my friend and Northern Alliance Radio Network colleague Mitch Berg on assignment today, I will be at the helm of The Headliner edition of the NARN. The broadcast kicks off at 1:00 PM Central Time.

I'll look back at some big news items from this past week, including the special election in Georgia's 6th Congressional District as well as the shake up at The Fox News Channel.

At 1:30, I will chat with my friend and GOP candidate for MN Attorney General Harry Niska. We'll discuss Harry's candidacy and what it will take to end the DFL's nearly fifty year stranglehold on that office.

Then for the 2:00 hour I will welcome to the broadcast local activists Kelly Gunderson (follow her on Twitter at @talkette) and Jeff Kolb (@jpkolb). We'll spend the hour discussing local political news including next weekend's MNGOP state central meeting where a new chair and deputy chair will be elected, the confirmed & rumored candidates for the 2018 MN gubernatorial race, how the remaining four weeks of the 2017 MN legislative session will fare, etc.


So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 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. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast if you so desire. Check it out here.

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

Until then.....

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Just to refresh everyone's memory...

While I don't consider the likes of Sarah Palin, Ted Nugent and Kid Rock as good ambassadors for the conservative movement, I absolutely enjoy the leftist freak out towards whatever they might do or say.

I say this because all three recently visited President Donald Trump (also known to occasionally elicit leftist frothing) at the Oval Office.

This particular observation shows a lack of awareness of Oval Office history:

This photo is easily the least dignified thing that has ever happened in the Oval Office pic.twitter.com/SfrYciJfh8

— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) April 20, 2017

Ummmm.......

Yeahhhhh.....

Try blacklighting the carpet https://t.co/xv8OfUxcEp

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 20, 2017

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Oh really, O'Reilly?

The Fox News Channel has not exactly been receiving the most stellar publicity over the past year or so. As such, its most popular personality is the latest casualty.

Fox News Channel's parent company fired Bill O'Reilly on Wednesday following an investigation into harassment allegations, bringing a stunning end to cable news' most popular program and one that came to define the bravado of his network over 20 years.

O'Reilly lost his job on the same day he was photographed in Rome shaking the hand of Pope Francis. By the evening, "The O'Reilly Factor" no longer bore his name, simply titled "The Factor."

The downfall of Fox's most popular — and most lucrative — personality began with an April 2 report in The New York Times that five women had been paid a total of $13 million to keep quiet about disturbing encounters with O'Reilly, who continued to deny any wrongdoing in a statement hours after he was fired. Dozens of his show's advertisers fled within days, even though O'Reilly's viewership increased.

O'Reilly's exit came nine months after his former boss, Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, was ousted following allegations of sexual harassment.

Following the Times story, 21st Century Fox said it had asked the same law firm that investigated Ailes to look into O'Reilly's behavior. 21st Century Fox leaders Rupert Murdoch and his sons Lachlan and James said in a memo to Fox staff that their decision to ax O'Reilly came following an "extensive review" into the charges.

"I understand how difficult this has been for many of you," Rupert Murdoch said in a memo to Fox staff.

O'Reilly, denied a chance to say goodbye to his Fox viewers, did so via a statement.

"It is tremendously disheartening that we part ways due to completely unfounded claims," he said. "But that is the unfortunate reality that many of us in the public eye must live with today. I will always look back on my time at Fox with great pride in the unprecedented success we achieved and with my deepest gratitude to all my dedicated viewers."

If the claims were truly unfounded as O'Reilly asserts, then I find it highly unlikely he'd go down without a fight. So either he was paid handsomely to exit quietly or, at age 67, he was just ready to move on with life. Either way, it takes a highly coordinated smear campaign (as has been alleged recently) to get five different women to allege improprieties against O'Reilly, so I have a hard time believing that he's a completely innocent victim.

I guess I never fit the stereotypical conservative in that I rarely indulged in any programming on FNC. If I ever watched The O'Reilly Factor, it was solely because of the guests who appeared on the broadcast, particularly the hilarious Dennis Miller. But I've never been a fan of O'Reilly himself for no reason other than he came across as boorish and insufferably arrogant.

There's no way to know for sure, but I can't help but wonder if Fox would have pulled the plug on O'Reilly's show had there not been a mass exodus of the show's advertisers. The Murdochs can talk all they want about the principles of this move but there's no denying that losing advertising dollars has a direct impact on the bottom line.

So what's next for Fox?

5 PM/ET – A new show, hosted by Eric Bolling, will debut on May 1st. From April 24th-28th, Special Report with Bret Baier will air from 5 to 7 p.m.

7 PM/ET – "The Story with Martha MacCallum" will debut on Monday, May 1st. Until then, MacCallum will continue anchoring "The First 100 Days" through April 28th.

8 PM/ET – "Tucker Carlson Tonight"

9 PM/ET - "The Five" (LIVE) with co-hosts Kimberly Guilfoyle, Dana Perino, Bob Beckel, Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters and Juan Williams.

10 PM/ET – "Hannity"

Tucker Carlson will move to the 8 p.m. slot, and "The Five" will move to the 9 p.m. slot formerly occupied by Tucker Carlson. Jesse Watters also joins "The Five" as a co-host.

I've seen Carlson's program a few times since he replaced Megyn Kelly in the 9 PM/ET slot. He often invites on as guests radical left personalities but, unlike O'Reilly, lets them talk mostly uninterrupted to prove how flippin' nuts they are. The fact a program like that (which is essentially red meat for conservatives) is moving to The Factor's old time slot means FNC will get along just fine without O'Reilly.

----------------------------------------

Denied a chanting point once again

President Donald Trump is barely 3 months into his administration, yet leftists have been desperately trying since day one to use special elections results as a signal their "resistance" is effective. However, said efforts have, to this point, fallen short despite substantial resources being poured in.

The left failed in their attempt to flip MN House District 32B in February.

Progs' hopes were also dashed last week in the Kansas Congressional District Four special election.

But perhaps the left's most embarrassing setback (for now anyways) occurred in the most recent U.S. House contest.

Democrats put their hope in political upstart Jon Ossoff to deliver a rebuke to President Trump in Tuesday night’s Georgia congressional election. It didn’t quite work.

Now, after forcing the front-runner into a June 20 runoff, Republicans are vowing to unite and defeat the Democrats’ chosen candidate in two months.

Trump, who used a robocall and his Twitter account in the contest’s closing days to push Republicans to the polls, taunted Democrats on Wednesday morning, casting the upcoming final contest as “Hollywood vs. Georgia.”

Ossoff was the clear leader once the dust settled in Tuesday’s crowded special election for the Georgia House seat once held by Republican Tom Price, now Trump’s health secretary.

He garnered 48 percent. Top Republican vote-getter Karen Handel, former Georgia secretary of state, got just 20 percent.

But Ossoff’s haul fell short of the majority threshold required to outright win, despite him getting support from prominent Democrats and celebrities and attracting millions of dollars in outside donations. He raised over $8 million, compared with Handel's roughly $460,000. Under the so-called “jungle primary” system, the top two candidates – Ossoff and Handel – will head into the June runoff.

This past November, Trump prevailed in GA-06 with 48.3% of the vote with Hillary Clinton receiving 46.8%. So basically the left spent millions (with the vast majority of the money coming form outside the district) in support of a Democrat whose share of the vote increased by a mere 1% over the Dem presidential candidate.

I suppose it's possible that Ossoff could prevail in June. However, with the GOP now able to coalesce behind one candidate in a heavily Republican district, it seems likely that the left will once again be unable to declare a repudiation of Trump.

--------------------------------------

Trump the puppet master

I could be totally wrong here, but I have a feeling President Donald Trump is once again playing his detractors, particularly the bed-wetting leftists who are shrieking that he release his tax returns.

What'll happen is these frothing proggies will continue this maniacal display, claiming Trump has something to hide and perpetuating their fantasies of his being impeached when out of the blue the returns will be released......revealing no improprieties.

It would be a larger scale version of the debacle involving MSNBC's Rachel Maddow....and it would be glorious!

------------------------------------

Harry's in!

On Sunday evening I received a text message from my friend Harry Niska giving me a "heads up" regarding a big announcement Monday morning. I had a sneaking suspicion as to what that announcement would entail. I am ecstatic to report that said suspicion was confirmed.

After a nearly a decade of private practice, Harry Niska is hoping to take his legal career public by becoming Minnesota’s top lawyer.

On Monday, the 36-year-old City of Ramsey Republican announced his bid to become attorney general.

“I’m running because I want to take my real world legal experience representing clients against some of the biggest and best law firms all over the country and put that to work for the people of Minnesota,” he said.

I know of many right-of-center political observers/activists (myself included) who have been pining for a Niska for AG candidacy since at least 2012. While I don't know for sure if he ever considered opposing incumbent Lori Swanson in 2014, the speculation never ceased that one day he'd be a candidate for that post.

Niska has been a committed GOP activist at local and state levels for the past several election cycles. However, he was very vocal about his opposition to Donald Trump as the potential GOP presidential candidate in 2016. Upon Trump receiving the nod, Niska confirmed he would not support the party's nominee, a stance which he believes shouldn't be an impediment to his AG campaign.

“I think voters are going to look at my record. And my record is of somebody who will do the right thing no matter the political cost,” he said. “I’ll do what I believe in and I’ll stand up for the interests of Minnesota no matter which way the political winds blow.”

True, as Niska was not hesitant to raise legal issues against an activist within his own political party. In 2012, he filed a complaint against a MN Republican activist for falsely claiming the state party supported three judicial candidates. The activist, Bonn Clayton, eventually had to pay a fine for that indiscretion.

Also in 2012, Niska filed an amicus brief on behalf of Minnesota licensed child care providers in response to Gov. Mark Dayton issuing an Executive Order forcing that industry to unionize. A few months later a judge agreed that Dayton overstepped his authority, thus overturning the initial E.O.

If indeed Swanson chooses to seek re-election in 2018, Niska has already built a solid case against her keeping her job. Definitely read his piece from last year on how AG Swanson has been "neglecting the tough parts of her job."

I've said many times in this space and on my radio program that I typically do not issue endorsements of political candidates because a) no one really cares what I believe and b) I want all candidates for political office to appear on the radio show, regardless of my personal support. However, I am bucking that trend by enthusiastically and unreservedly endorsing Harry Niska for Minnesota Attorney General in 2018.

For more information on Niska's candidacy, check out his campaign web site as well as his Facebook page.  

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Box Score of the Week

This past weekend, the St. Louis Cardinals visited the New York Yankees for a three-game series. The last time the Cards were in The Bronx was back in 2003. With that in mind, check out a game from that '03 series.

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Yanks pitcher Roger Clemens earned both his 300th career win and 4,000 career strikeout in this game. 

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You've been as constant as a Northern Star, the brightest light that shines....

Happy Easter! Despite today being perhaps my favorite holiday, my weekly Northern Alliance Radio Network program The Closer will broadcast live 2:00 until 3:00 PM Central Time.

Among the topics I'll discuss are the nonsensical gnashing of teeth over Sean Spicer's references to the Holocaust, Trump honoring a memorable campaign pledge, recounting a significant Major League Baseball anniversary, etc. 

Also, as is usually the case on Easter Sunday, I'll talk about the significance of what we're commemorating. 

So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 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. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast if you so desire. Check it out here.

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

Until then.....

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Quick Hits: Volume CXLVIII

- The Minnesota State Fair is perhaps the most renown state fair in the country. And if one were to ask fair goers their favorite foods, I would guess a substantial majority surveyed would say Cheese Curds are in their personal top 5 (they're definitely tops in my book).

As such, I was shocked to hear the news that the Cheese Curds building on Dan Patch Ave. will be no more.

But (co-owner Dick) Mueller can tell you that now that he has reached 80 years old, he and his co-owners are ready to hang it up. "We just decided our health isn't going to let us do this," Mueller said. "You're talking 16-18 hours a day and at that age it just had to be done. I just had to be done."

But certainly some enterprising younger folks could have assumed the reins, correct?

Mueller didn't want his retirement to mean the end of the business.

"I think we're part of the history and you want to continue it with your family if you can," Mueller said.

He had hoped his son could take it over, but State Fair administrators told him it wasn't an option.

Jim Sinclair, deputy general manager for the Minnesota State Fair, says there have been times when food stand operators have been allowed to transfer their business to others, but he says it has been rare in recent years.

Dunno why an exception couldn't be made here given the rich tradition of this legendary food at that locale. After all, it's not like MN State Fair officials haven't been willing to let other questionable transactions slide.

To be clear: MN State Fair is OK w/ a Dem org selling mini donuts w/o disclosing it's a FR, but not a biz owner passing his biz on to a kid

— Gina Countryman (@gcountryman) April 14, 2017

No surprise given the state fair brass can't even gin up political diversity in the "seed art" submissions.


- English author/columnist Christopher Hitchens (who died in December 2011) would have turned 68 years old this past Thursday. To commemorate his birthday, someone posted on Twitter a video of a talk he gave concerning radical Islam, religious "tolerance" and multi-culturalism.

It was hauntingly prescient.

Today was Christopher Hitchens' birthday. He left a warning before he died. pic.twitter.com/eeSvLCFGzy

— Jason C. (@CounterMoonbat) April 14, 2017

Hitchens often used the term "resist" in the excerpt of this speech. That word carries a lot more weight in the context he used it than when certain thumb-sucking proggies spew it while throwing a tantrum over that meanie Donald Trump.


- Last December, ailing Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew received a heart & kidney transplant. Then last month Carew had the unique opportunity to meet the family of the young man who donated the organs. Konrad Reuland, who had a brief stint in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, died of aneurysm a mere four days before Carew was the recipient of his donated organs.

What makes the story even more poignant is how a young Konrad once met Carew in person.

Mary Reuland, Konrad’s mom, told the American Heart Association that her oldest son first met Carew when he was 11 or so attending a California middle school. Carew's children attended the same school.

“All he talked about for the rest of that day was, `I met Rod Carew!’” Mary said.

The moment that would forever bind the two, however, came about a year ago in the Reuland kitchen. Konrad was filling out a driver’s license renewal form when he asked his mom whether he should become an organ donor. She said it was a personal choice, but added she was signed up to be a donor. So he did too.

On March 2, Rod and his wife Rhonda met the Reuland family.

“You’re a part of our family now,” Mary Reuland, Konrad’s mom, told them.

“Yes,” Rod said. “Forever.”

In September 2015, the 71-year-old Carew suffered a near-fatal heart attack. Following complications, doctors determined he needed a new heart.

The American Heart Association believes this to be the first such transplant involving pro athletes.

I have yet to sign up to be an organ donor. A saga such as this makes me wonder why I'm hesitating to do so.

--------------------------------------

Tale of two presidencies

When the Barack Obama administration considered utilizing U.S. military strikes, they used phrases to describe potential actions as "Unbelievably Small" or "just muscular enough not to get mocked."

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump vowed to "bomb the sh*t out of (ISIS)" if he were President. So in eastern Afghanistan this week? The "Mother of all Bombs" was used to (you guessed it) bomb the sh*t out of ISIS.

It was interesting to see the mainstream media lose its collective mind over a President of the United States following through with a pledge he made as a candidate. That isn't supposed to happen in this day and age.


------------------------------------------

Steppin' in it

Radio host extraordinaire Dennis Prager has said often that the political right believes the political left is wrong, whereas the left believes the right is evil.

As such, it should come as no surprise the invective thrown towards White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer regarding his latest verbal misstep.

“We did not use chemical weapons in World War II. You had someone as despicable as Hitler who did not even sink to using chemical weapons,” Spicer said during his daily press briefing. “If you are Russia, ask yourself, is this a country and regime that you want to align yourself with?”

While Hitler is believed not to have used chemical weapons on the battlefield, the Nazis used Zyklon B and other types of poison to kill Jews in gas chambers in concentration camps.

The comments immediately reverberated online and Spicer was given an opportunity to clarify them later during the briefing. But he bungled it by again making a comparison between Assad and Hitler, whom he said did not “gas his own people.”

Look, I'm not going to defend what are obviously buffoonish statements. Someone in Spicer's position should know that invoking Hitler in any context is to be avoided at all costs. Just don't do it.

Spicer later issued an apology.

“Frankly, I mistakenly used an inappropriate and insensitive reference to the Holocaust, for which frankly there is no comparison,” Spicer said during an interview on CNN. “For that I apologize, it was a mistake to do that.”

Naturally there were calls for Spicer to resign or be fired, with many implying or flat-out saying that he's a "Holocaust denier." But Mollie Hemingway at The Federalist isn't buying it.

Come on, people. Don’t match stupid with stupid. Sean Spicer was not pushing Holocaust denial and anyone with the most meager intelligence and sense of fairness would be able to say that. As his statement after the briefing shows, he was for some reason drawing a distinction between combat genocide and other genocide; he was not denying that Hitler killed millions of people during the Holocaust using gas chambers and other means.

I don't want to come across as diminishing anyone's feelings regarding this issue. I'm certain there are Holocaust survivors or relatives of those killed in that horrific event who were genuinely disturbed by Spicer's statements. It's downright sad that those awful memories were conjured up or the Holocaust itself appearing to be trivialized.

But for those leftists who often invoked Hitler analogies when referring to the policies of President George W. Bush or President Donald Trump? I think you know what you can do with your faux outrage.

--------------------------------------

Box Score of the Week

Chicago White Sox at New York Yankees - September 16, 1992.

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MLB games can last 3-4 hours. Sometimes a little sustenance during the game can go a long way.




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What's the hurry, son... where you gonna go?

It's weeks like this where I need a return to two-hour broadcasts. Alas, one hour will have to suffice as my weekly radio show The Closer gets started at 2:00 PM Central Time.

Right at 2:00, political wonk Matt Mackowiak will be checking in to discuss the U.S. air strike of a Syrian air field, the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and, if time permits, the buffoonery of former Obama National Security Advisor Susan Rice. 

I'll also look back at the flap regarding Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) calling out "white males" during a MN House session. 

So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 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. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast if you so desire. Check it out here.

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

Until then.....

----------------------------------------

Submitted without comment

Heres what happens when @CNN does a live interview. Must watch!! @MarkDice @WEdwarda @philadper2014 please retweet and get it out!! pic.twitter.com/gbcPVM7YNY

— Aaron C (@acejayhawk71) April 7, 2017

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Justice Gorsuch

When Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia passed away in February 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said flat out that the individual elected President of the United States the following November would fill the sudden vacancy. Given past GOP Senate spinelessness (see Gang of 14), I was bracing for Republicans to cave. However, McConnell et al held firm and did not give a hearing to President Obama's nominee Merrick Garland.

Shortly after Donald Trump was inaugurated as President and the GOP Senate majority was sworn in, McConnell made another definitive statement saying Trump's SCOTUS pick "will be confirmed." When asked if he would consider extending the "nuclear option" to Supreme Court nominees, McConnell again replied "The nominee will be confirmed."

On Friday, this 14-month saga culminated just as McConnell had outlined the whole time.

The Senate confirmed Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court on Friday, filling the critical ninth seat that has been vacant for over a year and capping a tumultuous debate that saw Republicans overhaul the way the chamber operates in order to overcome what they described as an unprecedented Democratic filibuster.

The 54-45 vote, in which three Democrats crossed party lines to support the appeals court justice, is expected to restore a 5-4 conservative tilt on the bench. Once sworn in, Gorsuch will join the court and begin to hear cases, in the seat once held by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February 2016.

“He’s going to make the American people proud,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said.

It never made a lot of sense to me why Dems chose to filibuster this particular nominee, who isn't as extreme as they perceive. Now that the rules are changed to extend the nuclear option to SCOTUS nominees the remainder of this Senate session, the Democrats better hope that none of the four left wing justices move on within the next 18 months or so.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air also conveyed that this wasn't the wisest course of action for Senate Dems.

The most puzzling part of this was the missed opportunity to leverage the traditionalism of several Republicans in the Senate. Clearly a few of their colleagues across the aisle did not want to do go nuclear; John McCain grumbled about it to the bitter end. Why not give Gorsuch a floor vote and wait for a more provocative nominee on the next opening? Yes, Democrats and progressives insist that McConnell would have gone nuclear then too, but the success of that would depend on the nominee. McCain, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski wouldn’t have signed up to change the rules for William Pryor, for instance, and that left Democrats some leverage against Trump to force him into at least some hesitancy in selecting more activist conservatives to the court.

Now, however, Trump has carte blanche on his next opening. Democrats have no leverage at all, having squandered it on a nominee that doesn’t impact the philosophical balance of the court at all. On top of that, their hysterics over Gorsuch have eroded their credibility entirely. Chuck Schumer let the progressive wing of his party lead him into a trap. It’s amazing.

I believe the appropriate phrase for Senate Democrats in this instance is "hoist of their own petard." Given their behavior leading up to and during Gorsuch's confirmation hearings, they got exactly what they deserved.

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Striking Syria

For better or worse, President Donald Trump has distinguished himself from his predecessor when it comes to Syria's use of chemical weapons.

The United States launched dozens of cruise missiles Thursday night at a Syrian airfield in response to what it believes was Syria's use of banned chemical weapons that killed at least 100 people, U.S. military officials told NBC News.

Two U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired 59 Tomahawk missiles intended for a single target — Ash Sha'irat in Homs province in western Syria, the officials said. That's the airfield from which the United States believes the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fired the banned weapons.

There was no immediate word on casualties. U.S. officials told NBC News that people were not targeted and that aircraft and infrastructure at the site were hit, including the runway and gas fuel pumps.

"Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children," President Donald Trump said in remarks from Mar-a-Lago, his family compound in Palm Beach, Florida.

"It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons," said Trump, who called on other countries to end the bloodshed in Syria.

In August 2012, President Obama threatened to use force against Syria if their president, Bashar al-Assad, utilized chemical weapons in any capacity. It was at that point when Obama uttered the infamous quote about the "red line."

“We cannot have a situation in which chemical or biological weapons are falling into the hands of the wrong people,” Mr. Obama said in response to questions at an impromptu news conference at the White House. “We have been very clear to the Assad regime but also to other players on the ground that a red line for us is, we start seeing a whole bunch of weapons moving around or being utilized.”

“That would change my calculus,” he added. “That would change my equation.”

A year later, chemical weapons were indeed used by al-Assad, yet no U.S. response occurred. However, Russia seemed to bail out Obama from having to back off his toothless threat by demanding Syria hand over its chemical weapons.

Fast forward 3-1/2 years, which brings us to earlier this week when yet another chemical attack occurred in Syria. While the current president correctly called out Obama's dithering over Syria crossing the proverbial red line, Trump couldn't afford to merely play the card that Obama often utilized, which is to blame the previous administration for current crises. That said, President Trump made a definitive decision, one which was lauded by perhaps two of the most interventionist members of the U.S. Senate.

McCAIN and GRAHAM weigh in pic.twitter.com/hIylPUl92z

— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) April 7, 2017

Both U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were pretty heavy handed in their criticism of Russia's role in Syrian affairs. If indeed Trump is Russia's puppet (as some kooky conspiracy theories suggest), his political appointees (thankfully) aren't willing to play along.

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As a Star Wars nut....

.....this is one of the coolest things I've seen in relation to the franchise.








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Happy apples-to-oranges-comparison day

It's often been said that leftists are unable to prevail in the intellectual debate so they'll resort to the emotional tactics. Never has this been more true than the perpetual declarations of a "gender wage gap." This phony controversy has been pushed so prolifically that there's even an Equal Pay Day to bring attention to it. Usually this "holiday" is the second Tuesday in April but this year it's been moved up to the first Tuesday of the month.

The typical shrieks from the left are how women only make 75-80 cents for every one dollar a man earns. Of course, these statistics are never generated using an apples-to-apples comparison. And it also begs the question that if companies (or a certain progressive U.S. Senator) can get away with such salary discrepancies, why on earth would they even consider hiring a man over a woman?

But hey, don't take my word for it. Christina Hoff Sommers, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, explains the myth of the gender wage gap better than most.





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Box Score of the Week

It's the first week of the 2017 MLB regular season!!

To commemorate, let's look back at Opening Day 1975 when the New York Yankees traveled to Cleveland to take on the Indians.

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Frank Robinson assumed the role of player/manager with the Indians in 1975, which made him the first black field manager in Major League Baseball history. To add to an already historic game, Robinson hit his 8th career Opening Day home run, which set an MLB record.

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Now Watergate does not bother me......

Another busy news week, so a lot to get to on today's edition of The Closer. The jam-packed one hour broadcast begins at 2:00 PM Central Time.

Among the news items I will address include President Donald Trump going after members of his own political party, another Minnesota Democrat declares gubernatorial candidacy, the state of California *hearts* abortion, etc. 

So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 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. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast if you so desire. Check it out here.

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

Until then.....

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