BUCK YEAH!!!!!

I have to admit that I thought the prospects of the Minnesota Twins signing Byron Buxton to a long-term contract extension were 50-50 at best. Thankfully, a deal got hammered out. 

When it came to completing what some had described as a next-to-impossible contract extension with the Twins, a major-league source said Buxton’s top priority was obtaining a full no-trade clause.

After declining to offer it in previous negotiations, the Twins included the sweetener during this round of talks. Once the clause was incorporated, Buxton and the Twins finalized an incentive-heavy seven-year deal worth at least $100 million Sunday, sources confirmed. The deal, which includes bonuses for elite performance and plate appearances, is pending a physical exam.

In agreeing to the deal, Buxton, who turns 28 next month, bypassed an opportunity to become a free agent after the 2022 season at what could be the peak of his career. Buxton belted a career-high 19 home runs and hit .306/.358/.647 in 254 plate appearances this past season.

But Buxton, the No. 2 pick of the 2012 amateur draft and one of the most talented players to ever wear a Twins jersey, set the tone back in March when he acknowledged wanting an extension and discussed his desire to play for one team for his entire career.

“I’ve been blessed to stay with this one team in my career,” Buxton said. “To be able to put on this (uniform for my entire) career and go out there every day, it’s something that many guys can’t do.

“I want to be one of those guys that was there with that one team. This place just means a lot.”

I obviously don't know Buxton personally, but I can only surmise that he is a cool, easy-going dude. I mean, to desire to stay with a franchise after they openly listened to trade offers for you last July as well as blatantly manipulated your service time to delay your free agency eligibility says a lot about one's character. 

By sending Buxton home (in September 2018) instead of promoting him from Triple A, the Twins pushed back the outfielder’s free agency from the end of 2021 to 2022. Through it all, Buxton has remained steadfast that he wanted to be with the Twins for the rest of his career. Once they made clear that was their desire, too, he quickly agreed.

I've long maintained that Buxton is a top 3 center fielder even if he only plays 100-120 games per season. If he can shake the injury bug and play upwards of 140 games in a given year, the incentives heaped upon the $100 million guaranteed will be well within reach. Kudos to Buck for betting on himself as well as to the Twins organization for taking a smart, calculated risk. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 11/28/2021

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You have to face up, you can't run and hide....

It's the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but the Northern Alliance Radio Network will be live today! My 2-hour radio show The Closer will be on 1-3 PM Central Time.

No guests today, so we'll recap some of the bigger news stories from this past week, including the media quietly dropping the Waukesha, WI parade incident. Also, Kyle Rittenhouse sat down with Fox News personality Tucker Carlson this past week in his first interview since being acquitted of homicide. Speaking of justice being served, Ahmaud Arbery's killers will likely never see the light of day again. 

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

The Axe is back!

Even though it's been an uneven (and at times downright frustrating) season for my Univ. of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, all seems fine and dandy when they wrest control of Paul Bunyan's Axe! With a 23-13 win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, the Axe comes back to Dinkytown for only the second time in 18 seasons. 

Anyone that has been to a Badger game at Camp Randall knows how extra baller hearing Jump Around as Gophers celebrate is. pic.twitter.com/LNfZUMCFv0

— Zach Freimark (@zach_freimark) November 28, 2021

 

 

How. Sweet. It. Is.

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

Remember when late night TV featured comedy?

Even though he's been off the air for nearly 30 years (and dead for more than 16), I still miss Johnny Carson. 

Here is a clip from around Thanksgiving 1979 we he and Tonight Show band leader Doc Severinsen we're having a casual chat about the upcoming holiday when it turned into hilarious banter. 

Ah yes. Late night comedy. Back when it wasn't awkward and forced while laced with leftist tripe. The good ol' days. 

Happy Thanksgiving, all. 

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

Justice is served......again

For the second time in five days, a high profile homicide trial yielded just outcomes. 

Last week it was Kyle Rittenhouse acquitted of the five charges (including two being murder) against him. 

On Wednesday, all three men accused of killing Georgia man Ahmaud Arbery were found guilty. 

As I mentioned in a blog post earlier this week, there are still some irregularities in our justice system which need to be rectified. However, we can rejoice that the proper (and just) decisions were meted out in the two cases I've cited here. It's a good day. 

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

Not your average 18-year old

Newly acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse sat down for an interview with Fox News personality Tucker Carlson over the weekend. I imagine it's one which kook leftists don't want you to see given how articulate and lucid Kyle is for a very young man. I linked to the interview above, so you can see it in its entirety if you so desire. However, there are two excerpts which I would like to highlight. 

First, Kyle confirms what many of us already know about the deplorable Lin Wood in that he's a master grifter. 

Kyle Rittenhouse tells Tucker Carlson that Lin Wood and John Pierce could have bailed him out of jail in September but kept him in there until November to "raise money so they can take it for their own benefit. Not trying to set me free." pic.twitter.com/wejY86igiY

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 23, 2021

And secondly, Kyle lays out some hard truths about our justice system.

 

Kyle Rittenhouse, in his first interview, with @TuckerCarlson, says of prosecutors:

"If they did this to me, imagine what they could've done to a person of color who doesn't maybe have the resources I do, or [if] it's not widely publicized like my case." pic.twitter.com/zFEiHQg09i

— Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs (@NickAtNews) November 23, 2021

This is an area where legitimate fact-seeking journalism could play a vital role. For all the gnashing of teeth many media members engaged in over what they considered slanted coverage of the Gabby Petito disappearance (i.e. missing minorities don't get near that attention), they could actually take an active role in highlighting such disparities. But that probably doesn't bring in nearly the ratings they desire, does it? 

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

Even solar eclipses can occur 2 to 5 times per year

OK, longtime sketch show Saturday Night Live doesn't emit laughter with even that kind of frequency anymore, but they nailed it at least once this past weekend. 

Just watch: 

Republican or Not? pic.twitter.com/d4x9yGf8p8

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) November 21, 2021

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 11/21/2021

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Don't say nothing good will ever come of this......

The loathed Green Bay Packers are in town to take on my beloved Vikings at Noon today, so I may be groveling for live listeners. Nevertheless, my 2-hour radio show The Closer will be on 1:00 until 3 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour I'll weigh in on how the new MNGOP leadership plans to navigate the specter of Donald Trump over the party. Also, the vacuous Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke announces he will run for Governor of Texas. 

At 2:00, I will be joined by Julio Rosas of Townhall.com. Julio was covering the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse over the past two weeks, so we'll get his perspective on the "not guilty" verdict handed down Friday. Also, Julio has a new book entitled Fiery But Mostly Peaceful: The 2020 Riots and the Gaslighting of America. Having been on the ground covering many of these summer of 2020 riots, Julio has a firsthand account of what actually went on and how it differs dramatically from what the media reported. 

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 Alexa (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, where we also conduct a "Live Stream" of the broadcast.

Until then.....

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Rittenhouse

Given the jury in the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse had deliberated for three days without reaching a verdict, I was certain a mistrial or hung jury would ultimately be declared. 

So when the verdict of NOT GUILTY on all five charges was announced Friday afternoon, I was quite surprised. 

Rittenhouse, 18, began to choke up, fell to the floor and then hugged one of his attorneys upon hearing the verdict.

He had been charged with homicide, attempted homicide and reckless endangering after killing two men and wounding a third with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle during a tumultuous night of protests over police violence against Black people (**DRINK** - ed.) in the summer of 2020. The former police youth cadet is white, as were those he shot.

The jury, which appeared to be overwhelmingly white (**DRINK** - ed.), deliberated for close to 3 1/2 days.

Rittenhouse could have gotten life in prison if found guilty on the most serious charge, first-degree intentional homicide, or what some other states call first-degree murder.

As he dismissed the jurors, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder assured them the court would take "every measure" to keep them safe.

A sheriff's deputy immediately whisked Rittenhouse out a back door through the judge's chambers.

In reaction to the verdict, prosecutor Thomas Binger said the jury had spoken.

I can't lie to ya. I got quite misty about 8 or 9 minutes into the broadcast of the verdict when Rittenhouse collapsed in his chair upon being acquitted on all charges. 

 

I'll definitely be talking a lot more about this on Sunday's radio show, which will feature a guest appearance by Townhall.com writer Julio Rosas. Julio covered the trial for TH in addition to being on the ground in Kenosha, WI last year during the height of the unrest. 

We can rejoice that justice has indeed been served despite attempts by certain institutions (i.e. the media and radical activists) to undermine the case. We can never allow mob rule to prevail. 

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

NBA views Enes as a menace

NBA veteran Enes Kanter is becoming someone which cannot be ignored, as much as his league wishes it were so.

With the National Basketball Association having a financially lucrative partnership with China, it's mighty inconvenient for them to have a player in their league not mincing words when it comes to that country's egregious record on human rights abuses. And Kanter is calling out the major sponsors and players whom he feels are complicit in this. 

Enes Kanter blasted Nike again on Thursday over its use of slave labor in China and attacked fellow basketball star LeBron James, who has a lifetime deal with the company and has not spoken out against its practices.

“Money over Morals for the ‘King,’” Kanter tweeted alongside photos of several pairs of sneakers designed to call attention to Nike’s relationship with China.

The writing on the toes of one pair reads “Principals > Money” and “Morals > Money.”

“Sad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice,” he added in the tweet, in which he tagged James and Nike.

He added that athletes “really do ‘shut up & dribble’” when “Big Boss” China tells them to, asserting that James and the NBA have remained silent on China’s human rights abuses to protect the multibillion-dollar relationship.

Money over Morals for the “King” 👑

Sad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice

They really do “shut up & dribble” when Big Boss 🇨🇳 says so

Did you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research? pic.twitter.com/YUA8rGYeoZ

— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) November 18, 2021

Not surprisingly, Kanter has essentially been deemed persona non grata by his Boston Celtics club. Despite averaging double digit points and rebounds over the previous four seasons, Kanter has played in only four of the Celts' 15 games this NBA season. And given he signed only a 1-year/$2.6 million contract this past August, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he may not even be in the league beyond 2022.

Sadly, Kanter is not getting near the publicity as Colin Kaepernick when the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback knelt during the National Anthem throughout the 2016 NFL season. And even more disgraceful is the fact Kanter doesn't have nearly as many allies (if any at all) as Kaepernick did within their respective leagues. 

I guess one could say Kanter truly does believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. 

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

Buck up: Re-up Buck

In my humble (but accurate) opinion, Minnesota Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton is the franchise's most exciting and dynamic players since the days of Kirby Puckett. Yeah, I know he's been bit by the injury bug since first breaking into the big leagues in 2015. But he's proven that his presence in the lineup 100-120 games per season is on par or superior to 150 or more games of any other outfielder in Major League Baseball. 

After turning down a 7-year incentive laden offer from the Twins last year, Buxton's immediate future with the club is very much uncertain. The Twins' brass apparently listened to trade offers for Buxton last July but, thankfully, weren't blown away by anything. With Buxton a free agent after the 2022 season, you would think a definitive decision will have to be made by Spring Training, which is slated to begin in about three months. 

“There’s no rush,” Buxton said. “As far as the contract stuff, I don’t really know too much about it. It’s more of keeping it going. Obviously, everybody knows the situation. Just got to keep being myself, keep being me and communicate.”

Before the Twins would move Buxton, they would want to make sure they are unable to reach an agreement with him on an extension. The parties continue to communicate, but have not made progress toward a deal, sources said.

Finding a middle ground will not be easy. Buxton’s representatives want him to be paid like a potential superstar. The Twins, meanwhile, want to protect against the possibility that Buxton will continue to miss a large number of games due to injuries. Their budgetary restrictions make it difficult for them to absorb bad contracts.

I understand how the organization might be a little gun shy given the big contract they doled out to Joe Mauer in 2010, only to see him not put forth the type of production he amassed the five seasons prior to the beginning of that deal (the first year of Mauer's extension was 2011, a disastrous season for him and the franchise). Nevertheless, a guy like Buxton is a once-in-a-generation type player, one that, if his upside is realized, can be the cornerstone of a championship team. And with the solid young core the Twins have compiled via trades of stars Nelson Cruz and Jose Berrios as well as recent drafts, re-upping Buxton is a risk absolutely worth taking. 

Put it this way: if the Twins trade Buxton in 2022 or allow him to walk after that season, an already impatient fan base will stay away in droves for the foreseeable future. Yeah, a dormant Target Field will be even less enticing for potential free agents beyond '22.

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Quick Hits: Volume CCLXVII

 - As newly elected leader of the Republican Party of Minnesota, David Hann has (to put it mildly) his work cut out for him. 

One of many obstacles to overcome is that of the party being characterized as a mouthpiece for Donald J. Trump.

But unlike (previous MNGOP Chair Jennifer) Carnahan, who quickly became a full-throated amplifier of Trump’s messages on social media, Hann appears to be attempting to walk a fine line of moderation among the the party’s all-in-for-Trump members, as well as those who for years have remained privately uncomfortable with Trump but publicly supportive or mute.

For example, Hann rejected the idea that the Republican Party can today be called “the party of Trump.”

“I don’t know that that identification persists past the time the president is in office,” he said. “I would not agree that the Republican Party equals Donald Trump and whatever his vision is. He’s a private citizen at this point. He may be a candidate again. I don’t know. There are other people who are seeking to become the nominee the next presidential cycle.

“There are clearly people in the Republican Party who like President Trump and want to see him run again, but there are others who don’t. … To me, it seems odd to say ‘it’s the party of Trump’ when he’s not the president. You could say the Democratic Party is the party of Joe Biden.”

And therein lies the key point. It's obvious how the country has taken a significant step back in multiple areas (e.g. foreign policy, the economy, public health, etc.) over the past 10 months. As such, the focus should be on the party who actually holds power in Washington. Also, as we saw in Virginia just a couple of weeks ago, running on Trump era policies can still be a winner while not propping up Trump himself. 

- This is downright creepy. 

Here’s another angle. This wasn’t a spontaneous crowd chant. This was led from the stage. pic.twitter.com/tWh9vvasau

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) November 14, 2021

This took place at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, TX. 

Put aside that the chant "Let's Go, Brandon" is a euphemism for a phrase one shouldn't even utter in polite company, let alone a church. The idea that a Christian house of worship is giving off the vibe that they're steep in partisan politics would seem to fly in the face of they're ultimate goal -- sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm pretty certain Jesus would have us witness all those who are lost, including Democrats. 

- Perhaps the Democrat party's most demagogic and vacuous personality is running for elected office once more. 

I’m running for governor.

Together, we can push past the small and divisive politics that we see in Texas today — and get back to the big, bold vision that used to define Texas. A Texas big enough for all of us.

Join us: https://t.co/eMY5wwf6an pic.twitter.com/yrG1WOkpqk

— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) November 15, 2021

O'Rourke really made a name for himself in 2018 when he ran for U.S. Senate opposing Sen. Ted Cruz. Despite a campaign which saw him draw huge swaths of people at every stop, O'Rourke lost by 2.5% in that election. However, he was not nearly as open about his desire to institute a gun buyback program or removing some churches' tax exempt status as he was when vying for the 2020 Dem nominee for President. Also, 2018 was the first midterm election in Donald Trump's presidency, so that environment typically favors the party opposite the one controlling the White House. If Beto couldn't win in 2018 given those circumstances, how is he delusional enough to believe he can prevail in a statewide election (in still solidly red Texas no less) in an environment strongly favoring Republicans while also having since conveyed some of his more radical policy ideas?

If indeed O'Rourke is the 2022 Democrat nominee for Governor of Texas, then congratulations on your reelection, Gov. Greg Abbott. 

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Outta sight, buy your kicks from the man in the white.....

My friend and Northern Alliance Radio Network colleague Mitch Berg is away on assignment today, so I will assume the reins of The Headliner edition of the NARN. Today's 2-hour tilt gets started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

On the local scene, I'll discuss some news involving the trial of former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter, who is being charged with manslaughter in the death of 20-year old Daunte Wright. 

Speaking of high profile shootings, I will weigh in on the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, specifically how national media outlets have shed any pretense of objectivity towards the proceedings. 

At 1:30, Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate (and, for purposes of full disclosure, personal friend) Michelle Benson will check in with the latest from the campaign trail. 

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 Alexa (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, where we also conduct a "Live Stream" of the broadcast.

Until then.....

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

Quick Hits: Volume CCLXVI

 - I promise you, the material Jimmy Kimmel used to write for the NFL on Fox pregame show back in the early 2000s was funny. Really, it was. But if you didn't see that stuff live and thus the only familiarity you have with Kimmel is the unfunny deranged prog on his late night ABC talk show, then I understand why you think I'm full of it.

Anyhow, here's a clip from his painfully unfunny monologue from earlier this week. 

.@jimmykimmel: The reason @VP Harris is so unpopular is because Americans are sexist and racist pic.twitter.com/Bnhzpvvnrd

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 10, 2021

So what does it say about the political party (y'know, the one Kimmel supports) that so roundly rejected Harris's 2020 bid for President that she ended her campaign before the Iowa Caucus?  

- There's been a lot of bizarre twists and turns in this week's homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who last summer killed two men and injured another (all in self-defense, in my opinion) while roaming the streets of Kenosha, WI. 

Perhaps one of the more bizarre reactions was to the presiding judge's ringtone on his cell phone, which rang during the trial.

Judge Schroeder’s phone rings in the middle of the Rittenhouse trial, and it just happens to be the theme song from the Trump rallies when he walks on stage. Go figure. pic.twitter.com/3LE44QwNkB

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) November 10, 2021

What, you'd rather he don a crocheted vagina atop his head?  

- The media pig pile on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was in full force in the aftermath of his 40-minute diatribe on Pat McAfee's podcast a week ago. Apparently Rodgers' rationale for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (and then actually coming down with COVID) was left wanting. 

Look, there was a fair amount of Rodgers' monologue with which I didn't agree, especially his implication that there has been significant clotting issues with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (I believe it was literally 6 cases in 7,000,000). But there were some hard truths he spoke, specifically how the vaccine has been so politicized. And given the pervasiveness of political opinion shows and prog-leaning sports "journalists," that remark is what probably got them so wound up. 

As many of you know, I'm as rabid an anti-Packers fan as there is, so I'm typically a huge backer of any team the Pack opposes. That said, if Green Bay captures the Super Bowl championship in February, I will root like heck for Rodgers to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy and loudly exclaim "CANCEL THIS, BITCHES!!!!!!"

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

But they're *our* angry mob

To be clear: I found the January 6, 2021 incident at the U.S. Capitol to be an abomination and thus some people should go to jail over it. However, in the minds of a lotta progs, anything short of condemning the incident as an attempt to thwart on our Constitutional order while employing a ferret-on-espresso (h/t Mitch Berg) type demeanor is considered justifying the incident.  

With that said, you wanna see a real attempt at attacking a tenet of our Constitutional order? How about attempting to undermine due process? 

A person by the name of Cortez Rice decided to stand outside the front door of the residence of the judge assigned to preside over the manslaughter trial of former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter, who fatally shot 20-year old Daunte Wright earlier this year.

I don’t think people understand the severity of this…

A self described “gang” broke into the apartment where a Minneapolis judge lives and LIVE STREAMED IT

Where were the cops? pic.twitter.com/5URC9lsgKc

— Kyle Hooten (@KyleHooten2) November 7, 2021

The purpose of Rice compiling this video was to demand that Potter's trial be broadcast live. Apparently said demand had to be made in front of the trial judge's residence. Yeah, no underlying message there, huh?

Oh, and what I'm sure was a completely independent decision.......

A new ruling in the trial of former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter, charged in Daunte Wright's killing, will allow cameras in the courtroom and for the trial to be shown live.

The ruling comes after a coalition of Twin Cities journalists challenged a previous decision in August denying cameras in the courtroom for the trial. In the recent decision, the judge writes that the decision to deny audio-visual coverage was based on the belief that the COVID-19 pandemic would wane, allowing for a full audience in the courtroom.

 

via GIPHY

I guess mob mentality is sufficient, provided it achieves your preferred end goal. 

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

The spin doctoring continues

When conveying his disappointment that Minneapolis Ballot Question #2 (aka "Defund the Police") failed in last Tuesday's election, DFLer Javier Morillo's rationale was......interesting. 

"(W)ith the rise in crime that was...that happened across the country, but, um, here was successfully, y'know...I think...um...uh...'weaponized' to make an art to scare people, right? To scare people. And when people are scared about their safety, they're not...not thinking big."

I think I can interpret incoherent spin doctoring. What Javy is essentially saying here is that those damn citizens living in a major city where violent crime is reaching record levels just aren't looking at the bigger picture. Sure, there's an increased risk of being car jacked these days. But if ya just take one for the team, we promise the city will be safer eventually. This is equivalent to saying the undeniable increase in costs of everyday items (i.e. food, gasoline, etc.) was "weaponized" to scare people into voting for fiscal conservatives. 

Javy then went on with an unsubstantiated national media claim (parroted by Rep. Ilhan Omar and former City Council President Lisa Bender) that Minneapolis police officers have openly talked about slowing down services in the city, thus resulting in the spike in crime. He even threw Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) and Gov. Tim Walz under the bus for good measure.

Sure would be nice if Minnesota had a strong right-of-center party apparatus that could capitalize on the utter disarray and division among DFLers. 

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

When I get older, they think I'm a fool......

I hope you are refreshed from that extra hour of sleep! Today's edition of my radio show The Closer will be on from 1:00 until 3:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour I will recap Tuesday's local and national election results. As usual, "progressives" didn't learn a thing. 

At 2:00 CT, I will be joined by Mark Hemingway, who co-authored with his wife Mollie a book entitled "Rigged: How the Media, Big Tech, and the Democrats Seized Our Elections."

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 Alexa (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, where we also conduct a "Live Stream" of the broadcast.

Until then.....

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

You done messed up, A-A-Ron!

For my money, ESPN.com writer Kevin Seifert best summarized this latest Aaron Rodgers saga in which the Green Bay Packers QB tested positive for COVID-19. 

The most important thing to worry about is Rodgers' health in both the short- and long-term. The best-case scenario is that he will re-join the team the day before the Packers' Nov. 14 game against the Seahawks. So it's not out of the question that he could miss two games, and that's assuming he tests negative and is asymptomatic at the 10-day mark.

Chatter throughout the day Wednesday centered on the surprise of Rodgers' unvaccinated status, but the health of all involved should be the top priority.

Looking back, a lot of people are now suggesting Rodgers lied when he was asked in August if he was vaccinated but conveyed that he was "immunized." If you wanna get technical, Rodgers was being truthful given that "vaccinated" and "immunized" are two different things. However, the National Football League's COVID-19 policy indicated that unvaccinated players were, among other things, subject to tests daily and required to wear masks at the club facility & during travel. As such, Rodgers himself was subject to those protocols once the NFL did not provide him a waiver for taking a holistic approach to the virus (i.e. treatments to build up antibodies through immunization). 

I imagine a league investigation will occur to ascertain what, if any, COVID-19 protocols Rodgers violated. As was mentioned, unvaccinated players are required to wear masks at their team's facility and Rodgers throughout the season has been present at Packers' headquarters conducting regular press conferences --- without a mask. Beyond that obvious violation, we'll have to wait and see what else the NFL determines. 

Sure, Rodgers is ultimately responsible for his skirting of any rules, but I place larger culpability on the Packers organization itself. After their ineptitude in handling the drama regarding Rodgers even returning to Green Bay, the Packers brass has been walking on eggshells ever since he set foot back in the team facility over the summer. Heck, Rodgers was allowed to lambast his employer at a preseason media gathering and the organization, out of fear of making him angry, just had to collectively grin and bear it. So when the NFL denied Rodgers' request to supplant vaccination with immunization, my guess is the Packers were willing to take the heat if he was determined to have violated any of the league's COVID mandates. 

From a football standpoint, 2020 first round pick Jordan Love will start this Sunday for the Pack against the Kansas City Chiefs. This will give the team a good opportunity to see if Love is ready for prime time. And if indeed he shows promise (much like Rodgers did in 2007 when he replaced future Hall of Famer Brett Favre midgame on a Thursday night in Dallas), this could give the Packers some leverage when having to deal with the Rodgers drama again this offseason. 

Serious question: Is there any other professional sports outfit which generates more hot button debate topics than the National Football League? Dang.

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

About Tuesday night.....

Wow, there is so much to unpack regarding Tuesday's elections, so thank goodness I have a weekly radio show as an outlet. As such, this Sunday's broadcast is pretty well set. 

Just a few general thoughts in the aftermath: 

- It's clear proggies and their media lapdogs have learned nothing about what propelled the GOP to dominate a blue state like Virginia. Telling parents they shouldn't have a say in what is going on in their kids' schools was the gift that kept on giving. And consistently calling Republicans and their voters "racists" is felony stupid in light of the party having a black female Lt Gov candidate and a Hispanic Attorney General candidate both emerge victorious. But by all means, continue with that chanting point, progs. 

- Virginia (and even New Jersey) showed there is a way forward for the Republican party without Trump.

Virginia is what a post-Trump GOP could look like. Engaged in the culture. Focused on issues that really matter to parents and families. Mobilized. Fighting smart. And crucially: not revolving around one single personality like Donald Trump. This is the way forward.

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) November 2, 2021

Trump promptly took credit for Glenn Youngkin winning the Virginia gubernatorial race, but the fact of the matter is Youngkin was laser focused on salient issues which Trump championed without invoking the man himself.  

- As is usually the case in election season, we in Minnesota celebrate nationally but mourn locally. While I was encouraged by the number of conservative school board candidates who stepped up to run in various districts, not nearly enough broke through with victories. However, Minnesota wasn't a total loss as most Minneapolis residents showed they're not quite ready to embrace a Mad Max style post-apocalyptic city. The "defund the police" ballot initiative was overwhelmingly defeated as were city council members Phillipe Cunningham & Jeremy Schroeder, both of whom were big time advocates of the movement. Not even far left Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) or her predecessor (and current MN Atty General) Keith Ellison could drag it across the finish line. 

- And now the 2022 battle lines have been drawn. There is no question the GOP is on track to take over more state legislatures and gubernatorial offices as well as reestablish a majority in the U.S. Congress. Basically, the Republicans just have to not screw anything up over the next 12 months.....which is far from a sure thing, unfortunately. 

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Decision 2021: Special AM 1280 broadcast TONIGHT

On Monday evening it was decided by the Salem Communications-Twin Cities powers-that-be that we would conduct a special Election Night broadcast cast this evening. It was such short notice that my Northern Alliance Radio Network colleagues Mitch Berg and Jack Tomczak are unavailable, so I will be flying solo 8-11 PM Central Time (Three hours?!?!?! YIKES!).

I'm tentatively scheduled to have some Minnesota conservative school board candidates phone in with an update on their respective races, hopefully even performing victory laps. Regardless, I will keep tabs on a lot of these local elections, including some highly publicized ballot initiatives in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

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 Alexa (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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I got a three word phrase for ya.

I'll be honest. I'm not really all that enthused about this "Let's Go Brandon" phase. If you don't know what I'm talking about, said phrase is a euphemism for "F*ck Joe Biden." While I admit to putting forth a good chuckle at how the "Let's Go, Brandon" chant came to fruition, it's become overkill at this point. You can call me a killjoy or prod me to lighten up all you want, but I just don't find this kind of "discourse" at all productive or helpful. 

Now, with all that said, as tedious as I consider the "LGB" chant to be, it pales in comparison to the overreactions emitting from leftists and their media cohorts. The fact of the matter is the vast majority of those people made nary a peep about the vile characterizations of President George W. Bush (e.g. "BusHitler", "Buck Fush," or "smirking chimp") or the fact there was a fictional film depicting his assassination. And while I couldn't fathom another GOP President could ever be more maligned than Bush, it was somehow vastly exceeded during the Donald Trump era (Trump was also the subject of an assassination fantasy). 

So for those of you who celebrated (or virtually ignored) all the vile invective thrown at GOP Presidents but are suddenly collapsing to your fainting couches over a three-word phrase not even containing a word the FCC would find objectionable? Well......I'd be a hypocrite if I uttered the three-word phrase which immediately comes to mind. 

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Box Score of the Week (Final one of 2021)

 Game 6 of the 2002 World Series - San Francisco Giants at Anaheim Angels. 

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The Angels, trailing the WS 3 games to 2, rallied from down five runs to emerge victorious, making it the largest deficit a team has overcome in an elimination game in World Series history. Anaheim would go on to win the following night, thus securing its first ever world championship.

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