Of (Unidentified) Balloons & (Super) Bowls

 After every Super Bowl the losing teams fan base and paid talking heads bemoan an egregious game deciding penalty.

In Super Bowl LVII it was a holding call by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry on Kansas Cry Chiefs Juju Smith-Schuster.  Unfortunately, some classless Eagles fans claim the holding didn't even happen, while others are claiming while "Technically" a holding it's a ticky-tack call and should not be called in a SuperBowl.  Sadly, for those biased Eagles Fans and the Integrity of the "Game" the penalty did occur, the Ref in question had a sight-line on it, and the referee correctly threw the flag.  Additionally, and this a fact which of course, devestates the entire conspiracy theory and YouTube trolls make, Carl Cheffers the head referee for this game was the referee for the Chiefs-Buccaneers Super Bowl in which Kansas City was flagged 8 times for 95 yards in the 1st half so he's hardly been a make Patrick Mahomes the Greatest by cheating co-conspirator.

The bullshit argument that this is somehow "The Refs deciding the Game" are tantamount to demanding the referee should reward those who break rules because of the spirit of the game demands the players play.  Not calling an obvious penalty which did, in fact occur, would be far worse as it rewards breaking the rules and is by definition the referees deciding the game.

And far more disconcerting was the state of the field and the NFL decision to apparently paint the grass with their logos.  Players on both sides slipped, fell, and this determined the course of several plays. 

Anyway, Kansas City won and now Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are amongst the Pantheon of NFL Greats as two-time Super Bowl winners.  As to the classlessness of the fans in Philadelphia, I'll leave the analysis to Jarrett Payton, son of Chicago Bears legend Walter, 

“It hurt me a little bit because even in that moment, you can be upset with all those guys, guys that are on the rival team that you play against, but still in that moment, it took me back a little bit. I was like, come on, man, for all the good this guy is doing in the community, just clap for him for a little bit. Maybe when he’s walking off the field and the stage, then you can boo him. But while he’s up there, show him his props.  I didn’t take it personal, but the football gods were looking down on them when they did that. There’s a reason why Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs came out in that second half and laid it to them. It is what it is.”

Of more or possibly less concern is the multiple Unidentified Flying Objects shot down over the past week.  OF course, of fucking course the Republicans see this as an opportunity to attack President Biden and their rightwing drones will accept nothing less than an admission by the GAY WOKE Norad and limp-wristed Air Force that President Biden and his son Hunter in conjunction with the Chinese Government allowed these objects over America to weaken us because China Joe owes the Chinese for stealing the 2020 Presidential election and also these are Chinese BioWeapons being deployed to deplete our precious freedoms and NO MASKS!!!! 

James Cormer current Republican liar in charge of the House Oversight went on a wild speculation, 

“My concern is that the federal government doesn’t know what’s in that balloon. Is that bioweapons in that balloon? Did that balloon take off from Wuhan? We don’t know anything about that balloon.”

When pressed that he had nothing to base this on, zero evidence, Cormer responded twice with the Sea-Lion JAQing off response, "I asked a question".  A disingenuous technique which Republicans favor because it makes them seem smart and inquisitive when it's naught but a method of pushing outrageous rightwing lies and propaganda and putting the burden of disproving their bullshit on their opponent.

There is no situation that Republicans can not make worse, because the Republican Party has NOTHING to offer the American people.  No substantive policies.  No plans to improve the lives of Americans.  Nothing but fear & anger.  And this is what the Republican villains pump into the country daily; Fear & Anger.  

Dennis McKinnon the 1985 Bears and Hubris

As the Chicago Bears suffer through another disappointing season, after it began with such promise and talk of Super Bowl aspirations, it's time to reflect on the one Bear Super Bowl Championship; the Legendary 1985 Bears.

The young me who half watched the Bears demolish the Patriots (spit) in Super Bowl XX had no idea it would be 20 years before another Bears team even made the big game.

To be fair, I don't watch football on TV much anymore, don't gamble on games, and don't go to games or buy merchandise because of the barbarity of the sport. Added together with the treatment of Colin Kaepernick provided me the ability to sever connections almost completely*.

But, I believe I will buy Dennis McKinnon's new book, Chicago Bear #85 Silky D Bares All authored with the late great Chicago sportscaster Chet Coppock. The 85 Bears have been overanalyzed since their failure to win a second or third Championship and cement themselves as the Dynasty of 1980's, that honor went to the San Francisco 49ers. McKinnon did the Chicago Sports Radio talk shows and tore into the Bears ownership and management because Ego and Hubris, from coaches, owners and players were all responsible for Bears One-and-Done fate; a fate which seems to be befalling the most recent Chicago over-hyped Champion the 2016 Cubs.

(* - I started "playing" Fantasy Football back in 1992 with High School friends and my first Title was in 1993 thanks to Marcus Allen's 13 touchdown Chiefs season. Much to my chagrin I still indulge with my old friends. I recommend Nate Jackson's book Fantasy Man.)

Jesus! He is Risen! But where is He? Playing QB on the Denver Broncos or a Hedge Fund Manager on Wall Street?

"I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. I think the media has been very desirous that a *christian* quarterback do well. They're interested in *christian* coaches and *christian* quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in *Tebow*, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he really didn't deserve. The defense carried this team." - Racist Limbaugh.

Here's how you know conservatives are willingly blind to racism and bigotry. I altered Racist Limbaugh's derogatory reference from skin color to christian and changed the QB's name from McNabb to Tebow. As is easily observed, any comment about Tim Tebow which is not positive is attacked as anti-christian, yet when Limbaugh made this heinous bigoted statement about Donovan McNabb in 2003 right-wingers rallied to his defense.

The Chicago Bears just lost to Tim Tebow. Dan Bernstein of 670 the Score is quite upset over the tactics He used to defeat the Bears.

For 3 quarters the Bears defense had Tebow flustered. Tebow had completed just 3 of 16 passes had thrown an interception and fumbled. Tebow's passes were off (although 4 drops by his wide receivers wasn't helping) and his normal running style was replaced by a skittish one as Tebow discovered, unlike in college, he couldn't outrun or bowl over the likes of Julius Peppers. Lovie Smith then decided to employ the "Prevent Defense". As Mike Ditka once said, all the Prevent does is prevent you from winning...

But, Tim Tebow is not the first NFL player to make his faith central to his life off or on the field. Reggie White was a preacher. Deion Sanders is a minister and led prayer circles on the football field after games. Troy Vincent was once asked what book everyone should read and he replied, "The King James Bible because it is life."

Even in the Bears-Broncos game Tebow wasn't the only player who makes a big show of his faith. Devin Hester touches his feet, legs, shoulders and points skyward in order to get god's protection, "I just tell god to watch over me from the toes on my feet to the head of my crown."

And Reggie White, Deion Sanders, Troy Vincent and Devin Hester are all African-Americans, Kurt Warner dedicated his Super Bowl victory (but not his two Super Bowl defeats) to Jesus.

So, what is it about Tebow? Do people really believe that Tim Tebow is winning because of Jesus is watching out for him or aiding the flight of the football? I think the Tebow Mania and the way everyone wants this to be an issue is because some christians want to feel they are persecuted. These christians are making Tim Tebow a litmus test for the persecution complex they crave and the war on their religion they are engaged in.

However, lost amongst all this Tebowing, was the is a more egregious religious affront. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who recently conferred upon deadbeat Republican dad Joe Walsh, the title of #1 True Blue Pro-Family status wrote an article declaring Jesus was a Free Marketer not an Occupier.

Of course, the problem that Jesus lived 2000 years before the concept isn't really the issue. Because what Tony Perkins was actually writing about was a justification for the rampant theft and corruption by the 1%. Perkins, overplayed his hand, because the need to mention OWS and the term "occupier" in the title shows how frightened he is christians in this country will begin to side with the poor and correctly view #Occupy as a struggle against Oppressive Power and the corrupt system set up by those who wield that Power.

It's actually an old idea in christianity. The Poor Men of Lyons (Waldenses) were condemned as heretics by the Catholic Church and were eventually anathemamitised because they dared to question the Order of Society. The Waldenses meet the same fate as the Cathars in the early 1200's being chased down and brutally slaughtered by the Guardians of the Powers That Be.

Perkins ends his Jesus wants you to invest in sheep futures with the following:

Yes, we are to "occupy," not by railing against a free market system that rewards diligence, even though it is occasionally abused. Rather we are to occupy by using that system ethically as a means to advance the interests of the one we serve.

Got it? Jesus wants you to accept the Income Inequality, abuse of power and transfer of wealth. Focus instead on ethics, i.e. things which don't challenge the Economic Inequality.

Of course, what Tony Perkins is actually defending is Feudalism. Christianity grew along with Feudalist ideas. It's been a 1000 year struggle by powerful and wealthy christians to massage the meaning of christ into favoring the Rich and Elite. To turn Jesus from a rabble-rousing champion of the poor and oppressed into a scion of the Plutocracy and keeper of the status quo (Behold! The Gospel of Supply Side Jesus).

And today what the religious right have allowed themselves to become the marching foot-soldiers waiting for the opportunity to enforce the will of the 1% and oppress the Occupiers.

Odd and Sod

So, several stories have caught my eye but I've been too busy to fully flesh them out. So enjoy or deride these bon mots:

The biblical quotes on the rifle scopes. Everyone in the military knows the Killers for Christ have been working to subvert and dominate the US military for decades. The most recent news that made it to Americans ears highlights the intolerant Inquisitors who prowl the Air Force intimidate and enforce fundamentalism on Americans. Why do these xhristian zealots subvert the military? Probably for something "silly" like pushing the US into the Middle East, say Iraq, for the purpose of destabilizing the region and causing a general war which will encompass Israel and signal the end times when a xhristian Zealot or muslim Wacko tries to detonate a nuke.

The Who Remnants are playing* the Super Bowl Halftime Show. While I adore The Who's music it's been 40 years since their albums dominated the music scene. It's time for new blood and 21st century musicians. It's not as if, Y.A Tittle and George Blanda are the quarterbacks...

Republicans hate Americans and every Corporation or Industry that doesn't work hand-in-hand with them. When President Obama saved American jobs and the US Automotive Industry, Republicans were outraged because Auto workers vote The Democratic Party since all Americans know Republicans would kill them for joy or work them to death if Conservatives had their druthers. Then when Toyotas started killing Americans Republicans created a Conspiracy Theory that President Obama was unfairly targeting Toyota despite the massive Toyota defects and automotive failures. If Republicans can't control you they want you dead.

Chicken Hawk Bigot Tom Tancredo goes out of his way to show Conservatism=Birtherism=Racism, by demanding "Literacy Tests" in order to vote, because after all if all of Them were as learned as Tancredo they would Support Tancredo for President! And here's Tancredo running away from Markos Moulitsas. Which makes sense since Tancredo ran away from military service when Vietnam could have used him.

Michele Bachmann is a despicable person who actively tries to incite the conservative rabble to violence. Her latest lie-a-thon includes this loaded language:

Dear Fellow Conservative,
Will you let Barack Obama KILL conservatism?
…HE WANTS TO ANNIHILATE US!

The only thing 'killing' conservatism is the Truth as more Americans became aware of the vast fraud that is conservatism which the Republicans have been perpetrating on the country.

And because of the ilk like Tancredo, Bachmann, Palin et al self identifying Republicans believe Barack Obama is a Kenyan Socialist who should be Impeached...

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