Quick Hits for 7/26/15

• I hate to say this, but I don't disagree with Donald Trump on something.  Earlier this week, the Des Moines Register wrote an editorial where they called Trump a "feckless blowhard" and strongly encouraged him to quit the GOP race for President.  On Friday, Trump got a level of payback by withdrawing the press credentials of the Register's reporters, barring them from a major event in Iowa.  For the record, the editorial department of the paper, not the reporters, encouraged Trump to leave the race, and Trump's people are hilariously off the mark when they accuse the DM Register of having a 'liberal agenda,' but for the most part I agree with Trump.  The editorial page of a newspaper is the newspaper's emotional identity.  Where as reporters should strive to be neutral, the editorial department allows the unabashed opinion of the newspaper itself to fly. They weren't railing against the GOP.  They were railing against Trump, but how could they write a piece which accurately sizes up Trump's massive ego driven campaign, and then be shocked when he demonstrates it?  I don't have any problem with Trumps reaction.  This wasn't endorsing a different GOP'er or disagreeing with Trumps specific platform.  This wasn't even mocking Trumps toxic comments.  This was insisting he leave the race entirely, something they should have known would not be welcomed with smiles from his camp.  Say you're going to ask out a girl for prom, and then you meet her dad, and he calls you a "feckless blowhard," adding not only should you not ask his daughter out to prom, but you shouldn't even think about going to prom at all.  Now imagine the same dad then gets upset when his daughter is not on your shortlist of prom asks.  The Des Moines Register should print what ever editorials they want, but they should also think through the repercussions of said editorials before they print them.

• A great example of how a few gun crazed individuals now control the entire debate on common sense gun control was demonstrated during a presidential campaign event with Chris Christie.  In the town of Ankeny, Iowa, just north of Des Moines, Christie was accosted by an individual in the crowd, accusing him of being "anti-gun."  This individual was a plant, someone who was only there to try to make Christie look bad; sent to the town hall by either the NRA, a rival GOP'er or the extremely crazy, Die Hard/John McClain worshippers of the fascist right, the same guys who showed up for Cliven Bundy.  Apparently this fool thought Christie would back down, but the biggest bully in the GOP field laid into this 'Iowan,' stating "don't come in...and lie about my record," defending his 'proud' accomplishments, ensuring there are no restrictions on anyone, anywhere in New Jersey owning and carrying as many weapons and bullets as possible.  Mind you, this proud gun terrorist moment came two days after the latest theater shooting in Louisiana, nine days after the Chattanooga shootings, and a little over a month after the gunning down of nine individuals in a South Carolina church.  How tone deaf can you be?  What this confrontation shows, plain and clear, is the argument pro-gun guy makes about "being too soon after a tragedy to talk about gun violence," is only for the people who want gun violence to stop, and want stronger gun regulations in place.  It's okay for them to shamelessly and tastelessly talk about guns right after a massacre, but for everyone else, shut the F- up.  Unrestricted gun access, with everyone walking around like it's a zombie move (guns out, loaded with live rounds, safety off, and finger on the trigger), is insane, something the vast majority of Americans are against.  The Founding Fathers would be aghast at the mere suggestion this is what the 2nd Amendment was about, furious the gun nuts, which is a tiny percentage of the American people, have erased the words "well regulated militia" from their tome's intent.  The next time someone says, it's too soon to talk about gun violence, ask them when we can talk about it, and also ask about the thousands of shootings in America, every year, that are never addressed.

• I railed against the Vikings stadium last week, talking about how these sports teams have created loyalty within the ranks of the reporters, who are supposed to be neutral, by granting them access to the players, coaches, games, and dangling baubles in front of them.  To the sports team's credit, they know what they are doing.  Yesterday, my kids and I went to the Twins game.  The game itself was a nightmare (why are you even pitching to A-Rod after his second monster homer???) but it was the promotion which got me chuckling.  It was Brian Dozier Bobble-head Day, where the first few fans through the gates (after all the wealthy fans in the luxury suites and the lap dog sports media covering the team get theirs) receive the Bobble-head.  They market these giveaways with pictures of kids proudly holding up the prize, something which is not mimicked in reality.  I didn't see one kid with a bobble head yesterday.  I only saw middle age white guy, proudly strutting up and down the concourse with them.  This was their moment to shine; all envious eyes on them as they parade their good fortune and luck for all to see.  These guys with the bobble heads are fans the sports team owners can count on to put the face paint on and scream at politicians in St. Paul, every time the five year old stadium needs a new tax payer funded upgrade.  I could care less about bobble heads.  I'm an adult, with a job.  I can buy one whenever I want.  It was the longing look in all the kid's eyes which caused me to shake my head.  The kids were watching, as some 40-year old loser, intentionally or not, taunted them with the prize these children coveted.  These giveaways are such a joke, but the sports teams love it.  It creates demand and urgency, spurring ticket sales, especially when the team isn't doing so well.  If these giveaways are for the kids, then do like you used to and make them for the kids only.  Or do the lottery method, where random seats are picked from the tickets that were sold for the game.  If you're not going to change it, may I suggest the ad campaign for your next promotion:

Hey, are sports memorabilia giveaways your only friends?  Are you so desperate to validate your life, you'd crush the dreams of a five year old?  Would you push an elderly person down the stairs to get a foul ball?  Then make sure you head to Target Field, on August 7th as it's:

 Pathetic Losers Day!  

The first 500 middle aged losers through the gate will get a prize, which may help fill the void their complete lack of friends and lovers has created.  And bring the kids, just so you can feel mildly superior to a young child for a fleeting moment!