Observation Point

“To not know what happened before one was born is to live as a child.”

                                                                             

Cicero

Nicely Done

On a classier note, the Chicago Cubs have awarded a World Series ring to Steve Bartman. Steve who? Bartman was the fan who reached out and grabbed a probable catch of a foul fly from the out-stretched glove of Cubs' left fielder Moises Alou in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series. The Cubs had the wheels fall off after that and the entire city blamed Bartman for the Cubs' el foldo and bombing out of the series. He received death threats and all sorts of continuing invective for years afterwards. The Ricketts family, who now own the Cubs, say they wanted to finally put an end to this unfortunate chapter and did so very visibly by awarding Bartman a ring. To err is human; to forgive divine. Well done Ricketts family!

www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/08/01/chicago-cubs-award-controversial-fan-steve-bartman-world-series-ring/

Things Do Indeed Look Different Here

Oregon used to have an advertising slogan promoting travel to our state: "Things look different here!" No kidding. How different? Well, the Senate just confirmed Christopher Wray as the new FBI Director on a vote of 92-5. That's an unbelievably bipartisan vote in these days of hyper-partisanship but guess which state's senators - both of them - were on the short end of the vote? Yup, Wyden and Merkley from Oregon. I guess when you have your head where they do it does look different. Not better, but definitely different. 

www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/08/oregon_sens_wyden_merkley_vote.html#incart_river_home_pop

The GOP Now Owns Obamacare

Thank you Senators McCain, Murkowski and Collins! McCain explained that what the Democrats did in passing Obamacare was wrong, so Republicans have to do what is "right" and be bipartisan. Excuse me, John, but how do we take a bipartisan approach when one side unanimously says "single-payer system" and the other side can't seem to make up its mind on much of anything? It's like the 50 states trying to negotiate with the Japanese for peace on December 8, 1941. Incidentally, a 2015 report below from the Cato Institute estimates the accrued and unfunded Medicare liablity at $48 TRILLION so the Feds taking over all healthcare will undoubtedly prove to be cost effective and provide excellent care. Thanks again. 

www.cato.org/publications/commentary/medicare-social-security-tabs-coming-due

Trump Administration Builds Support for Agenda

Jeff Sessions could not be reached for comment. 

Meanwhile Congress Continues Debating the Nation's Business

Make Mine a Double

A Texas coffee company is voluntarily recalling its coffee that the FDA has found contains a Viagara-like chemical. Company officials say it was a very popular blend nationally. Imagine. 
Probably a good idea to sell it on-line - visiting a coffee shop could be a little awkward. 

www.circa.com/story/2017/07/21/food/coffee-with-viagra-like-substance-recalled-by-texas-company