Author: thependulumswings staff

Abby Picks, Year Five, Week Six

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Forgive Abby for last week’s poor picking.  She coughed up seven more bones than she won.   Hopefully, her bout with kennel cough has subsided this week.  She got a lot of rest, socially distanced herself, and wore a mask to help ensure a better outcome for her loyal betting patrons.

Week six features a lot of lines(pass) that could provide back door covers, so conservative is a word to the wise.

  1.  Nebraska -3 at Rutgers and Houston + 3 at Memphis –  Friday night lights usually favor the home team on a short week.  Road team Indy beating Denver last night in a real dog nap of a game gives us confidence in this parlay.  The Cornhuskers have pride and the Cougars are angry.   One bone to win three bones.
  2. Purdue +3 at Maryland and Louisville -3 at Virginia-  Two more roadies paired for multiple a multiple-bone payout.  Purdue is pretty good.  Virginia is bad. One bone to win three bones.
  3. South Carolina at Kentucky -6 – Kentucky played very well in Oxford but lost to a very good Rebel team.  South Carolina is on the road after hammering an instate directional school.  Abby likes the spot as much as the name Spot for a dog.  Two bones.
  4.  Florida St at NC State under 51 –  FSU and NC St both score plenty of points against lower-level competition.  When the going gets tough both tighten a bit.  One bone.
  5. Washington St + 13 1/2 at USC-  Can we pump the brakes on how great Lincoln Riley is?  The Oregon State game v USC is your tell for this one.  Expect USC to win but not cover.  One bone.
  6. Tennessee – 2 1/2 at LSU-  This is the surprise line of the week.  This is a lot of credit to LSU’s home stadium Death Valley and not near enough to Hendon Hooker.  Two bones.
  7. Arkansas +9 at Mississippi St- The Bulldogs bit the Aggies last week at home.  We expect another win but a close, perhaps overtime win vs. an angry Hog team.  One bone.

That’s seven out of eight road teams, nine bones wagered to win 13, and one under a total on the line this bounce-back weekend.

Woof!

 

Dems Sell Well

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

“This is a direct threat to our very democracy.”

Have you heard that before and again and again?  How could you have not heard that over-hyperventilated accusation?

Our civil servant friends from the left have perfected its delivery with the tone, tenor, and repetitiveness that they are very skilled at doing in marketing their message.

Have you ever wondered aloud what exactly this vague and veiled threat to our democracy is?  Maybe it comes down to what your definition of “is” is.

Is it avowed socialists like Bernie Sanders wanting control? Is it three or five avowed socialists running for office this midterm? Is it China or Ukraine or both compromising the Biden family?  Is it America turning away from oil and gas to make us weaker and weaker before it’s time to do so?  Is it an open border that welcomes good people and bad people and fentanyl?  Is it spending trillions that we don’t have which turned into wicked inflation?

Is it none of the above?  Maybe it’s none of the above when it comes to the November 8th midterms.

For now, it’s the constant war on Trump, trumped-up charges or not(in our best Kamala voice).  After all, he would not allow for a peaceful transfer of power.  And it’s voting rights whether you’re a citizen or not and have a voter ID or not.

And, heaven forbid we forget, it’s also climate change which also doubles as the greatest existential threat as well.

It’s MAGA.  It’s more Trump.  Trump.  TRUMP.

Why is it the above?  It’s because the Dems said it so and the media trumpets (we had to) it over and again.  Dems sell, sell, sell.

But, don’t take our word for it.  The American Association of Retired People (AARP) just released the results of its new poll of America’s 50+ crowd.  And they honed it down further to 50 years and older women.

What’s on their minds?  The top three concerns for them with five weeks to decide who to vote for are 1) voting rights, 2) threats to democracy, and 3) inflation.

Voting rights?  This group has been voting freely for 32 years or more.

And, “threats to democracy” finished ahead of the worst “inflation” in 40 years.  Perception is reality.

They were also asked what would benefit them the most.  The number one answer, you ask.  They are looking for protection from Social Security cuts.  Social Security has been borrowed and stolen from repeatedly.  But, it hasn’t been cut, ever.  Ever.  This year’s cost of living increase to SS checks will be the biggest percentage-wise since 1978.  Worry not, or worry a lot apparently.

The AARP “She’s the Difference” poll finds that 51 percent of likely women voters age 50 and older have not made up their minds for whom they will cast their ballots in November.

How many voters is that altogether?  Americans over 50 represented 1/3rd of voters in 2018 and 2020.  Half or more are women.  So, it’s about 1/6th of all voters or 17% of the nation’s total.  That is Yuge as one used to say.

So, if you’re expecting a red wave this November, maybe not.  If you’re expecting to hold on to the House as Nancy Pelosi droned on about Sunday, maybe not.

But, if you’re over 50 and identify as a female one party sent you an invitation.

The other is a bunch of old fuddy-duddies.

 

 

That Little Clown Car is Full

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

The November midterm elections are barreling down on us faster than Ian went through Florida (too soon?).  And the circus has all three rings full of actions.

Send in the clowns.  Where are the clowns?  They’re all piling out of the little car at once.

In the hotly contested Georgia Senate race that has major national implications, Herschel Walker hopped out with a big red fake nose on.

He’s running as an anti-abortion candidate and he ran to Hannity for cover.  Asked if he indeed suggested that a woman whose unborn child he may have been a part of creating received money from him for an abortion he said no.

Asked if he sent her money he said he gives money away all of the time.  There is also the allegation that he sent her a signed get well soon card.  Coincidence?

He also recently admitted to having four children.  For a long time, he acknowledged but one.  It’s easy to forget about the other three with the way kids act these days.

The Dems fresh off of a 1/2 a trillion student loan debt forgiveness giveaway to buy the 20 to 30-year-old vote selectively struck again.

Kamala Harris told a reporter over the weekend when discussing the hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico and Florida, and we exactly quote, “On the point that you made about disparities: You know back when I was District Attorney of San Francisco  I started one of the first environmental justice units of any DA’s office in the country focused on this issue. And in particular on the disparities, as you have described rightly, which is that it is our lowest income communities and our communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions and impacted by issues that are not of their own making.”

The word windbag comes to mind.  May we recommend a little environmental justice to top off your word salad?

Boil it down and she is saying we need to give more money to climate change needs and direct that money to the minority communities.  Those are daily double Dem talking points.

It was a busy week for the VP.  Earlier standing 50 yards from and looking through binoculars at North Korea from South Korea she took to the podium.  And, she exclaimed that the U.S. shares an alliance with North Korea that is strong and enduring.”

Does the border czar know the difference between North and South Korea?  She was looking down at her notes while talking.  It’s hard to read “north” when seeing the written word “south,” isn’t it?  Or, is it vice versa?

Does Joe Biden know that the late Rep. Jackie Walorski is dead?  Where’s Jackie?  Is she here?

Does a bear……….?

Maybe Czar Kamala was hoping for a few Koreans to cross a border, any border, and gain the right to vote this November via absentee ballot.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday that she believes Democrats will keep control of the House after the November midterm elections as polls show the nation is relatively split on which political party it wants in the majority.  Or, maybe America wants neither party?

If she is right, the most experienced clowns of all, Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell, and McCarthy can keep driving the little funny car right over the cliff.

Send in the clowns.

 

 

 

 

 

Abby Picks, Year Five, Week Five

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Abby watched Scott Van Pelt’s “Bad Beats” ESPN segment last Monday night with great disinterest.  She dropped two games in the final seconds v the spread to fall just below .500 for the week.  Stuff happens.

This was after a great week 3, so all is well for the hound.  Pound for pound she likes a lot of what she sees this week.

  1. Tulane at Houston -2 1/2 – Friday Night Lights in Texas.  Dana Holgersen ripped the Cougars up one side and down the other after their mistake-filled lethargic effort v Rice last week.  Expect Houston to come out like their hair is on fire.  One bone.
  2. Michigan St +7 1/2 at Maryland and Purdue + 12 1/2 at Minnesota- The Big 10 Parlay of the Day.  Michigan St cannot be as bad as they looked last week, can they?  Minnesota cannot be as good as they looked last week, can they?  One bone to win three bones.
  3.  Iowa St -3 at Kansas – Dorothy Special – Head Coach Lance Leipold is a wizard and might find the yellow brick road filled with gold later this year.  But, don’t mistake Matt Campbell for the Tin Man.  He’s turned down more offers than you can count on one hand. Two bones.
  4. Kentucky at Ole Miss -7 –  This line looks like Vegas is screaming for you to take Kentucky.  Abby likes to zig when others zag.  One bone.
  5. Texas A&M ML +155 at Mississippi St –  The Aggies stumbled to another victory last week after Arkansas fumbled away what would have been a 21-0 lead.  Abby expects more of the same out of the Aggies this week with Reveille’s help.  Two bones to win three bones.
  6. Oklahoma -6 at TCU-  Abby has licked her chops for this game all week.  She expects the Sooners to win comfortably to erase the bad memory of last Saturday.  Two bones.
  7. LSU at Auburn +8 1/2 –  This yearly rivalry game always brings the unexpected.  Always.  Who would have thought LSU would be a road favorite by nearly 9 after they shot themselves in the foot 9 times v FSU a month ago?  LSU is minus four starters and Auburn has a dead man walking for a head coach.  Always. One bone.
  8. Georgia -14 (first half) at Missouri- Kirby Smart was smarting after his Dawgs slept through their win over Kent St. last week.  Georgia won’t be held back by a leash this week, especially in the first two quarters.  One bone.

Woof!!

 

She Must Not be Here

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

As it has been told, Joe Biden sought former President Barrack Obama’s council prior to deciding to run for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020.  As has also been told, Obama reportedly said, “You don’t have to do this Joe, you know?”

Was that a polite way of saying “don’t run?”  If the response confused Biden in any way, it ultimately did not stop him from running and winning.

Speaking of confusion, President Biden was looking around at his WH announcement yesterday and uttered, “Jackie, are you here?  Where’s Jackie? She must not be here.”

The president wondered aloud if Jackie Walorski, who died last month, was present during a conference on hunger, nutrition, and health on Wednesday.  Walorski was killed in a car crash on Aug. 3. She had been a champion of a bill that established the White House Hunger Conference Biden was addressing on Wednesday.

Predictably, NBC News called the attempt to find Jackie a “gaffe.”  No matter where you stand politically, isn’t it time we called this and other cringeworthy moments what they are?  After all, we are talking about the highest office in the world.

What they are are old age and dementia at the barest of minimums.  Biden turns 80 in two months.  Yesterday, Dr. Jill had to tell him where to walk after he finished his remarks in another ceremony.

They hid him quite well in his basement during the covid 2020 campaign.  They’ve sent him to Delaware nearly every weekend while he has held the office and many of them have been three-day weekends.  They restrict the number of his appearances before the press, designate who calls on him when he has a rare one, and script his answers to the degree they can keep him on point.

But, the decline is on the rise.

If he runs in 2024 he’ll be doing this country, his party, his family, and himself a disservice.  If his family allows him to run, shame on them.  If the DNC allows him to run double shame on them.

The press demanded that Trump take a cognitive ability test. He passed and of course, he bragged about it.

Isn’t it time they do the same for old Joe?  It would be great if he passed and even if he bragged about it.

Meanwhile, isn’t it time for the Biden camp to admit that Father Time remains undefeated?  Wall St impatiently awaits.

Don’t bet against Gavin Newsom.  He knows where Jackie is.  He knows where Kamala stands.

And, he knows where Pennsylvania Ave is as well.

 

 

Lemon Aids The Cause

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CNN’s evening lineup was doing so poorly when new ownership took over that they decided to revamp it in its entirety.  It’s been BBR’s belief for a good while now that a move to the center will pay dividends.

MSNBC reads directly from the DNC and WH playbooks like a dutiful second-grade child desperate for an A on their report card and a pat on the head.

FOX is anything but fair and balanced.  They would carry more water for the elephants to drink if only the lead RINOs had sense enough to tell them where it is.

The middle should have plenty of viewers and plenty of willing advertisers.  But, first, they have to get there.  And, the rebuild is on.

CNN”S carnage is everywhere.  John Harwood, Jeffery “Zoomin” Tobin, Brian Steltzer, and the lovely Chis Cuomo are a few of the more high-profile, on-camera ones to exit stage far left of the daily Democratic theater since new management entered the building.

But, there is one interesting survivor.  And he’s headed to a morning 6-9 AM EST co-host job and soon.  That’s Don Lemon.

And, until he turns from night to daytime you can count on him to continue to turn left-hanging lemons into lemonade. Last night was the latest example.  With Ian bearing down on southeastern Florida, it was time to take a climate change “Lemon aided” stand.

Not once, not twice, but three times did the Don turn the tide back to climate change as a scientist was attempting to inform the viewers of the particulars of this one. Finally, he lectured the expert himself saying “he grew up down there and the storms are intensifying.”

It was six months ago that the forecasts called for a dozen storms to hit mainland America. Ian makes it one.  One.

Intensifying?  Do you think Ian is the first cat four storm to hit Florida?  Since we have been able to measure, six of the seven most intense occurred between 1919 and 1960.

Most intense landfalling tropical cyclones in the U.S. state of Florida
Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
Rank System Season Landfall pressure
1 “Labor Day” 1935 892 mbar (hPa)
2 Michael 2018 919 mbar (hPa)
3 Andrew 1992 922 mbar (hPa)
4 “Florida Keys” 1919 927 mbar (hPa)
5 “Okeechobee” 1928 929 mbar (hPa)
6 “Great Miami” 1926 930 mbar (hPa)
Donna 1960
8 Irma 2017 931 mbar (hPa)
9 “Florida” 1948 940 mbar (hPa)
10 Charley 2004 941 mbar (hPa)
Source: HURDAT, Hurricane
Research Division

Such unfounded speculation by a rank amateur that happens to have a microphone should be squashed by any and all networks.  But, unfortunately, it often isn’t.

It was just a week ago after the Queen of England had passed that Don was asking a British royalty expert on air if her family’s wealth and colonialism should make her realize that reparations were in order.  Lemon was taken behind the school and spanked by her.

Agendas long ago replaced straight facts.  Lemon says what he wants when he wants and how he wants to say it.  Good for him.

And, speaking of straight, the openly gay black Lemon isn’t.  Of course, neither his skin color nor his sexual orientation should have anything to do with his perceived value as an anchor going forward for CNN.

Or, should it?  Ratings talk and all of this blabber about diversity, inclusion, and equality walks when you get down to it.

Harwood, Tobin, Steltzer, and others can attest to that.  Can’t they?

No, they can’t, especially if they aspire to another job inside the cesspool once known as journalism.

So as CNN moves to the center, Lemon’s anchor chair will remain on the far left.

It’s good work if you can get it.

Abby Picks, Year Five, Week Four

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

So much to say and no time to do so.  Abby is the guest ceremonial starter in a Florida golf tourney early this AM.  She got out strong last week winning seven bones, and now goes for more.

1. Baylor +3 at Iowa St- The Bears are built to travel well.  Expect a close one, but Baylor wins straight up.  One bone.

2.  Notre Dame +2 at North Carolina-  Abby likes the fight left in the Irish more than most.  One bone.

3.  Clemson at Wake Forest +7–  Abby thinks that Clemson is looking for a place to lie down.  She found it for them.  One bone.

4.  Florida at Tennessee – 10 1/2–  This line seems out of line.  Florida plus looks like easy money.  Abby will zig when others zag.  One bone.

5.  Texas A&M v Arkansas over 48–  A&M can’t score and Arkansas has a good D.  Zig #2.  Two bones.

On a hunch take the Ducks -6 and 1/2 at Wash St.

Time to yell fore!!!

Woof!

It Doesn’t Feel Like the First Time

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

The seventies hit rock band Foreigner had many hits back in the day.  One was Hot Blooded, another was As Cold as Ice.

Fast forward to 2022 and the parties keep rocking.

One band of many, The Jack Asses, are hot blooded on the campaign trail.  They’re peddling a lot of T and A.  That’s right, Trump and Abortion.

The other band of many, The Elephants, are as cold as ice.  They’re singing I.C.E.  That’s right, immigration, crime, and the economy.

Who will ascend to the top of the popular charts?  Well, we’ll need to listen to the tunes over and over again until early November to find out.

The Democrats are on their third rendition of Trump just this year.  First, it was the January 6th hearing, which was really more like a staged theatrical musical.  Then, they broke out or broke into a Mar a Lago diddy.  And, yesterday, one of the band members went solo with a head-banging $250 million civil suit against Trump, his family, his dogs, and his goldfish.

Letitia James, NY Attorney General, fulfilled a campaign promise of two years ago by filing suit for the State of NY v. Trump.  She called her melody The Art of the Steal.  How crafty?  For Trump, the hits keep coming.

For the Dems, the more Trump hate the more the base turns out to vote.  Trump was so 2020, but never let an oldie but goodie die.

Joe Biden promised in the early summer that the SCOTUS ruling that put abortion back in the state’s hands would put Roe v. Wade on the ballot in November.  He was right.

I Am Woman hear me roar.  Will the numbers be too big to ignore?

The Republicans sing at a lower key, but the tour stop at Martha’s Vineyard for the illegals was a smash hit.  What it did in one weekend was more than what 2,000,000 Tejano border bands of brothers could belt out in two years.

It is said that people vote based on how safe they feel and how their pocketbook feels.

Crime statistics and defunding the police in key cities across America are on the main stage.  That Starbucks is closing about two dozen “high incident” stores all urban, and all in Democratic-run cities isn’t lost on coffee lovers from seas to shining sea.  For the many that are done with word salad, “high incident” isn’t lost on them either.

And, then there is the economy that Joe calls the best recovery ever.  He’s singing the wrong tune and everyone knows it.  Inflation is eating a hole in wallets.  Inventory on basic items across many industries is wanting.  The prices at the pump and the grocery store remind us of that every week.

Real wages are down as the cost of living increases aren’t keeping up with the cost of living.

The astute economic advisor knows that this spiral up is not caused by ABBA singing Money, Money, Money.  It’s caused by the government printing money, money, money and giving it to one and all, Ukraine and art appreciation students included.

If you haven’t checked your 401k recently, don’t.  You’ll be singing the blues.

So, which is it for America?

Hot Blooded, check it and see.

Or are you As Cold as Ice, willing to sacrifice?

Either way, Americans are no foreigners to mess we are in as it doesn’t feel like the very first time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

President Joe Biden and CBS’ 60 Minutes got together for an interview (we use that term loosely these days) that aired Sunday night.  We believe his performance landed somewhere in between two other great theatrical performances.

On the high side, it landed just below John Belushi playing Bluto in the 1980 hit Animal House.

Bluto: “What? Over? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!”

Biden:  “The pandemic is over.”  We still have a problem with Covid.   But people aren’t wearing masks anymore.  People are in pretty good shape.”

On Monday the White House was power walking that utterance back.  CNN, “the most trusted name in news,” reported yesterday that the White House says that its Covid-19 policy is unchanged despite Biden’s comments that the pandemic is over.

In interviews, six administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment said the president’s statement would probably make it harder to persuade people to get shots or secure new money from Congress, noting those efforts have already lagged behind their goals.

Maybe those in the military who didn’t get the jab or four can get back to defending the country?  Maybe we can stop suspending loan payments? Another round of noninflationary covid-19 stimulus checks anyone?  Etc.

In other words, it’s hard to keep giving away money and telling the same lie if the leader doesn’t go along with it. Maybe the White House can’t handle the truth?

So, on the low side, it landed just above Jack Nicholson playing Colonel Jessup in the 1992 drama A Few Good Men.

Colonel Jessup: “You can’t handle the truth.”

Interviewer: “The stock market dove 1300 points.  People are shocked by their grocery bills.  What can you do better and faster?”  Biden: “Let’s put this in perspective.  The inflation rate month to month is up hardly at all.  It was 8.2. or 8.2 before.  You’re making it sound like it went to 8.2 all of a sudden.  It hasn’t spiked in the last several months.  It’s been just barely, um, it’s been basically even.”

It’s scary to even ask this, but “how many people in America think that if inflation hovers around 8.2% annualized month to month that it’s barely going up?”

Does Biden and the White House actually believe the math salad that they are serving the country?  Or, do they believe America is too dumb to understand, so they buy this BS line just like they’ll stand in line to pay more for groceries?

Your physical health is way better, they just don’t want you to think so.  Your financial health is way worse, they just don’t want you to think so.  The 2022 midterms loom.

When Bluto ran out of the frat house no one followed him.  Today, far too many would.

Do the history books today teach us that it was indeed the Germans who bombed Pearl Harbor?  Today, we can’t handle the truth.

 

 

 

Abby Picks, Year 5, Week 3

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Like a smart thoroughbred, Abby saved ground around the first two turns, and let the amateurs battle it out with Vegas.  Now, she is an entry in week three and sees an opening in the field.  She starts off her season with a few winners below.

  1. FSU -1 1/2 @ Louisville-To have a little Friday action, she thinks that FSU might have turned the proverbial corner.  Tonight’s game in Louisville will be a tell.  FSU for one bone.
  2.  Georgia @ South Carolina + 25 1/2- Georgia is suddenly getting Alabama-like respect from Vegas.  USCe is getting no respect at all.  Call it the Rodney Dangerfield pick of the week.  USCe for one bone.
  3. Penn St @ Auburn +3 1/2 and Vanderbilt + 2 1/2 @ Northern Illinois-  Getting SEC schools and points is like throwing bones at Abby.  She’ll take them both and pair them in an SEC parlay.  Auburn and Vandy for one bone to win three bones.
  4.  Oregon -3 v. BYU- Oregon lost by 46 to Georgia and beat Eastern Washington by 56.  Does that mean Georgia would beat Eastern Wash by 102?  Maybe.  The Ducks need to win tomorrow night by only 4.  Oregon for one bone.
  5. Marshall @ Bowling Green +16 1/2–  This is a pure letdown and an on-the-road bet against Marshall.  Do you know what South Bend, IN, and Bowling Green, OH have in common?  Nothing.  No respect at all.  Go Bowling for two bones.
  6. Miami @ Texas A&M -6 1/2-  This is a pure “given up for dead” bet for A&M.  App St took A&M’s lunch money last week in College Station.  If only they would have taken their yell leaders as well.  Aggies for three bones.

Hop on these bets now and you’ll win at least enough to hop on a free flight to Martha’s Vineyard next week.

Woof!