Took $$$ From Big Pharma; Blocked Generics!

Our new TV ad "Generics" exposes corrupt, career politician @BobMenendezNJ for voting against cheaper generic prescription drugs while pocketing nearly $1 million from big pharma. After 25 years of ineffective leadership, it's time for change. #NJSen pic.twitter.com/4RIAwxtZZi

— Bob Hugin (@BobHugin) August 31, 2018

Some Of Us Actually Remember This . . .

And, funny thing about it, it actually worked!

NJ: Here Are The Culprits Who Raised Your Gas Tax!

In 2016, your state legislators in Trenton voted to hike your NJ gas tax by an astronomical 23 cents per gallon. 
But that wasn't the end of it. No, not by a long shot.
Because the swindlers in Trenton had more up their sleeves via a sneaky little provision in the bill.
So now, Governor Murphy & Co. have announced that New Jersey's gas will rise another 4.3 cents per gallon on Oct. 1.
How can THAT happen? The law now stipulates that if the original gas tax brings in less than expected, the state can raise the rate to keep it on target.
The state says that this year motorists bought less gasoline in New Jersey (what a shocker!) and revenues are lagging. So, they'll raise the gas tax just like that -- and you'll pay another $300 per year, on average.

We warned you, New Jersey!

Here, highlighted in yellow are  the names of the members of the state senate and state assembly who voted for this outrage. Blame them!

State Assembly:

Andrzejczak, Bob - No    Auth, Robert - No    Barclay, Arthur - Yes

Benson, Daniel R. - Yes    Bramnick, Jon M. - Yes    Brown, Chris A. - No

Bucco, Anthony M. - No    Burzichelli, John J. - Yes    Caputo, Ralph R. - Yes

Caride, Marlene - Yes    Carroll, Michael Patrick - No    Chaparro, Annette - Yes

Chiaravalloti, Nicholas - Yes    Ciattarelli, Jack M. - No    Clifton, Robert D. - No

Conaway, Herb, Jr. - Yes    Coughlin, Craig J. - Yes    Dancer, Ronald S. - No

Danielsen, Joe - Yes    DeAngelo, Wayne P. - Yes    DeCroce, BettyLou - Yes

DiMaio, John - No    Downey, Joann - No    Egan, Joseph V. - Yes

Eustace, Tim - Yes    Giblin, Thomas P. - Yes    Gove, DiAnne C. - No

Green, Jerry - No    Greenwald, Louis D. - Yes    Gusciora, Reed - Yes

Handlin, Amy H. - No    Holley, Jamel C. - Not Voting    Houghtaling, Eric - No

Howarth, Joe - Yes    Jasey, Mila M. - Yes J   imenez, Angelica M. - Yes

Johnson, Gordon M. - Yes    Jones, Patricia Egan - Yes    Karabinchak, Robert J. - Yes

Kean, Sean T. - Yes    Kennedy, James J. - Yes    Lagana, Joseph A. - Yes

Lampitt, Pamela R. - Not Voting    Land, R. Bruce - No    Mazzeo, Vincent - No

McGuckin, Gregory P. - No    McKeon, John F. - Yes    McKnight, Angela V. - Yes

Moriarty, Paul D. - Yes    Mosquera, Gabriela M. - Yes    Mukherji, Raj - Yes

Munoz, Nancy F. - Not Voting    Muoio, Elizabeth Maher - Yes    O'Scanlon, Declan J., Jr. - Yes

Oliver, Sheila Y. - No    Peterson, Erik - No    Phoebus, Gail - No

Pinkin, Nancy J. - Yes    Pintor Marin, Eliana - Yes    Prieto, Vincent - Yes

Quijano, Annette - Not Voting    Rible, David P. - Yes    Rodriguez-Gregg, Maria - Yes

Rumana, Scott T. - Not Voting    Rumpf, Brian E. - No    Russo, David C. - Not Voting

Schaer, Gary S. - Yes    Schepisi, Holly - No    Singleton, Troy - Yes

Space, Parker - No    Sumter, Shavonda E. - Yes    Taliaferro, Adam J. - Not Voting

Tucker, Cleopatra G. - Not Voting    Vainieri Huttle, Valerie - Yes    Watson, Blonnie R. - Yes

Webber, Jay - No    Wimberly, Benjie E. - Yes    Wisniewski, John S. - No

Wolfe, David W. - No    Zwicker, Andrew - No

State Senate:

Addiego, Dawn Marie - Yes    Allen, Diane B. - No    Bateman, Christopher - No   

Beach, James - Yes    Beck, Jennifer - No    Bucco, Anthony R. - No   Cardinale, Gerald - No

Codey, Richard J. - Yes    Connors, Christopher J. - No   Cruz-Perez, Nilsa - Yes 

Cunningham, Sandra B. - Yes    Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. - Yes   Doherty, Michael J. - No 

Gill, Nia H. - No    Gordon, Robert M. - Yes   Greenstein, Linda R. - Yes    

Holzapfel, James W. - No    Kean, Thomas H., Jr. - No   Kyrillos, Joseph M., Jr. - Yes 

Lesniak, Raymond J. - No    Madden, Fred H., Jr. - Yes   O'Toole, Kevin J. - Yes   

Oroho, Steven V. - Yes    Pennacchio, Joseph - No   Pou, Nellie - Yes    Rice, Ronald L. - Yes 

Ruiz, M. Teresa - Not Voting   Sacco, Nicholas J. - Yes    Sarlo, Paul A. - Yes    

Scutari, Nicholas P. - Yes   Singer, Robert W. - Yes    Smith, Bob - Yes    Stack, Brian P. - Yes

Sweeney, Stephen M. - Yes    Thompson, Samuel D. - Not Voting    Turner, Shirley K. - No

Van Drew, Jeff - No    Vitale, Joseph F. - Yes    Weinberg, Loretta - Not Voting  

Whelan, Jim - Yes

Amazing - Death Does Wonders For One's Career!

One By One, More And More Voices Are Heard!

 “Some bishops and some cardinals have to go. Maybe the pope has to go, too. Because when you start telling people ‘Who am I to judge?’, that’s where the problem is. Nobody wants to make a judgment anymore [of] what’s right [or] what’s wrong.”

-Father Michael Orsi, a Catholic priest and Christian Television Network host. Click here for more.

He Had A Knack For Telling It Like It Is!

Watch Tonight's BIG TRUMP RALLY Live, Right Here!

New Jersey: Your Gas Tax Jumps Again On 10/1 . . .

Are you ready, New Jersey?
Are you REALLY ready for this? We warned you about it in 2016. We asked you to mobilize. We begged you to protest.
Because that's when your state legislators in Trenton voted to hike your gas tax by an astronomical 23 cents per gallon. 
But that wasn't the end of it. No, not by a long shot.
Because the swindlers in Trenton had more up their sleeves via a sneaky little provision in the bill.
So now, Governor Murphy & Co. have announced that New Jersey's gas will rise another 4.3 cents per gallon on Oct. 1.
How can THAT happen?
Well, Pilacious Phil's administration is authorized to make the hike because the law now stipulates that if the original gas tax brings in less than expected, the state can raise the rate to keep it on target.
The state says that this year motorists bought less gasoline in New Jersey (what a shocker!) and revenues are lagging. So, they'll raise the gas tax just like that -- with a snap of the gas pump.

We warned you, New Jersey!

This is just another boondoggle brought to you by the professional politicians in the Joizee Swamp otherwise known as Trenton -- as in You Make, Trenton Takes!

And below, highlighted in yellow, you'll find the names of the members of the state senate and state assembly who voted for this outrage. Blame them!

State Assembly:

Andrzejczak, Bob - No    Auth, Robert - No    Barclay, Arthur - Yes

Benson, Daniel R. - Yes    Bramnick, Jon M. - Yes    Brown, Chris A. - No

Bucco, Anthony M. - No    Burzichelli, John J. - Yes    Caputo, Ralph R. - Yes

Caride, Marlene - Yes    Carroll, Michael Patrick - No    Chaparro, Annette - Yes

Chiaravalloti, Nicholas - Yes    Ciattarelli, Jack M. - No    Clifton, Robert D. - No

Conaway, Herb, Jr. - Yes    Coughlin, Craig J. - Yes    Dancer, Ronald S. - No

Danielsen, Joe - Yes    DeAngelo, Wayne P. - Yes    DeCroce, BettyLou - Yes

DiMaio, John - No    Downey, Joann - No    Egan, Joseph V. - Yes

Eustace, Tim - Yes    Giblin, Thomas P. - Yes    Gove, DiAnne C. - No

Green, Jerry - No    Greenwald, Louis D. - Yes    Gusciora, Reed - Yes

Handlin, Amy H. - No    Holley, Jamel C. - Not Voting    Houghtaling, Eric - No

Howarth, Joe - Yes    Jasey, Mila M. - Yes J   imenez, Angelica M. - Yes

Johnson, Gordon M. - Yes    Jones, Patricia Egan - Yes    Karabinchak, Robert J. - Yes

Kean, Sean T. - Yes    Kennedy, James J. - Yes    Lagana, Joseph A. - Yes

Lampitt, Pamela R. - Not Voting    Land, R. Bruce - No    Mazzeo, Vincent - No

McGuckin, Gregory P. - No    McKeon, John F. - Yes    McKnight, Angela V. - Yes

Moriarty, Paul D. - Yes    Mosquera, Gabriela M. - Yes    Mukherji, Raj - Yes

Munoz, Nancy F. - Not Voting    Muoio, Elizabeth Maher - Yes    O'Scanlon, Declan J., Jr. - Yes

Oliver, Sheila Y. - No    Peterson, Erik - No    Phoebus, Gail - No

Pinkin, Nancy J. - Yes    Pintor Marin, Eliana - Yes    Prieto, Vincent - Yes

Quijano, Annette - Not Voting    Rible, David P. - Yes    Rodriguez-Gregg, Maria - Yes

Rumana, Scott T. - Not Voting    Rumpf, Brian E. - No    Russo, David C. - Not Voting

Schaer, Gary S. - Yes    Schepisi, Holly - No    Singleton, Troy - Yes

Space, Parker - No    Sumter, Shavonda E. - Yes    Taliaferro, Adam J. - Not Voting

Tucker, Cleopatra G. - Not Voting    Vainieri Huttle, Valerie - Yes    Watson, Blonnie R. - Yes

Webber, Jay - No    Wimberly, Benjie E. - Yes    Wisniewski, John S. - No

Wolfe, David W. - No    Zwicker, Andrew - No

State Senate:

Addiego, Dawn Marie - Yes    Allen, Diane B. - No    Bateman, Christopher - No   

Beach, James - Yes    Beck, Jennifer - No    Bucco, Anthony R. - No   Cardinale, Gerald - No

Codey, Richard J. - Yes    Connors, Christopher J. - No   Cruz-Perez, Nilsa - Yes 

Cunningham, Sandra B. - Yes    Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. - Yes   Doherty, Michael J. - No 

Gill, Nia H. - No    Gordon, Robert M. - Yes   Greenstein, Linda R. - Yes    

Holzapfel, James W. - No    Kean, Thomas H., Jr. - No   Kyrillos, Joseph M., Jr. - Yes 

Lesniak, Raymond J. - No    Madden, Fred H., Jr. - Yes   O'Toole, Kevin J. - Yes   

Oroho, Steven V. - Yes    Pennacchio, Joseph - No   Pou, Nellie - Yes    Rice, Ronald L. - Yes 

Ruiz, M. Teresa - Not Voting   Sacco, Nicholas J. - Yes    Sarlo, Paul A. - Yes    

Scutari, Nicholas P. - Yes   Singer, Robert W. - Yes    Smith, Bob - Yes    Stack, Brian P. - Yes

Sweeney, Stephen M. - Yes    Thompson, Samuel D. - Not Voting    Turner, Shirley K. - No

Van Drew, Jeff - No    Vitale, Joseph F. - Yes    Weinberg, Loretta - Not Voting  

Whelan, Jim - Yes

Can You Hear Them Chanting 'Vigano, Vigano'?

At the end of the Pope's customary Wednesday General Audience the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square can be heard chanting "Viganò, Viganò, Viganò", before Vatican Media cuts the microphones pic.twitter.com/gh1lsQLBFl

— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) August 29, 2018

Vigano is the cleric who has implicated Pope Francis in the priest sexual abuse scandal and coverup.

So Tell Us, Who's 'Monkeying' Around Now?

So, Who Is It That's REALLY Failed?

Fighting The Good Fight; Proclaiming Great News!

Fighting for drug-free communities 

Families across the country are affected by the dangers of substance abuse and dependency. President Donald J. Trump's was no different.

“I had a brother who had a really big alcohol problem,” the President said from the White House this afternoon. “A very tough thing for our family.” Now, a new crisis of addiction is leaving its mark on America: “Sadly, in 2017, an estimated 134 Americans die each day from opioid-related overdoses.”

So today, in honor of the 20-year anniversary of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant awards, President Trump announced $91 million in grants to a record 731 local drug prevention groups across all 50 states. “We’ve never done anything to this extent. We’ve never done anything this large.”

The program works, the evidence shows. “The Drug-Free Communities Program is a proven success, cutting alcohol and prescription drug abuse by an average of nearly 20 percent among high-school students and participating communities,” President Trump said. “Incredible what they’ve been able to do.”

President Trump awards historic number of Drug-Free Community grants.

Watch: President Trump tell his family’s story on substance abuse. 

We knew growth was strong. It just got stronger. 

Last month, President Trump addressed Americans from the South Lawn of the White House. “I am thrilled to announce that, in the second quarter of this year, the United States economy grew at the amazing rate of 4.1 percent. We’re on track to hit the highest annual average growth rate in over 13 years.”

Turns out, the news is even better. With more complete data now available, a new Commerce Department report released today reveals that America’s economy grew even faster than initially estimated in the second quarter: a 4.2 percent annualized rate.

The second quarter was the first full quarter with President Trump’s tax cuts in effect. More money in the pockets of America’s working families—along with historic regulatory reform and new, America-first trade deals—has the U.S. economy setting records by the day.

Business Insider: U.S. growth in second quarter gets revised higher

The big picture: 85 percent of blue-collar workers optimistic about future

Photo of the Day

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

President Donald J. Trump awards historic number of Drug-Free Community grants | August 29, 2018

You've NEVER Seen A Store Like This!

And you've NEVER seen Macy's like this.
It opens October 6 inside Macy's Cherry Hill Mall on the third level.
Drastic reductions and lots of merchandise, including stuff that's not sold in the full Macy's
It's a whole new concept. It's Macy's Backstage! Don't miss it!

Yes, The Greatest Face We've Ever Known!

She wasn't particularly shapely.
She was too tall, flat-chested, had big feet and not much of a derriere.
You'd hardly call her a sex symbol.
But she was mysterious and intriguing and once the lights and the cameras were turned on, she became luminescent. She literally lit up the screen.
Her face is, quite simply, the greatest face Hollywood has ever know. The eyes, the lips, the nose, the bone structure, the expressiveness -- all proved captivating. She could present a completely Sphinx-like, blank face one minute and appear anguished or tortured or puzzled or pensive or studious or even delighted the next minute.
Last night we watched her in a silent film called The Kiss and (like her then very young co-star Lew Ayers) we couldn't take our eyes off her.
And once she finally spoke up in her first talkie (Anna Christie) the voice matched the face of this beguiling seductress. It was everything audiences had expected, and more. When she finally burst into full-fledged  laugher in Ninotchka, the whole world laughed with her.
Though she's been dead for nearly 30 years, her image, her life, her films (and her decades alone and out of the public eye) continue to fascinate.
She was The Face, The Look, the very definition of cinematic beauty.
She remains, Greta Garbo!

They're Back! And With Cold, Hard FACTS!

When it comes to the truth about what's happening and why, you just can't top Diamond & Silk!

Just Absolutely Outrageous And Shameful!

Andy Kim was caught embellishing his resume and exaggerated his role in military and national security affairs. He changed his web site when he was caught lying and was criticized by local veterans. Andy stood idly while the Mayor of Hoboken introduced him saying, "he has gone overseas to literally fight and sacrifice his life." News flash: Andy Kim was never in the military.

Ohhh Yeah, Baby! You Gonna Be SHOCKED!

He Was, After All, Only Human -- Yes?

From our friends at the Save Jersey blog:

By Matt Rooney (reprinted with permission)

I found out about Senator John McCain’s passing at a Saturday wedding, Save Jerseyans, so unlike most of the political/social media universe, I had a little healthy time to reflect on the legacy of this navy hero, iconic U.S. Senator from Arizona, and a two-time presidential hopeful who played the part of conscience (or foil) at some key points in the political debates of modern American history. 

Perspective is a good thing. More people should spend twice as much time thinking as they do reacting in my humble opinion, but social media typically provides too much temptation. Trite responses and straight-up nastiness seem to dominate the conversation. Half of Facebook and Twitter immediately eulogized John McCain, “The Maverick,” as the Second Coming; the other half decried him as a modern Judas who barely earned the right to a Christian send-off. 

The truth? He was a human being. Nothing more, nothing less. And McCain’s human-ness might be the reason why so many found him either lovable or loathable.

McCain’s public life began with a singularly heroic act of bravery: 

In 1967, after he was shot down over North Vietnam, McCain (the son of an admiral) languished for the next 5+ years in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. He could’ve gone home early because of his rank and connections, sparing himself a lot of loneliness and pain; McCain refused, wanting to got home only in the order in which he was captured. It’s an experience which undeniably shaped the brash young pilot and changed him in ways that I’m not qualified to understand and neither are you unless you’ve had a similar experience.

There were plenty of other times since his release from prison that McCain displayed valor, or at least a willingness to take risks. His dignified acceptance of his fatal brain cancer diagnosis — something he was willing to discuss on national television — is an example for us all.

But the end of his life also revealed the other side of McCain. On July 28, 2017, shortly after learning of his cancer diagnosis, McCain gave a “thumbs-down” vote to the GOP’s final, great attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare, a move which he followed up with a speech calling for a return to “civility” in the Senate. He could have helped end America’s dangerous and expensive experiment with socialism in the health care arena — something against which he spent much of his life fighting — but he balked when it mattered most.

Unadulterated stubbornness? Overconcern at the end of his days with preserving his “maverick” brand? Or uncontrolled emotion given his own instant medical challenge?

I’d wager a bit of all three. McCain had principles and felt things deeply, but he also frequently allowed his temper and grudges to undermine his party’s laudable initiatives and, I’d argue, his own legacy. He was often far meaner and aggressive in beating up his fellow Republicans than the liberals, and the Media, who did him no favors in Election 2008 when their favorite disloyal Republican stood in the way of Barack Obama. You may say he “put country ahead of party,” especially if you’re insistent upon putting everything in the context of our present Trumpian reality; I’d argue that McCain was often unable to put higher pursuits ahead of McCain, consciously or not. 

Again, we’re all part sinner and part saint.

Senator McCain was no different. He inspired us and he deeply disappointed us. He achieved great things and also missed out greatness, largely due to his own flaws. He was a famous man, but he certainly wasn’t a marble man.

Good luck finding a consensus as he’s laid to rest. McCain wasn’t a consensus builder. If one develops? It should be that politicians are people, and we might be doing them (and our republic) a disservice when we contort their post-mortem biographies to fit our ideological narratives or lionize/demonize them to serve that same worldview. Life, and people, are a lot more complicated than all that. 

Why He's Hiding From His Own Home Base!

Tuesday, Sen. Bob Casey announced he has only agreed to debates in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh media markets, declining to debate Lou Barletta in the Harrisburg media market and their mutually-shared home region of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
In response, Republican Party of Pennsylvania Communications Director Jason Gottesman, made the following statement:
“Given his penchant for obstruction, resistance, and supporting far-left policies like sanctuary cities, it

is not surprising that Bob Casey is trying to hide from the voters of Pennsylvania in the hope that they will confuse him with the moderate he first claimed to be.

“The fact that Bob Casey is hiding from a debate in his hometown market of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is even more telling since he has turned his back on the region’s values and people by voting in lock-step with the liberal-progressive leaders in Washington. Why is Casey afraid to face his friends and neighbors?”

Bombshell Testimony May Now Implicate Pope!

Here is a VERY special message from CatholicVote.org: There’s no sugarcoating this.  The allegations are explosive.  By now I suspect you have heard about the 11-page letter issued Saturday night by former Vatican ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò. Viganò served as the Papal Nuncio from 2011 - 2016.  His testimony alleges that Pope Benedict XVI sanctioned Archbishop McCarrick as far back as 2009, yet Pope Francis revoked these sanctions and allowed McCarrick to serve publicly in the Church, live with seminarians, and collaborate on the appointment of several high-ranking members of the Church in the United States.  Our recent survey made clear: Catholics want the truth. No matter who is involved. And they want those responsible to be held accountable.  Late yesterday, reporters asked the Holy Father about these allegations. Pope Francis replied:  “I read the statement this morning, and I must tell you sincerely that, I must say this, to you and all those who are interested: Read the statement carefully and make your own judgment. I will not say a single word on this.” You can read the full testimony by Archbishop Viganò here.  Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is taking these allegations very seriously. Moments ago, he released the following statement:  "The recent letter of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò brings particular focus and urgency to this examination. The questions raised deserve answers that are conclusive and based on evidence.” Cardinal DiNardo makes the very good point that without conclusive answers based on evidence, we run the risk of tainting innocent men or allowing guilty men to continue in positions of power. These allegations must be investigated and substantiated.  However, we also cannot allow ideologues to demonize Viganò, as some are already doing, as if this were some kind of election campaign to protect a political party. The investigation now required cannot devolve into a flashpoint over different “factions” in the Church. If these are lies, let the evidence prove them false.  But if leaders in our Church truly covered up criminal activity, predators, rape and abuse of children, seminarians, and young priests, then justice must prevail. No person is immune. Lay people, priests, bishops, cardinals, and even popes must be held accountable.  Open the files.  Be transparent. Hide nothing.  Who knew what? And when did they know it?  If and when evidence substantiates wrongdoing, for the sake of the Church (and the good of their own souls) -- those responsible must resign or be removed.  Now.  Brian Birch, President CatholicVote.org

Schools Open, Then Closed: Why It Happened

The School District of Philadelphia announced that students will be dismissed at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday due to excessive heat.
A heat advisory has been issued for the Philly area today and tomorrow with "real feel" temperatures exceeding 100.
Pennsylvania schools opened exceptionally early this season and now they're paying the price. Why the rush?

C'mon Now -- Here Are Today's MUST Reads!

A Major Victory on Trade

“President Trump won a major victory on trade on Monday, supplanting the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and replacing it with something far more beneficial. The new deal will help American workers and manufacturers. It’s also a win for Mexico,” Christian Whiton writes in Fox News. Whiton notes that the President’s trade critics “have been proved wrong by an unmitigated victory for the USA. Trump understood the simple math that countries with which we have trade deficits would have to come to the negotiating table.” Click here to read more. In The Washington Times, Gabriella Muñoz reports that “most Americans don’t want to see the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency abolished,” according to a new survey. “Only 24 percent of voters advocated for terminating ICE while a 40 percent plurality disagreed with the proposal. The trend continued across all political parties,” she notes.  The Trump Administration’s Affordable Clean Energy Rule “respects how America’s founders limited authority of the federal government for good reason,” the Colorado Springs Gazette Editorial Board writes. “This plan assists states, consumers, and the market in achieving cleaner air with guidelines, proposed technologies, and incentives that work for diverse regions of the country.” First Lady Melania Trump “planted an Eisenhower oak sapling Monday afternoon on the White House’s South Lawn. . . Mary Jean Eisenhower, the granddaughter of former President Dwight Eisenhower, and Richard Emory Gatchell, Jr., a fifth generation grandson of former President James Monroe, joined the First Lady,” Diana Stancy Correll reports in the Washington Examiner.   “Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's former colleagues at the Kirkland & Ellis law firm sent a letter Monday to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee urging his confirmation by the senate,” Cameron Cawthorne reports in The Washington Free Beacon. “We saw first hand that he consistently displayed a keen intellect, sound judgment, exceptional analytical ability, and the highest level of integrity in representing our clients,” Judge Kavanaugh’s former colleagues write.

This Sports Tender Moment Will Warm Your Heart!

Johnny Russell, a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for the US club Sporting Kansas City made this little girl's day. He's a model of a great athlete (and a damned good sport) and he reached out to the young fan after Sporting Kansas City won the game Saturday before last. BTW: That's a heart monitor vest Johnny's wearing -- not a sports bar.

Just To Name A Few -- Here They Are!

Death And Eulogies: A Diabolical Dilemma

Let's get a few things clarified, OK?
Under the official US flag code, flags should be flown at half staff for 24-48 hours following a the death of a member of Congress. That's really all that is designated. The Code, adopted in 1942, dictates that when a member of Congress dies, the flag should be lowered “on the day of death and the following day.” 
In the case of Senator John McCain, President Trump extended that period.
Let's face it: no matter how President Trump handled or reacted to the death of McCain, he would have been criticized.
To begin with, the two men were neither friends nor political allies. In fact, they really didn't like one another and, given the temperament, background and outlook of each man, it's really unlikely they would have ever meshed in any significant way.
So, if President Trump had joined in the effusive praise of McCain and, in effect lionized the man, Trump would have been called a phony, a patronizer and a typical politician. On the other hand, if President Trump ignored the death of McCain he would have been excoriated for being spiteful, stubborn and just plain mean.

We'd say that considering that he was in a tough spot, Trump struck just about the right tone. He's tried to be respectful without being hypocritical. It's not like he loved McCain or thought the world of him -- he didn't. And, after all, McCain specifically stipulated that he did not want President Trump to attend his funeral and, in his final letter (written prior to his death but released afterwards) McCain took one more veiled shot at Trump and his policies.
Look, we think it's sad that someone would choose to leave this world while still harboring an apparent grudge. And one would have hoped that the two men could have resolved their differences.
But, haven't we had enough of phony politicians praising colleagues that they really hate and/or have secretly thwarted, repeatedly? Aren't there enough of those kinds of people in Washington? Isn't that what's wrong with the town -- what makes it a swamp?
President Trump attempted to work with McCain. He tried to bring him into the loop. But on one of the president's top priorities (the repeal of Obamacare) McCain let administration down at the last possible moment even though McCain led everyone to believe he was in favor of (and, indeed advocated for) Obamacare's repeal. It was nothing less than a heartbreaker.
Hey, Washington is a tough town.
And this is just another thorny chapter in its prickly history.

The Best And Worst Of AC's Newest Casino!

We've been to the new Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.
We stayed overnight.
We tried the restaurants.
We took the slots for a spin.
We went to a show.
We made our way around the entire property -- no small undertaking!
Here's our take on the best and worst of it.

The Management
The whole thing is under the domain of the Seminole Native American nation out of Florida, so you'll see old and new Indian influences here and there, all very tastefully presented.

The Location
At the North End of the world famous Boardwalk right across from the Steel Pier which is now an amusement pier with lots of great rides. If you have kids (or if you're a kid at heart) you'll like that. Also, the beach at this end is very nice and less crowded.

The Big Guitar
Yeah, it's right outside at the carriage entrance. And yeah, it lights up at night. And, they've even set up a platform for you to take pictures there. Sweet!

The Staff
Everyone seemed well-trained and friendly. Lots of staff on hand everywhere -- especially to help guide you as the place is truly vast and there are areas that haven't even been developed yet.

The Rock Memorabilia and Artifacts
This stuff is all over the place -- everywhere you turn. But some of the best of it is under the grand staircase: Elvis' Rolls, The Beatles outfits and hand-written lyrics by legends. All FREE!

The Rooms
They're new, reasonably spacious, sleek, bright and feature large bathrooms, king size beds and lots of nice extras like free, fast wifi, mini fridges and coffee makers. And, each floor is themed to a different rock star.

The Beds
Not so high that you need to be super limber to get in and out and not overly frilly. Above all, they're firm and very comfortable. Rooms seem to be amply soundproofed as well, lending to a good night's sleep.

The Views
Great from most any any guest room. You'll get a view of the ocean or the bay. Ours actually had a view of both and it cost us no extra.

The Pool
A sore spot. They've had a lot of trouble getting it ready. When we were there, it still wasn't open. Well, even when it's open (far as we can tell) it's nothing special -- largely indoors, nondescript and with astroturf. They refunded us our resort fee.

The Slots
All new, vivid and up-to-the-minute with many special features. Lots of fun but they weren't very loose for us.

The Bonuses
You can easily score yourself tickets to a show (we did) or some other premium without investing too much at the slots of the gambling tables. But you must be a Wild Card member and check your card's promotions.

The Architecture
Sleek and functional. All those garish minarets from the Taj are gone and replaced by simple right angles and subdued colors except for traces of the Hard Rock's logo-inspired purple and gold. It's impressive without being overwhelming

The Interior
Everything is new -- inside and out. Very digital. Lots of big screens and dazzle but toned down as well with more subtle textures, no chandeliers and no neon. Harmonious visually and aurally. Yes, there's plenty of rock music but it isn't ear-piercing.

The Food Court
Unfortunately it's stretched out along the overhead walkway that leads from the casino to the parking garage. It can get crowded and seating can be a problem. Lots of pedestrian traffic.

Breakfast
It's a challenge. If you want a quick breakfast (and most people do) the one place in the food court that features breakfast is small and crowded. You wait in line to order and then they bring it out to you. Only other option seems to be the Hard Rock Cafe.

Lunch
A few good choices: The hoagies and steaks at The White House outlet of the famed AC eatery are the best you'll find anywhere. But even the regular hoagie size tends to be big. A salad place makes perfect salads at your direction and all the ingredients are fresh. That was a favorite of ours. At the coffee bar even a small regular coffee will cost you three bucks. A very large cookie (the only size they have) will set you back more than five bucks. We hear the pizza at the food court is wonderful, however. As for the gelato, it looks wonderful but tastes of nothing. Skip it.

Dinner
We tried the Council Oak seafood and steak restaurant. The big deal here is really seafood. Spacious and airy with nice views onto the Boardwalk. But it lacks intimacy and can be noisy, almost taking on all the ambience of a mass feed. The food was only OK. Of course, we had been to Steve & Cookie's the night before and nothing compares to that!

The Show
We went to the Motown tribute show in the Soundwaves theater. It features live music (a rarity in many of these types of shows) via an eight-piece band and a talented groups of more than a dozen singers and dancers. It started out fine but grew increasingly more shrill. The seats in Soundwaves are not real theater seats -- they're collapsible and not very ample. Tight fit. And the acoustics seemed off. Something wrong with the sound system? Maybe they're still breaking the show in. We left before it was over.

The Temperature
It varied throughout the hotel and casino. Some areas were frigid, others were surprisingly warm. A light jacket-type shirt came in handy.