A very merry shutdown…

BY JOE GENCO

A short take on today’s news:

• As 2017 ended, I made a list of the best live music shows Beth and I saw all year. At No. 2, just behind Sir Paul, was the Robert“Freighttrain” Parker Allman Brother’s tribute, featuring Pat Harringtonand Grace Lougen on guitar. The encore is tonight at the Town Ballroom. Please join us.
• A stupid racist wall is more important than a Merry Christmas for 420,000 federal employees who will work without pay over the holiday so a Trump shutdown is coming. Fear the brown people it helps with the agita brewing over who 28% of Americans elected President. (29% supported Hillary. The rest did not give a shit).
• Here’s what $5 billion would buy in terms of a border wall.
• Here’s what $5 billion would buy if we wanted to make America great again. I bet it would also go a long way toward improving the way we care for our Veterans. Every child in America could have access to Universal Pre-K. To quote Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “Education is an investment in society that yields returns. Walls are waste.”
• Immigrants make a difference. Here’s a retiring bus driver whose children include a software engineer, 2 doctors, a dentist, and an optician.
• New friction between our President and his chief law enforcement officers has arisen. Trump has ramped up rhetoric aimed at getting Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to influence special investigator Robert Mueller. Using the AG’s office for political purposes is not something that’s supposed to happen.
• Chief Justice John Roberts, that nascent turncoat, has struck again, this time voting with the liberals to uphold a lower court’s decision that Trump’s policy limiting asylum requests to those who enter our country legally is a dumbass idea that exceeds the President’s statutory authority. Justice Bart Kavanaugh voted with the minority.
• Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent a lobectomy to remove malignant nodules in her lung. Despite fracturing her ribs, having a stent placed in her heart and lung surgery, the 85-year-old jurist has still never missed a decision.
• Just because the Trump Foundation shutdown doesn’t mean the NY Attorney General is done holding it accountable for allegedly squandering $2.8 million. Incoming AG Letitia James is still seeking restitution from our President and his family.
• While the Trump Foundation was using the money to pay Cub Scout dues and help with the lawsuit against Trump University, the Clinton Foundation was suppressing HIV, being 100% accountable and receiving the highest grades possible for fiscal management and adherence to its mission. It also was the target of a smear campaign from Steve Bannon.
• Boyd Curiosity: Sand runs about 10,000 grains per handful.
• So our lovely Christmas tree, which never seemed stable in the stand, took a dive into the living room floor Thursday. Several glass balls were casualties. A new steel stand from Adam’s nursery seems really expensive, but the dog we don’t have will never knock over the tree again.
• WNY Weather: Breezy with a bit of snow today, high of 1 (34). A bit warmer Sunday without as much snow, high of 2 (36). Today is a great day to give blood at UNYTS Eastern Hills Mall and perhaps do a spot of Christmas shopping.
• The worst priest ever lived in Idaho. He’s headed to jail for the rest of his life. The Diocese is in the process of defrocking him.
• A female lay leader assigned by the Diocese to run St. John’s in Alden is being accused of inappropriate sexual conduct by two adult women who are, of course, accusing the Diocese of mishandling the situation.
• A man who climbed the national Christmas tree in Washington was talked down by police, taken into custody and sent for a mental health evaluation. Now we know where that Christmas elf Jeff Sessions went.
• Raiders to AT&T Park? Hey why not. It’s a great place for Gruden to melt down.
• Had business appointments on Walden Avenue in Lancaster. Headed to the Thruway to go home. Decided to stop for Christmas errands at Walmart. Wow. Much different from Clarence. Do some people use motorized carts because it’s easier than walking?
• One game and a few weeks of practice was enough to convince the Bills to keep Matt Barkley around.
• They can’t win ‘em all. Marquette 103, UB 85.