Friday night lights: UIL greed and stupidity mean participation trophies for all

The Era Hornets, thanks to various University Interscholastic League stupidities, are going to the playoffs with a winless ...

Not just district record, but winless entire season.

Great catch and great open-field tackle both. But one of four straight penalties meant it "never happened."
That, the sloppiness and more are kind of symbolic of the UIL and Texas high school football.

The Hornets and Cumby Trojans, who squared off tonight, play in a four-team District 9 Class 2A Division 2, after Campbell dropped down to six-man this year out of a five-team district.

Remember before UIL split each of the five 11-man classes into big and small schools, and sorted out the bigger and smaller ones for the split for the playoffs at the end of the regular season?

Remember also that districts with six or fewer teams just sent three to the playoffs?

Yes and yes.

But, due to greed over more and more playoff games — a greed that starts at UIL but, like Reaganomics, trickles down, now, no matter how small the district, four teams make the postseason. And, to keep small-school halves of each class from getting butt-hurt or whatever, the classes are each split in half.

I thought UIL was in Texas, where the men are men and the sheep are nervous. Instead, it acts like a bunch of those San Francisco "sissies."

Cumby and Era were both 1-1 on the season entering the game. An Era win would have made a three-way tie for second with the two of them and Tioga, and all three teams 1-1 against each other. Fortunately, Cumby pulled out a 20-8 win to prevent that nonsense on top of the UIL nonsense already at hand.

But the possibility of ties like that are another problem with a four-team district.

Update: Era lost its first-round game to Mount Enterprise by a 44-0 count.

Scott Santens, cryptocurrency lover

While I am interested in the general idea of basic income, I have long and strenuously disagreed with basic income guru-evangelist Scott Santens' specifics.

That starts with Santens' bad math. If you can't get the math right (and Scott didn't even come close), you've lost credibility. Especially when you also add some loss-leader angles into your pitch.

Above all, I ABSOLUTELY reject his idea of replacing part of Social Security with basic income.  Beyond that, I reject replacing unemployment benefits, disability income, or other safety net items with basic income. Behind that, I reject his "solutionism" idea of simply throwing out the door any social program that doesn't work as well as he claims (puffery and all) BI would.

Second, I reject his ancillary claims, like the one that BI will magically reduce stress.

Third, I called on Santens, and call on others, to consider guaranteed employment as an alternative to BI.

Fourth, especially given One and Two, and per a long review of a long Boston Review seminar written roundtable, I encourage people to know what is realistic and what is not.

In general, I've already thought his BI ideas too libertarian, and too susceptible to being further manipulated by harder-core libertarians.

And now, and also based in part on an old Tweet of his claiming BI is "neither liberal nor conservative," I'm wondering just how libertarian Scott is himself.

That wonderment is increased by seeing he is a cryptocurrency enthusiast. No, he's more than that.

As with BI, he's a cryptocurrency guru-evangelist. I'd forgotten that I'd seen hints of this before, but this is full blown.

NO. Cryptocurrencies, IMO, are part of libertarian wet dreams for undermining nation-states. Santens idea of a Fed-based crypto would be soundly rejected by real crypto backers, as would his other ideas that seem to try to weld a national cryptocurrency with something like Modern Monetary Theory. I think I just threw up in Scott's mouth. (I've written before about the Maoist cult of MMT.)

Beyond that?

He repeats his BI stress reduction claims about crypto.

Beyond THAT?

What should be the bottom line for any Green.

AND, if we're going to be serious about climate change, we MUST address how much electricity cryptocurrency bitmining expends. (I wouldn't even ask Santens to comment on that; I'm sure he'd give a puff answer that's not true.)

So, Greens like Laura Palmer? Feel free to out BI, but as I told her on Twitter, do NOT tout Santens' version of it when I'm around. It's climate-change unfriendly, at least as it stands now.

==

Side note: If I am understanding him correctly, Douglas Rushkoff thinks cryptocurrency is, well, is, a semi-Ponzi scheme. And I wouldn't argue.

The difficulties for running for president as a Green

The Green Party is one of two relatively larger third parties in the U.S., along with the Libertarians.

Libertarians have generally helped their relative standing in presidential races by running either rich businessmen with leisure time and money to invest, or former Republicans with high profiles. True-blue Libertarian nutbar Michael Bednarik in 2004 is the only person since Andre Marrou in 1992 to not fit that profile.

Philosophically, Greens aren't running rich business leaders, and in the equivalent of ex-Republicans, former Democratic congresscritter Cynthia McKinney in 2008 is the only one of those.

Greens have instead, with that one exception, generally nominated people of moderate wealth (vis-a-vis the US plutocrats) and some of them with a name recognition level. Ralph Nader had that in 1996 and 2000 of course. Jill Stein had it in her second run in 2016, the name recognition. Both were rich enough to be multimillionaires and to be able to invest a small amount of personal money in their races. David Cobb was the one exception, and he got the Green nomination because of factionalism related to party organizing, or lack thereof, connected to claims that the party was conspiring to block Nader. (I at most halfway disagree with Jeff St. Clair on this. The GP is too disorganized to conspire successfully about anything at a national level, but its non-centralization plank has allowed state parties to run the show, and in many cases, to be overrepresented nationally.)

So, what's a candidate to do?

So far in the 2020 cycle, we don't even have moderately wealthy Greens. Here, Howie Hawkins has the advantage, at least, of being retired. He can hit the hustings for money and general support in person more than any other candidate. This is not to slight Dario Hunter or Ian Schlakman, both of whom interest me as presidential candidates as well, but simply to note the additional hurdles they face.

What Hawkins may do with any leftover funds he has, should he not get the nomination, I don't know. I've not yet donated to him personally, and in the past, all my presidential-related donations have been to the party, not to an individual candidate. But, he is raising the party's, as well as his own, visibility already.

At the same time, his push for ballot access in more and more states, and earlier and earlier, while it will benefit local Greens and will benefit whoever the presidential nominee is, whether Hawkins or not? I can see how some people see it as a Hawkins-party team interface.

I'm not sure exactly where I'm headed with my thoughts, otherwise. I will note that Hawkins is right on better organization all around, not just on fundraising, by the party is important. That includes training sessions on how to launch petition drives. The day before his Dallas appearance, he was in Arizona, and in part to help the party there with a ballot access petition drive.

I also get Hawkins' idea of running a two-prong platform by also seeking, and getting, the SPUSA nod. But, I still think he's breaking party rules.

Update, July 1, 2020: Old Green Party election language confirms that this is indeed the case, so shut up, Howie-haters. And, yes, Howie-haters are out there, and lying in ever greater numbers since he appeared to have clinched the nomination. Even before that, it became clear to me that the rule is a "spirit of" issue, made more clear by the fact that Stein also sought the nomination of smaller third parties, like Peace and Freedom, in 2016. (She didn't get it, but she sought it. She was not a registered member of that party — if it has registered memberships, but she sought the nomination.) So now, more and more, it looks like this is an issue being driven by a technical interpretation of the rule combined with Howie hatred.

MLB Veterans: Who deserves the Hall, who doesn't

The "Veterans Committee" (I still call it that) has released 10 nominees for the Hall of Fame for their nomination ballot. It takes 75 percent of the 16 members to get them in.

So, here's my take on who should and should not get in.

Note: Here's the 16 committee members who will vote Dec. 7 on this year's veterans' class.

Lou Whitaker is a no-brainer. BBWAA is criminal for not only not voting him in, but far worse, dropping him off the ballot after one year, not hitting the 5 percent. Criminal. And yet, the highly overrated Jon Heyman still can't support him.

Whitaker's one problem was "no peak." One 5WAR and one 6WAR year side by side, then a 5 and a 6 in two out of three years — seven years later. But 75 career WAR and 13th on 2B Jaws. He was somewhat of a compiler, no doubt about that. But he had so many solid years that at some point, "compiler" moves into Hall of Fame territory.

Dwight Evans is a tough borderline case. I'm OK with him being elected. I'm OK with him not being elected. Dewey,  like Sweet Lou, didn't have much of a peak. He also, myths aside, was a negative dWAR on his career. 67 WAR, 15th in RF Jaws.

Thurman Munson, not Ted Simmons (and I'm a Cards fan) is the best Hall-eligible catcher not already in. We forget that Munson died at just age 32. He'd likely be at 55 WAR to Ted's 50 had he played out the rest of a normal career. BBWAA is also criminal for not voting him in. (55 WAR would put him above the average of catchers already in the Hall and that high, and assuming his actual seven year peak as is, his JAWS would also go above Hall average. Had he played out that way, he'd have a JAWS of 46, in the top 10 for catchers, even if you count Mauer's entire career as a catcher.) In his case, unlike Sweet Lou's, I know why. It was his cantankerous relationship with New York media. But, rounding up 4.9WAR to 5, he had 4 5WAR or better years in five seasons, including a 7-WAR year, rare for catchers. Ted? Like Dewey in RF, he's my "cutoff standard" for the Hall. Among drawbacks is being a bit of a "compiler" with less than 20 career WAA.

Dale Murphy is not a HOFer. Been down this road before, Tomahawk Choppers. Less than 50 WAR, and 16 WAA. As for his back-to-back MVPs the fanbois tout? In 1982, he was essentially tied for fourth in WAR. In 1983, he was essentially in a six-way tie for first.

And, not counting alleged roiders and those not yet eligible? Here's two other non-HOFers who have won two MVPs:
Juan Gonzales
Roger Maris
That said, Juan Gone was totally undeserving both times.
Maris even won back to back, like the Murph. Maris, though, was outright first in his first win, in 1960. He and Juan Gone are both around 40 WAR. Less than 10 WAR behind the Murph.

And, one of the Fansided nutters (and worse, Fanbois in comments) drinks and pours the Kool-Aid big time.

Dave Parker? Loved booing the Cobra in his Pirates heyday from the RF bleachers at old Busch. Not a HOFer. Lower than Murphy.

But not MUCH lower. As I noted in going down the Murph road before, if you blind boxed both their stats, you'd think one was the other.

Tommy John? A compiler. A pioneer with the surgery but not a HOFer as a player. Below 25 WAA. Kind of like Jim Kaat, but a better compiler.

Steve Garvey and Don Mattingly? No. Sorry for Donnie Baseball's back problems, but his career as stands? No. Garvey? He's the most overrated Dodger 1B since Gil Hodges, though Steve might deserve entry into other halls, wink wink. Sadly, this is one of Bill James' biggest wrongs.

Marvin Miller? Hellz yes, but as in past elections, he may be blackballed.

==

That said, with a previous VC electing Friend of Tony named Harold Baines, and Jack Morris, to the Hall? Who knows who will get in. And who knows if La Russa isn't going to be a new Frankie Frisch of the Veterans Committee on this.

Texas Progressives analyze the voting entrails

The leaves are turning color up here on the Red. Did this week's constitutional amendments election portend any color changing in the tea leaves of Texas politics a year from now?

Nationally, the tea leaves look more blue-ish in Virginia and Kentucky; it would be nice for them to have a third color, if eternal green translated into party success.


Texas politics

All constitutional amendments passed — but one. Sadly, wingnuts got a constitutional bar to an income tax that could also affect the franchise tax, contra denials. Meanwhile, it looks like municipal judges can't hold multiple elected judgeships. Details here.

Off the Kuff looked at the lawsuit filed by Democratic groups over the new law that bans temporary voting locations.


Texana

Texas Monthly garners reader contributions about celebrating Dia de los Muertos.

Pivoting from folk Catholicism to Lutheranism, SocraticGadfly goes over to his second blog, where he wished a Happy Reformation Day to some gun nutz for Luther, officially known as Armed Lutheran Radio and headquartered right here in Texas.

Jones County, stuck with an empty prison and a boatload of debt, bets on locking up Ill Eagles and putting them on ICE.

The Texas Trib turns 10. Congratulations, either hearty, medium, or small, may or may not be in order. I've thawed a bit from what I wrote on its 5-year anniversary, but much of Jim Moore's spirit is still mine. Congrats are moderate and wary, and I'll have more in a few days.


Houston

Incumbent Mayor Sly Turner is headed to a runoff with Tony Buzbee.


Dallas

Josh Hamilton, most likely off the sobriety wagon (I wondered when he cut all his old support staff a couple of years ago) allegedly injured his one daughter. Christmas and New Year's Eve are not too far away; if you need help, and don't want the 12-step approach, visit Lifering Recovery.

Carrollton is the latest place in Texas of any size to suffer a cyberattack and it's still recovering.

Pete Freedman asks the important question: Was the founder of the city of Dallas a cephalopod?


Fort Worth

Jim Schutze of the Dallas Observer moseys over to Cowtown again and asks, if the city wants a diversity director, why did it fire who Schutze considers its previous one, its last police chief? OK, Jim, let's not ride this horse too far, as you do at times.


San Antonio

Sanford Nowlin reports on the continuing fight over San Antonio's paid sick leave ordinance.


National

God, lack of donors or whomever call Bob on a Knob O'Rourke "home" and out of the Democratic presidential race, after his pandering 0 for 2 wrongness on Constitutional issues failed to boost his campaign. Julián Castro does a better impersonation of Oral Roberts and gets enough new money to stay in.

Howie Hawkins got the SPUSA nomination and immediately launched an eligibility issue and other issues within the Green Party, where he is also running, into even higher gear. I address all that.

Brains, in his weekly 2020 update, discusses Bob, Julián, Howie and Lizzie Borden Warren and her Swiss cheese Medicare for all plan.

Christopher Hooks gets in some last bromance for Bob on a Knob as he bids farewell to the Beto for President campaign. Just when Hooks has a string of unbroken hits, well, he does something like this.

Jim Henson and Joshua Blank analyze the October UT/Trib poll that shows plurality support for the Trump impeachment inquiry.

Therese Odell thanks Washington Nationals fans for their appropriate greeting of Donald Trump at the World Series.

Fellow Rethugs in the Senate rejected Sen. Rand Paul (R-Squirrel Hair) when he called to deanonymize the Ukraine whistleblower.


Elections

Good-bye, Matt Bevin, Xn Right hack job as K-Y Jelly gov. CNN also reports that both houses of the Virginia Lege flipped, and that the MISSISSIPPI gov's race. according to Cook, was lean Republican and NOT "likely Republican" any longer.

While Virginia was an actual swing, the Kentucky results appear to be mainly just a refudiation of Matt Bevin, when one looks at all statewide races.

In Texas? The Secretary of State's webpage with constitutional amendment ballot language was jacked up, calling Amendments 9 and 10 both 7.

Jill Stein slouches the rest of the way to Gomorrah

I'm still of multiple minds about her 2016 trip to Russia. It had elements of sincerity, as well as elements of a campaign stunt. I certainly don't think she, or Gen. Flynn, or Justice Party prez candidate Rocky Anderson, were under Russian control. But, I do think she and the other two had their appearances manipulated by Putin.

Stein discusses that, Russiagate and Howie Hawkins' take on it and more in this excerpt from an interview by Primo Nutbar, officially known as Primo Nutmeg. (I've briefly mentioned him before here, and run into him in more depth on Twitter. He earns the renaming.)

The "more"?

When Stein heard about the idea of libertarian Jesse Ventura (noted as such in my review of potential GP candidates), and conspiracy theorist Jesse Ventura (he is), running for the Green Presidential nomination, and that antivaxxer RFK Jr. would be his wingman if Jesse had his druthers, she was all for it. He's also a HAARP conspiracy theorist.

(Update, Nov. 15: New research, as written up by the Guardian, shows RFK Jr.'s World Mercury Project was one of the top two buyers of antivaxxer ads on Facebook.)

In 2016, I defended Stein from charges of being an antivaxxer. I said she was playing footsie with the issue for political reasons within the GP, but she wasn't an antivaxxer.

That defense is now officially gone, Stein. You're an antivaxxer.

You're also a relatively poor interview, per the first half of the interview. The halting, hesitant answers, as you seem to seek the right political ground yourself? You should be past that.

(Update 2, Nov. 15: Stein also, according to the Bezos Post, wants Tulsi Gabbard to run as a Green.)

That said, Stein is right on Ian Schlakman whining about the GP's accreditation process for "certified" candidates. And, since I've called Howie half-wrong on his angle on Russian election meddling, Stein is half right. Maybe more.

She's largely wrong about her recount, even if it got a few good results. The AccommoGreen still refuses to admit that the likely reason she sought the recount (I doubt she knew that state law blocked her in Minnesota and New Hampshire) was to block Trump, and maybe only secondarily, look at electoral issues.

Well, between this and Howie breaking party rules (while at the same time exposing the number of conspiracy theorists among Greens), the party is cracking up more and more, and needs to do so, IMO. I thought Hawkins getting the Green nomination would flush out some conspiracy theorists. It may still do so, but unless he gets a waiver on his rule breaking, I can't vote for him.

Mark Lause was both expecting and hoping for such a crack-up three years ago, as I blogged at the time. He seems righter than ever.