Baseball's Major Milestones Tonight

Sluggers Mike Trout, Giancarlo Stanton and Pitcher Kyle Hendricks all achieved some Major Milestones tonight...

Let's start with Trout. Just about every baseball fan in the Country has known that LA Angels slugger Mike Trout had been trying to reach that 400 Home Run milestone for what has seemed like an eternity.

Well, tonight he became the 59th ball player to knock 400 pitches out of the park in the century and a half that men have been playing the game at the professional level. He joins the Yankee's Giancarlo Stanton as the only two active players in the exclusive 400 Home Run Club. And he's only the 20th to have hit 400 all for one team.

But wait, there's more! About an hour before Trout launched his eighth-inning, milestone moon shot--a 485' blast--Stanton hit his 450th four-bagger! I watched that one, too! The Angels and the Yankees both won their games impressively. Stanton's teammate, Aaron Judge, also touched them all this evening and he's on pace to hit 50 again this year. Judge is the front runner to pick up his third AL MVP Award for 2025, though the Mariner's switch-hitting slugger Cal Raleigh is having an amazing season as well.

And would you believe that Angels Pitcher Kyle Hendricks made his 300th Career Start in this memorable game tonight? Yeah, he sure did! So he and Mike both achieved major milestones with tonight's 3-0 victory over the Rockies. It's a night baseball fans--Angels fans, especially--will remember for a very long time.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2025 Benjamin Lawrence Basile

The Threat to the US from Religious Extremism

I recently engaged in an on-line discussion with an individual who participates in another internet forum that I've been active in for the last few years. The gist of the discussion was about whether Islam or Christianity would have the most appeal to non-believers. 

It's a completely irrelevant question to me. What's important right now when we give any thought to these two religions is not what's true but what threat or threats are posed to us by the most extreme adherents of these two faiths or religious practices. 

The truly important issue for us in the US right now is about the propensity both religions have to try to assume power and compel everyone—whether they’re believers in the majority, ascendant religion, or believe anything at all—to follow their beliefs and religious doctrines or laws.

When the most extreme followers of Islam, Christianity or any religion are in control, ordinary people, regardless of belief or unbelief, are at risk of having their freedoms taken away and being forced to live under religious rule.

There is a movement afoot in the US right now to compel everyone—believers, people following other faiths and atheists alike—to “get on board”, to submit to their narrow ideas about how things ought to go. It’s the fulfillment of their Apocalyptic vision that “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”. (Philippians 2: 10–11)

Of course, not all Christians in America share the idea that the Church could or should be on an intentional, well-planned campaign to make this happen—regardless of what it might take to accomplish the mission, so to speak, but it’s happening, nevertheless, and the movement is gathering strength.

Although it’s true that the majority of American Christians are not on-board, it’s also true that the real hard-core and extreme adherents to any religion are usually the ones holding the power stick and therefore are able to carry out such a plan. Support from everyone who subscribes to the faith is not necessary.

And if you’re worried about what could happen to any of us in this Nation who might refuse to go along, or whether such a thing is even possible, let me point out that it’s happened many times in the history of Christianity and is a reality for millions of citizens and inhabitants of the six majority-Muslim Countries that are purposefully, authentically theocratic.

In a theocratic, authoritarian State, those in power can—and often do—force everyone, regardless of belief or unbelief, to submit to their authority, to their ideas about God’s will. They have the power to discredit, marginalize, excommunicate and—quite possibly—harm or kill those who don’t believe and/or don’t want to live in a theocracy.

The not-crazy believers would likely disapprove of the most extreme courses of action, but you’d still be discredited, jobless, slandered, ostracized, and—in a worst-case scenario that seems to be coming closer to reality with each passing day—dead.

We are only three or four short steps from having an authoritarian government in power with extreme religious leaders empowered as close partners, able to put in place their extreme ideas in ways that will impact all Americans, whether they’re believers or not.

Think Taliban or the mullahs and Imams of Afghanistan or Iran but with extreme Evangelical Christian leaders, whether clergy or lay, holding some office or not, calling the shots and compelling obedience.

Yes, what I’m describing is a worst-case scenario, and they may not be able to actually pull it off, but trump-loving Evangelicals and Christian Dominionists are trying as hard as they can to bring it about. And now they have a President and an administration who are on-board 100%.

Project 2025 became an issue in last year's Presidential election and Trump denied he even knew what it was but that was another lie. He's known all about Project 2025 and what Dominionists have been up to for a long time. And his Administration is now trying to implement as much of the plan's objectives as possible. 

Keep your eye on what trump and his minions are doing. And trying to do. If they get their way, the Religious freedom we have enjoyed and treasured for generations in the USA will be rooted out. And God only know when--if ever--we'll get it back.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2025 Benjamin Lawrence Basile

Elon using Hackers as his fraud finders?

The point of that meme in the header photo is 100% true. Musk using hackers to comb through Federal records looking for waste, fraud and abuse? The people who now see through this charade being pulled off by trump, Musk and his minions are from all points on the political spectrum.

The immediate goal is to permanently hobble the US Government and starve it of revenue through huge tax cuts that benefit the ultra rich and large corporations, many of which are already running record profits.

 
A huge part of the plan is to privatize everything that Government currently does so that Elon and others of his ilk can profit off every last facet of American life. Hundreds of his billionaire buddies are waiting in the wings, salivating.

The freedom and financial well being of millions of ordinary, working Americans are hanging in the balance. We must stop this gambit and obscene wealth grab at all cost. 

"Bulldog Ben" Basile 

© 2025 Benjamin Lawrence Basile

Ben's Christmas Wish for Everyone

This has been a challenging year for me in a lot of ways, yet I find myself feeling even more than the usual holiday spirit right now as I sit at the keyboard, waiting for Santa to come down my chimney. Wait! I don’t have a chimney! Oh well, I still believe! Well, the part about Santa, who can say? The rest of it, I’m still pretty big on all the good stuff that we think about when the holidays roll around each year. No doubt a lot of you feel the same.

The Christmas story does hold a lot of meaning for me. I’m not quite sure if I still believe all of it, all the nuances and consequences and so on; not quite like one “believes it” when the assembled faithful say the Apostles Creed together at Midnight Mass. Some will be doing exactly that in just a few hours, perhaps some of you.

Yet it doesn’t seem at all “funny” to me that God comes to us whenever it suits his/her purpose. Not entirely sure if “he” did in that particular, historical way. Being raised in a Christian family and having gone part-way through seminary a few years ago, I do lean in that direction. But I’ve come to see some things in a different light now that I’ve spent a little better than a half-century on this planet. This planet where almost a billion people believe that God became incarnate, was born of a young woman who had never “known” her betrothed. And that his coming among us in that way was the beginning of a Divine plan to make it possible for all of his creatures to enjoy unending fellowship with him and with one another! In this life and in the next! Now that’s a story! One we humans have been telling one another for a very long time, and I’m quite sure we’ll be telling it for a long time to come.

I’ve been struggling for so many years now about exactly how much of the story still “works” for me and all of that. But what I’ve never doubted is that God, or the Divine, does come to us and among us all the time. And I’m finally in that phase of life where I’ve learned to look for it, to expect it and to embrace it. And I know that the other really big thing about Christmastime is to get a bit closer to my brothers and sisters who also bear the image of the Divine One in their souls and on their beaming faces. Some of them were raised on the same stories I was; this one about God being born of a virgin, and many others.

Some, of course, have heard and embraced and celebrated different stories. I’m not very inclined to quibble about the particulars at this point in my life. I’m quite sure that God would love to see us move a little closer together at this time of year, and to go on telling those stories; especially that one about God robed in human flesh, living and dying as one of us. And I’m quite sure that the heart of the Divine is pleased when we carry forward “his” mission to strip away that illusion that our sins, imperfections, and much less, our differences, should separate us from one another or from his Divine Heart.

Well, Christmas Eve has progressed, as it will, into Christmas morning as I’m wrapping up this little holiday message. And I’m sitting here, luminous and expectant, like a six year old waiting for Santa to appear. Like Simeon in the temple, waiting to bless the infant Jesus, knowing then that he has seen and embraced, quite literally, the Divine plan to end our sinful and deadly illusions of separateness. I’m expectant, waiting in earnest to see and to embrace the next manifestation of the Divine. In you, in her, in us. Perhaps–and wouldn’t this be a great story–perhaps in and across many countries and cultures, in four billion human hearts at once!

A wish, a dream, a fervent hope… Perhaps that’s all it is. But a hope to hold close to one’s heart on Christmas morning. God bless each of you today and throughout the year to come. May you be blessed to see the image of the Divine, of the Christ-child in yourself–and in one another.

Ben Lawrence Basile
Christmas morning, 2007

© 2007 Benjamin Lawrence Basile

Ben is not the owner of this photo and believes it to be covered under Fair Use

The outlook after Nov 5th

For a lot of trump supporters and people who just hate the Democratic Party and anyone associated with it, the results of the November 5th elections were terrific. They're excited about trump's second swearing in on January 20th and are expecting plenty of rainbows and unicorns following on. 

But to the millions of  Americans who won't quaff the Kool Aid, we know the kinds of shock, chaos and stunning dysfunction that we'll soon be seeing from one end of the US to the other.

The proverbial shit is, in fact, about to hit the fan. And the horrific results will be felt in every corner of our Nation and, in fact, all over the Planet.

It’s incredible that it’s come to this. And, to be frank, I think our chances of ever undoing the damage to our Country that trump has done and is about to do are very slim.

If we can, it will take at least a generation. Not an election or two—and those may be about to go away—but a generation or two. And God only know what kind of shape our Country—and our PLANET—may be in by then.

Have you been wondering why those post-Apocalyptic movies and shows—the Mad Max kind—have become so popular? I think a lot of us know, deep down, that we’re heading into that kind of a hellscape but we’re not ready to admit that our situation is that grave. But we’ll buy the movie ticket and but then avoid ever having a serious discussion about all of that. 

For my part, I’m sure that’s where we’re heading. The Nov 5th Election and trump gaining power again has made it an absolute certainty.

I certainly hope I’m proven wrong.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile 

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile 

Aaron Judge Fastest to 300

All rise! 

Aaron Judge smacked his 300th career dinger tonight while the Yankees made short work of the White Sox. The final score was 10-2 and it was Aaron's 3 run shot that put the game on ice for the Bronx Bombers. 

The Yankee Captain became the fastest MLB player to reach no. 300, doing it in only 954 games. Pirates' slugger Ralph Kiner had been the fastest, reaching that milestone in 1087 games. So Aaron got there in 133 fewer games, a very remarkable achievement for a very remarkable ball player. 

There's not a doubt in my mind that Mr. Judge will garner his 2nd MVP this year. Providing there are no serious injuries waiting in the wings to spoil the party. And he'll go on gathering one award after another and MLB Records galore until he decides to hang up his cleats.

And then--precisely five years after retirement--one of the greatest sluggers in the history of America's Pastime will be welcomed into Cooperstown. 



"Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile 

Parallels, Hitler and Trump?

A participant in an on-line forum that I follow closely threw out a question today that I had to respond to. The gist of the question was about whether trump could become America's Hitler if he should get reelected in November. 

I think it's clear that he certainly could. There’s not even a shred of doubt that the sequel to that really shitty movie—trump’s first go-around as president—would be much, much worse.

There are many things that make that abundantly clear. The greatest tell is that he’s still saying the quiet part out loud and letting the whole world know that he will never accept the results of any election—this one, especially—unless he and his party win.

And if he does get back in, his first priority will be to fuck with everyone he hates. And he hates many, many people. Hair Hitler is obsessed with revenge. And his supporters and underlings who will be helping him carry out his campaign(s) of revenge understand that perfectly well and are on-board 100%. He’ll have plenty of help carrying his hateful plans.

He hates anyone who’s ever opposed him or spoken ill of him. And even people who simply haven’t kissed his stinking ass with sufficient enthusiasm.

His plans mirror almost perfectly everything Hitler and the Nazi Party did throughout the 1930’s while they were consolidating their grip on power. The QOP is praising him and enabling him all the way.

It’s not an accident that he enthusiastically, repeatedly and publicly praises every dictator in the recent history of the World and used to keep a copy of Mein Kampf on his nightstand. Yeah, his first wife ratted him out on that.

There is nothing in the life of our Nation more important right now than keeping this hateful, traitorous, putin-humping con man from getting into the Oval Office again.

"Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile 

Biden drops out, endorses VP Harris

Huge news for those who follow politics. And all of you, should, in my opinion, but I'm not going to go there right now.

 
But this is a very BIG story; It only broke about half an hour ago. Joe Biden has decided to drop out of the Presidential race. He is endorsing his VP, Kamala Harris.

 
My take: it was a wise move on his part. His odds of defeating trump a second time seemed lately to be poor indeed, and the problem was not likely to improve as we got closer to Election Day.

And although I'm a long-time supporter of Kamala Harris, I doubt whether her chances to win are much better. How many conservatives who are open to going for a Democrat--and there are precious few of those--would pull the lever for Kamala? Few-to-none, I'm thinking.

 
How many Independents would jump on board? I doubt the number would be robust enough to swing the election. And we're at the point where independents and undecideds determine the outcome of every Presidental race. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I'm just pointing out that it's a fact.

So, it's a big deal. I think it was the way to go. But I'm skeptical that the change will help much in our effort to keep a petty, revenge-obsessed and incompetent insurrectionist from getting his hands on the power stick again.

Here's a link to this breaking story from the NY Times.

"Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile

Violence will not fix the trump problem

 As you've no doubt heard, there was an attempt on Donald Trump's life last night in Pennsylvania. Trump's right ear was bloodied but he's otherwise alright. At least two people in the crowd behind trump were also hit. It appears that at least one of them has died.

Assassinations or targeted violence because of political issues will do absolutely nothing to address the problems our Country is facing. Absolutely nothing. In fact, if last night's attempt would have been successful, the damage to our Nation would have been immediate and devastating.

This must stop. We must strengthen our resolve to pursue our political ends through the effective and time-honored method of voting for candidates and issues we support when elections are held and then move forward.

That's the only way. If we can't see that and govern--literally, govern ourselves accordingly--then democracy's light will be going out and going out fast. 

"Bulldog Ben" Basile 

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile 

What the hell did you expect me to do?

This short piece really caught my attention. Pastor and author Chris Kratzer sums up perfectly why the modern-day Evangelical movement seems so foreign and so fake to millions of us who were raised in it. Please give this a read. It's so well worth the next 3 minutes of your day.

What the hell did you expect me to do?

You told me to love my neighbors, to model the life of Jesus. To be kind and considerate, and to stand up for the bullied.

You told me to love people, consider others as more important than myself. "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight." We sang it together, pressing the volume pedal and leaning our hearts into the chorus.

You told me to love my enemies, to even do good to those who wish for bad things. You told me to never "hate" anyone and to always find ways to encourage people.

You told me it's better to give than receive, to be last instead of first. You told me that money doesn't bring happiness and can even lead to evil, but taking care of the needs of others brings great joy and life to the soul.

You told me that Jesus looks at what I do for the least-of-these as the true depth of my faith. You told me to focus on my own sin instead of trying to police it in others. You told me to be accepting and forgiving.

I paid attention.

I took every lesson.

And I did what you told me.

But now, you call me a libtard. A queer-lover.

You call me "woke." A backslider.

You call me a heretic. A child of the devil.

You call me a false prophet. A reprobate leading people to gates of hell.

You call me soft. A snowflake. A socialist.

What the hell did you expect me to do?

You passed out the "WWJD" bracelets.

I took it to heart.

I thought you were serious, apparently not.

We were once friends. But now, the lines have been drawn. You hate nearly all the people I love. You stand against nearly all the things I stand for. I'm trying to see a way forward, but it's hard when I survey all the hurt, harm, and darkness that comes in the wake of your beliefs and presence.

What the hell did you expect me to do?

I believed it all the way.

I'm still believing it all the way.

Which leaves me wondering, what happened to you?

Grace is Brave. Be Brave

Pastor and Author Chris Kratzer

https://ChrisKratzer.com 

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Why QOP pols lied after the fake Smirnov allegations

One of the huge stories that came out in the last couple of weeks was about the indictment of  Alexander Smirnov for peddling his cock-and-bull story to the FBI about the supposed-corruption of Joe and Hunter Biden while Joe was our VP. All tied in with Hunter's time on the Board-of-Directors of Burisma, blah, blah, blah...

Many folks have been wondering how and why Representatives James Comer and Jim Jordan could have embraced the easily-disproven lies that Smirnov vomited up in his statements to the FBI and then run, so enthusiastically, with them. 

Let me begin by saying that in today’s QOP, a primary objective is to constantly spew disinformation and do it while screaming at the top of your lungs. You may or may not be “right” or have the facts on your side, but it doesn’t matter. It’s easily provable that they’ve been lying frequently but that’s never an issue with them. Well, it hasn’t been an issue at least since the election of Obama and the hateful and mostly-fact free rise of the Tea Party.

They know how to “flood the zone with shit” as Steve Bannon once famously said, and it’s a big help for your point to be fake, to be made up, so as to be as spectacular and attention-grabbing as possible. Being right, having the facts on your side, is optional. It worked for Hitler and the Nazis as they were working to consolidate their power in Germany and it’s working for Rethuglicans today.

Yes, Christopher Wray—a trump appointee—and DOJ staff warned them on more than one occasion that nothing Smirnov told them could be verified, but that didn’t stop them. Not at all. Didn’t even slow them down. They were on those bogus, unsubstantiated allegations like a dog on a bone and then doubled down and said that the charges against Smirnov didn’t change the underlying facts—which were, of course, based on Smirnov's lies from day one—and that Biden was still involved in bribes and corruption in concert with Hunter when he was the Vice President. It’s a stunning example of deceptive, fact-free, circular reasoning and it’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from today’s QOP in the trumpian, post-truth era of our Nation’s history.

They’re not going to stop until we stop them. If we don’t vote out a whole lot of the insurrection-loving, wanna-be Fascists in the 2024 elections, we will slide into Fascism within 2 to 3 years after the last ballot has been counted.

This is no time to sit on the sidelines. It’s no time to say that both major party candidates suck. Democracy is hanging in the balance as we get closer to the November 5th elections.

Make your voice and your ballot count this time. It's democracy's last chance. 

"Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile

Ignorance, Bad Grammar and Life

Here's what was going through my mind when I first saw the disgusting and absurd sign you can see in the banner photograph: I hate, loathe and despise people who keep others locked into a life of religious extremism. I have first-hand knowledge and a ton of life experience on that. I'm here to tell you, it's cult stuff.

And I'll confess that I absolutely judge people who seem to have slept through High School grammar class and talk--or write, in this case--on a sixth-grade level. And with sign dude, how about all those unnecessary apostrophes in plural nouns that don't denote possession? In addition to that, there are no missing letters in any of those nouns appearing on that sign, denoting a contraction where an apostrophe would be called for.

The old school slur Homo's might be an exception where the apostrophe could be appropriate, as it's short for homosexuals. I'll ignore for the moment what a pejorative term that is... But as in the case of pros for "professionals", it's so common that the abridged word need not have one.

I know this posting is 100% pedantic, but that stuff really sets me off. And here's why: people who care so little for education that they fracture the English language like that often show complete carelessness and ignorance in practically every area of life.

It can be a tell about a contempt for education in general and the importance of learning and expertise in any/all areas of life. The sign-maker's ignorance and prejudice here are on full display and clearly illustrate what I'm "talking" about in this post.

Here endeth the lesson rant.

"Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile

Yes, the Chiefs are an NFL Dynasty

The "D word" came out repeatedly last night after the Kansas City Chiefs bested the 49'er in Super Bowl LVIII. It was an overtime thriller with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs coming away with the 25-22 victory.

Can you say "Dynasty", boys and girls? Is it hyperbole to put that tag on the Reid and Mahomes-led team now that they've got three Super Bowls in the bag? That's 3 out of the last 5, including back-to-back wins for the last two Super contests. 

Well, I think it's not. Not hyperbole. What the Chiefs have done is remarkable. It's more than that. It's extraordinary and it's elevated Mahomes into the Stratosphere of NFL quarterbacks.

There was no shortage of post-game articles and broadcasts where Mr. Mahomes was mentioned along with Brady and Montana. And while it's justified based on what he's been able to do in the last five years, he's going to have to continue to perform at that Herculean level to justify a lot of the talk I've heard in the 24 hours since he tossed that last TD pass to Mecole Hardman to put the Chiefs' third NFL title in the bag. 

It's good to remember in this context that Brady retired with seven Super Bowl wins under his belt and Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw each had four. And Montana was 4 for 4, something I'm 100% sure will never happen again. Yeah, the Dynasty tag surely fit the 49'ers in the Joe Montana-Jerry Rice era.

I think it's worth mentioning another salient fact in the context of this back-to-back and 3 out of 5 talk: the Chiefs played in 4 of the last 5 Super Bowls and the only team to beat them in that remarkable stretch was the Buccaneers. Brady and the Bucs spanked 'em, 31-9 in Super Bowl LV, a feat no other team had been able to pull off against the Chiefs in that illustrious five-year span. And that gave TB 12 his seventh and final Super Bowl ring. 

Mahomes is only 28 and there's no doubt that--barring serious injury--he will continue gathering trophies and accolades as he continues on with his Hall of Fame career. 

And that Dynasty stuff? Yeah, it fits. It's not just hype or happy hour chatter from Chiefs fans. And to what lofty heights will Patrick, Andy Reid and Kansas City's remarkable team ascend as we go forward?

Well, we're about to find out...

"Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile

The Circle of Life

I’ll always remember the morning in spring when I woke up to see a half-dozen vultures congregated in the street a few feet in front of our yard. This was in the time of Covid, most likely in 2021.

I couldn’t quite see what the party was all about, but within a minute or two, the feast had moved into our front yard and I could see that the wake was dining on some medium-sized creature, a possum, I was thinking.

This went on for about an hour before the party broke up. It was a busy day and so what was a spectacle in the morning was pretty well forgotten by lunchtime.

I didn’t give it anymore thought until the next morning when I went out to throw the recycling into the bin and discovered about half a skeleton of the hapless menu item who had provided breakfast for that ravenous flock the day before. I’m no expert, but it seemed to confirm my thought that it was a possum. Because there wasn’t too much left besides an ivory skull, I’ll never know for sure but I know for certain that vultures are really efficient when it comes to their role in keeping the circle of life in motion. The remains of the creature they feasted on looked as though they had been lying, undiscovered, in the woods for months but I knew for a fact that Peter Possum’s heart had been beating 24 hours before I found him in my yard.

I reflected on that for a moment and have from time-to-time since and it shined a bright light on something we modern folk don’t think about much. Everything in our world has a life span. We humans certainly do. None of us knows how long we’ve got, and life can–and often does–come to a screeching halt. I suspect that my possum friend was creamed by a neighbor’s car before he was gnawed on by Vic Vulture & friends.

And in that moment, I had another clear and memorable insight into how the Circle of Life works. Especially outside of that overly-sanitized and highly-idealized picture of life that lives somewhere in the recesses of this modern, suburban man’s brain. And for a moment, I had a sense that all was well in Mother Nature’s Realm.



"Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile

Could Religious Extremists Ever Assume Power in the US?

Could they? Is such a thing even possible here? Well, if that's not something you've been giving much thought to, permit me to tell you a few things going on right now among some Christians holding some pretty extreme ideas. They often refer to themselves as Dominionists. 

There is a movement afoot in the US right now to compel everyone—believers, people following other faiths and non-believers alike—to “get on board”, to submit to their narrow ideas about how things ought to go. It’s the fulfillment of their Apocalyptic vision that “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”. (Philippians 2: 10–11)

Of course, not all Christians in America share the idea that the Church could or should be on an intentional, well-planned campaign to make this happen—regardless of what it might take to accomplish the mission, so to speak, but it’s happening, nevertheless, and the movement is gathering strength.

Although it’s true that the majority of American Christians are not on-board, it’s also true that the real hard-core and extreme adherents to any religion are usually the ones holding the power stick and are therefore able to carry out such a plan. Support from everyone who subscribes to the faith is not necessary.

And if you’re worried about what could happen to any of us in this Nation who might refuse to go along, or whether such a thing is even possible, let me point out that it’s happened many times in the history of Christianity and is a reality for millions of citizens and inhabitants of the six majority-Muslim Countries that are purposefully, authentically theocratic.

In a theocratic, authoritarian State, those in power can—and often do—force everyone, regardless of belief or unbelief, to submit to their authority, to their ideas about God’s will. They have the power to discredit, marginalize, excommunicate and—quite possibly—harm or kill those who don’t believe and/or don’t want to live in a theocracy.

The not-crazy believers would likely disapprove of the most extreme courses of action, but you’d still be discredited, jobless, slandered, ostracized, and—in a worst-case scenario that seems to be coming closer to reality with each passing day—dead.

We are only three or four short steps from having an authoritarian government in power with extreme religious leaders empowered as close partners, able to put in place their extreme ideas in ways that will impact all Americans, whether they’re believers or not. 

Think Taliban or the mullahs and Imams of Afghanistan or Iran but with extreme Evangelical Christian leaders, whether clergy or lay, holding some office or not, calling the shots and compelling obedience.

Yes, what I’m describing is a worst-case scenario, and they may not be able to actually pull it off, but trump-loving Evangelicals and Christian Dominionists are trying as hard as they can right now to bring it about.

If what I’m saying seems really far-fetched to you, I suggest you read up on Christian Dominionist ideas and theology by following this link: 

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile

Oh, no! We're training Ukrainians to kill Russians!

As I've mentioned before around here, I spend quite a bit of time on different online forums, usually about political, military and historical stuff. A lot of time, truth be told.

Recently another participant in one of those forums threw out this question: 

"Russia is a good country. Why do Americans treat it bad and train its proxies to kill Russians?"

Here's the thing: I was having a hard time figuring out exactly what he meant when he said that “Russia is a good Country”.

To me, “good countries” aren’t populated by despot-loving citizens who meekly submit to being ruled by thuggish strongmen who stay in power until they’re good and ready to stop exploiting their Nation and its people and open the way for their hand-picked successor. Usually a member of their blood family, of course.

“Good Countries” don’t set up power structures where super-rich oligarchs control all important industry and make sure the lion’s share of wealth flows into the pockets of said oligarchs and the Thug-in-Chief who—with their support—calls all the shots and gets the biggest cut.

“Good Countries” don’t expend huge chunks of their rubles putting together bureaus or ministries in their governments whose reason for being are to create propaganda to confuse and control the populace, justify their bloodthirsty actions and wars of conquest and mettle in the affairs of adversarial Nations. That last one is a very big deal, especially since a lot of that particular strategy has been focused on the US, on our elections, specifically.

“Good Countries” don’t round up and imprison their citizens who don’t like their policies or seem to pose any kind of threat to them and their despotic ways.

“Good Countries” don’t take those aforementioned actions a step further and kill their not-compliant citizens, journalists or politicians by assassinations on the street, blowing them up in their cars, poisoning them or throwing them out of 13 story windows. And those things happen routinely in Russia, as you well know if your head’s not buried in the sand.

We are training Ukraine’s military in how to defend their Nation against Poo-tin’s bloodthirsty army because he attacked them in an effort to steal their land and resources, exterminate their Nation, its language and its culture. Comrade Vlad and other Russian leaders have affirmed publicly—in things they’ve said and in published documents—that that’s what they’re attempting to do even though they’re careful to throw out all that garbage about de-Nazification and demilitarization when the cameras are rolling.

You can think of Ukraine as an “American proxy” if you’d like but all peoples and Nations who’re not in Moscow’s orbit know that every Nation is free to support other Nations when the bullies of our Planet try to steamroll them. Especially when it’s a clear case of a much larger Country attacking their smaller, weaker neighbor and committing non-stop war crimes as they do so.

That support is completely legal, acceptable, appropriate and laudable and we’ll continue to give it until Ukraine pushes the last occupier out or the America-hating, Russia-loving MAGA crowd can get Der Trumpenfuhrer or some other QOP putin sycophant back into the White House.

In the meantime, members of the AFU will kill lots of Russians and the Poo-tin regime will be greatly weakened. Those are not bad things, they’re good effects indeed and we can take pride in knowing that our so-called proxies are good at it and that we helped.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile

Yankees' Germán is Perfect in Oakland

When I put on the Yankees-Athletics game last night, I was eager to see if Giancarlo Stanton was going to finally break out of is slump.

He did, going 2 for 3, with a walk, a homer and 3 RBI. It was impressive,  and it was a big relief for this life-long Yankees fan.

But somewhere along the way, his teammate, Domingo Germán pitched the 24th Perfect Game in the history of Major League Baseball.

Yeah, I was shocked too. In a good way.

Did you miss it? So glad to say I didn't. I saw David Cone's perfection and was delighted that I didn't opt for another couple of episodes on NYPD Blue on Hulu instead of the game.

Yeah, that was the other option. I did take in an episode after posting about  on social media.

If you did miss it and would like to see what all the fuss is about, just follow this link. The story's in a jillion other places on the net, as you might imagine.

What a night it was! It's a night, an event, that I won't soon forget.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile

Ukraine trying for peace negotiations this summer?

There are more predictions coming now that, because Ukraine knows full well that she cannot actually win the war raging within her borders, her leaders are secretly working behind the scenes to start peace negotiations with Ruzzia. Supposedly that she'll be begging for a sit-down with Poo-tin & Company in the next month or two at the most.

Here's the truth: the chances that Ukraine will agree to negotiations with putin’s criminal, genocidal regime—whether this summer or anytime before regaining their occupied territory—are exactly zero.

Negotiations this summer? While the counteroffensive is progressing? Not happening. Ukraine—greatly assisted by democracy-loving countries in Europe and beyond—is winning this dreadful and unnecessary war launched by Comrade Vlad’s Imperialist Ruzzia and her plan is to keep winning until all pre-2014 Ukranian territory is free of Russian occupiers. They will achieve this objective and we will continue to offer support until the job’s finished.

Can we say that all Americans support our official policy of siding with Ukraine and putting large chunks of American dollars behind that policy? No, we can't. But it's easy to see who's raising a stink and trying to derail our unequivocal  support for the Ukrainian Nation. Actual American patriots support the Biden Administration’s policy on the war. Democracy-hating trump-humpers don’t, of course. 

And the rest of us know why: the war was Daddy Vladdy’s wet dream, his effort to become the successor to Peter the Great; it was to have been his legacy, his crowning achievement. And trump—whom MAGA Morons worship as a god—would have done/would do anything to support Poo-tin, his handler and mentor. He’s been taking orders from that hateful, autocratic thug since before he even became President, and it's all been very plain to see.

We know what they’re trying to do and why they’re trying to do it, but we’ll continue to support our President’s policy and the Ukrainian Nation. And, at the end of the day, it will be one more achievement by President Biden and will deter Ruzzia and other democracy-hating Nations from invading their smaller neighbors with plunder and conquest on their minds.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile

Why do Dems hate trump & DeSantis so much?

A couple of weeks ago, someone I don't personally know asked me on the internet why Democrats hate Donald trump and Ron DeSantis so much. Well, here we go...

It's because--among other things--they want to strangle Lady Liberty and have their voters, supporters and pols run America according to their politics, priorities and policies. They know they can’t win National elections any more without gaming the system, so they’d be fine with instituting permanent rule of a minority over the majority of Americans who want no part of their bankrupt, extreme and backward-looking policies.

Free and fair democratic elections? Don’t want ‘em. Making sure that every American who’s qualified and eligible to vote can vote? Nah, voting is just for their supporters. Working constructively with Democrats to get the business of America done and done in a timely fashion? No, that might give a Democratic President a win, therefore harming them and neutralizing their policies and their effectiveness because governing is a zero sum game.

They don’t care about the welfare of the country as a whole. Just “their people”. Do they want to preserve American democracy so it can be passed down to our children and grandchildren? No, because as I said above, that would mean sharing power and competing for the approval and votes of all Americans.

If faced with a choice between sharing power or killing off democracy, they’d gladly do the latter. Trump’s already tried it and DeSantis has shown again and again that letting his extreme buddies, lobbyists and pols have all the access, all the consideration and all the power in the State where he wields the power of the Governor’s office is just the way it’s done while he is in control.

His number 2 priority is putting in place all his extreme policies and remaking the State of Florida by passing one extreme law after another. Not to mention his use of executive orders and simply bullying into submission anyone who opposes his policies or he simply doesn’t like.

His number 1 priority is to stomp on everyone and everything that stands in his way. This can be individuals or even business entities. He’s now trying his dead-level best to bully Disney into submission because their former CEO said publically that they oppose one of his pet laws. He has even said as much. More than once. And the way he’s doing it is a clear violation of the company’s First Amendment rights.

In that way, trump and DeSantis are just alike. They expend ridiculous amounts of their time and energy thinking of ways to wield their power to harass, discredit and punish their perceived enemies.

The other important way in which they’re alike is that both of them think that completely ignoring the Democrats and essentially setting up one-party rule is a viable option. Either one would do it in a heartbeat. As I mentioned before, trump has already tried killing off our democracy and DeSantis has been signaling from Day One that he’s more than capable of doing it. I’m quite sure that if he should ever be elected President, he’d be much more effective at uprooting democracy than trump because he’s more pragmatic, more competent and way less stupid than our former Moron-in-Chief.

It’s not hard to see why Democrats strongly dislike both of them, more than we do most other QOP pols who also have hateful, divisive and extreme policies. They both love power—getting it and holding on to it at all cost—more than bringing the Country together or governing effectively or preserving our democratic institutions.

Those are, in fact, the priorities of the Democratic Party. And trump, DeSantis and others of their ilk are trying as hard as they can to stamp them out.

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile

What? Harris, Sanders or Newsom in '24?

There's a buzz on the internet right now about which Democrats would be on a short list to vie for the nomination in the unlikely event that President Biden is out of the picture.

VP Kamala Harris, VT Senator Bernie Sanders and CA Governor Gavin Newsom are often mentioned in discussions of that sort. I think those truly are the three who’re best-positioned to emerge as the nominee if Joe takes himself out of the picture.

A random observation: it’s fascinating that two of the three are from California. That will give the QOP’ers a great angle when they start sending out fundraising letters! Well, that stuff’s already happening, of course, but the whole process gets kicked into overdrive once the convention’s done and the nominee is chosen.

And Bernie being the other one on the list—the Reich Wing will just go insane if it were him.

I’m a long term—and I mean long term—observer of American politics and have done volunteer work on many campaigns and I want to say clearly that if either Harris or Bernie should get the nod, they’d get creamed! Sad, but true.

Kamala, in part, because white voters with a latent streak of racism—perhaps deeply buried, one they can’t acknowledge and would probably deny if pressed—could easily go third party or stay home. And her time as VP hasn’t done a thing to position her to be the Dem’s next standard bearer. I hasten to add that I supported her candidacy over Joe’s right from Day One, so I didn’t mean that statement as a dig at all.

Bernie has no prayer as the well has been thoroughly poisoned. At least half the Country gets hysterical at the mention of the term socialism and this isn’t going to change anytime in the near future. And Bernie is a socialist. And before you start flaming me in the comments, I hasten to add that I’m a socialist too. But it’s also true that I’m a deeply pragmatic socialist and I know that the chances of Socialists like Bernie and me (and a few million others) seeing the kind of reforms that America so desperately needs come to reality in the next 50 years or so are exactly zero.

A little sidebar here: the Right expended a shit-ton of time, energy and money in the run-up to the 2016 Presidential Election trying to sell us the “fact” that they were petrified at the mere thought of running against Bernie. It was all a Psy Op. They knew they’d cream him—having already made voters go bat shit-crazy at the mere sound of the “S” word—and they were hoping we’d fall for their ruse, make Mr. Sanders straighten his tie and comb his hair and send him out to meet the Anointed Orange One. He would have lost and lost badly. 

The simple truth is that no one can become President anymore without appealing to Independents and moderate voters. It’s just not possible. If for no other reason than the fact that there are more registered Indies than either of the major parties. The math is simple. 

And the other consideration that will drive every American election until the end of time is that perception is way more important than reality and Rethuglicans are masters at framing every discussion and creating perceptions—often false ones—that push things in a direction that favors them.

So of the three you mentioned, I think Newsom would have the best shot. I’m so aware that there could be other options for us but the fact that Joe does intend to run means that most, if not all, of them are very wisely staying on the sideline. No one has announced (I know Joe hasn’t either; at least not officially.) And barring a sudden, unexpected development with Joe, no one will.

Now, if Joe should leave the picture, and Newsom should become the man, we damn well better get someone who’ll well-balance our ticket. Newsom brings nothing of value there—speaking specifically of that whole regional thing as California goes Blue every four years—and we’d need a candidate for VP who does.

Although I don’t have anyone firmly in mind, Pete Buttigieg or Gretchen Whitmer wouldn’t be bad choices to balance the ticket. Well, those two should probably have been added to our original list for the big race—if Joe should opt to retire to Delaware when his term is complete. I have a ton of respect for both of them and believe that either of them would make a fine Chief Executive.

So there are my thoughts on this. I’m thinking it’s all just some of that “needless speculation” here but it’s fun to kick around different possibilities. The bottom line is to make absolutely sure that you vote in the 2024 Election!

"Bulldog Ben" Basile

© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile