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I want to take a break from Trump for a bit because in reality what’s getting ready to happen isn’t a Dem vs. the Trump thing, but more of the status quo of the GOP trying to come to terms with Trump on health care, the tax reform bill, the cost to build the wall, infrastructure, Russia/ Putin, free trade vs. protectionism, and other matters. The Dems have no say in this. They simply don’t have the votes. So what we’re getting ready to see is if the Republican party within itself can agree on something other than just voting ‘no’.

I think it’s pretty much pointless to be frothing at the mouth just about now. Instead, I’d take a step back, keep close notes, and see if the Republican party can be a party of governance instead of one which just panders to crony capitalism. If you were paying attention between 2001-2009, you might have a good idea where this is probably headed. But again, beating your head against a wall isn’t going to do any good. If all these people marching and venting at town hall meetings had simply voted we wouldn’t be having this national meltdown right down.

Read, keep notes, observe, quit getting your news off social media—and above all cast a vote nurtured with knowledge.

So–here’s former GOP Speaker of the House John Boehner talking healthcare reform circa February 23, 2017.

This is great and me laugh amidst Rome burning in the throes of ‘deconstruction’.

I’d say a pretty good day for the Thunder because they made their team better in two specific areas. In Taj Gibson, they added a physical forward who can score, rebound, defend–and add some much needed toughness on this basketball team. Suffice it to say, the days of somebody like ZaZa Pachulia cheap shotting Russell Westbrook are done. I would assume Billy Donovan will start Gibson and move Sabonis to the bench unit. By putting Adams and Gibson together–OKC will have a very formidable, physical combo who won’t be taking shit from anybody. Adams, Gibson, Kanter, Sabonis, and Collison give the Thunder an excellent group of big men. But again, Gibson gives this team some needed vet toughness on both ends of the floor. By far, Gibson is the best player of the five players involved in the trade between the Thunder and Bulls.

OKC also landed Doug McDermott and a second round pick. In McDermott, the Thunder will add another pure scorer and an excellent three point shooter. McDermott’s role is simple, give Russell Westbrook someone he can kick the ball to and score the ball. McDermott and Alex Abrines now give the Thunder two bona fide three point shooters who combined need to start making around six threes a game for the Thunder to elevate their overall offensive game.

Leaving the Thunder are Cam Payne, Anthony Morrow, and Joff Lauvergne. Payne struggled mightily this season and quite honestly was borderline unplayable at times. Maybe he can find himself in Chicago. Morrow will leave as an extremely popular player, but this was his last year under contract so it’s not a shock he’s leaving. Lauvergne had some nice games, but just basically becomes expendable with Gibson and Enes Kanter soon to rejoin the team.

A good day for Sam Presti. He did two things which should make this team better immediately and give Westbrook some much needed help.

The NBA trade deadline is upon us today and I hope Sam Presti has some sort of nuance trade planned to get Russell Westbrook some help this season on the offensive end of the floor. Taj Gibson’s name is coming up a bit with —so we’ll have to see how that might play out. Russell Westbrook needs some help, and I would assume Russell and his agent want to see a sign that Sam Presti is serious about making this a better ball club heading into the stretch run and into this summer’s draft in which OKC still has their first round pick.

We’ll just have to see if Presti can get something of value for either Roberson, Payne, or Kanter. As bad as OKC’s three point shooting has been, I’d think Abrines and Anthony Morrow are staying put. I’m not sure if Kyle Singler or Josh Huestis are even tradeable. And, of course, Nick Collison is absolute royalty and none of us would ever want Nick to be traded unless he requested it.

I’m not a trade guru at all, but the trade I’d love to see is Kanter going to the Milwaukee Bucks for Khris Middleton. The spelling is correct with the K btw.

Neil Young, Southern Man

OKC’s Thunder gets back in action on Friday night hosting the LA Lakers. It will begin a stretch of three very winnable home games for the Thunder as they begin the post All-Star break portion of their schedule. As far as team goals, the Thunder look to be headed for either a 6th or 7th seed and probably something like a 47-25 record if Russell Westbrook stays free of injury.

The primary drama for OKC fans and quite honestly the entire NBA is whether Westbrook can notch the first seasonal triple double since Oscar Robertson accomplished the feat in ’62.

Much has been speculated as to how they would fare in a one on one duel of sorts. Robertson is two inches taller and played a more deliberate style of play. He was more of a pure distributor, but then again Oscar Robertson never had the Andre Roberson dilemma to deal with which makes floor spacing a continual issue for Westbrook. Westbrook is faster and even though he’s smaller than Robertson, he rebounds with the physicality of a forward. It would be an interesting duel if the two ever met in a one on one duel while both were in their prime.

As far as the overall NBA season, there’s not much drama. Golden State with their four all-stars clearly has the best team in the league. Whether LeBron has enough talent on his roster to beat the Warriors is debatable. Does Cleveland have enough scoring to deny Kevin Durant his first championship would seem to be the major storyline as we resume play after the trade deadline.

Donald Trump visited the Black History Museum this morning in D.C. Too bad he didn’t make Steven Bannon, Steven Miller, and Jefferson Sessions tour the museum with him as well. I hope this was a first incremental step gesture by Trump to begin to reach out to all Americans and not just the white ones who make up a majority of his New Confederacy political coalition. People generally are pretty much ingrained in their beliefs at the age of seventy, so I’m not sure how sincere all this is, but at least it’s a perfunctory gesture from the person who’s supposed to be the president of all three hundred million Americans. But in closing I would warn, this is a man who between the ages of sixty-four thru sixty-nine spent five years of his life setting the groundwork for his presidential campaign by instigating the Birther Movement. So–if George Wallace were at the museum today, I’d say, the same thing, a nice perfunctory political gesture, but beyond that—I’m not sure what can be read into this.

If Trump got rid of Bannon, Miller, and Sessions then I’d maybe think there was something genuine in this. If he’s really serious abut reaching out to all Americans those three would be gone. This isn’t complex—get rid of those three. Actually, with the subtraction of Flynn and the addition of McMasters the Trump national security team is pretty solid. So…maybe if we’re lucky — Bannon, Miller, Spicer, and Conway will be gone before the summer. Sessions’ removal would be more problematic given he was confirmed by the Senate. But the removal of Bannon, Miller, Spicer, and the nutjob Conway would I think to some degree make more of America at least somewhat view Trump as an almost serious president rather than the freak show president we witnessed during the first month.

Then of course there was all this stupid bullshit which revved up his base before, during, and after his campaign.

The NBA All-Star weekend is behind us and thankfully so. The dunk contest wasn’t much. The future stars game is I guess okay is if you don’t have a life, but not something I’d schedule two hours of my life around. I’m not even sure what they call the thing Oladipo won. Same thing with the celebrity game—Kevin Hart can only go so far for a period of time. Nothing personal against Kevin Hart.

The game itself was won by the West I think as neither team played any defense whatsoever. Russell Westbrook scored 41 points, but Anthony Davis scored fifty something and broke the all-time scoring record previously held by Wilt Chamberlain back from the 1962 game.

I enjoyed the Westbrook commercials, especially the one with Cam Payne in the barber’s chair. I’m tired of the whole Westbrook-Durant thing. It’s almost as exhausting as the Trump presidency, but obviously doesn’t have the same serious consequences. They’re grown men, give it a rest. They’ve both moved on as should others. The little play were Durant assisted Westbrook on the dunk was nice, but it’s not like the Tetonic plates shifted or anything.

My main focus is seeing if Sam Presti makes a nuance trade this week which will help this Oklahoma City team scoring the basketball. Otherwise, the Thunder pretty much share the dilemma every other team in the league faces in that none of the other teams are good enough to beat the Warriors four out of seven games.

This was much better than the ‘game’.

Umm, it’s a beautiful day in Deer Creek, Oklahoma with magnificent spring-like weather in mid February. The bass and crappie fishing is pre-maturely good of which I’ve taken part of already twice this week. So…here’s the thing, I saw this clip of the Trump Trekkie groupie taking the stage with Caligula Lite and at first it made me shake my head and utter a few F bombs. But at this point, what’s the point? He’s probably a decent guy. It is what it is. I just hope this guy didn’t pee in his pants as he left the stage. Maybe…when the smoke clears, he’ll be the Sean Spicer replacement.

This is my choice as the New Confederacy’s national anthem moving forward at the rallies.

It was a good week for Serge Ibaka as he was traded by the Orlando Magic to the Toronto Raptors for Terrence Ross and a draft pick. I’m happy for Serge because he goes from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. Plus, Toronto is the perfect city for Serge with it’s beauty, culture, diversity, freedom of thought, cuisine, beautiful women, art, etc.

Serge will always be one of my favorite players to have donned a Thunder jersey and his contributions in Oklahoma City both on and off the court will be remembered with respect and affection. He always had a smile on his face and a positive word for everyone. Toronto will be an interesting team to watch moving forward and except for the Philly Sixers will now be my favorite team in the East. I’m happy for Serge–he deserved this opportunity.

Serge’s beginning in OKC.

Serge’s last exit interview in OKC.

Serge’s return, a career scoring night, and the game winner.

Donald Trump gave his first real press conference and to say the least it was illuminating. What I mean by this is that if any doubt remained our president is an unhinged pathological liar then all doubt was removed unless you’re one of the 35% Trump base with Build the Wall poms firmly in hand.

It was so Nixonian to the core. But of course, that 35% base could care less about things like Nixon and the truth. It is what it is…which will ultimately be sad for our country. Evidently, U.S Navy Seal Robert Harward wasn’t impressed by Trump’s ‘presentation’ and said pass to taking over for Michael Flynn. Smart guy—don’t taint your name and diminish your career to date. Just sit to the side and observe the train wreck.

So onward Trump rolls into Florida for a pep rally to escape the reality of governance and a remembrance of more innocent times when things were light, innocent, and fun. When all a reality television star had to do was say Build the Wall or Lock Her Up and get a symbiotic rush from his cult followers.

I know I’ve been tough on all you Trump supporters, but this is for you from me. Play if right before or during the pep rally tomorrow in Melbourne, Florida.

Another song for the rally in Florida. If only Trump could have Little Marco there in cheerleader garb singing this to the core. It kind
of has an Eisenhower feel about it, no?