BASEBALL DIARY:
Cubs 5, Rangers 4: the Rangers had kind of a tough weekend, losing 2 of 3 to the Cubs. But yesterday's game for example was largely about bad bounces; the Cubs got some seeing-eye singles in the first inning that helped lead to 4 runs; the Rangers, with the bases loaded in the 7th and trailing by just 1 run, had Josh Hamilton hit a liner right to the 2nd baseman. The Rangers competed hard and had good work again from their bullpen; they just didn't get the bounces.
Meanwhile, it was Tigers 6, Dodgers 2: it was important win for the Tigers, avoiding a sweep. I kind of figured they'd have trouble this weekend; the Dodgers have talent, and they'd gotten on a hot streak. Before yesterday, LA had won 13 of 14. But at least Detroit wasn't swept. And Rick Porcello pitched creditably, giving up only 2 runs in 6 innings. Now it's on to Seattle...
POLITICS DEPT:
Michael Barone today advances a very good theory--2010 isn't an anti-incumbent year; it's an anti-spending year:
"This month, three members of Congress have been beaten in their bids for reelection — a Republican senator from Utah, a Democratic congressman from West Virginia, and a Republican-turned-Democratic senator from Pennsylvania. Their records and their curricula vitae are different. But they all have one thing in common: They are members of an appropriations committee. Like most appropriators, they have based much of their careers on bringing money to their states and districts. There is an old saying on Capitol Hill that there are three parties — Democrats, Republicans, and appropriators. One reason that it has been hard to hold down government spending is that appropriators of both parties have an institutional and political interest in spending. Their defeats are an indication that spending is not popular this year."
So are the retirements of several House Democrats. So was Tea Partier Rand Paul's victory in the GOP primary in Kentucky.
Polling news:
The latest poll in Florida (from the St. Petersburg Times) has Crist eking out a tiny lead over Rubio. Not what we on the right want to hear...on the other hand,
note that the poll shows 28% of those responding to be undecided.
Perhaps when Rubio officially sews up the GOP nomination, that will change.
On the other hand, in Arkansas, the Republican candidate for the Senate, John Boozman, holds an astounding 38 point lead over incumbent Dem Blanche Lincoln.
Note that President Obama's job approval rating remains kind of stagnant; the RCP average has it at 47.9%.
