California team apologizes to Ocasio-Cortez for video

FRESNO, Calif. — A minor league baseball team in California apologized to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a Memorial Day tribute video that lumped her image with those of Kim Jong Un and Fidel Castro.

The Fresno Grizzlies said in a statement the scoreboard video broadcast during Monday night's doubleheader was supposed to be a moving tribute.

However, it "ended with some misleading and offensive editing, which made a statement that was not our intent and certainly not our opinion," the team said.

The team said it failed to properly vet the video found on YouTube, the Fresno Bee reported .

"We're embarrassed we allowed this video to play without seeing it in its entirety first," the statement said. "We unconditionally apologize to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez in addition to those we hurt."

"What people don't (maybe do) realize is when orgs air these hateful messages, my life changes bc of the flood of death threats they inspire," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Tuesday.

"I've had mornings where I wake up & the 1st thing I do w/ my coffee is review photos of the men (it's always men) who want to kill me," she posted.

Later, she added that "words matter, and can have consequences for safety."



https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/california-team-apologizes-to-ocasio-cortez-for-video/ar-AAC2MzY?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=mailsignout

Tweet of the Day

FLIPPABLE: Cheryl Turpin for VA-SD07

To everyone in District 85, I’m honored that you’ve put your faith in me to serve as your delegate. In Virginia’s 7th Senate District, I look forward to working together with you to strengthen our schools, achieve better access to healthcare, and start building a Virginia that lifts all of us up – together!

As a high school science teacher, I am elated that my first bill ensured the Commonwealth can bring more resources to troubled schools to make sure every student has a fair shot at the American Dream. In addition, I am so proud that we were able to finally expand healthcare to an additional 400,000 Virginians. I’m glad that we were able to come together to work across the aisle to get these done.

We all know first hand that today’s failure to protect our environment will lead to unsafe air and water and catastrophic flooding that threaten Virginia Beach. That’s why I’ve been fighting for the environment every day as a Delegate and will continue to do so in the State Senate.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Our state government should be fixing these problems, not making it harder for families to get by. I am running for State Senate to be a champion for Virginia Beach. I know you care about this community as much as I do, and I hope you will join me in this effort.





https://www.turpinforsenate.com

FLIPPABLE: Nancy Guy for VA-HD83

Nancy grew up in a Navy family in the 83rd District and attended Thoroughgood Elementary and Cox High School. She graduated from The College of William and Mary with a B.A. in Government ( where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa), and got her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

She and her husband of 38 years, Richard Guy, moved to Charlotte, NC for a decade where they practiced law and had two children. In 1992 they returned to Virginia Beach to be closer to extended family. Richard is an attorney with Vandeventer Black, LLP in Norfolk. Their children are now grown and they have two grandchildren.

Since her return to Virginia, Nancy has worked in a variety of capacities with some breaks from paid work to raise children and care for ailing and dying parents: managing a family real estate partnership, helping in the management of a home health care company founded by her father, and as an educational consultant assisting students. In 1996 she was elected to the Virginia Beach School Board and was subsequently re-elected for a second term.

After successfully battling breast cancer, in 2012-13, Nancy decided to simplify her life. She liquidated the real estate partnership in 2014 and closed down her educational consulting business in 2017 to concentrate on spending more time with family and giving more time to causes she believes in.

As a proud product of Virginia’s public education programs, supporting public education has long been her passion. In addition to her two terms on the School Board, she has served on the Board of WHRO, the Board of SECEP (the Southeastern Cooperative Educational Program), 12 years on the Virginia Education Foundation Board, two terms as President of the PTSA at Virginia Beach’s largest high school, a member of the Virginia Beach City Council of PTAs and member of the Legislative Committee of the Virginia PTA. Nancy believes that a quality public education system is the very backbone of democracy and will do everything in her power to channel proper resources to it.

In addition to educational activities Nancy has always been active in her church, Bayside Presbyterian, where she is an elder and, through her work with the Community Service Ministry, has volunteered with a variety of programs that help others including Seton Youth Shelters, Samaritan House, Judeo-Christian Outreach, and VOA/Lighthouse Winter Shelter.

She has the education, experience, passion and time to devote herself fully to representing the people of the 83rd District.




http://guyfordelegate.com

FLIPPABLE: Johua Cole for VA-HD28

In 2017, Joshua Cole proudly ran for the Virginia House of Delegates to represent Virginia’s 28th District, becoming the first American-American, and youngest person to receive any party’s nomination, along the way. In an underfunded, hard-fought race, Josh finished less than 100 votes shy of having the honor of representing the 28th District.

Since then, Josh has served the state by acting as the Chief of Staff for Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler, fighting for the people by working alongside Delegate Convirs-Fowler on issues important to all Virginians, like fair housing. Simultaneously, Josh serves on Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent’s Equity, Diversity and Opportunity Committee, the Greater Fredericksburg Area Interfaith Council, as the President of the Stafford County NAACP and participates with numerous other local and community initiatives.

Clear in all of this work is Josh’s commitment to the communities of the 28th District. Raised in the 28th, Josh knows not only what it takes to live here, but what it means to build a home in Fredericksburg and Stafford County. He understands the excruciating drive along I-95 that is the bedrock of so many constituent commutes. He’s seen first-hand the ever-increasing cost of living in this community, and has sat with hardworking friends and neighbors, proud Virginians, who simply want to find a way to raise their family in the same town in which they grew up. Josh seeks to be your Delegate to he can fight to make this so, for all of them, and for you.

A product of the Stafford County Public School system, Joshua’s background in Virginia’s political affairs is rich, dating back to 2005, when he was appointed by the then-speaker, the Honorable William J. Howell, as a Page for the Virginia House of Delegates. That same year he was chosen as the Governor’s Page by Governor Mark R. Warner. He returned to the General Assembly again in 2016 as a Staff Assistant to the Clerk of the Virginia State Senate. As your Delegate, Josh will bring this experience to the fore to fight for a Virginia that serves all Virginians.





https://jgcole.org

FLIPPABLE: Larry Barrett for VA-HD27

Larry has a commitment to Chesterfield County that runs deep and has served our residents for three decades. As a leader with Chesterfield County Mental Health Support Services, he developed and implemented innovative, caring, and effective programs for those affected by mental illness. He developed a reputation as a skilled collaborator and problem-solver who got things done. He was a key player in various projects that improved access to mental health and substance abuse services. These projects involved partnerships with schools, hospitals, advocacy groups, and law enforcement and other first responders.

With a proven record of improving the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents, Larry decided to continue his public service to Chesterfield by running for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 27th District. In 2017, he ran a spirited, grassroots campaign and finished surprisingly close as a first-time candidate, shocking many by coming within 128 votes of winning.

Larry’s hard work and intelligence, coupled with his open, collaborative, and caring spirit, showed voters that he was someone who would effectively represent them in the General Assembly. In 2019, he is bringing his talent and enthusiasm to bear as he runs again to represent the citizens of Chesterfield County.

Larry's Coast Guard family provided him with a strong example of service. His family, like many in the military, moved around the US before planting roots in Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University before earning a master's degree in Rehabilitative Counseling from VCU. He is a licensed professional counselor.

Larry and his wife Pat live in Midlothian. Their daughter Eileen attended Chesterfield public schools and now lives in Charlottesville.






https://www.barnett4delegate.com

3 forecast modelers predict Trump will win in 2020

Steven Rattner, "car czar" and counselor to the Treasury secretary in the Obama administration, cites three different modelers in his N.Y. Times commentary, "Trump’s Formidable 2020 Tailwind."

The big picture: Trump wins all three modelers. Economists predict that the tailwind is large.

Ray Fair, a professor at Yale, "found that the growth rates of gross domestic product and inflation have been the two most important economic predictors — but he also found that incumbency was also an important determinant of presidential election outcomes."

"Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, has looked at 12 models, and Mr. Trump wins in all of them."

"Donald Luskin of Trend Macrolytics has reached the same conclusion in his examination of the Electoral College."


https://www.axios.com/trump-2020-presidential-election-forecast-models-b9a95aca-7f25-4c6a-af91-720b7828afa5.html

Rep. Duncan Hunter Admits Taking Photos of Dead Combatants While in Marines

Rep. Duncan S. Hunter (R-CA) told a crowd at a border event this weekend that while he served as a Marine, he took photos of the bodies of dead combatants. Hunter, who appeared at the event with his former congressman father, admitted to this while defending Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL who is accused of taking photos with the body of a slain combatant, but also of killing innocent, unarmed people. Hunter served in the United States Marine Corps in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Eddie did one bad thing that I’m guilty of too — taking a picture of the body and saying something stupid,” Hunter said, according to the Times of San Diego. He admitted to taking photos but said he did not share them or post them on social media. “But a lot of my peers… have done the exact same thing,” he said.

According to a Navy criminal investigation, Gallagher stabbed the 16-year-old Islamic State fighter repeatedly before posing with his body for pictures. He then texted the image to another SEAL and said, “Good story behind this, got him with my hunting knife.” Gallagher allegedly intimidated fellow members of his platoon into remaining silent about the incident. According to testimony from team members, Gallagher also shot an unarmed young girl and an older man, and according to the New York Times, would “indiscriminately” fire machine-gun bullets and rockets into neighborhoods.


https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/duncan-hunter-admits-photos-dead-combatants-840550/

Cosplay proposal: Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman get engaged at Motor City Comic Con

When Captain Marvel posed for the camera facing off against Wonder Woman, it appeared to be the usual Marvel vs. DC rivalry at Saturday’s Motor City Comic Con.

But in this case, the photo session was set up by Captain Marvel, aka Ashley Vansickle, as a surprise way to ask Wonder Woman, aka Deanna Mascia, to marry her.

The couple from Columbus, Ohio, had been dating for about a year when Vansickle got the idea to pop the question at Motor City Comic Con, which runs through Sunday at Novi's Suburban Collection Showplace. Like many people attending the convention, Vansickle, 26, and Mascia, 25, were dressed in superhero garb.

“Our whole relationship and our lives are based around comic books and superheroes,” said Vansickle not long after the proposal, which was captured on videotape and followed by a photo shoot.

“She’s actually the first girl, the first anybody I told about my interest in comics,” said Mascia, who described herself as a big Superman fan who bonded with her father over comic books and Clark Kent sagas like the CW’s “Smallville.”



https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/2019/05/18/captain-marvel-wonder-woman-engaged-motor-city-comic-con/3724967002/

Godzilla King Of The Monsters Final Trailer