There was some question about the reaction to Boris Johnson's diagnosis. We answered it but perhaps it's better to do so for everyone. Namely, Johnson's diagnosis resulted in goodwill which he then turned into political advantage. I doubt that will happen here.
First, Johnson had not ground the country down over years as Trump has. Second, Johnson is, if you squint, and in a way only they are familiar with, likable. It's the only reason why he's in the job at all.
And perhaps most important, they were clear on the diagnosis. He spoke to the country at length. He quarantined. He went to the hospital when necessary, and clear, if discreet, updates were given from there.
This allowed the political story to be "Nation wishes the Prime Minister well" rather than "They are hiding something."
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Walz is a strong choice. He’s going to get them a hearing in rooms they wouldn’t get into otherwise.
The logic for Walz is similar to what led General Eisenhower to choose me: the moderate, or perceived moderate, on top, with the strong rank-and-file man underneath.
Walz is going to get tagged as a Sanders man. The campaign will point to how he got there. He ran well to the right of where he is. Republican House district, and so forth. He is still a tax cutter. The evolution on guns is key.
I want to discuss Netanyahu. Normally this would be a column but I think everyone needs to hear it.
It can’t be underestimated how much Netanyahu has lost everybody. I mean everybody. Even Israel Hayom — Sheldon Adelson’s paper — says he should lick Hamas and get out.
Hamas is firing the rockets and slashing throats, yes. But Israelis blame Netanyahu. When the war is over there is talk of a commission to investigate what he knew and when he knew it.
Johnson is the most conservative speaker in a hundred years. He is also the most inexperienced. He is eight years in the House and has never been in leadership of any sort.
He is nuts but not enough in public to alienate the moderates. He is for the stopgap spending bill, for example. He is also so new to the House that he hasn't made many enemies. He is the definition of useful idiot.
We'll do this in one place for future reference. It began in 1980. The Phanatic accompanied players to Japan on a barnstorming trip. There were boxes of balls in the clubhouse to be signed. The Phanatic signed on the sweet spot. Lasorda was furious.
In retaliation he forced the Phanatic to sign several hundred baseballs, which is so small thing when you've only got four fingers.
From then on the Phanatic tortured Lasorda in Philadelphia. The Dodger players loved this. Eventually they stole Lasorda's road uniform and gave it to the Phanatic, who put it on a dummy. Then he was really able to torture Lasorda.
On Lou Gehrig Day I can add nothing to the appreciation of him as a player or a man. But I will say something about his relationship with Ruth, which is frequently misunderstood.
Gehrig and Ruth came from similar backgrounds. They came from dirt. The difference in Gehrig's case was his mother, who was strict. He loved her very much. She kept him in line. But he understood Ruth's youth, and vice versa.
When Gehrig got money all he wanted to do is go home to his wife, read the newspaper, and listen to the radio. When Ruth got it, he was determined to wring life out. Gehrig's way would have killed Ruth, and vice versa. But both are understandable.