Brazil election on Sunday plus Piker talks Talarico....
Friday, October 02, 2026
Another exciting finish in Brazil
A presidential vote in Brazil may come down to the last second.
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Last Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys lost to Baltimore in Rio. The game was settled by a field goal with one second on the clock.
Next Sunday, a presidential vote in Brazil may come down to the last second, too. It will be close and controversial, as we are hearing from the Guardian:
Sunday’s election in Brazil could hardly be a clearer-cut choice -- nor a closer call. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, is neck and neck in the polls with Flávio Bolsonaro, the son and champion of the jailed far-right former president Jair. Mr Bolsonaro senior is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup to “annihilate” democracy after losing the last election.
Brazil is Latin America’s largest democracy, but military dictatorship is in its recent past. Mr Bolsonaro wants to free his father and those who rioted in his support in 2023. The senator has campaigned as a less crass and temperamental version of his father, but he is no less extreme. For many on both sides, this is a vote against a man they detest more than an endorsement of their own candidate. Most voters disapprove of both men.
Who will win? I don't know. My hope is that Mr. Bolsonaro wins, but our southern neighbor is polarized as never before. In many ways, their politics is like ours, with families arguing about the candidates and young women making dating selections based on where you stand on the election. As a Brazilian said on a recent TV interview, we argue about politics these days like we used to fight over "futbol."
Beyond Brazilian politics, a Bolsonaro victory would confirm the Latin American movement toward center-right leaders. In other words, a Bolsonaro presidency would align much closer to Trump-Rubio policies in fighting cartels and promoting free-market economies. It won't end the infighting in Brazil, but the White House is cheering for Bolsonaro rather than Lula.
So get ready for an exciting finish down in the land of "futbol" and pretty ladies walking on the beach.
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We remember Groucho Marx (1890-1977)
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Julius Henry Marx was born in New York City on October 2, 1890. Later, he and the Marx Brothers made us laugh and laugh.
Like many of you, I discovered The Marx Brothers in college. I fell in love with their humor and watched several of their movies over and over again.
My favorite is “A night at the opera” but the others are great, too!
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
Happy # 81 Rod Carew
We say happy birthday Rod Carew who was born in Panama on this day in 1945.
Carew came up with the Twins in 1967, won a batting title in 1969 and quite a few more in the 1970s. He hit .388 in 1977 and retired with a .328 career batting average.
One of the all time greats!
One of the all time greats!
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
October 2, 1968: Bob Gibson 17 K's in game 1 of the World Series
In 1968, Bob Gibson pitched the Cardinals into the Series again but lost to Detroit. Nevertheless, it was also a magical season for Gibson:
1) He won 22 games, pitched 28 complete games and 13 shutouts. His ERA was a super-human 1.12!
I did not make a typing mistake.
It was indeed 1.12 over over 304 innings.
I did not make a typing mistake.
It was indeed 1.12 over over 304 innings.
2) In game 1 of the Series, Gibson struck out 17 Tigers.
I remember running home from school to catch the last few pitches of this game. I missed the game but caught the last few K’s on the radio.
It was the greatest pitching performance of the 20th century because he was facing a lineup of Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup. The ’68 Tigers were a great team. It’s hard to believe that anyone could strike out 17 against a lineup like that.
The Tigers beat the Cards in ’68 in 7 games. Detroit came back from a 3-1 deficit and beat Gibson in game 7.
Gibson went on to win 251 games in his career with a 2.91 ERA. He also threw 56 shutouts! Add 255 complete games plus winning game 7 in 1964 vs New York and 1967 vs Boston!
Bob Gibson was arguably the greatest right handed pitcher of the 1960’s or at least tied with Juan Marichal for that distinction. Marichal did not pitch in 3 World Series and that helps Gibson in this debate.
Gibson was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1981. He is one of all my time favorites because he threw strikes and wasn’t afraid to throw inside once in a while. In 1968, he was almost perfect.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
October 2, 1978: NY beat Boston to win the AL East title
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It was probably the game of the decade.
New York and Boston ended up with 99 wins at the end of the season. The Red Sox lost a 14 game lead, fell back by 4 and then won the last 10 to force a tie.
The AL East title was decided in a one game playoff at Fenway Park. The Yankees beat the Red Sox, 5-4. Bucky Dent hit one of the greatest HR's in baseball history.
The Yankees beat Kansas City in the ALCS and the LA Dodgers in the World Series. Nevertheless, it was this "tie breaker" in 1978 that everyone remembers:
Thursday, October 01, 2026
Trust Democrats over gasoline prices?
All you have to do is look to California to understand why that’s a terrible idea.
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Yes, I support President Trump’s actions in Iran. I am happy that we have finally decided to do something about the world’s # 1 sponsor of terrorism. At the same time, we are stuck with high gasoline prices and having to listen to Democrats scream about it. Let’s hear from Shane Harris:
Americans have every right to be upset about the cost of living and the fact that the American Dream seems to be slipping further out of reach. But they should actually look at Democrats’ record on energy policy rather than just blindly assuming that voting for the out-of-power party will lead to a reversal of what they’re frustrated about.
Sometimes, as is the case here, the alternative is worse than the current situation, as undesirable as it may be. Republicans who feel discouraged or unmotivated to turn out in November should remember how bad things were just a few years ago and have the same sense of urgency that they had in 2024 to prevent a return to Democrat rule this year.
But more importantly, it wasn’t too long ago when gas was even more expensive than it is now – above $5 per gallon in 2022, when Democrats controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress. Biden blamed much of the increase on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war certainly aggravated an already tight global oil market, but the price increases began well before Russian troops crossed the Ukrainian border.
According to the Energy Information Administration, regular gasoline averaged approximately $2.38 per gallon immediately before Biden took office in January 2021. By February 21, 2022, three days before the invasion, it had climbed to $3.53.
In inflation-adjusted dollars, gas averaged $4.69 per gallon in 2022 and $4.02 per gallon in 2023, compared to $3.95 per gallon so far this year. That’s cold comfort for families shelling out more than they feel they should be at the pump, but it does provide some context for the current crisis – and a reminder that Democrats’ record was even worse.
Don’t misunderstand. I hate paying gasoline prices too. And I am reminded every week of inflation when my wife goes to her favorite grocery store.
My point is this: Do you really want to trust the Democrats on energy prices? Look at gasoline prices in California as Mr. Harris points out:
On September 25, motorists in the Democrat-governed state were paying an average of $6.24 per gallon, compared with $4.49 nationally. California’s higher fuel taxes, environmental programs, and specialized gasoline requirements have all contributed to its unusually expensive fuel market.
Speaking of California, I remember a local couple who drove to the West Coast earlier this year. They loved driving out there but noticed gasoline was much higher than back here. Why? Because of taxes and regulations that drove up the price. Who taxed and regulated? It wasn’t the GOP.
Do you really trust these people to fix high gasoline prices? Well, I don’t.
There is no doubt that President Trump’s decision to attack Iran created the political environment currently benefiting the Democrats. These days, all they have to do is go on TV and bark about high prices. At the same time, I don’t think that President Trump and the GOP have properly explained what gasoline prices would look like if Iran had one of these bombs.
Let’s hope that voters can look beyond everything and realize that the Democrats have no answers other than to blame Trump.
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A few things about October 1st
A few things to remember about October 1st:
1) Johnny Carson made his debut on The Tonight Show this week in 1962. It went on until May ’92 when Carson retired.
Along the way, Carson had a way of addressing our political issues with humor and incredible timing. He made politics fun, specially when he would poke fun at both sides with great lines.
2) On the last day of the 1961 season, Roger Maris hit his 61st home run and set a new season record. It stood until 1998 when Mark McGwire hit 70.
And third, we remember that Bonnie was born on this day in 1910. It was many years ago that Bonnie & Clyde met the law for the last time in Louisiana.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
We remember Richard Harris (1930-2002)
Richard Harris was born in 1930 and died in 2002.
He was a great actor. We saw him in movies and on the stage. In the summer of 1968, he got together with Jim Webb and released one of the best pop songs ever written: “MacArthur Park”.
And there is always "Camelot".
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