Colin Kaepernick wins Amnesty International's most prestige award.

Courtesy of Time Magazine:  

Colin Kaepernick may not have a job on the football field, but much of the world is still cheering for him. 

Amnesty International, the global human rights organization, gave Kaepernick its highest honor — the 2018 Ambassador of Conscience Award — in Amsterdam on Saturday. Past winners of the award, which “celebrates individuals and groups who speak out for justice,” include former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, the education activist from Pakistan who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban, and rock group U2. 

The organization recognized Kaepernick for his protest against police violence: his action, kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games, sparked a movement replicated across America and the world, starting a debate about free speech and patriotism that was inflamed by the President of the United States, one of Kaepernick’s most relentless critics. 

“When high-profile people choose to take a stand for human rights, it emboldens others,” says Augusta Quiney, Amnesty International’s director of Art for Amnesty, a program that works with artists and entertainers on human rights activism. “For us, this is an opportunity to be on the right side of history.”

By the way they don't mention it very much in the new but athletes are still taking a knee all over the country.

And that includes ex-athletes.

#ThursdayThoughts This is why I #TakeAKnee #StephonClark pic.twitter.com/XMe9qSLzMY

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) March 30, 2018

Colin Kaepernick may have lost the opportunity to play for the NFL forever as far as we know.

But being remembered in the fight for justice is far more prestigious than being remembered for passes thrown or touchdowns scored anytime.

Well, at least in my book. 

The NFL officially cuts ties with Papa John's pizza.

Joint statement from NFL & Papa John’s on Papa John’s giving up official pizza sponsorship. pic.twitter.com/KVAW3QNSA1

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 27, 2018

Courtesy of The Hill: 

Pizza chain Papa John's will end its sponsorship deal with the NFL next season, after years of being "the official pizza of the NFL." 

The end of the pizza chain's sponsorship comes two months after Papa John's founder and CEO John Schnatter stepped down amid controversy over remarks he made about NFL players' protests during the national anthem hurting the company's business. 

The announcement was reported first by Fox Business Network's Charles Gasparino before being confirmed in an earnings call with the company's investors Tuesday afternoon. 

In a statement to media, the two organizations announced that the business relationship would shift to individual relationships with local NFL teams and personalities.

But don't shed too many tears for papa John's.

After all they are still the preferred pizza of white supremacists.

Of course the worst thing about Papa John's is that it's just shitty pizza.

In my opinion the racists are welcome to it.

The CEO and founder of Papa John's Pizza has been fired months after publicly criticizing NFL players for kneeling during national anthem.

Courtesy of WDRB: 

Papa John's says its founder John Schnatter will step down as CEO next month, about two months after he publicly criticized the NFL leadership over national anthem protests by football players. 

The company said Thursday that Schnatter remains chairman but will be replaced as chief executive by Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie on Jan. 1. 

Schnatter had blamed slowing sales growth on the outcry surrounding NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. Papa John's International Inc. is an NFL sponsor and advertiser. Schnatter also said at the time that customers had a negative view of the chain's association with the NFL. 

The comments drew praise from white supremacists and the company apologized two weeks later.

So I guess we can assume that Papa John's was not terribly pleased with their new designation as the white supremacist's pizza of choice? 

Gee, what a shame.

I have to say that I NEVER liked this Schnatter dude, even before he let his racist flag fly.

I'm also going to say that I am never eating that shitty pizza.

Even if they aren't racist POS, they still make crappy pizza.

So that guy that the Russians put into the White House was up early embarrassing America again.

It wasn’t the White House, it wasn’t the State Department, it wasn’t father LaVar’s so-called people on the ground in China that got his son out of a long term prison sentence - IT WAS ME. Too bad! LaVar is just a poor man’s version of Don King, but without the hair. Just think..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017

...LaVar, you could have spent the next 5 to 10 years during Thanksgiving with your son in China, but no NBA contract to support you. But remember LaVar, shoplifting is NOT a little thing. It’s a really big deal, especially in China. Ungrateful fool!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017

Jesus!

Trump then followed that up by bitching that the NFL may simply keep players in the locker room during the playing of the National Anthem, which is what they used to do before making that deal with the Pentagon.

The NFL is now thinking about a new idea - keeping teams in the Locker Room during the National Anthem next season. That’s almost as bad as kneeling! When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart? This issue is killing your league!.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017

Not a "new idea."

And then Trump also retweeted this beauty.

The ungratefulness is something I’ve never seen before. If you get someone’s son out of prison, he should be grateful to you! Period. I don’t care. If Hillary got my kid out of prison, as much as I hate the woman, I’d thank her corrupt ass!

— Joey Mannarino (@Realjmannarino) November 22, 2017

Let me remind everybody, that like it or not, this man is the president of the United States.

He represents all of us, and his tweets are read by people all over the world. 

Conservative boycott of GQ Magazine to happen in 3..2..1.

.@GQMagazine names Colin Kaepernick its Citizen of the Year. pic.twitter.com/7Vnw7Dx9A7

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 13, 2017

Courtesy of GQ:  

Much has changed in the four years since Colin Kaepernick was last on the cover of GQ. Back then he was a rippling superhero of a quarterback on the rise. But a simple act—kneeling during the national anthem—changed everything. It cost him his job. It also transformed Colin Kaepernick into a lightning rod and a powerful symbol of activism and resistance. 

Though Colin Kaepernick continues his silent protest, he agreed to collaborate with GQ on a special project for our December Men of the Year issue in an effort to, as the piece explains, "reclaim the narrative of his protest." He helped us assemble a ten-person team of his closest confidants—including rapper J.Cole, director Ava DuVernay, activist Harry Belafonte, and Women’s March co-organizer Linda Sarsour—to speak on the subjects of activism, protest, and equality, and to offer some rare insights into Colin Kaepernick himself.

I am guessing that Donald Trump will not be gracing the cover of GQ any time soon.  

Papa John's is now the "official" white supremacist pizza. You know, just in case all that cross burning gives you the munchies.

Courtesy of Newsweek: 

Neo-Nazis and white supremacists have always been distasteful, but now it turns out their taste in pizza is terrible, too. 

The white supremacist website the Daily Stormer announced Thursday that Papa John’s pizza is the official pie of the alt-right, posting a picture of a pizza with a swastika fashioned from pepperoni slices. The caption reads, "Papa John: Official pizza of the alt-right?"

The pronouncement came after Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter, whose pizza is an official NFL sponsor, blamed his company’s recent losses on NFL players protesting police brutality during the national anthem. 

Schnatter was widely accused of racism and of making bad pizza. But white supremacists came to his defense. 

“This might be the first time ever in modern history that a major institution is going to be completely destroyed explicitly because of public outrage over their anti-white agenda,” Daily Stormer writer Adrian Sol posted, referring to the NFL and adding disturbingly, “The Negro fatigue caused by this whole NFL fiasco is reaching heights that even I didn’t fully expect.”

Uh...okay.

 By the way after Schnatter made his remarks about the NFL protests hurting pizza sales he was trolled pretty hard by other pizza outlets.

Papa John's CEO is blaming poor sales on the NFL. Other pizza brands aren't having it. pic.twitter.com/CzGau6O9L9

— AJ+ (@ajplus) November 4, 2017

So just remember, if you support white supremacy Papa John's Pizza is your go to racist food provider.

However if you are a reasonable person, who just wants a tasty slice, then just about every place else in the country is significantly better.

Trump fundraising committee uses Mike Pence's NFL walkout to raise money.

Mike Pence walkout 'stunt' at NFL game after players kneel 'cost at least $250,000' #PenceResignhttps://t.co/cVi8ITCxQz

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) October 8, 2017

Courtesy of Bloomberg: 

President Donald Trump’s joint fundraising committee sent an email Monday asking donors to show support for Vice President Mike Pence’s decision to leave an NFL game in Indianapolis after some members of the San Francisco 49ers kneeled during the national anthem. 

The solicitation from the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, which jointly raises money for Trump’s presidential campaign committee and the Republican National Committee, asks supporters to give at least $5 to the campaign to receive a “I STAND FOR THE FLAG” sticker. 

“Immediately after the vice president’s honorable display of leadership and patriotism, the Fake News Media relentlessly ATTACKED him,” the email says. “The media is NOT going to win this fight, because we have the AMERICAN PEOPLE standing on our side.”

So the whole thing was a phony ass attempt to get the suckers to pony up more money.

Gee, I so wish I could feign surprise here.

NFL may force players to stand for the National Anthem. So much for the land of the free.

JUST IN: In letter to NFL owners, Roger Goodell says: "We believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem." pic.twitter.com/iveGOQgJnz

— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 10, 2017

Courtesy of WaPo:

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that team owners will discuss a plan when they meet next week for dealing with the raging national controversy over players’ protests during the national anthem, adding that while the league respects the right of its players to express their opinions, it believes they should stand during the playing of the anthem. 

While stopping short of saying the NFL would require its players to stand, Goodell strongly suggested in a letter to NFL teams that at next week’s meeting the league would propose to owners that players be required to do so, while also providing a platform to recognize their community activism. 

“Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem,” Goodell wrote to NFL club presidents and chief executives. “It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us. We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues. We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.” 

Goodell said the league’s plan would include “an in-season platform to promote the work of players” on social issues, “and that will help to promote positive change in our country.”

Yes let's force citizens of a country which prides itself on its freedom to stand up to honor a song or risk losing their jobs.

I wonder when they will institute the Nazi salutes to greet the players taking the field?

Make no mistake this is Trump pushing his agenda onto these rich NFL team owners, by vilifying them and threatening their ability to make outrageous amounts of money.

But if they side with Trump against their own players, that will undoubtedly be a financially devastating mistake.

If I were a black football player in the NFL I would consider organizing a boycott and see how these team owners like trying to sell tickets to games that feature only white athletes.

Let's see how long this rule lasts then.  

VP Mike Pence got his tiny little feelings hurt and went home when some mean old football players took a knee during the national anthem. Update!

I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.

— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017

While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem

— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017

Pence thought this was so important that it warranted an official statement.

I stand with @POTUS Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/B0zP5M41MQ

— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017

Drama queen.

I imagine that Pence thought this was somehow going to be his shining moment, when he demonstrated his independence and took a stand for America.

But Trump can't allow that, now can he?

I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017

So much for being your own man there Mikey, now the whole world knows that you are just Trump's tiny yapping little lapdog.

Update: And yes this was all premeditated: 

Maybe you agree with Trump and Pence and believe kneeling during the anthem is an affront to the country. Or maybe you side with the players’ workplace-granted right to protest. Or perhaps you just don’t care (the third group is arguably the largest here). 

No matter what, this was almost certainly a predetermined attempt to gain political points by stirring up an issue that, once again, had begun to die down. Pence even quickly released a statement expressing his outrage.

Trump and Pence believe these tactics work with their ever shrinking base, and that is really the only people they care about.

Update 2:

Pence's stunt likely cost more than $250,000 at minimum. https://t.co/Y9E9LqvhPG

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 8, 2017

Yeah screw the taxpayers, Trump and Pence have a base to pander to. 

Trump supporters burn football tickets and merchandise to protest players taking a knee.

NFL​ fans burn season tickets and team paraphernalia in response to football players taking a knee to protest. https://t.co/Ec5CRF7TZu pic.twitter.com/fUKQX4chHX

— ABC News (@ABC) September 26, 2017

Courtesy of New Jersey.com:  

In a video posted by ABC News, several NFL fans are shown burning season tickets and NFL licensed gear in relation for teams or individual players kneeling (or stay in the locker room) during the national anthem on Sunday. 

"I'm a season-ticket holder, love the NFL, always have, always been a huge fan," Rodney Heard from Indiana said on a video shared on Facebook. "Wish I could have played in the NFL, if I'd have the athletic ability. Instead I went into the Marine Corps, I served my country, my grandfathers served our country, both of them fought in World War II. There are a lot of people who fought and died for that flag and to disrespect it like you did yesterday, I'm done."

Damn Trump supporters are ignorant.

But I guess if they weren't they would not be Trump supporters.

I don't think there is any way to explain to these idiots that taking a knee before the game is not to protest the military veterans or the flag, any more than you could explain to them that BLM is not a racist group attempting to suggest that ONLY black lives matter.

Simply put they are unreachable.

But I can guarantee you that once this whole thing blows over that they will rush right out and replace those tickets, pendants, and jerseys again.

Until then I guess they can always watch NASCAR.

There you go.

From the plantations to the NFL, those brown people must be reminded to know their place.

Right Donnie? 

Of course in this case the owners are kneeling right alongside of them.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was the only NFL owner who hadn't responded to Trump's comments. Tonight, he joined the entire team to #TakeAKnee. pic.twitter.com/uiMaYr2LbJ

— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) September 26, 2017

Puerto Rico is in near devastation since being hit by Hurricane Maria, but here is the president fighting with the NFL again.

So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won't put up with disrespecting our Country or our Flag - they said it loud and clear!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2017

Many people booed the players who kneeled yesterday (which was a small percentage of total). These are fans who demand respect for our Flag!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2017

The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2017

This of course is a carry over from yesterday's Twitter rant, which followed comments made on Friday attacking NFL players that #takeaknee.

That means that Trump has spent an entire weekend attacking the most popular sporting event in America (Only interrupted by a brief attack on another of America's favorite sports.) instead of actually doing his fucking job.

Meanwhile, like I said at the top, the US territory of  Puerto Rico has been decimated by Hurricane Maria, and not a peep out of the Orange Fuhrer.

The People's President Hillary Clinton has urged Trump to send in the Navy to help deal with the tragedy: 

"President Trump, (Defense) Sec. (James) Mattis, and DOD (Department of Defense) should send the Navy, including the USNS Comfort, to Puerto Rico now," the former presidential nominee tweeted Sunday morning. "These are American citizens."

But so far America's response has been minimal at best.

Apparently Trump has been too busy attacking Republicans who have not passed a bill to repeal Obamacare, and continuing his feud with the NFL.

That last one resulted in an ethics complaint being filed against Trump for attempting "to influence the employment practices of a private entity “solely on the basis of partisan political affiliation."

By the way Trump also retweeted this a little while ago.

NFLplayer PatTillman joined U.S. Army in 2002. He was killed in action 2004. He fought 4our country/freedom. #StandForOurAnthem #BoycottNFL pic.twitter.com/k1FXHRoozY

— Ⓙay (@jayMAGA45) September 24, 2017

Methinks that Trump does not really know much about Pat Tillman, because from what I learned about the man he would probably have already taken a knee a long time ago.

It's Sunday so why wouldn't Donald Trump attack NFL players? Update!

If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

...NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

These two tweets are from just this morning as Trump apparently decided to triple down on his infantile attacks directed at football players who exercise their First Amendment rights.

(This of course was briefly interrupted when Trump switched gears and briefly got into a kerfuffle with NBA players yesterday.)

Unfortunately for Trump while all of this might play well with the slack jawed morons who attend his thinly disguised KKK rallies, it does NOT play well in the rest of the country.

Instead Trump has now made national heroes of defiant football and basketball players, as well as some of their moms.

Guess that makes me a proud bitch!

— Teresa Kaepernick (@B4IleaveU) September 23, 2017

Last night even the great Stevie Wonder waded into the controversy.

 Courtesy of CNN:

Legendary musician Stevie Wonder took both knees at a New York music festival, seemingly showing solidarity with NFL players criticized by President Donald Trump hours earlier. 

"Tonight, I'm taking a knee for America; but not just one knee, I'm taking both knees," he said on stage Saturday before his performance at the Global Citizens Festival. 

"Both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world and our globe. Amen ..." 

During the event, Wonder also spoke about interrupting hate, bigotry and condemning sexism.

One of Trump's supporters, who also happens to own an NFL team, had this to say:

One of Donald’s Trump most prominent NFL supporters offered his regrets on Sunday following the President’s comments on NFL players remarks kneeling during the national anthem. 

“I’m pissed off, I’ll be honest with you,” Rex Ryan said on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. “I supported Donald Trump. When he asked me to introduce him at a rally in Buffalo, I did that. But I am reading these comments and it is appalling to me. And I am sure it is appalling to almost any citizen in our country. It should be. I mean, calling our players S.O.Bs and that kind of stuff, that is not the men that I know. The men I know in the locker room, I am proud to be associated with them in the locker room. 

“I apologize for being pissed off but that’s it. Right away I am associated with what Donald Trump stands for because I introduced him. I never signed up for that. I never wanted that.”

And just today NFL players in London also took a knee in protest:

 And that included both teams by the way.

Donald Trump just lit a fire under a protest movement that is surely going to spread throughout the country.

I expect soon we will see players in every sport, and athletes of every ethnicity, following these examples and sending Trump a simple message.

FUCK YOU!

Update: Yep, it's spreading.

Mike Tomlin just told me @NFLonCBS #Steelers will NOT be participating in the #NationalAnthem today in CHI. Staying in the locker room.

— Jamie Erdahl (@JamieErdahl) September 24, 2017

So does Trump want the entire Pittsburgh Steelers team to be fired now?

Well this seems a little extreme.

Courtesy of the Friendly Atheist:

According to a Facebook post that’s been shared more than 4,700 times as of this writing, at last night’s McKenzie High School (Alabama) football game, the announcer told the crowd that anyone who didn’t stand for the National Anthem should be shot by our military.

In other news the National Anthem protest is spreading all though the NFL.

In fact just today some of the players for the Miami Dolphins knelt in protest during the anthem.

So guess not everybody actually believes it's appropriate to wish death on American citizens who refuse to demonstrate respect for the anthem of a country that still allows institutionalized racism among its law enforcement officials.

Good to know.

Much to the frustration of the Right Wing, members of the military and vets come out in support of Colin Kaepernick's decision not to stand for the national anthem.

I am sure that most of you remember that Sarah Palin damn near pulled a brain hamstring in anger over the fact that the 49ers quarter back did not stand up during the national anthem.

In her barely coherent words:

America - let's sack this ungrateful punk. Kaepernick - yeah, you're really "down with the oppressed" in this nation. Enjoying your $114 million contract, your previous adoring fans, sucking up a life of luxury... GOD AND COUNTRY GAVE YOU THIS OPPORTUNITY. You can't acknowledge that? Then on behalf of every Vet I'm privileged to know: GET THE HELL OUT. 

Well as it turns out, despite what she might tell her supporters, Palin does not speak for entire country nor for ALL members of the military.

My father, a Marine, served his country in Vietnam. He says "we're far from justice for all" #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/8jXspHSOE6

— Blake J. Stanfill (@ShimmiHendrix) August 31, 2016

I serve for his right to protest.. I don't serve for Police Brutality.. #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/Q6GUNTwHDO

— Airbnb Papi (@JoeOnDemand) August 31, 2016

#VeteransForKaepernick because I didn't volunteer to defend a country where police brutality is swept under the rug. pic.twitter.com/LtBkTvHHAn

— Baltic Avenue (@Baltic_Avenue) August 31, 2016

Free speech is free speech, all the time #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/tOGOmYe0bC

— Coleman Chase (@colemanachase) August 31, 2016

There are many more which you can find here.

I find it interesting that Dakota's response was much closer to the way these other military members saw the issue:

That flag stands for freedom and has nothing to do with the issue he is trying to portray. But, if he feels this is something he has to do, he should rock on. Because that’s what freedom is all about.

Perhaps she should take her cues from him before she goes off half cocked in the future. 

Former NFL running back accidentally shoots himself in the stomach, fatally.

Courtesy of The Detroit News: 

Former Central Michigan University and Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton Jr. died Tuesday after he accidentally shot himself in the stomach at a car dealership while reaching into a bag that held two firearms, officials said. 

Tipton’s death was confirmed Tuesday afternoon by the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday. 

“The department has been notified by staff at St John (Hospital on Moross) that the individual that suffered the gunshot wound has passed away due to his injuries,” Roseville Police Deputy Chief Donald Glandon wrote in a statement Tuesday. “Condolences to the family.” 

The shooting occurred as the 26-year-old Detroit native placed personal belongings into a bag containing the firearms, police said. It remained unclear Tuesday who owned the weapons or why Tipton was carrying them.

I think it says something really terrible about our society when we hear about an accidental shooting and breathe a sigh of relief when we learn it was an adult this time and not a child.

Or is that just me?

Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake release report accusing Pentagon of using taxpayer money to promote "paid patriotism" at sporting events.

Courtesy of USA Today: 

The Pentagon has paid more than $9 million to professional sports franchises the past four years, including $6.8 million to stage “paid patriotism” events, Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain disclosed Wednesday. 

The events ranged from full-field displays of the American flag to enlistment and re-enlistment ceremonies and emotional reunion events where a service member returns to the surprise of family members. 

“Unsuspecting audience members became the subjects of paid marketing campaigns rather than simply bearing witness to teams’ authentic, voluntary shows of support for the brave men and women who wear our nation’s uniform,” the report by the Arizona Republicans said. 

“It is hard to understand how a team accepting taxpayer funds to sponsor a military appreciation game, or to recognize wounded warriors or returning troops, can be construed as anything other than paid patriotism,” it states. McCain is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

According to Politico more than10 million dollars of taxpayer money has been spent in the last four years alone: 

In the report unveiled Wednesday, the two senators cataloged $879,000 spent by the Georgia Army National Guard with the Atlanta Falcons on color-guard performances and video board tributes and $450,000 spent by the same unit on the Atlanta Braves. Beyond Atlanta, investigators say the Defense Department paid the Seattle Sounders soccer team $128,000 over the past four years on “a compelling Army National Guard public service message” to be played at games and $115,000 spent was spent on the Indiana Pacers for perks including parking passes and access to a luxury conference room. College sports programs and NASCAR were also dinged by Flake and McCain, along with the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS. 

But the bulk of the spending was associated with the NFL, where four teams received more than $500,000 a piece over the past four years from Defense Department contracts. 

I actually wrote about this back in May where I suggested that this program has likely been going on for far longer than the four years cited in this investigation, and that it is quite likely that taxpayer money was spent in various other places as well, such as cable news channels and reality shows.

Personally I have a very strong suspicion that if one were to follow the trail of evidence that it would lead right up to Dick Cheney's secret super villain hideout.

Hmm, I wonder if it is because of things like this report which convinced Sarah Palin's pet Senator to suggest doing away with the Senate?

Hey you know all those awesome patriotic celebrations at NFL games? Well your taxes paid for those.

Courtesy of PBS: 

The United States Department of Defense paid the National Football League more than $5 million in taxpayer money between 2011 to 2014 to honor U.S. soldiers and veterans at games, an investigation revealed this week. 

Nearly $5.4 million was given to 14 NFL teams across the country, the bulk of which ($5.3 million) was supplied by the National Guard and the rest paid by the Army and Air Force, according to government records obtained by NJ.com. 

But instead of purely heartfelt salutes to soldiers from hometown football teams, the halftime segments were reportedly part of paid promotions under federal advertising contracts for the military. 

Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) called out the spending as an “egregious and unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars.” 

‘Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes; you get a good feeling in your heart,” Sen. Flake told NJ.com. “Then to find out they’re doing it because they’re compensated for it, it leaves you underwhelmed. It seems a little unseemly.”

Well now I just feel dirty. 

Okay here's the thing, I know this report only covers the years between 2011 and 2014, but does anybody really think this program started at that time?

I would suggest that this has been going on for quite some time.

I would also suggest that if the government pays the NFL this kind of money to promote the military that it is highly likely there is tax payer money flowing to other places to promote them as well.

Such as, oh I don't know, certain cable outlets? The budgets of pro-military Hollywood movies perhaps? Or how about former politicians turned reality show personalities?

That would explain some things, wouldn't it?

All I know is that now when I see what appears to be a spontaneous celebration of our American troops. my first thought will be, "Gee I wonder how much THEY were paid?"

Chris Christie spent over $82,000 of tax payer money on snacks at football games.

Courtesy of New York Magazine:  

New Jersey governor Chris Christie is a big football fan, but he is also apparently a big fan of snacks at football stadiums. According to New Jersey Watchdog, Christie reportedly spent over $82,000 of taxpayer money on concessions at MetLife Stadium. 

Christie paid for food and drinks at MetLife with a debit card 58 times over the 2010 and 2011 NFL seasons, accruing a bill of $82,594. That means he spent an average of nearly $1,500 on food and drinks every time he attended a football game.

Apparently the money came out of a $95,000  fund he is given quarterly to be "used for official receptions on behalf of the state, the operation of an official residence, for other expenses."

He gets $95,000 every three months? That is $390,000 annually. And he spends this much of it for food at football games?

How many hot dogs can one man eat?

I used to simply think we could not afford to have Chris Christie in the White House due to his abrasive nature, slippery relationship with the truth, and his conservative politics.

But now I wonder if we could even afford to feed him if he were the President of the United States.

By the way the Washington Post suggests several ways that Christie could have better spent that $82,594.

This is how some members of the St. Louis Rams took the field today.

"Hands up, don't shoot."

Courtesy of Sports Illustrated:

 Five St. Louis Rams players took the field for Sunday's home game against the Oakland Raiders with a "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" pose that has been used by protestors in Ferguson, Missouri, and across the country recently. 

 The five players who were shown doing the gesture on CBS were Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt.

The Grand Jury might have handed in its decision, but it seems this issue is far from over.