Rodger Payne

Baseball (@Royals , @LouisvilleBSB & @SABR), @KUhoops, music, movies, books, craft beer, my politics, etc. Professional account: @rodgerpayne

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

40 years ago today, Mark Gidley and I won the 1983 National Debate Tournament held at Colorado College.

https://t.co/POOblnWDxn

[The Lincoln Project @ProjectLincoln]

You’ve heard Trump say these things before. But not like this.

[The Lincoln Project @ProjectLincoln]

The most respected Republicans you know are not voting for Donald Trump. They know a vote for Trump is a vote against America.

[Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump]

GOP Senator Mike Lee: “If anyone spoke to my wife, or my daughter…the way Mr. Trump has spoken to women, I wouldn’t hire that person, wouldn’t want to be associated with that person, and I certainly don’t think I’d be comfortable hiring that person to be the leader of the free world.”
(October 2016)

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@ByJoeDavis Ump was killing them on the borders of the strike zone.

[Rep. Mickey Dollens @MickeyDollens]

Last week, I predicted that State Superintendent Walters would attempt to spend $6 million in taxpayer dollars on Trump-sold Bibles, priced at $60. This week, the State Education Department released an urgent “competitive” bid proposal for 55,000 copies of the King James Bible, which must include: “the Pledge of Allegiance, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and be bound in leather or leather-like material.”

Trump's Bible fits these exact specifications, excluding all vendors except the one endorsed by and financially benefiting Trump.

I call on House and Senate leadership, as well as the Attorney General, to take immediate action to halt this grift and ensure responsible use of taxpayer dollars. I urge them to hold accountable those seeking to exploit our education system for profit.

https://t.co/7oOS8jrwHc

[Rep. Mickey Dollens @MickeyDollens]

This is what it looks like when Christian Nationalism attempts to take over public education. The State Superintendent of Oklahoma public schools wants to spend millions of your tax dollars to purchase Bibles, which he demands be taught in public school classrooms beyond just world history and social studies.

When asked which version he preferred, he specified the King James Version but added that it could include other key historical documents, such as the Constitution. Conveniently, the "Trump Bible" is the King James Version and includes the U.S. Constitution.

Public schools are not Sunday schools. The State Superintendent and numerous GOP politicians in Oklahoma are on a Christian nationalist crusade to impose their religious agenda on everyone else's children.

Here are some recent proposals introduced in Oklahoma that are rooted in Christian nationalism:

- Mandating the Bible in public schools.
- Designating the Bible as the Official State Book.
- Establishing the nation’s first taxpayer-funded religious charter school.
- Displaying the Ten Commandments at the state capitol.
- Mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom.
- Using Bible verses to justify spanking children with disabilities in school.
- Creating religious school tax credits.
- Banning the teaching of evolution in public schools.
- The governor claiming “every square inch” of the state of Oklahoma for Jesus Christ.

These are clear attacks on religious freedom. We are a constitutional republic—a form of democracy, NOT a theocracy.

More people across the U.S. need to pay attention to what’s happening in Oklahoma.

It’s also important to note that students can and do bring their Bible, Torah, Quran, Bhagavad Gita, Avesta, etc., into classrooms. However, forcing religious texts into classrooms by the government is a violation of the freedom of religion. The Bible is already available for free access through district-assisted devices.

[John Fugelsang @JohnFugelsang]

Because they got fined 3/4 of a billion $ for spreading lies to help steal the last election?

[Liz Cheney @Liz_Cheney]

Let’s be clear: This is illegal and unconstitutional. The American people had voted. The courts had ruled. The Electoral College had met and voted. The Governor in every state had certified the results and sent a legal slate of electors to the Congress to be counted. The Vice President has no constitutional authority to tell states to submit alternative slates of electors because his candidate lost. That is tyranny. Our institutions held on Jan 6 because Mike Pence refused to violate his oath to the Constitution. Trump picked JD Vance because Vance will do whatever Trump wants, including violating the Constitution. They are both far too dangerous to serve. It’s our duty to stop them.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@SABRbioproject @Topps In the center of my computer screen for over a decade.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@ratesandbarrels @enosarris @DerekVanRiper Taylor Ward might be angry with Jays because Alex Manoah hit him in the face with a pitch last year and ended his season.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@DBLesky The Royals have won.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@spmancuso Hey KC has a top quarter run differential. It's hard to believe but the team is actually playing below their Pythagorean wins number by 4 wins

Base runs stat on @fangraphs is not as kind but still sees as very near playoff team 68-56. That's above Astros, Braves, Ms, and Mets.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

Going into today's games the @Royals have a better run differential than the @Orioles and are tied with the @CleGuardians. Actually, those AL Central teams trail only the @Yankees and @Phillies !!

https://t.co/oSQOqPih0V

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@ratesandbarrels @enosarris @Britt_Ghiroli @DerekVanRiper Cardinals btw will need some magic because they are also -44.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@ratesandbarrels @enosarris @Britt_Ghiroli @DerekVanRiper Rays know what they are: -44 runs differential as of today. It was -51 Monday when they were likely negotiating.

KC, a competitor for wild card, is +75. Red Sox+25. Twins +36.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@SorenPetro @jazayerli Also from 1975 to 1989, George Brett never slugged below .450. Witt deserves to follow a better leadoff hitter, but Brett was a power hitter leading off. McRae hit second. Whitey wanted to maximize their plate appearances.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

@SorenPetro @jazayerli By run differential KC is 7th in MLB at +71. Rays are 24th at -50. I'm a long way into the podcast and no one has mentioned this.

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

.@WeTheHobby Visiting family in Rochester this weekend after traveling to Canada. Any interest in a Vlad bobblehead from the Monday game?

[Derek Thompson @DKThomp]

New Harris-Guardian poll:

- 56% say US is in recession (reality: 7 straight quarters of positive GDP growth)
- 49% say stocks are down YTD (reality: S&P500 up 12%)
- 49% say unemployment at a 50-year high (reality: U3 has been under 4% longer than any period since the 1960s)

[Rodger Payne @rapayn01]

On May 22, almost one-third of the way through the 2024 season, the @Royals are 32-19. That's a 101.5 win pace.

Incredible.