Random News and Notes 2 June
On this date in 1924 Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act. Before the Civil War, citizenship was often limited to Native Americans of one-half or less Indian blood. In the Reconstruction period, progressive Republicans in Congress sought to accelerate the granting of citizenship to friendly tribes, though state support for these measures was often limited. In 1888, most Native American women married to U.S. citizens were conferred with citizenship, and in 1919 Native American veterans of World War I were offered citizenship. The 1924 act conferred citizenship on all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States.
Today in 1935, Babe Ruth, one of the greatest players in the history of baseball, ends his Major League playing career after 22 seasons, 10 World Series and 714 home runs. The following year, Ruth, a larger-than-life figure whose name became synonymous with baseball, was one of the first five players inducted into the sport’s hall of fame.
Many of the records Ruth set remained in place for decades. His career homerun record stood until 1974, when it was broken by Hank Aaron. Ruth’s record of 60 homeruns in a single season (1927) of 154 games wasn’t bested until 1961, when Roger Maris knocked out 61 homers in an extended season of 162 games. The Sultan of Swat’s career slugging percentage of .690 remains the highest in Major League history.
We start the news in DC where President Trump has appointed FHFA Director William J. Pulte, 37, as acting Director of National Intelligence filling the vacancy left by Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation on May 22 to care for her husband with bone cancer. Pulte, a homebuilding heir with no prior intelligence background, will keep his housing finance roles overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and over $10 trillion in assets.
I am not convinced this is a good appointment. Pulte has zero experience in intelligence or geopolitics. We’ll see I guess.
Four men face federal charges after authorities discovered a sophisticated cross-border tunnel from Tijuana to a Buy 4 Less store in Otay Mesa, California that was used to smuggle 1,029 kilograms of cocaine into San Diego. The passageway plunged 55 feet deep, with reinforced walls, rails, ventilation, and electricity, linked to Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
U.S. and Mexican teams seized the drugs, ammunition, and other contraband in coordinated raids. This is the 99th such tunnel found since 1993.
Staying in the land of Fruits and Nuts, today is primary day in California. There are a couple of high profile races that may change – at least temporarily – the trajectory of the state. The left in Cali instituted a ‘jungle primary’ as a way to ensure that they had an insurmountable advantage in general elections. The top 2 vote getters in a given contest advance regardless of party affiliation. That has led to a large number of contests like the 2016 and 2018 US Senate races where the only candidates were Dems. There has never been a race where there have been two R’s facing off.
For the governor’s race, it looks like – based on polling data – that we will be looking at Steve Hilton (R) v Xavier Beccera (d) matchup. The LA mayor’s race is closer. Too close to call really. The three top candidates are all within a point or two, and well within the margin of error. Incumbent – and complete disaster – Karen Bass is the current leader in the polls with 26%, DSA city council member Nithya Raman is tied with Reality TV star Spencer Pratt at 25%.
There will be more coverage of these contests tomorrow, or later, depending on when the results come in.Ca
Frontier Flight 3345 from San Juan to Chicago diverted to Miami late Sunday after a passenger tried opening the emergency exit. Video shows a man in a Jiu-Jitsu shirt leading the restraint effort with calm composure, assisted by others, until the plane landed safely with no injuries.
For the record, it would have been impossible for the retard to actually open the emergency door while in flight. The design does not allow them to open while the cabin remains pressurized. That said, I’m knocking him the fuck out if I was anywhere close to the door when it happened.