RINGSIDE POLITICS – FEBRUARY 8, 2021

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Welcome to another edition of Ringside Politics with Jeff Crouere

Today’s Hot Topics:

1) Eleven months ago, it was inconceivable that quarterback Tom Brady would choose, of all teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to continue his football journey.

Equally implausible was that this partnership — forged in an offseason ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, with little time to connect with new teammates or master a new playbook — would yield Brady’s 10th Super Bowl appearance and seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy.

At the age of 43. On his home turf at Raymond James Stadium.

But on Sunday night, playing in front of the first hometown crowd in Super Bowl history and 7,500 health care workers, Brady and the Buccaneers defeated Patrick Mahomes and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs 31-9, giving the Bucs their second Lombardi trophy. Brady was 21-of-29 passing for 201 yards and three touchdowns, including two to tight end Rob Gronkowski.

2) President Joe Biden said there was no particular reason why he hadn’t yet spoken with China’s Xi Jinping, and promised a different kind of relationship with Beijing from his predecessor.

“Well, we haven’t had occasion to talk to one another yet,” Biden said Sunday in a interview with CBS recorded Friday. “There’s no reason not to call him.”

Biden added that he knew Xi “pretty well” after eight years as Barack Obama’s vice president. “I’ve probably spent more time with Xi Jinping I’m told than any world leader has,” he said.

3) U.S. Sen. Rand Paul declared former President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial “dead on arrival” on Tuesday after 45 Senate Republicans voted against holding the proceeding, viewing it as unconstitutional.

Rand, a Kentucky Republican, had called for a procedural vote regarding holding a trial, claiming the Senate shouldn’t address the article of impeachment against Trump filed by the House this month because Trump is now out of office.

If a trial were to proceed, Trump would become the first former president to face an impeachment trial.

In Paul’s view, the votes of 45 Republicans against holding a trial proved his point – and likely rendered any upcoming trial to be moot.

4) The Wyoming Republican Party voted Saturday to formally censure Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 Republican in the House, for her vote to impeach former President Donald Trump in the latest example of a state GOP punishing lawmakers who have bucked the former President.

Today’s Guests:

1) Dan Lechance, Retired Army Officer/Department Civilian Employee, National Sheepdog Leader – joins the show to talk about sheepdog efforts.

2) Chad Rogers, Publisher of TheDeadPelican.com; Ringside All-Star – joins the show to take callers and share his unique, pessimistic outlook on the future.