Transcript
Dave Margolis: Okay, so we kind of have a truncated version of Laughing Liberally Arizona that we're going to get into right now. And Phil, you had some thoughts on the recent GOP. convention the midterm convention which has never happened before but you have some thoughts on that why don't you share with us
Phil Gordon: Yes, I did, Dave. I wanted to start by saying that... Yeah The Trump, of course, at the 25th anniversary of 9 -11.
Phil Gordon: Couldn't help but saying something stupid. And he did of course, when he claimed that he was carried out. e Ground zero on 9 -11. Fire. Too big fireman day. Big strug fireman. Big, you should have seen the mitts on these guys. They grabbed my ass so hard. Like I used to spank him, Uncle Dave.
Dave Margolis: black
Phil Gordon: And they carried me away from the collapsing tower. And Dave, of course... Let me just point out, though. For once, it was not total bullshit. ah It didn't happen exactly the way Trump said it, but it turns out.
Phil Gordon: about a week later Trump was seen being carried out of the mineshaft bar in New York. by two shirtless men in so just suspenders and tight...
Phil Gordon: yellow flame -retardant pants.
Dave Margolis: but
Phil Gordon: So finally, a little germ of truth. You know, Dave. Trump is 80 years old now, I believe. and Why can't he just admit that he'd like to be one of the village people?
Dave Margolis: have that
Phil Gordon: I mean, come on. He can be the Indian chief. And he repeated. the 9 -11 story in Dallas last week. at the Republican Midterm Convention.
Phil Gordon: And Trump... but boasted that the event was a complete sellout. And Dave, all of us felt it was a complete sellout. And it turns out.
Phil Gordon: It was the largest gathering of its kind. since the 1938 Anschlucht rally in Nuremberg. to celebrate the annexation of Austria Can you imagine the size of that rally when we annex Greenland, Dave?
Dave Margolis: oh Crazy.
Phil Gordon: One big surprise at the event was the appearance of Pennsylvania. Democratic Senator John Fetterman. who introduced his fellow Pennsylvania Republican.
Phil Gordon: Senate colleague and endorsed him. Ask if he was switching caps. Fetterman said no, he... Mike's the tinfoil hat he's wearing now.
Phil Gordon: Somehow I've got to stop that day. There we go. It wasn't that funny. No, no for his casual dress day
Phil Gordon: Fetterman. i felt very comfy. At the... Republican rally because they got him a white hoodie and a white robe to wear at the convention.
Phil Gordon: There's ah much speculation, Dave. on what triggered these changes in Fetterman. Some think it may have been his roommate at the stroke treatment center.
Phil Gordon: Mitch McConnell. And the surprises kept coming, Dave, at the convention. You were probably listening when Trump said. if the Republicans win control of Congress.
Phil Gordon: He's going to issue a $5 ,000 dividend to all Americans.
Dave Margolis: mutton
Phil Gordon: Wow. I'm Dave. before everyone gets too excited. It is going to be paid out in Trump Bitcoin. So it's worth about a buck and a half, Dave.
Phil Gordon: This, by the way, is the same five thousand dollar incentive offer. that he made to Don Jr. and Eric. Trump if they ever were to finish high school.
Phil Gordon: And then Melania Dave was much more savvy in her prenuptial agreement with Donald. she She took the Bitcoin. but added a clause where she never has to touch him below the waist.
Dave Margolis: assessment of movement
Phil Gordon: And Dave. Democrats are staged the programming counter to the Republican event. For example, Gavin Newsom. held an income equality food drive at the French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley.
Phil Gordon: Admission was one can of food for millionaires. and two cans of food for billionaires. Kamala Harris, Dave, has not yet declared her intentions for 2028. She's still waiting to see which way the coconuts are falling, Dave.
Phil Gordon: And finally... Bernie Sanders and AOC held a... Democratic Socialist Party rally. to celebrate Zohan Mandami and the candidacy of Abdul El -Sayed.
Phil Gordon: asked if there was a manifesto. that explains how they will govern. Bernie Redd from an IKEA instruction manual.
Dave Margolis: foot that
Phil Gordon: First... You organize all the pieces. Then you control the means of production, Dave. Medicare for all! Where are my mittens? I can't feel my fingers!
Phil Gordon: and that's it Dave
Dave Margolis: We'll be right back. Very good. Very nice reporting there.
Phil Gordon: Thank you, Dave.
Dave Margolis: on all that and uh
Dave Margolis: Yeah, what's ah you know, I have to say... yeah The Mitch McConnell story is one of the strangest ones. I mean... Annals of the Senate. that you have a guy who Well, we sought to be dead for a while.
Dave Margolis: uh now he's back on the scene but i mean you know he's he's he's in bad shape i mean he is it's it's It's so reminiscent of Weekend at Bernie's it's hardly even making a point because it's not funny anymore.
Phil Gordon: I know, David. It's reminiscent, you know, I think we've shared with our audience. If not, ah I'm happy to. It was just about a year ago or so. I was really ill.
Phil Gordon: I had to be in a wheelchair and you wheeled me. into the Casino del Sol so we could watch the baseball playoffs together. and I think I was doing better than Mitch McConnell.
Dave Margolis: There's no question about it.
Phil Gordon: What's your opinion? You've seen us both in a wheelchair.
Dave Margolis: you you were You were responsive. You knew where you were. You you know you were you were fine. you just needed to be a wheelchair but mitch is uh
Phil Gordon: As I recall, i I suffered one impairment, Dave, where I had bet on the Toronto Blue Jays.
Dave Margolis: important i don't I don't know how... You know, like the differences obviously that we have with Trump and that we have with McConnell. aside, these are two men who are in very, very bad health and it seems...
Dave Margolis: it just seems wrong to me that we're We're just pretending. Everything's fine. You know, we're we're not. I mean, Trump never takes a question from anybody saying you know Mr. President, do you think what do you think world leaders think when they see you falling asleep? or you know none of them none of us None of us ever questioned, you know.
Dave Margolis: um
Phil Gordon: ah He seems to have gone the other way, Dave, and is eliminating those that might ask that question.
Dave Margolis: well that's what i was going to say it's like well they weren't asking those questions anyway why throw them out but
Phil Gordon: Yeah. Well, we will see. Interesting that the press says... stuck together and refused to cover some events that he's participating in.
Phil Gordon: We will see. It's a very interesting First Amendment issue to be sure. And the.
Dave Margolis: you you Did you notice so when Caitlin Collins showed up at the UM? for a big thing that he was saying to her.
Phil Gordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: you're not supposed to be here you can't cover me it's like he feels like he's the The banishment he set down... It covers the entire earth, but you can never... It's like a restraining order. She's not even close to it.
Dave Margolis: you
Phil Gordon: I bet she's smiling now, Dave.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: fair
Dave Margolis: books
Phil Gordon: Oh. let's see Uh... Certainly. More to talk about it on the political scene, but that'll be covered in... future. um Laughing liberally, Arizonas.
Phil Gordon: By the way, take just let me take a second, Dave, to thank everybody for... Joining us here on Laughing Liberally Arizona, we've had such great comments. Please watch us on Apple Podcasts.
Phil Gordon: See you tomorrow, ciao! Find our podcast right here on Zencaster. where we record the show. And I believe very soon on Spotify as well, Dave. We're working on that right now.
Phil Gordon: with our Zencaster robot. who loves the show, Dave. And, uh... We thank everybody for watching. Tell your friends. Please like us and... Subscribe and review us if you can.
Phil Gordon: And that's it for this one. this week's commercial day.
Dave Margolis: Well, I noticed also that a couple of our podcast from when we were doing. uh Is this on? ITO, they're also available there too, if anybody wants.
Phil Gordon: That's right.
Dave Margolis: Check those out.
Phil Gordon: That's very true
Dave Margolis: we've got political things on there i think carville is from one of those and
Phil Gordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: Look at there too.
Phil Gordon: It's funny. On our laughing liberally. Arizona Facebook page Dave we occasionally get a comment. and We got a very lovely comment. and a big like.
Phil Gordon: From a viewer who somehow watched... One of those. promos we did years ago for a let for an show with you talking to Trump on a golf course.
Dave Margolis: Oh, if I remember that one.
Phil Gordon: And it wasn' it was funny, but it's funny that he just saw it now or or decided to rewatch it now.
Dave Margolis: but
Phil Gordon: so ah They never go away. We're happy. We're we ah glad you like them. in the past. We hope you like them, Marlon. We hope you'll stay with us like him in the future. Dave, by the way.
Phil Gordon: You had a special guest there, your cat. Please introduce.
Dave Margolis: Where's my cat? over here. Okay. Ah, she's thinking about it. That's my cat, Caddy. and she Since I got a dog, as you know, I got my dog Cleon this year.
Dave Margolis: Okay.
Phil Gordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: has still not come to terms with that and she's basically in a bad mood all the time. and and wandering around. and She gets the upstairs, he gets the downstairs, and i'm i'm I'm amazed that he's not, that he, the dog, has not interrupted over.
Dave Margolis: Broadcast here because usually he gets a little Restless if I'm not around him for too long and then he starts
Phil Gordon: Okay, well, that that... could be said also for my two dogs today that are behaving quite well.
Dave Margolis: mean i couldn did We have a good boy though. so as
Phil Gordon: Well wonderful Great to see you, Dave. Great to be here with you for another Laughing Liberally Arizona. you know, uh, This show is going to air quite early in October. It'll be in the heart of the baseball playoffs, Dave.
Phil Gordon: And you and I love to talk baseball. we're being a little risky here and that the playoffs may have started. by the time the people hear this discussion, but I'm willing to put myself out there with my predictions.
Phil Gordon: And it sounds like you are too. Dave, ah what are your overall thoughts as we enter this playoff?
Dave Margolis: Well, I was preaching.
Phil Gordon: picture which is not quite fully resolved yet.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, it's not resolved yet.
Dave Margolis: But it probably will be. By the time people watch this so we don't know but we know that In the American League... and The Blue Jays have clinched. The Yankees will be a wildcard team.
Phil Gordon: Hey, the Blue Jays have not clenched.
Dave Margolis: Well, they'll be they'll be in the postseason.
Phil Gordon: That's not for certain, but let's start let's start with the division winners.
Dave Margolis: Okay, i thought the I thought the Blue Jays were... ah We're ahead of the Yankees in the East. and
Phil Gordon: Oh no, sir.
Dave Margolis: No.
Phil Gordon: That's Tampa Bay.
Dave Margolis: Hmm. Okay. okay
Phil Gordon: So the the leaders in the... the American League days. Cleveland currently in the central. The White Sox one game back. Uh... Tampa Bay.
Phil Gordon: well ahead of New York by six games, probably mathematically.
Dave Margolis: events fair enough
Phil Gordon: Clenched. The Yankees, followed quick by Boston. Both probably. wild cards. And in the AL West, a very close race between Houston and Texas.
Phil Gordon: I believe Houston has that tiebreaker advantage. and they are currently tied. So that's really coming down to the wire.
Dave Margolis: Well, the technical...
Phil Gordon: Then gave up in the National League. Atlanta. leads the East quite significantly over the Phillies. I think they have clinched. Milwaukee ran away with it in the central With the Cubs in second.
Phil Gordon: And in the West. The Dodgers 10 games ahead of the San Diego Padres. As we move into the wild card. In the...
Phil Gordon: American League, Dave. The Yankees. are significantly in the first place wildcard spot, followed by Boston. who are currently three games ahead of the White Sox.
Phil Gordon: And... The White Sox are three games ahead of Texas. Toronto four games back. of that third wild card spot. In the National League, Dave.
Phil Gordon: The Cubs are...
Dave Margolis: you
Phil Gordon: Tied with the Phillies. in the first place wildcard spot. where I believe the Cubs... hold the tiebreaker advantage. Followed by San Diego. solidly in the Third place wildcard spot.
Phil Gordon: with Arizona on life support. At four games behind.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, so good.
Phil Gordon: So that's the playoff picture as of September 23rd.
Dave Margolis: So the Diamondbacks would have to just...
Phil Gordon: And...
Dave Margolis: Pretty much. run the board. so Sure. to get there.
Phil Gordon: and still probably need some help.
Dave Margolis: uh Yeah, they still need some help, yeah. um
Phil Gordon: Yeah. And maybe reactivate Randy Johnson, Dave.
Dave Margolis: Luis Gonzalez, yeah. Curt Schilling. um
Phil Gordon: There you go
Dave Margolis: Yeah, that's exciting. now so the the the Well, ah the... White sex is still battling for the... for for the first place in the Central.
Phil Gordon: for first place.
Dave Margolis: central
Phil Gordon: And if they tie, they will they will get it.
Dave Margolis: But they are. They're in... Are they in good shape for the wild card, or are they still...
Phil Gordon: they're Oh, they're in very good shape for the third wild card.
Dave Margolis: Thank you very much.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: Or a second wild card.
Dave Margolis: Uh -huh. Okay.
Phil Gordon: uh and uh That will be determined by... Play this week. for our fans that are not. Yes, yes. link to baseball as we are, Dave.
Phil Gordon: They no longer have those playoffs when there's a tie. Remember, there used to be a one -game playoff. the great Giants -Dodgers one of 60. two, I believe.
Dave Margolis: Yep.
Phil Gordon: and um There have been others. but now it's based on your play versus the other team.
Dave Margolis: right
Phil Gordon: So that's why the White Sox who had. the season better record over Cleveland. Have that tiebreaker. That's why the Cubs. who had the better record over the Phillies.
Phil Gordon: have that tiebreaker in the National.
Dave Margolis: Now they would still fill the basket question though
Phil Gordon: Snoop.
Dave Margolis: The Mets had a... The Mets had a series with the Phillies, and it was that's the one where Howie Rose has retired members last game. And there was a concern that that game would be rained out because the weather was terrible there in New York. If that game had been rained out, wouldn't they still replay it if they needed to?
Dave Margolis: You're welcome.
Phil Gordon: And that, Dave, is why they have that day off for everyone. when the season closes.
Dave Margolis: okay yeah
Phil Gordon: So they would use that day. for that game. If it's a... has a bearing on any of the playoff.
Dave Margolis: okay
Dave Margolis: But if... but if
Phil Gordon: intentions.
Dave Margolis: because that game was lost to the weather. but other than that if there's a tie it's all sorted out by the tiebreakers.
Phil Gordon: Correct. But if that game would determine if there's a tie, they will play it.
Dave Margolis: Now, I noticed now the Mets currently now, we're on the 23rd of September. are playing Texas. And I think that they, when they won yesterday, I think that knocked Texas a game below 500.
Dave Margolis: So there is it is possible to go into the postseason with a losing record. It's never happened before but it could happen this year
Phil Gordon: I have those stats in front of me, Dave.
Dave Margolis: i think
Phil Gordon: You are correct. Texas is 78 and 79.
Phil Gordon: Uh... he Has the team ever gone to the playoffs? with a below 500 record, I'm going to say yes. There was some pretty weak
Dave Margolis: Um.
Phil Gordon: AL and NL Central teams years ago, Dave.
Dave Margolis: Well... Before the divisional play, it would have been impossible. Oh.
Phil Gordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: With divisional play it... was possible. I don't know that it's happened. Um, But I, in fact, I was talking about the 1973 World Series before that year, the Mets got to the World Series. They'd won only 82 games all year. They were just they got above 500 right before the end of the season.
Dave Margolis: With the expanded wildcard, I don't know if anybody has gone in with a losing record, but it's it's quite possible that it may happen this year.
Phil Gordon: it It quite possibly could, Dave. Houston. who is currently Leading in the... NL West. has the same record, 78 and 79.
Dave Margolis: okay
Phil Gordon: but I believe they hold that tiebreaker.
Dave Margolis: Yep.
Phil Gordon: So that's why they're listed as the division leader at this point.
Dave Margolis: But everybody's got...
Phil Gordon: Yeah.
Dave Margolis: What five games left and so you know Exactly.
Phil Gordon: and maybe less.
Dave Margolis: They gotta win more than that, so.
Phil Gordon: Yeah.
Dave Margolis: It's interesting.
Phil Gordon: It'll be quite interesting. well let's
Dave Margolis: i
Phil Gordon: We've given that groundwork. Let's assume... What happens happens, but assume in your head what you think will happen. And where do you see the playoffs going, Dave?
Dave Margolis: Well, I'll say this. i' mostly you know I'm mostly familiar with... the with the teams because of when they play the Mets and I've said this before that the two teams that really impressed me and that really that really seemed very very tough would be milwaukee
Phil Gordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: and and Tampa Bay. That they both played them very very hard and it seems to be and a very much like they both have very solid teams top to bottom some teams have
Phil Gordon: Okay.
Dave Margolis: stars that kind of lead the way. you know the yankees are with that aaron judge the rest of the way that might may have an impact The Yankees have nothing to worry about as far as getting a postseason. um um, But...
Dave Margolis: Those, I would say Milwaukee and Tampa Bay impressed me the most of the teams that the Mets have played. texas Texas, you know, they they have a losing record, but they could be in the postseason, but they...
Phil Gordon: I... yeah
Dave Margolis: they based on last night's game and from what I've i've known about him, pretty sloppy fielding. All right. same thing i think is true i think that's also the case with the yankees And when you have teams that have...
Dave Margolis: fielding issues, boy, they they get... exploited in postseason if you give you're you're playing against great teams and if you give them extra outs. They're going to take advantage of it. so um Of course, the Dodgers can always go on a roll.
Dave Margolis: You never know if the brain is good.
Phil Gordon: They can do. One team, you have it. Talk much about is Atlanta Braves. And that is a very, very solid team. And when you have a...
Phil Gordon: A pitching staff led by Chris Sale. in a short series ah You might go places. I think. god i I would agree with you with Tampa Bay coming out of the American League. I think they've been knocking on the door for several years.
Phil Gordon: This was a very solid season for them. They're... Third baseman Cam Monero. You'd certainly have to consider among the MVP candidates in the American League. He's a wonderful player.
Phil Gordon: And as is. The Houston's. um You guys are gonna hit her, Dave.
Dave Margolis: No doubt about it.
Phil Gordon: His name escaped. Your Don Alvarez. that's going to be quite a race for MVP. But I'd have to agree with you that I think Tampa Bay. We'll come out of that Division VIII.
Phil Gordon: I hate make no secret that I'm a White Sox fan if you look behind me. I've got the the big bling and the pro pack. Hanging right there, Dave. I'm so delighted to see the White Sox in the playoffs in some degree.
Phil Gordon: I still would love to see them win the division, which would mean they would get a bye. and have home field advantage in the division playoff. Don't know that that'll happen. Hope so.
Phil Gordon: But I do am quite confident they'll make the playoffs. And that is such an achievement for a team. that lost 100 games for the last three years. So hats off to the White Sox.
Dave Margolis: Absolutely, yeah.
Phil Gordon: and I cannot wait to see them in the playoffs. It's been a very exciting year. I'd have to say. Well, venable. they're a manager Boy, surely you ought to get consideration for manager of the year.
Dave Margolis: sure yeah Absolutely. Yeah.
Phil Gordon: And that'll be exciting. So I'd say I see Tampa Bay coming out of the. American League. And on the National League, Dave. I have a feeling it's going to be.
Phil Gordon: Atlanta versus LA Dodgers. and Based on the pitching, I think Atlanta may just... Make it this year.
Dave Margolis: yeah
Phil Gordon: And. I'm looking forward to some great games You and I. yeah I'd like to watch some of these games at the casino. I hope we'll do that again over a plate of their wonderful nachos Dave and we're open.
Dave Margolis: Got to.
Phil Gordon: We are open to sponsorship from Casino del Sol for sure.
Dave Margolis: No.
Phil Gordon: Uh, Well, I'll say that about him regardless of whether there are sponsors or not. And what a series it's going to be.
Dave Margolis: know
Phil Gordon: the The Phillies could make some noise, a team very well set up for a short series in the playoffs. that anyone with Kyle Schwarber is going to be very dangerous.
Dave Margolis: Well, I would say this that the Phillies have a weakness, which is their bullpen. And like I said, with fielding, it's like if you, you know, a weak bullpen, it's going to get exploited in the postseason.
Dave Margolis: It will get to you. and
Phil Gordon: and Isn't that interesting, Dave? It looked like... Dad. gone a long way in the offseason inquiring the great reliever Duran. who was previously with the Twins.
Phil Gordon: But he hasn't been so automatic with the Phillies.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, it's really funny.
Phil Gordon: So we will see.
Dave Margolis: The fascinating interesting thing, and I've never really heard an explanation for it, but you'll have players who are picked up at the at the deadline. who are having great years.
Phil Gordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: and then And then they go to their new club. And it's gone. It's terrible. that you know you You see these guys that just blow up after they've been traded and there's really no explanation for it. um And so you don't know.
Dave Margolis: No.
Phil Gordon: It's true, Dave. Even the case of the White Sox, they... tried to fill that same hole of late inning relief with Sir Anthony Dominguez.
Dave Margolis: Mm hmm.
Phil Gordon: It was a big sign, certainly an expensive sign. by White Sox standards. of the The nachos at Casino del Sol are inexpensive. proposition for Jerry Reinstorf, usually.
Phil Gordon: But he didn't pan out, and they they traded him at the deadline.
Dave Margolis: Yep.
Phil Gordon: And still, that's quite a hole, that.
Dave Margolis: Yes, sir.
Phil Gordon: uh late in enclosure
Dave Margolis: Yeah. Yep.
Dave Margolis: So.
Phil Gordon: Well, Dave.
Dave Margolis: I haven't heard you chime in on one thing. I'm very interested in your opinion on who the National League MVP might be, Phil.
Phil Gordon: well ah You know...
Dave Margolis: Okay.
Phil Gordon: and We've had this discussion offline, Dave. I'm going to say the leader certainly is going to be the Cubs' Pete Crow Armstrong. we didn't mention the cubs much who could certainly make a run in the postseason.
Phil Gordon: There was the very, very... Whoa! untimely and awkward injury to Alex Bregman.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: Off a foul ball.
Dave Margolis: yeah Yep.
Phil Gordon: It made me think, Dave. Didn't we ever rule? In the tots, the Tucson old timers, when we played hardball, you had to be behind like a little screen, wasn't it?
Phil Gordon: When you were on the Yandex Circle?
Dave Margolis: ah Yeah, I don't remember that. i don't remember
Phil Gordon: There were a ton of safety measures.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: And as I recall, I think there was a little screen in front of the dugout you had to be behind.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: Boy, does that ever make sense. Although the... Medical report on him is not horrible.
Dave Margolis: Yes.
Phil Gordon: They do think he may even be able to play by the weekend. No broken bones.
Dave Margolis: yeah Yeah.
Phil Gordon: On a 54. Viewers missed it. He was in the on -deck circle, actually a little out of the on -deck circle towards the batter. and a foul ball glanced directly into his cheek.
Dave Margolis: no
Phil Gordon: And a reminiscence of the the old Tony Canigliero. hit by pitch injury. You could not even see his eyeball. It was swollen shut. They feared broken bones. and maybe vision problems.
Dave Margolis: yeah
Phil Gordon: But the early reports are good. So we're happy about that, of course.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, I mean he looked like he looked like he'd been shot When you watched it, he just like... boom you know like that and uh
Phil Gordon: Oh yeah.
Dave Margolis: um Yeah, I don't know what they're going to do. You know, when they had, ah you know, they they started having base coaches wear helmets after there was. uh you know Terrible. injury i guess death of a minor league coach getting hit with a ball down the third baseline uh i don't know what they'll do about that because i wouldn't really want to have a i wouldn't
Phil Gordon: yeah
Dave Margolis: I don't know if I want to have a screen set up there that's going to be a um obstacle for fielders going after foul balls obviously the catcher or things like that other than just letting them stay in the dugout. but I don't know what they're going to do about that.
Dave Margolis: i mean we've had We've had, you know, a million baseball games in the history of baseball.
Phil Gordon: All right, Dave.
Dave Margolis: And as far as we know, it's the first time this has ever happened. But you hate to say, like, oh, well, it'll never happen again, because it might. And it was was shocking. It was too bad. It could have been proven very serious.
Phil Gordon: Okay, well, a great. A great discussion. Let's wrap this segment up because we do want to talk about the Arizona issue with. the empowerment scholarships.
Phil Gordon: So Dave.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: very quickly. your World Series opponents.
Dave Margolis: I would think I would at this point go with the Brewers. and and Tampa Bay.
Phil Gordon: And I am going to go with Atlanta. versus Tampa Bay, Dave. So, fairly east coast. combatance We will see.
Dave Margolis: and i do And I do not want a Dodger -Yankee World Series. That'd be my my least favorite World Series.
Phil Gordon: Okay.
Dave Margolis: It'd be Dodger -Yankee.
Phil Gordon: You are on the record, Dave. We'll continue to report on the status of the playoffs as we go forward. You're tuned. to Laughing Liberally Arizona with Dave Margolis and Phil Gordon. Dave, we emphasize the Arizona part of our show often, and there was quite an issue.
Phil Gordon: with the arizona schools you know it was very uh strong political issue a few years ago when they passed the legislature, passed the empowerment scholarships.
Dave Margolis: Right.
Phil Gordon: For families at high end. They were families that sent their kids to either private school. or did homeschooling. And many objected to it, myself included.
Phil Gordon: I... mostly objected to it because it took money away from the public schools. And now we find. that the vouchers that have been issued. particularly the vouchers under two thousand dollars have gone to...
Phil Gordon: Cost at high -end resorts, plane tickets. Dave even lingerie. And all of these were approved. for under $2 ,000.
Phil Gordon: The parents of ESA. children. I also purchased more than 200 Apple iPhones. Gift cards worth up to $500 each.
Phil Gordon: And... Last November, Dave, when the State Department of Education began automatically Approving all ESA requests under 2000. It seemed to have led to this kind of corruptions.
Phil Gordon: Your thoughts?
Dave Margolis: yeah It wasn't the case that they basically, they had a backlog. They had so many that they just went off and I guess anything under 2 ,000, they just signed off. Yeah, that's fine. um you know everyone should know by now if if you give people free money And they're going to spend it on stuff, you know, for their for their enjoyment, for their pleasure.
Dave Margolis: You know, it's not going to go. and I guess the idea was going to go to their kids. for going
Phil Gordon: Dave. I'm reminiscing some of the... ways in which some of the money was used. And let me give Rodney Dangerfield due credit. for the basic premise of this joke.
Phil Gordon: But some of the money, Dave, was used for both. sex education and to teach students about Russian roulette because they hired six hookers.
Phil Gordon: and they passed them around, and only one had VD. Thank you Rodney.
Dave Margolis: You know, I was thinking about VD the other day, Phil.
Phil Gordon: Right. Why, Dave?
Dave Margolis: Because I was thinking about how... You know, now, you know. You don't hear the the the term VD. You hear STD all the time now. But when when back in our day, and it was VD.
Dave Margolis: Venereal disease was always the thing. and somewhere
Phil Gordon: Right.
Dave Margolis: I don't know where... I don't know. I mean, you think like sometimes they change these things because. the word is too harsh, but. I don't even know what venereal means. you know
Phil Gordon: Do you think, Dave, the venereal disease people hired like a public relations firm?
Dave Margolis: Okay. When my but my my previous cat that I had before. uh silver before caddy was a cat named silver he was really a great cat he was really Wonderful cat. And when when he passed away the night before, a lot of my friends came over and they had like a little get together to say goodbye to him and things like that. And one of my friends gave me a.
Dave Margolis: One of those things that kids make in school that was a pa paw prints. on faster Paris.
Phil Gordon: Sure.
Dave Margolis: And she put up there. you know, silver plus day. She wrote S. plus D. And I had it hanging from my rearview mirror until I realized it looked like it said STD.
Dave Margolis: And I didn't want people to think I was taking a handicapped space because I had a sexually transmitted disease. It was just me and my cat. um
Phil Gordon: mm -hmm
Dave Margolis: But as far as I know.
Phil Gordon: Dave, we should... We should be fair. In defense of the... situation with the scholarships. Secretary of Education Horn.
Phil Gordon: said that most people are honest and request reasonable things. The unreasonable ones are about 1%. And we recover them afterwards. So there's. Nothing where people can get away with murder.
Phil Gordon: With these things under. two thousand dollars and uh let me just say to secretary horn dave yes
Phil Gordon: I am so opposed to public school money. going to people for homeschooling or for religious education. I'm just so opposed to that and this corruption. It just underlines why.
Dave Margolis: Yeah. no hey Yeah. Hey, we're... We're going to do it.
Phil Gordon: And that, by the way, Dave, includes Hebrew school.
Dave Margolis: Okay. um We're, we're. we're cutting the short we're a little truncated version here but since we're in the kind of in the forecasting mode here and In addition to the World Series, the elections are coming up. What do you think about the local races here? What do you think is...
Dave Margolis: We've got Juan Suscomani running against Joanne Mendoza. He's been around for a while. I think he's... kind of worthless but Is he poised to win, Siskamani? He seems to have kind of a charm.
Phil Gordon: Well, those polls those pollles are neck and neck. Certainly, we're getting bombarded by advertisements and commercials. It looks to be a very close race. Initially, it looked like Mendoza had the advantage in money, which could be a factor.
Phil Gordon: Uh, Siskamani, Dave. has really been sort of a MAGA in disguise. And that's... that that's a bad thing in the parts of his district where he's very popular which would be up in the foothills. and though that district does run quite.
Phil Gordon: Almost down to the airport, if I'm not mistaken, on the east.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: ah You might be in that district, Dave.
Dave Margolis: I'm not. I checked. I was going to. Send him a... a friendly note and they and they said i'm not in this district so i can't do that Um,
Phil Gordon: Haha.
Phil Gordon: And I'm on the southwest side of Tucson. I am in the Grijalva district.
Dave Margolis: yeah Me too.
Phil Gordon: Um...
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: But I follow these races closely. Uh... You know, I'm i'm not going to make any bones about it. I'm i'm hoping for Mendoza. i I hope to make some calls for her. Siskamani, just a scoundrel, you know.
Phil Gordon: He voted for all of those cuts in Medicare. and Medicaid and it's hurt so many people here in Arizona.
Dave Margolis: Why I don't understand I really don't understand this is that you know he votes He always votes lockstep with the rest of the GOP to protect, to keep the Epstein files.
Dave Margolis: you know. From being released, you know, that's what the whole thing is.
Phil Gordon: yes
Dave Margolis: And I thought, you know, the guy's got three daughters And I wonder how you explain to your daughters. that you're voting to protect. pedophiles from being accountable I mean, I just, I can't even.
Dave Margolis: buy them
Phil Gordon: I haven't heard that explanation.
Dave Margolis: How do you possibly justify that to your your daughters?
Phil Gordon: Yeah. I haven't heard it. i imagine Mendoza will challenge him on it. Have they had a debate, Dave? I know.
Dave Margolis: I think so.
Phil Gordon: AZPM usually. has all the candidates in. ah If not, it's probably available on their website. I'd love to watch it.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
Phil Gordon: Let's take one more minute, Dave, and talk about the governor. race. And that is, of course, the current incumbent, Katie Hobbs. and going against... stu Andy Biggs.
Phil Gordon: who's in the Arizona State Senate, a leader there. Dave, I will say I've been following that race closely and that also. showing polling very closely I will say, having watched the commercials, I've been very impressed by the Hobbs campaign.
Phil Gordon: in that they're really taking pains to show her. work in let's call it reasonable protections of the border.
Phil Gordon: She's certainly opposed to the aggressive ICE maneuvers. But she has put forth some very reasonable measures to close the border. And also... ah you know, she's been pretty fiscally ah conservative.
Phil Gordon: Oh. Your thoughts, Dave.
Dave Margolis: Well, I think that I mean I know that Biggs has a lot of baggage. uh for some of the things that he's done and i think that um and from one of the ads i've said i think are i agree with you i think her ads are very good they really give you a feeling that she uh works across party lines.
Dave Margolis: which i think is going forward i think that's going to be uh an issue that's i don't know about this election but um you know everything has been for the past what 10 years.
Dave Margolis: so hyperpartisan. that you know if if someone's elected, As a Republican or as a Democrat, you know exactly what all of their all their policies are going to be and what they're going to vote for because there's not any of this. feeling of working across party lines and i think that that has to change because you know Nobody's happy right now and everybody hates everybody and there's got to be some we got to smooth that out.
Dave Margolis: That's that's got to be
Phil Gordon: I think you're right there, Dave. Of course, last time. Uh... Katie Hobbs won a close race against Carrie Lake. But this time, Dave, I think a white woman can win in Arizona again.
Dave Margolis: yeah' that Yeah, I am thankful that Carrie Lake is not on the scene anymore. Wasn't she ambassador to Zimbabwe or something right now?
Phil Gordon: Jamaica.
Dave Margolis: first
Phil Gordon: Jamaica, I believe. but
Dave Margolis: That's good, yeah. That's probably good for her.
Phil Gordon: What who? Who else could you have possibly chosen?
Dave Margolis: Ha ha. That's her background, yeah. So, yeah, it's going to be fun as we get into this next. Next but we have baseball postseason will lead us right up to the election basically and so we've got come some busy times coming up here um
Phil Gordon: It's going to be very exciting. I watch it very closely. Love to talk about it. I think in our previous show, we were talking about having Bernie Sanders in.
Dave Margolis: Yep.
Phil Gordon: close to the election and look for that. He's always great. Maybe James Scarville will come back. We always love talking politics. Always love talking to you, Dave. You've been listening and watching. Laughing Liberally Arizona. We're so glad you did. Go ahead and like the show. Subscribe to the show. Tell your friends about the show. Leave us a review. We love honest reviews. We're so glad you're watching.
Phil Gordon: Thank you very much. Great to see you Dave.
Dave Margolis: Thanks, Phil. You too.
Phil Gordon: Good night.
Dave Margolis: All right.
