163 Comments

Wonkifact rates this statement "Mostly True."

(former Tucsonan here)

Expand full comment

As a Detroiter, for obvious reasons (see: Detroit; NFL franchise) I don't have a dog in this fight,

Expand full comment

By the way, Dok, Will 'said' "committee meetings". But sportsball is a business so it's an understandable error.

Expand full comment

God Bless America in the 7th inning pisses me off.

Expand full comment

San Marcos Texas just passed a fluoride water ban. They also lack a large sports team so they are safe from obamachem too. Safest place in murica!? Maybe!

Expand full comment

So, the study followed four years of spending in conjunction with sporting events. Would I be accused of being cynical if I suspected those four years were not between 2001 and 2009?

Expand full comment

I worked for the Ohio Secretary of State's office in the eighties. Frank Zappa came to town, and he always had voter registration at his concerts because he really hated Reagan. I had to work before and after the concert and during the intermission, but I also got to meet Zappa (and by meet, I mean shake his hand) and got a free seat at the concert.

Of course, the staff was all volunteer, and the registration supplies were the same ones prepared for any voter registration drive, so I don't think the taxpayers got hosed too much.

Expand full comment

In a news conference held to publicize the report, Sen. Flake had a sad about how the wasteful spending actually cheapened real patriotism, which is still a good thing:

Is "real patriotism" measured by the number of flag lapel pins one wears?

Expand full comment

If it makes you feel any better, it dates back to the eighties or nineties, before he'd completely descended into hackdom.

Expand full comment

Check for yourself: The URL is in the first line of the paragraph where I mention it, and at the end of the article.

And sw19womle is right: If I'd done it, there'd be ponies. Badly photoshopped, at that.

Expand full comment

The last thing the NFL wants is anyone with even half a brain looking into that fiasco...

Expand full comment

No, it's in your heart. And only a true patriot can tell. It's kind of a Catch-22 in reverse.

Expand full comment

Ayup! ANd the more flag label pins, the more patriotic you are.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Expand full comment

You're missing the point that it didn't get any more recruits. It didn't work. Even if the idea was good, the execution was a money-hemorrhaging failure. Probably had nothing to do with more recruits and everything to do with expense accounts and some desk-warrior's flag stiffy.

Expand full comment

No need to make an exemption for Canadians. Take the Maple Leafs: popular, profitable, haven't won a Stanley Cup since colour TV was a bold new technical breakthrough.And yes, they spell it Leafs, not Leaves.

Expand full comment

And when someone spends 400 million taxpayer dollars on a D&D stadium, you'll have a valid point.

Expand full comment