TOPS OF 2019 — The Weekly Opine

Women ran the table in The Weekly Opine’s Person of the Year selections covering politics, sports and current events. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

One per category

For the first time, The Weekly Opine announces Person of the Year in three classifications including politics, sports and current events. This will be an annual recognition bestowed upon those who have been most impactful in their respective category. In 2019, the influence and leadership of women were on full display.

Politics: s-l-o-w start, powerful finish

She has re-affirmed her place as one of the most powerful people in America. And so long as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds firmly onto her ruby slippers, aka the articles of impeachment, the Wicked Warlock of Kentucky cannot proceed with his sham trial intended to exonerate the fraudulent, humbug Wizard of Mar-a-Lago.

Buoyed by attestation from former top Russia expert Dr. Fiona Hill, now former Ambassador Bill Taylor, former Ambassador Marie Yovanovich and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, Speaker Pelosi was compelled to act. How could she remain sidelined when brave American public servants stepped forward with unassailable testimony?

As a public servant herself, Pelosi’s hesitance was sliding her legacy toward historic damnation, when she ignored the chock-full-of-impeachable-evidence Mueller Report. But act she did, showing us the savvy strong will that outmaneuvered and dominated the hapless president during the late-2018 government shutdown.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rocked Trump’s world when she decided to go all-in on impeachment. (Photo credit Newsweek)

Since learning of Trump’s perfect call that wasn’t, Madame Speaker has steered the impeachment process with her “A” game on full display, affirming her stature as a talented, skilled politician.

Pelosi’s strategic decision to give the impeachment inquiry keys to Rep. Adam Schiff’s Intelligence Committee showed personnel judgment skills that elude Trump. (How many chiefs-of-staff has Trump gone through? And is Jared Kushner really playing a lead role in the Middle East?)

The juxtaposition of Schiff’s intelligence and Republican Rep. Devin Nunes’ mental instability demonstrated, to anyone who was previously unconvinced, that Trump’s cabal is loaded with crazy.

Pelosi commanding the Judiciary, Oversight, Financial Services and Ways & Means committees to pursue parallel investigations kept her leadership team engaged and enabled a larger swath of House Dems to be intimately involved. When it came time to vote on articles of impeachment there was no chance of measurable defections.

When the moment to vote arrived, Speaker Pelosi adroitly lined up her caucus (other than lost sheep Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and turncoat Rep. Jeff Van Drew).

Having multiple committees investigating Trump also put enormous pressure on the Trump administration and his impeachable attorney general, the corrupt Bill Barr. Trump and Barr swat at investigations like a grill master swats at flies at an outdoor barbeque.

And Pelosi has Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the evilest person this side of Lucifer, tied in a square knot Boy Scouts would envy.

Stick to your guns, Ms. Nancy. Hold on to those articles of impeachment (hell, maybe add another one or two). Make Trump and McConnell sweat and squirm until the cows come home.

2020 politics prediction

It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. As happened with Nixon, cracks are appearing in Trump’s support. Cracks turn into streams and streams turn into gushing rivers. What’s needed now are massive street protests and Trump will be gone before Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021.

Sports: epitome of joy and perspective

When you see Megan Rapinoe playing soccer on TV or being interviewed by Rachel Maddow, it is easy to smile. Rapinoe oozes contemporary new age. She is, as The Weekly Opine previously wrote, every bit the ultra-modern, All-American woman.

Rapinoe plays to win. Not only did she lead the U.S. to another World Cup title, she earned the Golden Ball (best player) and the Golden Boot (leading scorer). Rapinoe is smart and steely and worldly. She is tenacious in soccer and appears to carry tenacity into everyday life. Her signature pose, after scoring a goal, is infused with passion and sincere delight. Her refusal to consider a trip to the White House was the stuff of thoughtful might.

Go ahead with your bad self! The United States needs more warriors like Megan Rapinoe. On and off the field. (Photo credit L.A. Times)

At a moment when it was sorely needed, Rapinoe delivered a global rebuke to the most sinister president in U.S. history. Speaking with unavoidable clarity (“I’m not going to the f-ing White House”) Rapinoe appropriately slammed the door in Trump’s orange face, and impugned the moribund women that surround him, notably First Lady “Be Best” Melania Trump and First Daughter Ivanka Trump.

Rapinoe’s world-stage protest, against America’s ingrained sexism and racism, was a reminder the land of the free has unfinished work re: living up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the rule of law outlined in the Constitution.

Rapinoe’s outspoken, relentless pursuit of fair pay for America’s 4-time world champion women’s soccer team translates to, and augments, the discussion of equal pay in the corporate workplace. As Rapinoe makes clear, it’s time to replace talk with action...now!

Last March, all 28 women comprising the U.S. women’s team filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer claiming gender discrimination and demanding equal pay. In November, a federal judge agreed with the player’s request and granted the suit class-action status.

One can easily envision Megan Rapinoe running for public office. Or leading a major sports organization. Or doing just about whatever she wants to do, contributing to the greater good.

This move did in Tiger Woods. (Photo credit CNN screenshot)

What about Tiger Woods, you ask?

Tiger was considered for sports Person of the Year. But allowing himself to be a tool for Trump, when Tiger accepted a wholly undeserved Presidential Medal of Freedom, did him in. It was like Tiger saw an opportunity for another “trophy” and, damn it, he was going to collect it no matter the illegitimacy of the fool presenting it to him.

A great year on the golf course for Tiger. And his foundation continues to positively impact millions of underserved youth around the globe with educational programs.

But the Trump dalliance? Nah, sorry Tiger.

2020 sports predictions

Tiger will win another major. Serena Williams will win another major. At least one blue chip high school hoops player will skip college, spending a year getting paid overseas, or staying home to work on his game.

Current Events: Thun(der)berg heard ‘round the world.

Currently, there is no bigger event, i.e. threat, to the future of Earth than climate change. Oh, there are close seconds, such as the real possibility terrorists get ahold of unsecured nuclear weapons. And persistent advancements in nuke technology by North Korea is seriously unsettling. As is America’s nuclear codes resting within reach of the most unstable jerk to ever occupy the White House.

But due to global warming Earth is, by the sober admission of legit scientists around the world, on life support. This is not debatable and has not been debatable for many years. In other words, it’s hardly worth wasting energy arguing the merits of climate change with deniers. Better to expend energy collaborating with intelligent people to convince reasonable people, who are on the fence, to join in saving the planet.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a dire warning that global efforts to stop climate change have been “utterly inadequate.” Global warming, Guterres said, is nearing the “point of no return.”

It is evident that political leadership lacks the conviction to act to stave off the disaster-in-waiting. The loudest voices now come from young people, who face a climate apocalypse not of their making.

Admittedly, I’ve teased teen climate activist Greta Thunberg about me blasting around town in my Torino, belching fumes while getting low gas mileage. But I’ve always said I wholeheartedly agree with what Greta is preaching.

In 2019, no one did more to rally believers, and to on-board fence sitters, than Thunberg. No one rattled the cages of global leaders like Thunberg did. Greta’s takedown of foolish Trump on Twitter will be forever etched in the annuls of tweeting.

Keep doing what you are doing young lass. (Photo credit Business Insider)

Greta showed determination last August, climbing aboard a carbon-neutral, emission-free sailboat and crossing the Atlantic to attend a climate summit at the United Nations. She has inspired me to continue traversing the United States via rail. By taking the train, according to a recent report, travelers cause fewer carbon emissions than by flying or driving.

Greta’s parents jumped in to help their daughter’s mental health and environmental cause. Her dad became a vegan. Her mom – a Swedish opera singer – stopped flying. See?

Her speaking schedule was impressive. The United Nations. Universities. Rallies. Panels. Multiple continents. Greta has become the new face of the climate change battle like Patrick Mahomes is the new face of the NFL. She is ‘woke,’ and relentless. Greta exemplifies the verse about a child leading the elders, while bringing newfound attention to Earth’s biggest, soon to be unsolvable problem.

Greta recently returned home to Sweden, but she will not be forgotten.

2020 current events prediction

California...(figuratively) tumbles into the sea. With incessant fires, more frequent temblors, and a bankrupt utility that turns off customer’s electricity for days at a time, the Golden State is a bellwether for our beleaguered planet. It will likely get worse before it gets better.

Next week

Presidential endorsements!