Debate Tickets: getting a front row seat

The Clinton-Trump debate is tomorrow night, Monday, at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York. Two New Yorkers go at it. Donald Trump, no relation to Don Rickles, is a native born New Yorker from Queens who moved to Manhattan as soon as he could get there. Hillary, a naturalized New Yorker, is a refugee from the Midwest who moved to New York as soon as she could get out of Arkansas.

As the candidates prepare for weigh-in, oops, I mean kickoff, no I mean for the ads to be finished by 9:00 PM (Eastern time) for the beginning of 1 1/2 hours of must see-TV--  we all hope for a night of mudslinging, innuendo, gossip, insults and and predictions of a dire American future should the other guy, or gal, make it to the White House.

And this is where the psy-ops, psychological operations, come in. The Psy-Ops, psychological operations warfare, going at the moment concerns guests of Hillary and Donald, that is who they will seat in the front row of the debate just to rattle the opponent.

Hillary has saved a seat for Mark Cuban-- owner of the Dallas Mavericks, star of Shark Tank, and a recent arrival to Hillary Camp. He actually considered signing up for Trump's vice presidential candidate. But that was months ago.

Trump countered strongly with suggestions he would bring in Gennifer Flowers, Bill Clinton's mistress for a dozen years.

This tactic recalls Godfather II-- where the mob brings in a old-school grandpa mobster from Sicily, from the days of omertà to Washington, DC. Frankie Pantangeli is about to testify in front of a Washington grand jury and name names. Omertà  means silence and never ratting out a fellow Mafioso. Frankie sees his old school mafioso in the back of the hearing room and quickly reverts to "I don't know nothing." Frankie takes his own life before ratting out his brothers. The honorable route.

Honor is a thing of the past... as Mark Cuban and Gennifer Flowers certainly attest. Cuban likes to be in the national discussion, whether baiting the refs at his team's NBA games or starring on a reality TV competition show. Who does that remind you of?

Gennifer spells her name with a "G"-- and is called a showgirl.

Ironically, the audience will be completely out of view, literally in the dark. Trump probably won't be able to see Cuban, unless Cuban charges the stage a la Kanye West. Gennifer Flowers, we learn, has not actually been invited by Trump. Trump may see a downside to going too far with the adultery card.

The whole thing reminds me of the motley assemblage of celebrities on the cover of the Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. I always liked the image of Sonny Liston. Where's Sonny when you need him?

The only image that matters will be the body language of the contestants, er, the candidates. If we've learned anything it is that how you comport yourself and how you feel on stage with 80-100 million watching is what really matters. The camera is an X-ray machine and the audience sees the candidates to the core of their being. That clarity seals the deal, one way or the other.

Raindrops keep falling on my head....

Did you ever swim in a downpour? Tried it today. Went to Deep Eddy pool, here in Austin, Texas. Deep Eddy is one of the great natural, non-chlorinated pools in Austin. The other famous one is Barton Springs. Both feature very cool water... around 68 degrees.

As I drove to Deep Eddy the clouds overhead seemed to get darker and denser. I figured, "What the hell... it only costs $1.00 entry fee for seniors." Yes, I've arrived at that advanced age.

I walked down the cement stairs. Noticed one of the beautiful Austin women stretching her leg muscles in the pool in the shallow area. Maybe it was Colin Farrell, the Irish actor, who said "Austin is like an ant hive of beautiful women." Not sure. I'll attribute it to him anyway.

I got into the deep water with my goggles on. Water chilled me. I started moving, treading water and then moved into the breast stroke. The pool is relatively empty. It's mid-September but temps are still in the mid-90s in Austin. Great swimming conditions and the kids are back in school and the pool is quiet.

Then the rain drops came. I could feel them and decided to watch the drops hit the surface of the water from a few inches beneath the surface. Very nice effect. No sign of lightning. The lifeguard sat stoically under his umbrella. I stayed in for about 10-15 minutes. Rain didn't stop. It got harder. Not so cold anymore. Then I thought about my shorts, towel and leather sandals getting wet up on the side of the pool. Decided to get out of the pool.

An old dude on the side of the pool said, "Well, you're wet anyway..." and realized he's right. But I got dressed in my slightly soggy clothes and drove off.

Remember "Raindrops keep falling' on my head" by B.J. Thomas. Here it is:

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
Just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Oh, raindrops keep fallin' on my head
Keep a-fallin'

Cause I just done me some talking to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleeping on the job
Oh, raindrops keep fallin' on my head
Keep a-fallin'

But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me
Won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness
Comes up to greet me
To greet greet greet greet me

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me
Cause I ain't gonna stop the rain by complaining

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me
Cause I ain't gonna stop the rain by complaining

Because I'm free
Nothing's bothering me
Because I'm free
Nothing's bothering me
Because I'm free
Nothing's bothering me
Because I'm free
Nothing's bothering me

Texas Shockers... Longhorn football and Trump

After a long dry spell for Texas football, and we know what dry spells are all about, the long-suffering University of Texas football fans got a victory Sunday over Notre Dame. Quarterbacks Vince Young and Colt McCoy spoiled us from 2003-2008. We figured ten victory seasons were to be expected every year. How could we miss? Everybody loves Austin. These young players would keep coming to the Forty Acres campus and the gridiron victories would continue to gush like a West Texas oil well unless something bad happened.

But something bad did happen. Mack Brown left after a few disappointing seasons. Charlie Strong arrived and a new era but the first two years proved to be a struggle. The quarterback position never felt squarely resolved.

But now, suddenly quarterback Charlie Strong's quarterback position has a double-headed personality-- newly arrived Shane Buechele and big Tyrone Swoopes-- the QB who runs over opponents like an 18 wheeler truck. Swooped even has the number 18 on his back. Buechele got to wear #7, apparently a gift from Charlie Strong who knew Shane admired John Elway of the Denver Broncos, another #7. Turns out Shane Buechele's father and John Elway were roommates at Stanford University. Shane brought the passing attack and sense of game control so sorely lacking in recent Texas seasons. Being a Baby Boomer from New York, I see Mickey Mantle whenever #7 pops up on my radar screen.

How about this other Texas shocker... the Presidential election may be competitive in Texas, usually a  solid red arrow in the quiver of the Republican party. The GOP reps claim not to be quivering about the news that Hillary Clinton ain't that far from Donald Trump in the polls for Texas. But just imagine they listed the big state in the middle of the country as a purple-colored tossup. Who'd of thunk it?

Not sure if hell has frozen over or Central Texas. Austin has actually been inundated by a rainy August, of all things.  Rainy August? Yes, nobody can believe that course of events either. I guess the old saying... change is the only constant... holds sway.