Andrew Bailey has resigned effective next month as attorney general of Missouri to accept the role of co-deputy director of the FBI. While state attorney general, Bailey consistently had an eye on culture wars and things like lawsuits against China, a lawsuit against the state of New York over Trump’s legal troubles there, and many other grandstanding opportunities that would land him an interview appearance on Fox News.
He clearly had a goal to get noticed by the Trump folks and to stay noticed by the Trump folks in hopes of landing a federal gig. And as the Missouri Independent describes it, Bailey’s tenure featured “accusations of corruption, incompetence and grandstanding.”
Corruption and incompetence can be debated, I suppose. But describing Bailey engaged in grandstanding as an “accusation” is being kind. It was far more definite than an accusation. It was right there in plain view. And often embarrassingly so.
Now Missouri has a different state attorney general for the fourth time in less than seven years. In 2018 it was Josh Hawley, in 2019 it was Eric Schmitt, then it was Bailey until his resignation announcement, and now the incoming state attorney general is Catherine Hanaway.
I watched some of Hanaway’s press conference on Tuesday. She is a seasoned attorney. She seemed low key and honestly a bit bored with the whole announcement and process. Like she has been there before. Because in many ways she has. She is a former US Attorney, former Republican candidate for governor in 2016 (she lost in the GOP primary that year, The Landmark met with her briefly at a Platte County event that summer), first and only female to ever serve as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.
I would be shocked if Hanaway views her new position as a stepping stone, which is how each of the previous three Missouri AGs viewed the job. So I would not anticipate Andrew Bailey-levels of grandstanding out of this attorney general, and that’s a good thing. It appears the keys to the car have been handed to an adult driver, so expect more actual work for the state and less political showmanship.
I don’t know if you’ve been following the tweets from the press office of California Governor Gavin Newsom. If you haven’t, you need to. These things are comedy gold. Find the Twitter account that is @GovPressOffice and read some of the posts over the past couple of weeks.
Newsom’s account has been tweeting in total mocking mode of President Trump, often posting in all caps, often engaging in petty name calling like Trump does, using plenty of exclamation points, often closing with the phrase “thank you for your attention to this matter,” ala Trump’s often unhinged social media postings. Newsom’s purpose in doing so, of course, is to highlight the ridiculous nature of many of Trump’s comments on social media. “When Trump supporters criticize Newsom’s posts, they are essentially criticizing Trump, because that’s the whole point,” an observer pointed out on Twitter.
Whether you agree with any of Newsom’s politics or you don’t, it is hard to deny that his “Governor Newsom Press Office” Twitter account has become the most entertaining thing on social media. My guess is you’ll even smile about many of the posts if you’re a diehard Trump supporter.
It’s now late August. Often the most boring month of the year, at least in my world. It’s hot. And we need things to make us laugh. This is an option.
In other news, KFC has announced it is bringing back potato wedges. True story. KFC is also bringing back its hot and spicy wings. Also a true story.
I haven’t yet been to the Go Chicken Go in the Northland, 380 NE Vivion Road, not too far from the Sam’s Club that’s a frequent destination for some of us. But it’s on my bucket list.
It has been many years since I was a regular at high school football games. I burned myself out on high school football years ago. From 1982 through 1993, I covered nearly every Friday night football game of the Platte County Pirates, home and away. By 1993 when Clay McGinnis died and I took over as Landmark editor, I was done with high school football. I eventually hit some special games several years later, like Pirate trips to state championship contests when Chip Sherman’s squad was on that special run around the year 2000, but other than that, no thank you.
But anyway, here we are in the year 2025 and it looks like I’ll be pretty consistently attending high school football games again. After a few years as an assistant, my son-in-law Todd Shifflett this year is the head football coach at King City High School. I’ve hit a King City game or two each year in his time as an assistant, but now that he’s in the head role I’ll be there for many more. And I’m sure I’ll be offering some observations, unofficial scouting reports and film study, unsolicited and perhaps unwelcomed.
It’s time for my annual Pay Your Mortgage pick. Every August I choose at least one NFL team and tell you whether that team(s) will go over or under its projected win total set by the casinos. I call it Pay Your Mortgage because these are picks I’m confident in based on about 55 years of watching NFL football like the nut that I am. Some folks might play these for large amounts but don’t go crazy. Use pizza money. Or be like the guy who told me he puts $5 on my Pay Your Mortgage picks. I told him I wouldn’t shame him for his unit size.
As you know because I like to boast about it, I have never missed one of these NFL Pay Your Mortgage selections. After last year’s success, we stand a perfect 5-0. The history: In 2021 we had Raiders to go over their win total, in 2022 Eagles over, in 2023 Commanders under, and last year I gave you two winners–Patriots under 4.5 wins and Bears under 8.5.
This year, I’m back with another two pack. Let’s make it to 7-0 lifetime and put some jingle in your pocket. My picks for the 2025 season:
The Dolphins will finish UNDER their projected win total of 7.5. There’s a good chance the Dolphins win their first game, but don’t panic. This team will stink by the end of the year.
The Rams will finish OVER their projected win total of 9.5. The health of quarterback Matthew Stafford is key on this one. If Stafford is healthy the Rams will fly over that 9.5 win total with ease. If not, this will be a sweat.
You’re welcome, America.
(Find Foley laughing at tweets and studying the schedule of every NFL team. Email ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)
