crooksandliars--2020-03-29--People With Intellectual Disabilities May Be Denied Lifesaving Care Under These State Disaster Plans

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Advocates for people with intellectual disabilities are concerned that those with Down syndrome , cerebral palsy , autism and other such conditions will be denied access to lifesaving medical treatment as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads across the country .
Several disability advocacy organizations filed complaints this week with the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , asking the federal government to clarify provisions of the disaster preparedness plans for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The advocates say the plans discriminate against people with intellectual disabilities by deprioritizing this group in the event of rationing of medical care — specifically , access to ventilators , which are in high demand in treating COVID-19 cases .
More than 7 million people in the U.S. have some form of cognitive disability .
Some state plans make clear that people with cognitive issues are a lower priority for lifesaving treatment .
For instance , Alabama ’ s plan says that “ persons with severe mental retardation , advanced dementia or severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for ventilator support.
” Another part says that “ persons with severe or profound mental retardation , moderate to severe dementia , or catastrophic neurological complications such as persistent vegetative state are unlikely candidates for ventilator support.
” Other plans include vague provisions , which advocates fear will be interpreted to the detriment of the intellectually disabled community .
For instance , Arizona ’ s emergency preparedness plan advises medical officials to “ allocate resources to patients whose need is greater or whose prognosis is more likely to result in a positive outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with cognitive difficulties and a person without them , who decides whose needs come first ?
Medical triage always forces hard decisions about who lives and dies .
For instance , older people with shorter life expectancy or those with severe dementia are often deemed less deserving of scarce medical resources than younger , healthier individuals .
The state plans make clear that the fate of those with intellectual disabilities is part of the wrenching debate .
HHS officials said they were opposed to rationing care for people with any kind of disability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be put at the end of the line for health services based on stereotypes or discrimination , especially during emergencies .
Our civil rights laws protect the equal dignity of every human being from ruthless utilitarianism , ” said Roger Severino , the director of the agency ’ s civil rights office .
“ What we ’ re seeing here is a clash between disability rights law and ruthless utilitarian logic , ” said Ari Ne ’ eman , a visiting scholar at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the day is whether our civil rights laws still apply in a pandemic .
I think that ’ s a pretty core question as to who we are as a country.
” Advocates and families of those with intellectual disabilities say their community is especially vulnerable to the disease because many of those with significant impairments live in group homes or other congregate settings .
It can sometimes be difficult for people with intellectual disabilities to understand the pandemic and its demands , such as the need to wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand-washing .
The death of Emily Wallace , a 67-year-old with Down syndrome in a group home in Georgia , was an early warning sign of the dangers facing the community , advocates say .
Wallace was a woman of firsts .
She and her husband , Richard , were the first couple with intellectual disabilities to marry in the state .
They were the first to live independently in their own home in Albany , a small town in the southwestern part of the state .
In mid-March , Emily was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her community — and possibly one of the first in the nation — to be diagnosed with COVID-19 .
She was taken to a local hospital where she died alone .
“ Mrs .
Wallace is once again the first , but this isn ’ t what we wanted to celebrate , ” said Stacey Ramirez , state director for The Arc of Georgia , a nonprofit advocacy group that serves people with intellectual disabilities .
Richard and Emily Wallace , shown in this photo from 2015 , are believed to have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marry in Georgia .
Both had Down syndrome .
Emily died this month after contracting COVID-19 .
Richard died in 2018 .
Image from : Albany Arc Emily and Richard Wallace were married for 18 years .
A 1992 story in the Albany Herald depicted their life as happily domestic , mentioning that Richard hated to vacuum , while Emily didn ’ t like to dust , and that she did most of the cooking while he raked the leaves .
They made payments on their home and both held down jobs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ syndrome , died in 2018 at 65 , Emily moved to a group home operated by The Albany Arc .
After a caregiver apparently brought the coronavirus into the home , Wallace fell ill .
So did another resident , who was hospitalized .
Emily Wallace had a do not resuscitate order , so a ventilator would not have been an issue even if care were being rationed , said DeAnna Julian , executive director of The Albany Arc .
But as more people are getting sick , Julian said she worries that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being done in Albany .
She ’ s seeing individuals — both with and without intellectual disabilities — who appear to have mild symptoms of COVID-19 .
“ They ’ re just turning them around and sending them home , they ’ re putting them on ” antibiotics , she said .
“ We live here in southwest Georgia where right now , all the cars are covered in yellow pollen and everyone has some kind of seasonal allergies .
… Is it just your springtime cold or is it COVID-19 ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves or other safety equipment .
She doesn ’ t have enough staff .
“ It ’ s a difficult and critical situation here , ” she said .
But no , Julian said , she didn ’ t see Wallace or the other group home resident receive treatment any different than anyone else .
She said she wouldn ’ t stand for it .
“ I ’ d take it all the way to the top , to the governor !
They have every right to be treated like human beings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Disabilities Act celebrating its 30th birthday this year , activists are questioning whether policymaking has come far enough in what some consider to be the final battle in the fight for civil rights .
In a March 18 letter to Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers , the Survival Coalition , a group of advocacy organizations , wrote , “ ‘ Quality of life ’ has long been a pretext for denying treatment , including life-sustaining treatment , to vulnerable populations , particularly people with intellectual disabilities.
” Michael Bérubé and his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pennsylvania , with their son Jamie , who is 28 and has Down syndrome .
Bérubé , a professor of literature at Pennsylvania State University and the author , most recently , of the book “ Life as Jamie Knows It , ” studies disability .
He was not surprised to learn about state rationing plans that single out people with intellectual disabilities and other cognitive conditions .
“ It would be a very rare person who sees a person with Down syndrome as innately as valuable and as able to contribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bérubé said .
Pennsylvania is among those states now scrambling to write up guidelines to determine who will have access to ventilators in case of medical rationing , according to media reports .
“ In two weeks , when the resources get truly stressed out , we ’ ll see how much of this draconian stuff goes into practice , ” he said .

by Amy Silverman, Arizona Daily Star
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
Advocates for people with intellectual disabilities are concerned that those with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other such conditions will be denied access to lifesaving medical treatment as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads across the country.
Several disability advocacy organizations filed complaints this week with the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, asking the federal government to clarify provisions of the disaster preparedness plans for the states of Washington and Alabama.
The advocates say the plans discriminate against people with intellectual disabilities by deprioritizing this group in the event of rationing of medical care — specifically, access to ventilators, which are in high demand in treating COVID-19 cases. More than 7 million people in the U.S. have some form of cognitive disability.
Some state plans make clear that people with cognitive issues are a lower priority for lifesaving treatment. For instance, Alabama’s plan says that “persons with severe mental retardation, advanced dementia or severe traumatic brain injury may be poor candidates for ventilator support.” Another part says that “persons with severe or profound mental retardation, moderate to severe dementia, or catastrophic neurological complications such as persistent vegetative state are unlikely candidates for ventilator support.”
Other plans include vague provisions, which advocates fear will be interpreted to the detriment of the intellectually disabled community. For instance, Arizona’s emergency preparedness plan advises medical officials to “allocate resources to patients whose need is greater or whose prognosis is more likely to result in a positive outcome with limited resources.” Between a person with cognitive difficulties and a person without them, who decides whose needs come first?
Medical triage always forces hard decisions about who lives and dies. For instance, older people with shorter life expectancy or those with severe dementia are often deemed less deserving of scarce medical resources than younger, healthier individuals. The state plans make clear that the fate of those with intellectual disabilities is part of the wrenching debate.
HHS officials said they were opposed to rationing care for people with any kind of disability.
“Persons with disabilities should not be put at the end of the line for health services based on stereotypes or discrimination, especially during emergencies. Our civil rights laws protect the equal dignity of every human being from ruthless utilitarianism,” said Roger Severino, the director of the agency’s civil rights office.
“What we’re seeing here is a clash between disability rights law and ruthless utilitarian logic,” said Ari Ne’eman, a visiting scholar at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. “What this is really about at the end of the day is whether our civil rights laws still apply in a pandemic. I think that’s a pretty core question as to who we are as a country.”
Advocates and families of those with intellectual disabilities say their community is especially vulnerable to the disease because many of those with significant impairments live in group homes or other congregate settings.
It can sometimes be difficult for people with intellectual disabilities to understand the pandemic and its demands, such as the need to wear masks and heightened protocols for social distancing and hand-washing.
The death of Emily Wallace, a 67-year-old with Down syndrome in a group home in Georgia, was an early warning sign of the dangers facing the community, advocates say.
Wallace was a woman of firsts. She and her husband, Richard, were the first couple with intellectual disabilities to marry in the state. They were the first to live independently in their own home in Albany, a small town in the southwestern part of the state. In mid-March, Emily was the first person with an intellectual disability in her community — and possibly one of the first in the nation — to be diagnosed with COVID-19.
She was taken to a local hospital where she died alone.
“Mrs. Wallace is once again the first, but this isn’t what we wanted to celebrate,” said Stacey Ramirez, state director for The Arc of Georgia, a nonprofit advocacy group that serves people with intellectual disabilities.
Richard and Emily Wallace, shown in this photo from 2015, are believed to have been the first couple with intellectual disabilities to marry in Georgia. Both had Down syndrome. Emily died this month after contracting COVID-19. Richard died in 2018. Credit: Albany Arc
Emily and Richard Wallace were married for 18 years. A 1992 story in the Albany Herald depicted their life as happily domestic, mentioning that Richard hated to vacuum, while Emily didn’t like to dust, and that she did most of the cooking while he raked the leaves. They made payments on their home and both held down jobs. After Richard, who also had Down syndrome, died in 2018 at 65, Emily moved to a group home operated by The Albany Arc.
After a caregiver apparently brought the coronavirus into the home, Wallace fell ill. So did another resident, who was hospitalized.
Emily Wallace had a do not resuscitate order, so a ventilator would not have been an issue even if care were being rationed, said DeAnna Julian, executive director of The Albany Arc.
But as more people are getting sick, Julian said she worries that not enough testing for the virus is being done in Albany. She’s seeing individuals — both with and without intellectual disabilities — who appear to have mild symptoms of COVID-19.
“They’re just turning them around and sending them home, they’re putting them on” antibiotics, she said. “We live here in southwest Georgia where right now, all the cars are covered in yellow pollen and everyone has some kind of seasonal allergies. … Is it just your springtime cold or is it COVID-19?”
Julian doesn’t have masks, gloves or other safety equipment. She doesn’t have enough staff.
“It’s a difficult and critical situation here,” she said.
But no, Julian said, she didn’t see Wallace or the other group home resident receive treatment any different than anyone else. She said she wouldn’t stand for it.
“I’d take it all the way to the top, to the governor! They have every right to be treated like human beings,” Julian said.
With the Americans with Disabilities Act celebrating its 30th birthday this year, activists are questioning whether policymaking has come far enough in what some consider to be the final battle in the fight for civil rights.
In a March 18 letter to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, the Survival Coalition, a group of advocacy organizations, wrote, “‘Quality of life’ has long been a pretext for denying treatment, including life-sustaining treatment, to vulnerable populations, particularly people with intellectual disabilities.”
Michael Bérubé and his wife, Janet, live in State College, Pennsylvania, with their son Jamie, who is 28 and has Down syndrome. Bérubé, a professor of literature at Pennsylvania State University and the author, most recently, of the book “Life as Jamie Knows It,” studies disability. He was not surprised to learn about state rationing plans that single out people with intellectual disabilities and other cognitive conditions.
“It would be a very rare person who sees a person with Down syndrome as innately as valuable and as able to contribute to society as anybody else,” Bérubé said.
Pennsylvania is among those states now scrambling to write up guidelines to determine who will have access to ventilators in case of medical rationing, according to media reports.
“In two weeks, when the resources get truly stressed out, we’ll see how much of this draconian stuff goes into practice,” he said.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--RANT: Furious Joe Scarborough Calls Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook A 'Danger To Democracy'

In years of covering him , I have never seen Joe Scarborough so furious -- and he certainly picked the right target .
He went off on a righteous tear about how Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook are a threat to democracy , and I could n't agree more .
From extremist groups to anti-vaxxer and COVID-19 disinformation , from fake warnings of antifa invasions , Facebook has been the ideal tool for Russian , Chinese , and Iranian efforts to destabilize democracy .
And let 's not forget that Facebook helpfully embedded employees with the Trump campaign .
( Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christopher Wylie 's `` Mindf*ck , '' the story of how Cambridge Analytica and Facebook worked together to break America and put Trump in the White House .
This went far beyond anything you imagine . )
He started out talking about how Facebook was spreading lies about Martin Gugino , the 75-year-old Buffalo protester who suffered a brain injury and now ca n't walk .
`` And it 's spread all over Mark Zuckerberg 's site that he may be antifa , while we have other members of Congress saying that maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you sit and you look at this segment where there is a right-wing extremist group that is literally targeting men and women who are dedicating their lives to protecting American citizens , and this movement , this extremist movement .
And of course , they hatched their conspiracy theory by giving Mark Zuckerberg money , by going on Facebook .
`` Now , you would say that 's bad enough , right ?
But Mark Zuckerberg is promoting the extremism , because mark Zuckerberg is actually -- his site , the Zuckerberg site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up !
Like , ad promotions that actually push people towards extremist sites that kill federal officers !
And Mark Zuckerberg becomes a billionaire !
How many times over ?
Because he 's pushing people towards extremist sites that gun down and murder federal officials .
Mark Zuckerberg 's site , Sheryl Sandberg 's site .
`` They were warned in 2016 that foreign powers were going to use their site to interfere with American democracy , the American democracy that so many men and women have fought and died for to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect American democracy .
They have fought across the world against Islamic terrorism to protect American democracy .
They have been fighting for 240 years to protect American democracy .
And when Sheryl Sandberg found out that Mark Zuckerberg 's website was being used by foreign powers to interfere in the 2016 election , what did she do ?
`` She got angry at the Mark Zuckerberg employee that came to her and came to the board and warned them that American democracy was at risk .
Mark Zuckerberg said he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lie .
He does n't care that they use their site .
You know , Willie , this whole Section 230 facade that , you know , that we passed in Congress because we did n't want people on these websites to get in trouble for something that was said in a comments section -- it has so ballooned now that extremist groups and demagogic , authoritarian-type politicians here and across the world are now using these sites to promote hatred , to kill federal officers , and to undermine American democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And for Mark Zuckerberg to say he 's sad because he 's making billions of dollars off of lies being spread , off of hate groups germinating on Zuckerberg 's website and Sandberg 's website .
It is so disingenuous .
and if congress does n't do something to make Mark Zuckerberg liable and to make Mark Zuckerberg 's website liable for the hatred and the lies and the libel that is being spread on his website , then American democracy will remain at risk , because Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing !
more than truth , more than the protection of 75-year-old men who were brutalized in a march for black justice , more than the protection of american democracy .
Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg are only interested in protecting their billions .
`` And so , when you find that a federal officer is mowed down , is killed by a right-wing extremist group , and it is Mark Zuckerberg whose platform is promoting that group by pushing people to that group ?
Then his words are meaningless !
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to himself .
He is lying to the American people !
`` And Congress and the next president of the United States need to stand up to the billions and billions of dollars in Silicon Valley and hold these people , hold these billionaires accountable for their lies and for their undermining of American democracy ! ''

In years of covering him, I have never seen Joe Scarborough so furious -- and he certainly picked the right target. He went off on a righteous tear about how Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook are a threat to democracy, and I couldn't agree more. From extremist groups to anti-vaxxer and COVID-19 disinformation, from fake warnings of antifa invasions, Facebook has been the ideal tool for Russian, Chinese, and Iranian efforts to destabilize democracy.
And let's not forget that Facebook helpfully embedded employees with the Trump campaign. (Once again, I will refer readers to Christopher Wylie's "Mindf*ck," the story of how Cambridge Analytica and Facebook worked together to break America and put Trump in the White House. This went far beyond anything you imagine.)
He started out talking about how Facebook was spreading lies about Martin Gugino, the 75-year-old Buffalo protester who suffered a brain injury and now can't walk.
"And it's spread all over Mark Zuckerberg's site that he may be antifa, while we have other members of Congress saying that maybe they should gun down antifa. So you sit and you look at this segment where there is a right-wing extremist group that is literally targeting men and women who are dedicating their lives to protecting American citizens, and this movement, this extremist movement. And of course, they hatched their conspiracy theory by giving Mark Zuckerberg money, by going on Facebook.
"Now, you would say that's bad enough, right? But Mark Zuckerberg is promoting the extremism, because mark Zuckerberg is actually -- his site, the Zuckerberg site, has actually set up -- set up! Like, ad promotions that actually push people towards extremist sites that kill federal officers! And Mark Zuckerberg becomes a billionaire! How many times over? Because he's pushing people towards extremist sites that gun down and murder federal officials. Mark Zuckerberg's site, Sheryl Sandberg's site.
"They were warned in 2016 that foreign powers were going to use their site to interfere with American democracy, the American democracy that so many men and women have fought and died for to protect. They scaled the cliffs of Normandy to protect American democracy. They have fought across the world against Islamic terrorism to protect American democracy. They have been fighting for 240 years to protect American democracy. And when Sheryl Sandberg found out that Mark Zuckerberg's website was being used by foreign powers to interfere in the 2016 election, what did she do?
"She got angry at the Mark Zuckerberg employee that came to her and came to the board and warned them that American democracy was at risk. Mark Zuckerberg said he doesn't care that people use his site to lie. He doesn't care that they use their site. You know, Willie, this whole Section 230 facade that, you know, that we passed in Congress because we didn't want people on these websites to get in trouble for something that was said in a comments section -- it has so ballooned now that extremist groups and demagogic, authoritarian-type politicians here and across the world are now using these sites to promote hatred, to kill federal officers, and to undermine American democracy.
"Those people are becoming billionaires. And for Mark Zuckerberg to say he's sad because he's making billions of dollars off of lies being spread, off of hate groups germinating on Zuckerberg's website and Sandberg's website. It is so disingenuous. and if congress doesn't do something to make Mark Zuckerberg liable and to make Mark Zuckerberg's website liable for the hatred and the lies and the libel that is being spread on his website, then American democracy will remain at risk, because Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg have proven they are interested in one thing! more than truth, more than the protection of 75-year-old men who were brutalized in a march for black justice, more than the protection of american democracy. Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg are only interested in protecting their billions.
"And so, when you find that a federal officer is mowed down, is killed by a right-wing extremist group, and it is Mark Zuckerberg whose platform is promoting that group by pushing people to that group? Then his words are meaningless! He is lying to you. He is lying to himself. He is lying to the American people!
"And Congress and the next president of the United States need to stand up to the billions and billions of dollars in Silicon Valley and hold these people, hold these billionaires accountable for their lies and for their undermining of American democracy!"


crooksandliars--2020-02-20--Coronavirus Has Now Killed Nine In Iran; Cases Surge In South Korea

Coronavirus death toll sharply increases to 9 in Iran after being just 2 last night .
( EHA News ) # coronavirus # covid19 # coronavirusiran # iran pic.twitter.com/dr20I2wEOi We simply do not know if the Trump administration can effectively contain a pandemic outbreak in the U.S. ( For one thing , Trump fired the head of pandemic planning and gutted the funding . )
So you will have to inform yourself and take precautions , because once you get it , you 're at a higher risk of heart failure .
Please check out this pandemic flu guide from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepare .
FBI has ordered $ 40,000 in sanitizers , face masks 'in case the # coronavirus becomes a pandemic in the United States ’ The supplies are required to be delivered by Friday .
FBI spokesman did n't comment on the agency 's preparedness for an outbreak in the U.S. https : //t.co/g2WbLzLSP5 Qom , Iran - a # coronavirus patient is in the intensive care at the local hospital .
The video was recorded by the brother of a patient , Dr. Mohammad Molaei .
The 60-year-old patient , a retired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveling abroad or any contact with any Chinese person .
pic.twitter.com/QRneO5gAjp

We simply do not know if the Trump administration can effectively contain a pandemic outbreak in the U.S. (For one thing, Trump fired the head of pandemic planning and gutted the funding.) So you will have to inform yourself and take precautions, because once you get it, you're at a higher risk of heart failure.
Please check out this pandemic flu guide from the CDC. Here's how to prepare.
FBI has ordered $40,000 in sanitizers, face masks 'in case the #coronavirus becomes a pandemic in the United States’ The supplies are required to be delivered by Friday. FBI spokesman didn't comment on the agency's preparedness for an outbreak in the U.S. https://t.co/g2WbLzLSP5 — Max Howroute▫ (@howroute) February 20, 2020
Coronavirus cases outside China are low, but WHO chief warns of potential global breakout https://t.co/q5Pv8PiDdw — CNBC (@CNBC) February 20, 2020
'Like a zombie apocalypse': Residents on edge as coronavirus cases surge in South Korea https://t.co/iTHCFSWIch pic.twitter.com/aCGx3vD5Uh — Reuters (@Reuters) February 20, 2020
Coronavirus live updates: US hospitals prepare for possible pandemic, FBI stocks up on hand sanitizer and masks https://t.co/KEEPzf0K8g — Stock Market Update (@StockMktUpdate) February 20, 2020
Incubation time duration. “In the context of accelerating #COVID19 epidemic and growing uncertainty, a higher upper limit (possibly 21 days) for the incubation period seems reasonable and warranted in the interest of adequately protecting the public.” https://t.co/KFPUyyjjIM — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) February 20, 2020
Coronavirus: Adidas says business activity in China down around 85% https://t.co/uPy7Y3MAWS — • home • 🗳 (@alllocalpolitic) February 20, 2020
Qom, Iran - a #coronavirus patient is in the intensive care at the local hospital. The video was recorded by the brother of a patient, Dr. Mohammad Molaei. The 60-year-old patient, a retired teacher has died. No history of traveling abroad or any contact with any Chinese person. pic.twitter.com/QRneO5gAjp — Max Howroute▫ (@howroute) February 20, 2020
Medicines, like the coronavirus vaccine, that are developed with public money should benefit public health, not create private profit for Big Pharma. Proud to support @janschakowsky in fighting for affordable drugs. https://t.co/T4qZ4hfzIS — Indivisible Guide (@IndivisibleTeam) February 20, 2020
Shanghai & Beijing.
Even China’s biggest cities are virtual ghost towns during the #coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/UoY6AgKzub — ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 20, 2020
A supermarket in China. Is it really slowing down? #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/SKo9ZXxY1H — Coronavirus Breaking News (@QuakeFury) February 20, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Corporate Grifters Exploit COVID-19 Pandemic

The morons who buy a truckload of hand sanitizer and try to sell it for a huge markup sadly are n't the only grifters trying to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic .
Big companies are also getting busted for being bad corporate citizens .
In Seattle , Target was caught selling thousands of N95 face masks even though hospitals and other care providers are being forced to reuse the few face masks they have or using homemade ones .
Target has apologized and is trying to make up for it , but only after government officials started stepping in and confiscating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling face masks in Seattle stores while hospitals face a dire shortage amid a growing coronavirus outbreak .
Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee said his office intervened when it received reports Saturday that the much-needed N95 masks were on Target shelves .
“ Those masks are now on their way to the health care workers who desperately need them , ” Inslee wrote on Twitter .
Target said on Twitter that the masks were being sold in error in “ select Seattle stores ” and that it was removing them from shelves and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health .
The company said it would also search its inventory for additional masks to donate .
In MIchigan , Menards has been busted for doubling their prices on things like cleaning supplies .
This has gained them the attention of the Michigan Attorney General : Menards is under scrutiny for allegedly raising prices on items related to preventing coronavirus .
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sent the big box retailer a cease and desist letter on Tuesday alleging the company improperly raised prices on face masks , bleach and other products .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploiting public fears over COVID-19 , which is the illness caused by coronavirus , by doubling the prices on cleaning products and tying purchases to an in-store rebate .
The complaints started last week at the Menards location in South Haven .
`` Large corporations must also play by the rules , and my office will work diligently to ensure this state ’ s consumers are treated fairly and not abused by businesses seeking to unlawfully jack prices up to line their pockets with profits at the expense of the public during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Unlike Target , Menards has n't even had the decency to apologize .
It may not surprise the gentle reader , but the owner , John Menard , Jr. is a big Republican supporter and is n't afraid of using back channels to make donations in exchange for favors .

The morons who buy a truckload of hand sanitizer and try to sell it for a huge markup sadly aren't the only grifters trying to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic. Big companies are also getting busted for being bad corporate citizens.
In Seattle, Target was caught selling thousands of N95 face masks even though hospitals and other care providers are being forced to reuse the few face masks they have or using homemade ones. Target has apologized and is trying to make up for it, but only after government officials started stepping in and confiscating them:
Target Corp. apologized Saturday for selling face masks in Seattle stores while hospitals face a dire shortage amid a growing coronavirus outbreak. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said his office intervened when it received reports Saturday that the much-needed N95 masks were on Target shelves. “Those masks are now on their way to the health care workers who desperately need them,” Inslee wrote on Twitter. Target said on Twitter that the masks were being sold in error in “select Seattle stores” and that it was removing them from shelves and donating them to the Washington Department of Health. The company said it would also search its inventory for additional masks to donate.
In MIchigan, Menards has been busted for doubling their prices on things like cleaning supplies. This has gained them the attention of the Michigan Attorney General:
Menards is under scrutiny for allegedly raising prices on items related to preventing coronavirus. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel sent the big box retailer a cease and desist letter on Tuesday alleging the company improperly raised prices on face masks, bleach and other products. Nessel said her investigators found Menards is exploiting public fears over COVID-19, which is the illness caused by coronavirus, by doubling the prices on cleaning products and tying purchases to an in-store rebate. The complaints started last week at the Menards location in South Haven. "Large corporations must also play by the rules, and my office will work diligently to ensure this state’s consumers are treated fairly and not abused by businesses seeking to unlawfully jack prices up to line their pockets with profits at the expense of the public during this time of great need,” Nessel said.
Unlike Target, Menards hasn't even had the decency to apologize. It may not surprise the gentle reader, but the owner, John Menard, Jr. is a big Republican supporter and isn't afraid of using back channels to make donations in exchange for favors.


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--President Hillary Would Have Done A Better Job -- If She'd Been Allowed

It 's been obvious for a while that we 've been failed by the federal government , and by the president of the United States in particular , but now The Washington Post has proof .
U.S. intelligence agencies were issuing ominous , classified warnings in January and February about the global danger posed by the coronavirus while President Trump and lawmakers played down the threat and failed to take action that might have slowed the spread of the pathogen , according to U.S. officials familiar with spy agency reporting .
... despite that constant flow of reporting , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat the virus posed to Americans .
Lawmakers , too , did not grapple with the virus in earnest until this month ... .
Intelligence agencies “ have been warning on this since January , ” said a U.S. official who had access to intelligence reporting that was disseminated to members of Congress and their staffs as well as to officials in the Trump administration ... .
“ Donald Trump may not have been expecting this , but a lot of other people in the government were — they just couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” this official said .
“ The system was blinking red.
” That 's an invocation -- I assume a conscious one -- of what George Tenet told the 9/11 Commission .
The Post story has details -- for instance , Trump interrupting a coronavirus briefing to ask when flavored vaping products would be on sale again .
It 's hard to imagine a president doing a worse job .
It 's hard to imagine we would n't be in at least somewhat better shape if Hillary Clinton were president now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this .
Clinton would have listened to the scientists .
Clinton would have been focused on transmission rates , test kits , and the production of necessary equipment .
Yet I wonder how much she 'd have been hamstrung by Republicans in Congress .
I assume she 'd be dealing with a GOP House as well as Senate now , just like the ones her husband and Barack Obama had to deal with after their first two years in office .
I imagine she 'd be subject to an ongoing series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans would be trying to impeach her -- they 'd be threatening it , but it 's clear that they 've believed since Bill Clinton 's presidency that impeachment rallies voters around its target .
Otherwise they would have found an excuse to impeach Obama . )
In January , when President Hillary tried to sound the alarm , congressional Republicans and Fox News would have accused her of using a remote virus to distract from the serious allegations against her .
If she wanted to spend government money to speed the production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others would have held up the cash until a spending offset was found .
As the crisis worsened , they 'd accuse her of using scare tactics if she accurately described the danger or called for measures to slow the spread of the virus .
She 'd be described as a wannabe dictator if she ordered drastic measures that curbed Americans ' freedom of movement , or if she used her powers under the Defense Production Act to compel manufacturers to produce test kits and protective equipment .
And a massive aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the crisis for ordinary citizens would be a tough sell -- it would be `` big government '' and deficit spending , which congressional Republicans do n't mind when one of their own is in the White House , but they rail against it if the president is a Democrat .
Republican members of Congress might not be living in quite as much of a fact-free universe as they are now , because this would n't have been the Trump era -- although Trump would have been out there , shooting spitballs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all we know he might be on his way to becoming the Republican presidential nominee again .
Without Trump as president , Republicans in Congress might have been willing to acknowledge the seriousness of the crisis a few weeks before it was undeniable .
( Governors , including GOP governors , would have been telling them it was no joke . )
But they would have fought President Clinton as much as they felt they could without seeming responsible for the crisis .
They would have blamed her for alarmism and excessive reliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed her for the severity of the crisis , even though it would n't have been quite as bad as it is now .
President Hillary Clinton would have done a much better job at dealing with this crisis -- but she would have been fighting Republicans every step of the way .
Published with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

It's been obvious for a while that we've been failed by the federal government, and by the president of the United States in particular, but now The Washington Post has proof.
U.S. intelligence agencies were issuing ominous, classified warnings in January and February about the global danger posed by the coronavirus while President Trump and lawmakers played down the threat and failed to take action that might have slowed the spread of the pathogen, according to U.S. officials familiar with spy agency reporting. ... despite that constant flow of reporting, Trump continued publicly and privately to play down the threat the virus posed to Americans. Lawmakers, too, did not grapple with the virus in earnest until this month.... Intelligence agencies “have been warning on this since January,” said a U.S. official who had access to intelligence reporting that was disseminated to members of Congress and their staffs as well as to officials in the Trump administration.... “Donald Trump may not have been expecting this, but a lot of other people in the government were — they just couldn’t get him to do anything about it,” this official said. “The system was blinking red.”
That's an invocation -- I assume a conscious one -- of what George Tenet told the 9/11 Commission.
George Tenet, the former CIA director, told the 9/11 Commission that, given the stream of intelligence warnings about potential terrorist attacks against the United States before 9/11, “the system was blinking red.” Those words reflected just how widespread the concern was across the U.S. government that something bad was unfolding—in that case, a terrorist attack.
The Post story has details -- for instance, Trump interrupting a coronavirus briefing to ask when flavored vaping products would be on sale again. It's hard to imagine a president doing a worse job. It's hard to imagine we wouldn't be in at least somewhat better shape if Hillary Clinton were president now.
Clinton would have been on top of this. Clinton would have listened to the scientists. Clinton would have been focused on transmission rates, test kits, and the production of necessary equipment.
Yet I wonder how much she'd have been hamstrung by Republicans in Congress.
I assume she'd be dealing with a GOP House as well as Senate now, just like the ones her husband and Barack Obama had to deal with after their first two years in office. I imagine she'd be subject to an ongoing series of investigations. (I don't think Republicans would be trying to impeach her -- they'd be threatening it, but it's clear that they've believed since Bill Clinton's presidency that impeachment rallies voters around its target. Otherwise they would have found an excuse to impeach Obama.)
In January, when President Hillary tried to sound the alarm, congressional Republicans and Fox News would have accused her of using a remote virus to distract from the serious allegations against her. If she wanted to spend government money to speed the production of test kits, Senator Rand Paul and others would have held up the cash until a spending offset was found. As the crisis worsened, they'd accuse her of using scare tactics if she accurately described the danger or called for measures to slow the spread of the virus. She'd be described as a wannabe dictator if she ordered drastic measures that curbed Americans' freedom of movement, or if she used her powers under the Defense Production Act to compel manufacturers to produce test kits and protective equipment. And a massive aid package that helped mitigate the economic effects of the crisis for ordinary citizens would be a tough sell -- it would be "big government" and deficit spending, which congressional Republicans don't mind when one of their own is in the White House, but they rail against it if the president is a Democrat.
Republican members of Congress might not be living in quite as much of a fact-free universe as they are now, because this wouldn't have been the Trump era -- although Trump would have been out there, shooting spitballs from his Twitter feed, and for all we know he might be on his way to becoming the Republican presidential nominee again. Without Trump as president, Republicans in Congress might have been willing to acknowledge the seriousness of the crisis a few weeks before it was undeniable. (Governors, including GOP governors, would have been telling them it was no joke.) But they would have fought President Clinton as much as they felt they could without seeming responsible for the crisis. They would have blamed her for alarmism and excessive reliance on government and then they would have blamed her for the severity of the crisis, even though it wouldn't have been quite as bad as it is now.
President Hillary Clinton would have done a much better job at dealing with this crisis -- but she would have been fighting Republicans every step of the way.
Published with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--EPIC FAIL: FEMA Head Can't Give Even Rough Number Of Masks Going To Hospitals

When all is said and done , the failure to adequately protect our nation 's doctors and nurses and those on the frontline in this time of crisis is perhaps the most damning aspect of Trump 's wholly inadequate response .
The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency could not say in an interview Sunday how many medical masks the federal government has acquired to send to hospitals in dire need of them as supplies dwindle amid the coronavirus pandemic .
`` How many masks does federal government have right now and when can they get to local hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor on `` State of the Union . ''
`` When it comes to supplies , we have been shipping from the national stockpile for weeks , '' he replied .
`` We 've been shipping , we shipped today , we 're going to ship tomorrow . ''
Asked again about a number , Gaynor , who said that `` it is a dynamic and fluid operation , '' told Tapper that he could n't give a `` rough number '' and that his `` mission is operational coordination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not provided details on the specific supplies or amounts sent .
When Tapper suggested that the government 's inability to provide a number on the masks being supplied to hospitals could send a negative message to the public , Gaynor downplayed the importance of a specific figure .
`` I 'm not sure it 's about an exact number , '' he said .

When all is said and done, the failure to adequately protect our nation's doctors and nurses and those on the frontline in this time of crisis is perhaps the most damning aspect of Trump's wholly inadequate response.
Shameful.
Source: CNN
The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency could not say in an interview Sunday how many medical masks the federal government has acquired to send to hospitals in dire need of them as supplies dwindle amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"How many masks does federal government have right now and when can they get to local hospitals?" CNN's Jake Tapper asked FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor on "State of the Union."
"When it comes to supplies, we have been shipping from the national stockpile for weeks," he replied. "We've been shipping, we shipped today, we're going to ship tomorrow."
Asked again about a number, Gaynor, who said that "it is a dynamic and fluid operation," told Tapper that he couldn't give a "rough number" and that his "mission is operational coordination." Other federal officials so far have not provided details on the specific supplies or amounts sent.
When Tapper suggested that the government's inability to provide a number on the masks being supplied to hospitals could send a negative message to the public, Gaynor downplayed the importance of a specific figure.
"I'm not sure it's about an exact number," he said.


crooksandliars--2020-05-07--Welcome To The Jungle: Axl Rose And Steve Mnuchin Get Into A Twitter Fight

A Twitter spat erupted last night between these two gentlemen .
My bad I didn ’ t get we ’ re hoping 2 emulate Liberia ’ s economic model but on the real unlike this admin I ’ m not responsible for 70k+ deaths n ’ unlike u I don ’ t hold a fed gov position of responsibility 2 the American people n ’ go on TV tellin them 2 travel the US during a pandemic .
To say 2020 has been a surprising year is an understatement .
The global pandemic has upended our country and our lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we all obsesses over statistical models of how coronavirus cases are rising and how curves are flattening , something just came along that none of us could have forecast — an Axl Rose Twitter beef with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin .
The exchange happened on Wednesday evening when the former Guns ’ N Roses frontman posted a Tweet that was as simple as it was provocative — `` It ’ s official !
Whatever anyone may have previously thought of Steve Mnuchin he ’ s officially an a——— . ''
Apparently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism lightly , the Treasury Secretary fired back a Tweet of his own , asking Rose “ What have you done for the country lately ?
” accompanied by a photo of the Liberian flag .
Quickly catching his mistake , Mnuchin then deleted the Tweet and replaced it with one containing the U.S. flag .
So there you have it , a Twitter beef that nobody could have imagined .

A Twitter spat erupted last night between these two gentlemen.
My bad I didn’t get we’re hoping 2 emulate Liberia’s economic model but on the real unlike this admin I’m not responsible for 70k+ deaths n’ unlike u I don’t hold a fed gov position of responsibility 2 the American people n’ go on TV tellin them 2 travel the US during a pandemic.
Source: Forbes
To say 2020 has been a surprising year is an understatement. The global pandemic has upended our country and our lives in unimaginable ways. But even as we all obsesses over statistical models of how coronavirus cases are rising and how curves are flattening, something just came along that none of us could have forecast — an Axl Rose Twitter beef with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
The exchange happened on Wednesday evening when the former Guns ’N Roses frontman posted a Tweet that was as simple as it was provocative — "It’s official! Whatever anyone may have previously thought of Steve Mnuchin he’s officially an a———." Apparently, not one to take that kind of criticism lightly, the Treasury Secretary fired back a Tweet of his own, asking Rose “What have you done for the country lately?” accompanied by a photo of the Liberian flag. Quickly catching his mistake, Mnuchin then deleted the Tweet and replaced it with one containing the U.S. flag.
So there you have it, a Twitter beef that nobody could have imagined.


crooksandliars--2020-04-08--John Prine (October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020)

John Prine was among America 's greatest living songwriters .
He died yesterday .
Add your favourite songs from John Prine in the comments below .
John Prine , who for five decades wrote rich , plain-spoken songs that chronicled the struggles and stories of everyday working people and changed the face of modern American roots music , died Tuesday at Nashville ’ s Vanderbilt University Medical Center .
He was 73 .
The cause was complications related to COVID-19 , his family confirmed to Rolling Stone .
Prine , who left behind an extraordinary body of folk-country classics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onset of COVID-19 symptoms , and was placed in intensive care for 13 days .
Prine ’ s wife and manager , Fiona , announced on March 17th that she had tested positive for the virus after they had returned from a European tour .
John Prine - 'When I Get To Heaven' When I get to heaven , I 'm gon na shake God 's hand Thank him for more blessings than one man can stand Then I 'm gon na get a guitar and start a rock-n-roll band Check into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grand ?
And then I 'm gon na get a cocktail : vodka and ginger ale Yeah , I 'm gon na smoke a cigarette that 's nine miles long I 'm gon na kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl 'Cause this old man is goin ' to town Then as God as my witness , I 'm gettin ' back into showbusiness I 'm gon na open up a nightclub called `` The Tree of Forgiveness '' And forgive everybody ever done me any harm Well , I might even invite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parasitics Buy 'em a pint of [ ? ]
and smother 'em with my charm 'Cause then I 'm gon na get a cocktail : vodka and ginger ale Yeah I 'm gon na smoke a cigarette that 's nine miles long I 'm gon na kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl Yeah this old man is goin ' to town Yeah when I get to heaven , I 'm gon na take that wristwatch off my arm What are you gon na do with time after you 've bought the farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go find my mom and dad , and good old brother Doug Well I bet him and cousin Jackie are still cuttin ' up a rug I wan na see all my mama 's sisters , 'cause that 's where all the love starts I miss 'em all like crazy , bless their little hearts And I always will remember these words my daddy said He said , `` Buddy , when you 're dead , you 're a dead pecker-head '' I hope to prove him wrong , that is , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gon na have a cocktail : vodka and ginger ale Yeah I 'm gon na smoke a cigarette that 's nine miles long I 'm gon na kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl Yeah this old man is goin ' to town Yeah this old man is goin ' to town A recent live version of 'When I Get To Heaven . '

John Prine was among America's greatest living songwriters. He died yesterday.
Add your favourite songs from John Prine in the comments below.
Source: Rolling Stone
John Prine, who for five decades wrote rich, plain-spoken songs that chronicled the struggles and stories of everyday working people and changed the face of modern American roots music, died Tuesday at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was 73. The cause was complications related to COVID-19, his family confirmed to Rolling Stone. Prine, who left behind an extraordinary body of folk-country classics, was hospitalized last month after the sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms, and was placed in intensive care for 13 days. Prine’s wife and manager, Fiona, announced on March 17th that she had tested positive for the virus after they had returned from a European tour.
John Prine - 'When I Get To Heaven'
When I get to heaven, I'm gonna shake God's hand
Thank him for more blessings than one man can stand
Then I'm gonna get a guitar and start a rock-n-roll band
Check into a swell hotel; ain't the afterlife grand?
And then I'm gonna get a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale
Yeah, I'm gonna smoke a cigarette that's nine miles long
I'm gonna kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl
'Cause this old man is goin' to town
Then as God as my witness, I'm gettin' back into showbusiness
I'm gonna open up a nightclub called "The Tree of Forgiveness"
And forgive everybody ever done me any harm
Well, I might even invite a few choice critics, those syph'litic parasitics
Buy 'em a pint of [?] and smother 'em with my charm
'Cause then I'm gonna get a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale
Yeah I'm gonna smoke a cigarette that's nine miles long
I'm gonna kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl
Yeah this old man is goin' to town
Yeah when I get to heaven, I'm gonna take that wristwatch off my arm
What are you gonna do with time after you've bought the farm?
And them I'm gonna go find my mom and dad, and good old brother Doug
Well I bet him and cousin Jackie are still cuttin' up a rug
I wanna see all my mama's sisters, 'cause that's where all the love starts
I miss 'em all like crazy, bless their little hearts
And I always will remember these words my daddy said
He said, "Buddy, when you're dead, you're a dead pecker-head"
I hope to prove him wrong, that is, when I get to heaven
'Cause I'm gonna have a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale
Yeah I'm gonna smoke a cigarette that's nine miles long
I'm gonna kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl
Yeah this old man is goin' to town
Yeah this old man is goin' to town
Over here on E Street, we are crushed by the loss of John Prine. John and I were "New Dylans" together in the early 70s and he was never anything but the lovliest guy in the world. A true national treasure and a songwriter for the ages. We send our love and prayers to his family. — Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) April 8, 2020
(Springsteen added, “His death just makes me angry,” he continued. “He was simply one of the best we had, and we will miss him.” )
With a heavy heart, but deep love and gratitude for his gift he gave us all- Goodbye, John Prine. https://t.co/kGkNJYl3hI — Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 8, 2020
We love you John. — Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) April 8, 2020
my heart is broken 💔 rest easy @JohnPrineMusic , our big old goofy world will always love and miss you. pic.twitter.com/82XjRijjEJ — MaryChapin Carpenter (@M_CCarpenter) April 8, 2020
A recent live version of 'When I Get To Heaven.'


crooksandliars--2020-04-09--WSJ Editorial Board Agrees With Crooks And Liars: Trump’s COVID-19 Briefings Are 'Wasted'

[ Above , The Daily Show shows side-by-side the comparison of a Trump Campaign Rally and a Trump COVID briefing . ]
Many of us on our website as well as others have been yelling at the news networks to stop carrying Trump 's coronavirus press conferences live in their entirety , because he 's using them not to inform people , but as reelection campaign rallies .
Instead of allowing his medical professionals to inform the American public about the latest news on fighting the coronavirus , he 's hijackings press conferences to attack his political rivals , governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Inventing magical cures and treatments , and the press for using his own words against him .
At the end of March CNN chief Jeff Zucker defended CNN 's broadcasting these daily briefings in their entirety .
Networks can easily edit around these two-hour affairs of bloviating , snarling and attacking members of the press for asking basic questions by Trump and just give the American public the important information and latest news they need on the coronavirus from the task force .
The briefings began as a good idea to educate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , how Americans should change their behavior , and what the government is doing to combat it .
-- - But sometime in the last three weeks , Mr. Trump seems to have concluded that the briefings could be a showcase for him .
Perhaps they substitute in his mind for the campaign rallies he can no longer hold because of the risks .
Perhaps he resented the media adulation that New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has been receiving for his daily show .
Whatever the reason , the briefings are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last for 90 minutes or more , and Mr. Trump dominates the stage .
His first-rate health experts have become supporting actors , and sometimes barely that , ushered on stage to answer a technical question or two .
Vice President Mike Pence , who leads the task force , doesn ’ t get on stage until the last 15 minutes or so .
That becomes the most informative part of the session , since Mr. Pence understandably knows details the President doesn ’ t .
Mr. Trump opens the door for questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispiriting brawl between the President and his antagonists in the White House press corps .
The President ’ s outbursts against his political critics are also notably off-key at this moment .
This isn ’ t impeachment , and Covid-19 isn ’ t shifty Schiff .
It ’ s a once-a-century threat to American life and livelihood .
This WSJ editorial board criticism of Trump now helps give cover to all major TV news networks , who were afraid that if they started cutting away from Trump 's faux coronavirus press conferences they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House , and the right-wing media for being against Trump .
If Mr. Trump wants to make his briefings more helpful to the country , here ’ s our advice .
Make them no more than 45 minutes , except on rare occasions .
Let Mr. Pence lead them each day , focusing on one issue or problem .
Mr. Pence can take the questions , and Mr. Trump can show up twice a week to reinforce the message .
Maybe then our friend who was a Trump voter might start watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinions on the facts at the time ... and not on hopes , phony prayers , and unicorns .
We do not wait until a progressive talk show host tells us what to say and what to think .
In many instances over the past sixteen years , its been the other way around .
We have been ahead of the curve not reacting to it .
It 's time for networks to stop airing Trump live .
He can pay for airtime to run a tv rally .

[Above, The Daily Show shows side-by-side the comparison of a Trump Campaign Rally and a Trump COVID briefing.]
Many of us on our website as well as others have been yelling at the news networks to stop carrying Trump's coronavirus press conferences live in their entirety, because he's using them not to inform people, but as reelection campaign rallies.
Instead of allowing his medical professionals to inform the American public about the latest news on fighting the coronavirus, he's hijackings press conferences to attack his political rivals, governors who are critical of the federal response, Inventing magical cures and treatments, and the press for using his own words against him.
At the end of March CNN chief Jeff Zucker defended CNN's broadcasting these daily briefings in their entirety.
Ludicrous.
Networks can easily edit around these two-hour affairs of bloviating, snarling and attacking members of the press for asking basic questions by Trump and just give the American public the important information and latest news they need on the coronavirus from the task force.
Now the Wall Street Journal editorial board agrees:
The briefings began as a good idea to educate the public about the dangers of the virus, how Americans should change their behavior, and what the government is doing to combat it. --- -- But sometime in the last three weeks, Mr. Trump seems to have concluded that the briefings could be a showcase for him. Perhaps they substitute in his mind for the campaign rallies he can no longer hold because of the risks. Perhaps he resented the media adulation that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been receiving for his daily show. Whatever the reason, the briefings are now all about the President. -- They last for 90 minutes or more, and Mr. Trump dominates the stage. His first-rate health experts have become supporting actors, and sometimes barely that, ushered on stage to answer a technical question or two. Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the task force, doesn’t get on stage until the last 15 minutes or so. That becomes the most informative part of the session, since Mr. Pence understandably knows details the President doesn’t. - Mr. Trump opens the door for questions, and the session deteriorates into a dispiriting brawl between the President and his antagonists in the White House press corps. -- The President’s outbursts against his political critics are also notably off-key at this moment. This isn’t impeachment, and Covid-19 isn’t shifty Schiff. It’s a once-a-century threat to American life and livelihood.
This WSJ editorial board criticism of Trump now helps give cover to all major TV news networks, who were afraid that if they started cutting away from Trump's faux coronavirus press conferences they would be attacked and criticized by the White House, and the right-wing media for being against Trump.
If Mr. Trump wants to make his briefings more helpful to the country, here’s our advice. Make them no more than 45 minutes, except on rare occasions. Let Mr. Pence lead them each day, focusing on one issue or problem. Mr. Pence can take the questions, and Mr. Trump can show up twice a week to reinforce the message. Maybe then our friend who was a Trump voter might start watching again.
C&L bases our opinions on the facts at the time... and not on hopes, phony prayers, and unicorns.
We do not wait until a progressive talk show host tells us what to say and what to think.
In many instances over the past sixteen years, its been the other way around. We have been ahead of the curve not reacting to it.
It's time for networks to stop airing Trump live. He can pay for airtime to run a tv rally.


crooksandliars--2020-03-11--The Trump Coronavirus Disaster Movie: 'Pandumbic'

Is it horror film ?
Is it a documentary ?
Is it a dessert topping ?
Why not all three ?
Trevor Noah provided a bit of comic relief ( as he does ) with this fake trailer for an imagined movie , 1970s disaster flick-style , named `` Pandumbic . ''
How nail-on-the-head is that ?
It shows America 's Sniffer-in-Chief ignoring the `` no hand-shaking '' advice , doubling down on his absurd theory that Covid-19 is just like the flu , and pathetically fishing for affirmation from real scientists that he 's got a brain rattling around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` My uncle , he was at MIT , he taught at MIT , he was a great super genius !
I like this stuff , I really get it ! ''
Um ... no , he does n't .
Nearly everything he has said about this outbreak is contradicted by actual scientists and/or policy experts who specialize in this sort of thing .
Just like in the horror movies , only this is very , very real .
The trailer tells us , “ The deadly coronavirus is spreading… and the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” as Trump promises we should have only 1 or 2 cases soon , and also that it 'll go away once it warms up a little .
You know .
Like a miracle .
`` Pandumbic . ''
Coming to a Emergency Room near you..

“A man immune… to information."
Is it horror film? Is it a documentary? Is it a dessert topping? Why not all three? Trevor Noah provided a bit of comic relief (as he does) with this fake trailer for an imagined movie, 1970s disaster flick-style, named "Pandumbic." How nail-on-the-head is that?
It shows America's Sniffer-in-Chief ignoring the "no hand-shaking" advice, doubling down on his absurd theory that Covid-19 is just like the flu, and pathetically fishing for affirmation from real scientists that he's got a brain rattling around in that dried up skull somewhere. "My uncle, he was at MIT, he taught at MIT, he was a great super genius! I like this stuff, I really get it!" Um...no, he doesn't. Nearly everything he has said about this outbreak is contradicted by actual scientists and/or policy experts who specialize in this sort of thing.
Just like in the horror movies, only this is very, very real. The trailer tells us, “The deadly coronavirus is spreading… and the man in charge is the dumbest person alive,” as Trump promises we should have only 1 or 2 cases soon, and also that it'll go away once it warms up a little. You know. Like a miracle.
"Pandumbic." Coming to a Emergency Room near you..


crooksandliars--2020-03-11--Ron Johnson Raked For Fake Biden Probe Over COVID-19

Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) on Wednesday was confronted by MSNBC host Ayman Mohyeldin after he suggested that he is more interested in investigating former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s son than fighting the novel coronavirus .
“ This administration has been all hands on deck , ” Johnson said of President Donald Trump ’ s response to COVID-19 .
“ They certainly haven ’ t under-reacted… Getting it just right is probably impossible.
” According to Johnson , Trump is trying to “ tamp down the panic ” by spreading misinformation about the virus .
Mohyeldin noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homeland Security Committee , is focused on investigating Hunter Biden ’ s connection to a Ukrainian energy company .
“ What is the factual basis for launching this investigation and why now ?
” the MSNBC host wondered .
“ There are a lot of unanswered questions , ” Johnson said .
“ I ’ m not making any charges .
We just need to get to the bottom of this.
” Mohyeldin also pointed out that former Sen. Claire McCaskill ( D-MO ) called Johnson a “ joke ” for going after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ People say you are doing this at a time when the country is preoccupied with coronavirus , ” Mohyeldin observed .
“ You are doing what looks like from some people ’ s perspective a political hit job on the president ’ s number one political opponent.
” “ Claire doesn ’ t know what she ’ s talking about , ” Johnson shot back before defending his committee ’ s response to COVID-19 .
“ I actually can walk and chew gum at the same time , ” the senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to issue subpoenas .
This doesn ’ t take much of my time.
” “ If Joe Biden was running for president would you be doing this investigation ?
” Mohyeldin pressed .
“ I think a lot of people are looking at this and saying the basis of this investigation is politics in nature .
What other grifting investigations have you launched ?
” “ Listen , we launched this in 2017 , ” Johnson replied .
“ This is basically more from my investigation into the Clinton email scandal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drafting of the James Comey exoneration memo.
” “ This is necessary oversight , ” he insisted .
“ There ’ s nothing political about it other than we ’ re operating in a political realm .
”

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) on Wednesday was confronted by MSNBC host Ayman Mohyeldin after he suggested that he is more interested in investigating former Vice President Joe Biden’s son than fighting the novel coronavirus.
“This administration has been all hands on deck,” Johnson said of President Donald Trump’s response to COVID-19. “They certainly haven’t under-reacted… Getting it just right is probably impossible.”
According to Johnson, Trump is trying to “tamp down the panic” by spreading misinformation about the virus.
Mohyeldin noted that Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, is focused on investigating Hunter Biden’s connection to a Ukrainian energy company.
“What is the factual basis for launching this investigation and why now?” the MSNBC host wondered.
“There are a lot of unanswered questions,” Johnson said. “I’m not making any charges. We just need to get to the bottom of this.”
Mohyeldin also pointed out that former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) called Johnson a “joke” for going after the Bidens instead of the novel coronavirus.
“People say you are doing this at a time when the country is preoccupied with coronavirus,” Mohyeldin observed. “You are doing what looks like from some people’s perspective a political hit job on the president’s number one political opponent.”
“Claire doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Johnson shot back before defending his committee’s response to COVID-19.
“I actually can walk and chew gum at the same time,” the senator added. “Now’s the time to issue subpoenas. This doesn’t take much of my time.”
“If Joe Biden was running for president would you be doing this investigation?” Mohyeldin pressed. “I think a lot of people are looking at this and saying the basis of this investigation is politics in nature. What other grifting investigations have you launched?”
“Listen, we launched this in 2017,” Johnson replied. “This is basically more from my investigation into the Clinton email scandal. Our investigations, for example, revealed the drafting of the James Comey exoneration memo.”
“This is necessary oversight,” he insisted. “There’s nothing political about it other than we’re operating in a political realm.”


crooksandliars--2020-03-11--Rep. McCaul Spreads Disinformation: '350 Million Cases Of The Flu This Year Alone’

Rep. Michael McCaul ( R-TX ) , ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , tried to downplay fears of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday by claiming “ 350 million ” Americans had influenza this year alone .
During an interview with Fox News , McCaul said that shutting down the Capitol Building over virus fears would not be “ the right message to the world ” even though at least six lawmakers have quarantined themselves after they came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The risk is still low .
To put it in perspective , we had 350 million cases of the flu this year alone in the United States and somewhere between 20,000 to 50,000 deaths.
” “ Not to say that this virus is not serious , ” he added .
“ We take it very serious .
It ’ s very contagious.
” According to the CDC , there are between 9 million and 45 million cases of influenza in the United States each year .
Between 12,000 and 61,000 of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau estimates the U.S. population in 2020 to be approximately 329 million people .

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, tried to downplay fears of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday by claiming “350 million” Americans had influenza this year alone.
During an interview with Fox News, McCaul said that shutting down the Capitol Building over virus fears would not be “the right message to the world” even though at least six lawmakers have quarantined themselves after they came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
“I don’t think it’s time to panic,” he insisted. “The risk is still low. To put it in perspective, we had 350 million cases of the flu this year alone in the United States and somewhere between 20,000 to 50,000 deaths.”
“Not to say that this virus is not serious,” he added. “We take it very serious. It’s very contagious.”
According to the CDC, there are between 9 million and 45 million cases of influenza in the United States each year. Between 12,000 and 61,000 of those cases result in death.
The Census Bureau estimates the U.S. population in 2020 to be approximately 329 million people.


crooksandliars--2020-05-09--Cops Didn't Enforce Law On Anti-lockdown Protesters, COVID-19 Spread

Remember the April 15th `` Operation Gridlock ? ''
in Lansing Michigan ?
In my piece on April 21st I said we needed to start tracking these protesters to show that they will spread the virus to other communities .
Well , someone did .
Cellphone data shows 300 of the people who had gathered in Lansing for `` Operation Gridlock '' scattered throughout the state after the protest .
The color of the dot represents device activity : yellow is more activity , red is lighter Image from : Doctors at the Committee to Protect Medicare The people at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which shows the protesters dispersing to smaller communities across Michigan in the following days .
The map above shows that cellphones that were in Lansing on April 15 scattered across the state .
( Link ) Rob Davidson , executive director of The Committee to Protect Medicare said on Lawrence O'Donnell on April 30th that they saw a rise of 50-200 % in COVID19 cases at the places those cell phones ended up .
Davidson predicts that we will see more of this following the April 30th protests .
`` If we keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're never going to get out of this . ''
Protesters without masks , PPE may have spread COVID-19 to North , West Michigan Michigan state law enforcement needs to change how they handle protesters .
At the April 30th protest the Michigan state police decided not to enforce the executive order .
This is a not a hoax pandemic .
3,789 people in Michigan have died because of it , and that 's not going to stop if protesters are allowed to violate the lawful emergency orders on social distancing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one was cited .
They could have been cited for breaking MCL 10.33 & MCL 30.405 ( 3 ) , a misdemeanor .
Here is Michigan State Police First Lt. Darren Green , the state security operation commander for the Capitol , telling the unmasked protesters standing closer than 6 feet apart the police will not be enforcing the social distancing orders .
Clip from MLive video at 4:08 In this interview Michigan State Police First Lt. Darren Green gave several reasons for using `` extreme discretion '' for social distancing enforcement during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons might have made sense at the time , but we now know how easily this deadly virus spreads .
How do we get a change in public health policing ?
Elected officials should listen to the doctors who are looking at the evidence and making decisions to limit the spread .
Michigan state government needs to tell police to start enforcing Executive Order 2020-11 re : Temporary prohibition on large assemblages and events ( PDF Link ) The doctors can educate the police why they need to start citing and arresting people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders .
When I last wrote about this people worried about how enforcement can be applied unjustly against POC .
They were also concerned about the use of widespread surveillance techniques by government .
All valid concerns .
If we are going to ask for an increase in policing during the pandemic we should also demand independent oversight to address injustices and ensure that privacy requirements are built into the system .
Who does the public need to call , email or tweet to support health department orders ?
I asked my friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who specifically to contact and what to say .
They suggested their state representatives .
My friend Vicki shared with me this delightful letter she wrote to Senator Mike Shirkey and Representative Lee Chatfield , both Republicans : I do n't know if either of you are scientists or understand science -- it appears that you do n't , after you allowed the protesters with their penis extensions ( AKA guns and assault rifles ) into the Capitol yesterday -- but you both need to be told , apparently , that this virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It does n't care if you are a Democrat , a Republican , or a Pastafarian .
It 's an equal opportunity virus , and it will seek you out if you are in crowded spaces with no protection .
A sizable majority of constituents in the State of Michigan ( I can cite sources , if need be ) agree with the Governor , that our safety is more important than politics or opening the economy -- even if it is painful for some right now .
We all get it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all in this TOGETHER ( or at least we should be ) .
..these fools ( yes , they are fools ) put all of our lives in danger with their behavior and their demands .
Thankfully , we have a Governor who follows science .
..Follow the science .
If you do n't understand it , research it .
But follow the science .
Opening this state up too soon because some troglodytes are screaming about LIBERTY is a foolish , foolish move .
Sadly some Michigan Republicans are listening to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games and filing lawsuits .
Robert Gordon , Director of State Of Michigan , Department Of Health And Human Services Image from : The College Board Why are n't they doing what Robert Gordon , Director of State Of Michigan , Department Of Health And Human Services says in Emergency Order Pursuant to MCL 333.2253 Regarding Executive Orders 2020-11 , 2020-20 , and 2020-21 ?
That order is based on the `` advice of scientific and medical experts employed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services .
That is the document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it here ) What needs to happen next ?
• Call your reps !
Demand police change their policies to enforce physical distancing laws at protests .
• The Governor needs the director of DHHS to talk to elected officials and explain how and why policing needs to change .
• The Governor needs to direct the Attorney General , Dana Nessel to tell the director of the Michigan State Police , Col. Joseph Gasper , that he needs to direct his officers to start citing and arresting protesters violating the law .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how protests will be handled going forward .
( They can use California as a model since they just arrested 32 anti-lock down protesters . )
• Commanders in the field , like MSP Lt. Darren Green , should explain the new rules at any protests .
• Public Information Officers like Lt. Brian Oleksyk , need to tell local reporters like Kyle Kaminski at City Pulse that `` extreme discretion '' on protesters is over Protesters not following social distancing orders from EXECUTIVE ORDER No .
2020-69 April 30 , 2020 Lansing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan Live We focus on the protesters yelling in these photos .
I think we should focus on the police being yelled at .
They are being put at risk by protesters who are n't masked and could be carrying a deadly virus .
Police have families too .
Anyone who says they `` support our first responders '' or tweets `` # BlueLivesMatter '' should be demanding reckless protesters stop spreading a highly contagious , lethal virus .
That means PPE for first responders and enforcement of policies designed to prevent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have heard the story of 5-year old Skylar Herbert .
Her dad is a firefighter , her mom is a police officer .
At some point they were exposed to COVID-19 , which infected Skylar .
On April 5th Skylar became the youngest person to have died of the virus in Michigan -- so far .
We don ’ t know where all the people at these protests went .
So call your state senators ( link ) and representatives ( link ) Demand the police stop letting people violate the emergency orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter of two first responders , is believed to be the youngest person to have died of the virus in Michigan .
Her mother , LaVondria Herbert , is a police officer .
Image from : NBC News screen grab

Remember the April 15th "Operation Gridlock?" in Lansing Michigan? In my piece on April 21st I said we needed to start tracking these protesters to show that they will spread the virus to other communities. Well, someone did.
Cellphone data shows 300 of the people who had gathered in Lansing for "Operation Gridlock" scattered throughout the state after the protest. The color of the dot represents device activity: yellow is more activity, red is lighter Credit: Doctors at the Committee to Protect Medicare
The people at the Committee to Protect Medicare released data which shows the protesters dispersing to smaller communities across Michigan in the following days. The map above shows that cellphones that were in Lansing on April 15 scattered across the state. (Link)
Rob Davidson, executive director of The Committee to Protect Medicare said on Lawrence O'Donnell on April 30th that they saw a rise of 50-200% in COVID19 cases at the places those cell phones ended up.
Davidson predicts that we will see more of this following the April 30th protests. "If we keep doing the same thing over and over we're never going to get out of this."
Protesters without masks, PPE may have spread COVID-19 to North, West Michigan
The data is a “bright red flag” that shows the irresponsible actions of a few hundred people could put medically under-equipped communities at risk of experiencing higher infection rates, according to Dr. Rob Davidson, an emergency physician in West Michigan who ran for Congress as a Democrat in 2018. “Every public health expert and medical professional has been warning America that people who don’t maintain physical distance could be dispersing a highly contagious, lethal virus into their communities and endangering their neighbors and their loved ones,” Davidson said. “These reckless actions threaten to set back all our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the rate of infections.” (May 4th, Michigan Advance)
Michigan state law enforcement needs to change how they handle protesters.
At the April 30th protest the Michigan state police decided not to enforce the executive order.
This is a not a hoax pandemic. 3,789 people in Michigan have died because of it, and that's not going to stop if protesters are allowed to violate the lawful emergency orders on social distancing. But at the April 30th event no one was cited. They could have been cited for breaking MCL 10.33 & MCL 30.405(3), a misdemeanor.
Here is Michigan State Police First Lt. Darren Green, the state security operation commander for the Capitol, telling the unmasked protesters standing closer than 6 feet apart the police will not be enforcing the social distancing orders. Clip from MLive video at 4:08
Also when cops didn't enforce the law on social distancing at anti-lockdown protesters, COVID-19 spread.
Call your reps. Demand police enforce physical distancing laws at protests. https://t.co/YtYxkwDuZb
@DrRobDavidson https://t.co/ssKdzeqwS5 pic.twitter.com/LELw4ODSWG — Spocko (@spockosbrain) May 8, 2020
In this interview Michigan State Police First Lt. Darren Green gave several reasons for using "extreme discretion" for social distancing enforcement during stay-at-home protest. (link) Those reasons might have made sense at the time, but we now know how easily this deadly virus spreads.
How do we get a change in public health policing?
Elected officials should listen to the doctors who are looking at the evidence and making decisions to limit the spread. Michigan state government needs to tell police to start enforcing Executive Order 2020-11 re: Temporary prohibition on large assemblages and events (PDF Link) The doctors can educate the police why they need to start citing and arresting people who willfully and intentionally break public health orders.
When I last wrote about this people worried about how enforcement can be applied unjustly against POC. They were also concerned about the use of widespread surveillance techniques by government. All valid concerns. If we are going to ask for an increase in policing during the pandemic we should also demand independent oversight to address injustices and ensure that privacy requirements are built into the system.
Who does the public need to call, email or tweet to support health department orders?
I asked my friends who live in Michigan for ideas on who specifically to contact and what to say. They suggested their state representatives. My friend Vicki shared with me this delightful letter she wrote to Senator Mike Shirkey and Representative Lee Chatfield, both Republicans:
I don't know if either of you are scientists or understand science--it appears that you don't, after you allowed the protesters with their penis extensions (AKA guns and assault rifles) into the Capitol yesterday--but you both need to be told, apparently, that this virus doesn't have a political affiliation. It doesn't care if you are a Democrat, a Republican, or a Pastafarian. It's an equal opportunity virus, and it will seek you out if you are in crowded spaces with no protection. A sizable majority of constituents in the State of Michigan (I can cite sources, if need be) agree with the Governor, that our safety is more important than politics or opening the economy--even if it is painful for some right now. We all get it, it's stressful for everyone--we are all in this TOGETHER (or at least we should be). ..these fools (yes, they are fools) put all of our lives in danger with their behavior and their demands. Thankfully, we have a Governor who follows science. ..Follow the science. If you don't understand it, research it. But follow the science. Opening this state up too soon because some troglodytes are screaming about LIBERTY is a foolish, foolish move.
Sadly some Michigan Republicans are listening to "Dr. Trump" by playing political games and filing lawsuits.
Robert Gordon, Director of State Of Michigan, Department Of Health And Human Services Credit: The College Board
Why aren't they doing what Robert Gordon, Director of State Of Michigan, Department Of Health And Human Services says in Emergency Order Pursuant to MCL 333.2253 Regarding Executive Orders 2020-11, 2020-20, and 2020-21? That order is based on the "advice of scientific and medical experts employed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. That is the document law enforcement should be following (read it here)
What needs to happen next?
Call your reps! Demand police change their policies to enforce physical distancing laws at protests.
The Governor needs the director of DHHS to talk to elected officials and explain how and why policing needs to change.
The Governor needs to direct the Attorney General, Dana Nessel to tell the director of the Michigan State Police, Col. Joseph Gasper, that he needs to direct his officers to start citing and arresting protesters violating the law.
The media needs to be informed how protests will be handled going forward. (They can use California as a model since they just arrested 32 anti-lock down protesters. )
Commanders in the field, like MSP Lt. Darren Green, should explain the new rules at any protests.
should explain the new rules at any protests. Public Information Officers like Lt. Brian Oleksyk, need to tell local reporters like Kyle Kaminski at City Pulse that "extreme discretion" on protesters is over
Protesters not following social distancing orders from EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 2020-69 April 30, 2020 Lansing Michigan, Credit: Screen cap Michigan Live
We focus on the protesters yelling in these photos. I think we should focus on the police being yelled at. They are being put at risk by protesters who aren't masked and could be carrying a deadly virus. Police have families too.
Anyone who says they "support our first responders" or tweets "#BlueLivesMatter" should be demanding reckless protesters stop spreading a highly contagious, lethal virus. That means PPE for first responders and enforcement of policies designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In Michigan people have heard the story of 5-year old Skylar Herbert. Her dad is a firefighter, her mom is a police officer. At some point they were exposed to COVID-19, which infected Skylar. On April 5th Skylar became the youngest person to have died of the virus in Michigan--so far.
We don’t know where all the people at these protests went. So call your state senators (link) and representatives (link) Demand the police stop letting people violate the emergency orders.
Make a call. Save lives.
5-year old Skylar Herbert, the daughter of two first responders, is believed to be the youngest person to have died of the virus in Michigan. Her mother, LaVondria Herbert, is a police officer. Credit: NBC News screen grab
Cross posted to Spocko's Brain


crooksandliars--2020-02-27--Trump Shocked The Flu Can Be Deadly

Trump Shocked The Flu Can Be Deadly

During Wednesday 's press conference on the coronavirus Donald Trump was genuinely shocked when he suddenly found out that the flu actually kills thousands of people a year .
I mean , I have no words for this .
Even as an ordinary citizen , most Americans understand that the flu kills thousands of people a year - especially the elderly .
And in recent years some of the strains have been very dangerous .
But since there 's a possible pandemic occurring , I guess Trump finally went to an actual briefing on the subject with actual experts from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listening to something other than Fox News and Lou Dobbs wax poetic about his awesomeness , someone must have brought up the severity of the flu In comparison to what might happen with the coronavirus .
I ca n't explain how uneducated and myopic his words were when he said this : I want to you understand something that shocked me when I saw it .
I spoke with the doctor on this .
I was really amazed and I think most people are amazed to hear it .
The flu in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people a year .
That was shocking to me .
So far if you look at the 15 people , they 're recovering .
one is pretty sick .
But hopefully will recover .
The ruse in great shame .
Think of that .
25,000 to 69,000. over the last ten years , we 've lost 360,000. these are people that have died from the flu .
From what we call the flu .
Hey , did you get your flu shot ?
And that 's something .
It 's not shocking or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
It 's been a known fact for decades .
But to this imbecile , it was a revelation .
And yes , it is called the flu .
He acted like a toddler who first learns that fire burns your hand .

During Wednesday's press conference on the coronavirus Donald Trump was genuinely shocked when he suddenly found out that the flu actually kills thousands of people a year.
I mean, I have no words for this. Even as an ordinary citizen, most Americans understand that the flu kills thousands of people a year - especially the elderly. And in recent years some of the strains have been very dangerous.
But since there's a possible pandemic occurring, I guess Trump finally went to an actual briefing on the subject with actual experts from CDC. And as he was finally listening to something other than Fox News and Lou Dobbs wax poetic about his awesomeness, someone must have brought up the severity of the flu In comparison to what might happen with the coronavirus.
I can't explain how uneducated and myopic his words were when he said this:
I want to you understand something that shocked me when I saw it. I spoke with the doctor on this. I was really amazed and I think most people are amazed to hear it. The flu in our country kills from 25,000 people to 69,000 people a year. That was shocking to me. So far if you look at the 15 people, they're recovering. one is pretty sick. But hopefully will recover. The ruse in great shame. Think of that. 25,000 to 69,000. over the last ten years, we've lost 360,000. these are people that have died from the flu. From what we call the flu. Hey, did you get your flu shot? And that's something.
It's not shocking or amazing to over 300 million people in the United States. It's been a known fact for decades. But to this imbecile, it was a revelation.
And yes, it is called the flu.
Bravo.
He acted like a toddler who first learns that fire burns your hand.


crooksandliars--2020-02-27--Trump Gives Bananas Press Conference About Coronavirus

Donald Trump is an idiot and his stupidity is going to infect more than just his MAGA Cult .
He had a press conference on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the coronavirus outbreak and possible coming pandemic and spent half the time double-talking ( yes , it may be really bad but it also is basically like the flu ) and the other half hosting a mini MAGA rally , filled with gripes about Nancy Pelosi , Chuck Schumer and the Democrats .
The best part was when he was repeatedly asked about the stock market dropping close to 2000 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he actually blamed the Democrats and their late Tuesday debate for the drop in the stock market that happened on Monday and Tuesday - BEFORE the debate .
So , are we in a time machine ?
Did the stock market predict what would happen ?
Or did the Democrats have nothing to do with the stock market fall ?
Duh , we know the answer .
IT IS ALWAYS THE DEMOCRATS ' FAULT .
I am actually surprised he did n't blame Crooked Hillary 's emails and Barack Obama 's SPYING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the press conference ) THIS IS WHEN HE BECAME PRESIDENT , Y'ALL Oh , I guess Trump personally had an effect on the stock market ... and not a good one .
This is coming from a serious presence on twitter who rarely speaks like this Good luck , ya 'll .
In all seriousness , please visit and bookmark the CDC page on the Coronavirus .
to keep up to date on all breaking news regarding this illness .

Donald Trump is an idiot and his stupidity is going to infect more than just his MAGA Cult. He had a press conference on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the coronavirus outbreak and possible coming pandemic and spent half the time double-talking (yes, it may be really bad but it also is basically like the flu) and the other half hosting a mini MAGA rally, filled with gripes about Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and the Democrats.
The best part was when he was repeatedly asked about the stock market dropping close to 2000 points since Monday. In his convoluted answer, he actually blamed the Democrats and their late Tuesday debate for the drop in the stock market that happened on Monday and Tuesday - BEFORE the debate. So, are we in a time machine? Did the stock market predict what would happen? Or did the Democrats have nothing to do with the stock market fall?
Duh, we know the answer. IT IS ALWAYS THE DEMOCRATS' FAULT.
I am actually surprised he didn't blame Crooked Hillary's emails and Barack Obama's SPYING.
Twitter had thoughts:
Paul Lidicul had this idea (before the press conference)
BREAKING: President Trump calls a press conference to assure the American people that the #Coronavirus has been completely contained, and that there is no legitimate threat to any Americans.#CoronavirusOutbreak pic.twitter.com/7DJa9rOiYX — Paul Lidicul (@PaulLidicul) February 26, 2020
BREAKING: Trump used his disaster of a coronavirus press conference to attack Speaker Pelosi: “I think Speaker Pelosi’s incompetent. I’ve been beating her routinely at everything.” Says the dude who lost the impeachment battle to Speaker Pelosi, and is now impeached for life. — Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 27, 2020
Trump is so ignorant about this disease that he said it would go away when the weather gets warm. Anyone in the WH press corps want to ask about that batshit crazy statement? — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) February 27, 2020
At his press conference about a potential global pandemic, Trump blames this week’s 2,000-point drop in the stock market on last night’s Democratic debate — Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) February 27, 2020
Nothing says “uniting the country” like using a press conference about coronavirus to bash Pelosi and Schumer. This virus is exposing all the pathologies of the Trump administration. https://t.co/XuSfBI1zC0 — Max Boot (@MaxBoot) February 27, 2020
THIS IS WHEN HE BECAME PRESIDENT, Y'ALL
Trump is actually using his insulting nickname for Crying Chuck Schumer at a press conference to REASSURE Americans he is handling a major international health emergency. — Susan Glasser (@sbg1) February 27, 2020
Oh, I guess Trump personally had an effect on the stock market...and not a good one.
Markets keep going lower after Trump’s press conference and news of the first U.S. coronavirus without known links to other cases https://t.co/kw1xv5j5Lq pic.twitter.com/DCS9d8vmp2 — Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) February 27, 2020
This is coming from a serious presence on twitter who rarely speaks like this
I rarely to never swear on this social media site and please pardon me for this, but I feel I must.
This #CoronavirusOutbreak Trump Press Conference was an utter shit show. And we shouldn't laugh about it. This is horrifying. — Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) February 27, 2020
Good luck, ya'll. In all seriousness, please visit and bookmark the CDC page on the Coronavirus. to keep up to date on all breaking news regarding this illness.