crooksandliars--2020-05-04--From An Economic Bottom Line To A Humanitarian Bottom Line

Marianne Williamson talks a lot about changing our country 's priorities and going from an economic bottom line to a humanitarian bottom line .
During her presidential campaign she said that `` The first pillar of a season of moral repair has to do with economic justice -- has to do with recognizing that we have created a wealth inequality greater than anytime since 1929 , we have decimated America 's middle class , and we must take immediate action to fix this .
We should repeal the 2017 $ 2 trillion tax cut , which gave 83 cents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and corporations ; although , we should put back in the middle class tax cut .
We should stop all the corporate subsidies , such as $ 26 billion that we gave to oil and gas alone last year ... For what reason ? ''
As she said , `` We have nearly 93 million people who live near poverty in the United States today .
That means millions of people , tens of millions of people who live , every single day , in chronic tension and economic anxiety , not knowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick , not knowing what will happen if one of their children get sick , not knowing how they will send their children to college or not knowing how they themselves will get out from under the burden of their college loan .
We need to change this .
Bad public policy created all this and good public policy will make it right . ''
After Marianne ended her presidential campaign she decided to do what she could to help progressive congressional candidates who are running on platforms that she feels are about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You may have noticed that this week centrist Democrat Amy Klobuchar , a top contender to be Biden 's VP pick , followed Marianne 's lead and announced that she is trying to help down-ballot candidates , what Politico referred to as `` kicking off her next act . ''
The effort to raise funds , the snazzily dubbed `` Win Big Project , '' began Friday by endorsing a slate of a dozen House and Senate candidates .
All of them are centrists or candidates from the Republican wing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Brindisi ( D-NY ) and Xochitl Torres Small ( D-NM ) .
**Klobuchar 's are the kinds of candidates who have worked hand-in-hand with the Republicans to create the bad public policy Marianne has derailed .
And none of her candidates are anything like the candidates Marianne has endorsed -- the list of which you can see by clicking on the thermometer on the right .
We asked several of those candidates what makes their own campaigns different from the campaigns of conservative Democrats being supported by the corporate and political establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O'Mara , a progressive congressional candidate in Riverside County who won his primary and is challenging right-wing crook and Trump enabler Ken Calvert .
`` Marianne is right to say that we need a moral renaissance in this country , '' he said .
`` All our great religious and philosophical traditions give us a sense of right and wrong which is rooted in justice and compassion for others .
None of them could be used to justify the neofeudal outcome of Republican tax policy .
The GOP claims the mantle of liberty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by steadily lowering our living standards and reducing us to virtual paupers , dependent on the largesse of powerful special interests and the billionaire class .
Americans should not have to live on their knees , begging for crumbs from the table of the super-rich .
Our Founders fought a revolution motivated by the Enlightenment ideal that all human beings were born free and equal in dignity and rights .
It is well past time we realised the promise of that revolution , and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mark Gamba 's all-mail primary is 2 weeks from Tuesday .
He told us he couldn ’ t agree more with Marianne on this .
`` I have long advocated that we should measure America ’ s success on a Gross National Happiness Index rather then the GDP which only measures outcomes for the wealthiest and has little relevance to the rest of us and certainly doesn ’ t measure economic justice .
Concepts like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal which look to invest in the vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rather than the wealth of the 1 % are exactly what we need to enact to bring our country out of the economic tragedy millions are suffering due to the pandemic .
It will require a significant change in Congress however to make that a reality .
The neo-liberals will use this crisis to further their agenda of concentrating wealth and power at the top .
Everyone below the top 10 % have been getting poorer , relative to the cost of living , since the Reagan era .
It is critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a living wage and tie it to the cost of housing so that it never stagnates again .
It is beyond time to tax capital gains at the same rate we tax other income ; to increase the tax rate on anyone making more than $ 10 million a year to at least 50 % and to close the loopholes that allow companies like Amazon to pay nothing in taxes .
This is why all the candidates in this post need the support of every American who hopes for progressive change , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of corporate money so that I can be free to fight for the changes Marianne and I have outlined . ''
Michael Broihier is a progressive Democrat Marianne has endorsed for the Kentucky Senate seat held by Mitch McConnell .
Mike told me that `` Marianne is spot on ; the great tragedy of this pandemic , after the loss of life , will be a rush back to the comfort of business as usual .
As a farmer , I know how little a roaring stock market means to rural voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fifth worst economy and double the national average of people working at the minimum wage , the health of the Dow-Jones or S & P means little .
And , the failure of a health care system tied to employment is self-evident when 30-million Americans become unemployed in a manner of weeks . ''
He elaborated : Sadly , those people who routinely had to chose between rationing their prescriptions or paying the rent were invisible to career politicians of both parties until Washington career politicians began to fear the Senate gym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But even with a mounting death toll their first instinct was to bail out their rich and corporate donors and that tone deafness is not lost on working America .
Even the paltry , one-time payment to citizens smacks of desperation -- not leadership -- as they fail to grasp the enormity of the challenges ahead .
In my race , I face the DNC ’ s handpicked candidate , who has refashioned herself as a pro-Trump moderate who thinks the Senate Majority Leader is stopping the president from draining the swamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have voted to elevate Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court .
This is what Washington establishment Dems think is what is needed -- another a get-along Democrat absent of vision or the moral courage to lead the country towards a more just and equitable future .
If you agree the way out of the mess we 're in is to transform the country 's focus away from 'profit over people ' , the best way for this to become reality is to elect candidates who share this vision .
Please help Marianne 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a donation today .
The time has never been better to make voters understand why enacting humane public policies focused on making life better for everyone , not just the 1 % -- is vital .
Thanks for always doing what you can to make a better world ,

Marianne Williamson talks a lot about changing our country's priorities and going from an economic bottom line to a humanitarian bottom line. During her presidential campaign she said that "The first pillar of a season of moral repair has to do with economic justice-- has to do with recognizing that we have created a wealth inequality greater than anytime since 1929, we have decimated America's middle class, and we must take immediate action to fix this. We should repeal the 2017 $2 trillion tax cut, which gave 83 cents of every dollar to the very richest individuals and corporations; although, we should put back in the middle class tax cut. We should stop all the corporate subsidies, such as $26 billion that we gave to oil and gas alone last year... For what reason?"
As she said, "We have nearly 93 million people who live near poverty in the United States today. That means millions of people, tens of millions of people who live, every single day, in chronic tension and economic anxiety, not knowing really what will happen if they get sick, not knowing what will happen if one of their children get sick, not knowing how they will send their children to college or not knowing how they themselves will get out from under the burden of their college loan. We need to change this. Bad public policy created all this and good public policy will make it right."
After Marianne ended her presidential campaign she decided to do what she could to help progressive congressional candidates who are running on platforms that she feels are about creating that good and reparative public policy. You may have noticed that this week centrist Democrat Amy Klobuchar, a top contender to be Biden's VP pick, followed Marianne's lead and announced that she is trying to help down-ballot candidates, what Politico referred to as "kicking off her next act."
The effort to raise funds, the snazzily dubbed "Win Big Project," began Friday by endorsing a slate of a dozen House and Senate candidates. All of them are centrists or candidates from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, like reactionary Blue Dogs Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM).
**Klobuchar's are the kinds of candidates who have worked hand-in-hand with the Republicans to create the bad public policy Marianne has derailed. And none of her candidates are anything like the candidates Marianne has endorsed-- the list of which you can see by clicking on the thermometer on the right. We asked several of those candidates what makes their own campaigns different from the campaigns of conservative Democrats being supported by the corporate and political establishment.
The first response was from Liam O'Mara, a progressive congressional candidate in Riverside County who won his primary and is challenging right-wing crook and Trump enabler Ken Calvert. "Marianne is right to say that we need a moral renaissance in this country," he said. "All our great religious and philosophical traditions give us a sense of right and wrong which is rooted in justice and compassion for others. None of them could be used to justify the neofeudal outcome of Republican tax policy. The GOP claims the mantle of liberty while it strips that liberty from Americans by steadily lowering our living standards and reducing us to virtual paupers, dependent on the largesse of powerful special interests and the billionaire class. Americans should not have to live on their knees, begging for crumbs from the table of the super-rich. Our Founders fought a revolution motivated by the Enlightenment ideal that all human beings were born free and equal in dignity and rights. It is well past time we realised the promise of that revolution, and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is also the law of the land."
Mark Gamba's all-mail primary is 2 weeks from Tuesday. He told us he couldn’t agree more with Marianne on this. "I have long advocated that we should measure America’s success on a Gross National Happiness Index rather then the GDP which only measures outcomes for the wealthiest and has little relevance to the rest of us and certainly doesn’t measure economic justice. Concepts like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal which look to invest in the vast majority of people and the health of the nation, rather than the wealth of the 1% are exactly what we need to enact to bring our country out of the economic tragedy millions are suffering due to the pandemic. It will require a significant change in Congress however to make that a reality. The neo-liberals will use this crisis to further their agenda of concentrating wealth and power at the top. Everyone below the top 10% have been getting poorer, relative to the cost of living, since the Reagan era. It is critical that we raise the minimum wage to a living wage and tie it to the cost of housing so that it never stagnates again. It is beyond time to tax capital gains at the same rate we tax other income; to increase the tax rate on anyone making more than $10 million a year to at least 50% and to close the loopholes that allow companies like Amazon to pay nothing in taxes. This is why all the candidates in this post need the support of every American who hopes for progressive change, I for one do not take a penny of corporate money so that I can be free to fight for the changes Marianne and I have outlined."
Michael Broihier is a progressive Democrat Marianne has endorsed for the Kentucky Senate seat held by Mitch McConnell. Mike told me that "Marianne is spot on; the great tragedy of this pandemic, after the loss of life, will be a rush back to the comfort of business as usual. As a farmer, I know how little a roaring stock market means to rural voters. In a state with the nation’s fifth worst economy and double the national average of people working at the minimum wage, the health of the Dow-Jones or S&P means little. And, the failure of a health care system tied to employment is self-evident when 30-million Americans become unemployed in a manner of weeks." He elaborated:
Sadly, those people who routinely had to chose between rationing their prescriptions or paying the rent were invisible to career politicians of both parties until Washington career politicians began to fear the Senate gym being looted for hand-sanitizer and toilet paper. But even with a mounting death toll their first instinct was to bail out their rich and corporate donors and that tone deafness is not lost on working America. Even the paltry, one-time payment to citizens smacks of desperation-- not leadership-- as they fail to grasp the enormity of the challenges ahead. In my race, I face the DNC’s handpicked candidate, who has refashioned herself as a pro-Trump moderate who thinks the Senate Majority Leader is stopping the president from draining the swamp. A candidate who said she would have voted to elevate Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. This is what Washington establishment Dems think is what is needed-- another a get-along Democrat absent of vision or the moral courage to lead the country towards a more just and equitable future.
If you agree the way out of the mess we're in is to transform the country's focus away from 'profit over people', the best way for this to become reality is to elect candidates who share this vision. Please help Marianne's endorsees get the messages out by making a donation today. The time has never been better to make voters understand why enacting humane public policies focused on making life better for everyone, not just the 1%-- is vital.
Thanks for always doing what you can to make a better world,
Howie, for the entire Blue America team


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Judge Asks Chief Justice For Investigation Into Mitch McConnell's Latest Judicial Nomination

While the Senate is about to hold a hearing for an unqualified Republican nominee for a seat on the influential D.C. circuits Court of Appeals , the chief judge has asked John Roberts to assign a different circuit to investigate a complaint that Mitch McConnell improperly pressured another judge to retire in order to create the vacancy .
Via the New York Times : In an order dated May 1 , Judge Sri Srinivasan asked Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to assign another circuit to look into a complaint filed by the progressive advocacy group Demand Justice , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas B. Griffith ’ s retirement announcement in early March .
The advocacy group acted in March after disclosures that Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky , the majority leader who has focused intently on conservative judicial confirmations the past three years , had been contacting appeals court judges nominated by Republican presidents to encourage them to retire .
In the case of Judge Griffith , his retirement opened the way for President Trump to nominate Justin Walker , a 37-year-old protégé of Mr. McConnell ’ s whom the senator had ardently promoted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judicial vacancies to fill nearly exhausted , Mr. McConnell has been urging those contemplating retirement to step aside this year if they want to assure that their successors will be nominated by a Republican president and confirmed by a Republican-controlled Senate .

While the Senate is about to hold a hearing for an unqualified Republican nominee for a seat on the influential D.C. circuits Court of Appeals, the chief judge has asked John Roberts to assign a different circuit to investigate a complaint that Mitch McConnell improperly pressured another judge to retire in order to create the vacancy. Via the New York Times:
In an order dated May 1, Judge Sri Srinivasan asked Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to assign another circuit to look into a complaint filed by the progressive advocacy group Demand Justice, which questioned the timing and circumstances of Judge Thomas B. Griffith’s retirement announcement in early March.
The advocacy group acted in March after disclosures that Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader who has focused intently on conservative judicial confirmations the past three years, had been contacting appeals court judges nominated by Republican presidents to encourage them to retire. In the case of Judge Griffith, his retirement opened the way for President Trump to nominate Justin Walker, a 37-year-old protégé of Mr. McConnell’s whom the senator had ardently promoted for the seat.
With the number of federal judicial vacancies to fill nearly exhausted, Mr. McConnell has been urging those contemplating retirement to step aside this year if they want to assure that their successors will be nominated by a Republican president and confirmed by a Republican-controlled Senate.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--GA Sen. Kelly Loeffler Spends $4 Million On Ads Excusing Her Profit Off COVID-19

Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) is setting aside $ 4 million for advertisements to convince Georgia voters she was not wrong to allegedly profit off of the coronavirus pandemic .
Loeffler drew criticism last month when she “ sold up to $ 3.1 million in stocks ” after attending a coronavirus briefing that was exclusive to U.S. senators , according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
The paper reported on Monday that Loeffler is planning to spend $ 4 million on advertisements to push back against the criticism .
The ads reportedly accuse her opponents , including Republican Rep. Doug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal lies.
” They also claim that the senator has been “ unfairly targeted all because she ’ s a strong conservative woman.
” “ The liberals unfairly target President Trump every day , ” one ad says .
“ Just like they ’ re unfairly targeting conservative Kelly Loeffler .
But they ’ re both standing strong.
” The ad goes on to brag that Loeffler used her “ personal plane ” to fly cruise ship passengers back to Georgia and that she “ donated $ 1 million ” to help hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one posted above , and the other here :

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) is setting aside $4 million for advertisements to convince Georgia voters she was not wrong to allegedly profit off of the coronavirus pandemic.
Loeffler drew criticism last month when she “sold up to $3.1 million in stocks” after attending a coronavirus briefing that was exclusive to U.S. senators, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The paper reported on Monday that Loeffler is planning to spend $4 million on advertisements to push back against the criticism.
The ads reportedly accuse her opponents, including Republican Rep. Doug Collins (GA), of “liberal lies.” They also claim that the senator has been “unfairly targeted all because she’s a strong conservative woman.”
“The liberals unfairly target President Trump every day,” one ad says. “Just like they’re unfairly targeting conservative Kelly Loeffler. But they’re both standing strong.”
The ad goes on to brag that Loeffler used her “personal plane” to fly cruise ship passengers back to Georgia and that she “donated $1 million” to help hospitals fight the pandemic.
Watch the ads, one posted above, and the other here:


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Intentional Mass Murder Falls Under The Heading Of High Crimes And Misdemeanors

This should be the most shocking story of the Trump presidency , but I fear we 're too numb to feel it : As President Trump presses for states to reopen their economies , his administration is privately projecting a steady rise in the number of cases and deaths from the coronavirus over the next several weeks , reaching about 3,000 daily deaths on June 1 , according to an internal document obtained by The New York Times , nearly double from the current level of about 1,750 .
The projections , based on modeling by the Centers for Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chart form by the Federal Emergency Management Agency , forecast about 200,000 new cases each day by the end of the month , up from about 25,000 cases now ... .
The projections confirm the primary fear of public health experts : that a reopening of the economy will put the nation right back where it was in mid-March , when cases were rising so rapidly in some parts of the country that patients were dying on gurneys in hospital hallways as the health care system grew overloaded .
I think many Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it 's close to unthinkable , but let me restate what 's being reported here : The president of the United States , who has been incessantly cheerleading for a reopening of the economy , is doing so even though his own administration 's model is informing him that this will significantly increase the number of people who are sickened and killed by the coronavirus .
President Trump is not crossing his fingers and hoping that the reopenings take place with few bad consequences .
President Trump is choosing to kill innocent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeached for this , or for anything else between now and the end of his term in January 2021 .
But knowingly and willfully causing the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans is an offense worthy of impeachment and removal from office .
At the very least , some Democrats should be saying this now .
They should be demanding to see the forecasts .
They should be calling Trump a murderer .
But the story did n't say it was a White House document -- just that it was based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in chart form '' ( presumably in the hope that Trump might be able to read it that way ) by FEMA .
And if it did n't go through the Coronavirus Task Force or interagency review , it can still be a document policymakers are relying on -- it 's not as if there 's a smooth , linear process for gathering and vetting all information in this administration .
In any case , the American people deserve to see the document , and to know everything about it .
Democrats should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from No More Mr. Nice Blog

This should be the most shocking story of the Trump presidency, but I fear we're too numb to feel it:
As President Trump presses for states to reopen their economies, his administration is privately projecting a steady rise in the number of cases and deaths from the coronavirus over the next several weeks, reaching about 3,000 daily deaths on June 1, according to an internal document obtained by The New York Times, nearly double from the current level of about 1,750. The projections, based on modeling by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and pulled together in chart form by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, forecast about 200,000 new cases each day by the end of the month, up from about 25,000 cases now.... The projections confirm the primary fear of public health experts: that a reopening of the economy will put the nation right back where it was in mid-March, when cases were rising so rapidly in some parts of the country that patients were dying on gurneys in hospital hallways as the health care system grew overloaded.
I think many Americans won't be able to grasp this because it's close to unthinkable, but let me restate what's being reported here: The president of the United States, who has been incessantly cheerleading for a reopening of the economy, is doing so even though his own administration's model is informing him that this will significantly increase the number of people who are sickened and killed by the coronavirus. President Trump is not crossing his fingers and hoping that the reopenings take place with few bad consequences. President Trump is choosing to kill innocent American citizens.
Trump will not be impeached for this, or for anything else between now and the end of his term in January 2021. But knowingly and willfully causing the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans is an offense worthy of impeachment and removal from office.
At the very least, some Democrats should be saying this now. They should be demanding to see the forecasts. They should be calling Trump a murderer.
*****
UPDATE: Here's the inevitable pushback.
WH pushing back on new CDC estimate-“This is not a White House document nor has it been presented to the Coronavirus Task Force or gone through interagency vetting. This data is not reflective of any of the modeling done by the task force or data that the task force has analyzed" — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 4, 2020
But the story didn't say it was a White House document -- just that it was based on CDC modeling and was "pulled together in chart form" (presumably in the hope that Trump might be able to read it that way) by FEMA. And if it didn't go through the Coronavirus Task Force or interagency review, it can still be a document policymakers are relying on -- it's not as if there's a smooth, linear process for gathering and vetting all information in this administration. In any case, the American people deserve to see the document, and to know everything about it. Democrats should say as much.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--West Virginia's Governor Drops The F-Bomb

West Virginia 's portly Governor encouraged businesses to open if , and I quote , they just `` fucking follow @ @ @ @ @ Virginians safe . ''
Twitter erupted , naturally .
CHARLESTON , W. Va. ( WTOV @ @ @ @ @ it , you probably played it again just to make sure .
During a West @ @ @ @ @ Monday , an `` audio glitch '' resulted in what sounded like Governor Jim Justice @ @ @ @ @ social media showed the mishap , which the governor later addressed in a social media @ @ @ @

West Virginia's portly Governor encouraged businesses to open if, and I quote, they just "fucking follow the guidelines to keep West Virginians safe." Twitter erupted, naturally.
Source: WTOV
CHARLESTON, W. Va. (WTOV) — If you heard it, you probably played it again just to make sure.
During a West Virginia Coronavirus news conference on Monday, an "audio glitch" resulted in what sounded like Governor Jim Justice swearing.
Videos posted to social media showed the mishap, which the governor later addressed in a social media post Monday evening.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Man Wears KKK Hood While Grocery Shopping

It 's unclear what the man was doing wearing the hood , whether he was protesting the wearing of masks @ @ @ @ @ he thought he was being funny .
The store manager , the clerks , and @ @ @ @ @ Diego were n't laughing though .
SANTEE — A man was spotted wearing a Ku @ @ @ @ @ Vons in the San Diego County city of Santee on Saturday , igniting outrage from @ @ @ @ @ of the Anti-Defamation League in San Diego and others .
A corporate spokeswoman said grocery @ @ @ @ @ to remove the hood or leave the store , located on Mission Gorge Road .
@ @ @ @ @ once he was in a checkout line and asked him again to take off the @ @ @ @ @ Melissa Hill , a spokeswoman for Vons , Albertsons and Pavilions stores in Southern California @ @ @ @ @ hood , purchased his items and left .

It's unclear what the man was doing wearing the hood, whether he was protesting the wearing of masks for COVID-19, or whether he thought he was being funny. The store manager, the clerks, and eventually the mayor of San Diego weren't laughing though.
Source: LA Times
SANTEE — A man was spotted wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood in a Vons in the San Diego County city of Santee on Saturday, igniting outrage from the mayor, the head of the Anti-Defamation League in San Diego and others.
A corporate spokeswoman said grocery clerks repeatedly asked the shopper to remove the hood or leave the store, located on Mission Gorge Road.
A supervisor found the man once he was in a checkout line and asked him again to take off the hood or leave, said Melissa Hill, a spokeswoman for Vons, Albertsons and Pavilions stores in Southern California.
The man removed the hood, purchased his items and left.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Ethics Group Calls For Probe Into Jared's Shadow 'Task Force'

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is super busy in the Trump Era .
And the coronavirus pandemic has n't slowed them down , given that Jared Kushner is holding forth with a `` task force '' made up of what appears to be ... Wall Street buddies of his ?
With non-government phones and private email accounts ?
Inside the White House ?
Members of Jared Kushner ’ s shadow coronavirus task force appear to have violated federal conflicts of interest and transparency laws , according to a letter sent by Citizens for Responsibility and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Office of Government Ethics ( OGE ) .
The task force appears to be operating with little to no oversight or transparency , leaving the public in the dark about its actions .
Its members , drawn from private industries with ties to the administration , have taken over critical government functions and wield power over vast sums of money .
While the Trump administration ’ s official coronavirus response efforts are being spearheaded by Vice President Pence , the president tasked Kushner with assembling a team that consists largely of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former college roommate of Kushner ’ s .
Despite little information publicly being known about the team Kushner has assembled , many members of Kushner ’ s shadow task force are private sector individuals with massive financial interests that likely pose serious conflicts of interest and have yet to be fully disclosed to the public .
“ Jared Kushner ’ s task force appears to be playing a critical role in our government ’ s response to a catastrophic pandemic with literally life or death consequences , and yet Americans have no way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acting in our interest or their own , ” said CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder .
“ We need task force members to be disclosing their interests and avoiding conflicts of interest , rather than acting in secret with no oversight .
”

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is super busy in the Trump Era. And the coronavirus pandemic hasn't slowed them down, given that Jared Kushner is holding forth with a "task force" made up of what appears to be...Wall Street buddies of his? With non-government phones and private email accounts? Inside the White House?
Must be Monday. CREW:
Members of Jared Kushner’s shadow coronavirus task force appear to have violated federal conflicts of interest and transparency laws, according to a letter sent by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) today to the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). The task force appears to be operating with little to no oversight or transparency, leaving the public in the dark about its actions. Its members, drawn from private industries with ties to the administration, have taken over critical government functions and wield power over vast sums of money.
While the Trump administration’s official coronavirus response efforts are being spearheaded by Vice President Pence, the president tasked Kushner with assembling a team that consists largely of representatives from private industries, including a former college roommate of Kushner’s. Despite little information publicly being known about the team Kushner has assembled, many members of Kushner’s shadow task force are private sector individuals with massive financial interests that likely pose serious conflicts of interest and have yet to be fully disclosed to the public.
“Jared Kushner’s task force appears to be playing a critical role in our government’s response to a catastrophic pandemic with literally life or death consequences, and yet Americans have no way to know whether task force members are acting in our interest or their own,” said CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder. “We need task force members to be disclosing their interests and avoiding conflicts of interest, rather than acting in secret with no oversight.”


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Sen. Kamala Harris Burns Down Trump's DNI Nominee Over COVID-19 Lies

Rep. John Ratcliffe ( R-TX ) was peppered with questions about how President Donald Trump has handled the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ hearing for Director of National Intelligence , Ratcliffe was asked what he would do if @ @ @ @ @ he had done with the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Do you think President Trump has @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 to the American people ?
” Harris wondered .
“ We are in the @ @ @ @ @ , ” Harris affirmed .
“ Has he accurately conveyed the severity of COVID-19 to @ @ @ @ @ Harris repeated .
Harris then unleashed a litany of statements made by the president which @ @ @ @ @ .

Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) was peppered with questions about how President Donald Trump has handled the COVID-19 pandemic.
At his Senate confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence, Ratcliffe was asked what he would do if Trump downplayed future threats as he had done with the coronavirus pandemic.
“Do you think President Trump has accurately portrayed the threat of COVID-19 to the American people?” Harris wondered.
“Are you saying presently?” Ratcliffe replied.
“We are in the midst of the pandemic presently,” Harris affirmed.
“So, repeat the question,” Ratcliffe said. “Because I guess I’m misunderstanding.”
“Has he accurately conveyed the severity of COVID-19 to the American people?” Harris repeated.
“Um, I believe so,” Ratcliffe insisted.
Harris then unleashed a litany of statements made by the president which minimized the threat of COVID-19.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Trump Blocks Dr. Fauci's Testimony To The House Because Dems Are 'Trump Haters'

During one of Trump 's yellercopter events as he was getting ready to leave for Arizona , Donald was asked why he blocked Dr. Fauci from testifying in the House , when he was allowing him to testify before the Senate .
Trump used his usual grievance politics to attack the Democratically controlled House for not wanting America to succeed and recover from the coronavirus because they hate him .
`` Because the House is a setup , '' Trump whined .
Setup for what ?
All they can do is ask Dr. Fauci questions which in turn he 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He continued , `` The House is a bunch of Trump haters -- they put every Trump hater on the committee . ''
That is not a legitimate excuse to refuse to cooperate with the House of Representatives .
Imagine if this happened : Will he have Dr. Fauci refuse to honor a congressional subpoena which will surely be coming ?
This is what happens to Donald when politicians are not nice to him .
Trump then topped it off by trying to label the Democrats as the death cult when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force Americans back to work so they can be sacrificed to their great God called The Free Markets .
Trump said , `` They , frankly , want our situation to be unsuccessful , which means death . ''
What a cowardly man he is .
A sniveling miscreant who is only comfortable tweeting and spewing childish insults at those who do n't worship him as a deity .
He 's turned the office of the presidency into a loathsome place .

During one of Trump's yellercopter events as he was getting ready to leave for Arizona, Donald was asked why he blocked Dr. Fauci from testifying in the House, when he was allowing him to testify before the Senate.
Trump used his usual grievance politics to attack the Democratically controlled House for not wanting America to succeed and recover from the coronavirus because they hate him.
"Because the House is a setup," Trump whined.
Setup for what? All they can do is ask Dr. Fauci questions which in turn he'll give answers that Americans wants to hear.
He continued, "The House is a bunch of Trump haters-- they put every Trump hater on the committee."
That is not a legitimate excuse to refuse to cooperate with the House of Representatives. Imagine if this happened:
In a new interview, President Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, said she doesn’t want to bail out states that have Republican governors. Mrs. Clinton also refused to let a CDC expert testify before the GOP-led Senate because, she claims, they are all “Clinton haters.” — Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) May 5, 2020
Will he have Dr. Fauci refuse to honor a congressional subpoena which will surely be coming?
Poor baby.
Someone get Trump a pacifier.
This is what happens to Donald when politicians are not nice to him.
Trump then topped it off by trying to label the Democrats as the death cult when it's been Republicans who are trying to force Americans back to work so they can be sacrificed to their great God called The Free Markets.
Trump said, "They, frankly, want our situation to be unsuccessful, which means death."
What a cowardly man he is.
A sniveling miscreant who is only comfortable tweeting and spewing childish insults at those who don't worship him as a deity.
He's turned the office of the presidency into a loathsome place.
A sniveling miscreant, I say.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Steve Mnuchin: It’s A Great Time To Travel

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin suggested Americans ignore CDC advice as well as the raging pandemic and hit the road as he so wishes he could .
I ’ m sure his recommendation has nothing to do with the fact that Donald Trump owns hotels and resorts sitting empty .
Early in the lengthy interview with Fox Business ’ Maria Bartiromo today , a lower-third banner read , “ FIGHTING FOR AMERICA ’ S SMALL BUSINESSES.
” The lives of American people not so much , it seems .
Mnuchin told Bartiromo that Trump is looking at ways “ to stimulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy such as restaurants .
It just so happens the restaurants in those Trump properties are a key source of income .
Just last week , we found out Mnuchin buttered up his boss by renting a luxury suite at Trump ’ s D.C. hotel for about four months in 2017 – a gift with the added bonus of $ 33,000 taxpayer dollars for the Secret Service to stay there , too .
“ We want people to travel safely , to be able to visit places safely , ” Mnuchin said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opens up , I think you ’ ll see demand coming back.
” I noticed he said nothing about medical recommendations .
And that ’ s no surprise , given that the federal government ’ s own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn ’ t think travel is so safe .
The CDC advises , `` Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19 '' so we should all “ stay home as much as possible , especially if your trip is not essential.
” Mnuchin , on the other hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much as possible .
He urged viewers to hit the road , while indicating he wasn ’ t going to take that risk , himself .
“ This is a great time for people to explore America .
A lot of people haven ’ t seen many parts of America .
I wish I could get back on the road soon . ''
As The Daily Beast noted , Bartiromo didn ’ t say a word to challenge Mnuchin ’ s advice .
But then it ’ s not all that different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air travel during the pandemic as “ actually the safest time to fly ” and so comfy because all those empty seats mean “ you could stretch out a little more … on every flight now.
” You can watch this latest example of the Fox/Trump culture of death above , from the Fox Business Network ’ s May 4 , 2020 Mornings with Maria .

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin suggested Americans ignore CDC advice as well as the raging pandemic and hit the road as he so wishes he could. I’m sure his recommendation has nothing to do with the fact that Donald Trump owns hotels and resorts sitting empty.
Early in the lengthy interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo today, a lower-third banner read, “FIGHTING FOR AMERICA’S SMALL BUSINESSES.” The lives of American people not so much, it seems.
Mnuchin told Bartiromo that Trump is looking at ways “to stimulate travel” along with other parts of the economy such as restaurants. It just so happens the restaurants in those Trump properties are a key source of income. Just last week, we found out Mnuchin buttered up his boss by renting a luxury suite at Trump’s D.C. hotel for about four months in 2017 – a gift with the added bonus of $33,000 taxpayer dollars for the Secret Service to stay there, too.
“We want people to travel safely, to be able to visit places safely,” Mnuchin said. “So, as the economy opens up, I think you’ll see demand coming back.”
I noticed he said nothing about medical recommendations. And that’s no surprise, given that the federal government’s own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t think travel is so safe. The CDC advises, "Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19" so we should all “stay home as much as possible, especially if your trip is not essential.”
Mnuchin, on the other hand, wants us to travel the U.S. as much as possible. He urged viewers to hit the road, while indicating he wasn’t going to take that risk, himself. “This is a great time for people to explore America. A lot of people haven’t seen many parts of America. I wish I could get back on the road soon."
As The Daily Beast noted, Bartiromo didn’t say a word to challenge Mnuchin’s advice. But then it’s not all that different from her colleague Ainsley Earhardt talking up air travel during the pandemic as “actually the safest time to fly” and so comfy because all those empty seats mean “you could stretch out a little more … on every flight now.”
You can watch this latest example of the Fox/Trump culture of death above, from the Fox Business Network’s May 4, 2020 Mornings with Maria.
Posted with permission from News Hounds.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Austin Man Pushes Park Ranger Into Lake After Being Reminded About Social Distancing

And people wonder why cases of COVID-19 are spiking in the United States .
At least this yahoo was arrested for his idiocy .
Others wo n't be so lucky if they keep choosing to willfully ignore social distancing requests or laws .
A man pushed an Austin park ranger into the water Thursday at Commons Ford Metropolitan Park after the ranger told a crowd to stay 6 feet apart from one another .
Though park-goers are rarely that aggressive , it was not the first time Austin groups were disobeying the state ’ s order that people keep their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austin police officer Justin Berry , who arrested the man accused of shoving the ranger .
Park rangers “ are out there , doing their jobs , ” Berry said .
“ We just want to remind people to please be respectful and mindful that they ’ re working to make our parks a welcoming environment to everyone .
... Everyone ’ s been going to the parks , so the parks have been completely overcrowded.
” Police temporarily closed Commons Ford Metropolitan Park because of the overcrowding after that incident , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berry said .
The ranger was standing on a dock at the park — which is in West Austin along Lake Austin — speaking to a group of people who were , according to an arrest affidavit , illegally drinking and smoking there around 5 p.m. Brandon Hicks , 25 , approached the ranger from behind and pushed him into Lake Austin , the affidavit says .

And people wonder why cases of COVID-19 are spiking in the United States. At least this yahoo was arrested for his idiocy. Others won't be so lucky if they keep choosing to willfully ignore social distancing requests or laws.
Source: Austin Statesman
A man pushed an Austin park ranger into the water Thursday at Commons Ford Metropolitan Park after the ranger told a crowd to stay 6 feet apart from one another.
Though park-goers are rarely that aggressive, it was not the first time Austin groups were disobeying the state’s order that people keep their distance if they go out, said Austin police officer Justin Berry, who arrested the man accused of shoving the ranger.
Park rangers “are out there, doing their jobs,” Berry said. “We just want to remind people to please be respectful and mindful that they’re working to make our parks a welcoming environment to everyone. ... Everyone’s been going to the parks, so the parks have been completely overcrowded.”
Police temporarily closed Commons Ford Metropolitan Park because of the overcrowding after that incident, and the crowds left without any issues, Berry said.
The ranger was standing on a dock at the park — which is in West Austin along Lake Austin — speaking to a group of people who were, according to an arrest affidavit, illegally drinking and smoking there around 5 p.m.
Brandon Hicks, 25, approached the ranger from behind and pushed him into Lake Austin, the affidavit says.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Chris Christie Begs US To Open Economy: 'People Are Going To Die No Matter What'

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie joined Dana Bash on CNN 's The Daily DC podcast .
He must have thought no one was listening .
There 's no other explanation why he would promote the idea that the United States must accept many more deaths as a proper sacrifice to the US economy .
Christie said , “ Are there ways that we can thread the needle here to allow that there are going to be deaths , and there are going to be deaths no matter what ?
” And in an effort to paint Donald Trump as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the analogy of World War II and the death toll for our soldiers that followed .
He tried to claim that since we sent our soldiers to fight the Nazis and the Japanese to defend our way of life -- now all Americans should sacrifice themselves and go back to work .
`` We sent our young men during World War II over to Europe , out to the Pacific , knowing , knowing that many of them would not come home alive , ” Christie said .
He continued , “ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we were standing up for was the American way of life .
In the very same way now , we have to stand up for the American way of life.
” Too many Republicans are claiming it 's absolutely necessary for people to go back to work to keep our way of life intact and to accept the idea ( as we did in World War II ) that `` we '' are sending people off to die .
Dana Bash then asked the ex-governor if the public could accept reopening following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now projecting a daily death toll of 3,000 by June 1 .
Which is equivalent to a 9/11 every day .
`` They 're gon na have to , `` he said .
Christie replied , “ In the end , you 're going to have to tell them that people are going to die . ''
And you thought The Wicker Man was just a horror movie .

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie joined Dana Bash on CNN's The Daily DC podcast.
He must have thought no one was listening. There's no other explanation why he would promote the idea that the United States must accept many more deaths as a proper sacrifice to the US economy.
Christie said, “Are there ways that we can thread the needle here to allow that there are going to be deaths, and there are going to be deaths no matter what?”
And in an effort to paint Donald Trump as a wartime president, Chris Christie chose the analogy of World War II and the death toll for our soldiers that followed.
He tried to claim that since we sent our soldiers to fight the Nazis and the Japanese to defend our way of life -- now all Americans should sacrifice themselves and go back to work.
"We sent our young men during World War II over to Europe, out to the Pacific, knowing, knowing that many of them would not come home alive,” Christie said.
He continued, “And we decided to make that sacrifice because what we were standing up for was the American way of life. In the very same way now, we have to stand up for the American way of life.”
Too many Republicans are claiming it's absolutely necessary for people to go back to work to keep our way of life intact and to accept the idea (as we did in World War II) that "we" are sending people off to die.
Dana Bash then asked the ex-governor if the public could accept reopening following reports that a White House model is now projecting a daily death toll of 3,000 by June 1.
Which is equivalent to a 9/11 every day.
"They're gonna have to, " he said.
Christie replied, “In the end, you're going to have to tell them that people are going to die."
And you thought The Wicker Man was just a horror movie.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Brian Kilmeade Tells Senate To Get To Work Because 9/11

You 'd think the hosts of Fox and Friends would take turns saying something remarkably stupid , but on more days than not it 's Brian Kilmeade 's turn .
Steve Doocy was the sane one today ?
Wow .
STEVE DOOCY : Listen , I get that the leaders are essential employees — they are essential workers , we need them .
And that ’ s why the White House is staffed , that ’ s why there are ways that the House and the Senate can talk .
But , at the same time , just as is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are some people who are over 65 years old , there are some people with pre-existing conditions who simply are vulnerable to this virus , and so those people , whether they are in the Senate or the House or they work at a grocery store they ’ re not going to work right now if they can help it because they are being isolated and our experts are telling us that that ’ s the best way to continue to lessen the burden on our hospitals , etc , keeping hospitals closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply to flatten the curve so that we can get on the right course .
BRIAN KILMEADE : Don ’ t take the job if you are older age .
Their constituents should know that hey , if I send my man or woman there and they are 90 years old , as is Sen. [ Dianne ] Feinstein , are they going to be able to work through a crisis ?
If you can ’ t work through a crisis , you can ’ t take the job .
Ainsley said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have predicted this outcome .
And then Brian 's surfboard jumped over his shark : “ We didn ’ t know about 9/11 , ” he said .
`` GERMS , HOW DO THEY WORK ? ''
said no one .

You'd think the hosts of Fox and Friends would take turns saying something remarkably stupid, but on more days than not it's Brian Kilmeade's turn.
Steve Doocy was the sane one today? Wow.
STEVE DOOCY: Listen, I get that the leaders are essential employees — they are essential workers, we need them. And that’s why the White House is staffed, that’s why there are ways that the House and the Senate can talk. But, at the same time, just as is the current case in society, there are some people who are over 65 years old, there are some people with pre-existing conditions who simply are vulnerable to this virus, and so those people, whether they are in the Senate or the House or they work at a grocery store they’re not going to work right now if they can help it because they are being isolated and our experts are telling us that that’s the best way to continue to lessen the burden on our hospitals, etc, keeping hospitals closed and things like that in some cases simply to flatten the curve so that we can get on the right course.
Brian "didn't quite pass the Mensa test" Kilmeade didn't agree.
BRIAN KILMEADE: Don’t take the job if you are older age. Their constituents should know that hey, if I send my man or woman there and they are 90 years old, as is Sen. [Dianne] Feinstein, are they going to be able to work through a crisis? If you can’t work through a crisis, you can’t take the job.
Ainsley said that the pandemic was unprecedented and no one could have predicted this outcome.
And then Brian's surfboard jumped over his shark:
“We didn’t know about 9/11,” he said.
"GERMS, HOW DO THEY WORK?" said no one.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Trump Fumes When He Sees New NeverTrump Ad: 'They're All LOSERS!'

Trump referred to Kellyanne Conway 's husband , George , as a `` deranged loser of a husband , Moonface . ''
Might be an escalation of sorts for Trump .
I do n't know .
I do n't really follow his Twitter tantrums .
George T. Conway III , prominent attorney and husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , has been trying with only modest success to provoke President Trump ’ s Twitter wrath for the better part of his presidency .
He finally succeeded close to 1 a.m. Tuesday .
What set Trump off was a video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the anti-Trump super PAC that Conway co-founded with other Republicans and former ones .
The video , released Monday , lays responsibility squarely at Trump ’ s doorstep for the severity of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak , including the deaths and economic damage .
Tens of thousands nationwide have died of the “ deadly virus Trump ignored , ” says the video , called “ Mourning in America , ” inspired by President Ronald Reagan ’ s famous “ Morning in America ” 1984 campaign ad .
Considered a classic of the genre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosperous Americans , smiling , going to work and getting married .
It ended with the words : “ It ’ s morning again in America , and under the leadership of President Reagan , our country is prouder and stronger and better .
Why would we ever want to return to where we were less than four short years ago ?
”

Trump referred to Kellyanne Conway's husband, George, as a "deranged loser of a husband, Moonface." Might be an escalation of sorts for Trump. I don't know. I don't really follow his Twitter tantrums.
Source: Washington Post
George T. Conway III, prominent attorney and husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, has been trying with only modest success to provoke President Trump’s Twitter wrath for the better part of his presidency. He finally succeeded close to 1 a.m. Tuesday.
What set Trump off was a video, sponsored by the Lincoln Project, the anti-Trump super PAC that Conway co-founded with other Republicans and former ones. The video, released Monday, lays responsibility squarely at Trump’s doorstep for the severity of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, including the deaths and economic damage.
Tens of thousands nationwide have died of the “deadly virus Trump ignored,” says the video, called “Mourning in America,” inspired by President Ronald Reagan’s famous “Morning in America” 1984 campaign ad.
Considered a classic of the genre, the Reagan reelection ad showed happy prosperous Americans, smiling, going to work and getting married. It ended with the words: “It’s morning again in America, and under the leadership of President Reagan, our country is prouder and stronger and better. Why would we ever want to return to where we were less than four short years ago?”


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Sen. Angus King Skeptical Of Trump's 'Lab Accident' Conspiracy Theory

CNN 's John Berman wanted to talk to Sen. Angus King about a new intelligence report about the origins of the coronavirus .
`` So we did mention that President Trump and Secretary of State MikePompeo both claim that they have seen evidence that the coronavirus somehow originated as part of a lab accident in Wuhan , China ? ''
Berman said .
`` Now , U.S. allies , so-called Five Eyes , including Australia , their leaders say , no , that 's not the evidence we 've seen .
The evidence that we have seen points this to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't tell us as part of the intelligence committee exactly what you 've been briefed on .
But what should we believe ? ''
`` I think what we should believe is what the intelligence community is telling us , '' Sen. King said .
He cautioned that he has n't seen any recent intelligence on this in the last month .
`` So , you know , I ca n't -- if the president and the secretary of state have intelligence on this , then as a member of the intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 'm entitled to see classified material .
There are no limits on that kind of material being shared with the intelligence committees of the Congress .
So it bothers me that for the president and the secretary of state to assert in such certainty , in fact , I think the president said a high degree of certainty without at least sharing with the intelligence committee on a closed classified basis what the basis of that is .
And -- like I said , I have n't seen it , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damn sure going to try to see it over the next week or so .
And if we ca n't get it , then that raises serious questions about the basis of those assertions . ''
`` And , again , just to be clear , CNN 's reporting the Five Eyes including Australia , saying the evidence that they have seen points to something else from animal to human transmission , '' Berman said .

NEW: It's "highly unlikely" the coronavirus was an accident from the Wuhan lab, a western diplomatic official who has seen the intelligence tells me. A Five Eyes source concurs with the assessment, that the infection occurred naturally between animal and human, i.e. the market. — Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) May 4, 2020
CNN's John Berman wanted to talk to Sen. Angus King about a new intelligence report about the origins of the coronavirus.
"So we did mention that President Trump and Secretary of State MikePompeo both claim that they have seen evidence that the coronavirus somehow originated as part of a lab accident in Wuhan, China?" Berman said.
"Now, U.S. allies, so-called Five Eyes, including Australia, their leaders say, no, that's not the evidence we've seen. The evidence that we have seen points this to animal-to-human transmission. Now I know you can't tell us as part of the intelligence committee exactly what you've been briefed on. But what should we believe?"
"I think what we should believe is what the intelligence community is telling us," Sen. King said. He cautioned that he hasn't seen any recent intelligence on this in the last month.
"So, you know, I can't -- if the president and the secretary of state have intelligence on this, then as a member of the intelligence committee, I want to see it. I'm entitled to see classified material. There are no limits on that kind of material being shared with the intelligence committees of the Congress. So it bothers me that for the president and the secretary of state to assert in such certainty, in fact, I think the president said a high degree of certainty without at least sharing with the intelligence committee on a closed classified basis what the basis of that is. And -- like I said, I haven't seen it, I can't contradict it. I'm damn sure going to try to see it over the next week or so. And if we can't get it, then that raises serious questions about the basis of those assertions."
"And, again, just to be clear, CNN's reporting the Five Eyes including Australia, saying the evidence that they have seen points to something else from animal to human transmission," Berman said.


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Noted Scientist Laura Ingraham: 'No Scientific Basis' For Social Distancing

What would Fox viewers do without the kind of smart , rational analysis they need ?
Ha ha , just @ @ @ @ @ Ingraham , Foxsplaining that there 's no basis for social distancing : '' Although intuitively @ @ @ @ @ like social distancing would be necessary , there was no real scientific basis for believing @ @ @ @ @ never been studied , '' she said .
`` And as one infectious disease doc @ @ @ @ @ trying to stop this virus with social distancing is like trying to drive a nail @ @ @ @ @ , that 's what they do , they often weaken as they go and if @ @ @ @ @ we hope it is , it 'll eventually burn out as SARS did . ''
@ @ @ @ @ know your show lost most of its advertisers and was on its last legs when @ @ @ @ @ `` career . ''
Maybe you should find more honest work , like running a @ @ @ @

What would Fox viewers do without the kind of smart, rational analysis they need? Ha ha, just kidding!
Here's Laura Ingraham, Foxsplaining that there's no basis for social distancing:
"Although intuitively I think it probably seemed like social distancing would be necessary, there was no real scientific basis for believing that, since it had never been studied," she said.
"And as one infectious disease doc told me last week, trying to stop this virus with social distancing is like trying to drive a nail through Jell-O. Viruses spread, that's what they do, they often weaken as they go and if it's like SARS, we hope it is, it'll eventually burn out as SARS did."
Oh, Laura. We know your show lost most of its advertisers and was on its last legs when coronavirus appeared and resuscitated your "career."
Maybe you should find more honest work, like running a sidewalk shell game?


crooksandliars--2020-05-05--Ohio Lawmaker Refuses To Wear A Mask Because God Doesn't Wear One

Watch Dir .
Acton , Gov .
DeWine and Rep. Vitale in this 90-second video “ On Wearing Masks.
” “ Don ’ t use masks they won ’ t stop the spread – Dr. Acton ” ( early April ) , “ Mandate Masks – Dr. Acton ” ( late April ) , “ No mandate for masks – Gov .
DeWine ” ( late April ) , “ All - Don your cape and mask ” - Dr. Acton-Early May ) , “ Mandate for only employees – Dr. Acton ” ( early May ) , “ masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov DeWine ( yesterday ) .
( Wearing a Mask ) … ” was just a bridge too far that people were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.
” – Yesterday on Sunday Television – Gov DeWine Dr. Acton spent weeks telling us that masks make no difference in stopping the spread and were not needed for the general public .
Then she spent all of last week telling us to “ don our cape and mask ” , and that in other counties , this is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new normal in Ohio and even the entire nation forever .
DeWine was on national television on Sunday stating , “ masks were just a bridge too far.
” Just in the past 6 days , they have changed their mind about masks 4 times .
What is my response ?
“ This is not the entire world .
This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles .
One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God .
That image is seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not wear a mask.
” – Rep. Vitale See Acton , Dewine and Vitale in this 90 second video .
It is time to do what Preble County did , ignore the unelected Dr. Acton ’ s orders , open your counties now , before it ’ s too late .
This is not based on logic , this is based on fear and propaganda and every statistical , data driven study done in the last 2 weeks says death counts are low , the models were wrong , and this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these orders were NOT voted on by 2/3rds of a vote of the legislature , as need to be done in cases of emergencies in Ohio .
These are INVALID orders .
The highest law of Ohio , the Ohio Constitution states … “ emergency laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace , health or safety , shall go into immediate effect .
Such emergency laws upon a yea and nay vote must receive the vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each branch of the general assembly… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laws # SpreadTruthOhio - SHARE THIS POST - Do n't forget to like this page and stay up on posts .
# OhioIsOpen # StopSpreadingFear # MasksDoNotWork – says Dr. Acton herself ( sometimes )

Watch Dir. Acton, Gov. DeWine and Rep. Vitale in this 90-second video “On Wearing Masks.” “Don’t use masks they won’t stop the spread – Dr. Acton” (early April), “Mandate Masks – Dr. Acton” (late April), “No mandate for masks – Gov. DeWine” (late April), “All - Don your cape and mask” - Dr. Acton-Early May), “Mandate for only employees – Dr. Acton” (early May), “masks were a bridge too far” – Gov DeWine (yesterday). (Wearing a Mask)…”was just a bridge too far that people were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.” – Yesterday on Sunday Television – Gov DeWine Dr. Acton spent weeks telling us that masks make no difference in stopping the spread and were not needed for the general public. Then she spent all of last week telling us to “don our cape and mask”, and that in other counties, this is the norm and we should make it the new normal in Ohio and even the entire nation forever. DeWine was on national television on Sunday stating, “masks were just a bridge too far.” Just in the past 6 days, they have changed their mind about masks 4 times. What is my response? “This is not the entire world. This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles. One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. That image is seen the most by our face. I will not wear a mask.” – Rep. Vitale See Acton, Dewine and Vitale in this 90 second video. It is time to do what Preble County did, ignore the unelected Dr. Acton’s orders, open your counties now, before it’s too late. This is not based on logic, this is based on fear and propaganda and every statistical, data driven study done in the last 2 weeks says death counts are low, the models were wrong, and this is more like the flu. Additionally, these orders were NOT voted on by 2/3rds of a vote of the legislature, as need to be done in cases of emergencies in Ohio. These are INVALID orders. The highest law of Ohio, the Ohio Constitution states … “emergency laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, shall go into immediate effect. Such emergency laws upon a yea and nay vote must receive the vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each branch of the general assembly…” Article 2 Section 01d – Emergency Laws #SpreadTruthOhio - SHARE THIS POST - Don't forget to like this page and stay up on posts. #OhioIsOpen #StopSpreadingFear #MasksDoNotWork – says Dr. Acton herself (sometimes)


crooksandliars--2020-05-06--U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Endorses Steve King's Republican Primary Opponent

The business lobbying group rarely endorses against Republican incumbents , underlining just how dire things are for Steve King .
The equally obnoxious Randy Feenstra is probably the Republicans ' only chance at retaining the conservative , mostly rural congressional district Iowa-04 , as Democrat J.D .
Scholten has been breathing down Steve King 's neck , with close elections in 2016 and 2018 .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce , the largest business lobbying group in the country , is endorsing state Sen. Randy Feenstra for the Republican congressional primary nomination against U.S. Rep. Steve King .
Feenstra , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans challenging King in Iowa 's June 2 primary .
King , of Kiron , has represented northwest Iowa in Congress since 2002 .
“ In difficult times , we are reminded of the importance of having effective leaders that understand the genius of the American system of government .
As the architect of Iowa 's largest income tax cut , Randy Feenstra has shown his willingness to tackle hard issues to help his fellow Iowans , ” U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas J. Donohue said in a statement to the Des Moines Register @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , we need strong advocates in Congress , like Randy , who will be a champion for all Americans , and especially those in Iowa ’ s agribusiness community .
The U.S. Chamber is proud to lend its endorsement to Randy Feenstra and looks forward to partnering with him in the future.
” King has scored highly on the Chamber 's annual legislative scorecards in the past , and in 2019 he was presented with the group 's `` Spirit of Enterprise '' award .
But King , who has a history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his committee assignments last year .
Feenstra has argued King is not effectively representing his constituents .
The endorsement is the first time the Chamber has endorsed a challenger to a sitting incumbent since 2016 , when it endorsed now-U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall , of Kansas , who unseated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp — another Republican who was stripped of a seat on the Agriculture Committee .

The business lobbying group rarely endorses against Republican incumbents, underlining just how dire things are for Steve King.
Good.
The equally obnoxious Randy Feenstra is probably the Republicans' only chance at retaining the conservative, mostly rural congressional district Iowa-04, as Democrat J.D. Scholten has been breathing down Steve King's neck, with close elections in 2016 and 2018.
Source: Des Moines Register
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest business lobbying group in the country, is endorsing state Sen. Randy Feenstra for the Republican congressional primary nomination against U.S. Rep. Steve King.
Feenstra, of Hull, is one of four Republicans challenging King in Iowa's June 2 primary. King, of Kiron, has represented northwest Iowa in Congress since 2002.
“In difficult times, we are reminded of the importance of having effective leaders that understand the genius of the American system of government. As the architect of Iowa's largest income tax cut, Randy Feenstra has shown his willingness to tackle hard issues to help his fellow Iowans,” U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas J. Donohue said in a statement to the Des Moines Register. “As we take on this pandemic, we need strong advocates in Congress, like Randy, who will be a champion for all Americans, and especially those in Iowa’s agribusiness community. The U.S. Chamber is proud to lend its endorsement to Randy Feenstra and looks forward to partnering with him in the future.”
King has scored highly on the Chamber's annual legislative scorecards in the past, and in 2019 he was presented with the group's "Spirit of Enterprise" award. But King, who has a history of making controversial statements, was stripped of his committee assignments last year. Feenstra has argued King is not effectively representing his constituents.
The endorsement is the first time the Chamber has endorsed a challenger to a sitting incumbent since 2016, when it endorsed now-U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, of Kansas, who unseated U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp — another Republican who was stripped of a seat on the Agriculture Committee.


crooksandliars--2020-05-06--Trump Goes Maskless, Flouts Rule At Honeywell Mask Factory

Apparently , Donald Trump thinks he looks better without a mask and that ’ s all the justification he needs for endangering the lives of others around him during his maskless photo-op at – of all places – a Honeywell N95 mask factory .
Federal health officials have urged Americans to wear masks in public since April , in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 .
After a backlash for visiting the Mayo Clinic without a mask last week , Mike Pence wore one two days later when he toured a GM plant .
But not Trump .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wore goggles.To protect himself , or maybe just to look like he was bravely putting himself in harm 's way .
Or maybe he thought he ’ d look like was actually doing a day ’ s work .
Whatever the reason , he obviously did n't care about even the appearance of trying to protect others .
Like Pence , the White House is making the facility the fall guy instead of taking any responsibility .
CNN ’ s Jim Acosta reported that a White House official said Honeywell had advised masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - after Trump probably bullied them into it .
Acosta noticed a sign saying masks are required in the area .
Anyone with a lick of decency would have worn a face mask whether he was required to or not , especially when the factory clearly prefers it .

Apparently, Donald Trump thinks he looks better without a mask and that’s all the justification he needs for endangering the lives of others around him during his maskless photo-op at – of all places – a Honeywell N95 mask factory.
Federal health officials have urged Americans to wear masks in public since April, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
After a backlash for visiting the Mayo Clinic without a mask last week, Mike Pence wore one two days later when he toured a GM plant.
But not Trump. Instead of putting on a mask, Trump wore goggles.To protect himself, or maybe just to look like he was bravely putting himself in harm's way. Or maybe he thought he’d look like was actually doing a day’s work. Whatever the reason, he obviously didn't care about even the appearance of trying to protect others.
Like Pence, the White House is making the facility the fall guy instead of taking any responsibility. CNN’s Jim Acosta reported that a White House official said Honeywell had advised masks were not needed. Sure they did - after Trump probably bullied them into it. Acosta noticed a sign saying masks are required in the area.
WH official said they were told by Honeywell officials they didn’t need to wear masks https://t.co/aVyu0rflMW — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 5, 2020
Anyone with a lick of decency would have worn a face mask whether he was required to or not, especially when the factory clearly prefers it.


crooksandliars--2020-05-06--Chaplains Seek Aid Of Military Religious Freedom Foundation

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has been fighting to defend religious freedom in the military since 2005 .
You might think they ’ ve seen everything .
But they haven ’ t .
Although they ’ ve represented 68,000 clients over the years , they ’ ve never represented a group of clients composed entirely of military chaplains—until now , in the midst of the coronavirus crisis .
On Wednesday , April 29 , Chaplain ( Colonel ) Moon H. Kim sent an unsolicited digital copy of a book titled “ Coronavirus and Christ , ” by fundamentalist minister John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his military subordinates , using his official email account—a clear violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause as well as multiple military regulations .
The book states that the coronavirus was sent “ by God , ” and that “ Some people will be infected with the coronavirus as a specific judgment from God because of their sinful attitudes and actions.
” It cites as a specific example , “ the sin of homosexual intercourse.
” Kim isn ’ t just any old chaplain .
He ’ s the command chaplain of U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest U.S. military installation outside of the United States .
It ’ s a position that carries great deal of weight .
Twenty-two chaplains have responded by asking MRFF to represent them , and MRFF has sent a demand letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper calling for Kim to be “ officially , swiftly , aggressively , and visibly investigated and disciplined in punishment for his deplorable actions.
” “ This book has helped me refocus my sacred calling to my savior Jesus Christ to finish strong , ” Colonel Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it struck a very different chord among the chaplains who reached out to MRFF .
“ This literature is opposed to the lives , orientations , as well as religious beliefs and practices of a good many service-members , especially his OWN subordinates !
This is not only in poor taste/judgment , it is professionally intimidating/threatening.
” one former Army chaplain wrote in an email to MRFF .
“ The message , intended or not , is : ‘ If you want to do well as a chaplain under MY leadership , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theology like this… !
’ I expect better of senior Army Chaplain Corps leadership !
” That intimidating message is precisely the problem .
That , and the fact that it ’ s coming from a superior officer .
This is but the latest example of a string of similar coronavirus-related incidents on social media , in which chaplains and others have crossed the line and used official channels to promote sectarian religious beliefs in ways that violate the Constitution as well as military regulations .
In three of four earlier incidents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pages were taken down almost immediately following MRFF ’ s swift action .
`` The only proper place for these videos is on the chapel pages , '' MRFF explained .
The fourth case took about a week to resolve .
What ’ s different this time is that it was directed to chaplains , who know very well that it ’ s forbidden .
Chaplains have specific pastoral channels for such communication—both in real life and online—where those receiving them have consented in advance .
Those channels weren ’ t used in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they weren ’ t used by Colonel Kim in sending out “ Coronavirus and Christ ” either .
So , while the chaplains-only response was unusual—even unique—the underlying reason was not .
“ Our job is to protect the wall separating church and state in the US military , ” MRFF founder and President Mikey Weinstein told Crooks and Liars .
“ In this instance , the actions of Chaplain Col .
Moon H. Kim violated the 'No Establishment ' Clause .
He 's establishing a religious faith through the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helpless subordinates , ” Weinstein explained .
“ We also look at Clause 3 , Article 6 which says we 'll never have a religious test , and he 's essentially creating a de facto religious test for his subordinates and anybody else who 's out there.
” What Col. Kim believes is irrelevant , Weinstein said .
“ We literally do n't care about anybody ’ s faith in their head .
We couldn ’ t care less , ” he explained , even if it ’ s prejudicial .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re prejudging in your mind , ” he said .
“ If , however , your behavior objectively manifests discrimination against people because of the brief in your head , ” that ’ s a different story , he explained .
That not only singles out individuals , it damages the “ good order , moral , unit cohesion , and discipline ” that ’ s vital to the military mission , and is enforced by military regulations .
This is the core problem that arises repeatedly in cases brought to MRFF .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by reporter .
‘ What would you do if you had a progressive senior chaplain was sent something like that out lambasting people believing that marriage is between one woman and one man ?
” Weinstein recalled .
“ We would be doing the exactly same thing as we ’ re doing here.
” “ And as was stated by one of our 22 clients before , had chaplain Kim wanted to discuss this—or any chaplain with views supporting John Piper—we find it to be repulsive , but he has every right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sermon .
He could do a Bible study about it with people who have voluntarily come and want to hear what he ’ s talking about .
It 's perfectly fine .
But this was done during duty hours on a government computer.
” This exactly the same principle that was involved in the four previous coronavirus-related cases .
On March 19 , the Air Force Reserve posted a proselytizing video under the rubric of “ spiritual resiliency ” on their official Facebook page and YouTube channel .
“ We can all use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the Facebook post began .
That same day , MRFF ’ s demand letter cited Air Force Instruction 1-1 [ AFI 1-1 ] , Section 2.12 , which states : The video was immediately taken down .
On March 9 , a single phone call from Weinstein , on behalf of five active duty clients at Ft. Hamilton in Brooklyn resulted in the swift removal of a Christian chaplain ’ s video from Ft. Hamilton 's official Facebook page .
On April 17 , two chaplains at Fort Drum in upstate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official Facebook page of the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade ( which has 7,828 followers ) , rather than on Ft .
Drum 's Chapel Facebook page ( which has only 348 followers ) where they belong .
Again , it only took one call to get the videos taken down .
The fourth one took almost a week to resolve .
On April 21 , Deputy Garrison Chaplain Major Christian Goza posted a proselytizing video on the main Facebook page of the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama , and MRFF initiated efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 , they sent a demand letter , and it was finally taken down on April 27 .
There are two reasons these cases were so swiftly resolved : First , they ’ re such open-and-shut cases , as the language from AFI 1-1 makes clear .
Second , the military hates the publicity , whether it ’ s “ being attacked in federal court , which they ca n't stand no matter what happens being , ” getting complaints through the either Inspector General or the Equal Employment Opportunity offices , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will go to the media , ” Weinstein said .
The problem in all these cases is that the chaplains involved are so wrapped up in their own religious beliefs that they ’ ve abandoned their proper role as chaplains , which is not just to minister to individual service members , but to serve the spiritual need of their units as a whole .
“ Going back to the Revolutionary war , Washington and a lot of his senior staff felt it was important to have chaplains , ” Weinstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations have chaplains in the military , ” he explained .
“ But he was also concerned about the fact that the role of the chaplains be constrained so as not to sow discontent among the ranks of the military.
” Sowing discontent was potentially a very serious problem .
That ’ s why their role has been carefully crafted , Weinstein explained .
“ Their proper role—and they 're taught all the time—is to provide or perform– three words–provide the services requested by the members in your unit .
Or if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're a chaplain whose denomination does not believe in same-sex marriage , if you ca n't marry someone—then find someone else there who can do it .
Perform or provide.
” It is not the chaplain ’ s role to criticize , attack or undermine the religious faith ( or non-faith ) of servicemembers who do not conform to their faith .
Such actions only serve to undermine morale , good order , discipline and unit cohesion .
Not only is that severely detrimental to the success of the military , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them being chaplains in the first place .
When they get carried away with their zeal , “ It violates the time , place and manner restrictions of our Constitution , construing federal case law , and particularly the regulatory structure of the Pentagon , ” Weinstein said .
“ Too much of the chaplaincy believes that their job is to spread the gospel , it is not to perform or provide .
Their job is they see a bunch of low hanging fruit , particularly those people who are subordinate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with chaplains in the military , ” he explained .
“ We have trouble with them wearing a military rank.
” And the higher the rank , the greater the problem in terms of coercive pressure felt by those ranking beneath them .
“ The dynamics between the military superior , and subordinates is on a different side of the universe from , say , your shift manager at Starbucks or your boss at Acme Corporation , ” Weinstein explained .
“ We have many clients that are chaplains .
Many , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have them be GS employees , civilian employees.
” The Christian Post covered this story and quoted Mike Berry , general counsel for the Christian-right , anti-LGBT First Liberty Institute in opposition , pretending to speak up for the very people that MRFF represents : But almost 80,000 service members were smart enough to decide they needed MRFF ’ s help , so there 's something seriously wrong with his logic .
I asked Weinstein for his view .
“ It ’ s not just disingenuous and dishonest .
That sounds awfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergoing sexual assault , ’ Sit back and enjoy it , ’ he said .
“ It is infuriating.
” What ’ s more , he added , “ It 's easy for him to say when he is not in the chain of command .
”

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has been fighting to defend religious freedom in the military since 2005. You might think they’ve seen everything. But they haven’t. Although they’ve represented 68,000 clients over the years, they’ve never represented a group of clients composed entirely of military chaplains—until now, in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
On Wednesday, April 29, Chaplain (Colonel) Moon H. Kim sent an unsolicited digital copy of a book titled “Coronavirus and Christ,” by fundamentalist minister John Piper, to 35 military chaplains, his military subordinates, using his official email account—a clear violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause as well as multiple military regulations. The book states that the coronavirus was sent “by God,” and that “Some people will be infected with the coronavirus as a specific judgment from God because of their sinful attitudes and actions.” It cites as a specific example, “the sin of homosexual intercourse.”
Kim isn’t just any old chaplain. He’s the command chaplain of U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in South Korea, the largest U.S. military installation outside of the United States. It’s a position that carries great deal of weight. Twenty-two chaplains have responded by asking MRFF to represent them, and MRFF has sent a demand letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper calling for Kim to be “officially, swiftly, aggressively, and visibly investigated and disciplined in punishment for his deplorable actions.”
“This book has helped me refocus my sacred calling to my savior Jesus Christ to finish strong,” Colonel Kim wrote in passing the book along. But it struck a very different chord among the chaplains who reached out to MRFF.
“This literature is opposed to the lives, orientations, as well as religious beliefs and practices of a good many service-members, especially his OWN subordinates! This is not only in poor taste/judgment, it is professionally intimidating/threatening.” one former Army chaplain wrote in an email to MRFF. “The message, intended or not, is: ‘If you want to do well as a chaplain under MY leadership, you need to read and practice good theology like this…!’ I expect better of senior Army Chaplain Corps leadership!”
That intimidating message is precisely the problem. That, and the fact that it’s coming from a superior officer.
Crossing The Line
This is but the latest example of a string of similar coronavirus-related incidents on social media, in which chaplains and others have crossed the line and used official channels to promote sectarian religious beliefs in ways that violate the Constitution as well as military regulations. In three of four earlier incidents, videos posted on official military base Facebook pages were taken down almost immediately following MRFF’s swift action. "The only proper place for these videos is on the chapel pages," MRFF explained. The fourth case took about a week to resolve.
What’s different this time is that it was directed to chaplains, who know very well that it’s forbidden. Chaplains have specific pastoral channels for such communication—both in real life and online—where those receiving them have consented in advance. Those channels weren’t used in the four cases involving Facebook videos, and they weren’t used by Colonel Kim in sending out “Coronavirus and Christ” either. So, while the chaplains-only response was unusual—even unique—the underlying reason was not.
“Our job is to protect the wall separating church and state in the US military,” MRFF founder and President Mikey Weinstein told Crooks and Liars. “In this instance, the actions of Chaplain Col. Moon H. Kim violated the 'No Establishment' Clause. He's establishing a religious faith through the use of his senior military position over his otherwise helpless subordinates,” Weinstein explained. “We also look at Clause 3, Article 6 which says we'll never have a religious test, and he's essentially creating a de facto religious test for his subordinates and anybody else who's out there.”
What Col. Kim believes is irrelevant, Weinstein said. “We literally don't care about anybody’s faith in their head. We couldn’t care less,” he explained, even if it’s prejudicial. “That’s perfectly fine. You’re prejudging in your mind,” he said.
“If, however, your behavior objectively manifests discrimination against people because of the brief in your head,” that’s a different story, he explained. That not only singles out individuals, it damages the “good order, moral, unit cohesion, and discipline” that’s vital to the military mission, and is enforced by military regulations. This is the core problem that arises repeatedly in cases brought to MRFF.
“I was asked the other day by a reporter. ‘What would you do if you had a progressive senior chaplain who was sent something like that out lambasting people believing that marriage is between one woman and one man?” Weinstein recalled. “We would be doing the exactly same thing as we’re doing here.”
“And as was stated by one of our 22 clients before, had chaplain Kim wanted to discuss this—or any chaplain with views supporting John Piper—we find it to be repulsive, but he has every right to his beliefs. He could do a sermon. He could do a Bible study about it with people who have voluntarily come and want to hear what he’s talking about. It's perfectly fine. But this was done during duty hours on a government computer.”
The Pattern To Date
This exactly the same principle that was involved in the four previous coronavirus-related cases.
On March 19, the Air Force Reserve posted a proselytizing video under the rubric of “spiritual resiliency” on their official Facebook page and YouTube channel. “We can all use some spiritual resilience in this challenging time,” the Facebook post began. That same day, MRFF’s demand letter cited Air Force Instruction 1-1 [AFI 1-1], Section 2.12, which states:
“Leaders at all levels… must ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed to be officially endorsing or disapproving of, or extending preferential treatment for any faith, belief, or absence of belief.”
The video was immediately taken down.
On March 9, a single phone call from Weinstein, on behalf of five active duty clients at Ft. Hamilton in Brooklyn resulted in the swift removal of a Christian chaplain’s video from Ft. Hamilton's official Facebook page.
On April 17, two chaplains at Fort Drum in upstate New York, posted videos on the official Facebook page of the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade (which has 7,828 followers), rather than on Ft. Drum's Chapel Facebook page (which has only 348 followers)where they belong. Again, it only took one call to get the videos taken down.
The fourth one took almost a week to resolve. On April 21, Deputy Garrison Chaplain Major Christian Goza posted a proselytizing video on the main Facebook page of the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, and MRFF initiated efforts to have it taken down. On April 23, they sent a demand letter, and it was finally taken down on April 27.
There are two reasons these cases were so swiftly resolved: First, they’re such open-and-shut cases, as the language from AFI 1-1 makes clear. Second, the military hates the publicity, whether it’s “being attacked in federal court, which they can't stand no matter what happens being,” getting complaints through the either Inspector General or the Equal Employment Opportunity offices, or, “If that doesn't work, we will go to the media,” Weinstein said.
Forgetting The Chaplains' Role
The problem in all these cases is that the chaplains involved are so wrapped up in their own religious beliefs that they’ve abandoned their proper role as chaplains, which is not just to minister to individual service members, but to serve the spiritual need of their units as a whole.
“Going back to the Revolutionary war, Washington and a lot of his senior staff felt it was important to have chaplains,” Weinstein told Crooks and Liars. “Most nations have chaplains in the military,” he explained. “But he was also concerned about the fact that the role of the chaplains be constrained so as not to sow discontent among the ranks of the military.”
Sowing discontent was potentially a very serious problem. That’s why their role has been carefully crafted, Weinstein explained. “Their proper role—and they're taught all the time—is to provide or perform– three words–provide the services requested by the members in your unit. Or if you are unable to, for whatever reason—if you're a chaplain whose denomination does not believe in same-sex marriage, if you can't marry someone—then find someone else there who can do it. Perform or provide.”
It is not the chaplain’s role to criticize, attack or undermine the religious faith (or non-faith) of servicemembers who do not conform to their faith. Such actions only serve to undermine morale, good order, discipline and unit cohesion. Not only is that severely detrimental to the success of the military, it’s directly contrary to the reason for them being chaplains in the first place.
When they get carried away with their zeal, “It violates the time, place and manner restrictions of our Constitution, construing federal case law, and particularly the regulatory structure of the Pentagon,” Weinstein said. “Too much of the chaplaincy believes that their job is to spread the gospel, it is not to perform or provide. Their job is they see a bunch of low hanging fruit, particularly those people who are subordinate to them.”
“MRFF has no trouble with chaplains in the military,” he explained. “We have trouble with them wearing a military rank.” And the higher the rank, the greater the problem in terms of coercive pressure felt by those ranking beneath them. “The dynamics between the military superior, and subordinates is on a different side of the universe from, say, your shift manager at Starbucks or your boss at Acme Corporation,” Weinstein explained. “We have many clients that are chaplains. Many, many, many. However, we prefer to have them be GS employees, civilian employees.”
The Christian Post covered this story and quoted Mike Berry, general counsel for the Christian-right, anti-LGBT First Liberty Institute in opposition, pretending to speak up for the very people that MRFF represents:
Our brave service members should be offended that Mikey Weinstein thinks they are so delicate and frail that they are incapable of hearing something with which they might disagree. Quite the contrary, the vast majority of service members with whom I served, whether senior or subordinate, were smart enough to decide for themselves."
But almost 70,000 service members were smart enough to decide they needed MRFF’s help, so there's something seriously wrong with his logic. I asked Weinstein for his view.
“It’s not just disingenuous and dishonest. That sounds awfully like telling a woman who’s undergoing sexual assault, ’Sit back and enjoy it,’ he said. “It is infuriating.”
What’s more, he added, “It's easy for him to say when he is not in the chain of command.”


Liberty Or Death

Apparently , Donald Trump thinks he looks better without a mask and that ’ s all the justification he needs @ @ @ @ @ others around him during his maskless photo-op at – of all places – a Honeywell @ @ @ @

Can you help us out?
For 18 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.


crooksandliars--2020-05-06--'Live And Let Die' Blasts As Trump Tours Mask Factory

As President Trump toured an N95 mask manufacturing plant in Phoenix on Tuesday , his visit through the facility was @ @ @ @ @ soundtrack : the Paul McCartney-penned “ Live and Let Die , ” as performed by @ @ @ @ @ The president and his entourage were touring a Honeywell factory that produces the masks , @ @ @ @ @ protect them from breathing in the deadly COVID-19 virus .
Standing next to a green @ @ @ @ @ masks , a notably un-face-masked Trump watched an employee work as the music segued from @ @ @ @ @ of the Rising Sun ” into the song McCartney wrote and recorded for the James @ @ @ @ @ name .
The background music for the tour also included Trump rally stalwarts such as @ @ @ @ @ God Bless the U.S.A. ” and Survivor ’ s “ Eye of the Tiger .
@

Jimmy Kimmel nailed it. A perfect metaphor for Trump's entire presidency.
Source: LA Times
As President Trump toured an N95 mask manufacturing plant in Phoenix on Tuesday, his visit through the facility was accompanied by a head-scratching musical soundtrack: the Paul McCartney-penned “Live and Let Die,” as performed by Guns ‘N Roses.
The president and his entourage were touring a Honeywell factory that produces the masks, worn by medical workers to protect them from breathing in the deadly COVID-19 virus. Standing next to a green bin filled with hundreds of masks, a notably un-face-masked Trump watched an employee work as the music segued from the Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun” into the song McCartney wrote and recorded for the James Bond film of the same name.
The background music for the tour also included Trump rally stalwarts such as Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” and Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.”