crooksandliars--2020-04-14--'Isn't Going To Happen': Governors Call BS After Trump Says Only He Can 'Open Up The States'

Donald Trump declared that he was the only person who had the power to begin to restore daily life and lift the quarantine along with social distancing requirements set forth , sparking a fierce and swift reaction from state governors who are n't about to see a second wave of virus infections because people went back to work and normalcy too early .
Where did he say this ?
Twitter , of course .
Yes , that 's the so-called `` president '' tweeting that he has some mystical power to restart the economy , which is just simply false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turley says he has no such power other than persuasive power .
Certainly he has no power to command it to happen .
Some of the nation 's governors confirmed Turley 's opinion .
For example , California , Oregon and Washington State announced the Western States Pact : While each state is building a state-specific plan , our states have agreed to the following principles as we build out a West Coast framework : • Our residents ’ health comes first .
As home to one in six Americans and gateway to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling and ultimately defeating COVID-19 .
• Health outcomes and science – not politics - will guide these decisions .
Modifications to our states ’ stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of the total health impacts of COVID-19 , including : the direct impact of the disease on our communities ; the health impact of measures introduced to control the spread in communities —particularly felt by those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19 ; and our health care systems ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions .
This effort will be guided by data .
We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the virus before large-scale reopening , and we will be working in coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this .
• Our states will only be effective by working together .
Each state will work with it ’ s local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what ’ s happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed upon approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each of our states has made significant progress in flattening the curve and slowing the spread of COVID-19 among the broader public .
Now , our public health leaders will focus on four goals that will be critical for controlling the virus in the future .
Over on the Republican side of things , TPM reports that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is n't going to bow to Trump either : “ I will say this , that going out of this thing is going to be just as tough , if not tougher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things down , ” the governor told the co-hosts of MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe.
” DeWine said governors face a “ series of decisions ” on the process of allowing businesses to reopen as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the country and put physically vulnerable people at major risk of death .
“ I think that sometimes we all think we ’ re going to turn a switch and we ’ re going to be back to normal , and that ’ s just not going to happen , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to have to slowly do this.
” DeWine joins Republican governors Larry Hogan and Charlie Baker in rejecting Trump 's grandiose pronouncements .
In fact , six northeastern states ' governors have also agreed to work cooperatively to carefully restart economic activity in their states .
Without massive testing , there is no way to return to anything like normal , as Florida 's Surgeon General observed , to the chagrin of other officials in the room : And here 's the video of that : Donald Trump is about to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take his medicine the hard way , or not .
I do n't really care .
Until we have a testing protocol and availability for everyone and can deploy it on a massive scale , there is no normal .
The problem is , Trump does n't want that because he does n't want the numbers to go up -- it offends his ego too much .
Governors are driving this bus , and Trump better hang on before they run him down .

Donald Trump declared that he was the only person who had the power to begin to restore daily life and lift the quarantine along with social distancing requirements set forth, sparking a fierce and swift reaction from state governors who aren't about to see a second wave of virus infections because people went back to work and normalcy too early.
Where did he say this? Twitter, of course.
Yes, that's the so-called "president" tweeting that he has some mystical power to restart the economy, which is just simply false. Even his favorite impeachment expert Jonathan Turley says he has no such power other than persuasive power. Certainly he has no power to command it to happen.
Some of the nation's governors confirmed Turley's opinion. For example, California, Oregon and Washington State announced the Western States Pact:
While each state is building a state-specific plan, our states have agreed to the following principles as we build out a West Coast framework: Our residents’ health comes first. As home to one in six Americans and gateway to the rest of the world, the West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling and ultimately defeating COVID-19.
As home to one in six Americans and gateway to the rest of the world, the West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling and ultimately defeating COVID-19. Health outcomes and science – not politics - will guide these decisions . Modifications to our states’ stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of the total health impacts of COVID-19, including: the direct impact of the disease on our communities; the health impact of measures introduced to control the spread in communities —particularly felt by those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19; and our health care systems’ ability to ensure care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This effort will be guided by data. We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the virus before large-scale reopening, and we will be working in coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this.
. Modifications to our states’ stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of the total health impacts of COVID-19, including: the direct impact of the disease on our communities; the health impact of measures introduced to control the spread in communities —particularly felt by those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19; and our health care systems’ ability to ensure care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This effort will be guided by data. We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the virus before large-scale reopening, and we will be working in coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this. Our states will only be effective by working together. Each state will work with it’s local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what’s happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed upon approach. Through quick and decisive action, each of our states has made significant progress in flattening the curve and slowing the spread of COVID-19 among the broader public. Now, our public health leaders will focus on four goals that will be critical for controlling the virus in the future.
Over on the Republican side of things, TPM reports that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine isn't going to bow to Trump either:
“I will say this, that going out of this thing is going to be just as tough, if not tougher, than going into it and closing things down,” the governor told the co-hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” DeWine said governors face a “series of decisions” on the process of allowing businesses to reopen as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the country and put physically vulnerable people at major risk of death. “I think that sometimes we all think we’re going to turn a switch and we’re going to be back to normal, and that’s just not going to happen,” he said. “We’re going to have to slowly do this.”
DeWine joins Republican governors Larry Hogan and Charlie Baker in rejecting Trump's grandiose pronouncements. In fact, six northeastern states' governors have also agreed to work cooperatively to carefully restart economic activity in their states.
Without massive testing, there is no way to return to anything like normal, as Florida's Surgeon General observed, to the chagrin of other officials in the room:
Florida's surgeon general just said Floridians will have to maintain social distancing measures until there's a vaccine.
"This is the new normal," he said.
He acknowledged that a vaccine could be a year away.
Then he was removed from the Cabinet room by @helenaguirrefer. — Lawrence Mower (@lmower3) April 13, 2020
And here's the video of that:
twitter.com/KevinCate/status/1249802856003260416
Donald Trump is about to get a lesson in federalism. He can take his medicine the hard way, or not. I don't really care. Until we have a testing protocol and availability for everyone and can deploy it on a massive scale, there is no normal. The problem is, Trump doesn't want that because he doesn't want the numbers to go up -- it offends his ego too much.
Governors are driving this bus, and Trump better hang on before they run him down.


crooksandliars--2020-04-14--Fox Biz Host Blows Out Trump's 'Total Authority' Claim: 'The Constitution Disagrees'

Fox Business host Neil Cavuto on Tuesday disagreed with President Donald Trump after he accused governors of a “ mutiny ” because they are coordinating regional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic .
In a segment on his Fox Business program , Cavuto seemed mystified by the president ’ s claim of a mutiny .
“ He ’ s the one that left it up to the governors to decide if they wanted to practice social distancing , shelter-at-home provisions , that each governor would decide , ” Cavuto recalled .
“ He was never critical of Florida Gov .
Ron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later entrants in that policy.
” “ All of the sudden it ’ s a bad ‘ Mutiny on the Bounty , ’ that I don ’ t get , ” he said .
“ The Constitution allows them to do that.
” Fox Business correspondent Blake Berman agreed : “ It is a big 180 from the president.
” “ The Constitution lays this whole thing out , ” Berman explained .
“ It ’ s a fairly conservative argument , time and time again .
Yet , the president , conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now sort of flipping the switch , doing the 180 , saying that he believes he has — quote , unquote — total authority .
It is a big shift and one that a lot of legal experts would say , the Constitution disagrees.
” Cavuto predicted a “ legal nightmare ” of lawsuits between the federal government and the states if the president continues to insist that he has total control .
The anchor went on to explain that Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution gives the Congress , not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states .
“ Understand , the Congress , then , has the control of the purse strings in this case , not the president of the United States , ” the Fox Business host noted .
“ You can not withhold aid to force an opinion on a state or any other jurisdiction.
” “ It ’ s clearly kind of spelled out here , ” Cavuto said of the Constitution .
“ It ’ s not to say that the president lacks a powerful bully pulpit , he indeed does .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefings as he does.
” He added : “ But it is not the law of the land , it is not in the Constitution .
And it invites a sort of confusion on the part of people who want to know , you ’ ve granted us — the states — the power to do a lot of the things you said we should decide at our level and now you ’ ve come up with the decision that is counter to that .
We are the ones ignoring policy and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Fox Business host Neil Cavuto on Tuesday disagreed with President Donald Trump after he accused governors of a “mutiny” because they are coordinating regional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a segment on his Fox Business program, Cavuto seemed mystified by the president’s claim of a mutiny.
Tell the Democrat Governors that “Mutiny On The Bounty” was one of my all time favorite movies. A good old fashioned mutiny every now and then is an exciting and invigorating thing to watch, especially when the mutineers need so much from the Captain. Too easy! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2020
“He’s the one that left it up to the governors to decide if they wanted to practice social distancing, shelter-at-home provisions, that each governor would decide,” Cavuto recalled. “He was never critical of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), among the later entrants in that policy.”
“All of the sudden it’s a bad ‘Mutiny on the Bounty,’ that I don’t get,” he said. “The Constitution allows them to do that.”
Fox Business correspondent Blake Berman agreed: “It is a big 180 from the president.”
“The Constitution lays this whole thing out,” Berman explained. “It’s a fairly conservative argument, time and time again. Yet, the president, conservative, the Republican in the White House is now sort of flipping the switch, doing the 180, saying that he believes he has — quote, unquote — total authority. It is a big shift and one that a lot of legal experts would say, the Constitution disagrees.”
Cavuto predicted a “legal nightmare” of lawsuits between the federal government and the states if the president continues to insist that he has total control.
The anchor went on to explain that Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution gives the Congress, not the president, the power over commerce between the states.
“Understand, the Congress, then, has the control of the purse strings in this case, not the president of the United States,” the Fox Business host noted. “You cannot withhold aid to force an opinion on a state or any other jurisdiction.”
“It’s clearly kind of spelled out here,” Cavuto said of the Constitution. “It’s not to say that the president lacks a powerful bully pulpit, he indeed does. He can state an opinion in these briefings as he does.”
He added: “But it is not the law of the land, it is not in the Constitution. And it invites a sort of confusion on the part of people who want to know, you’ve granted us — the states — the power to do a lot of the things you said we should decide at our level and now you’ve come up with the decision that is counter to that. We are the ones ignoring policy and the Constitution? It’s crazy.”


crooksandliars--2020-04-14--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

The Rude Pundit - Trump self owns on pandemic deaths .
Steve in Manhattan ( @ blogenfreude ) blogs at @ @ @ @ @ ( you can also read it ) to Sarah Kendzior 's new book Hiding in @ @ @ @ @ a link , send it to mbru @ crooksandliars.com - we do check it !

Echidne of the Snakes - plague thoughts;
Robert's Stochastic Thoughts - experts and me;
The Carpentariat - drown the philosophers!
The Commentariat - Biden has a coronavirus plan;
The Rude Pundit - Trump self owns on pandemic deaths.
Steve in Manhattan (@blogenfreude) blogs at stinque.com, and is listening (you can also read it) to Sarah Kendzior's new book Hiding in Plain Sight.
To recommend a link, send it to mbru@crooksandliars.com - we do check it!


crooksandliars--2020-03-12--Rush Limbaugh, Cancer Patient, Doesn't Know What 'Lethal' Means

Rush Limbaugh dispensed with his usual soft-spoken , rational , dulcet tones ( /s ) while he talked about the news on Tuesday , working himself into quite the frenzy discussing the latest information on COVID-19 .
The outrage generator was turned up to 11 while Limbaugh , the picture of advanced lung cancer read the headline of a story from The Week which , for some reason , upset this man very much .
The title of the story was , “ Top Doc : Virus 10 Times More Lethal Than the Flu.
” This , to our gentle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might ( heaven forfend ) generate false hysteria amongst the public — something , of course , he would never dream of doing .
LIMBAUGH : That ’ s not the point of the story .
Do you know what ’ s really the point of the story ?
The fatality rate is just 1 % from this disease !
So who cares if it ’ s 10 times more lethal than the flu ?
The fatality rate of the coronavirus is 1 % .
“ Dr .
Anthony Fauci , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diseases , told lawmakers during hearing on Wednesday that COVID-19 is probably about 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu .
“ At the same time , he clarified that 10 times figure actually brings the new fatality rate lower than official estimates , which hover around 3 % .
The flu has a mortality rate of about 0.1 % , so Fauci places the new coronavirus lethality rate at somewhere around 1 % .
” That ’ s the story .
It isn ’ t that it ’ s 10 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is how this crap gets politicized !
Now , I am certain Limbaugh was simply testing out his voice acting chops , and not AT ALL mocking the respectability or credentials of one of the top medical professionals in the nation , right ?
Then , when he asks what `` lethal '' means , we can assume his doctors have not broken to him what surely awaits him at the end of his lung cancer journey , correct ?
How else to explain that Limbaugh appears completely in the dark about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious illnesses ?
Ten times more lethal ?
Lethal than what ?
What does lethal mean ?
Does lethal kill you ?
Does lethal infect you ?
Does lethal give you a temperature of 102 versus 100 ?
What does it do to you ?
It ’ s a meaningless comparative .
Ten times more lethal ?
Oh , dear .
Who 's going to tell him ?
Okay , I will .
Sweetie , `` lethal '' means it will kill you .
Your first guess was correct .
`` Lethal than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu , darlin ' .
It 's right there in the headline .
No , not all temperatures are lethal .
Not all infections are lethal .
`` Lethal '' is not a thing that can infect you , either , honey .
Is it a meaningless comparative ?
Well , not when Trump has been going around stating emphatically that COVID-19 is just like the flu , and begging officials to tell him it can be treated just like the flu .
It 's not a meaningless comparative when Trump says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and will just *poof* disappear !
( P.S .
the flu does n't do that , either ... ) Limbaugh can take a deeeep breath ... oh , wait , maybe he ca n't ... well , at least he can take his own advice and be happy that it is not , indeed , 30 or 60 times more lethal than the flu , like originally thought .
HE may not care that it 's ten times more lethal than the flu , but quite a few of us care a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't nearly enough test kits to go around , and there is absolutely zero national leadership guiding us through a worldwide pandemic .

Rush Limbaugh dispensed with his usual soft-spoken, rational, dulcet tones (/s) while he talked about the news on Tuesday, working himself into quite the frenzy discussing the latest information on COVID-19.
The outrage generator was turned up to 11 while Limbaugh, the picture of health advanced lung cancer read the headline of a story from The Week which, for some reason, upset this man very much. The title of the story was, “Top Doc: Virus 10 Times More Lethal Than the Flu.” This, to our gentle hero, was unforgivable, as it might (heaven forfend) generate false hysteria amongst the public — something, of course, he would never dream of doing.
LIMBAUGH: That’s not the point of the story. Do you know what’s really the point of the story? The fatality rate is just 1% from this disease! So who cares if it’s 10 times more lethal than the flu? The fatality rate of the coronavirus is 1%. “Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told lawmakers during hearing on Wednesday that COVID-19 is probably about 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu. “At the same time, he clarified that 10 times figure actually brings the new fatality rate lower than official estimates, which hover around 3%. The flu has a mortality rate of about 0.1%, so Fauci places the new coronavirus lethality rate at somewhere around 1%.” That’s the story. It isn’t that it’s 10 times more lethal than the flu, and this is how this crap gets politicized!
Now, I am certain Limbaugh was simply testing out his voice acting chops, and not AT ALL mocking the respectability or credentials of one of the top medical professionals in the nation, right? Then, when he asks what "lethal" means, we can assume his doctors have not broken to him what surely awaits him at the end of his lung cancer journey, correct? How else to explain that Limbaugh appears completely in the dark about the very common descriptor and barometer of serious illnesses?
Ten times more lethal? Lethal than what? What does lethal mean? Does lethal kill you? Does lethal infect you? Does lethal give you a temperature of 102 versus 100? What does it do to you? It’s a meaningless comparative. Ten times more lethal?
Oh, dear. Who's going to tell him? Okay, I will.
Sweetie, "lethal" means it will kill you. Your first guess was correct. "Lethal than what?" More lethal than the flu, darlin'. It's right there in the headline. No, not all temperatures are lethal. Not all infections are lethal. "Lethal" is not a thing that can infect you, either, honey.
Is it a meaningless comparative? Well, not when Trump has been going around stating emphatically that COVID-19 is just like the flu, and begging officials to tell him it can be treated just like the flu. It's not a meaningless comparative when Trump says, like the flu, this is seasonal, and will just *poof* disappear! (P.S. the flu doesn't do that, either...)
Limbaugh can take a deeeep breath...oh, wait, maybe he can't...well, at least he can take his own advice and be happy that it is not, indeed, 30 or 60 times more lethal than the flu, like originally thought. HE may not care that it's ten times more lethal than the flu, but quite a few of us care a great deal. Especially when there aren't nearly enough test kits to go around, and there is absolutely zero national leadership guiding us through a worldwide pandemic.


crooksandliars--2020-03-12--COVID-19: Tom Hanks And Rita Wilson, NBA Suspends, Trump Blocks EU Travel

Here 's a summary of what has happened Wednesday night with regard to COVID-19 and the nation 's response : Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office , blaming China for the virus , announcing that he would ban travel to and from Europe , with an exception for the United Kingdom .
Here is Utah Jazz Player Rudy Gobert 2 days ago , touching things on purpose .
It turns out he has COVID-19 and is symptomatic .
Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder were warming up before the game when both teams were called off the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ultimately the NBA announced they were suspending the entire season until further notice because of Gobert 's illness .
At the same time all of that was happening , Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife Rita Wilson also tested positive in Australia .
Here is his statement : “ Hello , folks .
Rita and I are down here in Australia .
We felt a bit tired , like we had colds , and some body aches .
Rita had some chills that came and went .
Slight fevers too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed in the world right now , we were tested for the Coronavirus , and were found to be positive .
Well , now .
What to do next ?
The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed .
We Hanks ’ will be tested , observed , and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires .
Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach , no ?
We ’ ll keep the world posted and updated .
Thank God they were in Australia , where apparently one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , it 's tough to get one !
Hanks is diabetic , which is a high-risk group for this virus .
We wish him and Rita Wilson the best .
And finally , expect the markets to continue their descent .
Immediately after Trump 's Oval Office address , they went in the tank .
This is because he did not actually do or say anything that vaguely resembled a plan , instead pretending that this global public health threat could be cured by tax cuts , payroll tax suspensions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Oh , and today marked the end of an 11-year bull market and President Barack Obama 's robust economy .
We are now in the Trump economy .
It ai n't pretty .
Not at all .
Here , this sums things up well : UPDATE : After mocking Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders for canceling their rallies in Ohio last night , Trump announced that he would be postponing his Colorado and Nevada rallies `` out of an abundance of caution . ''
Life comes at you fast .
From hoax @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Here's a summary of what has happened Wednesday night with regard to COVID-19 and the nation's response:
Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office, blaming China for the virus, announcing that he would ban travel to and from Europe, with an exception for the United Kingdom.
Here is Utah Jazz Player Rudy Gobert 2 days ago, touching things on purpose.
Here’s video of Rudy Gobert ending the entire NBA season:https://t.co/wXOmOzD9ZD https://t.co/aNAnZePj5Y — Vanilla Royce 🏳🌈 (@RoyceVanilla) March 12, 2020
It turns out he has COVID-19 and is symptomatic. Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder were warming up before the game when both teams were called off the court, and the game was postponed. Ultimately the NBA announced they were suspending the entire season until further notice because of Gobert's illness.
NBA To Suspend Season Following Tonight's Games pic.twitter.com/2PTx2fkLlW — NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2020
At the same time all of that was happening, Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife Rita Wilson also tested positive in Australia. Here is his statement:
“Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive. Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!” – Tom Hanks
Thank God they were in Australia, where apparently one can get tested. Here in the United States, it's tough to get one! Hanks is diabetic, which is a high-risk group for this virus. We wish him and Rita Wilson the best.
And finally, expect the markets to continue their descent. Immediately after Trump's Oval Office address, they went in the tank. This is because he did not actually do or say anything that vaguely resembled a plan, instead pretending that this global public health threat could be cured by tax cuts, payroll tax suspensions and more.
There's this just in:
INBOX:
A staff member in Senator Maria Cantwell’s Washington, D.C. office has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual has been in isolation since starting to have symptoms. — Jordain Carney (@jordainc) March 12, 2020
Oh, and today marked the end of an 11-year bull market and President Barack Obama's robust economy. We are now in the Trump economy. It ain't pretty. Not at all.
Here, this sums things up well:
Why are famous people getting COVID-19?
BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ENOUGH TESTS FOR FAMOUS PEOPLE. — Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) March 12, 2020
UPDATE: After mocking Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders for canceling their rallies in Ohio last night, Trump announced that he would be postponing his Colorado and Nevada rallies "out of an abundance of caution."
Life comes at you fast. From hoax to rally-canceling pandemic in a week.


crooksandliars--2020-03-11--Matt Schlapp Scapegoats Fellow Conservative For Calling Out CPAC's Virus Problem

Odious leader of CPAC Matt Schlapp bitched and complained on Micheal Isikoff 's podcast , lashing out at a conservative activist for trying to `` stick a stake in '' his heart , because conspiracies !
Schlapp is using the conservative model of blaming jealous people who hate them as a defense for any of their wrongdoing or misadventures , even when it 's one of their own supporters .
Raheem Kassam alerted people of the COVID-19 issues at CPAC and wanted to know who the zero patient was .
Isikoff interviewed Schlapp on his podcast , raising when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You 've been getting a lot of criticism from your fellow conservatives who were at CPAC , '' he said .
`` Like , who ? ''
Schlapp was ready .
`` Raheem Kassam , '' Isikoff answered , trying to get a question in .
Schlapp kept trying to interrupt Isikoff 's question , but Michael pushed on .
`` Said he was apoplectic to learn about this -- - `` Schlapp then tried to explain and then said , `` Do you know why Raheem Kassam was worried ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked him for not going directly to the doctor but instead began asking questions about the conference he had just attended .
Schlapp continued , “ What this gentleman decided to do was take to Twitter and induce a near panic !
” Now for the conspiracy : “ I ’ m sorry that Raheem was not included on our speakers ’ schedule and I ’ m sorry that he has a bone to pick with us , but using a health care moment where people are worried , to use that to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart was a mistake !
, ” Matt said .
I do not know Raheem , but it seems highly unlikely that he would start a health panic because he did n't get a speaker slot in a conference .
And the fact that he 's been proven right does n't faze Matt at all .
Truth and reality never do .
Matt Schlapp had better start living in reality .
They 'd all better start .
This is not the time for them to play partisan reindeer games .
Everyone 's health @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Odious leader of CPAC Matt Schlapp bitched and complained on Micheal Isikoff's podcast, lashing out at a conservative activist for trying to "stick a stake in" his heart, because conspiracies!
Schlapp is using the conservative model of blaming jealous people who hate them as a defense for any of their wrongdoing or misadventures, even when it's one of their own supporters.
Raheem Kassam alerted people of the COVID-19 issues at CPAC and wanted to know who the zero patient was.
Isikoff interviewed Schlapp on his podcast, raising when the virus issues at CPAC came up. "You've been getting a lot of criticism from your fellow conservatives who were at CPAC," he said.
"Like , who?" Schlapp was ready.
"Raheem Kassam," Isikoff answered, trying to get a question in.
Schlapp kept trying to interrupt Isikoff's question, but Michael pushed on.
"Said he was apoplectic to learn about this --- "
Schlapp then tried to explain and then said, "Do you know why Raheem Kassam was worried?"
See, Kassam felt sick and Schlapp attacked him for not going directly to the doctor but instead began asking questions about the conference he had just attended.
Schlapp continued, “What this gentleman decided to do was take to Twitter and induce a near panic!”
Now for the conspiracy:
“I’m sorry that Raheem was not included on our speakers’ schedule and I’m sorry that he has a bone to pick with us, but using a health care moment where people are worried, to use that to try to stick a stake in my heart was a mistake!,” Matt said.
See, CPAC makes mistakes, but FU Raheem!
I do not know Raheem, but it seems highly unlikely that he would start a health panic because he didn't get a speaker slot in a conference. And the fact that he's been proven right doesn't faze Matt at all.
Truth and reality never do.
Kassam and some conservatives replied:
Odd & uncomfortable attempt by Matt Schlapp of CPAC to blame me for their coronavirus situation which embarrassed the President, Congressmen, etc.
He claims I am driving a stake through his heart (lol wtf?) by providing attendees with info about the carrier at his conference... pic.twitter.com/8GsIgTJQL3 — Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) March 11, 2020
I appreciate @RaheemKassam getting info out to us. We should have had the Cartier’s name much sooner. Turns out I had close contact with 2 quarantined people. https://t.co/3iIDuqgAvV — Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) March 11, 2020
Very nasty of @mschlapp to go on left wing podcast to attack @RaheemKassam, who simply wanted more information on who the CPAC attendee with coronavirus came into contact with.
Also, CPAC credentialed actual members of ANTIFA as "media."
Yet Matt attacks Raheem.
WTF? https://t.co/SE1MJvwmaX — Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) March 11, 2020
Matt Schlapp had better start living in reality. They'd all better start. This is not the time for them to play partisan reindeer games. Everyone's health is at risk. Everyone's.


crooksandliars--2020-03-31--Don Lemon Wishes His Employer Would Stop Live Coverage Of Trump Briefings

CNN 's Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo argued last night about whether news organizations should continue their live coverage of Trump 's daily coronavirus briefings .
`` It 's not political when it comes out of your mouth .
When i say the exact same words you said , for some reason , it 's political , '' Lemon said .
`` I have said I do n't think you should really listen to what he says , you should listen to what the experts say .
I 'm not actually sure , if you want to be honest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think we should run snippets .
I think we should do it afterwards and get the pertinent points to the American people .
He 's never , ever going to tell you the truth .
Guess what he 's going to do ?
If you ask a question that is a legitimate question , and if he does n't like the question he 's going to say whether it 's -- whether you 're being mean or not or whatever he wants to call it , he is going to say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Why ?
because he wants his base to think the media 's being mean to him and they 're attacking him .
It is all a plot .
It is all orchestrated , and if you ca n't see it , I do n't know -- I do n't know what you 're looking at .
So , you know , I -- it 's obvious , it 's transparent to me .
This has become -- those press briefings have become his new `` Apprentice . ''
They 've become his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press and the media as if he 's talking to the people in his rallies .
It 's the same thing .
It 's no different .
It 's just that the audience is not there . ''
`` Do n't get me wrong , Chris , I 'm not frustrated .
I 'm just pointing out the obvious .
Pointing out the obvious , especially as a journalist , is not being political .
If we do n't do that then we are not doing our duty as journalists to point that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to point that out , '' Lemon said .
`` I do n't believe in censorship .
I 'm saying play all of it .
I get what you 're saying .
I say play all of it .
I want to hear everything he has to say .
I want it all to be out there and I want him to be held to account because this is n't B.S .
politics right now .
It 's not about nicknames .
It 's not what he can call another party .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of that is going to fall on what is done and not done by this government , '' Cuomo said .
Cuomo said Trump was `` overwhelmed '' by this task .
`` He lied to the American people about it .
He 's playing catch-up .
He 's starting to learn .
They 're seeing it all in real time .
People are living and diving on the basis of this response .
And it 's the best test for leadership we can have .
I want people to see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We will show it all and then they will decide how they 've come through it , and they 're going to be deciding soon . ''
`` I do n't like wasting people 's time and I do n't like people being bamboozled .
That 's it .
I know I 'm going to get criticized for it .
So be it , '' Lemon retorted .

CNN's Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo argued last night about whether news organizations should continue their live coverage of Trump's daily coronavirus briefings.
"It's not political when it comes out of your mouth. When i say the exact same words you said, for some reason, it's political," Lemon said.
"I have said I don't think you should really listen to what he says, you should listen to what the experts say. I'm not actually sure, if you want to be honest, that we should carry that live. I think we should run snippets. I think we should do it afterwards and get the pertinent points to the American people. He's never, ever going to tell you the truth. Guess what he's going to do? If you ask a question that is a legitimate question, and if he doesn't like the question he's going to say whether it's -- whether you're being mean or not or whatever he wants to call it, he is going to say that is a mean, nasty question.
"Why? because he wants his base to think the media's being mean to him and they're attacking him. It is all a plot. It is all orchestrated, and if you can't see it, I don't know -- I don't know what you're looking at. So, you know, I -- it's obvious, it's transparent to me. This has become -- those press briefings have become his new "Apprentice." They've become his new rallies, and he treats the press and the media as if he's talking to the people in his rallies. It's the same thing. It's no different. It's just that the audience is not there."
Cuomo said he understood Lemon's frustration.
"Don't get me wrong, Chris, I'm not frustrated. I'm just pointing out the obvious. Pointing out the obvious, especially as a journalist, is not being political. If we don't do that then we are not doing our duty as journalists to point that out. That is our job, to point that out," Lemon said.
"I don't believe in censorship. I'm saying play all of it. I get what you're saying. I say play all of it. I want to hear everything he has to say. I want it all to be out there and I want him to be held to account because this isn't B.S. politics right now. It's not about nicknames. It's not what he can call another party. It's about living and dying and a lot of that is going to fall on what is done and not done by this government," Cuomo said.
Cuomo said Trump was "overwhelmed" by this task.
"He lied to the American people about it. He's playing catch-up. He's starting to learn. They're seeing it all in real time. People are living and diving on the basis of this response. And it's the best test for leadership we can have. I want people to see it all. We will question it all. We will show it all and then they will decide how they've come through it, and they're going to be deciding soon."
"I don't like wasting people's time and I don't like people being bamboozled. That's it. I know I'm going to get criticized for it. So be it," Lemon retorted.


crooksandliars--2020-03-31--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

Mock , Paper , Scissors : His hair is real , and it ’ s spectacular .
Blue Mass Group @ @ @ @ @ for the cancellation of their convention .
Calculated Risk : TSA numbers confirm that pandemics—or @ @ @ @ @ depress air travel .
Speaking of which , your quote of the day : `` @ @ @ @ @ in Florida .
Take your families and enjoy life , the way we want it @ @ @ @ @ ( George W. Bush , September 27 , 2001 . )
Guest blogging Mike 's @ @ @ @ @ is Jon Perr from Perrspectives .
Send your tips , recommendations , comments and angst @ @ @ @ @ com .

Mock, Paper, Scissors: His hair is real, and it’s spectacular.
Bad Reporter: Jared Kushner sets up a back channel to COVID-19.
Blue Mass Group: Bay State Democrats plan for the cancellation of their convention.
Gizmodo: GE Aviation workers demand company manufacture ventilators at inactive plants.
Calculated Risk: TSA numbers confirm that pandemics—or at least this one—tend to depress air travel.
Speaking of which, your quote of the day:
"Get down to Disney World in Florida. Take your families and enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed." (George W. Bush, September 27, 2001.)
Guest blogging Mike's Blog Round Up this week is Jon Perr from Perrspectives. Send your tips, recommendations, comments and angst to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com.


crooksandliars--2020-03-31--Televangelist Declares Coronavirus 'Finished', Commands God To Eradicate It

Apparently the Coronavirus was wiped off the face of the earth Sunday by televangelist Kenneth Copeland , somewhere around 12 eastern .
Televangelist Kenneth Copeland , who said last week that God told him the coronavirus would “ be over much sooner than you think ” ( but still wants you to tithe even if you ’ ve lost your job ) , offered up what I can only assume is a magic spell this morning in order to destroy COVID-19 .
And that ’ s why the pandemic is now over .
Copeland screamed out at Satan to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crawl on your belly , ” before declaring the crisis to be “ over.
” That will no doubt scare the virus into submission .
In the name of Jesus , standing in the office of the prophet of God , I execute judgment on you , COVID-19 !
I execute judgment on you , Satan !
You destroyer !
You killer !
You get out !
You would break your power !
You get off this nation !
I demand judgment on you !
I demand — I demand — I demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call you dark !
I call you doggone !
You come down… from your place of authority !
Destroyer !
You come down and you crawl on your belly , like God commanded you when He put His foot on your head in the Garden of Eden .
You will destroy through COVID-19 no more !
It !
Is !
Finished !
It !
Is !
Over !
And the United States of America is healed and well again .

Apparently the Coronavirus was wiped off the face of the earth Sunday by televangelist Kenneth Copeland, somewhere around 12 eastern.
Source: Friendly Atheist
Televangelist Kenneth Copeland, who said last week that God told him the coronavirus would “be over much sooner than you think” (but still wants you to tithe even if you’ve lost your job), offered up what I can only assume is a magic spell this morning in order to destroy COVID-19. And that’s why the pandemic is now over. (It’s not over.) Copeland screamed out at Satan to “get off this nation” and “crawl on your belly,” before declaring the crisis to be “over.” That will no doubt scare the virus into submission.
Copeland's full remarks below:
In the name of Jesus, standing in the office of the prophet of God, I execute judgment on you, COVID-19! I execute judgment on you, Satan! You destroyer! You killer! You get out! You would break your power! You get off this nation! I demand judgment on you! I demand — I demand — I demand a vaccination to come immediately!
I call you dark! I call you doggone! You come down… from your place of authority! Destroyer! You come down and you crawl on your belly, like God commanded you when He put His foot on your head in the Garden of Eden. You will destroy through COVID-19 no more!
It! Is! Finished! It! Is! Over!
And the United States of America is healed and well again.


crooksandliars--2020-03-31--Fox 'News' Panel Doubts Shortage Of Beds In Hospitals, Because Twitter Says So

For a TV station whose mission seems to be to keep their viewers as uneducated and uninformed as possible , Fox `` News '' is doing a stellar job .
For a media outlet whose stance on valuing `` life '' seems to end once the `` life '' exits the birth canal , Fox is as consistent as the rising and setting of the sun .
Steve Hilton , host of Fox `` News '' show , `` The Next Revolution '' spent this segment with his panel not only complaining about the fact that his version of `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the serious press , but that there were all kinds of reasons to question the legitimacy of claims that hospitals are and will be overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Here 's Lisa Boothe claiming we 're not hearing from enough professors who challenge the mainstream thought .
BOOTHE : There was also two other professors from Stanford who recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal , saying that millions of people probably already have been infected in the United States , and we do n't really hear from those people as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge .
Forgive me , but how does that contradict the notion that hospitals and medical personnel are and will be overrun with COVID-19 patients across the nation ?
Hilton then suggested that maybe people in Italy are dying from infections they caught IN THE HOSPITAL rather than from COVID-19 .
Next we have good ole former Rep. Jason Chaffetz whining that people do n't like it when he suggests there needs to be budget cuts to pay for the $ 2 trillion CARES bill .
Well , sure , if the budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Social Security ... why not make up for it by eliminating corporate tax breaks , or maybe eliminate tax exemptions for religious organizations ?
Finally , Sara Carter took the cake with this fauxnalysis : that it really may not be that bad because hospital parking lots are empty .
CARTER : People are saying , “ Film your hospital , '' people are driving by their hospitals and they 're not seeing -- in the ones that I 'm seeing -- they 're not seeing anybody in the parking lots .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , people are wondering what 's going inside the hospital .
Alright , friends , here are some reasons people might not be milling about in hospital parking lots .
• No one who is not a patient is permitted in the hospital , so they are dropping off patients and going home .
• Patients may be arriving in ambulances .
• Staff of the hospital are inside the building .
Doing their jobs .
Now , they all make sure to pepper in concerned phrases and sentiments , praising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying they do n't want to downplay the seriousness of what 's happening .
Yet they have just finished , or are about to do that very thing : downplay it .
Question it .
Cite bizarro Twitter seeds of conspiracies , like `` Is your hospital parking lot empty ?
HOAX ! ''
Fox knows better than anyone else : they can not manipulate you if you 're informed .

For a TV station whose mission seems to be to keep their viewers as uneducated and uninformed as possible, Fox "News" is doing a stellar job. For a media outlet whose stance on valuing "life" seems to end once the "life" exits the birth canal, Fox is as consistent as the rising and setting of the sun.
Steve Hilton, host of Fox "News" show, "The Next Revolution" spent this segment with his panel not only complaining about the fact that his version of "reality" wasn't being accommodated by the serious press, but that there were all kinds of reasons to question the legitimacy of claims that hospitals are and will be overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's Lisa Boothe claiming we're not hearing from enough professors who challenge the mainstream thought.
BOOTHE: There was also two other professors from Stanford who recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal, saying that millions of people probably already have been infected in the United States, and we don't really hear from those people as much, and I think that's a challenge.
Forgive me, but how does that contradict the notion that hospitals and medical personnel are and will be overrun with COVID-19 patients across the nation?
Hilton then suggested that maybe people in Italy are dying from infections they caught IN THE HOSPITAL rather than from COVID-19.
Next we have good ole former Rep. Jason Chaffetz whining that people don't like it when he suggests there needs to be budget cuts to pay for the $2 trillion CARES bill. Well, sure, if the budget cuts you're proposing are to Medicare and Social Security...why not make up for it by eliminating corporate tax breaks, or maybe eliminate tax exemptions for religious organizations?
Finally, Sara Carter took the cake with this fauxnalysis: that it really may not be that bad because hospital parking lots are empty.
CARTER: People are saying, “Film your hospital," people are driving by their hospitals and they're not seeing -- in the ones that I'm seeing -- they're not seeing anybody in the parking lots. They're not seeing anybody drive up. So, people are wondering what's going inside the hospital.
Alright, friends, here are some reasons people might not be milling about in hospital parking lots.
No one who is not a patient is permitted in the hospital, so they are dropping off patients and going home.
Patients may be arriving in ambulances.
Staff of the hospital are inside the building. Doing their jobs.
Now, they all make sure to pepper in concerned phrases and sentiments, praising the heroism of doctors and nurses, saying they don't want to downplay the seriousness of what's happening. Yet they have just finished, or are about to do that very thing: downplay it. Question it. Cite bizarro Twitter seeds of conspiracies, like "Is your hospital parking lot empty? HOAX!"
Fox knows better than anyone else: they cannot manipulate you if you're informed.


crooksandliars--2020-03-31--WFAN's Mike Francesca Unloads On Trump Over His Inept Coronavirus Response

You know you 've screwed up royally when some of your most ardent supporters start turning on you after your inept , insulting , and ultimately dangerous response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Mike Francesca is what they call a living legend in the broadcasting community , and is regularly ranked the # 1 most listened to sports talk radio personality in America .
Francesca did n't hold anything back , with sneering derision for Trump 's mask conspiracy theories , to his patting himself on the back for `` only '' a couple of hundred thousand deaths being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was right .
We should all be ashamed of Trump right now .
`` Yesterday accused a hospital of padding the numbers they need because they were trying to sell or send out the back door the masks .
How do you go from using 20,000 masks to 300,000 masks .
Can ’ t be done .
Go investigate that .
You go investigate that .
You have your military , your FEMA investigate that .
That ’ s your job !
You ’ re in charge of this !
If this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your supplies .
What do you do , tell them , tell the media to go investigate it ?
What , and get back you in six weeks , two months , as more people die on a daily basis ?
`` That ’ s what ’ s wrong here .
There ’ s a disconnect .
We ’ re watching one thing happen in our city on the 11 o ’ clock news every night .
We ’ re watching people die and now we know people who die .
And we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people die now in neighborhood .
We ’ re seeing them die by the 10s and the 20s every day .
They ’ re bringing people out of a hospital in Queens in body bags , five minutes from where he grew up .
`` We here know this isn ’ t right .
You get the guys in the metropolitan area and ask the cops in New York if it ’ s right , right now .
Ask the firemen in New York who are answering those police calls , answering those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , right now .
Ask the nurses and the doctors in the hospital if it ’ s right , right now .
They know it ’ s not .
They don ’ t have the supplies they need .
So don ’ t give me the My Pillow guy doing a song and dance up here on a Monday afternoon when people are dying in Queens !
“ Get the stuff made !
Get the stuff where it needs to go and get the boots on the ground .
Treat this like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have a scoreboard that says 2,000 people have died , and tell us it ’ s OK if another 198,000 die , that ’ s a good job .
How is that a good job in our country ?
It ’ s a good job if nobody else dies .
Not if another 198,000 people die .
So now 200,000 people are disposable ?
”

You know you've screwed up royally when some of your most ardent supporters start turning on you after your inept, insulting, and ultimately dangerous response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mike Francesca is what they call a living legend in the broadcasting community, and is regularly ranked the #1 most listened to sports talk radio personality in America.
Source: Raw Story
Francesca didn't hold anything back, with sneering derision for Trump's mask conspiracy theories, to his patting himself on the back for "only" a couple of hundred thousand deaths being the benchmark for a great response. Francesca was right. We should all be ashamed of Trump right now.
"Yesterday accused a hospital of padding the numbers they need because they were trying to sell or send out the back door the masks. How do you go from using 20,000 masks to 300,000 masks. Can’t be done. Go investigate that. You go investigate that. You have your military, your FEMA investigate that. That’s your job! You’re in charge of this! If this is a war, they’re stealing your supplies. What do you do, tell them, tell the media to go investigate it? What, and get back you in six weeks, two months, as more people die on a daily basis?
"That’s what’s wrong here. There’s a disconnect. We’re watching one thing happen in our city on the 11 o’clock news every night. We’re watching people die and now we know people who die. And we’re not seeing one or two people die now in neighborhood. We’re seeing them die by the 10s and the 20s every day. They’re bringing people out of a hospital in Queens in body bags, five minutes from where he grew up.
"We here know this isn’t right. You get the guys in the metropolitan area and ask the cops in New York if it’s right, right now. Ask the firemen in New York who are answering those police calls, answering those ambulance calls if it’s right, right now. Ask the nurses and the doctors in the hospital if it’s right, right now. They know it’s not. They don’t have the supplies they need. So don’t give me the My Pillow guy doing a song and dance up here on a Monday afternoon when people are dying in Queens!
“Get the stuff made! Get the stuff where it needs to go and get the boots on the ground. Treat this like the crisis it is. And how can you have a scoreboard that says 2,000 people have died, and tell us it’s OK if another 198,000 die, that’s a good job. How is that a good job in our country? It’s a good job if nobody else dies. Not if another 198,000 people die. So now 200,000 people are disposable?”


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Matt Gaetz Blasts Mitch McConnell For Leaving Richard Burr As Intelligence Chaiir

Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) to revoke Sen. Richard @ @ @ @ @ of the Intelligence Committee .
CNN reported on Monday that the Justice Department is investigating @ @ @ @ @ off stock trades by using insider knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ How can @ @ @ @ @ someone as the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee who is being investigated by the FBI @ @ @ @ @ for personal , financial gain ?
!
?
!
” Gaetz exclaimed on Twitter .
@ @ @ @ @ a better job cleaning our own house , ” he said , adding the hashtag @ @ @ @ @ ’ s followers appeared to be taken off guard by the comments .
Read some @ @ @ @ @

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to revoke Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) chairmanship of the Intelligence Committee.
CNN reported on Monday that the Justice Department is investigating the possibility that Burr profited off stock trades by using insider knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“How can [McConnell] justify leaving someone as the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee who is being investigated by the FBI for criminally abusing their position for personal, financial gain?!?!” Gaetz exclaimed on Twitter.
“Republicans need to do a better job cleaning our own house,” he said, adding the hashtag “#wheresmitch.”
How can @senatemajldr justify leaving someone as the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.....
who is being investigated by the FBI for criminally abusing their position for personal, financial gain?!?!#wheresmitch
Republicans need to do a better job cleaning our own house https://t.co/NMU8agPYtg — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) March 30, 2020
Gaetz’s followers appeared to be taken off guard by the comments.
Read some of the responses below.
Wow, it's almost as though your party has no integrity or principles. — Kel Varnsen (@_Kel_Varnsen_) March 30, 2020
How can you continue in Congress after breaching security in a SCIF as a political stunt? Self-reflection, Mattie. — Tink53 (@LoveyTex) March 30, 2020
Wtf....that’s the second tweet of his in less than a month that I agree with! — overthere (@overthere03) March 30, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-31--Mitch McConnell Shamelessly Blames Trump's Crimes For Delayed Pandemic Response

Of all the idiotic excuses used to defend Donald Trump 's botched handling of COVID-19 , the Senate Majority Leader said the federal government did n't pay enough attention to the coronavirus because of Trump 's impeachment trial .
While being interviewed by Hugh Hewitt , McConnell said : Wow , so Mitch McConnell just admitted , whether it 's true or not , that the slow response by the federal government to the COVID-19 was due to Trump 's own criminality .
Remember , he was IMPEACHED .
Apparently Trump 's federal government ca n't chew gum and walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really a ridiculous excuse ( as more people are dying in New York as you read this post ) because the Senate trial started on January 16 , 2020 , and ended on February 5 .
Furthermore , Trump was n't removed from office because Republicans held the majority in the Senate .
Period .
Full stop .
If Hewitt was not playing the fool Trump apologist , he would have asked what happened to the federal government between February 6 and the March 11 Oval Office address to the nation .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five weeks ?
What was the Department of Health and Human Services doing ?
Why were n't members of Trump 's cabinet holding meetings with the medical professionals and the CDC ?
It 's been a big problem that Trump has refused to fill many jobs throughout the federal government , and leadership positions have mostly been filled by ACTING members of his cabinet , so WTF happened ?
During a February 28th Trump re-election rally in South Carolina , Trump crowed , “ Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus !
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even count their votes in Iowa ...
This is their new hoax !
” For five weeks Trump called it a `` democratic hoax '' led by the media to continue impeaching him , while the world screamed that COVID-19 was a serious health issue for the world .
It took Trump until the March 11 Oval Office address for him to agree with the WHO , and to finally call it a pandemic .
But his remarks were so scattershot , off-the-cuff , incoherent , and poorly thought-out that Trump crashed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Golf Count , he 's played golf eleven times since January 1 .
— eight of those times during impeachment !
It 's apparent Trump 's golfing , and not his woes about being impeached and thrown out of office , were more important than the health of the nation .
Others have responded like I have .

Of all the idiotic excuses used to defend Donald Trump's botched handling of COVID-19, the Senate Majority Leader said the federal government didn't pay enough attention to the coronavirus because of Trump's impeachment trial.
While being interviewed by Hugh Hewitt, McConnell said:
And it came up while we were tied down in the impeachment trial,” he added. “And I think it diverted the attention of the government, because everything every day was all about impeachment.
Wow, so Mitch McConnell just admitted, whether it's true or not, that the slow response by the federal government to the COVID-19 was due to Trump's own criminality. Remember, he was IMPEACHED. Apparently Trump's federal government can't chew gum and walk at the same time.
This is really a ridiculous excuse (as more people are dying in New York as you read this post) because the Senate trial started on January 16, 2020, and ended on February 5. Furthermore, Trump wasn't removed from office because Republicans held the majority in the Senate. Period. Full stop.
If Hewitt was not playing the fool Trump apologist, he would have asked what happened to the federal government between February 6 and the March 11 Oval Office address to the nation. What was the entire federal government doing for five weeks? What was the Department of Health and Human Services doing? Why weren't members of Trump's cabinet holding meetings with the medical professionals and the CDC?
It's been a big problem that Trump has refused to fill many jobs throughout the federal government, and leadership positions have mostly been filled by ACTING members of his cabinet, so WTF happened?
During a February 28th Trump re-election rally in South Carolina, Trump crowed, “Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus! They have no clue, they can't even count their votes in Iowa...This is their new hoax!”
For five weeks Trump called it a "democratic hoax" led by the media to continue impeaching him, while the world screamed that COVID-19 was a serious health issue for the world. It took Trump until the March 11 Oval Office address for him to agree with the WHO, and to finally call it a pandemic. But his remarks were so scattershot, off-the-cuff, incoherent, and poorly thought-out that Trump crashed the stock market.
Meanwhile, according to Trump Golf Count, he's played golf eleven times since January 1. — eight of those times during impeachment! It's apparent Trump's golfing, and not his woes about being impeached and thrown out of office, were more important than the health of the nation.
Others have responded like I have.
Mitch McConnell just blamed Trump’s COVID-19 failures on impeachment.
That’s wrong—dead wrong.
In fact, the opposite is true: impeachment warned McConnell & other Americans about exactly how Trump would screw this up.
I laid this out in @PostEverything: https://t.co/JmuZrPf9IY — Joshua A. Geltzer (@jgeltzer) March 31, 2020
I remember when McCain suspended his campaign because of the financial crisis.
Obama's response: "I think it is going to be part of the president's job to be able to deal with more than one thing at once." (1/2) https://t.co/wohuhR4tB4 — Josh Chafetz (@joshchafetz) March 31, 2020
A source at a conservative firm doing Trump/RNC work tells me the Message of the Day is "Impeachment kept Trump from focusing on the virus."
This person and I went from great friends (2000s to 2016) then frenemies (2017-2019) and now this person is PISSED.
More to follow. — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 31, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Pete Hegseth Is Leader Of The Fox News Death Cult

Republicans , Trump surrogates and sycophants are pushing the American people to ignore the CDC 's stay-at-home and self quarantine orders and get out there and go back to work whether you get infected , infect others or not .
It 's all in service to their Wicker Man , the U.S. economy .
But really , it 's in service to the reelection of Donald Trump .
One of the worst of the worst , Fox News ' numero uno presidential fluffer Pete Hegseth was on Fox News ' Outnumbered program Thursday , proclaiming that the next bailout should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions and open up regardless of what politicians and the medical community recommend .
It 's all about `` courage and freedom . ''
He opened up by making these outrageous assertions .
Letting people make decisions for themselves about their risk tolerance , to open their business .
There is no bureaucrat , there is no politician , there is no leader that can mandate what 's going to work for you and your family .
If you 're healthy , if you are willing to put freedom over fear , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or go to work into it responsibly while acknowledging that we learned things about how we transmit this virus and who is affected by it .
It 's not just about if a person or business owner is healthy .
Companies are not making decisions for themselves only if they open up because the coronavirus is highly infectious and they could be spreading the virus exponentially to family , friends and customers .
About five minutes later he dropped these death cult gems .
And we ’ ve seen courage , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in Texas where people are defying ridiculous orders .
That takes courage , that ’ s not easy .
So I think that spirit , the American Spirit frankly , is in full supply and ready to go .
If some of our experts and some of our leaders will just get out of their way — they ’ re drunk on power — it ’ s time to open up .
That 's right .
The guy who does n't wash his hands wants everyone to drink of the American spirit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all in service of Donald Trump .

Republicans, Trump surrogates and sycophants are pushing the American people to ignore the CDC's stay-at-home and self quarantine orders and get out there and go back to work whether you get infected, infect others or not.
It's all in service to their Wicker Man, the U.S. economy. But really, it's in service to the reelection of Donald Trump.
One of the worst of the worst, Fox News' numero uno presidential fluffer Pete Hegseth was on Fox News' Outnumbered program Thursday, proclaiming that the next bailout should be for businesses to make their own decisions and open up regardless of what politicians and the medical community recommend. It's all about "courage and freedom."
He opened up by making these outrageous assertions.
Letting people make decisions for themselves about their risk tolerance, to open their business. There is no bureaucrat, there is no politician, there is no leader that can mandate what's going to work for you and your family. If you're healthy, if you are willing to put freedom over fear, then open the business up that you have or go to work into it responsibly while acknowledging that we learned things about how we transmit this virus and who is affected by it.
It's not just about if a person or business owner is healthy. Companies are not making decisions for themselves only if they open up because the coronavirus is highly infectious and they could be spreading the virus exponentially to family, friends and customers.
About five minutes later he dropped these death cult gems.
And we’ve seen courage, we’re going to talk about it later, in Texas where people are defying ridiculous orders. That takes courage, that’s not easy. So I think that spirit, the American Spirit frankly, is in full supply and ready to go. If some of our experts and some of our leaders will just get out of their way — they’re drunk on power — it’s time to open up.
That's right. The guy who doesn't wash his hands wants everyone to drink of the American spirit, which must be like Kool-aid, all in service of Donald Trump.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Listen Up, Beltway Media! You Must Demand Direct Answers To Direct Questions

Kellyanne Conway may have perfected the art of the gaslight , but now almost every Trump official and spokesperson has crafted their `` alternative facts '' skills , modeled on Trump himself .
They 've also mastered the technique of gaslighting and filibustering their way through television interviews without ever addressing very specific questions from their interviewees .
In the last few weeks , you ’ ve had Steve Mnuchin , Larry Kudlow , Mike Pompeo , and everyone in between filibuster even basic questions when asked directly to respond to something Donald Trump has said or done .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ techniques to deflect from the truth about his presidency .
When asked if he thought the coronavirus was a `` hoax '' by Congressman Lieu , Pompeo refused to answer this direct question and instead called it a `` gotcha question. ''
.
The Sunday morning political shows are the only places where Trump officials are more vulnerable to having to answer for the Trump administration ‘ s actions , so it is incumbent on interviewers to be more forceful and demand real answers instead of spin .
Chris Wallace , Chuck Todd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jake Tapper have to step up to the plate and when they ’ re being gaslighted they need to cut in and forcefully ask for an answer to the direct question .
Too much is at stake for anyone interviewing Trump or one of the White House insiders to give them a pass , like ABC News ' David Muir did earlier this week when he just allowed Trump to blame the Obama administration for not developing a test kit for a virus that was n't known until 3 years into Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just asking a question and then moving on after a lengthy nonsensical diatribe is not an interview of consequence .
It '' s video stenography .
They can at least have intelligent producers Johnny-on-the-spot to help them correct the record and call into question the facts Trump and his minions try to transmit to the American public in real-time .
A chyron is fun but not near enough .
Interviewing the people at the top of the state and federal government comes with a huge responsibility .
Is it too much for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the subjects they want to discuss with the people they invite on their programs ?
When they find a lie , inconsistency , or a misstatement they need to be able to call it out and attempt to correct the record !
The American public demands this of you .
Your position of trust requires it of you .
You 're in a cherished position and thousands of journalists around this country working for every news network would kill to be in the position you are .
So use that clout for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Stenographer to the President is not acceptable ever , but especially not now .

Kellyanne Conway may have perfected the art of the gaslight, but now almost every Trump official and spokesperson has crafted their "alternative facts" skills, modeled on Trump himself.
They've also mastered the technique of gaslighting and filibustering their way through television interviews without ever addressing very specific questions from their interviewees.
In the last few weeks, you’ve had Steve Mnuchin, Larry Kudlow, Mike Pompeo, and everyone in between filibuster even basic questions when asked directly to respond to something Donald Trump has said or done. They simply refuse to answer and use these techniques to deflect from the truth about his presidency.
When asked if he thought the coronavirus was a "hoax" by Congressman Lieu, Pompeo refused to answer this direct question and instead called it a "gotcha question.".
The Sunday morning political shows are the only places where Trump officials are more vulnerable to having to answer for the Trump administration‘s actions, so it is incumbent on interviewers to be more forceful and demand real answers instead of spin.
Chris Wallace, Chuck Todd, George Stephanopoulos, Margaret Brennan, and Jake Tapper have to step up to the plate and when they’re being gaslighted they need to cut in and forcefully ask for an answer to the direct question.
Too much is at stake for anyone interviewing Trump or one of the White House insiders to give them a pass, like ABC News' David Muir did earlier this week when he just allowed Trump to blame the Obama administration for not developing a test kit for a virus that wasn't known until 3 years into Trump's term. (See above)
Just asking a question and then moving on after a lengthy nonsensical diatribe is not an interview of consequence. It''s video stenography.
They can at least have intelligent producers Johnny-on-the-spot to help them correct the record and call into question the facts Trump and his minions try to transmit to the American public in real-time. A chyron is fun but not near enough.
Interviewing the people at the top of the state and federal government comes with a huge responsibility. Is it too much for all of them to study all the facts about the subjects they want to discuss with the people they invite on their programs? When they find a lie, inconsistency, or a misstatement they need to be able to call it out and attempt to correct the record!
The American public demands this of you. Your position of trust requires it of you.
You're in a cherished position and thousands of journalists around this country working for every news network would kill to be in the position you are. So use that clout for good and to inform people. Serving as Stenographer to the President is not acceptable ever, but especially not now.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

Days like today ( Thursday , as I write this ) , I find myself rooting for the Murder Hornets , `` Where is thy jolly old sting ? ''
In our links today we have perfidy from the Department of Justice , from the White House , from Possum Hollar , and from Prznint Stupid hisself .
Sometimes I want to disappear , too !
His Vorpal Sword : It 's official !
USA now a Banana Republic .
Mike The Mad Biologist says three thousand COVID-19 Deaths-per-day is not normal .
Zandar Versus The Stupid shows us even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ er , GOP .
Does Anyone Know Where I Left My Coffee comes to defend Lincoln from Prznint Stupid .
Bonus Track : Open Culture presents Kraftwerk , the early performances , and as they note , `` we have their music to thank for some of the most interesting directions post-punk and New Wave bands would take . ''
Fact check : TRUE !
Round-up by Tengrain who blogs at Mock , Paper , Scissors .
You can follow Tengrain on the Twitters , too .
Send tips , requests , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For MBRU in the subject line ) .

Days like today (Thursday, as I write this), I find myself rooting for the Murder Hornets, "Where is thy jolly old sting?" In our links today we have perfidy from the Department of Justice, from the White House, from Possum Hollar, and from Prznint Stupid hisself. Sometimes I want to disappear, too!
His Vorpal Sword: It's official! USA now a Banana Republic.
Mike The Mad Biologist says three thousand COVID-19 Deaths-per-day is not normal.
Zandar Versus The Stupid shows us even more craven lies from the GIP, er, GOP.
Does Anyone Know Where I Left My Coffee comes to defend Lincoln from Prznint Stupid.
Bonus Track: Open Culture presents Kraftwerk, the early performances, and as they note, "we have their music to thank for some of the most interesting directions post-punk and New Wave bands would take." Fact check: TRUE!
Round-up by Tengrain who blogs at Mock, Paper, Scissors. You can follow Tengrain on the Twitters, too. Send tips, requests, and suggestions to mbru@crooksandliars.com (with For MBRU in the subject line).


'Mourning In America'

I suppose this one was inevitable , a take on the Ronald Reagan ads that were so effective in the @ @ @ @ @ were hopeful this one is just filled with endless despair .
The Lincoln Project , @ @ @ @ @ aim is to derail the president ’ s reelection campaign , has unleashed a devastating @ @ @ @ @ be the mirror image of former President Ronald Reagan ’ s famous “ Morning in @ @ @ @ @ ad , which is titled “ Mourning in America , ” shreds Trump for his @ @ @ @ @ and its economic fallout .
“ Today , more than 60,000 Americans have died from @ @ @ @ @ ignored , ” the ad begins .
“ With the economy in shambles , more @ @ @ @ @ out of work — the worst economy in decades .
”

I suppose this one was inevitable, a take on the Ronald Reagan ads that were so effective in the 1980s. But where those were hopeful this one is just filled with endless despair.
Source: Raw Story
The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump conservative group whose aim is to derail the president’s reelection campaign, has unleashed a devastating new ad that aims to be the mirror image of former President Ronald Reagan’s famous “Morning in America” ads.
The ad, which is titled “Mourning in America,” shreds Trump for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.
“Today, more than 60,000 Americans have died from the deadly virus Donald Trump ignored,” the ad begins. “With the economy in shambles, more than 26 million Americans are out of work — the worst economy in decades.”


crooksandliars--2020-05-04--Don Lemon's Withering List Of Reasons Why President Obama Triggers Trump

He was slamming Donald Trump 's criminally negligent response to the pandemic laying our nation low , and noting that as a means of distraction , Trump turned to one of his favorite crutches : the conspiracy theory .
LEMON : One of the most transparent and ludicrous us attempts at distraction we have seen , from a president who has a million of them : retweeting an utterly absurd claim by a conspiracy theorist that the former president , Barack Obama was behind the Russia `` hoax. ''
...
It 's a disturbed fantasy .
Why Trump would want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond me , but here we are .
It 's worth it to him to bring up Russia 's role in 2016 just to attempt to sully the name of President Obama ?
Apparently so .
It is the most perverse emotional tic , and Lemon is not about to let it slide .
Lemon played former President George W. Bush 's moving and hopeful video addressing the nation in the midst of COVID-19 .
Lemon followed that up with President Barack Obama 's video also meant to calm and comfort our citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , `` Boy , oh , boy , that 's leadership .
That 's compassion .
It 's too bad that president Trump ca n't show either . ''
That 's when Lemon could only wonder aloud : LEMON : By the way , what is it about President Obama that really gets under your skin ?
Is it because he 's smarter than you ?
Better educated ?
Made it on his own , did n't need Daddy 's help ?
Wife is more accomplished , better-looking ?
I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it about him ?
That he 's a Black man that 's accomplished ?
Became president ?
That he punked you on the whole birth certificate thing ?
What is it about him ?
Just wondering .
Those are probably all rhetorical in that we all know the answer , and so does Lemon .
But it 's way more fun to hear them put forth in the form of questions and imagining Trump catching it while he 's hate-watching CNN , with his tiny finger on the Twitter button .

Don Lemon was feeling feisty last night.
He was slamming Donald Trump's criminally negligent response to the pandemic laying our nation low, and noting that as a means of distraction, Trump turned to one of his favorite crutches: the conspiracy theory.
LEMON: One of the most transparent and ludicrous us attempts at distraction we have seen, from a president who has a million of them: retweeting an utterly absurd claim by a conspiracy theorist that the former president, Barack Obama was behind the Russia "hoax."... It's a disturbed fantasy.
Why Trump would want to remind us of his impeachment is beyond me, but here we are. It's worth it to him to bring up Russia's role in 2016 just to attempt to sully the name of President Obama? Apparently so. It is the most perverse emotional tic, and Lemon is not about to let it slide.
Lemon played former President George W. Bush's moving and hopeful video addressing the nation in the midst of COVID-19. Lemon followed that up with President Barack Obama's video also meant to calm and comfort our citizens during the pandemic. Wistfully, Lemon said, "Boy, oh, boy, that's leadership. That's compassion. It's too bad that president Trump can't show either."
That's when Lemon could only wonder aloud:
LEMON: By the way, what is it about President Obama that really gets under your skin? Is it because he's smarter than you? Better educated? Made it on his own, didn't need Daddy's help? Wife is more accomplished, better-looking? I don't know, what is it? What is it about him? That he's a Black man that's accomplished? Became president? That he punked you on the whole birth certificate thing? What is it about him? Just wondering.
Those are probably all rhetorical in that we all know the answer, and so does Lemon. But it's way more fun to hear them put forth in the form of questions and imagining Trump catching it while he's hate-watching CNN, with his tiny finger on the Twitter button.


crooksandliars--2020-03-13--Mayor Pete Takes Over The Entire Jimmy Kimmel Show

Pete Buttigieg was the surprise guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live !
Thursday night .
Another surprise ?
No studio audience .
Instead , Kimmel staffers and Mayor Pete 's husband Chasten sat six feet apart in the studio auditorium .
`` Due to public health concerns over the coronavirus — we have canceled the studio audience tonight .
But a few kind Kimmel staffers and some friends , my husband Chasten are here instead — we ’ re gon na have a great time .
Everyone is spread apart at the CDC-recommended distance , '' he said during his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our plan .
We just decided this a few hours ago .
And it ’ s disappointing because as you all know , I love to crowd surf .
It ’ s kinda my thing . ''
Pete was undeterred : `` ... when you do n't have a real audience — you have to fake one , just like Trump 's inauguration . ''
PETE BUTTIGIEG : I know this is a time of great anxiety for our country .
But believe me when I say — that the resolve of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep , and America will always be America .
In fact , here is living proof of that — from last night ’ s Masked Singer [ clip of Sarah Palin singing 'Baby 's Got Back ' in a fur suit ] That ’ s going to be me in three months , isn ’ t it ?
... A lot of folks are wondering how I ended up getting booked to host this show — and all I can say is that Iowa Caucus app really screwed everything up .
Star Trek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there !

Pete Buttigieg was the surprise guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night. Another surprise? No studio audience. Instead, Kimmel staffers and Mayor Pete's husband Chasten sat six feet apart in the studio auditorium.
"Due to public health concerns over the coronavirus — we have canceled the studio audience tonight. But a few kind Kimmel staffers and some friends, my husband Chasten are here instead — we’re gonna have a great time. Everyone is spread apart at the CDC-recommended distance," he said during his opening monologue. "This was not our plan. We just decided this a few hours ago. And it’s disappointing because as you all know, I love to crowd surf. It’s kinda my thing."
Pete was undeterred: "...when you don't have a real audience — you have to fake one, just like Trump's inauguration."
PETE BUTTIGIEG: I know this is a time of great anxiety for our country. But believe me when I say — that the resolve of our nation is strong. Our ideals run deep, and America will always be America. In fact, here is living proof of that — from last night’s Masked Singer [clip of Sarah Palin singing 'Baby's Got Back' in a fur suit] That’s going to be me in three months, isn’t it? ...A lot of folks are wondering how I ended up getting booked to host this show — and all I can say is that Iowa Caucus app really screwed everything up.
Introducing Sir Patrick Stewart, @PeteButtigieg says “He’s in charge of a fictional star fleet. Just like Mike Pence.” — Adam Wren (@adamwren) March 13, 2020
Star Trek Trivia with Patrick Stewart? We're there!


crooksandliars--2020-03-13--Jerry Falwell Jr.: COVID19 Might Be North Korea Bioweapon Against Trump

The evangelical leaders that support Trump have shown themselves to be the biggest frauds of all his supporters .
Jerry Falwell Jr. , joined Fox and Friends this morning to prove what a buffoon he is , once again .
He joined the regular Trump team of three sycophants to discuss the effects the coronavirus is having on college campuses .
Falwell said many people are overreacting and used the outbreak of the H1N1 virus as a benchmark .
`` There was not the same hype , '' he said .
And then he began to spin his conspiracies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a political reason for that , ” Falwell said .
He continued with his deep state virus plot , `` Impeachment didn ’ t work , and the Mueller report didn ’ t work , and Article 25 didn ’ t work , and so maybe now this is their next attempt to get Trump . ''
Then he told Doocy , Earhardt and Kilmeade about an encounter he had with the restaurant owner that comes straight out of Dr. Strangelove .
Falwell said the owner asked him , `` Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Christmas present for America back in December ? ''
`` Could it be that they got together with China and this is that present ?
” Falwell said .
“ I don ’ t know but there really is something strange going on.
” So we are to believe that Kim Jung-Un and President Xi unleashed a biological weapon to hurt their own people just to make Trump look weak ?
Maybe he should stick to the shenanigans he allegedly pulls off at Liberty University ?

The evangelical leaders that support Trump have shown themselves to be the biggest frauds of all his supporters.
Jerry Falwell Jr., joined Fox and Friends this morning to prove what a buffoon he is, once again.
He joined the regular Trump team of three sycophants to discuss the effects the coronavirus is having on college campuses.
Falwell said many people are overreacting and used the outbreak of the H1N1 virus as a benchmark.
"There was not the same hype," he said.
And then he began to spin his conspiracies.
“It makes you wonder if there’s a political reason for that,” Falwell said.
He continued with his deep state virus plot, "Impeachment didn’t work, and the Mueller report didn’t work, and Article 25 didn’t work, and so maybe now this is their next attempt to get Trump."
Then he told Doocy, Earhardt and Kilmeade about an encounter he had with the restaurant owner that comes straight out of Dr. Strangelove.
Falwell said the owner asked him, "Do you remember the North Korean president promised a Christmas present for America back in December?"
"Could it be that they got together with China and this is that present?” Falwell said.
“I don’t know but there really is something strange going on.”
It's called a pandemic, jackass.
So we are to believe that Kim Jung-Un and President Xi unleashed a biological weapon to hurt their own people just to make Trump look weak?
Yeah, that's what I call grade A propaganda.
Maybe he should stick to the shenanigans he allegedly pulls off at Liberty University?


crooksandliars--2020-03-13--Samantha Bee: Fight For The Rights Of The Gig Economy Worker

What do Samantha Bee , Bernie Sanders , and Joe Biden have in common ?
They 're all having their big shows without audiences .
On Wednesday night , Full Frontal was taped in front of a mostly empty studio ( except for staff ) because of COVID-19 precautions , but she was n't complaining .
At least not on her own behalf .
She was n't even complaining on behalf of the people who could n't get in to see her show , or the people who have actually contracted the virus and become ill. No , this segment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of the massive economic and societal slowdown on the growing segment of the population known as `` gig workers . ''
People in the gig economy either supplement their incomes , or make their entire incomes by acting as independent contractors for companies like Uber , Lyft , Doordash , Amazon , etc .
While it 's great that they get to make their own hours , they also have to make their own inventories and take on their own liabilities , buy their own health insurance , sometimes even fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The gig economy is so big that there are services for pet care , moving , cooking , lawn care , car maintenance , massage , and even a home cleaning and repair service called , `` Handy . ''
That 's right , `` Handy . ''
It 's not just a name .
It 's also a way to say `` Thank you ! ''
after getting a ride home from your Toronto improv class !
The downside to working for a company like Uber or Lyft comes down to two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hire official employees , you need to pay for things like health insurance , overtime , sick leave , and worker 's comp .
But if you hire independent contractors , all you need are excited workers , and the dark , dark soul of the bad guy from `` Newsies , '' Joseph Pulitzer .
And then the added expense of equipment .
Uber and Lyft expect drivers to own or rent their own cars , while Handy expects you to buy a whole f*ckin Home Depot !
Do n't even ASK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turk have to do , but suffice it to say , it 's horrendous , and certainly merits more than that $ 1.77 per hour they end up earning .
You read that right .
$ 1.77 per hour .
The people at Uber earn less than $ 10 per hour , including tips , and until recently , workers for Doordash and Instacart were n't even guaranteed the ability to keep their tips .
BEE : Gig economy workers and other contractors deserve the same wages and protections as any employee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoarding food , toilet paper , and supplies , maybe we can take a second to think about the f*ckin people delivering those things to us ?
After all , they 're the people who DO N'T judge us when we order one , SINGLE McFlurry .
And we need that .
Uber is , at least , allowing drivers with COVID-19 to take two full weeks off with pay .
The trick for the driver , of course , is to first find a place that will have an actual test to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way to pay for it , since they likely do n't have health insurance .

What do Samantha Bee, Bernie Sanders, and Joe Biden have in common? They're all having their big shows without audiences.
On Wednesday night, Full Frontal was taped in front of a mostly empty studio (except for staff) because of COVID-19 precautions, but she wasn't complaining. At least not on her own behalf. She wasn't even complaining on behalf of the people who couldn't get in to see her show, or the people who have actually contracted the virus and become ill. No, this segment was dedicated to making sure we understand the impact of the massive economic and societal slowdown on the growing segment of the population known as "gig workers."
People in the gig economy either supplement their incomes, or make their entire incomes by acting as independent contractors for companies like Uber, Lyft, Doordash, Amazon, etc. While it's great that they get to make their own hours, they also have to make their own inventories and take on their own liabilities, buy their own health insurance, sometimes even fight for their own tips.
BEE: The gig economy is so big that there are services for pet care, moving, cooking, lawn care, car maintenance, massage, and even a home cleaning and repair service called, "Handy." That's right, "Handy." It's not just a name. It's also a way to say "Thank you!" after getting a ride home from your Toronto improv class! The downside to working for a company like Uber or Lyft comes down to two words: Independent Contractor. When you hire official employees, you need to pay for things like health insurance, overtime, sick leave, and worker's comp. But if you hire independent contractors, all you need are excited workers, and the dark, dark soul of the bad guy from "Newsies," Joseph Pulitzer. And then the added expense of equipment. Uber and Lyft expect drivers to own or rent their own cars, while Handy expects you to buy a whole f*ckin Home Depot!
Don't even ASK what people who work for Amazon Mechanical Turk have to do, but suffice it to say, it's horrendous, and certainly merits more than that $1.77 per hour they end up earning. You read that right. $1.77 per hour. The people at Uber earn less than $10 per hour, including tips, and until recently, workers for Doordash and Instacart weren't even guaranteed the ability to keep their tips.
BEE: Gig economy workers and other contractors deserve the same wages and protections as any employee. In a time when we're all hoarding food, toilet paper, and supplies, maybe we can take a second to think about the f*ckin people delivering those things to us? After all, they're the people who DON'T judge us when we order one, SINGLE McFlurry. And we need that.
Uber is, at least, allowing drivers with COVID-19 to take two full weeks off with pay. The trick for the driver, of course, is to first find a place that will have an actual test to administer, and second, to find a way to pay for it, since they likely don't have health insurance.


crooksandliars--2020-03-15--Tucker Carlson Was At Mar-a-Lago With Infected Bolsonaro Aide

This may be why Tucker Carlson swam against the tide of Fox News hosts downplaying the dangers of the coronavirus pandemic .
Carlson was among several guests at Mar-a-Lago last weekend who shook hands with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in close proximity to his press secretary , who has tested positive for the disease .
Trump stood close by as Carlson greeted Bolsonaro .
Since that Saturday night encounter , several conservative lawmakers and the mayor of Miami , who was also present , have self-quarantined .
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez tested positive after attending the dinner for Bolsonaro .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ birthday party for former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle , who has been dating Donald Trump Jr. “ Tucker has followed all of the necessary protocols and measures in place and his responsible coverage throughout this crisis has reflected the need to take this seriously since January , before any other show on television started covering it in earnest , ” Fox News said in a statement .
Carlson ’ s comments about the gravity of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic and the need for “ people you trust , people you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem , ” have stood in stark contrast to the dismissal of its severity , the Trump cheerleading and the blame-the-Democrats propaganda seen almost everywhere else on Fox News .
This may be the explanation .

This may be why Tucker Carlson swam against the tide of Fox News hosts downplaying the dangers of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Daily Beast reported today:
Carlson was among several guests at Mar-a-Lago last weekend who shook hands with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in close proximity to his press secretary, who has tested positive for the disease. Trump stood close by as Carlson greeted Bolsonaro. Since that Saturday night encounter, several conservative lawmakers and the mayor of Miami, who was also present, have self-quarantined.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez tested positive after attending the dinner for Bolsonaro. Carlson was at Mar-a-Lago to attend a birthday party for former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle, who has been dating Donald Trump Jr.
“Tucker has followed all of the necessary protocols and measures in place and his responsible coverage throughout this crisis has reflected the need to take this seriously since January, before any other show on television started covering it in earnest,” Fox News said in a statement.


crooksandliars--2020-03-16--Fox Guest Praises Tom Hanks For His 'Public Service' After COVID-19 Disclosure

As MSNBC 's Joy Reid and media critic Eric Boehlert discussed Sunday morning , Trump 's propaganda network is finally being forced to deal with the reality of this pandemic following weeks of lying to their viewers .
We 're watching them slowly have to pivot as real world events have overtaken their lie that all of this is just a `` hoax '' by Democrats and the media intended to make Dear Leader look bad .
Here 's just one example of the `` pivot '' we 're going to see over on Trump TV , with Media Buzz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that Tom Hanks performed a `` public service '' by coming forward with his coronavirus diagnosis and forcing a dose of reality on the people that Fox has been helping to deceive .
No mention of course of the part Trump , his family , his administration , and Kurtz 's fellow Fox hosts have played in spreading those dangerous lies .
LIASSON : The people are going to decide in November what they think of the president 's leadership through this crisis .
He 's going to be judged like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis has been judged .
KURTZ : I think we all need to rise to the occasion and in many cases that 's not happening whether you 're on the political side or the media side .
As you both have said , there has been some good solid journalism .
A cultural note here .
It was actually in that same hour Wednesday when we found out the NBA was suspending its season , the president gave the speech and we learned that Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have contracted the coronavirus , and are in quarantine .
This is Mr. Rogers .
This is such a nice guy by all accounts .
I 've met him , seemed like a nice guy .
And is he now kind of , Buck ... there 's a picture of them .
Is he now kind of the face of the crisis , because most of the victims are n't very well known ?
SEXTON : Yes .
It brought it home for people in a way that nothing else really had quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things all in the same night .
The president announcing the travel ban from Europe , the Tom Hanks story breaking right within minutes it felt , at least that 's when I saw it and also then also NBA cancellation .
The NBA player , that happened , Tom Hanks all of a sudden .
When you see somebody who is a globally famous actor who comes down with this has to quarantine , it makes everybody realize that this can happen to anyone , which is important , because there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking I 'm young and healthy , or I 'm not near outbreak zone .
The truth is no one really knows where all the outbreak zones are .
So Tom Hanks has done a real public service here in the sense that coming public with his diagnosis makes everyone realize this is for real .

As MSNBC's Joy Reid and media critic Eric Boehlert discussed Sunday morning, Trump's propaganda network is finally being forced to deal with the reality of this pandemic following weeks of lying to their viewers. We're watching them slowly have to pivot as real world events have overtaken their lie that all of this is just a "hoax" by Democrats and the media intended to make Dear Leader look bad.
Here's just one example of the "pivot" we're going to see over on Trump TV, with Media Buzz host Howard Kurtz and his guests discussing the fact that Tom Hanks performed a "public service" by coming forward with his coronavirus diagnosis and forcing a dose of reality on the people that Fox has been helping to deceive. No mention of course of the part Trump, his family, his administration, and Kurtz's fellow Fox hosts have played in spreading those dangerous lies.
LIASSON: The people are going to decide in November what they think of the president's leadership through this crisis. He's going to be judged like every other president who has faced a crisis has been judged.
KURTZ: I think we all need to rise to the occasion and in many cases that's not happening whether you're on the political side or the media side. As you both have said, there has been some good solid journalism.
A cultural note here. It was actually in that same hour Wednesday when we found out the NBA was suspending its season, the president gave the speech and we learned that Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, he's filming a movie in Australia, have contracted the coronavirus, and are in quarantine.
This is Mr. Rogers. This is such a nice guy by all accounts. I've met him, seemed like a nice guy. And is he now kind of, Buck... there's a picture of them. Is he now kind of the face of the crisis, because most of the victims aren't very well known?
SEXTON: Yes. It brought it home for people in a way that nothing else really had quite yet. It was a couple of things all in the same night. The president announcing the travel ban from Europe, the Tom Hanks story breaking right within minutes it felt, at least that's when I saw it and also then also NBA cancellation.
The NBA player, that happened, Tom Hanks all of a sudden. When you see somebody who is a globally famous actor who comes down with this has to quarantine, it makes everybody realize that this can happen to anyone, which is important, because there are people that I think walk around still thinking I'm young and healthy, or I'm not near outbreak zone.
The truth is no one really knows where all the outbreak zones are. So Tom Hanks has done a real public service here in the sense that coming public with his diagnosis makes everyone realize this is for real.