crooksandliars--2020-04-16--Operation Scapegoat: Trump Looking To Cast Blame For New Deaths By Restarting Economy Too Soon

Donald Trump 's COVID-19 response has proven to be an unmitigated failure with fresh reporting rendering it ever worse by the day .
Trump and the Senate Republicans who voted to keep him in charge to lead America to slaughter are as desperate as ever to lay the blame for Trump 's debacle at someone else 's feet .
In rapid succession , they 've pointed the fingers at Democrats , impeachment , governors , and are presently trashing the World Health Organization ( WHO ) because , they say , it failed to contain and isolate the coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is particularly pissy because WHO did n't do his No .
1 job for him—protecting Americans .
Never mind the fact that WHO actually does n't have the authority or mandate to go into a country and take over a health response .
But even amid Republicans ' orchestrated bid to pin the blame elsewhere for his past failures , Trump ca n't wait to reopen America for business , even if it comes at the expense of more American lives .
So as Trump fixates on jumpstarting the economy again by May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working feverishly to get broad buy-in so Trump wo n't be stuck holding the body bag if coronavirus cases spike again , according to the Washington Post .
The question is n't really if or even when anymore , it 's moved to how .
“ He desperately wants to reopen as much as possible on May 1 , ” one former official briefed on the matter told the Post .
“ He ’ s been that way from the beginning , and he has not wavered .
He seems determined to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build in a `` shield '' of shared responsibility in case Trump ’ s plan goes horribly wrong , the Post writes that Trump 's advisers `` are trying to mobilize business executives , economists and other prominent figures to buy into the eventual White House plan , so that if it does not work , the blame can be shared broadly . ''
In other words , Trump 's aides want to make sure Trump has scapegoats at the ready .
Just to be clear , the main driver of Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the financial pain that so many Americans are experiencing right now .
Trump 's chief goal and obsession is goosing his own reelection bid .
That 's why lives are really no object to him .
Trump has chosen May 1 as his target date because he 's antsy , not because any public health officials have told him that 's a reasonable timeframe to begin easing social distancing restrictions .
And if you 're wondering what the rush is , many presidential strategists say that , generally speaking , voters ' perceptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are typically baked in by the end of the second quarter .
If that holds true this cycle ( and who really knows ? )
, Trump would need the economy to start humming again in the next couple months since it 's really the only reelection rationale he has provided to voters who are n't outright racists and white supremacists .
Anyway , the West Wing is trying to recruit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to provide a `` national return to work plan , '' aka Operation Scapegoat .
So expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House and conservative groups like FreedomWorks and the Heritage Foundation to get America back to work , or to `` Save Our Country , '' as they have nicknamed the White House working group .
Sounds just as foolproof as all Trump ’ s schemes .

Donald Trump's COVID-19 response has proven to be an unmitigated failure with fresh reporting rendering it ever worse by the day. Trump and the Senate Republicans who voted to keep him in charge to lead America to slaughter are as desperate as ever to lay the blame for Trump's debacle at someone else's feet. In rapid succession, they've pointed the fingers at Democrats, impeachment, governors, and are presently trashing the World Health Organization (WHO) because, they say, it failed to contain and isolate the coronavirus in China. In other words, Trump is particularly pissy because WHO didn't do his No. 1 job for him—protecting Americans. Never mind the fact that WHO actually doesn't have the authority or mandate to go into a country and take over a health response.
But even amid Republicans' orchestrated bid to pin the blame elsewhere for his past failures, Trump can't wait to reopen America for business, even if it comes at the expense of more American lives. So as Trump fixates on jumpstarting the economy again by May 1, his team of ghouls is working feverishly to get broad buy-in so Trump won't be stuck holding the body bag if coronavirus cases spike again, according to the Washington Post.
The question isn't really if or even when anymore, it's moved to how. “He desperately wants to reopen as much as possible on May 1,” one former official briefed on the matter told the Post. “He’s been that way from the beginning, and he has not wavered. He seems determined to do it."
So in order to build in a "shield" of shared responsibility in case Trump’s plan goes horribly wrong, the Post writes that Trump's advisers "are trying to mobilize business executives, economists and other prominent figures to buy into the eventual White House plan, so that if it does not work, the blame can be shared broadly." In other words, Trump's aides want to make sure Trump has scapegoats at the ready.
Just to be clear, the main driver of Trump's urgency to reopen isn't about easing the financial pain that so many Americans are experiencing right now. Trump's chief goal and obsession is goosing his own reelection bid. That's why lives are really no object to him. Trump has chosen May 1 as his target date because he's antsy, not because any public health officials have told him that's a reasonable timeframe to begin easing social distancing restrictions.
And if you're wondering what the rush is, many presidential strategists say that, generally speaking, voters' perceptions of the economy for the upcoming election are typically baked in by the end of the second quarter. If that holds true this cycle (and who really knows?), Trump would need the economy to start humming again in the next couple months since it's really the only reelection rationale he has provided to voters who aren't outright racists and white supremacists.
Anyway, the West Wing is trying to recruit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to provide a "national return to work plan," aka Operation Scapegoat. So expect to a see a huge push from the White House and conservative groups like FreedomWorks and the Heritage Foundation to get America back to work, or to "Save Our Country," as they have nicknamed the White House working group. Sounds just as foolproof as all Trump’s schemes.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-04-16--Here's Good News: Dem Senate Candidates Competitive In Some Key Races

Not saying we should rest on our laurels ( because candidates still need money and volunteers ) , but it 's a definite bright spot for Democrats .
We need three ( four if we do n't have a Democratic VP ) to stop Republican control of the Senate : Via The Hill , Mark Kelly is expanding his lead in Arizona : Retired astronaut Mark Kelly leads Sen. Martha McSally ( R ) by 9 points in Arizona , one of the states at the heart of the battle for control of the Senate in 2020 .
A new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Phoenix-based nonpartisan polling firm OH Predictive Insights shows Kelly leading McSally by a 51 percent to 42 percent margin .
The company 's last survey found Kelly leading by a 7-point margin , 49 percent to 42 percent .
Meanwhile , even though he 's considered a long shot , South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison is raising more money than Sen. Lindsey Graham , setting a new record .
And in Kansas , Democrat Barbara Bollier has a 2-point lead over crazy scary voter suppressor Kurt Kobach .
In Maine , Susan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record low -- 37 % .
That 's good news for Democrat Sara Gideon .
And Amy McGrath , who 's raised more money than Mitch McConnell in 2020 's first quarter , is in a virtual tie with Moscow Mitch .
Just because your state race is n't listed here does n't mean it 's not competitive .
It only means we do n't have current polls or fundraising totals yet .
You know what to do .
If you can afford it , send them $ 5 .
It 's an @ @ @ @ @

Not saying we should rest on our laurels (because candidates still need money and volunteers), but it's a definite bright spot for Democrats. We need three (four if we don't have a Democratic VP) to stop Republican control of the Senate:
Via The Hill, Mark Kelly is expanding his lead in Arizona:
Retired astronaut Mark Kelly leads Sen. Martha McSally (R) by 9 points in Arizona, one of the states at the heart of the battle for control of the Senate in 2020. A new Arizona Public Opinion Pulse survey conducted by the Phoenix-based nonpartisan polling firm OH Predictive Insights shows Kelly leading McSally by a 51 percent to 42 percent margin. The company's last survey found Kelly leading by a 7-point margin, 49 percent to 42 percent.
Meanwhile, even though he's considered a long shot, South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison is raising more money than Sen. Lindsey Graham, setting a new record.
And in Kansas, Democrat Barbara Bollier has a 2-point lead over crazy scary voter suppressor Kurt Kobach.
In Maine, Susan Collins' approval rating is at a record low -- 37%. That's good news for Democrat Sara Gideon.
And Amy McGrath, who's raised more money than Mitch McConnell in 2020's first quarter, is in a virtual tie with Moscow Mitch.
Just because your state race isn't listed here doesn't mean it's not competitive. It only means we don't have current polls or fundraising totals yet.
You know what to do. If you can afford it, send them $5. It's an investment in our future.


crooksandliars--2020-04-16--The Most Dangerous Man In America Right Now Isn't Trump. It's Mitch McConnell

If you 've got an hour or so to spare , this deep dive into the life and times of Sen. “ Moscow Mitch ” McConnell from investigative reporter Jane Mayer is worth all of it .
It took me an hour , anyway , because I had to keep surfacing for clean air .
Because the portrait that emerges is of a power-hungry , principle-free sociopath without a single redeeming quality .
Just what you always imagined of McConnell , and so much worse .
To distill it all down is near-on impossible ; the entire story is most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's called Moscow Mitch is probably the most instructive part of the story for the moment we 're in now .
It lays out the lengths to which he 'll sacrifice anything—including the integrity of a presidential election—to grasp more personal power .
It illustrates just how incredibly dangerous he is in a crisis , because if he 'll sell out our democracy , he 'll happily sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives .
After all , he 's as responsible as anyone for giving the White House to Trump .
Mayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's innermost circle '' told her that `` behind Trump 's back McConnell has called the President 'nuts , ' and made clear that he considers himself smarter than Trump , and that he 'ca n't stand him . '
'' But McConnell is more responsible than anyone for helping him achieve the White House and enabling him there .
Remember what we 've learned about the summer and fall of 2016 , and who knew what when about Russia 's interference in the election on Trump 's behalf ?
Throughout the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'four or five weeks , ' a former White House national-security official '' told Mayer , `` McConnell deflected ( then-CIA Director John ) Brennan 's requests to brief him .
Susan Rice , Obama 's former national security adviser , said , 'It 's just crazy . '
McConnell had told Brennan that 'he would n't be available until Labor Day . '
'' When he finally did come back for that briefing , `` McConnell expressed skepticism about the intelligence .
He later warned officials 'not to get involved ' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touching something very dangerous , ' '' the former national security official told Mayer .
`` If Obama spoke out publicly about Russia , McConnell threatened , he would label it a partisan political move , knowing that Obama was determined to avoid that . ''
As the intelligence community became increasingly alarmed at the brazen interference from Russia , President Obama made a direct appeal for a joint statement from the bipartisan leadership of the House and the Senate .
Mayer writes that `` Denis McDonough , Obama 's former chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reid agreed to work together , but 'McConnell said nothing , ' '' according to her source , the former intelligence official .
`` It took weeks to get the letter . ''
Mayer obtained a log of private correspondence between the staff of the leaders showing that McConnell edited the draft of the letter and rejected any other leaders proposals .
`` He was dead set against designating U.S. voting systems as 'critical infrastructure ' or urging election officials to seek assistance from the Department of Homeland Security , '' Mayer concludes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be mentioned , just saying `` malefactors '' were attempting to `` disrupt the administration of our elections , '' with no elaboration .
Harry Reid told Mayer Reid : `` The letter was nothing like what Obama wanted .
It was very , very weak . ''
Susan Rice , Obama 's national security adviser , says : `` I do n't know for sure why he did it .
[ … ] But my guess , particularly with the benefit of hindsight , is that he thought [ identifying Russia ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deflected .
It 's disgraceful . ''
It 's beyond disgraceful—it 's nigh on treasonous in retrospect .
If McConnell was so anxious to allow a foreign adversary steal a presidential election , he 's more than willing to allow hundreds of thousands of Americans to die in a pandemic if he thinks it can consolidate his power .
Kentucky Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth , who has known McConnell well for 50 years , tells Mayer : `` He was just driven to be powerful .
[ … ] He never had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be something .
He does n't want to do anything . ''
He will sell our very lives for his base—the millionaires and billionaires—because that 's how he got power and that 's how he 's keeping it .
We have to stop him .

If you've got an hour or so to spare, this deep dive into the life and times of Sen. “Moscow Mitch” McConnell from investigative reporter Jane Mayer is worth all of it. It took me an hour, anyway, because I had to keep surfacing for clean air. Because the portrait that emerges is of a power-hungry, principle-free sociopath without a single redeeming quality. Just what you always imagined of McConnell, and so much worse. To distill it all down is near-on impossible; the entire story is most definitely a must-read. But revisiting why he's called Moscow Mitch is probably the most instructive part of the story for the moment we're in now. It lays out the lengths to which he'll sacrifice anything—including the integrity of a presidential election—to grasp more personal power. It illustrates just how incredibly dangerous he is in a crisis, because if he'll sell out our democracy, he'll happily sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives.
After all, he's as responsible as anyone for giving the White House to Trump. Mayer reports that "several members of McConnell's innermost circle" told her that "behind Trump's back McConnell has called the President 'nuts,' and made clear that he considers himself smarter than Trump, and that he 'can't stand him.'" But McConnell is more responsible than anyone for helping him achieve the White House and enabling him there. Remember what we've learned about the summer and fall of 2016, and who knew what when about Russia's interference in the election on Trump's behalf? Throughout the late summer of that year, "for 'four or five weeks,' a former White House national-security official" told Mayer, "McConnell deflected (then-CIA Director John) Brennan's requests to brief him. Susan Rice, Obama's former national security adviser, said, 'It's just crazy.' McConnell had told Brennan that 'he wouldn't be available until Labor Day.'"
When he finally did come back for that briefing, "McConnell expressed skepticism about the intelligence. He later warned officials 'not to get involved' in elections, telling them that 'they were touching something very dangerous,'" the former national security official told Mayer. "If Obama spoke out publicly about Russia, McConnell threatened, he would label it a partisan political move, knowing that Obama was determined to avoid that." As the intelligence community became increasingly alarmed at the brazen interference from Russia, President Obama made a direct appeal for a joint statement from the bipartisan leadership of the House and the Senate. Mayer writes that "Denis McDonough, Obama's former chief of staff, Ryan, Pelosi, and Reid agreed to work together, but 'McConnell said nothing,'" according to her source, the former intelligence official. "It took weeks to get the letter."
Mayer obtained a log of private correspondence between the staff of the leaders showing that McConnell edited the draft of the letter and rejected any other leaders proposals. "He was dead set against designating U.S. voting systems as 'critical infrastructure' or urging election officials to seek assistance from the Department of Homeland Security," Mayer concludes. He refused to allow Russia to be mentioned, just saying "malefactors" were attempting to "disrupt the administration of our elections," with no elaboration. Harry Reid told Mayer Reid: "The letter was nothing like what Obama wanted. It was very, very weak." Susan Rice, Obama's national security adviser, says: "I don't know for sure why he did it. […] But my guess, particularly with the benefit of hindsight, is that he thought [identifying Russia] would be detrimental to Trump—so he delayed and deflected. It's disgraceful."
It's beyond disgraceful—it's nigh on treasonous in retrospect. If McConnell was so anxious to allow a foreign adversary steal a presidential election, he's more than willing to allow hundreds of thousands of Americans to die in a pandemic if he thinks it can consolidate his power. Kentucky Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth, who has known McConnell well for 50 years, tells Mayer: "He was just driven to be powerful. […] He never had any core principles. He just wants to be something. He doesn't want to do anything."
He will sell our very lives for his base—the millionaires and billionaires—because that's how he got power and that's how he's keeping it. We have to stop him.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Friday News Dump: Trump Wants To Pry Everything Open, And Other News

He 's a real moron , and surrounded by people who tell him how great he is : The media ’ s framing for the most part is always Trump ’ s point of view .
His words , his thousands of lies , just get repeated over and over , by WH correspondents who think they ’ re informing us , but actually they ’ re mostly a bunch of cowed and super-effective propoganda platforms .
.
@ SpeakerPelosi and House Intell Chair @ RepAdamSchiff are right : Trump ’ s “ plan ” is all hat and no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the key elements of testing and contact tracing .
To the extent it has any content at all , it ’ s a recipe for more disease and death .
https : //t.co/p1FOxB2ytj SCOOP : As the Trump administration discouraged mask use for the public , the NSC raced to secure a stash of masks for White House personnel .
New story about a deal with Taiwan to secure 3,600 for senior officials , by @ CarolLeonnig @ lizzadwoskin & me https : //t.co/sZE2jp2c42 So hey it looks like red/rural states are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support program than hard hit blue states .
Who could have predicted ?
It 's good to be lucky .
https : //t.co/zhiKnRXyv1 ( chart from Bloomberg ) pic.twitter.com/KGN4IMe0ZG Dr. Christine Moutier says that there is a wave of grief and loss attached to this experience with # CoronavirusPandemic and that it is okay to feel it even if you think others have experienced more .
CNNTownHall DEPT .
OF I REALLY NEED TO STOP FEELING BAD FOR JUST FIVE MINUTES Have a nice weekend !
Wear your masks and wash your hands @

He's a real moron, and surrounded by people who tell him how great he is:
FUN FACT: Trump was briefed on COVID-19 as early as NOVEMBER 2019. https://t.co/ClLP2cwujV — Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) April 17, 2020
The media’s framing for the most part is always Trump’s point of view. His words, his thousands of lies, just get repeated over and over, by WH correspondents who think they’re informing us, but actually they’re mostly a bunch of cowed and super-effective propoganda platforms. — Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) April 16, 2020
NEW to @NBCNews: Family of New York woman blames hydroxychloroquine combo for fatal heart attack https://t.co/TDIQrAN2lP — Heidi Przybyla (@HeidiNBC) April 16, 2020
The most disturbing story I’ve read in a while, which is saying something given the times. There is no plan for testing. Nothing, nada, zilch. https://t.co/sfCkDaXKSl — Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) April 17, 2020
FEMA gave a $55,000,000 no-bid contract to a bankrupt company with no employees for N95 masks – which they don't make or have – at 7x the cost others charge.https://t.co/59IXV4c1y3 — Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) April 16, 2020
.@SpeakerPelosi and House Intell Chair @RepAdamSchiff are right: Trump’s “plan” is all hat and no cattle. It’s silent on the key elements of testing and contact tracing. To the extent it has any content at all, it’s a recipe for more disease and death. https://t.co/p1FOxB2ytj — Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) April 17, 2020
SCOOP: As the Trump administration discouraged mask use for the public, the NSC raced to secure a stash of masks for White House personnel. New story about a deal with Taiwan to secure 3,600 for senior officials, by @CarolLeonnig @lizzadwoskin & me https://t.co/sZE2jp2c42 — John Hudson (@John_Hudson) April 15, 2020
So hey it looks like red/rural states are doing a lot better under the PPP salary support program than hard hit blue states. Who could have predicted? It's good to be lucky. https://t.co/zhiKnRXyv1 (chart from Bloomberg) pic.twitter.com/KGN4IMe0ZG — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 17, 2020
Dr. Phil appears on Laura Ingraham and says we don’t shut the country down for automobile deaths, cigarette related deaths, and swimming pool deaths pic.twitter.com/q8KCgLLClY — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) April 17, 2020
Dr. Christine Moutier says that there is a wave of grief and loss attached to this experience with #CoronavirusPandemic and that it is okay to feel it even if you think others have experienced more.
CNNTownHall — Victoria Brownworth ☣ #StayHome (@VABVOX) April 17, 2020
Reported U.S. coronavirus deaths reached a record-high 4,591 in 24 hours ending Thursday night, an analysis of data from Johns Hopkins shows https://t.co/xJVqFGz1yb — The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 17, 2020
I've said this a ton before but remember *the second* a Democrat is elected president the entire GOP will oppose large Federal rescue and recovery spending, start demagoguing the deficit, and calling for austerity. — Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 16, 2020
World Health Organization, Jan. 30: “Coronavirus spread now a global emergency”
Trump, Feb. 26: “When you have 15 people — and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero — that’s a pretty good job we’ve done.” https://t.co/LPBOeHv84h — Jesse Lee (@JesseCharlesLee) April 16, 2020
For you voter-fraud conspiracy dimwits: A simple detail from WA and OR elections prove that mail-in voting isn't a partisan fraud conspiracy - Upworthy https://t.co/BXWx0t0SdQ — Hunter Hoss (@hunterehoss) April 17, 2020
Renowned cinematographer Allen Daviau, who helped shape some of Hollywood’s most iconic moments, has died from coronavirus at the age of 77.https://t.co/0IvoxdiWTf — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) April 17, 2020
Democrat Maxine Waters Claims Trump Is 'Slow Walking America to Dictatorship' https://t.co/W4BTUwKVAY — jespanol (@nypapajoe) April 16, 2020
DEPT. OF I REALLY NEED TO STOP FEELING BAD FOR JUST FIVE MINUTES
🎶🎶
A little quarantine tune! 🎶🎶
From makeshift.macaroni on TikTok (via @ upworthy on Insta). pic.twitter.com/b2dV9rQmeJ — pleadusreedussleeveless (@SuzieSaysPlease) April 16, 2020
A high school senior asked Obama to give a commencement speech for the entire Class of 2020.https://t.co/bCaMzkJwCa pic.twitter.com/ncNXxnFScE — Upworthy (@Upworthy) April 15, 2020
School districts are transforming buses into wifi hotspots for students without internet.https://t.co/OsBQDZ0tJT pic.twitter.com/J8swaqWjP7 — Upworthy (@Upworthy) April 15, 2020
Have a nice weekend! Wear your masks and wash your hands!


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--WI Republican Sh*tshow Elections Cause Uptick In COVID-19 Cases

As the gentle reader is aware , Wisconsin Republicans were hoping to suppress the vote in the spring elections by forcing it to be held last Tuesday , during a pandemic , in spite of the advice of health experts and common sense .
They were hoping to keep as many people from voting as they could so that they could keep the Scott Walker-appointed Dan Kelly on the Wisconsin Supreme Court .
And what a shitshow it was !
In Milwaukee , instead of the customary 180+ polling stations , there were only five .
There were so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties ran out .
Hundreds of thousands of people never received them because county clerks were overwhelmed .
To make matters worse , the post office managed to not deliver hundreds of ballots .
The people denied their ballots ended up risking their health and lives as well as the health and lives of their family to exercise their right to vote .
People stood in line for up to two and a half hours , sometimes in pouring rain or hail , for the opportunity to vote .
Pretty much , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Despite the Republicans ' best efforts to suppress the vote , it was a massive turnout by Democrats - much higher than for the past few years .
Their cherished Kelly lost to the challenger , Jill Karofsky .
In a delicious irony , the Republicans immediately started mewling that the election had been rigged .
No , really .
Unfortunately , we are now starting to see the other results of that poor decision to force the elections .
While Wisconsin was starting to see a flattening of the curve and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be better than expected , there is a new uptick in confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
Here are the state numbers on April 14 , one week after the election : And here are the numbers from the very next day : As the gentle reader can see , there was a jump of almost 170 confirmed cases .
While that is low compared to hard hit areas like New York , it is significantly higher than the average daily increase in new cases in Wisconsin as the curve was starting to plateau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not mean a trend , but it apparently was enough to cause Governor Evers to extend the `` safer at home '' order for another month , until May 26 .
Of course , the Republicans are in such denial that they refuse to see the cause and effect of their piss-poor decision making .
They , like so many others around the country , are pushing to lift all the restrictions because of MONEY !
!
The Republicans still ca n't fathom that dead people do n't work and do n't @ @ @ @ @ @

As the gentle reader is aware, Wisconsin Republicans were hoping to suppress the vote in the spring elections by forcing it to be held last Tuesday, during a pandemic, in spite of the advice of health experts and common sense. They were hoping to keep as many people from voting as they could so that they could keep the Scott Walker-appointed Dan Kelly on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
And what a shitshow it was!
In Milwaukee, instead of the customary 180+ polling stations, there were only five. There were so many demands for absentee/mail in ballots that many counties ran out. Hundreds of thousands of people never received them because county clerks were overwhelmed. To make matters worse, the post office managed to not deliver hundreds of ballots. The people denied their ballots ended up risking their health and lives as well as the health and lives of their family to exercise their right to vote. People stood in line for up to two and a half hours, sometimes in pouring rain or hail, for the opportunity to vote.
Pretty much, the sentiments of the voters were the same:
Despite the Republicans' best efforts to suppress the vote, it was a massive turnout by Democrats - much higher than for the past few years. Their cherished Kelly lost to the challenger, Jill Karofsky. In a delicious irony, the Republicans immediately started mewling that the election had been rigged. No, really.
Unfortunately, we are now starting to see the other results of that poor decision to force the elections. While Wisconsin was starting to see a flattening of the curve and it looked like things were going to be better than expected, there is a new uptick in confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
Here are the state numbers on April 14, one week after the election:
Credit: Wisconsin Dept. of Human Services
And here are the numbers from the very next day:
Credit: Wisconsin Dept. of Human Services
As the gentle reader can see, there was a jump of almost 170 confirmed cases. While that is low compared to hard hit areas like New York, it is significantly higher than the average daily increase in new cases in Wisconsin as the curve was starting to plateau.
I'll admit that one day does not mean a trend, but it apparently was enough to cause Governor Evers to extend the "safer at home" order for another month, until May 26. Of course, the Republicans are in such denial that they refuse to see the cause and effect of their piss-poor decision making. They, like so many others around the country, are pushing to lift all the restrictions because of MONEY!! The Republicans still can't fathom that dead people don't work and don't help keep the economy going.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--A Member Of Life Tabernacle Church Dies Of COVID-19

You might remember Rev .
Tony Spell as the leader of a mega church that has vowed to remain open , even while COVID-19 has one of its worst outbreaks in his area .
The first of probably many other victims died on Wednesday .
A 78-year-old man who attended a Central church that has bucked state stay-at-home restrictions has died from the illness tied to the novel coronavirus .
The East Baton Rouge Parish coroner said Harold Orillion , a parish resident , died from the COVID-19 respiratory illness on Wednesday .
Three sources told The Advocate that Orillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss a link between the man and the church .
The Rev .
Tony Spell , the church 's pastor , did not return messages left Thursday about Orillion after the coroner released his death information following a public records request from The Advocate .
Spell later in the day confirmed to television stations WAFB and WVLA that Orillion was a parishioner in good standing .
Spell also disputed that Orillion 's death was due to the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is a lie , '' Spell told WAFB .

You might remember Rev. Tony Spell as the leader of a mega church that has vowed to remain open, even while COVID-19 has one of its worst outbreaks in his area. The first of probably many other victims died on Wednesday.
Source: The Advocate
A 78-year-old man who attended a Central church that has bucked state stay-at-home restrictions has died from the illness tied to the novel coronavirus.
The East Baton Rouge Parish coroner said Harold Orillion, a parish resident, died from the COVID-19 respiratory illness on Wednesday. Three sources told The Advocate that Orillion had ties to the Life Tabernacle Church. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss a link between the man and the church.
The Rev. Tony Spell, the church's pastor, did not return messages left Thursday about Orillion after the coroner released his death information following a public records request from The Advocate. Spell later in the day confirmed to television stations WAFB and WVLA that Orillion was a parishioner in good standing.
Spell also disputed that Orillion's death was due to the virus, despite the coroner's determination. "That is a lie," Spell told WAFB.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--How The Rich Reacted To Bubonic Plague Similar To Today's Pandemic

The coronavirus can infect anyone , but recent reporting has shown your socioeconomic status can play a big role , with a combination of job security , access to health care and mobility widening the gap in infection and mortality rates between rich and poor .
The wealthy work remotely and flee to resorts or pastoral second homes , while the urban poor are packed into small apartments and compelled to keep showing up to work .
As a medievalist , I ’ ve seen a version of this story before .
Following the 1348 Black Death in Italy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collection of 100 novellas titled , “ The Decameron.
” These stories , though fictional , give us a window into medieval life during the Black Death – and how some of the same fissures opened up between the rich and the poor .
Cultural historians today see “ The Decameron ” as an invaluable source of information on everyday life in 14th-century Italy .
Boccaccio was born in 1313 as the illegitimate son of a Florentine banker .
A product of the middle class , he wrote , in “ The Decameron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This was unusual for his time , as medieval literature tended to focus on the lives of the nobility .
“ The Decameron ” begins with a gripping , graphic description of the Black Death , which was so virulent that a person who contracted it would die within four to seven days .
Between 1347 and 1351 , it killed between 40 % and 50 % of Europe ’ s population .
Some of Boccaccio ’ s own family members died .
In this opening section , Boccaccio describes the rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoy quality wines and provisions , music and other entertainment .
The very wealthiest – whom Boccaccio describes as “ ruthless ” – deserted their neighborhoods altogether , retreating to comfortable estates in the countryside , “ as though the plague was meant to harry only those remaining within their city walls.
” Meanwhile , the middle class or poor , forced to stay at home , “ caught the plague by the thousand right there in their own neighborhood , day after day ” and swiftly passed away .
Servants dutifully attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often succumbing to the illness themselves .
Many , unable to leave Florence and convinced of their imminent death , decided to simply drink and party away their final days in nihilistic reveries , while in rural areas , laborers died “ like brute beasts rather than human beings ; night and day , with never a doctor to attend them.
” After the bleak description of the plague , Boccaccio shifts to the 100 stories .
They ’ re narrated by 10 nobles who have fled the pallor of death hanging over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mansions .
From there , they tell their tales .
One key issue in “ The Decameron ” is how wealth and advantage can impair people ’ s abilities to empathize with the hardships of others .
Boccaccio begins the forward with the proverb , “ It is inherently human to show pity to those who are afflicted.
” Yet in many of the tales he goes on to present characters who are sharply indifferent to the pain of others , blinded by their own drives and ambition .
In one fantasy story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every Friday and ritually slaughters the same woman who had rejected him when he was alive .
In another , a widow fends off a leering priest by tricking him into sleeping with her maid .
In a third , the narrator praises a character for his undying loyalty to his friend when , in fact , he has profoundly betrayed that friend over many years .
Humans , Boccaccio seems to be saying , can think of themselves as upstanding and moral – but unawares , they may show indifference to others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storytellers themselves : They make a pact to live virtuously in their well-appointed retreats .
Yet while they pamper themselves , they indulge in some stories that illustrate brutality , betrayal and exploitation .
Boccaccio wanted to challenge his readers , and make them think about their responsibilities to others .
“ The Decameron ” raises the questions : How do the rich relate to the poor during times of widespread suffering ?
What is the value of a life ?
In our own pandemic – with some of the most well-off now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite the ongoing spread of the disease – these issues are strikingly relevant .
[ Deep knowledge , daily .
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s newsletter . ]
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Kathryn McKinley, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The coronavirus can infect anyone, but recent reporting has shown your socioeconomic status can play a big role, with a combination of job security, access to health care and mobility widening the gap in infection and mortality rates between rich and poor.
The wealthy work remotely and flee to resorts or pastoral second homes, while the urban poor are packed into small apartments and compelled to keep showing up to work.
As a medievalist, I’ve seen a version of this story before.
Following the 1348 Black Death in Italy, the Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio wrote a collection of 100 novellas titled, “The Decameron.” These stories, though fictional, give us a window into medieval life during the Black Death – and how some of the same fissures opened up between the rich and the poor. Cultural historians today see “The Decameron” as an invaluable source of information on everyday life in 14th-century Italy.
Leemage via Getty Images
Boccaccio was born in 1313 as the illegitimate son of a Florentine banker. A product of the middle class, he wrote, in “The Decameron,” stories about merchants and servants. This was unusual for his time, as medieval literature tended to focus on the lives of the nobility.
“The Decameron” begins with a gripping, graphic description of the Black Death, which was so virulent that a person who contracted it would die within four to seven days. Between 1347 and 1351, it killed between 40% and 50% of Europe’s population. Some of Boccaccio’s own family members died.
In this opening section, Boccaccio describes the rich secluding themselves at home, where they enjoy quality wines and provisions, music and other entertainment. The very wealthiest – whom Boccaccio describes as “ruthless” – deserted their neighborhoods altogether, retreating to comfortable estates in the countryside, “as though the plague was meant to harry only those remaining within their city walls.”
Meanwhile, the middle class or poor, forced to stay at home, “caught the plague by the thousand right there in their own neighborhood, day after day” and swiftly passed away. Servants dutifully attended to the sick in wealthy households, often succumbing to the illness themselves. Many, unable to leave Florence and convinced of their imminent death, decided to simply drink and party away their final days in nihilistic reveries, while in rural areas, laborers died “like brute beasts rather than human beings; night and day, with never a doctor to attend them.”
Wikimedia Commons
After the bleak description of the plague, Boccaccio shifts to the 100 stories. They’re narrated by 10 nobles who have fled the pallor of death hanging over Florence to luxuriate in amply stocked country mansions. From there, they tell their tales.
One key issue in “The Decameron” is how wealth and advantage can impair people’s abilities to empathize with the hardships of others. Boccaccio begins the forward with the proverb, “It is inherently human to show pity to those who are afflicted.” Yet in many of the tales he goes on to present characters who are sharply indifferent to the pain of others, blinded by their own drives and ambition.
In one fantasy story, a dead man returns from hell every Friday and ritually slaughters the same woman who had rejected him when he was alive. In another, a widow fends off a leering priest by tricking him into sleeping with her maid. In a third, the narrator praises a character for his undying loyalty to his friend when, in fact, he has profoundly betrayed that friend over many years.
Humans, Boccaccio seems to be saying, can think of themselves as upstanding and moral – but unawares, they may show indifference to others. We see this in the 10 storytellers themselves: They make a pact to live virtuously in their well-appointed retreats. Yet while they pamper themselves, they indulge in some stories that illustrate brutality, betrayal and exploitation.
Boccaccio wanted to challenge his readers, and make them think about their responsibilities to others. “The Decameron” raises the questions: How do the rich relate to the poor during times of widespread suffering? What is the value of a life?
In our own pandemic – with some of the most well-off now clamoring for the economy to re-open, despite the ongoing spread of the disease – these issues are strikingly relevant.
[Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter.]
Kathryn McKinley, Professor of English, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Andrew Cuomo Finally Rips On Trump: 'Didn't You Read Your Own Projections?'

I ca n't be the only one who was wondering when Gov .
Cuomo 's patience with Trump was going to run out .
Now we know - it was today .
Early on in the question and answer section after his daily COVID-19 briefing , a reporter read him a tweet Trump sent , apparently during the briefing , and in response to it .
She read it to him , and asked for his response .
Gov .
Cuomo all but rolled up his sleeves and said , `` It 's go time . ''
He held back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead said — as if he were speaking to a very intellectually impaired and very nasty child , which is actually what Trump is — `` A'right .
Good .
Let 's respond to the president . ''
REPORTER : He tweeted 13 minutes ago , quote , `` Governor Cuomo should spend more time doing and less time complaining .
Get out there and get the job done .
Stop talking .
We built you thousands of hospital beds that you did n't need or use , gave large numbers of ventilators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you with testing that you should be doing . ''
It goes on a little bit more .
So wondering if you could respond to that and also the question about the overwhelmed ICU .
GOV .
CUOMO : Good .
Let 's respond to the president .
First of all , if he 's sitting home watching tv , maybe he should get up and go to work , right ?
Second , let 's keep emotion and politics out of this , and personal ego if we can .
Because this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's about our job .
And let 's try to focus on that .
I have said repeatedly that when we were fighting for the additional capacity for a hospital system that the president moved very quickly and I applauded him for it .
He brought the Army Corps of Engineers to build the Javits Center to capacity , 2,500 beds .
He 's wrong that it has n't been used .
About 800 people have gone through Javits .
To dismiss 800 people is disrespectful .
But we did n't use 2,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity .
[ ... ] And the number came from a projection from him .
Him .
See , he should read the reports he issues .
The White House Coronavirus Task Force had enormous -- projected in the millions of people .
The CDC , which is the president , projected in the millions of people .
So the projections were high .
They were the president 's projections .
So for him to say that anyone , `` Well , you relied on projections and the projections were wrong , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So were we foolish for relying on your projections , Mr. President ?
As if all that glorious calling out was n't enough , Gov .
Cuomo went on for another 5 minutes absolutely tap dancing on Trump 's head about his appalling ignorance , and his abhorrence of integrity .
GOV .
CUOMO : And then the only thing he 's doing , let 's be honest , well , its it 's up to the states to do reopen .
It was always up to the states .
What , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the Constitution granted me before you were born ?
It 's called the 10th amendment .
And I did n't need the president of the United States to tell me that I 'm governor .
And I did n't need the president of the United States to tell me the powers of a state .
People did that .
Alexander Hamilton , Thomas Jefferson , James Madison .
They are the ones who gave me the power .
And I do n't need the president of the United States to read the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have read the Constitution before he said he had the power to open the states .
Where he did the very graceful 180 , and people allowed him to do a graceful 180 .
Ouch .
Sounds like Gov .
Cuomo is fed up with the media , too .
Ca n't blame him .
They are giving Trump hours of free airtime so he can rant and misinform and abuse them with little or no pushback .
It 's more than embarrassing .
It 's dangerous .
He ends with more receipts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprepared — Trump 's own administration was for this pandemic to hit .
[ ... ] You know how many hospital beds we have in this nation ?
900,000 .
His projection says 2.4 million hospital beds , the whole hospital system is only 900 .
And his stockpile has 10,000 ventilators .
You were ready with your stockpile ?
Did n't you read your own CDC projection ?
Did n't you read your own coronavirus projection ?
GOV .
CUOMO : By the way , I needed a stockpile ?
Where was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ?
THAT was your stockpile ?
[ ... ] You know how many hospital beds we have in this nation ?
900,000 .
His projection says 2.4 million hospital beds , the whole hospital system is only 900 .
And his stockpile has 10,000 ventilators .
You were ready with your stockpile ?
Did n't you read your own CDC projection ?
Did n't you read your own coronavirus projection ?
So thank you again , Mr. President , for the Javits .
Thank you for the U.S. Navy ship `` Comfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just doing your job as president , it 's not really like , `` Thank you , '' like you wrote a check yourself , but thank you for that .
SERIOUSLY .
Trump is doing everything he can to sabotage the response of this nation to a global pandemic , and he wants Gov .
Cuomo to THANK him ?
For f*cking WHAT ?
Doing his JOB ?
The few times he does what he 's supposed to ?
Cuomo quipped , `` I do n't know what , am I supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flowers ? ''
If he did , I would love to see the note he 'd write with them .

I can't be the only one who was wondering when Gov. Cuomo's patience with Trump was going to run out. Now we know - it was today. Early on in the question and answer section after his daily COVID-19 briefing, a reporter read him a tweet Trump sent, apparently during the briefing, and in response to it. She read it to him, and asked for his response.
Gov. Cuomo all but rolled up his sleeves and said, "It's go time." He held back just a smidge, though, and instead said — as if he were speaking to a very intellectually impaired and very nasty child, which is actually what Trump is — "A'right. Good. Let's respond to the president."
REPORTER: He tweeted 13 minutes ago, quote, "Governor Cuomo should spend more time doing and less time complaining. Get out there and get the job done. Stop talking. We built you thousands of hospital beds that you didn't need or use, gave large numbers of ventilators that you should have had and helped you with testing that you should be doing." It goes on a little bit more. So wondering if you could respond to that and also the question about the overwhelmed ICU. GOV. CUOMO: Good. Let's respond to the president. First of all, if he's sitting home watching tv, maybe he should get up and go to work, right? Second, let's keep emotion and politics out of this, and personal ego if we can. Because this is about the people. And it's about our job. And let's try to focus on that. I have said repeatedly that when we were fighting for the additional capacity for a hospital system that the president moved very quickly and I applauded him for it. He brought the Army Corps of Engineers to build the Javits Center to capacity, 2,500 beds. He's wrong that it hasn't been used. About 800 people have gone through Javits. To dismiss 800 people is disrespectful. But we didn't use 2,500 beds because we didn't reach the capacity.
[...]
And the number came from a projection from him. Him. See, he should read the reports he issues. The White House Coronavirus Task Force had enormous -- projected in the millions of people. The CDC, which is the president, projected in the millions of people. So the projections were high. They were the president's projections. So for him to say that anyone, "Well, you relied on projections and the projections were wrong," they're YOUR projections, Mr. President. So were we foolish for relying on your projections, Mr. President?
As if all that glorious calling out wasn't enough, Gov. Cuomo went on for another 5 minutes absolutely tap dancing on Trump's head about his appalling ignorance, and his abhorrence of integrity.
GOV. CUOMO: And then the only thing he's doing, let's be honest, well, its it's up to the states to do reopen. It was always up to the states. What, are you are going to grant me what the Constitution granted me before you were born? It's called the 10th amendment. And I didn't need the president of the United States to tell me that I'm governor. And I didn't need the president of the United States to tell me the powers of a state. People did that. Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison. They are the ones who gave me the power. And I don't need the president of the United States to read the Constitution for me. Maybe HE should have read the Constitution before he said he had the power to open the states. Where he did the very graceful 180, and people allowed him to do a graceful 180.
Ouch. Sounds like Gov. Cuomo is fed up with the media, too. Can't blame him. They are giving Trump hours of free airtime so he can rant and misinform and abuse them with little or no pushback. It's more than embarrassing. It's dangerous.
He ends with more receipts about how unprepared — really, criminally unprepared — Trump's own administration was for this pandemic to hit.
[...]
You know how many hospital beds we have in this nation? 900,000. His projection says 2.4 million hospital beds, the whole hospital system is only 900. And his stockpile has 10,000 ventilators. You were ready with your stockpile? Didn't you read your own CDC projection? Didn't you read your own coronavirus projection? GOV. CUOMO: By the way, I needed a stockpile? Where was your stockpile? 10,000 ventilators for the nation? THAT was your stockpile?[...]You know how many hospital beds we have in this nation? 900,000. His projection says 2.4 million hospital beds, the whole hospital system is only 900. And his stockpile has 10,000 ventilators. You were ready with your stockpile? Didn't you read your own CDC projection? Didn't you read your own coronavirus projection? So thank you again, Mr. President, for the Javits. Thank you for the U.S. Navy ship "Comfort." Which by the way is just doing your job as president, it's not really like, "Thank you," like you wrote a check yourself, but thank you for that.
SERIOUSLY. Trump is doing everything he can to sabotage the response of this nation to a global pandemic, and he wants Gov. Cuomo to THANK him? For f*cking WHAT? Doing his JOB? The few times he does what he's supposed to?
Cuomo quipped, "I don't know what, am I supposed to do, send a bouquet of flowers?"
If he did, I would love to see the note he'd write with them.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Oklahoma Protests Invoke Nazi-ish State Motto To Get Message Across

There are n't a lot of Jews in Oklahoma , are there ?
It 's okay .
Do n't answer that .
It 's a rhetorical question .
How about this one ?
There are n't a lot of well-educated people in Oklahoma , are there ?
Gee , I wonder how many Donald Trump supporters there are in Oklahoma ?
What 's that you say ?
He won in every single county in that state ?
Well , what do you get when you combine a statistically insignificant Jewish population , an incredibly poorly educated state filled with people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J. Trump , and an unprecedented health and economic crisis ?
We get this : Lori Gracey said she and a few friends organized the Oklahoma protest under the slogan OKBack2Work on Facebook .
The friends wanted to let people eager to return to work know they aren ’ t alone .
And they wanted to demonstrate their urgency to Stitt and the legislature .
Besides the statewide restrictions , scattered cities have begun imposing $ 500 fines for violating stay-at-home orders .
“ We want to protect those who are vulnerable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay in their house , ” said Gracey , whose 85- and 93-year-old parents live with her .
“ Why are you forcing us who are healthy not to work ?
” She drove 90 minutes for the hour-long protest Wednesday .
Participants stayed in their cars to maintain social distancing , but circled the capitol with posters and messages written on their windows saying : “ Every job is essential ” or “ Stop the tyranny.
” Work conquers all ?
Hmmm .
Now , why does that sound familiar ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... OH YEAH : Now , to be fair , Oklahoma 's state motto is `` Labor omnia vincit , '' which is Latin for `` Work conquers all . ''
But it probably sounded better in the original German .

There aren't a lot of Jews in Oklahoma, are there?
It's okay. Don't answer that. It's a rhetorical question.
How about this one? There aren't a lot of well-educated people in Oklahoma, are there?
Gee, I wonder how many Donald Trump supporters there are in Oklahoma? What's that you say? He won in every single county in that state?
Well, what do you get when you combine a statistically insignificant Jewish population, an incredibly poorly educated state filled with people who watch Fox News and worship Donald J. Trump, and an unprecedented health and economic crisis?
We get this:
Lori Gracey said she and a few friends organized the Oklahoma protest under the slogan OKBack2Work on Facebook. The friends wanted to let people eager to return to work know they aren’t alone. And they wanted to demonstrate their urgency to Stitt and the legislature. Besides the statewide restrictions, scattered cities have begun imposing $500 fines for violating stay-at-home orders. “We want to protect those who are vulnerable. We get that. Let them choose to stay in their house,” said Gracey, whose 85- and 93-year-old parents live with her. “Why are you forcing us who are healthy not to work?” She drove 90 minutes for the hour-long protest Wednesday. Participants stayed in their cars to maintain social distancing, but circled the capitol with posters and messages written on their windows saying: “Every job is essential” or “Stop the tyranny.” Gracey’s sign quoted the state’s Latin motto: “Labor omnia vincit,” which means “work conquers all.”
Work conquers all? Hmmm. Now, why does that sound familiar? Wait - it's coming to me... OH YEAH:
Entrance to Auschwitz
Now, to be fair, Oklahoma's state motto is "Labor omnia vincit," which is Latin for "Work conquers all." But it probably sounded better in the original German.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Sen. Kennedy: We Gotta Let Americans Die From Coronavirus So We Can Reopen The Economy

“ Pro-life ” Sen. John Kennedy joined the Fox News culture of death when he told a sympathetic Tucker Carlson , “ We ’ ve got ta re-open and when we do , the coronavirus is going to spread faster.
” Although Carlson continues to broadcast from a remote location and practice social distancing on his own show , he acts as though he can hardly wait for others to get infected .
It ’ s no wonder he was so agreeable with Kennedy ’ s morbid prescription for the country .
Kennedy serves on Trump ’ s coronavirus economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he is demanding no taxpayer dollars be spent for coronavirus research on fetal tissue research , claiming it ’ s important to “ protect human life and human dignity on every front.
” Apparently , once you 're born , that 's no longer the case .
On Fox News , Kennedy lectured others to stop being so darned concerned with saving lives !
And trying to burn down the village to save it is foolish .
That ’ s a cold hard truth .
KENNEDY : I mean , here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The American people are not morons .
They understand what I ’ m about to say , and at some point , we ’ re going to have to trust ‘ em .
Number one , very , very soon , the can is going to run out of road .
We ’ ve got to open this economy .
If we don ’ t , it ’ s going to collapse .
And If the U.S. economy collapses , the world economy collapses .
Number two : Yes , we shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus .
I wish it had .
But it ’ s too late for that .
The shut down slowed the spread of the virus at enormous cost , but it still spread .
Number three : When we end the shutdown , the virus is going to spread faster .
That ’ s just a fact .
And the American people understand that .
Culture-of-death Carlson didn ’ t even ask if there might be a way to open up without having the virus spread faster or inquire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowly as possible .
But as Kennedy continued , he seemed to suggest that a lot of the current measures should stay in place .
KENNEDY : So , when we open up and we ’ re going to have to , and somebody ’ s got to make the call , we got to be smart about how we do it .
Don ’ t open up in the middle of a hotspot .
Encourage your elderly and those with pre-existing conditions to stay quarantined and provide them financial support .
Wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Use technology without violating privacy to try to track the hotspots and track people who have been exposed .
Test as much as we can .
Make sure that we got healthcare capacity .
But here ’ s the thing : our testing remains shockingly inadequate , our healthcare systems could be overwhelmed and people were nervous about traveling , e.g.
, before everything was shutdown .
Not surprisingly , Carlson didn ’ t mention any of that .
He nodded as Kennedy continued .
This time , Kennedy was more vehement about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is like choosing between cancer and a heart attack .
… I don ’ t want to hear any more from the sophomoric accusations … that you ’ re morally tainted if you don ’ t want to see the American economy crash .
I value life .
We all value life in America .
So this isn ’ t a question of not valuing life .
This is a question of making a hard decision with the cold , hard facts .
KENNEDY : .
…I value life .
We all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t a question of not valuing life .
This is a question of making a hard decision with the cold , hard facts .
And anybody who thinks that we can just leave this economy shut down indefinitely until we have no more cases – well , they probably still believe in Bigfoot .
Because that ’ s just not realistic .
And every politician – myself , sometimes – is just dancing around the issue .
The American people get it .
We ’ ve got ta re-open and when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread faster .
Carlson was A-OK with that .
“ Yep , ” he said .
“ You know what kills more people every year than coronavirus ?
A lot more ?
Poverty .
Poverty kills people .
In massive numbers.
” Yet , other than going to work and exposing people to contagion , Carlson didn ’ t offer any solutions for poverty , either .
You can watch “ pro-life ” Kennedy promote death above , from the April 15 , 2020 Tucker Carlson Tonight .

“Pro-life” Sen. John Kennedy joined the Fox News culture of death when he told a sympathetic Tucker Carlson, “We’ve gotta re-open and when we do, the coronavirus is going to spread faster.”
Although Carlson continues to broadcast from a remote location and practice social distancing on his own show, he acts as though he can hardly wait for others to get infected. It’s no wonder he was so agreeable with Kennedy’s morbid prescription for the country.
Kennedy serves on Trump’s coronavirus economic task force and considers himself so pro-life that he is demanding no taxpayer dollars be spent for coronavirus research on fetal tissue research, claiming it’s important to “protect human life and human dignity on every front.”
Apparently, once you're born, that's no longer the case. On Fox News, Kennedy lectured others to stop being so darned concerned with saving lives!
And trying to burn down the village to save it is foolish. That’s a cold hard truth. KENNEDY: I mean, here’s the way I see it. The American people are not morons. They understand what I’m about to say, and at some point, we’re going to have to trust ‘em. Number one, very, very soon, the can is going to run out of road. We’ve got to open this economy. If we don’t, it’s going to collapse. And If the U.S. economy collapses, the world economy collapses. Number two: Yes, we shut down, but the shutdown did not stop the spread of the virus. I wish it had. But it’s too late for that. The shut down slowed the spread of the virus at enormous cost, but it still spread. Number three: When we end the shutdown, the virus is going to spread faster. That’s just a fact. And the American people understand that.
Culture-of-death Carlson didn’t even ask if there might be a way to open up without having the virus spread faster or inquire about ways to keep it spreading as slowly as possible.
But as Kennedy continued, he seemed to suggest that a lot of the current measures should stay in place.
KENNEDY: So, when we open up and we’re going to have to, and somebody’s got to make the call, we got to be smart about how we do it. Don’t open up in the middle of a hotspot. Encourage your elderly and those with pre-existing conditions to stay quarantined and provide them financial support. Wear masks. Try to socially distance. Use technology without violating privacy to try to track the hotspots and track people who have been exposed. Test as much as we can. Make sure that we got healthcare capacity.
But here’s the thing: our testing remains shockingly inadequate, our healthcare systems could be overwhelmed and people were nervous about traveling, e.g., before everything was shutdown.
Not surprisingly, Carlson didn’t mention any of that. He nodded as Kennedy continued. This time, Kennedy was more vehement about prioritizing the economy over American lives.
This is like choosing between cancer and a heart attack. … I don’t want to hear any more from the sophomoric accusations … that you’re morally tainted if you don’t want to see the American economy crash. I value life. We all value life in America. So this isn’t a question of not valuing life. This is a question of making a hard decision with the cold, hard facts. KENNEDY:. …I value life. We all value life in America. So this isn’t a question of not valuing life. This is a question of making a hard decision with the cold, hard facts. And anybody who thinks that we can just leave this economy shut down indefinitely until we have no more cases – well, they probably still believe in Bigfoot. Because that’s just not realistic. And every politician – myself, sometimes – is just dancing around the issue. The American people get it. We’ve gotta re-open and when we do, the coronavirus is going to spread faster.
Carlson was A-OK with that. “Yep,” he said. “You know what kills more people every year than coronavirus? A lot more? Poverty. Poverty kills people. In massive numbers.”
Yet, other than going to work and exposing people to contagion, Carlson didn’t offer any solutions for poverty, either.
You can watch “pro-life” Kennedy promote death above, from the April 15, 2020 Tucker Carlson Tonight.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Governments Led By Women Are Doing A Disproportionately Great Job At Handling The Pandemic

We 've seen a number of these stories in the world press in recent weeks .
Now many are asking why in countries that are led by women the response to the coronavirus pandemic has been uniformly excellent , fast and fact-based , while in other countries , such as China , the UK , and the United States , the response has been inept and filled with lies .
In Taiwan , early intervention measures have controlled the coronavirus pandemic so successfully that it is now exporting millions of face masks to help the European Union and others .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ program in Europe , conducting 350,000 tests each week , detecting the virus early enough to isolate and treat patients effectively .
In New Zealand , the prime minister took early action to shut down tourism and impose a month-long lockdown on the entire country , limiting coronavirus casualties to just nine deaths .
All three places have received accolades for their impressive handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
They are scattered across the globe : one is in the heart of Europe , one is in Asia and the other is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one thing in common : they 're all led by women .
The success of these and other women-led governments in dealing with a global pandemic is all the more noteworthy , given that women make up less than 7 % of world leaders .

We've seen a number of these stories in the world press in recent weeks. Now many are asking why in countries that are led by women the response to the coronavirus pandemic has been uniformly excellent, fast and fact-based, while in other countries, such as China, the UK, and the United States, the response has been inept and filled with lies.
Source: CNN
In Taiwan, early intervention measures have controlled the coronavirus pandemic so successfully that it is now exporting millions of face masks to help the European Union and others.
Germany has overseen the largest-scale coronavirus testing program in Europe, conducting 350,000 tests each week, detecting the virus early enough to isolate and treat patients effectively.
In New Zealand, the prime minister took early action to shut down tourism and impose a month-long lockdown on the entire country, limiting coronavirus casualties to just nine deaths.
All three places have received accolades for their impressive handling of the coronavirus pandemic. They are scattered across the globe: one is in the heart of Europe, one is in Asia and the other is in the South Pacific.
But they have one thing in common: they're all led by women.
The success of these and other women-led governments in dealing with a global pandemic is all the more noteworthy, given that women make up less than 7% of world leaders.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--South Dakota's GOP Governor Will Rely On 'Common Sense' And Leave State Open

The deaths and disease at a Smithfield pork processing plant has huge implications for the food supply chain , Do go read the whole twitter thread from South Dakotan @ londyloo here .
And South Dakota 's Republican Governor is using words like `` freedom '' and `` liberty '' on the Laura Ingraham Show , asserting that the plant was `` critical infrastructure '' and would have remained open anyway under a stay in place order .
GOV .
KRISTI NOEM : We ’ ve got one issue in a pork processing plant in Sioux Falls , South Dakota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our state has no cases or one case in an entire county .
So we are doing very well as a state .
We are addressing the one hot spot that we do have and aggressively testing in that area , but what you talked about , Laura , is exactly right .
We should be tracking who ’ s in the hospital , what the death rate is and South Dakotans are doing a fantastic job following my recommendations and we ’ ve been able to keep our businesses open and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility .
... What I ’ ve seen across the country is so many people give up their liberties for just a little bit of security , and they don ’ t have to do that .
If a leader will take too much power in a time of crisis , that is how we lose our country .
So I felt like I ’ ve had to use every single opportunity to talk about why we slow things down , we make decisions based on science and facts and make sure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hold of the situation .
Approximately 600 employees and 135 close contacts of employees have tested positive for the coronavirus at the Smithfield Foods plant .
And Kristi Noem said nothing about the shower caps the plant pretends are PPE .
And Laura Ingraham did n't ask her .

The deaths and disease at a Smithfield pork processing plant has huge implications for the food supply chain,
Reasons SD will die in droves are as follows:
1) There is the largest single outbreak of COVID-19 in the World linked to a pork plant there.
2) At this moment SD still does NOT have a stay-at-home order bc their Gov doesn't feel necessary @govkristinoem
3) Little testing
/2 pic.twitter.com/idzf4n2bv3 — rheuminate (@londyloo) April 15, 2020
worker protection,
When workers began to get sick in mid-March Smithfield installed some hand sanitizer stations (seriously).
Workers demanded PPE. They were given shower caps to wear around their faces instead of masks.
Then more started getting sick.
Workers were offered $500 to stay.
5/ pic.twitter.com/NrGRKrgH8Y — rheuminate (@londyloo) April 15, 2020
and rural response to Coronavirus.
The hospitals are NOT prepared to handle this.
They do NOT test enough people. They acquired 15 Aetna Covid-19 testing units for the ENTIRE state of SD.
To put this in perspective: one NJ hospital has more Aetna testing units than the entire state of SD.
12/ — rheuminate (@londyloo) April 15, 2020
Do go read the whole twitter thread from South Dakotan @londyloo here.
And South Dakota's Republican Governor is using words like "freedom" and "liberty" on the Laura Ingraham Show, asserting that the plant was "critical infrastructure" and would have remained open anyway under a stay in place order.
GOV. KRISTI NOEM: We’ve got one issue in a pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but outside of that, two-thirds of our state has no cases or one case in an entire county. So we are doing very well as a state. We are addressing the one hot spot that we do have and aggressively testing in that area, but what you talked about, Laura, is exactly right. We should be tracking who’s in the hospital, what the death rate is and South Dakotans are doing a fantastic job following my recommendations and we’ve been able to keep our businesses open and allow people to take on some personal responsibility. ...What I’ve seen across the country is so many people give up their liberties for just a little bit of security, and they don’t have to do that. If a leader will take too much power in a time of crisis, that is how we lose our country. So I felt like I’ve had to use every single opportunity to talk about why we slow things down, we make decisions based on science and facts and make sure that we’re not letting emotion grab a hold of the situation.
Approximately 600 employees and 135 close contacts of employees have tested positive for the coronavirus at the Smithfield Foods plant.
And Kristi Noem said nothing about the shower caps the plant pretends are PPE.
And Laura Ingraham didn't ask her.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Sara Gideon 'Leapfrogs' Past Susan Collins In Fundraising

The Bangor Daily News used the adjective `` leapfrogs '' in their headline yesterday to describe the fundraising prowess of Sara Gideon , the likely Democratic opponent of the awful Susan Collins , and I think it 's an apt one .
For the first time in her nearly quarter-century in the U.S. Senate she has a real challenger .
Polls are close and the race is rated a toss-up , but how sweet it would be to see Maine get a real representative in there , instead of some mindless toady like Susan Collins .
AUGUSTA , Maine — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 7.1 million during the first quarter of 2020 , surpassing Republican Sen. Susan Collins after the incumbent had already set a record for the most fundraising during a Maine campaign .
Gideon ’ s fundraising during that period — which nearly equaled what she had raised during the entirety of 2019 — brought her to about $ 14.8 million raised so far this cycle , according to filings that were due to the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday .
Collins raised $ 2.4 million during the first three months of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle to $ 13.2 million .
She still had the edge in cash on hand over Gideon with $ 5.6 million compared to the Democrat ’ s $ 4.6 million as of March 31 .
Polls for a general election have shown Collins and Gideon virtually neck and neck in a race that has become a top target for national Democrats looking to flip the U.S. Senate .
The campaign has seen millions of dollars in outside spending from groups on both sides , including super PACs like the conservative 1820 PAC and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as so-called “ dark money ” groups including Maine Momentum and One Nation .

The Bangor Daily News used the adjective "leapfrogs" in their headline yesterday to describe the fundraising prowess of Sara Gideon, the likely Democratic opponent of the awful Susan Collins, and I think it's an apt one. For the first time in her nearly quarter-century in the U.S. Senate she has a real challenger.
Polls are close and the race is rated a toss-up, but how sweet it would be to see Maine get a real representative in there, instead of some mindless toady like Susan Collins.
Source: Bangor Daily News
AUGUSTA, Maine — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sara Gideon raised $7.1 million during the first quarter of 2020, surpassing Republican Sen. Susan Collins after the incumbent had already set a record for the most fundraising during a Maine campaign. Gideon’s fundraising during that period — which nearly equaled what she had raised during the entirety of 2019 — brought her to about $14.8 million raised so far this cycle, according to filings that were due to the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday. Collins raised $2.4 million during the first three months of the year, bringing her total fundraising for the cycle to $13.2 million. She still had the edge in cash on hand over Gideon with $5.6 million compared to the Democrat’s $4.6 million as of March 31. Polls for a general election have shown Collins and Gideon virtually neck and neck in a race that has become a top target for national Democrats looking to flip the U.S. Senate. The campaign has seen millions of dollars in outside spending from groups on both sides, including super PACs like the conservative 1820 PAC and liberal Senate Majority PAC, as well as so-called “dark money” groups including Maine Momentum and One Nation.
Susan Collins, call your office.
Her Dem challenger Sara Gideon raises a whopping $7.1M in the first quarter.
Collins? Just $2.4M as a vulnerable senator.https://t.co/ypIoibtm2w — Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) April 16, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Laura Ingraham Tries To Lie About Virus, Dr. Fauci Won't Let It Pass

No , Laura , you ca n't equate the COVID-19 pandemic with HIV or SARS .
Dr. Fauci wo n't let you .
“ We don ’ t have a vaccine for SARS , I mean , they got close in mice , ” said the blonde chaos agent .
“ We don ’ t have a vaccine for HIV .
And life did go on , right ?
So the idea that we ’ re definitely going to have a vaccine — we didn ’ t really approach much else in the same way , as we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , did we ?
” “ Well , no , but Laura , this is different , ” said Fauci , who led the AIDS effort .
“ HIV/AIDS is entirely different .
We don ’ t have a vaccine for HIV/AIDS , but we have spectacularly effective treatment .
People who invariably would have died years ago , right now are leading essentially normal lives .
SARS is a different story , SARS disappeared .
`` We developed a vaccine , we were in the process of going through the various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we showed it induced a good response .
And then SARS disappeared .
And we didn ’ t need to develop a vaccine for SARS .
`` So I think it ’ s a little bit misleading , maybe , to compare what we ’ re going through now with HIV or SARS.
” Remember , until the pandemic developed , Ingraham 's `` career '' was hanging by a thread .
She 's got one motivation for spreading coronavirus disinformation : Money .

No, Laura, you can't equate the COVID-19 pandemic with HIV or SARS. Dr. Fauci won't let you.
“We don’t have a vaccine for SARS, I mean, they got close in mice,” said the blonde chaos agent.
“We don’t have a vaccine for HIV. And life did go on, right? So the idea that we’re definitely going to have a vaccine — we didn’t really approach much else in the same way, as we’re pegging going back to normal with a vaccine, did we?”
“Well, no, but Laura, this is different,” said Fauci, who led the AIDS effort.
“HIV/AIDS is entirely different. We don’t have a vaccine for HIV/AIDS, but we have spectacularly effective treatment. People who invariably would have died years ago, right now are leading essentially normal lives. SARS is a different story, SARS disappeared.
"We developed a vaccine, we were in the process of going through the various phases, we showed it was safe, we showed it induced a good response. And then SARS disappeared. And we didn’t need to develop a vaccine for SARS.
"So I think it’s a little bit misleading, maybe, to compare what we’re going through now with HIV or SARS.”
Remember, until the pandemic developed, Ingraham's "career" was hanging by a thread. She's got one motivation for spreading coronavirus disinformation: Money.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Trump Announces His Grand Half-Assed Plan For Getting Back To Business

Here we go again : Trump 's team puts together what amounts to a Powerpoint presentation about how to open the country after quarantine , and it 's about what you 'd expect .
The part of the plan obvious thought went into ?
How to make governors do all the work , so they can take all the blame .
( Trump 's entire administration is an exercise in blame avoidance . )
There is NO plan for national testing .
Remember when Trump ran on Repeal and Replace claiming he had a super secret health insurance plan that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find out it was a blank sheet of paper .
# CoronavirusLiar The most disturbing story I ’ ve read in a while , which is saying something given the times .
There is no plan for testing .
Nothing , nada , zilch .
https : //t.co/sfCkDaXKSl '' I would n't call it a plan , '' says Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , responding to tRump 's plan to reopen the American economy .
`` …He 's kind of punted .
He 's decided that he does n't have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country . ''
# CNNTownHall pic.twitter.com/OZnuHeYrcM MSNBC and @ jheil just summed up exactly what I ’ ve been saying for the last week .
This is exactly trump ’ s plan .
He wants all of the credit if things go well , and none of the blame for sick and dying Americans .
That ’ s it .
https : //t.co/2aN8zPJwfZ This is exactly it .
Monday Trump : I control everything Tuesday Trump : Oh , you guys can do it .
Thursday Trump : You guys can do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Look how those guys messed this up .
( Always Trump : How do we rich guys make $ from this ? )
https : //t.co/EMoOtISrqL It 's a cover your ass plan .
If a state does well , Trump will claim credit .
If it does badly , he will blame them .
https : //t.co/RSfUq5GoDU Multiple CEOs on President Trump 's new council say they were not aware of plan to reopen economy .
https : //t.co/3AFLykkEWV OPENING UP AMERICA AGAIN Phase 1 .
Start golfing and staying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attend Trump rallies .
Phase 3 .
Blame governors for second deadly wave in Real America .
Phase 4 .
Deny 3 times before the cock crows that there ever was an Opening Up America Again plan The Trump `` plan '' to re-open the economy is similar to the Trump `` plan '' to have drive-thru testing in every Wal Mart parking lot .
It 's ... not a plan .
It 's just an announcement .
This is n't a plan .
It 's barely a powerpoint .
-- No provision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on levels of disease before opening ( `` down '' is a direction , not a level ) -- No protections for workers OR customers pic.twitter.com/bE3GCYeECw

Here we go again: Trump's team puts together what amounts to a Powerpoint presentation about how to open the country after quarantine, and it's about what you'd expect. The part of the plan obvious thought went into? How to make governors do all the work, so they can take all the blame. (Trump's entire administration is an exercise in blame avoidance.) There is NO plan for national testing.
Twitter has thoughts:
Remember when Trump ran on Repeal and Replace claiming he had a super secret health insurance plan that would cover everyone and be cheap only to find out it was a blank sheet of paper. #CoronavirusLiar — Rick Smith (@RickSmithShow) April 16, 2020
The most disturbing story I’ve read in a while, which is saying something given the times. There is no plan for testing. Nothing, nada, zilch. https://t.co/sfCkDaXKSl — Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) April 17, 2020
"I wouldn't call it a plan," says Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, responding to tRump's plan to reopen the American economy. "…He's kind of punted. He's decided that he doesn't have the right to make the call for the country." #CNNTownHall pic.twitter.com/OZnuHeYrcM — McSpocky™ 👽🔄🌊 #VoteBlue2020 Like_it? Retweet! (@mcspocky) April 17, 2020
Trump has his own 3P (priority) Plan:
1. Profit
2. Personal (family)
3. People (rich buddies/peasants) — 🏳🌈Offside🏳🌈 (@DropThePuck3) April 17, 2020
The gap between Trump's remarks on economy and what's in plan https://t.co/aSeqWO3ryN via @msnbc — Kweetniet (@Kweetniet6) April 17, 2020
Disturbingly similar to every other Trump "plan". He's a one-trick pony and no offense to ponies.#ActualOneTrickPony pic.twitter.com/gerZ70LdzU — Hashi Alvarez (@AlvarezHashi) April 17, 2020
MSNBC and @jheil just summed up exactly what I’ve been saying for the last week. This is exactly trump’s plan. He wants all of the credit if things go well, and none of the blame for sick and dying Americans. That’s it. https://t.co/2aN8zPJwfZ — Witch Hunter; seriously Fuck Trump (@IndictRedDonNow) April 17, 2020
This is exactly it.
Monday Trump: I control everything
Tuesday Trump: Oh, you guys can do it.
Thursday Trump: You guys can do it is MY PLAN.
Next Week Trump: Look how those guys messed this up.
(Always Trump: How do we rich guys make $ from this?) https://t.co/EMoOtISrqL — Elizabeth de la Vega (@Delavegalaw) April 17, 2020
It's a cover your ass plan. If a state does well, Trump will claim credit. If it does badly, he will blame them. https://t.co/RSfUq5GoDU — John Cassidy (@JohnCassidy) April 17, 2020
Multiple CEOs on President Trump's new council say they were not aware of plan to reopen economy. https://t.co/3AFLykkEWV — MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 17, 2020
OPENING UP AMERICA AGAIN
Phase 1. Start golfing and staying in luxury hotels again.
Phase 2. Attend Trump rallies.
Phase 3. Blame governors for second deadly wave in Real America.
Phase 4. Deny 3 times before the cock crows that there ever was an Opening Up America Again plan — Top Conservative Cat (@TeaPartyCat) April 17, 2020
The Trump "plan" to re-open the economy is similar to the Trump "plan" to have drive-thru testing in every Wal Mart parking lot. It's...not a plan. It's just an announcement. — Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 16, 2020
Trump announces his new plan to restore normalcy to the U.S. 😂#Biden2020 pic.twitter.com/zQjSX3kiNV — Jon Cooper 🇺🇸 (@joncoopertweets) April 17, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--McConnell To Trump: Not So Fast On Adjourning Congress

Remember 24 long hours ago , when Donald Trump threatened to use a never-before exercised provision in the Constitution to adjourn Congress himself because he was in a bad mood about his appointments not getting through the Senate fast enough ?
Well , believe it or not , the most dangerous man in America , the self-annointed `` Grim Reaper '' of all legislation sent to him by the House , pushed back .
Nicolle Wallace reported on Mitch McConnell 's reaction today .
WALLACE : Donald Trump has never shied away from leaning on the extraordinary powers of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims like he did on Monday , when he said he had total authority over all the states .
But yesterday we saw him threaten an action that even made his number one enabler in the Senate , Mitch McConnell , object .
Here was the president last night .
`` Where 'd ya see that , big guy , Breitbart ? ''
Wallace quipped , as she went on to read the statement from McConnell 's office : WALLACE : The president there saying he would use a provision in the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate approval , to which Mitch McConnell , the one and only Mitch McConnell said , `` I do n't think so . ''
From McConnell 's spokeman , quote , `` The Leader pledged to find ways to confirm nominees considered mission-critical to the pandemic , but under Senate rules that will take consent from Leader Schumer . ''
Trump 's outlandish claims and mismanagement of the crisis seem to be taking a toll on his public standing as well .
A brand new Gallup survey just out shows Trump 's approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
Unfortunately , the fact that Trump 's approval rating is down does n't help his handling of this disaster , and it does n't stop McConnell from using the pandemic to enact his horrific agenda .
So all this proves is that McConnell does n't like it when Trumpy Bear steps on his toes .
Because while Trump is more and more amenable to screaming his lust for totalitarian power from the mountaintops , McConnell prefers not to say that quiet part out loud .
But if Trump 's batsh*t proclamations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure McConnell will speak up .

Remember 24 long hours ago, when Donald Trump threatened to use a never-before exercised provision in the Constitution to adjourn Congress himself because he was in a bad mood about his appointments not getting through the Senate fast enough? Well, believe it or not, the most dangerous man in America, the self-annointed "Grim Reaper" of all legislation sent to him by the House, pushed back. Nicolle Wallace reported on Mitch McConnell's reaction today.
WALLACE: Donald Trump has never shied away from leaning on the extraordinary powers of the American presidency, sometimes even making unconstitutional claims like he did on Monday, when he said he had total authority over all the states. But yesterday we saw him threaten an action that even made his number one enabler in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, object. Here was the president last night. (video clip)
TRUMP: Whether it's Russia, Russia, Russia, or whether it's impeachment hoax or whatever it may be, it's always roadblocks and a waste of time. If the House will not agree to that adjournment, I will exercise my Constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress. The current practice of leaving town while conducting phony pro forma sessions is a dereliction of duty that the American people cannot afford during this crisis.
(end video clip)
"Where'd ya see that, big guy, Breitbart?" Wallace quipped, as she went on to read the statement from McConnell's office:
WALLACE: The president there saying he would use a provision in the Constitution to get nominees into administration positions without Senate approval, to which Mitch McConnell, the one and only Mitch McConnell said, "I don't think so." From McConnell's spokeman, quote, "The Leader pledged to find ways to confirm nominees considered mission-critical to the pandemic, but under Senate rules that will take consent from Leader Schumer." Trump's outlandish claims and mismanagement of the crisis seem to be taking a toll on his public standing as well. A brand new Gallup survey just out shows Trump's approval rating is down six points from last month.
Unfortunately, the fact that Trump's approval rating is down doesn't help his handling of this disaster, and it doesn't stop McConnell from using the pandemic to enact his horrific agenda. So all this proves is that McConnell doesn't like it when Trumpy Bear steps on his toes. Because while Trump is more and more amenable to screaming his lust for totalitarian power from the mountaintops, McConnell prefers not to say that quiet part out loud. But if Trump's batsh*t proclamations threaten his power, you can be sure McConnell will speak up.