crooksandliars--2020-03-21--Wapo Photographer Catches Trump's Notes: 'Chinese Virus' Penned In

President Donald Trump 's use of the racist term `` Chinese virus '' when describing the global coronavirus outbreak is apparently counter to how his aides are presenting information to him to read to the public according to a photo taken Thursday by Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford .
`` When someone you know dies of this thing , you can find solace in the fact that when the president was supposed to be leading the nation through this pandemic , he was busy making hand edits to speeches so that the Chinese would be adequately scapegoated , '' tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Common Dreams reported Wednesday , Trump 's insistence on using the term `` Chinese virus '' is part of an American history of using racist tropes about disease .
The president 's own handwriting scrawling the term across his notes at a press conference drew outrage on social media as observers like Daily Beast reporter Sam Stein noted the `` obvious attempts to start a debate over political correctness '' rather than Trump 's mishandling of the pandemic , which threatens the lives of thousands if not millions of Americans .
Press Watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embrace of racist hate is another indication the president should be ignored as much as possible .
`` This is the extent of Trump 's contribution to the debate , '' said Froomkin .
`` He needs to be routed around , not heeded . ''
At his Thursday press briefing on the coronavirus , Trump in response to a question on holding China accountable for the outbreak suggested there would be `` repercussions '' for Beijing .
`` We 're working on that right now , '' said Trump .

President Donald Trump's use of the racist term "Chinese virus" when describing the global coronavirus outbreak is apparently counter to how his aides are presenting information to him to read to the public according to a photo taken Thursday by Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford.
"When someone you know dies of this thing, you can find solace in the fact that when the president was supposed to be leading the nation through this pandemic, he was busy making hand edits to speeches so that the Chinese would be adequately scapegoated," tweeted political journalist Brian Tyler Cohen.
Close up of President @realDonaldTrump notes is seen where he crossed out "Corona" and replaced it with "Chinese" Virus as he speaks with his coronavirus task force today at the White House. #trump #trumpnotes pic.twitter.com/kVw9yrPPeJ — Jabin Botsford (@jabinbotsford) March 19, 2020
As Common Dreams reported Wednesday, Trump's insistence on using the term "Chinese virus" is part of an American history of using racist tropes about disease.
The president's own handwriting scrawling the term across his notes at a press conference drew outrage on social media as observers like Daily Beast reporter Sam Stein noted the "obvious attempts to start a debate over political correctness" rather than Trump's mishandling of the pandemic, which threatens the lives of thousands if not millions of Americans.
"Aggressively, purposefully, maniacally, loathsomely racist," tweeted astronomer Phil Plait.
Press Watch editor Dan Froomkin said Trump's latest embrace of racist hate is another indication the president should be ignored as much as possible.
"This is the extent of Trump's contribution to the debate," said Froomkin. "He needs to be routed around, not heeded."
At his Thursday press briefing on the coronavirus, Trump in response to a question on holding China accountable for the outbreak suggested there would be "repercussions" for Beijing.
"We're working on that right now," said Trump.
Republished from Common Dreams (Eoin Higgins, staff writer) under a Creative Commons license.


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Florida Town Council Meeting Erupts As COVID-19 Response Questioned

A city commissioner in Lake Worth , Florida ( a city of about 38,000 near West Palm Beach , and just a few miles from Trump 's Golf Club ) questioned how his city was responding to the COVID-19 , wondering why they were shutting the power off for some delinquent accounts .
Though not in a declared state of emergency , the City Manager was granted emergency powers to make decisions unilaterally .
When Omari Hardy brought this up things got heated , the mayor told him he was out of order , and eventually the meeting was cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned into a shouting match Thursday evening after officials argued over who had emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic .
The heated words were exchanged between City Commissioner Omari Hardy and Mayor Pam Triolo .
Hardy said City Manager Michael Bornstein was `` turning people 's light off during a global health pandemic , '' and accused Mayor Triolo of failing to act after she declined an emergency meeting the week before .
The Palm Beach Post reports that Triolo gave Bornstein emergency powers to run the city even though Lake Worth Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the commission meeting , Bornstein acknowledged 50 customers had their power turned off one day before the city stated shutoffs would be discontinued .
`` We cut off people 's utilities this week and made them pay what could have been their last check to us , '' Hardy yelled at Triolo after the mayor called for a recess .

A city commissioner in Lake Worth, Florida (a city of about 38,000 near West Palm Beach, and just a few miles from Trump's Golf Club) questioned how his city was responding to the COVID-19, wondering why they were shutting the power off for some delinquent accounts. Though not in a declared state of emergency, the City Manager was granted emergency powers to make decisions unilaterally. When Omari Hardy brought this up things got heated, the mayor told him he was out of order, and eventually the meeting was cancelled.
Source: NBC Miami
A Lake Worth city commission meeting turned into a shouting match Thursday evening after officials argued over who had emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic.
The heated words were exchanged between City Commissioner Omari Hardy and Mayor Pam Triolo.
Hardy said City Manager Michael Bornstein was "turning people's light off during a global health pandemic," and accused Mayor Triolo of failing to act after she declined an emergency meeting the week before.
The Palm Beach Post reports that Triolo gave Bornstein emergency powers to run the city even though Lake Worth Beach has not declared a state of emergency.
During the commission meeting, Bornstein acknowledged 50 customers had their power turned off one day before the city stated shutoffs would be discontinued.
"We cut off people's utilities this week and made them pay what could have been their last check to us," Hardy yelled at Triolo after the mayor called for a recess.


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Joe Biden Blisters Trump For Lying About Defense Production Act After FEMA Admits Holding It As 'Lev

Joe Biden Blisters Trump For Lying About Defense Production Act After FEMA Admits Holding It As 'Leverage'

FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor told Jake Tapper this morning that the Trump administration has not used the Defense Production Act to gear up for the onslaught of needs during this public health crisis , a claim that was met with a scathing statement from Joe Biden .
`` It really is leverage , I think that to demonstrate that we can use it , the president can use it any time , '' Gaynor told Jake Tapper .
And then he launched into a praise song about 'how great America is . ''
`` All these companies are coming up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , '' he gushed .
`` And we have n't had to use it , because companies around the country , donations , they are saying , what can we do to help you ?
And it 's happening without using that -- that lever . ''
Meanwhile , New York is paying 7 dollars per mask for health care workers when they 're normally about 94 cents .
So very great .
Joe Biden saw those comments and shot out a statement absolutely ripping this administration for constantly leading from behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inescapable truth is clear : even though the senior-most medical and intelligence experts in the United States government were sounding the alarm about coronavirus for months , President Trump neglected , minimized , and lied about this virus , '' Biden wrote .
`` He failed to expeditiously get us enough tests , respirators , ventilators and other vital equipment when his peers in other countries did their duty and stood up for their people .
He ignored my warning not to take China ’ s word about their containment of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's comments , he continued , `` [ Trump ] is still failing , even this morning : despite telling the American people that he was using the Defense Production Act to bring the full force of our government to protect our doctors , nurses , and other medical professionals and get them the devices that they need to save Americans in hospitals who are literally struggling to breathe , his lead emergency management official says it is not true .
Hospitals , mayors , and governors are forced to fend for themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need .
As one governor put it , 'it ’ s a wild west ' out there . ''
`` Mr. President , stop lying and start acting .
Use the full extent of your authorities , now , to ensure that we are producing all essential goods and delivering them where they need to go . ''
`` President Trump ’ s dithering on preparing us for this global pandemic and his lies about his response to this dangerous crisis is one of the most unjustifiable failures of presidential leadership in American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and repeat it and repeat it .
ONE OF THE MOST UNJUSTIFIABLE FAILURES OF PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN HISTORY .
For those who prefer their written statements about Trump 's failure of leadership in video form , there 's this :

FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor told Jake Tapper this morning that the Trump administration has not used the Defense Production Act to gear up for the onslaught of needs during this public health crisis, a claim that was met with a scathing statement from Joe Biden.
"It really is leverage, I think that to demonstrate that we can use it, the president can use it any time," Gaynor told Jake Tapper.
And then he launched into a praise song about 'how great America is."
"All these companies are coming up asking us what they can do to help," he gushed. "And we haven't had to use it, because companies around the country, donations, they are saying, what can we do to help you? And it's happening without using that -- that lever."
Meanwhile, New York is paying 7 dollars per mask for health care workers when they're normally about 94 cents. So very great.
Joe Biden saw those comments and shot out a statement absolutely ripping this administration for constantly leading from behind.
"And now a tragic and inescapable truth is clear: even though the senior-most medical and intelligence experts in the United States government were sounding the alarm about coronavirus for months, President Trump neglected, minimized, and lied about this virus," Biden wrote. "He failed to expeditiously get us enough tests, respirators, ventilators and other vital equipment when his peers in other countries did their duty and stood up for their people. He ignored my warning not to take China’s word about their containment of the virus, too."
Turning to Gaynor's comments, he continued, "[Trump] is still failing, even this morning: despite telling the American people that he was using the Defense Production Act to bring the full force of our government to protect our doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals and get them the devices that they need to save Americans in hospitals who are literally struggling to breathe, his lead emergency management official says it is not true. Hospitals, mayors, and governors are forced to fend for themselves to secure the gear and equipment they need. As one governor put it, 'it’s a wild west' out there."
And here's the punch line:
"Mr. President, stop lying and start acting. Use the full extent of your authorities, now, to ensure that we are producing all essential goods and delivering them where they need to go."
"President Trump’s dithering on preparing us for this global pandemic and his lies about his response to this dangerous crisis is one of the most unjustifiable failures of presidential leadership in American history."
Let's repeat that and repeat it and repeat it. ONE OF THE MOST UNJUSTIFIABLE FAILURES OF PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
You betcha, Joe Biden.
For those who prefer their written statements about Trump's failure of leadership in video form, there's this:
Donald Trump has failed the American people. pic.twitter.com/HsNl9M4h4r — Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 21, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--AOC Rips DOJ's 'Abhorrent' Effort To Suspend Habeas Corpus

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez told CNN 's Jake Tapper that any attempt by the Department of Justice to suspend or curtail our civil rights and speedy trials in our country is an authoritarian undertaking to suspend our rule of law .
The Queens congresswoman joined CNN 's State Of The Union program to discuss the stimulus package currently being negotiated in Congress as well as Trump 's Department of Justice 's attempt to undo our civil liberties .
`` The Department of Justice has submitted to Congress several legislative proposals including one measure that would allow a district 's chief judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a speedy trial after a request from the Attorney General , '' Tapper said .
`` What do you think about that ? ''
Ocasio-Cortez replied , `` I think it is abhorrent . ''
`` This is not a time -- and you know there is a long history in this country and in other countries of using emergencies as times to really start to encroach upon people 's civil rights , '' she continued .
`` And in fact this is the time when we need them the absolute most .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ eye out for these kind of authoritarian and frankly , for this expansion of -- and rather , suspension of rule of law , it does not matter how urgent times are , we have to make sure we maintain our civil rights and there 's no reason for us to be waiving folks ' civil rights in an emergency , '' she warned .
US Atty .
Gen. William Barr once again shows his true colors in his support for an authoritative dictatorship instead of a democratic United States under our Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes , `` Constitution grants citizens habeas corpus which gives arrestees the right to appear in front of a judge and ask to be released before trial .
Enacting legislation like the DOJ wants would essentially suspend habeas corpus indefinitely until the emergency ended .
Further , DOJ asked Congress to suspend the statute of limitations on criminal investigations and civil proceedings during the emergency until a year after it ended . ''
Barr is an opportunist who wants to help Trump establish his authoritarian regime .
Imagine for a minute if Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez told CNN's Jake Tapper that any attempt by the Department of Justice to suspend or curtail our civil rights and speedy trials in our country is an authoritarian undertaking to suspend our rule of law.
The Queens congresswoman joined CNN's State Of The Union program to discuss the stimulus package currently being negotiated in Congress as well as Trump's Department of Justice's attempt to undo our civil liberties.
"The Department of Justice has submitted to Congress several legislative proposals including one measure that would allow a district's chief judge to delay the defendant's right to a speedy trial after a request from the Attorney General," Tapper said. "What do you think about that?"
Ocasio-Cortez replied, "I think it is abhorrent."
"This is not a time -- and you know there is a long history in this country and in other countries of using emergencies as times to really start to encroach upon people's civil rights," she continued. "And in fact this is the time when we need them the absolute most."
"We have to keep an eye out for these kind of authoritarian and frankly, for this expansion of -- and rather, suspension of rule of law, it does not matter how urgent times are, we have to make sure we maintain our civil rights and there's no reason for us to be waiving folks' civil rights in an emergency," she warned.
US Atty. Gen. William Barr once again shows his true colors in his support for an authoritative dictatorship instead of a democratic United States under our Constitution.
Peter Wade in The Rolling Stone writes, "Constitution grants citizens habeas corpus which gives arrestees the right to appear in front of a judge and ask to be released before trial. Enacting legislation like the DOJ wants would essentially suspend habeas corpus indefinitely until the emergency ended. Further, DOJ asked Congress to suspend the statute of limitations on criminal investigations and civil proceedings during the emergency until a year after it ended."
Barr is an opportunist who wants to help Trump establish his authoritarian regime. Imagine for a minute if Eric Holder had suggested such a thing.


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Virus Relief Bill Would Allow Mnuchin To Hand Out $500 Million 'Slush Fund' To Secret Corporations

The White House on Sunday reportedly refused to back down from its demand that a coronavirus relief package include $ @ @ @ @ @ be provided to corporations at the discretion of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin .
PBS News @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday that the White House was standing firm on the proposal after some Democrats @ @ @ @ @ fund . ''
A Democratic source told Igor Bobic that the bill would permit the @ @ @ @ @ names of corporate recipients for up to six months .
`` Millions may now lose @ @ @ @ @ Elizabeth Warren wrote on Twitter .
`` And Trump wants our response to be a @ @ @ @ @ boost favored companies and corporate executives – while they continue to pull down huge paychecks @ @ @ @ @ '' Read some of the tweets below .

The White House on Sunday reportedly refused to back down from its demand that a coronavirus relief package include $500 billion, which would be provided to corporations at the discretion of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
PBS News Hour correspondent Meredith Lee reported on Sunday that the White House was standing firm on the proposal after some Democrats called it a "slush fund."
A Democratic source told Igor Bobic that the bill would permit the Treasury secretary to withhold the names of corporate recipients for up to six months.
"Millions may now lose their jobs," Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote on Twitter. "And Trump wants our response to be a half-trillion dollar slush fund to boost favored companies and corporate executives – while they continue to pull down huge paychecks and fire their workers."
Read some of the tweets below.
From a senior WH official on phase 3 stimulus plan:
-WH *is not* willing to reduce amt of $ for corporate loans (up to$500B in current bill, Dems have criticized as "corporate slush fund")
-working w/ Senate Dems to "refine ideas,"push ahead w/ McConnell's bill for 3pm cloture — Meredith Lee (@meredithllee) March 22, 2020
Any rescue fund should be administered by an independent body, not by the Treasury Secretary of the most incompetent and corrupt administration in US history.
President Trump has already taken millions from the Treasury. Not a dollar more without total financial disclosure — David Frum (@davidfrum) March 22, 2020
We have to be very careful about federal govt taking extraordinary power for means other than the pandemic. Justice Dept. looking to take over the judicial system. Treasury asking for a slush fund to help companies at their discretion. Watch them closely now. — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) March 22, 2020
No slush fund for Mnuchin! Last time he made decisions without congressional oversight we got Suicide Squad! https://t.co/oqTR0eLExI — Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) March 22, 2020
per a Dem source, a provision of the $500B bailout fund proposed by GOP would allow Mnuchin to delay making public for up to 6 months “names of applicable eligible businesses, States, and municipalities and the amounts of individual loans or loan guarantees” — Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) March 22, 2020
Republicans should be smart here and recognize that it’s in their interests to do a good bill and not just a slush fund for Trump to give it to whoever bribes him the most. — Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) March 22, 2020
Millions may now lose their jobs. And Trump wants our response to be a half-trillion dollar slush fund to boost favored companies and corporate executives – while they continue to pull down huge paychecks and fire their workers. Here’s what I know and how we stop it: — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 22, 2020
I will vote against a giant slush fund that protects favored corporations and executive paychecks with no meaningful protections for workers. If this isn’t fixed, all Democrats should all stand together and vote no. We maintain our negotiating power when we unite together. — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 22, 2020
Massive slush fund for corporations while failing to help hospitals Hospital or provide paid leave for workers would be a disaster not a relief bill. No. Just no. https://t.co/kngzFGUui4 — Ilya Sheyman (@iSheyman) March 22, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Dan Rather Says Stop Paying Attention To Trump: 'He's Not Coming To Anybody's Rescue'

Longtime news broadcaster Dan Rather on Sunday advised the media to `` pay far less attention '' to President Donald @ @ @ @ @ remarks while appearing on CNN 's Reliable Sources .
`` It 's disgraceful what he @ @ @ @ @ said of Trump 's response to COVID-19 .
`` He 's continuing to try to @ @ @ @ @ very moment when we need to pull together .
This is unacceptable and I think @ @ @ @ @ such . ''
The veteran anchor encouraged television presenters to `` report as many of @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Until and unless he proves differently , pay far less attention to President @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I really regret having to say that .
He 's not going to @ @ @ @ @ .
And the faster we realize that , the better off we 'll be .
@

Longtime news broadcaster Dan Rather on Sunday advised the media to "pay far less attention" to President Donald Trump.
Rather made the remarks while appearing on CNN's Reliable Sources.
"It's disgraceful what he's doing," Rather said of Trump's response to COVID-19. "He's continuing to try to divide the country at the very moment when we need to pull together. This is unacceptable and I think most Americans recognize it as such."
The veteran anchor encouraged television presenters to "report as many of the facts as possible."
"Until and unless he proves differently, pay far less attention to President Trump," Rather recommended. "I really regret having to say that. He's not going to come to anybody's rescue. And the faster we realize that, the better off we'll be."


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Rand Paul Tests Positive For COVID-19 - UPDATED

So , a couple of things .
First , it 's good that he was tested and very good that he 's quarantined .
Lord knows how many vulnerable Senators he could have taken out with an intense debate about the stimulus package right now .
Note that he was able to be tested without symptoms because of his position .
How many more people are there out there without symptoms passing it around right now who HAVE N'T been tested ?
Secondly , it 's good that he is n't experiencing symptoms .
If he does , I hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But let 's not let him downplay the severity of this disease should he be one of those who does n't have a serious case .
This is a terrible virus and we have no idea what the long-term health implications are .
I 'm sure right wing media will use his lack of symptoms as an excuse to downplay it , so I 'm going to contrast Rand Paul 's current asymptomatic status with that of David Lat , founder of the Above the Law blog .
David Lat is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition .
He tried to tweet what it was like to have the virus for as long as he could , but now he is struggling to survive .
David Lat is 44 years old .
“ He ’ s not doing great , ” [ Lat 's husband ] Shemtob said , adding that the NYU Langone doctors and other staff “ are really attending to him .
They ’ re taking it hour by hour , day by day.
” Lat , who is a Yale Law School graduate , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a legal-appeals-centered novel , is 44 years old .
Asked if the doctors had talked about or know Lat ’ s prognosis , Shemtob responded , “ It ’ s a bit much for me right now.
” He said it was not clear if any prognosis is even known .
“ I just want folks to know that he is so strong ; he is hanging in there , and we are praying he ’ ll recover , ” Shemtob said .
“ Any thoughts or prayers people have are much appreciated.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ While he 's waiting for results , he 's doing this : Being a doofus is , of course , genetic .
Go ahead , Ron Paul .
Tell us more about the `` hoax '' that 's got your son in quarantine .

A few minutes ago, Senator Rand Paul's office tweeted this:
Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person. — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 22, 2020
So, a couple of things. First, it's good that he was tested and very good that he's quarantined. Lord knows how many vulnerable Senators he could have taken out with an intense debate about the stimulus package right now. Note that he was able to be tested without symptoms because of his position. How many more people are there out there without symptoms passing it around right now who HAVEN'T been tested?
Secondly, it's good that he isn't experiencing symptoms. If he does, I hope they're mild and he recovers rapidly. But let's not let him downplay the severity of this disease should he be one of those who doesn't have a serious case. This is a terrible virus and we have no idea what the long-term health implications are. I'm sure right wing media will use his lack of symptoms as an excuse to downplay it, so I'm going to contrast Rand Paul's current asymptomatic status with that of David Lat, founder of the Above the Law blog.
David Lat is on a ventilator in the hospital in critical condition. He tried to tweet what it was like to have the virus for as long as he could, but now he is struggling to survive. David Lat is 44 years old.
“He’s not doing great,” [Lat's husband] Shemtob said, adding that the NYU Langone doctors and other staff “are really attending to him. They’re taking it hour by hour, day by day.” Lat, who is a Yale Law School graduate, a former federal prosecutor and the author of a legal-appeals-centered novel, is 44 years old.
Asked if the doctors had talked about or know Lat’s prognosis, Shemtob responded, “It’s a bit much for me right now.” He said it was not clear if any prognosis is even known. “I just want folks to know that he is so strong; he is hanging in there, and we are praying he’ll recover,” Shemtob said. “Any thoughts or prayers people have are much appreciated.”
UPDATE: What a doofus. While he's waiting for results, he's doing this:
During the Senate GOP lunch today, Moran told colleagues that Rand was at the gym this morning, per two sources briefed on the lunch, and that he was swimming in the pool. Rand got his COVID-19 results back this morning. — Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) March 22, 2020
Being a doofus is, of course, genetic. Go ahead, Ron Paul. Tell us more about the "hoax" that's got your son in quarantine.


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Dr. Fauci Explains Why 'Hopeful Layperson' Donald Trump Spreads Dangerous Misinformation

Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top infectious disease expert at the National Institute of Health , suggested on Sunday that President Donald Trump sometimes spreads misinformation about the novel coronavirus because he is a `` hopeful layperson . ''
Fauci , who appeared to be exhausted , told host Margaret Brennan on CBS 's Face the Nation that the U.S. may not follow the path of Italy on coronavirus infections and deaths .
`` We do n't know why they are suffering so terribly , '' Fauci said .
`` But there 's a possibility and many of us believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out as well the input of infections that originated in China and came to different parts of the world . ''
`` It is conceivable that once you get so many of these spreads out -- they spread exponentially and you can never keep up with this tsunami , '' he continued .
`` And I think that 's what , unfortunately , our colleagues and our dear friends in Italy are facing . ''
Brennan pressed Fauci about why President Donald Trump had suggested that certain drugs were effective at combating COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up by science .
`` Okay , Margaret , there 's an issue here of where we 're coming from , '' Fauci replied .
`` The president has heard -- as we all have heard -- what I call anecdotal reports that certain drugs work .
So what he was trying to do and express was the hope that if they might work , let 's try and push their usage . ''
`` I , on the other side , have said , I 'm not disagreeing with the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
`` But my job is to prove definitively from a scientific standpoint that they do work .
So I was taking a medically , purely scientific standpoint and the president was trying to bring hope to the people . ''
Fauci concluded : `` There 's this issue of trying to separate the two of us .
There is n't fundamentally a difference there .
He 's coming from it from a hope/layperson standpoint .
I 'm coming from it from a scientific standpoint . ''

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert at the National Institute of Health, suggested on Sunday that President Donald Trump sometimes spreads misinformation about the novel coronavirus because he is a "hopeful layperson."
Fauci, who appeared to be exhausted, told host Margaret Brennan on CBS's Face the Nation that the U.S. may not follow the path of Italy on coronavirus infections and deaths.
"We don't know why they are suffering so terribly," Fauci said. "But there's a possibility and many of us believe that early on they did not shut out as well the input of infections that originated in China and came to different parts of the world."
"It is conceivable that once you get so many of these spreads out -- they spread exponentially and you can never keep up with this tsunami," he continued. "And I think that's what, unfortunately, our colleagues and our dear friends in Italy are facing."
Brennan pressed Fauci about why President Donald Trump had suggested that certain drugs were effective at combating COVID-19 even though his claims are not backed up by science.
"Okay, Margaret, there's an issue here of where we're coming from," Fauci replied. "The president has heard -- as we all have heard -- what I call anecdotal reports that certain drugs work. So what he was trying to do and express was the hope that if they might work, let's try and push their usage."
"I, on the other side, have said, I'm not disagreeing with the fact that anecdotally they might work," he added. "But my job is to prove definitively from a scientific standpoint that they do work. So I was taking a medically, purely scientific standpoint and the president was trying to bring hope to the people."
Fauci concluded: "There's this issue of trying to separate the two of us. There isn't fundamentally a difference there. He's coming from it from a hope/layperson standpoint. I'm coming from it from a scientific standpoint."


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Florida County Official Suggests Using A Blow Dryer Up Your Nose To Kill Coronavirus

The ignorance and sheer stupidity of Florida 's elected officials never ceases to amaze .
That this public official got his amazing cure from watching One America News Network ( OANN ) ( basically the trailer park version of Fox News ) should come as no surprise .
An Okeechobee County Commissioner offered some controversial and now-debunked advice to people worried about contracting the novel coronavirus : Kill it with a blow dryer .
Commissioner Bryant Culpepper explained the junk remedy he learned from the One America News Network claiming the coronavirus can not live at temperatures greater than 136 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get the temperature up to 136 degrees ?
The answer was you use a blow dryer .
You hold a blow dryer up to your face and you inhale through your nose and it kills all the viruses in your nose , ” Bryant said during a March 20 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commissioners , according to Lake Okeechobee News .
To be clear , health officials do not support this preventative method .
Worse , they caution applying heat from a blow dryer to the face could cause skin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The ignorance and sheer stupidity of Florida's elected officials never ceases to amaze. That this public official got his amazing cure from watching One America News Network (OANN) (basically the trailer park version of Fox News) should come as no surprise.
Source: Florida Politics
An Okeechobee County Commissioner offered some controversial and now-debunked advice to people worried about contracting the novel coronavirus: Kill it with a blow dryer.
Commissioner Bryant Culpepper explained the junk remedy he learned from the One America News Network claiming the coronavirus cannot live at temperatures greater than 136 degrees.
“I said how would you get the temperature up to 136 degrees? The answer was you use a blow dryer. You hold a blow dryer up to your face and you inhale through your nose and it kills all the viruses in your nose,” Bryant said during a March 20 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commissioners, according to Lake Okeechobee News.
To be clear, health officials do not support this preventative method.
Worse, they caution applying heat from a blow dryer to the face could cause skin, eye, nose and mouth irritation.


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Yale Researcher: ‘Republican Presidencies Increase Violent Death’

Yale psychiatrist and violence expert Bandy Lee revealed on Sunday a study which found that violent deaths tend to increase when Republicans control the White House .
Lee tweeted about the study on Sunday after a follower noted that a Democratic president would have handled the coronavirus threat much differently than the current Republican president .
`` I did a study that showed consistently , over 110 years , Republican presidencies increase violent death rates , while Democratic presidencies decrease them , '' Lee explained .
`` Same with economic variables .
Ordinarily , we would label one disease and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not ordinarily think of the difference of party as a difference of death versus life , and yet here it is , '' she added .
`` Controlling for all other variables , the party difference was decisive . ''
Lee also shared some data from the study showing how violent deaths increase during Republican presidencies .
Although the research covers a period between 1900 and 2010 , Lee seemed to connect the historic data with President Donald Trump 's current handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Read the entire study here @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Yale psychiatrist and violence expert Bandy Lee revealed on Sunday a study which found that violent deaths tend to increase when Republicans control the White House.
Lee tweeted about the study on Sunday after a follower noted that a Democratic president would have handled the coronavirus threat much differently than the current Republican president.
"I did a study that showed consistently, over 110 years, Republican presidencies increase violent death rates, while Democratic presidencies decrease them," Lee explained. "Same with economic variables. Ordinarily, we would label one disease and the other health."
"You do not ordinarily think of the difference of party as a difference of death versus life, and yet here it is," she added. "Controlling for all other variables, the party difference was decisive."
Lee also shared some data from the study showing how violent deaths increase during Republican presidencies.
Although the research covers a period between 1900 and 2010, Lee seemed to connect the historic data with President Donald Trump's current handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the entire study here and view Lee's tweets below.
I did a study that showed consistently, over 110 years, Republican presidencies increase violent death rates, while Democratic presidencies decrease them. Same with economic variables. Ordinarily, we would label one disease and the other health. https://t.co/sqZdFpsAT6 — Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv (@BandyXLee1) March 22, 2020
If we stacked them against each other: pic.twitter.com/ereuViOwFj — Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv (@BandyXLee1) March 22, 2020
I initially did not wish to do this study, but my mentor, the renowned violence expert James Gilligan, insisted on it. So I entered party like any other variable, and I nearly fell out of my chair! Controlling for all other variables, the party difference was decisive. — Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv (@BandyXLee1) March 22, 2020
You do not ordinarily think of the difference of party as a difference of death versus life, and yet here it is.... — Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv (@BandyXLee1) March 22, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Stephanie Grisham Warns Press: 'There's No Reason To Go Backwards And Figure Out What Happened'

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham on Sunday lashed out at the media for reporting on the Trump administration 's failures to act prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States .
`` I don ’ t know why the media has to continue to look backwards , '' Grisham complained to Fox News host Howard Kurtz .
`` The president did n't have a crystal ball there .
And he has acted appropriately .
He has acted appropriately from the beginning . ''
`` He started back in January , '' she added , contradicting Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramped up those efforts . ''
According to Grisham , it 's not appropriate `` for the press to be going backwards . ''
`` There 's no reason to go backwards and figure out tick tocks of what happened when , '' the press secretary opined .
`` We 've got a crisis on our hands .
We 've got a coronavirus in this country .
And the press -- they 've got a real opportunity , if you ask me , to also spread great information to this public . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right when he attacked NBC 's Peter Alexander , who asked if Trump was giving false hope to Americans .
`` The reporter was asking if he 's giving false hope to the American people , I think that was inappropriate , '' Grisham remarked .
`` He 's the commander-in-chief , he 's at the helm of this country and it is his job as president to try and comfort this country and make sure that they know that we 're working towards options that will help people . ''

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham on Sunday lashed out at the media for reporting on the Trump administration's failures to act prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
"I don’t know why the media has to continue to look backwards," Grisham complained to Fox News host Howard Kurtz. "The president didn't have a crystal ball there. And he has acted appropriately. He has acted appropriately from the beginning."
"He started back in January," she added, contradicting Trump's critics. "And he has only ramped up those efforts."
According to Grisham, it's not appropriate "for the press to be going backwards."
"There's no reason to go backwards and figure out tick tocks of what happened when," the press secretary opined. "We've got a crisis on our hands. We've got a coronavirus in this country. And the press -- they've got a real opportunity, if you ask me, to also spread great information to this public."
Grisham insisted that the president was in the right when he attacked NBC's Peter Alexander, who asked if Trump was giving false hope to Americans.
"The reporter was asking if he's giving false hope to the American people, I think that was inappropriate," Grisham remarked. "He's the commander-in-chief, he's at the helm of this country and it is his job as president to try and comfort this country and make sure that they know that we're working towards options that will help people."


crooksandliars--2020-03-22--Fox News Host Grills Mnuchin On Virus Failures: 'Nobody Expected This To Take Off At The Rate It Did

Fox News Host Grills Mnuchin On Virus Failures: 'Nobody Expected This To Take Off At The Rate It Did'

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin insisted on Sunday that `` nobody '' predicted that the new coronavirus pandemic would quickly spread to the United States even though intelligence officials reportedly tried to get the Trump administration to pay attention to the crisis .
During an interview on Fox News Sunday , guest host John Roberts questioned Mnuchin about a recent Washington Post investigation which found that the administration ignored the intelligence officials on the spread of COVID-19 .
`` The intelligence community was giving the White House warnings back in January that the situation coming out of China was very , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a pandemic , '' Roberts explained .
`` Were you ever warned that something like this was coming down pipe because the initial White House reaction appeared to be , 'Oh , do n't worry .
It 's over there in China . '
I was told , why do we need to respond robustly because there 's only 16 cases here . ''
`` Were you ever warned early on by the intelligence community that this was coming ? ''
the Fox News host asked .
`` You know , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence , '' Mnuchin replied .
`` But let me be clear -- and this is not just in the U.S. , this is around the world .
Nobody expected this to take off at the rate it did . ''
`` The situation has changed very quickly and the president has responded to that , '' he added .
The Treasury secretary , however , declined to say if the Trump administration ignored intelligence officials on the COVID-19 outbreak .

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin insisted on Sunday that "nobody" predicted that the new coronavirus pandemic would quickly spread to the United States even though intelligence officials reportedly tried to get the Trump administration to pay attention to the crisis.
During an interview on Fox News Sunday, guest host John Roberts questioned Mnuchin about a recent Washington Post investigation which found that the administration ignored the intelligence officials on the spread of COVID-19.
"The intelligence community was giving the White House warnings back in January that the situation coming out of China was very, very serious and would likely end up in a pandemic," Roberts explained. "Were you ever warned that something like this was coming down pipe because the initial White House reaction appeared to be, 'Oh, don't worry. It's over there in China.' I was told, why do we need to respond robustly because there's only 16 cases here."
"Were you ever warned early on by the intelligence community that this was coming?" the Fox News host asked.
"You know, I want to be careful talking about specific intelligence," Mnuchin replied. "But let me be clear -- and this is not just in the U.S., this is around the world. Nobody expected this to take off at the rate it did."
"The situation has changed very quickly and the president has responded to that," he added.
The Treasury secretary, however, declined to say if the Trump administration ignored intelligence officials on the COVID-19 outbreak.


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Larry Kudlow Makes The 'Die Quickly So We Can Restart The Economy' Argument For Trump

Arguing that `` the cure ca n't be worse than the problem , '' Larry Kudlow argued that reviving the economy was more important than saving lives .
“ The president is right .
The cure can ’ t be worse than the disease , ” Kudlow said on Fox News Channel .
“ And we ’ re going to have to make some difficult trade-offs.
” This comes after Trump tweeted that same language after midnight last night in all caps : At the time , it was unclear what `` 15-day period '' he was referring to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But since then , reports have emerged that he 's getting tired of listening to medical experts .
The Washington Post reports that he 's restless and tired of talking about the virus all the time , every day .
Here 's a suggestion for that : Quit doing the joke press conferences every day .
AP reports that he misses his rallies .
So for him , the rallies and happy talk and self-affirming feedback he gets from his cult is more important .
But it 's HIS BASE he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Faucis and other experts of the world .
This is n't going to be over on March 30th , no matter how hard he wishes , and the total inaction by Trump to get supplies to states and funding to hospitals is a CRIME .
Meanwhile , Jared Kushner is filling Trump 's empty head with conspiracy talk and suggestions that this pandemic should be handled with magic solutions .
Gabe Sherman : Trump ’ s view that he can ignore Fauci ’ s opinion may be influenced by advice he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose outside-the-box efforts have often rankled those in charge of managing the crisis .
According to two sources , Kushner has told Trump about experimental treatments he ’ s heard about from executives in Silicon Valley .
“ Jared is bringing conspiracy theories to Trump about potential treatments , ” a Republican briefed on the conversations told me .
Another former West Wing official told me : “ Trump is like an 11-year-old boy waiting for the fairy godmother to bring him a magic pill.
” It ’ s pulling teeth to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines .
Cities are having to close down public spaces because people simply refuse to observe the social distancing rules that say you need to stay 6 feet away from anyone you don ’ t live with when you go out in public .
If the administration and the Republicans decide that it ’ s “ worth it ” to let the virus run wild it will mean culling the herd by forcing the health care system to make the horrifying decision to allow the elderly and already infirm to die for lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
The economy is n't going to restart until we conquer this virus .
And we are not going to conquer this virus by killing millions in a hurry , the way Trump wants .
Jared Yates Sexton tweeted this , which I thought summarized Kudlow quite well : And to echo John Amato , I 'll just say that Kudlow should have been fired a long time ago for his happy talk and bullshit around this crisis .
This is what we knew would happen if Trump was elected .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be fine with `` culling the herd '' and letting a generation die rather than making rich people suffer some hardship .
UPDATE : As I was writing this , Trump started another press conference wit this nugget : Yep , they want to kill us .

Arguing that "the cure can't be worse than the problem," Larry Kudlow argued that reviving the economy was more important than saving lives. “The president is right. The cure can’t be worse than the disease,” Kudlow said on Fox News Channel. “And we’re going to have to make some difficult trade-offs.”
This comes after Trump tweeted that same language after midnight last night in all caps:
At the time, it was unclear what "15-day period" he was referring to, and what decision he was talking about. But since then, reports have emerged that he's getting tired of listening to medical experts. The Washington Post reports that he's restless and tired of talking about the virus all the time, every day. Here's a suggestion for that: Quit doing the joke press conferences every day.
AP reports that he misses his rallies. So for him, the rallies and happy talk and self-affirming feedback he gets from his cult is more important. But it's HIS BASE he's likely to kill if he quits listening to the Faucis and other experts of the world.
This isn't going to be over on March 30th, no matter how hard he wishes, and the total inaction by Trump to get supplies to states and funding to hospitals is a CRIME.
Meanwhile, Jared Kushner is filling Trump's empty head with conspiracy talk and suggestions that this pandemic should be handled with magic solutions. Gabe Sherman:
Trump’s view that he can ignore Fauci’s opinion may be influenced by advice he’s getting from Jared Kushner, whose outside-the-box efforts have often rankled those in charge of managing the crisis. According to two sources, Kushner has told Trump about experimental treatments he’s heard about from executives in Silicon Valley. “Jared is bringing conspiracy theories to Trump about potential treatments,” a Republican briefed on the conversations told me. Another former West Wing official told me: “Trump is like an 11-year-old boy waiting for the fairy godmother to bring him a magic pill.”
Digby writes:
It’s pulling teeth to get some people to abide by the voluntary guidelines. Cities are having to close down public spaces because people simply refuse to observe the social distancing rules that say you need to stay 6 feet away from anyone you don’t live with when you go out in public. If the administration and the Republicans decide that it’s “worth it” to let the virus run wild it will mean culling the herd by forcing the health care system to make the horrifying decision to allow the elderly and already infirm to die for lack of resources. In America. In 2020.
The economy isn't going to restart until we conquer this virus. And we are not going to conquer this virus by killing millions in a hurry, the way Trump wants.
Jared Yates Sexton tweeted this, which I thought summarized Kudlow quite well:
People need to understand this is the corporate mindset made into government. It's weighing profit against human life and always choosing profit. This is who we have been and why we're in this situation. — Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) March 23, 2020
And to echo John Amato, I'll just say that Kudlow should have been fired a long time ago for his happy talk and bullshit around this crisis. This is what we knew would happen if Trump was elected. Now it's happened, and he seems to be fine with "culling the herd" and letting a generation die rather than making rich people suffer some hardship.
UPDATE: As I was writing this, Trump started another rally press conference wit this nugget:
“We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself” pic.twitter.com/HaP51pKf3i — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) March 23, 2020
Yep, they want to kill us.


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Mitch McConnell Dukes It Out With Joe Manchin After Dems Refuse To Cave On Stimulus

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin duked it out with the Majority Leader because he would n't kowtow to him and allow most of the massive stimulus package go to corporations , Wall Street , and Steve Mnuchin 's $ 500 billion slush fund .
A furious Moscow Mitch was pointing his finger at Senator Manchin and whining about how mean Democrats are for blocking the cloture vote he has been trying to force , but Sen. Manchin came through for the working class and medical professionals today .
While McConnell was blaming Democrats for holding up the stimulus package that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , `` You can throw all the money at Wall Street you want to.
” “ People are afraid to leave their homes , '' he told McConnell .
`` They ’ re afraid of the health care .
I ’ ve got workers who don ’ t have masks .
I ’ ve got health care workers who don ’ t have gowns.
” '' The American people are waiting for us to act today !
We don ’ t have time for this !
We don ’ t have time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Manchin reclaimed his time , reminding McConnell that they should be able to get to a deal by unanimous consent , were it not for the way Republicans are approaching the problem .
“ You can ’ t throw enough money to fix this if you can ’ t fix the health care , ” Manchin said , explaining his objections .
“ My health care workers need to be protected , ” he insisted .
“ But it seems like we ’ re talking about everything else about the economy versus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t make any sense to me whatsoever.
” “ It seems like we ’ re more concerned about the health care of Wall Street , ” he observed .
“ That ’ s the problem that I ’ ve had on this.
” We are now seeing reports saying that Donald Trump is getting tired of experts recommending social distancing as a way to mitigate the spread of the disease and possibly bend the curve .
This means that he is fine with people dying -- thousands and likely millions -- because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record than anything else .
The big sticking point in the negotiations is on the Mnuchin Bucks -- the $ 500 million Wall Street slush fund with no accountability and no money for the little folks .
Is it any wonder Democrats are standing firm ?
If Trump wo n't listen to Manchin on this , then he wo n't listen to anyone .
West Virginia is all in for Trump , but they know Joe Manchin and they know he works for the people .

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin duked it out with the Majority Leader because he wouldn't kowtow to him and allow most of the massive stimulus package go to corporations, Wall Street, and Steve Mnuchin's $500 billion slush fund.
A furious Moscow Mitch was pointing his finger at Senator Manchin and whining about how mean Democrats are for blocking the cloture vote he has been trying to force, but Sen. Manchin came through for the working class and medical professionals today.
While McConnell was blaming Democrats for holding up the stimulus package that was written entirely by Republicans, Manchin said, "You can throw all the money at Wall Street you want to.”
“People are afraid to leave their homes," he told McConnell. "They’re afraid of the health care. I’ve got workers who don’t have masks. I’ve got health care workers who don’t have gowns.”
"The American people are waiting for us to act today! We don’t have time for this! We don’t have time for it!” McConnell yelled back.
Manchin reclaimed his time, reminding McConnell that they should be able to get to a deal by unanimous consent, were it not for the way Republicans are approaching the problem.
“You can’t throw enough money to fix this if you can’t fix the health care,” Manchin said, explaining his objections.
“My health care workers need to be protected,” he insisted. “But it seems like we’re talking about everything else about the economy versus the health care. That doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever.”
“It seems like we’re more concerned about the health care of Wall Street,” he observed. “That’s the problem that I’ve had on this.”
We are now seeing reports saying that Donald Trump is getting tired of experts recommending social distancing as a way to mitigate the spread of the disease and possibly bend the curve. This means that he is fine with people dying -- thousands and likely millions -- because he's more interested in his Wall Street record than anything else.
The big sticking point in the negotiations is on the Mnuchin Bucks -- the $500 million Wall Street slush fund with no accountability and no money for the little folks. Is it any wonder Democrats are standing firm? If Trump won't listen to Manchin on this, then he won't listen to anyone. West Virginia is all in for Trump, but they know Joe Manchin and they know he works for the people.
Karoli Kuns contributed to this article
h/t Raw Story


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Marco Rubio Attcks The Chinese For Only Being 'Interested In Their Image' With COVID-19 Response

As we 've already discussed here , the right and Republicans have been looking for anyone to scapegoat over the spread of the coronavirus other than Dear Leader Trump , and the viewers were treated to yet another example of that on this weekend 's Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo .
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio .
Rubio was asked by Bartiromo about the timeline of the Chinese response to the virus , and was more than happy to pile on in attacking them for making this worse , which they have , but was unwilling to utter a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denying the pandemic and its severity , delaying testing , calling it a `` Democratic hoax , '' and some sort of evil plot designed to keep him from being reelected .
BARTIROMO : Let me take you to really the timeline that we have in terms of when this first started .
One of the issues that we keep talking about is the fact that had we known what was happening sooner , maybe we could have had a better handle on things .
This timeline of the China coronavirus campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They knew about this back in December , but still sent this big delegation to the White House to shake everybody 's hand to do the Phase I China deal .
Then they sent the largest delegation ever to Davos .
What 's your take on what we are hearing coming out of China right now and their disinformation campaign and how do we deal with that ?
RUBIO : Well , my first take is the the entire planet , every government on earth in every country is badly prepared for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , and frankly it 's very bad as it is , but it could 've been far deadly and far worse .
If this is anything like the Spanish flu in terms of mortality we 'd be in tremendous amount of trouble .
The Chinese made that far worse because the way you respond to something like that and a global event of that magnitude is , you immediately declare it to the world , bring in all of the experts and you start working , and you try to contain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You try to keep it from leaving there and getting to other places .
And instead what Chinese authorities were interested in was their image , they did n't want to look bad .
They did n't want to look like they had a problem , and so they covered it up and they punished the people who actually spoke about this openly .
And they were n't open to researchers .
They did n't share the original virus , or they did n't even disclose human to human transmission until very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost four to six weeks here in responding .
We could 've been four to six weeks ahead of this had they been more transparent .
That does n't dissolve us missteps that we 've made or people in Europe have made , or someone else has me , but I can tell you it was made tremendously , much harder by not only did the Chinese not disclose it , they bullied a bunch of countries into not cutting off flights , and so these cases got into other countries as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump did here .

As we've already discussed here, the right and Republicans have been looking for anyone to scapegoat over the spread of the coronavirus other than Dear Leader Trump, and the viewers were treated to yet another example of that on this weekend's Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Rubio was asked by Bartiromo about the timeline of the Chinese response to the virus, and was more than happy to pile on in attacking them for making this worse, which they have, but was unwilling to utter a single word criticizing Trump for his weeks of denying the pandemic and its severity, delaying testing, calling it a "Democratic hoax," and some sort of evil plot designed to keep him from being reelected.
BARTIROMO: Let me take you to really the timeline that we have in terms of when this first started. One of the issues that we keep talking about is the fact that had we known what was happening sooner, maybe we could have had a better handle on things. This timeline of the China coronavirus campaign, where we continue to see disinformation campaign.
They knew about this back in December, but still sent this big delegation to the White House to shake everybody's hand to do the Phase I China deal. Then they sent the largest delegation ever to Davos.
What's your take on what we are hearing coming out of China right now and their disinformation campaign and how do we deal with that?
RUBIO: Well, my first take is the the entire planet, every government on earth in every country is badly prepared for this sort of pandemic that were seeing right now, and frankly it's very bad as it is, but it could've been far deadly and far worse. If this is anything like the Spanish flu in terms of mortality we'd be in tremendous amount of trouble.
The Chinese made that far worse because the way you respond to something like that and a global event of that magnitude is, you immediately declare it to the world, bring in all of the experts and you start working, and you try to contain it to a place where it starts. You try to keep it from leaving there and getting to other places.
And instead what Chinese authorities were interested in was their image, they didn't want to look bad. They didn't want to look like they had a problem, and so they covered it up and they punished the people who actually spoke about this openly. And they weren't open to researchers. They didn't share the original virus, or they didn't even disclose human to human transmission until very late in December. And everybody really lost four to six weeks here in responding. We could've been four to six weeks ahead of this had they been more transparent.
That doesn't dissolve us missteps that we've made or people in Europe have made, or someone else has me, but I can tell you it was made tremendously, much harder by not only did the Chinese not disclose it, they bullied a bunch of countries into not cutting off flights, and so these cases got into other countries as well because they didn't do what president Trump did here.


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--AOC Destroys GOP On Bailouts For Big Business In Emergency Relief Package

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez appeared on `` State of the Union '' yesterday to discuss Congress ' attempts to pass an economic relief bill in the face of the virtual standstill caused by COVID-19 .
The Senate 's bill contained multiple provisions that appeared awfully sweet to large corporations , and gave nearly free reign to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to write the checks .
Thankfully , and thanks to Democratic solidarity , the bill failed .
AOC explained with clarity and urgency what is truly needed to get the economy moving .
Unsurprisingly , it 's the most humane solution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people who have to pay their bills , and whose paychecks have disappeared as a result of this pandemic .
OCASIO-CORTEZ : [ W ] hat we have seen is that almost overnight our entire economy , even the felt economy from jobs , is seizing almost overnight .
So , the question is not just the size but what we are doing with those funds , because if we are having a huge package , and this is something for people to look out for , when this package rolls out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be included in an emergency relief package .
We should be focusing , is unemployment expanding , are we getting checks in people 's hands , are we suspending mortgage , rent , and debt payments ?
If we 're able to do that , if we 're able to get money into households and stop the bleeding with pauses on money going out of households , then we can get working families through this thing .
But if all of this money is going to bailing out the airline industry in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if it 's going to bailing out banks and other industries without helping workers , then it 's not going to be enough and in fact it could be too big .
So it 's really about how we 're using these funds .
TAPPER : So you seem to be suggesting that you support , as a lot of people do in both parties , direct payments to the American people .
Some Democrats have said that the $ 1,200 figure that 's been proposed is way too small .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be giving the public directly and should it go to everyone or just people who need it ?
OCASIO-CORTEZ : Well , so the Financial Services Committee actually released their own plan .
And I am very supportive of that plan , which has about $ 2,000 this month for every American with an additional $ 1,000 per child .
But in addition to that , it stops payments .
So it stops -- it halts mortgage payments , rent payments , and all major consumer debt .
And that is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop the money going out , then that money that you do give goes a much longer way .
So I 'm very supportive of both those measures .

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez appeared on "State of the Union" yesterday to discuss Congress' attempts to pass an economic relief bill in the face of the virtual standstill caused by COVID-19. The Senate's bill contained multiple provisions that appeared awfully sweet to large corporations, and gave nearly free reign to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to write the checks. Thankfully, and thanks to Democratic solidarity, the bill failed.
AOC explained with clarity and urgency what is truly needed to get the economy moving. Unsurprisingly, it's the most humane solution, as well. Write the checks to the people who have to pay their bills, and whose paychecks have disappeared as a result of this pandemic.
OCASIO-CORTEZ: [W]hat we have seen is that almost overnight our entire economy, even the felt economy from jobs, is seizing almost overnight. So, the question is not just the size but what we are doing with those funds, because if we are having a huge package, and this is something for people to look out for, when this package rolls out there is no reason for corporate bailouts to be included in an emergency relief package.
We should be focusing, is unemployment expanding, are we getting checks in people's hands, are we suspending mortgage, rent, and debt payments? If we're able to do that, if we're able to get money into households and stop the bleeding with pauses on money going out of households, then we can get working families through this thing.
But if all of this money is going to bailing out the airline industry in a way that does not help workers, if it's going to bailing out banks and other industries without helping workers, then it's not going to be enough and in fact it could be too big. So it's really about how we're using these funds.
TAPPER: So you seem to be suggesting that you support, as a lot of people do in both parties, direct payments to the American people. Some Democrats have said that the $1,200 figure that's been proposed is way too small.
How much money do you think the government should be giving the public directly and should it go to everyone or just people who need it?
OCASIO-CORTEZ: Well, so the Financial Services Committee actually released their own plan. And I am very supportive of that plan, which has about $2,000 this month for every American with an additional $1,000 per child. But in addition to that, it stops payments.
So it stops -- it halts mortgage payments, rent payments, and all major consumer debt. And that is the key, because when you're able to stop the money going out, then that money that you do give goes a much longer way. So I'm very supportive of both those measures.


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Of Course:  Fox News Attacks On Dr. Anthony Fauci Begin

Dr. Anthony Fauci has become the voice of reason in the Trump administration 's so-called Coronavirus Task Force .
He is often the lone voice of science in the White House as the nation tries to combat the spread , containment , and treatment of the coronavirus .
And the White House is making ridiculous demands upon him .
He 's frequently had to strike a balance between supporting the so-called president , and correcting Trump 's firehose of misleading information during his daily media re-election rallies AKA `` press briefings . ''
But it 's Dr. Fauci 's clarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hope that there are competent people working on the pandemic .
Last week I reported that Laura Ingraham criticized the doctor for moving too slow and being an old-school bureaucrat because he fluffed off the idea that a malaria drug should be used to combat the symptoms of COVID-19 .
On Sunday night , former advisor to the conservative British Prime Minister David Cameron ( who instituted the devastating austerity program in the UK ) and now Fox News host Steve Hilton , attacked Dr. Fauci for intentionally whipping up fear about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief video clip of the doctor , he said , `` Well , that ’ s easy for him to say !
He ’ ll still have a job at the end of this , whatever happens . ''
A medical doctor is n't a spin doctor , you idiot .
No amount of soft-pedaling this outbreak will have any effect on Wall Street or the state of the US economy because it 's so contagious .
Trump tried to make believe it was a democratic hoax and it led to an economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street .
Hilton continued , `` Our ruling class and their TV mouthpieces whipping up fear over this virus , they can afford an indefinite shutdown .
Working Americans can ’ t , they ’ ll be crushed by it . ''
Did you know Dr. Fauci is a mouthpiece for the ruling class ?
`` You know that famous phrase , ‘ The cure is worse than the disease ?
’ That is exactly the territory we are hurling towards .
Do you think it ’ s just the coronavirus that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will kill people , ” Hilton opined .
In other words , stop stepping on Trump .
No matter what lie he tells the American people about the virus or who we are dealing with it .
Everybody is worried and many and in panic over this outbreak , but do n't blame the doctors trying to quail the tide , it 's not their job to lie to the American people .
... Mr. Trump has become frustrated with Dr. Fauci ’ s blunt approach at the briefing lectern , which often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to two people familiar with the dynamic .
Mr. Trump knows that Dr. Fauci is seen as credible with a large swath of the public and with journalists , and so he has given him more leeway to contradict him than he has other officials .
But the president has also resisted portraying the virus as an existential threat in a way that the public health experts have .
How long will it take for Trump to replace Dr. Fauci with a Richard Grenell-type loyalist ?

Dr. Anthony Fauci has become the voice of reason in the Trump administration's so-called Coronavirus Task Force.
He is often the lone voice of science in the White House as the nation tries to combat the spread, containment, and treatment of the coronavirus.
And the White House is making ridiculous demands upon him. He's frequently had to strike a balance between supporting the so-called president, and correcting Trump's firehose of misleading information during his daily media re-election rallies AKA "press briefings."
But it's Dr. Fauci's clarity that has given the American people hope. Hope that there are competent people working on the pandemic.
Last week I reported that Laura Ingraham criticized the doctor for moving too slow and being an old-school bureaucrat because he fluffed off the idea that a malaria drug should be used to combat the symptoms of COVID-19.
On Sunday night, former advisor to the conservative British Prime Minister David Cameron (who instituted the devastating austerity program in the UK) and now Fox News host Steve Hilton, attacked Dr. Fauci for intentionally whipping up fear about the coronavirus.
After Hilton played a brief video clip of the doctor, he said, "Well, that’s easy for him to say! He’ll still have a job at the end of this, whatever happens."
A medical doctor isn't a spin doctor, you idiot. No amount of soft-pedaling this outbreak will have any effect on Wall Street or the state of the US economy because it's so contagious. Trump tried to make believe it was a democratic hoax and it led to an economic disaster. Nobody trusts him, especially Wall Street.
Hilton continued, "Our ruling class and their TV mouthpieces whipping up fear over this virus, they can afford an indefinite shutdown. Working Americans can’t, they’ll be crushed by it."
Did you know Dr. Fauci is a mouthpiece for the ruling class?
"You know that famous phrase, ‘The cure is worse than the disease?’ That is exactly the territory we are hurling towards. Do you think it’s just the coronavirus that kills people? This total economic shutdown will kill people,” Hilton opined.
In other words, stop stepping on Trump. No matter what lie he tells the American people about the virus or who we are dealing with it.
Everybody is worried and many and in panic over this outbreak, but don't blame the doctors trying to quail the tide, it's not their job to lie to the American people.
Lou Dobbs would be proud.
The NY Times reports:
...Mr. Trump has become frustrated with Dr. Fauci’s blunt approach at the briefing lectern, which often contradicts things the president has just said, according to two people familiar with the dynamic. Mr. Trump knows that Dr. Fauci is seen as credible with a large swath of the public and with journalists, and so he has given him more leeway to contradict him than he has other officials. But the president has also resisted portraying the virus as an existential threat in a way that the public health experts have.
How long will it take for Trump to replace Dr. Fauci with a Richard Grenell-type loyalist?


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Forty Percent Of America Is A Lost Cause Because Of Right Wing Media

Thank you , David Corn , for reminding viewers that MAGA Trumpers ignoring the COVID warnings are a result of 40 years of the Republican Party and right wing media telling their sycophants , that `` you ca n't trust the government . ''
From Sunday 's AM Joy : JOY ANN REID : Rick , I see you nodding in there because the challenge is , is that the tough coverage that Donald Trump is getting , you know , from journalists , that is deservedly tough because he really was slow on the uptake , then reinforces for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get him ' and that they 're not saying that the coronavirus crisis is a crisis and pandemic because it 's true but just because it hurts him .
I 've had friends emailing me things they 're getting from people -- family members and friends on Facebook saying it 's all a lie , they still believe it .
They believe his pivot is n't real .
The danger is real .
This keeping away from one another and doing our social distancing only works if everybody does it .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe the tough coverage is just out to get him rather than trying to save lives , we have a problem .
RICK WILSON : I mean , look , Joy , the Trump-adi Caucus , the small number of true believer Trumpers who will not be touched by this , I suspect they 'll be going to a lot of funerals because they 're going to be the people who helped spread this .
We had a Florida legislator , Mike Hill , post on Facebook a bunch of guys joking they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These people who believe everything Trump says .
Trump has said , they 've had seven weeks hearing this is a fake thing , it 's a hoax , the media is out to get him , and this is where science and the Trump reality bubble collide .
And those people that are laughing it off right now are going to be the ones who have a proximate responsibility for the fact this is going to take longer and cost more lives than it should have .
I know -- let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ REID : Yeah .
I mean , let me go to David and Jennifer on this question .
What do you do , from your point of view , David , and then from `` The Washington Post , '' Jennifer , the media you 're coming from , just like the one I 'm working with , are not going to break through to the other side .
And so when you 're approaching these stories , is your goal to try to break through to the other side or just to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who are open to believing reality ?
DAVID CORN : I think we 've lost the other side .
I think , you know , and Rick has written about this , it 's become a cult .
They believe what Trump says .
They believe what they read in Breitbart and OANN , whatever it is .
They 're not persuadable .
I do n't think they 'll be persuadable even at the funerals Rick is talking about .
We 're about to go through this massive societal dislocation with thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , neighbors , and strangers passing because of government ineptitude .
I 'm not sure that 's going to sway anyone .
The Republicans , sorry Rick , spent four decades saying `` government was terrible .
You ca n't trust government . ''
And saying , a lot of them saying , `` the liberal media '' and bashing , bashing , bashing `` the liberal media '' .
Trump was not the first guy to do this .
And so this is all colliding now after decades , with Trump being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equation .
And I think we 've lost 20 % , 30 % , 40 % of the population .
It 's all about the rest of us , which is a majority , banding together and doing the best we can to get through this and get through the remaining years of the Trump presidency .

Thank you, David Corn, for reminding viewers that MAGA Trumpers ignoring the COVID warnings are a result of 40 years of the Republican Party and right wing media telling their sycophants, that "you can't trust the government." From Sunday's AM Joy:
JOY ANN REID: Rick, I see you nodding in there because the challenge is, is that the tough coverage that Donald Trump is getting, you know, from journalists, that is deservedly tough because he really was slow on the uptake, then reinforces for his followers that 'the media is out to get him' and that they're not saying that the coronavirus crisis is a crisis and pandemic because it's true but just because it hurts him. I've had friends emailing me things they're getting from people -- family members and friends on Facebook saying it's all a lie, they still believe it. They believe his pivot isn't real. The danger is real. This keeping away from one another and doing our social distancing only works if everybody does it. If his people don't believe it and believe the tough coverage is just out to get him rather than trying to save lives, we have a problem.
RICK WILSON: I mean, look, Joy, the Trump-adi Caucus, the small number of true believer Trumpers who will not be touched by this, I suspect they'll be going to a lot of funerals because they're going to be the people who helped spread this. We had a Florida legislator, Mike Hill, post on Facebook a bunch of guys joking they're not going to do social distancing. These people who believe everything Trump says. Trump has said, they've had seven weeks hearing this is a fake thing, it's a hoax, the media is out to get him, and this is where science and the Trump reality bubble collide. And those people that are laughing it off right now are going to be the ones who have a proximate responsibility for the fact this is going to take longer and cost more lives than it should have. I know -- let me ask -- it's true.
REID: Yeah. I mean, let me go to David and Jennifer on this question. What do you do, from your point of view, David, and then from "The Washington Post," Jennifer, the media you're coming from, just like the one I'm working with, are not going to break through to the other side. And so when you're approaching these stories, is your goal to try to break through to the other side or just to try to inform as much as possible those who are open to believing reality?
DAVID CORN: I think we've lost the other side. I think, you know, and Rick has written about this, it's become a cult. They believe what Trump says. They believe what they read in Breitbart and OANN, whatever it is. They're not persuadable. I don't think they'll be persuadable even at the funerals Rick is talking about. We're about to go through this massive societal dislocation with thousands of our fellow Americans, loved ones, neighbors, and strangers passing because of government ineptitude. I'm not sure that's going to sway anyone.
The Republicans, sorry Rick, spent four decades saying "government was terrible. You can't trust government." And saying, a lot of them saying, "the liberal media" and bashing, bashing, bashing "the liberal media". Trump was not the first guy to do this. And so this is all colliding now after decades, with Trump being the culmination on both sides of that equation. And I think we've lost 20%, 30%, 40% of the population. It's all about the rest of us, which is a majority, banding together and doing the best we can to get through this and get through the remaining years of the Trump presidency.


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Trump Mocks Mitt Romney For Going Into 'Self Quarantine'

During yesterday 's marathon of a supposed coronavirus update ( really a poorly-disguised Trump rally ) , a reporter asked Donald about the health of Rand Paul and when was the last time he 'd seen him .
Trump said , `` Gee , I think it was quite a while ago . ''
The reporter then asked about four other Republican senators who are in isolation and inquired about the rules of voting within the Senate because of their absence .
Trump interrupted and asked , `` Who are they ? ''
`` Romney and Sen. Mike Lee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-quarantine Sunday after news of Paul ’ s diagnosis .
Sens .
Cory Gardner , R-Colorado , and Rick Scott , R-Florida , are also in self-quarantine after contact with individuals who tested positive , '' Slate reported .
Utah senator Mitt Romney , a Republican Trump critic was listed as one of four other Republican in isolation and the reporter continued to ask about the vote on the stimulus package when Trump interrupted .
“ Gee , that ’ s too bad .
Go ahead , ” Trump replied with sarcasm draped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another low point of leadership for Donald Trump .
All of these faux coronavirus press conferences are laced with inaccuracies , lies , braggadocio , anger and vitriol against anyone he deems not loyal to his aura .
As usual , Trump is more worried about himself , and his reelection than the people his White House is supposed to and look out for .
As Philip Bump of the Washington Post recalled : '' On Feb. 13 , there were about a dozen known coronavirus cases in the United States , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Pacific Northwest .
Frustrated with New York immigration laws , Trump had locked state residents out of a federal program meant to speed international travel .
Cuomo was scheduled to visit the White House to discuss the freeze , but Trump offered some apparent preconditions on Twitter .
One was that the state should stop investigating Trump and seeking his tax returns . ''
A pandemic is spreading in the country and the governor of New York wants to come to the White House to discuss the issue and the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is investigating him .

During yesterday's marathon of a supposed coronavirus update (really a poorly-disguised Trump rally), a reporter asked Donald about the health of Rand Paul and when was the last time he'd seen him.
Trump said, "Gee, I think it was quite a while ago."
The reporter then asked about four other Republican senators who are in isolation and inquired about the rules of voting within the Senate because of their absence.
Trump interrupted and asked, "Who are they?"
"Romney and Sen. Mike Lee, also of Utah, said they would self-quarantine Sunday after news of Paul’s diagnosis. Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, and Rick Scott, R-Florida, are also in self-quarantine after contact with individuals who tested positive," Slate reported.
Utah senator Mitt Romney, a Republican Trump critic was listed as one of four other Republican in isolation and the reporter continued to ask about the vote on the stimulus package when Trump interrupted.
“Romney’s in isolation?” he asked?
“Gee, that’s too bad. Go ahead,” Trump replied with sarcasm draped around every letter.
The reporter asked, “Do I detect sarcasm there, sir?”
“No, none whatsoever,” Trump replied.
This is yet another low point of leadership for Donald Trump. All of these faux coronavirus press conferences are laced with inaccuracies, lies, braggadocio, anger and vitriol against anyone he deems not loyal to his aura.
As usual, Trump is more worried about himself, and his reelection than the people his White House is supposed to and look out for.
As Philip Bump of the Washington Post recalled:
"On Feb. 13, there were about a dozen known coronavirus cases in the United States, but it was already spreading in the wild in the Pacific Northwest. Frustrated with New York immigration laws, Trump had locked state residents out of a federal program meant to speed international travel. Cuomo was scheduled to visit the White House to discuss the freeze, but Trump offered some apparent preconditions on Twitter. One was that the state should stop investigating Trump and seeking his tax returns."
A pandemic is spreading in the country and the governor of New York wants to come to the White House to discuss the issue and the only thing Trump sees is that the SDNY is investigating him.


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Ben Carson: Trump Is Promoting Untested Drug Because He's A Businessman

Trump surrogates will say anything at all to defend and protect Donald Trump from his narcissistic and imbecilic thoughts and words to Americans , especially during a pandemic .
For a few days now Donald Trump has promoted the idea that a malaria drug might be useful in combating the virus to the point where Dr. Fauci was forced to explain this drug has not been tested as a treatment and there is no data to support the hypothesis .
Fox News hosts like Laura Ingraham and others have been parroting Donald Trump 's call for the use of hydroxyquinoline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Trump says he always has the backing of his State-sponsored TV network .
Saturday night , Jeanine Pirro trotted out Trump supporter and HUD Secretary Ben Carson , who was allegedly a doctor at one time but has since abandoned that to be a flack for Trump .
Still , he 's a former brain surgeon from John Hopkins so you 'd hope to hear a real medical opinion .
Instead we get another imbecile trying to validate Trump 's idiotic suggestions that an untested drug could help those suffering .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval for individuals who now have the coronavirus , but is it available for those who want to be able to use it until we get to the point where we have a cure or at least a vaccine ? ''
Pirro asked hopefully .
`` These are prescription drugs that they have utilized for many , many years , '' Carson replied .
`` With hydroxyquinoline , it has been used for malaria for decades but it has n't been used in this particular context . ''
Ben Carson then attacked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who 've tried to gin up a fight between the president and Dr. Fauci , when there is no room for a fight there . ''
Hey , Ben .
Why not just give everybody who is infected with the virus mercury like they did to try and cure syphilis hundreds of years ago ?
`` Because simply because Doctor Fauci is saying we do n't have the data to prove over the long-term that this is effective and totally safe in this setting , '' Carson said , echoing Fauci .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything ( long or short term ) about the use of hydroxyquinoline against COVID-19 .
`` And the president is saying , you know by the time we get that data , it 'll be too late for a lot of people and we know that it has been used in lots of setting safely so let 's maybe take a little more risk , because we get a lot more upside , '' Carson continued .
So we waste valuable resources to stroke Trump 's massive ego during a health crisis ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people is his fault .
Ever .
Incredibly , Carson actually said this : `` And that 's sort of the difference between a business person and a scientist .
A scientist everything has to be , clink clink clink and with the business person , it 's wing this versus that . ''
Ben Carson is the new Secretary of the Department of Snake Oil Sales of the Trump administration .
There is no salesman outside of a con artist that would promote anything at all that is not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is something you 'd see on an Alex Jones video or a conspiracy website , but now we have Trump and a former brain surgeon debating the merits of quackery , giving Americans false hope about a drug that has not been tested as a treatment for the coronavirus .
It is criminal .
Everybody , and I mean everybody hopes a treatment for COVID-19 happens as soon as possible , but promoting willy-nilly nonsense is dangerous and crazy and not what any medical doctor of any stature would prescribe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the television and networks need to stop giving him free re-election airtime instead of an actual briefing by the medical team .

Trump surrogates will say anything at all to defend and protect Donald Trump from his narcissistic and imbecilic thoughts and words to Americans, especially during a pandemic.
For a few days now Donald Trump has promoted the idea that a malaria drug might be useful in combating the virus to the point where Dr. Fauci was forced to explain this drug has not been tested as a treatment and there is no data to support the hypothesis.
Fox News hosts like Laura Ingraham and others have been parroting Donald Trump's call for the use of hydroxyquinoline, an antimalarial medication. No matter what Trump says he always has the backing of his State-sponsored TV network.
Saturday night, Jeanine Pirro trotted out Trump supporter and HUD Secretary Ben Carson, who was allegedly a doctor at one time but has since abandoned that to be a flack for Trump.
Still, he's a former brain surgeon from John Hopkins so you'd hope to hear a real medical opinion. Instead we get another imbecile trying to validate Trump's idiotic suggestions that an untested drug could help those suffering.
"I realize this doesn't have FDA approval for individuals who now have the coronavirus, but is it available for those who want to be able to use it until we get to the point where we have a cure or at least a vaccine?" Pirro asked hopefully.
"These are prescription drugs that they have utilized for many, many years," Carson replied. "With hydroxyquinoline, it has been used for malaria for decades but it hasn't been used in this particular context."
No sh*t.
Ben Carson then attacked the media. "There's been some who've tried to gin up a fight between the president and Dr. Fauci, when there is no room for a fight there."
Hey, Ben. Why not just give everybody who is infected with the virus mercury like they did to try and cure syphilis hundreds of years ago?
Maybe that'll work too.
"Because simply because Doctor Fauci is saying we don't have the data to prove over the long-term that this is effective and totally safe in this setting," Carson said, echoing Fauci.
We have no data at all to prove anything (long or short term) about the use of hydroxyquinoline against COVID-19.
"And the president is saying, you know by the time we get that data, it'll be too late for a lot of people and we know that it has been used in lots of setting safely so let's maybe take a little more risk, because we get a lot more upside," Carson continued.
So we waste valuable resources to stroke Trump's massive ego during a health crisis?
Nothing Trump does that's detrimental to the American people is his fault. Ever.
Incredibly, Carson actually said this: "And that's sort of the difference between a business person and a scientist. A scientist everything has to be, clink clink clink and with the business person, it's wing this versus that."
Ben Carson is the new Secretary of the Department of Snake Oil Sales of the Trump administration.
There is no salesman outside of a con artist that would promote anything at all that is not the real deal, proven by actual science.
This is something you'd see on an Alex Jones video or a conspiracy website, but now we have Trump and a former brain surgeon debating the merits of quackery, giving Americans false hope about a drug that has not been tested as a treatment for the coronavirus. It is criminal.
Everybody, and I mean everybody hopes a treatment for COVID-19 happens as soon as possible, but promoting willy-nilly nonsense is dangerous and crazy and not what any medical doctor of any stature would prescribe.
This is why Trump needs to get off the television and networks need to stop giving him free re-election airtime instead of an actual briefing by the medical team.


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Italian Mayors Rage At Lockdown Dodgers

Italian Mayors Rage At Lockdown Dodgers

“ I ’ m getting news that some would like to throw graduation parties .
We will send the police over .
But we will send them over with flamethrowers ! ''
said an exasperated Vincenzo De Luca .
A compilation video of mayors lambasting people for flouting coronavirus quarantine rules has struck a chord with Italians , who have shared it in their thousands on social media .
People have been jogging , playing ping-pong on the beach and walking their dogs more often than usual as an excuse to venture out .
One of the mayors said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jog up and down the street , accompanied by a dog that was visibly worn out .
I stopped and told him : ‘ Look , this isn ’ t a film .
You are not Will Smith in I Am Legend .
So , you have to go home.
’ ” Another said : “ Where the fuck are you all going ?
You and your dogs … which must have an inflamed prostate ?
” The appeal came as the Italian government banned any travel inside the country and closed all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus after a weekend in which more than 1,400 people died .

“I’m getting news that some would like to throw graduation parties. We will send the police over. But we will send them over with flamethrowers!" said an exasperated Vincenzo De Luca.
Source: The Guardian
A compilation video of mayors lambasting people for flouting coronavirus quarantine rules has struck a chord with Italians, who have shared it in their thousands on social media.
People have been jogging, playing ping-pong on the beach and walking their dogs more often than usual as an excuse to venture out.
One of the mayors said: “I saw a fellow citizen amiably jog up and down the street, accompanied by a dog that was visibly worn out. I stopped and told him: ‘Look, this isn’t a film. You are not Will Smith in I Am Legend. So, you have to go home.’”
Another said: “Where the fuck are you all going? You and your dogs … which must have an inflamed prostate?”
The appeal came as the Italian government banned any travel inside the country and closed all non-essential businesses to stem the spread of coronavirus after a weekend in which more than 1,400 people died.


crooksandliars--2020-03-23--Michigan Governor Says GOP Lawmakers Forced Reversal After She Banned Church Gatherings Of 50 Or Mor

Michigan Governor Says GOP Lawmakers Forced Reversal After She Banned Church Gatherings Of 50 Or More

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ( D ) said on Sunday that Republicans were to blame for an exemption that allows churches to gather in groups of 50 or more during the COVID-19 outbreak .
Whitmer told Fox News Sunday guest host John Roberts that GOP lawmakers contacted her after she issued an executive order on Monday banning gatherings of 50 or more .
`` One thing that kind of puzzles me is that you have limited groups of people to 50 or fewer , '' Roberts explained .
`` Yet , there is an exemption for places of worship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be any less likely to transmit diseases in a larger gathering than another place ? ''
`` It 's not , '' Whitmer agreed .
`` And we 're discouraging people from gathering at all . ''
`` So , why this exemption ? ''
Roberts pressed .
`` Well , you know , the separation of church and state , and the Republican legislature asked me to clarify that that 's an area that we do n't have the ability to enforce and control , '' Whitmer said .
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said on Sunday that Republicans were to blame for an exemption that allows churches to gather in groups of 50 or more during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Whitmer told Fox News Sunday guest host John Roberts that GOP lawmakers contacted her after she issued an executive order on Monday banning gatherings of 50 or more.
"One thing that kind of puzzles me is that you have limited groups of people to 50 or fewer," Roberts explained. "Yet, there is an exemption for places of worship. Why would a place of worship be any less likely to transmit diseases in a larger gathering than another place?"
"It's not," Whitmer agreed. "And we're discouraging people from gathering at all."
"So, why this exemption?" Roberts pressed.
"Well, you know, the separation of church and state, and the Republican legislature asked me to clarify that that's an area that we don't have the ability to enforce and control," Whitmer said. "We are encouraging people though, do not congregate."