crooksandliars--2020-05-18--'What's Your Source?' C-SPAN Host Argues With Caller Claiming COVID-19 Is 'Man-Made'

C-SPAN host Steve Scully on Sunday faced off against a caller who accused his network of being part of a liberal media conspiracy to spread disinformation about the novel coronavirus pandemic .
A man from Minnesota began his call to C-SPAN 's Washington Journal by speculating that the virus was created in a laboratory -- although experts have said that it likely came from bats .
`` I think you need to start getting some people on to answer true questions , '' Brad said .
`` And the true question is this .
The question would be , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural occurrence , which would be one thing or was it man-made ? ''
Scully pointed out that Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that the virus is not man-made .
`` He does n't know that ! ''
Brad exclaimed before claiming that there are no infected bats near where the virus was first spotted .
`` What 's your source for that ? ''
the C-SPAN host asked .
`` Well , I ca n't source the actual paper that wrote it , '' the caller admitted .
`` It 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ C-SPAN network for what he alleged were ties to other media outlets .
`` You have to distance yourself from The Washington Post , The New York Times , MSNBC and CNN -- the true people that are controlling the Democratic Party , '' Brad insisted .
`` And you 're part of it .
And if you do n't cut your ties , you 're going to go right down with them too . ''
`` Brad , we do n't have any ties to The New York Times , '' Scully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let me look at your financials and find out any gifts or anything you 've ever gotten , '' the caller ranted .
`` Zero , '' Scully said .
`` Brad , zero .
We 're funded completely by the cable industry .
We 've had zero dollars from any of those news organizations or networks . ''
`` No , '' Scully remarked .
`` That 's not true .
Zero .
For me and for this network .
Not once . ''
`` Can I look at all of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Brad , what is your point ? ''
Scully demanded to know .
`` The point is if it 's a natural occurrence , the virus , you ca n't change a natural occurrence , '' Brad opined .
`` All I 'm telling you is based on Dr. Anthony Fauci , who is the leading expert on this , has said that it 's not man-made , '' Scully noted , repeating his earlier point .
`` It absolutely is man-made ! ''
Brad shot back .
`` I 'll bet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bet that it 's man-made . ''
Before the show was over , Scully faced another caller 's conspiracy theory claiming cell phones are spreading the virus .
`` Nobody is talking about how the virus is being spread , '' a woman calling from New York told the C-SPAN host .
`` I , for one , do n't have a cell phone .
I do n't want to use anything wireless .
And we do n't know if this is reducing our immune system . ''
`` Please , Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about these issues , '' she added .
`` These wireless technologies have not been proven safe . ''
`` Thank you for the call , '' Scully politely replied .
`` Of course , if you have a cell phone , the CDC is recommending that you wipe it down with an alcohol swab or soap and water or a cloth to keep it clean and to do so on a regular and repeated basis . ''

C-SPAN host Steve Scully on Sunday faced off against a caller who accused his network of being part of a liberal media conspiracy to spread disinformation about the novel coronavirus pandemic.
A man from Minnesota began his call to C-SPAN's Washington Journal by speculating that the virus was created in a laboratory -- although experts have said that it likely came from bats.
"I think you need to start getting some people on to answer true questions," Brad said. "And the true question is this. The question would be, is the corona-Chinese-Wuhan virus, is it a natural occurrence, which would be one thing or was it man-made?"
Scully pointed out that Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that the virus is not man-made.
"He doesn't know that!" Brad exclaimed before claiming that there are no infected bats near where the virus was first spotted.
"What's your source for that?" the C-SPAN host asked.
"Well, I can't source the actual paper that wrote it," the caller admitted. "It's a fact."
Brad then attacked the C-SPAN network for what he alleged were ties to other media outlets.
"You have to distance yourself from The Washington Post, The New York Times, MSNBC and CNN -- the true people that are controlling the Democratic Party," Brad insisted. "And you're part of it. And if you don't cut your ties, you're going to go right down with them too."
"Brad, we don't have any ties to The New York Times," Scully interrupted.
"I'll bet -- let me look at your financials and find out any gifts or anything you've ever gotten," the caller ranted.
"Zero," Scully said. "Brad, zero. We're funded completely by the cable industry. We've had zero dollars from any of those news organizations or networks."
"I'm saying you've been gifted things," Brad replied.
"No," Scully remarked. "That's not true. Zero. For me and for this network. Not once."
"Can I look at all of your finances?" the caller said.
"Brad, what is your point?" Scully demanded to know.
"The point is if it's a natural occurrence, the virus, you can't change a natural occurrence," Brad opined.
"All I'm telling you is based on Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the leading expert on this, has said that it's not man-made," Scully noted, repeating his earlier point.
"It absolutely is man-made!" Brad shot back. "I'll bet you any amount of money you want to bet that it's man-made."
Before the show was over, Scully faced another caller's conspiracy theory claiming cell phones are spreading the virus.
"Nobody is talking about how the virus is being spread," a woman calling from New York told the C-SPAN host. "I, for one, don't have a cell phone. I don't want to use anything wireless. And we don't know if this is reducing our immune system."
"Please, Steve, bring people on your program to talk about these issues," she added. "These wireless technologies have not been proven safe."
"Thank you for the call," Scully politely replied. "Of course, if you have a cell phone, the CDC is recommending that you wipe it down with an alcohol swab or soap and water or a cloth to keep it clean and to do so on a regular and repeated basis."


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--COVID Denier Is Now COVID Survivor: 'Please Use Wisdom And Don’t Be Foolish Like I Was'

I just watched another 60 something mask-less Republican woman in Arizona standing in a crowd of others just like herself tell the news media that she thinks the Coronavirus is not worse than a cold or the flu and she has no fear of it .
( She also weirdly said that they don ’ t even have a name for it yet , which she didn ’ t explain . )
Maybe she will listen to this fellow : A Florida man who thought the coronavirus was “ a fake crisis ” has changed his mind after he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by the virus .
Brian Hitchens , a rideshare driver who lives in Jupiter , downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus in Facebook posts in March and April .
“ I ’ m honoring what our government says to do during this epidemic but I do not fear this virus because I know that my God is bigger than this Virus will ever be , ” he wrote in a post on April 2 .
“ Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
” In mid-April , Hitchens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife ’ s health on Facebook .
“ Been home sick for over a week .
Both my wife and I home sick , ” he wrote in a post on April 18 .
“ I ’ ve got no energy and all I want to do is sleep.
” A day later , Hitchens and his wife , Erin , were admitted to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center , Hitchens said in a Facebook post .
Hitchens could not immediately be reached for comment Monday .
The voicemail box for a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lengthy post on May 12 , Hitchens said that he was once among those who thought the coronavirus “ is a fake crisis ” that was “ blown out of proportion ” and “ wasn ’ t that serious.
” That changed when he started to feel sick in April and stopped working , he wrote .
Hitchens said he “ had just enough energy ” to drive himself and his wife to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center on April 19 , where they both tested positive for the virus .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both went to ICU , ” he wrote .
“ I started feeling better within a few days but my wife got worse to the point where they sedated her and put her on the ventilator.
” Hitchens said he never experienced terrible aches and pains but felt weak and exhausted .
He said he felt better on May 12 , at which point he had been in the hospital for three weeks , and that he still had COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
He also said he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of today my wife is still sedated and on the ventilator with no signs of improving , ” Hitchens wrote .
“ There were a couple times were they tried to start weaning her off the ventilator but as soon as they ’ ve done that her oxygen level dropped and they had to put her back on the ventilator full time.
” He said his wife of eight years has been sick “ quite a few times ” in the past and she always fought through .
This time , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that my wife may pass away.
” Hitchens , who has been unable to see his wife since they were hospitalized , said he was holding out hope she would recover .
“ This thing is nothing to be messed with please listen to the authorities and heed the advice of the experts , ” he wrote .
“ We don ’ t have to fear this and by heeding the advice doesn ’ t mean that you fear it that means you ’ re showing wisdom during this epidemic time.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 500 times .
Hitchens implored people to “ use wisdom.
” “ Looking back I should have wore a mask in the beginning but I didn ’ t and perhaps I ’ m paying the price for it now , ” he wrote .
If he passed the virus on to his wife , he said , he knows that she and God forgive him .
“ So just think about what I said and if you have to go out please use wisdom and don ’ t be foolish like I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing won ’ t happen to you like it happened to me and my wife , ” he wrote .

I just watched another 60 something mask-less Republican woman in Arizona standing in a crowd of others just like herself tell the news media that she thinks the Coronavirus is not worse than a cold or the flu and she has no fear of it. (She also weirdly said that they don’t even have a name for it yet, which she didn’t explain.)
Maybe she will listen to this fellow:
A Florida man who thought the coronavirus was “a fake crisis” has changed his mind after he and his wife contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Brian Hitchens, a rideshare driver who lives in Jupiter, downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus in Facebook posts in March and April.
“I’m honoring what our government says to do during this epidemic but I do not fear this virus because I know that my God is bigger than this Virus will ever be,” he wrote in a post on April 2. “Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
In mid-April, Hitchens, 46, began documenting his and his wife’s health on Facebook. “Been home sick for over a week. Both my wife and I home sick,” he wrote in a post on April 18. “I’ve got no energy and all I want to do is sleep.” A day later, Hitchens and his wife, Erin, were admitted to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Hitchens said in a Facebook post.
Hitchens could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. The voicemail box for a number listed for him is full. In a lengthy post on May 12, Hitchens said that he was once among those who thought the coronavirus “is a fake crisis” that was “blown out of proportion” and “wasn’t that serious.”
That changed when he started to feel sick in April and stopped working, he wrote. Hitchens said he “had just enough energy” to drive himself and his wife to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center on April 19, where they both tested positive for the virus. “They admitted us right away and we both went to ICU,” he wrote. “I started feeling better within a few days but my wife got worse to the point where they sedated her and put her on the ventilator.”
Hitchens said he never experienced terrible aches and pains but felt weak and exhausted. He said he felt better on May 12, at which point he had been in the hospital for three weeks, and that he still had COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. He also said he had pneumonia in his lungs.
“As of today my wife is still sedated and on the ventilator with no signs of improving,” Hitchens wrote. “There were a couple times were they tried to start weaning her off the ventilator but as soon as they’ve done that her oxygen level dropped and they had to put her back on the ventilator full time.”
He said his wife of eight years has been sick “quite a few times” in the past and she always fought through. This time, he said, “I have come to accept that my wife may pass away.” Hitchens, who has been unable to see his wife since they were hospitalized, said he was holding out hope she would recover.
“This thing is nothing to be messed with please listen to the authorities and heed the advice of the experts,” he wrote. “We don’t have to fear this and by heeding the advice doesn’t mean that you fear it that means you’re showing wisdom during this epidemic time.”
The May 12 post has been shared more than 500 times. Hitchens implored people to “use wisdom.” “Looking back I should have wore a mask in the beginning but I didn’t and perhaps I’m paying the price for it now,” he wrote. If he passed the virus on to his wife, he said, he knows that she and God forgive him.
“So just think about what I said and if you have to go out please use wisdom and don’t be foolish like I was so the same so the same thing won’t happen to you like it happened to me and my wife,” he wrote.


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Muffy, We Have To Make The Peasants Work And Shop Again!

If you 've been thinking , Gosh darn it , why does n't anyone ever ask obscenely rich , privileged people what they 'd like us to be doing in response to the coronavirus crisis ?
, you just got your wish : Vanity Fair 's William D. Cohan now brings us the voices of the unheard .
It seems to have escaped Cohan 's notice that the Republican Party and the Trump administration seem to be listening exclusively to plutocrats who say exactly this .
Those plutocrats , admittedly , are from elesewhere in the country , not Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel sorry for the Wall Streeters as a result .
The number is actually 265 million people , according to an April 21 story in The Guardian .
But that 's up from the usual 130 million people .
Funny , I never knew a Wall Streeter to express any discomfort about 130 million people starving worldwide .
But 265 million ?
I guess that 's where they draw the line !
Yes , and the Stop TB Partnership 's remedy for that is a continued focus on TB monitoring , testing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The group does n't say this increase is inevitable or that we have to accept mass death from COVID-19 as the price we pay for keeping TB deaths at their usual level .
Do you find it a tad suspicious that these Wall Streeters spontaneously responded to Cohan 's questions with heart-tugging but little-known statisics about global health , as if they sit around their Hamptons homes every day reading WHO reports ?
Why , if I were a cynical man , I 'd suspect that they reagarded Cohen 's article as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they believe will make them more money , and sent surrogates out in search of tear-jerking stats that would make their entirely selfish point .
We 're being lectured on life-and-death courage by a man who 's afraid to let a sympathetic reporter use his name .
Admittedly , not every one of Cohan 's interviewees is so reticent : Kim Fennebresque , a longtime Wall Street investment banker , has had successful stints at First Boston , Lazard ( where I met him ) , UBS , and as the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small , independent investment bank .
He ’ s had enough health issues lately to make him especially vulnerable to COVID-19 , if he were to contract it .
Nevertheless , Fennebresque believes the time has come to open up the economy , especially in those regions of the country where , so far anyway , it has had less of a devastating impact .
He agrees the debate has been poorly framed .
“ In terms of money versus lives , it really reduces it to a silly trade-off , because that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he says “ People will die .
People do die .
People my age die .
It happens , right ?
It can happen with a flu epidemic .
People can die .
People have to take care of themselves and wash their hands .
People have to stay in and do lots of things , and 5,000 people can ’ t go running to a beach the day it opens .
You do that and it has consequences .
People have to take responsibility for their own lives .
And people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happens.
” Fennebresque is 70 years old .
He used to be a hotshot , but now he mostly sits on boards .
I bet he never has to leave the house to communicate with fellow board members .
He certainly does n't have to ride the subway in a hot zone ( I wonder if he ever rode the subway ) or work in a meatpacking plant or cubicle farm with inadequate to nonexistent social distancing .
Fennebresque also goes on to compare this to war ( `` When Eisenhower and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , You know , how many people did we lose ?
150,000 ?
200,000 ?
What ?
50,000 ?
100,000 ? ''
) I should note that even though he appears to have been old enough to be drafted starting in the late 1960s , I see no military service on his C.V .
Journalists ' jobs are n't at risk ?
Employment in newspaper newsrooms dropped 51 % between 2008 and 2019 -- during an economic recovery .
Job losses since the coronavirus hit have been massive .
And we all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk .
You know who never winds up on the unemployment line with no idea where his next meal is coming from ?
A top-earning Wall Street muckamuck .
I do n't want to convey the impression that these Wall Streeters have nothing but grievances .
They also have solutions .
Fennebresque has some swell ones : There need to be “ clear rules , ” he continues , for what people need to do as the economy reopens .
When do you wear a face mask ?
How do people go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or to a theater ?
There have to be fines levied for noncompliance .
Health inspectors should not only rate a restaurant ’ s sanitary condition but also how compliant it is with the new rules regarding physical distancing and food preparation .
He also thinks simple technical innovations should be implemented .
For instance , he went out to dinner the other night near his home in Florida and he and the people he was with wiped down the table , chairs , and silverware .
“ Then they bring me a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Well , you know what ?
The menus should all be on my phone .
Every restaurant should have their menu on the phone so I can look at it .
What do you do with the bill ?
They bring the bill in one of those little leather containers that closes the bill and I put the credit card in it .
They shouldn ’ t be touching my credit card .
They should have a way to do it ... .
we really do have to have enforcement of whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that supposed to happen when Fox News and the dominant political party in America -- folks who listen to Wall Streeters a hell of a lot more than they listen to grouchy liberals , or even to Dr. Fauci -- are rousing the rabble with the notion that any enforcement of health restrictions is jackbooted tyranny ?
Did Cohan ask Fennebresque how they 're supposed to have enforcement and `` clear rules '' in Michigan , for instance , when so many Michiganders respond to any restraints whatsoever on their behavior by brandishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I don ’ t think you can hold it against employees who don ’ t .
Really ?
Who wants to tell this guy , who presumably has never missed a meal in his life , how uneployment works ?
That 's what your life is to this schmuck , along with the lives of all the other at-risk people in America : basis points .
That says it all .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

If you've been thinking, Gosh darn it, why doesn't anyone ever ask obscenely rich, privileged people what they'd like us to be doing in response to the coronavirus crisis?, you just got your wish: Vanity Fair's William D. Cohan now brings us the voices of the unheard.
Since no one seems to be consulting Wall Street bankers and traders about when and how to reopen the economy, I convened an impromptu circle of Wall Streeters I know well to get their views. The consensus among them is: We can’t continue any longer in lockdown mode. Something has to give, because more than 36 million newly unemployed Americans are not going to be able to pay their monthly bills, feed their families, or maintain their mental health if the economy remains shut. And the problems are only going to get worse the longer so many Americans are out of work.
It seems to have escaped Cohan's notice that the Republican Party and the Trump administration seem to be listening exclusively to plutocrats who say exactly this. Those plutocrats, admittedly, are from elesewhere in the country, not Wall Street. But I'm struggling to feel sorry for the Wall Streeters as a result.
They reference United Nations’ projections that 250 million people could be on the brink of starvation by the end of the year.
The number is actually 265 million people, according to an April 21 story in The Guardian. But that's up from the usual 130 million people. Funny, I never knew a Wall Streeter to express any discomfort about 130 million people starving worldwide. But 265 million? I guess that's where they draw the line!
They also cite a report by the Stop TB Partnership that if the COVID-19 lockdowns continue that an additional 1.4 million people will die from tuberculosis because they will be unable to get treatment.
Yes, and the Stop TB Partnership's remedy for that is a continued focus on TB monitoring, testing, and treatment, even through the crisis. The group doesn't say this increase is inevitable or that we have to accept mass death from COVID-19 as the price we pay for keeping TB deaths at their usual level.
Do you find it a tad suspicious that these Wall Streeters spontaneously responded to Cohan's questions with heart-tugging but little-known statisics about global health, as if they sit around their Hamptons homes every day reading WHO reports? Why, if I were a cynical man, I'd suspect that they reagarded Cohen's article as an opportunity to propagandize in favor of what they believe will make them more money, and sent surrogates out in search of tear-jerking stats that would make their entirely selfish point.
Cohan writes:
“Saving lives versus saving jobs is the wrong debate,” says one senior Wall Street banker. “Isn’t there a middle ground?... How many lives are you willing to spend to bring the economy back to maintain people’s standard of living? How many lives are we willing to risk? How do you put a price on a life? Many lives were lost preserving American Democracy in the fight against Nazi Germany. There was no moral high ground then. And now they are remembered as the Greatest Generation.”
We're being lectured on life-and-death courage by a man who's afraid to let a sympathetic reporter use his name.
Admittedly, not every one of Cohan's interviewees is so reticent:
Kim Fennebresque, a longtime Wall Street investment banker, has had successful stints at First Boston, Lazard (where I met him), UBS, and as the former CEO of Cowen & Co., a small, independent investment bank. He’s had enough health issues lately to make him especially vulnerable to COVID-19, if he were to contract it. Nevertheless, Fennebresque believes the time has come to open up the economy, especially in those regions of the country where, so far anyway, it has had less of a devastating impact. He agrees the debate has been poorly framed. “In terms of money versus lives, it really reduces it to a silly trade-off, because that’s not what it is,” he says “People will die. People do die. People my age die. It happens, right? It can happen with a flu epidemic. People can die. People have to take care of themselves and wash their hands. People have to stay in and do lots of things, and 5,000 people can’t go running to a beach the day it opens. You do that and it has consequences. People have to take responsibility for their own lives. And people do die. That is kind of what happens.”
Fennebresque is 70 years old. He used to be a hotshot, but now he mostly sits on boards. I bet he never has to leave the house to communicate with fellow board members. He certainly doesn't have to ride the subway in a hot zone (I wonder if he ever rode the subway) or work in a meatpacking plant or cubicle farm with inadequate to nonexistent social distancing.
Fennebresque also goes on to compare this to war ("When Eisenhower and Churchill sat and talked about D-Day they said, You know, how many people did we lose? 150,000? 200,000? What? 50,000? 100,000?") I should note that even though he appears to have been old enough to be drafted starting in the late 1960s, I see no military service on his C.V.
He worries, too, that “people with no stake in the economy” are talking about keeping it closed, to prevent deaths from the virus, while ignoring the severe plight facing many Americans suddenly thrown out of work. “The politicians have no stake in the economy because they’re going to get paid,” he says. “The journalists on TV, their jobs aren’t at risk. [Anthony] Fauci’s job, not at risk.”
Journalists' jobs aren't at risk? Employment in newspaper newsrooms dropped 51% between 2008 and 2019 -- during an economic recovery. Job losses since the coronavirus hit have been massive. And we all know Anthony Fauci's job is at risk.
You know who never winds up on the unemployment line with no idea where his next meal is coming from? A top-earning Wall Street muckamuck.
I don't want to convey the impression that these Wall Streeters have nothing but grievances. They also have solutions. Fennebresque has some swell ones:
There need to be “clear rules,” he continues, for what people need to do as the economy reopens. When do you wear a face mask? How do people go to the beach, or to a restaurant or to a theater? There have to be fines levied for noncompliance. Health inspectors should not only rate a restaurant’s sanitary condition but also how compliant it is with the new rules regarding physical distancing and food preparation. He also thinks simple technical innovations should be implemented. For instance, he went out to dinner the other night near his home in Florida and he and the people he was with wiped down the table, chairs, and silverware. “Then they bring me a leather-bound menu,” he says. “Well, you know what? The menus should all be on my phone. Every restaurant should have their menu on the phone so I can look at it. What do you do with the bill? They bring the bill in one of those little leather containers that closes the bill and I put the credit card in it. They shouldn’t be touching my credit card. They should have a way to do it.... we really do have to have enforcement of whatever the rules are.”
Really? Ya think?
And how is that supposed to happen when Fox News and the dominant political party in America -- folks who listen to Wall Streeters a hell of a lot more than they listen to grouchy liberals, or even to Dr. Fauci -- are rousing the rabble with the notion that any enforcement of health restrictions is jackbooted tyranny? Did Cohan ask Fennebresque how they're supposed to have enforcement and "clear rules" in Michigan, for instance, when so many Michiganders respond to any restraints whatsoever on their behavior by brandishing AR-15s?
Another longtime Wall Street banker agrees the economy needs to get back up and running.... The policy response for opening back up should reflect that reality. “The right thing is to reopen geographically,” he says, “and then I think it becomes somewhat a thing of a voluntary nature as to who decides to, come back and work or not. I don’t think you can hold it against employees who don’t.”
People should return to work, but I don’t think you can hold it against employees who don’t. Really? Who wants to tell this guy, who presumably has never missed a meal in his life, how uneployment works?
Cohan quotes Fennebresque again:
But to those people willing to listen, he would say, “We can’t shut down the country for some minuscule number of people. This is not a 100% death rate. It’s a number of basis points.”
That's what your life is to this schmuck, along with the lives of all the other at-risk people in America: basis points. That says it all.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Wyoming Wins The Graphic Art Award For COVID

Face coverings can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent those who may not know they have the @ @ @ @ @ others .
I encourage everyone to wear one when social distancing is not possible .
@ @ @ @ @ protect your neighbors and your community .
pic.twitter.com/gqp9ttb8Ws

Face coverings can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent those who may not know they have the virus from transmitting it to others. I encourage everyone to wear one when social distancing is not possible. It's a courtesy to protect your neighbors and your community. pic.twitter.com/gqp9ttb8Ws
— Governor Mark Gordon (@GovernorGordon) May 15, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-05-18--Trump Claims He's Taking Hydroxychloroquine Preventatively (UPDATED)

Donald Trump held an impromptu press conference in the Oval Office to perform for reporters on Monday .
As Trump was disparaging Dr .
Bright 's testimony about hydroxychloroquine and the unpreparedness of the Trump administration and Trump 's refusal to take action immediately when the coronavirus was discovered , Donald blurted out an utterly bizarre statement .
`` I happen to be taking it , '' he said to a stunned press gaggle .
`` Right now .
A couple of weeks ago I started taking it . ''
Trump replied , `` Because I think it 's good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good stories and if it 's not good I 'll tell you right . ''
Trump said he hoped to not be taking it soon but if he does n't have the coronavirus so why is he taking it at all since it 's not not a drug that immunizes you from COVID-19 .
`` I ’ ve taken it for one-and-a-half weeks now , ” Trump said .
“ And I ’ m still here .
I ’ m still here.
” Dr .
Bright had claimed in his whistle-blower complaint that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questioning the use of hydroxychloroquine .
`` Did the White House doctor recommend he take it ? ''
reporters asked .
He confirmed the White House doctor did prescribe it for him but that he asked for it .
Maybe Trump can start injecting Clorox into his veins because he heard that works too .
Welcome to another bizarre day in the Donald Trump administration during another crazy coronavirus task force press conferences .
All Trump is doing is making it more acceptable for those who support him to take a drug that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unproven as an effective drug against the new virus .
We need to see the proof of Trump 's claim that he 's been taking Hydroxychloroquine .
He said he never mentioned it before because no reporter asked if he was taking it .
That 's a lot of crap too because why would any reporter ask him if he was taking it if he had n't tested positive for the virus ?
Trump has turned the office of the presidency and the responsibility to the American people it holds into a cheap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxycloroquine has been exclusively to minimize the effects of Covid-19 by giving patients very high doses of the drug in combination with a Z-Pak .
After several studies which show that not only are patients not helped by the drug but actually endangered , the FDA issued a warning against it .
But why would Trump believe in science ?
UPDATE : Trump 's doctor has written a letter which does not actually confirm that he is taking the drugs he says he is .

Donald Trump held an impromptu press conference in the Oval Office to perform for reporters on Monday.
As Trump was disparaging Dr. Bright's testimony about hydroxychloroquine and the unpreparedness of the Trump administration and Trump's refusal to take action immediately when the coronavirus was discovered, Donald blurted out an utterly bizarre statement.
"I happen to be taking it," he said to a stunned press gaggle.
Reporters yelled in disbelief, "Hydroxychloroquine?"
He replied," I'm taking it, Hydroxychloroquine."
"When?"
"Right now. A couple of weeks ago I started taking it."
"Why?
Trump replied, "Because I think it's good. I've heard a lot of good stories and if it's not good I'll tell you right."
Trump said he hoped to not be taking it soon but if he doesn't have the coronavirus so why is he taking it at all since it's not not a drug that immunizes you from COVID-19.
"I’ve taken it for one-and-a-half weeks now,” Trump said. “And I’m still here. I’m still here.”
Dr. Bright had claimed in his whistle-blower complaint that he was removed from his job for questioning the use of hydroxychloroquine.
"Did the White House doctor recommend he take it?" reporters asked.
He confirmed the White House doctor did prescribe it for him but that he asked for it.
Maybe Trump can start injecting Clorox into his veins because he heard that works too.
Welcome to another bizarre day in the Donald Trump administration during another crazy coronavirus task force press conferences.
All Trump is doing is making it more acceptable for those who support him to take a drug that has serious side effects and has been unproven as an effective drug against the new virus.
We need to see the proof of Trump's claim that he's been taking Hydroxychloroquine.
He said he never mentioned it before because no reporter asked if he was taking it.
That's a lot of crap too because why would any reporter ask him if he was taking it if he hadn't tested positive for the virus?
Trump has turned the office of the presidency and the responsibility to the American people it holds into a cheap carnival.
Note: The use of hydroxycloroquine has been exclusively to minimize the effects of Covid-19 by giving patients very high doses of the drug in combination with a Z-Pak. After several studies which show that not only are patients not helped by the drug but actually endangered, the FDA issued a warning against it. But why would Trump believe in science?
UPDATE: Trump's doctor has written a letter which does not actually confirm that he is taking the drugs he says he is.


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--It's About Trump's Deal With The Saudis, Not Pompeo's Dog Walking

Guys , remember yesterday when we learned that the Inspector General for the State Department was You ’ re Fired ’ ed for starting an investigation into our End-Times Secretary of State ’ s alleged abuse of his security detail , for dog walking and whatnot ?
Seems that might have been misdirection !
Who knew ?
( We all knew , we just didn ’ t know misdirection from what ! )
House Democrats have learned that ousted State Department Inspector General Steve Linick was nearly finished with an investigation into Pompeo ’ s approval of billions of Ameros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saw , er , Saudi Arabia , when he bypassed Congress with a baseless emergency declaration : The allegation Pompeo declined to cooperate with the investigation came after House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman , Eliot Engel , claimed the State Department inspector general fired by President Donald Trump on Friday , Steve Linick , had nearly completed an investigation into Pompeo ’ s controversial decision to fast-track the same arms sale .
“ I have learned that there may be another reason for Mr. Linick ’ s firing .
His office was investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s phony declaration of an emergency so he could send weapons to Saudi Arabia .
We don ’ t have the full picture yet , but it ’ s troubling that Secretary Pompeo wanted Mr. Linick pushed out before this work could be completed , ” Engel , a Democrat from New York , said in a statement to CNN Monday .
These mooks from the 4th Reich are determined to make us all into conspiracy theorists , guys !
It certainly makes more sense that Lord Damp Nut would do something illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it probably explains why he claimed he was taking Oreos ( or whatevs that Malaria pill is called ) to get the press to chase THAT squirrel .
Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) , a longtime advocate for whistleblowers and watchdogs , sent a letter to Trump yesterday demanding a “ detailed reasoning ” by June 1 for why Trump removed State Department Inspector General Steve Linick .
“ Removal of IGs without explanation could create a chilling effect in the oversight community , and risks decreasing the quantity , quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports , ” he wrote .
But a similar letter from Grassley went unanswered when Trump sacked the intelligence community ’ s inspector general — just the latest example of how the GOP ’ s pleas have been ineffective .
Trump has continued to fire and reassign inspectors general whom he feels are insufficiently loyal to him without worrying about blowback from his own party , and it ’ s unclear what , if anything , Republicans are willing to do to stop him .
Aren ’ t you glad , Chuck , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ er ?
What a payoff that vote was .

Guys, remember yesterday when we learned that the Inspector General for the State Department was You’re Fired’ed for starting an investigation into our End-Times Secretary of State’s alleged abuse of his security detail, for dog walking and whatnot?
Trump's response Pompeo abusing his position by having his staff do personal chores: “He's a high quality person…I’d rather have him on the phone with some world leader than have him wash dishes because maybe his wife isn’t there…”* *sidenote: PIG. pic.twitter.com/fR2UokdCGg — Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) May 18, 2020
Seems that might have been misdirection! Who knew? (We all knew, we just didn’t know misdirection from what!)
House Democrats have learned that ousted State Department Inspector General Steve Linick was nearly finished with an investigation into Pompeo’s approval of billions of Ameros in arms sales to Crown Prince Bone Saw, er, Saudi Arabia, when he bypassed Congress with a baseless emergency declaration:
The allegation Pompeo declined to cooperate with the investigation came after House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Eliot Engel, claimed the State Department inspector general fired by President Donald Trump on Friday , Steve Linick, had nearly completed an investigation into Pompeo’s controversial decision to fast-track the same arms sale. “I have learned that there may be another reason for Mr. Linick’s firing. His office was investigating — at my request — Trump’s phony declaration of an emergency so he could send weapons to Saudi Arabia. We don’t have the full picture yet, but it’s troubling that Secretary Pompeo wanted Mr. Linick pushed out before this work could be completed,” Engel, a Democrat from New York, said in a statement to CNN Monday.
These mooks from the 4th Reich are determined to make us all into conspiracy theorists, guys! It certainly makes more sense that Lord Damp Nut would do something illegal to cover up something else illegal. And it probably explains why he claimed he was taking Oreos (or whatevs that Malaria pill is called) to get the press to chase THAT squirrel.
Meanwhile, Tiger Beat’s morning email thingie tells us:
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a longtime advocate for whistleblowers and watchdogs, sent a letter to Trump yesterday demanding a “detailed reasoning” by June 1 for why Trump removed State Department Inspector General Steve Linick. “Removal of IGs without explanation could create a chilling effect in the oversight community, and risks decreasing the quantity, quality, fidelity, and veracity of their reports,” he wrote. But a similar letter from Grassley went unanswered when Trump sacked the intelligence community’s inspector general — just the latest example of how the GOP’s pleas have been ineffective. Trump has continued to fire and reassign inspectors general whom he feels are insufficiently loyal to him without worrying about blowback from his own party, and it’s unclear what, if anything, Republicans are willing to do to stop him.
Aren’t you glad, Chuck, that you voted against removing the mother-eff’er? What a payoff that vote was.
Republished with permission from Mock Paper Scissors.


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--White House: Never Mind All The Dying People -- We Don't Need More Stimulus

[ Above , Sen. John Kennedy endorses Trump 's `` plan '' to deny Americans a second stimulus bill .
-- eds . ]
The White House is n't interested in any more economic stimulus because the hydroxychloroquined menace in the Oval Office has declared victory .
All the economic damage from the novel coronavirus pandemic is now being reversed , Trump 's officials now say they believe , so the HEROES Act is going to be stalled indefinitely .
`` It almost feels like today is the first day , '' Trump said Monday in the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They 're opening .
They get it . ''
A good portion of them certainly will get it .
Some of them will die .
But they 'll load up their credit cards first , so no worries .
The happy talk started with White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett , creator of the `` beyond stupid '' mathematical model showing of coronavirus deaths would plummet to zero by now , mid-May .
Apparently they 're still operating on that model .
On Monday , Hassett said `` I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are turning around . ''
He added later at a White House event , `` I was pretty depressed about how bad it looked a few weeks ago , but you can really see it turning on faster than I thought . ''
That means , he says , `` I think it 's possible that we 'll see a strong enough economy that we do n't need a Phase Four '' of economic stimulus .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , speaking with reporters on the Hill where he 's meeting with Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he thinks more federal aid is needed .
He probably thinks more federal aid is needed .
Pretty much everybody does .
The Congressional Budget Office projects unemployment to be above 10 % into next year .
Goldman Sachs projects the same for the remainder of the year , even if there 's a fourth round of economic stimulus .
So does Michael Feroli , chief U.S. economist at JPMorgan .
`` What matters to people is not GDP rates , seasonally adjusted at an annual growth rate , '' he told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labor market and unemployment and jobs .
And it 's very likely that , by the end of the year , the unemployment rate could still be north of 10 percent.
” Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says it 's going to take more federal support .
`` If we let people be out of work for long periods of time , if we let businesses fail unnecessarily , waves of them , there 'll be longer-term damage to the economy .
The recovery will be slower , '' he said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good news is we can avoid that by providing more support now . ''
That is the good news .
The bad news is that Trump does n't want it to happen because that would mean that he 's not winning .
He 's lunching with Republican senators Tuesday .
A buffet lunch .
Because there 's no such thing as coronavirus anymore .

[Above, Sen. John Kennedy endorses Trump's "plan" to deny Americans a second stimulus bill. -- eds.]
The White House isn't interested in any more economic stimulus because the hydroxychloroquined menace in the Oval Office has declared victory. All the economic damage from the novel coronavirus pandemic is now being reversed, Trump's officials now say they believe, so the HEROES Act is going to be stalled indefinitely. "It almost feels like today is the first day," Trump said Monday in the White House. "People are starting to go out. They're opening. They get it."
A good portion of them certainly will get it. Some of them will die. But they'll load up their credit cards first, so no worries. The happy talk started with White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett, creator of the "beyond stupid" mathematical model showing of coronavirus deaths would plummet to zero by now, mid-May. Apparently they're still operating on that model. On Monday, Hassett said "I’ve been really positively impressed by how quickly things are turning around." He added later at a White House event, "I was pretty depressed about how bad it looked a few weeks ago, but you can really see it turning on faster than I thought." That means, he says, "I think it's possible that we'll see a strong enough economy that we don't need a Phase Four" of economic stimulus.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking with reporters on the Hill where he's meeting with Republican leaders Tuesday, wouldn't say whether he thinks more federal aid is needed. He probably thinks more federal aid is needed. Pretty much everybody does. The Congressional Budget Office projects unemployment to be above 10% into next year. Goldman Sachs projects the same for the remainder of the year, even if there's a fourth round of economic stimulus. So does Michael Feroli, chief U.S. economist at JPMorgan. "What matters to people is not GDP rates, seasonally adjusted at an annual growth rate," he told The Washington Post. "It is the labor market and unemployment and jobs. And it's very likely that, by the end of the year, the unemployment rate could still be north of 10 percent.”
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says it's going to take more federal support. "If we let people be out of work for long periods of time, if we let businesses fail unnecessarily, waves of them, there'll be longer-term damage to the economy. The recovery will be slower," he said in a 60 Minutes interview Sunday. "The good news is we can avoid that by providing more support now." That is the good news.
The bad news is that Trump doesn't want it to happen because that would mean that he's not winning. He's lunching with Republican senators Tuesday. A buffet lunch. Because there's no such thing as coronavirus anymore.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Trump Reassures Virginians They'll Have Guns To Protect Their Potatoes

President Donald Trump bizarrely suggested that guns are required to guard the U.S. potato supply .
Trump made the remarks @ @ @ @ @ with farmers who are trying to bolster the supply chain in the midst of the @ @ @ @ @ one Virginia farmer , Trump seemed curious about the details of the potato business .
@ @ @ @ @ bags .
What other size bags do you have ?
” Trump asked .
After @ @ @ @ @ wondered whether Idaho potatoes could be grown in Virginia .
“ Gave me a little @ @ @ @ @ Trump proclaimed .
“ That ’ s interesting .
I wonder if the media enjoyed @ @ @ @ @ t think so.
” “ We ’ re going after Virginia with your crazy governor @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re going after Virginia .
They want to take your Second @ @ @ @ @ that , right ?
You ’ ll have nobody guarding your potatoes .
”

President Donald Trump bizarrely suggested that guns are required to guard the U.S. potato supply.
Trump made the remarks during a White House meeting with farmers who are trying to bolster the supply chain in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
After introducing one Virginia farmer, Trump seemed curious about the details of the potato business.
“You have five pound bags. What other size bags do you have?” Trump asked.
After the farmer answered, Trump wondered whether Idaho potatoes could be grown in Virginia.
“Gave me a little education on potatoes,” Trump proclaimed. “That’s interesting. I wonder if the media enjoyed that. I don’t think so.”
“We’re going after Virginia with your crazy governor,” the president added. “We’re going after Virginia. They want to take your Second Amendment away. You know that, right? You’ll have nobody guarding your potatoes.”


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Coronavirus Continues To Move Into Previously Insulated Red Counties In Battleground States

Several weeks ago , demographer William Frey started tracking new counties across the country that had crossed the threshold of having 100 or more coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and found the contagion was newly spreading to more counties Trump won in 2016 .
Now new reporting from the Washington Post 's Greg Sargent reveals that the trend is continuing and even starting to impact counties in some important battleground states .
“ This is moving into parts of the swing states that really haven ’ t seen the pandemic as much , ” Frey told Sargent .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last three weeks , Frey found that the number of counties newly entering into this `` high-COVID '' category had shifted significantly away from counties Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 and into Trump country .
Specifically , some 548 counties Trump won had now become high-COVID areas while only about 102 counties Clinton won had newly entered the category .
Part of that disparity is a function of the fact that Trump won far more counties in 2016 while Clinton captured higher-density counties , and part of it is a function of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier on by the virus .
Nonetheless , the virus is clearly on the move in some smaller towns and rural areas that had n't experienced the worst of it while larger cities like New York and Detroit were bearing the brunt of the pandemic .
In total nationwide , Frey found 1,014 Trump counties are now high-COVID while just 350 Clinton counties are .
Sargent also asked specifically what that meant for some battleground states ( including Georgia , which , who knows ? )
.
Anyway , here 's the numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Georgia , a state that 's become particularly interesting for multiple reasons .
First , there 's an outside chance that both Senate seats in the state are at least within reach , even if it 's a far reach .
Additionally , Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp is one of the only governors in the country who actually has lower approvals for his coronavirus handling than Trump ( 39 % vs. 44 % ) .
North Carolina 's Democratic governor Roy Cooper , for instance , has a 74 % approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's response rating sits at 49 % .
Also interesting are states like Michigan and Pennsylvania , which Trump won by very small margins in 2016 , particularly in smaller towns and rural areas .
“ Those margins in the small counties helped put him over the top , ” Frey said , adding that people who bought into the idea that they were safe in these regions may ultimately end up taking a more critical look at Trump 's handling of the pandemic if they are personally touched by it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a wholesale defection here .
Trump 's margins are so slim that shifting a point or two here and a point or two there could really make all the difference in November .
The map below shows the progression of high-COVID areas from denser urban areas earlier on in the outbreak ( purple , blue , and dark green ) to generally less populated areas in recent weeks ( light green and yellow ) .

Several weeks ago, demographer William Frey started tracking new counties across the country that had crossed the threshold of having 100 or more coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and found the contagion was newly spreading to more counties Trump won in 2016.
Now new reporting from the Washington Post's Greg Sargent reveals that the trend is continuing and even starting to impact counties in some important battleground states. “This is moving into parts of the swing states that really haven’t seen the pandemic as much,” Frey told Sargent. “And this is likely to continue.”
Over the last three weeks, Frey found that the number of counties newly entering into this "high-COVID" category had shifted significantly away from counties Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 and into Trump country. Specifically, some 548 counties Trump won had now become high-COVID areas while only about 102 counties Clinton won had newly entered the category. Part of that disparity is a function of the fact that Trump won far more counties in 2016 while Clinton captured higher-density counties, and part of it is a function of the fact that Clinton counties were hit earlier on by the virus. Nonetheless, the virus is clearly on the move in some smaller towns and rural areas that hadn't experienced the worst of it while larger cities like New York and Detroit were bearing the brunt of the pandemic.
In total nationwide, Frey found 1,014 Trump counties are now high-COVID while just 350 Clinton counties are. Sargent also asked specifically what that meant for some battleground states (including Georgia, which, who knows?). Anyway, here's the numbers:
Florida: 15 new Trump counties
Michigan: 17 new Trump counties
Pennsylvania: 11 new Trump counties
Wisconsin: 8 new Trump counties
North Carolina: 26 new Trump counties
Arizona: 3 new Trump counties
Georgia: 40 new Trump counties
That's 120 counties total, including Georgia, a state that's become particularly interesting for multiple reasons. First, there's an outside chance that both Senate seats in the state are at least within reach, even if it's a far reach. Additionally, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is one of the only governors in the country who actually has lower approvals for his coronavirus handling than Trump (39% vs. 44%). North Carolina's Democratic governor Roy Cooper, for instance, has a 74% approval rating for his pandemic response, while Trump's response rating sits at 49%.
Also interesting are states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, which Trump won by very small margins in 2016, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas.
“Those margins in the small counties helped put him over the top,” Frey said, adding that people who bought into the idea that they were safe in these regions may ultimately end up taking a more critical look at Trump's handling of the pandemic if they are personally touched by it.
And remember, we're not taking about a wholesale defection here. Trump's margins are so slim that shifting a point or two here and a point or two there could really make all the difference in November.
The map below shows the progression of high-COVID areas from denser urban areas earlier on in the outbreak (purple, blue, and dark green) to generally less populated areas in recent weeks (light green and yellow).
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--GOP Senate Candidate Encourages Everyone To Take Hydroxychloroquine

The kicker in this one is that this guy is also a licensed MD , an obstetrician .
The AMA takes a dim view of doctors who prescribe unproven , potentially lethal drugs for patients but it does n't seem to phase this guy .
Rep. Roger Marshall ( KS-01 ) is supposedly the answer to the Republicans being saddled with the far-right Kris Kobach as their nominee to US Senate , a more palatable face for Kansans to vote for than the polarizing Kobach .
Primary polls and the aggressive tone of the campaign suggest a close race between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , it just looks like a kinder gentler MAGA version in Marshall versus an all-out crazy MAGA in Kobach .
Kansas Republican congressman who is also a medical professional has backed President Donald Trump 's championing of the drug hydroxychloroquine to mitigate the risk of the coronavirus , and has recommended that anyone over the age of 65 should ask their doctor about it .
The comments by Rep. Roger Marshall , an obstetrician who serves in Kansas ' 1st congressional district , follow Trump 's revelation he is taking the antimalarial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense against the coronavirus .
Marshall said that he , his siblings , his parents and his wife are taking the drug `` prophylactically . ''
`` I would encourage any person over the age of 65 or with an underlying medical condition to talk to their own physician about taking hydroxychloroquine and I 'm relieved President Trump is taking it , '' he said , according to The Wall Street Journal .

The kicker in this one is that this guy is also a licensed MD, an obstetrician. The AMA takes a dim view of doctors who prescribe unproven, potentially lethal drugs for patients but it doesn't seem to phase this guy.
Rep. Roger Marshall (KS-01) is supposedly the answer to the Republicans being saddled with the far-right Kris Kobach as their nominee to US Senate, a more palatable face for Kansans to vote for than the polarizing Kobach. Primary polls and the aggressive tone of the campaign suggest a close race between the two. To the rest of us, it just looks like a kinder gentler MAGA version in Marshall versus an all-out crazy MAGA in Kobach.
Source: Newsweek
Kansas Republican congressman who is also a medical professional has backed President Donald Trump's championing of the drug hydroxychloroquine to mitigate the risk of the coronavirus, and has recommended that anyone over the age of 65 should ask their doctor about it. The comments by Rep. Roger Marshall, an obstetrician who serves in Kansas' 1st congressional district, follow Trump's revelation he is taking the antimalarial drug which he has cited as a defense against the coronavirus. Marshall said that he, his siblings, his parents and his wife are taking the drug "prophylactically." "I would encourage any person over the age of 65 or with an underlying medical condition to talk to their own physician about taking hydroxychloroquine and I'm relieved President Trump is taking it," he said, according to The Wall Street Journal.


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Amid Trump's Rolling Saturday Night Massacre, Fox Gets A Case Of Investigation Fatigue

If anyone was wondering how State-Run TV , a.k.a .
Fox `` news '' would handle the firing of yet another Inspector General , after State Department IG Steve Linick was axed this week , presumably for having the temerity to do his job , we got our answer on this Monday 's Outnumbered , where co-hosts Jason Chaffetz , Harris Faulkner , Emily Compagno , Lisa Montgomery Kennedy and Melissa Francis all did their best to turn any investigation into the firing into just another partisan food fight , and to lie and accuse Democrats of not legislating during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House just passed another relief package this week .
You 'll recall this was also one of Trump and Fox 's favorite line of attacks during impeachment as well , despite the fact that the House has passed hundreds of bills , only to have them die a slow death on Mitch McConnell 's desk .
After attacking Democrats for supposedly being hypocrites when it comes to investigating their own party , Jason `` Benghazi '' Chaffetz told the panel that Trump has the right to fire whoever he wants , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuances '' of this current scandal , but then accused Nancy Pelosi of playing politics for saying that the firing would be `` unlawful if it 's retaliation . ''
Harris Faulkner asked Emily Compagno to weight in on the legality of the firing , and after downplaying whether the firing would actually shield Pompeo from accountability , Compagno switched gears and proceeded to attack Democrats for not being concerned about Americans during the pandemic : COMPAGNO : That being said , as Jason pointed out , this is another investment of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given their 36 million Americans unemployed right now , I 'd probably speak for most of us when I say we 'd rather our lawmakers focus on expunging policy that stagnates jobs and rights policy that improves and sustains jobs .
Tell that to Mitch McConnell , Emily .
Faulkner then attempted to `` both sides '' an IG investigation and conflate it with Trump and her network 's latest faux `` scandal '' on the Flynn unmasking : FAULKNER : It 's interesting you put it that way .
That 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning , even from both sides of the political aisle .
They want the president focused on former administration Barack Obama at this point , or they want them focus on the thing that Emily just listed right there .
Now you 've got -- but wait a minute , there 's more from this side of the political aisle .
What of the American people supposed to think about the letter `` I '' wear it , investigation , at this point ?
Yes , that terrible `` I '' word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously when Republicans use them as a political weapon .
Kennedy responded by feigning concern over Pompeo 's actions , while muddying the waters at the same time : KENNEDY : Unfortunately it 's a political weapon , and that 's a problem .
If you have somebody who is really abusing their power and their office , there needs to be accountability .
We do n't want it to turn into a swamp more than it is for Republicans or Democrats .
It 's not excusable if someone in a Republican administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic service members walk his dog , that might not be great .
I do n't think it 's worth an IG investigation , but if you 're talking about him misusing taxpayer funds in order to fly to his adopted home state of Kansas in order to potentially lay out a senate run , using taxpayer money , that is problematic .
I think we need to look at these things .
I have a big issue with arms sales to Saudi Arabia , on a personal and moral level .
Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could be retaliation . ''
It could be a lot of things .
Mike Pompeo may be an automaton .
But until you find the off switch on him , you ca n't prove that .
Throwing things like , `` what if ? ''
Around , it only muddies an already dirty process .
Back to Jason 's point , this is so political that people have a hard time trusting anything they hear out of anyone 's mouth .
That means we 've gotten so far from the truth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kennedy , but they 'll be howling as soon as they open one up , because none of them actually want any accountability for this administration , or they 'd be reporting on rather than covering up blatant corruption of this administration that began before Trump even took office .
Melissa Francis continued the line of attack that Democrats are n't capable of investigating and legislating at the same time and poo pooed the whole thing as one giant waste of time .
FRANCIS : I do n't actually think they are good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time .
I do n't think they 're good at doing one thing at a time , so i do n't have a lot of faith in this .
I would say that , yes , the investigation is still ongoing , but when he fired the IG , it certainly puts a chill on the whole thing .
There 's that .
At the same time , when have any of these investigations ever been satisfying for either side ?
They always stormed down this path , it 's as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both sides of the aisle .
Both Democrats and Republicans .
A lot of times they have very valid issues , but there is never a satisfying outcome where somebody who did n't sink something before is convinced of it afterwards , and the right people get punished .
That does n't happen .
For whatever reason , I think it 's a waste of time .
And they should focus on reopening America safely .
Jason Chaffetz wrapped things up pretending he and his fellow Republicans did n't spend 8 years investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' during Barack Obama 's time in office , and aided and abetted the others in trying to paint on investigation into Pompeo as just a partisan witch hunt : CHAFFETZ : I would just say there 's a double standard , because when Barack Obama did it , nobody said a peep .
Presidents do this , it has happened in each administration .
Presidents are allowed to do this .
I do n't mind looking at it , but do n't take it to this hyper-partisan level that they did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's the hypocrisy that drives me nuts .
Somehow , Chaffetz managed to avoid a lightening strike after making those comments .
Fox loves partisan investigations used as a political cudgel as long as they 're being done by Republicans .
Democrats , not so much .

If anyone was wondering how State-Run TV, a.k.a. Fox "news" would handle the firing of yet another Inspector General, after State Department IG Steve Linick was axed this week, presumably for having the temerity to do his job, we got our answer on this Monday's Outnumbered, where co-hosts Jason Chaffetz, Harris Faulkner, Emily Compagno, Lisa Montgomery Kennedy and Melissa Francis all did their best to turn any investigation into the firing into just another partisan food fight, and to lie and accuse Democrats of not legislating during the pandemic, despite the fact that the House just passed another relief package this week.
You'll recall this was also one of Trump and Fox's favorite line of attacks during impeachment as well, despite the fact that the House has passed hundreds of bills, only to have them die a slow death on Mitch McConnell's desk.
After attacking Democrats for supposedly being hypocrites when it comes to investigating their own party, Jason "Benghazi" Chaffetz told the panel that Trump has the right to fire whoever he wants, and that he didn't "know the nuances" of this current scandal, but then accused Nancy Pelosi of playing politics for saying that the firing would be "unlawful if it's retaliation."
Harris Faulkner asked Emily Compagno to weight in on the legality of the firing, and after downplaying whether the firing would actually shield Pompeo from accountability, Compagno switched gears and proceeded to attack Democrats for not being concerned about Americans during the pandemic:
COMPAGNO: That being said, as Jason pointed out, this is another investment of our taxpayer dollars and times that I think, given their 36 million Americans unemployed right now, I'd probably speak for most of us when I say we'd rather our lawmakers focus on expunging policy that stagnates jobs and rights policy that improves and sustains jobs.
Tell that to Mitch McConnell, Emily. Faulkner then attempted to "both sides" an IG investigation and conflate it with Trump and her network's latest faux "scandal" on the Flynn unmasking:
FAULKNER: It's interesting you put it that way. That's what everybody kind of was saying in the beginning, even from both sides of the political aisle. They want the president focused on former administration Barack Obama at this point, or they want them focus on the thing that Emily just listed right there. Now you've got -- but wait a minute, there's more from this side of the political aisle. What of the American people supposed to think about the letter "I" wear it, investigation, at this point?
Yes, that terrible "I" word. Investigations are only to be taken seriously when Republicans use them as a political weapon. Kennedy responded by feigning concern over Pompeo's actions, while muddying the waters at the same time:
KENNEDY: Unfortunately it's a political weapon, and that's a problem. If you have somebody who is really abusing their power and their office, there needs to be accountability. We don't want it to turn into a swamp more than it is for Republicans or Democrats. It's not excusable if someone in a Republican administration does it. With Mike Pompey having diplomatic service members walk his dog, that might not be great. I don't think it's worth an IG investigation, but if you're talking about him misusing taxpayer funds in order to fly to his adopted home state of Kansas in order to potentially lay out a senate run, using taxpayer money, that is problematic. I think we need to look at these things. I have a big issue with arms sales to Saudi Arabia, on a personal and moral level. Nancy Pelosi is saying, "well, it could be retaliation." It could be a lot of things. Mike Pompeo may be an automaton. But until you find the off switch on him, you can't prove that. Throwing things like, "what if?" Around, it only muddies an already dirty process. Back to Jason's point, this is so political that people have a hard time trusting anything they hear out of anyone's mouth. That means we've gotten so far from the truth.
That's what an investigation is for Kennedy, but they'll be howling as soon as they open one up, because none of them actually want any accountability for this administration, or they'd be reporting on rather than covering up blatant corruption of this administration that began before Trump even took office.
Melissa Francis continued the line of attack that Democrats aren't capable of investigating and legislating at the same time and poo pooed the whole thing as one giant waste of time.
FRANCIS: I don't actually think they are good at doing more than one thing at a time. I don't think they're good at doing one thing at a time, so i don't have a lot of faith in this. I would say that, yes, the investigation is still ongoing, but when he fired the IG, it certainly puts a chill on the whole thing. There's that. At the same time, when have any of these investigations ever been satisfying for either side? They always stormed down this path, it's as if you are tattling on each other on both sides of the aisle. Both Democrats and Republicans. A lot of times they have very valid issues, but there is never a satisfying outcome where somebody who didn't sink something before is convinced of it afterwards, and the right people get punished. That doesn't happen. For whatever reason, I think it's a waste of time. And they should focus on reopening America safely.
Jason Chaffetz wrapped things up pretending he and his fellow Republicans didn't spend 8 years investigating every faux, drummed up "scandal" during Barack Obama's time in office, and aided and abetted the others in trying to paint on investigation into Pompeo as just a partisan witch hunt:
CHAFFETZ: I would just say there's a double standard, because when Barack Obama did it, nobody said a peep. Presidents do this, it has happened in each administration. Presidents are allowed to do this. I don't mind looking at it, but don't take it to this hyper-partisan level that they didn't do. It's Barack Obama, that's the hypocrisy that drives me nuts.
Somehow, Chaffetz managed to avoid a lightening strike after making those comments. Fox loves partisan investigations used as a political cudgel as long as they're being done by Republicans. Democrats, not so much.


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Randy Rainbow Channels 'Fiddler On The Roof' To Laugh At 'Obamagate'

The coronavirus is clearly on the move in some smaller towns and rural areas that had n't experienced the worst @ @ @ @ @ like New York and Detroit were bearing the brunt of the pandemic .

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crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Climate Leaders Applaud Biden's Vow To Stop Keystone XL Pipeline

Campaigners called it the kind of climate leadership they hope to see more of from Joe Biden after the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee 's campaign on Monday said he would withdraw the federal permit for the Keystone XL pipeline if elected in November .
`` Biden strongly opposed the Keystone pipeline in the last administration , stood alongside President Obama and Secretary Kerry to reject it in 2015 , and will proudly stand in the Roosevelt Room again as President and stop it for good by rescinding the Keystone XL pipeline permit , '' Biden campaign policy director Stef Feldman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the Obama administration reluctantly rejected the KXL project in 2015 after years of grassroots pressure—including mass arrests outside Obama ' a White House—from Native American tribal leaders and a climate coalition spearheaded by 350.org , the Trump administration made approving the project one of its first orders of business when it took over in 2017 .
Biden 's pitiful climate platform received among the worst grades during the Democratic primary from environmental groups who warned that only the kind of ambition being voice by candidates like Gov .
Jay Islee of Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Elizabeth Warren , or billionaire investor Tom Steyer were adequate to the threat posed by the planetary crisis .
Tamara Toles O'Laughlin , North America director for 350 Action—which last year denounced Biden 's climate policies as `` uniquely bad '' —welcomed his new vow to tear up the presidential pipeline order signed by Trump .
`` Rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline is the touchstone of any meaningful plan to address the climate crisis , '' O'Laughlin said .
`` Joe Biden is signaling a willingness to stand up to Big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the planet .
We 'll need just this kind of climate ambition to make way for a livable planet in the next four years .
We need officials at every level of government to take on bold measures necessary to keep fossil fuels in the ground and invest in a renewable energy economy that works for all . ''
`` Many thanks to the indigenous groups , farmers and ranchers , climate scientists and everyone else who with years of struggle have made Keystone an unavoidable touchstone issue , '' tweeted 350.org co-founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also thanked Biden for `` showing the leadership we need to address the climate crisis . ''
While climate action campaigners are rightly skeptical of Biden 's commitment to far-reaching policies on the issue , writer and organizer Karyn Strickler in a Common Dreams op-ed last month said there is no choice but to force the former Vice President to rethink his agenda and become `` the climate-commander-in-chief '' the nation and world so desperately needs .
`` With scientific estimates of about 11 years to slow climate change , the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prioritize climate change in the voting booth , '' Strickler wrote .
`` The next 4 years is more than one-third of the time we have for action , signaling the crucial need for Joe Biden to emulate Bernie Sanders ’ tough stand and prioritize climate change .
We have more immediate needs in the face of a global pandemic , which is itself exacerbated by climate change , but if we don ’ t slow climate change in short order , no other issue will matter . ''

Campaigners called it the kind of climate leadership they hope to see more of from Joe Biden after the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's campaign on Monday said he would withdraw the federal permit for the Keystone XL pipeline if elected in November.
"Biden strongly opposed the Keystone pipeline in the last administration, stood alongside President Obama and Secretary Kerry to reject it in 2015, and will proudly stand in the Roosevelt Room again as President and stop it for good by rescinding the Keystone XL pipeline permit," Biden campaign policy director Stef Feldman said in a statement to Politico.
While the Obama administration reluctantly rejected the KXL project in 2015 after years of grassroots pressure—including mass arrests outside Obama'a White House—from Native American tribal leaders and a climate coalition spearheaded by 350.org, the Trump administration made approving the project one of its first orders of business when it took over in 2017.
Biden's pitiful climate platform received among the worst grades during the Democratic primary from environmental groups who warned that only the kind of ambition being voice by candidates like Gov. Jay Islee of Washington, Sens . Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren, or billionaire investor Tom Steyer were adequate to the threat posed by the planetary crisis.
Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, North America director for 350 Action—which last year denounced Biden's climate policies as "uniquely bad"—welcomed his new vow to tear up the presidential pipeline order signed by Trump.
"Rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline is the touchstone of any meaningful plan to address the climate crisis," O'Laughlin said. "Joe Biden is signaling a willingness to stand up to Big Oil for the benefit of people and the planet. We'll need just this kind of climate ambition to make way for a livable planet in the next four years. We need officials at every level of government to take on bold measures necessary to keep fossil fuels in the ground and invest in a renewable energy economy that works for all."
This is big: Biden would rescind Keystone XL's cross-border permit, effectively killing the pipeline. I know cynicism has a certain allure, but with the right inside-outside strategy, a Biden administration might even pleasantly surprise the naysayers. https://t.co/ixOAM6owlC — Julian Brave NoiseCat (@jnoisecat) May 18, 2020
"Many thanks to the indigenous groups, farmers and ranchers, climate scientists and everyone else who with years of struggle have made Keystone an unavoidable touchstone issue," tweeted 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben.
Steyer in a tweet also thanked Biden for "showing the leadership we need to address the climate crisis."
While climate action campaigners are rightly skeptical of Biden's commitment to far-reaching policies on the issue, writer and organizer Karyn Strickler in a Common Dreams op-ed last month said there is no choice but to force the former Vice President to rethink his agenda and become "the climate-commander-in-chief" the nation and world so desperately needs.
"With scientific estimates of about 11 years to slow climate change, the 2020 election may represent one of our last chances to prioritize climate change in the voting booth," Strickler wrote. "The next 4 years is more than one-third of the time we have for action, signaling the crucial need for Joe Biden to emulate Bernie Sanders’ tough stand and prioritize climate change. We have more immediate needs in the face of a global pandemic, which is itself exacerbated by climate change, but if we don’t slow climate change in short order, no other issue will matter."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jon Queally, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Karl Rove Compares Obama Graduation Remarks To 'Drive-By Shooting'

Former President George W. Bush senior adviser Karl Rove accused Barack Obama—the nation ’ s first black president—of committing a “ political drive-by shooting ” on Monday for subtly criticizing President Donald Trump ’ s coronavirus response in a commencement speech for historically black colleges .
During his virtual address on Saturday to HBCUs , the former president seemed to take the current administration to task , saying the COVID-19 crisis that has killed roughly 90,000 Americans has “ finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to be inspiring the next generation of graduates , ” Kilmeade said to Rove .
“ I don ’ t know if that fits in , but it must sound familiar because isn ’ t—did n't President Obama take countless shots at you and the Bush administration ?
” “ It is so unseemly for a former president to take the virtual commencement ceremony for a series of historically black colleges and universities and turn it into a political drive-by shooting , ” Rove said .
`` Drive-by shooting . ''
GET @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Chicago drive-by shooting '' just to make sure your base did n't miss it ?
Racist dog whistles come so naturally to Republicans !
Especially an old hack like Rove , who longs to feel relevant again .
I say he should rest on his poisonous laurels !
After he , he trained so many of the rancid bottom-feeders that slithered back into public view in this administration .

Via the Daily Beast:
Former President George W. Bush senior adviser Karl Rove accused Barack Obama—the nation’s first black president—of committing a “political drive-by shooting” on Monday for subtly criticizing President Donald Trump’s coronavirus response in a commencement speech for historically black colleges. During his virtual address on Saturday to HBCUs, the former president seemed to take the current administration to task, saying the COVID-19 crisis that has killed roughly 90,000 Americans has “finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing.”
“I thought he was supposed to be inspiring the next generation of graduates,” Kilmeade said to Rove.
“I don’t know if that fits in, but it must sound familiar because isn’t—didn't President Obama take countless shots at you and the Bush administration?”
(Republicans are such snowflakes!)
“It is so unseemly for a former president to take the virtual commencement ceremony for a series of historically black colleges and universities and turn it into a political drive-by shooting,” Rove said.
"Drive-by shooting." GET IT? Why didn't you say "Chicago drive-by shooting" just to make sure your base didn't miss it?
Racist dog whistles come so naturally to Republicans! Especially an old hack like Rove, who longs to feel relevant again.
I say he should rest on his poisonous laurels! After he, he trained so many of the rancid bottom-feeders that slithered back into public view in this administration.
Karl Rove engineered a push poll during the 2000 SC primary that asked voters if they would be less likely to vote for McCain if they knew he had an illegitimate black child. He knew this attack would work because the McCain’s 9-year-old daughter Bridget was from Bangladesh https://t.co/xTwYSuK92d — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 18, 2020
Karl Rove holding Obama to a standard of decorum that Trump has never come within a mile of is a nice little preview of how the presidential behavior rules will turn on a dime when a Democrat is back in the Oval Office. — Schooley (@Rschooley) May 18, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-05-19--Even Jamie Dimon Says We Need To Build A More Inclusive Economy

Via Bloomberg News , a surprising statement from the CEO of JPMorgan Chase : Jamie Dimon said he hopes policy makers use the Covid-19 crisis as a catalyst to rebuild a more-inclusive economy as the pandemic exposes stark inequalities among Americans .
“ This crisis must serve as a wake-up call and a call to action for business and government to think , act and invest for the common good and confront the structural obstacles that have inhibited inclusive economic growth for years , ” the chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co. wrote in a memo to employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shareholder meeting Tuesday .
[ ... ] “ From the re-opening of small businesses to the rehiring of workers , let ’ s leverage this moment to think creatively about how we can mobilize to address so many issues that inhibit the creation of an inclusive economy and fray our social fabric , ” Dimon wrote .
In the memo , he also pointed out the disparate effects of the pandemic : “ Unfortunately , low-income communities and people of color are being hit the hardest , exacerbating the health and economic inequities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus took over , ” Dimon said .
“ An inclusive economy – in which there is widespread access to opportunity – is a stronger , more resilient economy , ” he added .
“ This crisis must serve as a wake-up call and a call to action for business and government to think , act and invest for the common good and confront the structural obstacles that have inhibited inclusive economic growth for years.
” Whether he 's just going with the populist wave or he 's had a real change of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is less than a year ago , being schooled by Rep. Katie Porter .

Via Bloomberg News, a surprising statement from the CEO of JPMorgan Chase:
Jamie Dimon said he hopes policy makers use the Covid-19 crisis as a catalyst to rebuild a more-inclusive economy as the pandemic exposes stark inequalities among Americans. “This crisis must serve as a wake-up call and a call to action for business and government to think, act and invest for the common good and confront the structural obstacles that have inhibited inclusive economic growth for years,” the chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co. wrote in a memo to employees ahead of the bank’s annual shareholder meeting Tuesday. [...] “From the re-opening of small businesses to the rehiring of workers, let’s leverage this moment to think creatively about how we can mobilize to address so many issues that inhibit the creation of an inclusive economy and fray our social fabric,” Dimon wrote.
In the memo, he also pointed out the disparate effects of the pandemic:
“Unfortunately, low-income communities and people of color are being hit the hardest, exacerbating the health and economic inequities that were already unacceptably pronounced before the virus took over,” Dimon said. “An inclusive economy – in which there is widespread access to opportunity – is a stronger, more resilient economy,” he added. “This crisis must serve as a wake-up call and a call to action for business and government to think, act and invest for the common good and confront the structural obstacles that have inhibited inclusive economic growth for years.”
Whether he's just going with the populist wave or he's had a real change of heart, it's recent.
Here he is less than a year ago, being schooled by Rep. Katie Porter.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--In The Wake Of Heavy Rain, Three Michigan Dams Collapse, Thousands Lose Homes

The heartbreaking refusal of Republican politicians to deal with even basic infrastructure like roads , bridges , and dams will continue to damage the citizens caught in the mess .
Last night , in the wake of heavy rain , three Michigan dams collapsed .
The story says two , but another one 's collapsed since then .
Via Reuters : ( Reuters ) - Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday declared an emergency for Midland county after two dams breached and on expectations of extreme flooding .
The county said two dams , Edenville and Sanford , have collapsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days and residents nearby have been told to evacuate immediately .
“ In the next 12 to 15 hours , downtown Midland could be under approximately nine feet of water ” , the governor said in a news conference .
About 3,500 homes and 10,000 people have so far been affected by the evacuation notices , CNN reported cnn.it/3bONkVu , quoting Mark Bone , Chairman of the Midland County Board of Commissioners .
No injuries or deaths have been reported so far , CNN said , citing the chairman .
Residents were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far as possible from the Tittabawassee river .

The heartbreaking refusal of Republican politicians to deal with even basic infrastructure like roads, bridges, and dams will continue to damage the citizens caught in the mess. Last night, in the wake of heavy rain, three Michigan dams collapsed. The story says two, but another one's collapsed since then. Via Reuters:
(Reuters) - Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday declared an emergency for Midland county after two dams breached and on expectations of extreme flooding.
The county said two dams, Edenville and Sanford, have collapsed due to heavy rain in the past few days and residents nearby have been told to evacuate immediately.
“In the next 12 to 15 hours, downtown Midland could be under approximately nine feet of water”, the governor said in a news conference.
About 3,500 homes and 10,000 people have so far been affected by the evacuation notices, CNN reported cnn.it/3bONkVu, quoting Mark Bone, Chairman of the Midland County Board of Commissioners.
No injuries or deaths have been reported so far, CNN said, citing the chairman.
Residents were also advised to seek higher ground as far as possible from the Tittabawassee river.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--With An Eye On 2024, Mike Pompeo Holds Elaborate Taxpayer-Funded Dinners For The Elite

James Madison , fourth president of the United States the fifth secretary of state , used to host dinners with foreign diplomats to exchange ideas .
Using the pretext of `` Madison dinners , '' the nakedly ambitious and ruthless Mike Pompeo is using taxpayer money to invite celebrities and corporate elites to lavish dinners to build a donor database for 2024 .
The pompous Pompeo , who was first in his class at West Point ( probably cheated , from what we 've seen of how enthusiastically he uses Other People 's Money for his personal comfort ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious right .
He is a dangerous man .
That 's why we should all pay attention to this story .
`` We know that State Department officials have raised concerns internally that they were essentially being tasked with building Secretary Pompeo 's future donor Rolodex for a potential campaign .
Because all of the detail contact information and details about all of the people being invited were being sent back to his wife , Mrs. Pompeo 's personal Gmail address , '' he said .
`` Now we speak to the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did serve a legitimate diplomatic purpose .
But we actually crunched the numbers on a master file that NBC News obtained of all of the people that have been invited to these dinners over the last couple years .
We found out only 14 % of the invitees were actually foreign officials or diplomats who you might expect .
`` The majority of them were either business people , major Republican donors , or government types , like members of Congress .
All Republican members of Congress and the Senate who were invited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this growing scrutiny of Secretary Pompeo , the way he 's used government resources during his time in office , and what the inspector general was looking into at the time he was removed late last week . ''

James Madison, fourth president of the United States the fifth secretary of state, used to host dinners with foreign diplomats to exchange ideas.
Using the pretext of "Madison dinners," the nakedly ambitious and ruthless Mike Pompeo is using taxpayer money to invite celebrities and corporate elites to lavish dinners to build a donor database for 2024.
The pompous Pompeo, who was first in his class at West Point (probably cheated, from what we've seen of how enthusiastically he uses Other People's Money for his personal comfort), is also deeply entwined with the hardcore religious right. He is a dangerous man. That's why we should all pay attention to this story.
NBC's Josh Lederman explained the details.
"We know that State Department officials have raised concerns internally that they were essentially being tasked with building Secretary Pompeo's future donor Rolodex for a potential campaign. Because all of the detail contact information and details about all of the people being invited were being sent back to his wife, Mrs. Pompeo's personal Gmail address," he said.
"Now we speak to the State Department, who says these Madison dinners did serve a legitimate diplomatic purpose. But we actually crunched the numbers on a master file that NBC News obtained of all of the people that have been invited to these dinners over the last couple years. We found out only 14% of the invitees were actually foreign officials or diplomats who you might expect.
"The majority of them were either business people, major Republican donors, or government types, like members of Congress. All Republican members of Congress and the Senate who were invited. And all of this coming amid this growing scrutiny of Secretary Pompeo, the way he's used government resources during his time in office, and what the inspector general was looking into at the time he was removed late last week."


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Trump Screws National Guard Virus Workers Out Of Retirement Credit For Pandemic Work

About the time you think there 's no low too low , Trump finds a newer low .
It 's not enough to fire the State Department IG because Pompeo is a corrupt SOB , but he 's also fired the transportation IG for looking into Mrs. Mitch McConnell 's malfeasance and corruption .
Yes , those things happened , but it was n't enough .
You may recall that Donald Trump called out the National Guard to help with the virus response in areas that needed it .
And now , it is time for their duty to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , as Politico reports .
More than 40,000 National Guard members currently helping states test residents for the coronavirus and trace the spread of infections will face a “ hard stop ” on their deployments on June 24 — just one day shy of many members becoming eligible for key federal benefits , according to a senior FEMA official .
The official outlined the Trump administration ’ s plans on an interagency call on May 12 , an audio version of which was obtained by POLITICO .
The official also acknowledged during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that thousands of members who first deployed in late March will find themselves with only 89 days of duty credit , one short of the 90-day threshold for qualifying for early retirement and education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI bill .
You read that right .
The Trump administration has coldly calculated when those National Guard members who deployed to help our nation through a pandemic would accrue benefits , and cut them off with 24 hours to spare .
Rachel Maddow explains how they got to this place : Now after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bunch of different members of Congress and senators and governors lobbied the president to please extend that authorization so these national guard deployments could go through to the fall .
The White House would not agree to do that , would not agree to extend them to the fall .
But weirdly , they decided that they would extend it a little bit .
They decided they would extend the federal deployment to June 24th which is a random Wednesday in late June .
Nobody could really figure out why they picked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ math and as Politico.com reports today we 've now realized that if this thing ends on June 24th , that means that the federal deployment for these 40,000 national guard troops will end at Day 89 of that deployment .
And ending on Day 89 is really important because if their deployment had gone to Day 90 , if it had gone one more day , those National guardsmen and women would have become eligible for benefits towards retirement and education funds under the new GIbill if that federal deployment had gone one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is cutting off their deployment .
They 're calling tit a hard stop at day 89 of the deployment , specifically so they do n't get their benefits .
The next time you hear `` thank you for your service '' coming from one of these Republican hacks , be sure to point out what hypocrites they are .
They do n't give a damn about the people who are putting their lives on the line .
Here 's what they 've been doing , as Maddow reports : And these National Guardsmen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from running community testing sites , they 're doing that all over the country .
They 're providing medical staffing in hard hit prisons that have tons of cases .
They have been running food banks and food distribution sites .
They run field hospitals .
They 've been dispatched to states like Massachusetts to run the state nursing home program for residents and staff .
National guard has been doing all of this work from an order from President Trump that allowed this to be paid for by the federal government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country thanks you for your service .
So much they ca n't be bothered to give you any benefits .
What a sick , petty , piece of shit we have for a president .

About the time you think there's no low too low, Trump finds a newer low. It's not enough to fire the State Department IG because Pompeo is a corrupt SOB, but he's also fired the transportation IG for looking into Mrs. Mitch McConnell's malfeasance and corruption. Yes, those things happened, but it wasn't enough.
You may recall that Donald Trump called out the National Guard to help with the virus response in areas that needed it. And now, it is time for their duty to end, and just in the nick of time, as Politico reports.
More than 40,000 National Guard members currently helping states test residents for the coronavirus and trace the spread of infections will face a “hard stop” on their deployments on June 24 — just one day shy of many members becoming eligible for key federal benefits, according to a senior FEMA official. The official outlined the Trump administration’s plans on an interagency call on May 12, an audio version of which was obtained by POLITICO. The official also acknowledged during the call that the June 24 deadline means that thousands of members who first deployed in late March will find themselves with only 89 days of duty credit, one short of the 90-day threshold for qualifying for early retirement and education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI bill.
You read that right. The Trump administration has coldly calculated when those National Guard members who deployed to help our nation through a pandemic would accrue benefits, and cut them off with 24 hours to spare.
Rachel Maddow explains how they got to this place:
Now after the president did that in early March a bunch of different members of Congress and senators and governors lobbied the president to please extend that authorization so these national guard deployments could go through to the fall. The White House would not agree to do that, would not agree to extend them to the fall. But weirdly, they decided that they would extend it a little bit. They decided they would extend the federal deployment to June 24th which is a random Wednesday in late June. Nobody could really figure out why they picked that day until somebody finally did the math and as Politico.com reports today we've now realized that if this thing ends on June 24th, that means that the federal deployment for these 40,000 national guard troops will end at Day 89 of that deployment. And ending on Day 89 is really important because if their deployment had gone to Day 90, if it had gone one more day, those National guardsmen and women would have become eligible for benefits towards retirement and education funds under the new GIbill if that federal deployment had gone one more day. So, President Trump is cutting off their deployment. They're calling tit a hard stop at day 89 of the deployment, specifically so they don't get their benefits.
The next time you hear "thank you for your service" coming from one of these Republican hacks, be sure to point out what hypocrites they are. They don't give a damn about the people who are putting their lives on the line. Here's what they've been doing, as Maddow reports:
And these National Guardsmen and Guardswomen, they're doing everything from running community testing sites, they're doing that all over the country. They're providing medical staffing in hard hit prisons that have tons of cases. They have been running food banks and food distribution sites. They run field hospitals. They've been dispatched to states like Massachusetts to run the state nursing home program for residents and staff. National guard has been doing all of this work from an order from President Trump that allowed this to be paid for by the federal government.
So yeah, National Guard. The country thanks you for your service. So much they can't be bothered to give you any benefits.
What a sick, petty, piece of shit we have for a president.