crooksandliars--2020-03-16--Trump's Trade Czar Navarro Can't Answer Economy Questions

At some point we all give up on the Trump Administration .
Case in point : Poppy Harlow tried to @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's Trade guy , Peter Navarro .
But Peter had four talking points and @ @ @ @ @ .
`` People are freaking out here . ''
said the CNN host .
Peter @ @ @ @ @ payroll tax cut ( long term HARM to Social Security Peter ! )
and the @ @ @ @ @ .
Again , it 's time to give up on Trump if we 're going @ @ @ @ @ yes I blame the ENTIRE Republican Party for keeping these doofuses in office when they @ @ @ @ @ Trump from office .

At some point we all give up on the Trump Administration.
Case in point: Poppy Harlow tried to get some economic answers from Trump's Trade guy, Peter Navarro. But Peter had four talking points and was not going to budge.
"People are freaking out here." said the CNN host.
Peter Navarro went on about a payroll tax cut (long term HARM to Social Security Peter!) and the supply chain for testing swabs.
Just a reminder that Peter Navarro is fringe pseudo-expert who isn't taken seriously by any real economist. The only reason he's in the White House is because Jared didn't know anything about China, searched "China" on Amazon, & liked the title of Navarro's book: DEATH BY CHINA — Elizabeth Spiers (@espiers) March 16, 2020
Peter Navarro is the most vile crackpot in the Trump administration. And that's saying a lot. — nats_fan (@natsfan2019) March 16, 2020
Just a reminder that Peter Navarro is fringe pseudo-expert who isn't taken seriously by any real economist. The only reason he's in the White House is because Jared didn't know anything about China, searched "China" on Amazon, & liked the title of Navarro's book: DEATH BY CHINA — Elizabeth Spiers (@espiers) March 16, 2020
Again, it's time to give up on Trump if we're going to survive this.
And yes I blame the ENTIRE Republican Party for keeping these doofuses in office when they had the chance to remove Trump from office.


crooksandliars--2020-03-16--Sheriff Clarke Has 'Lost' His 'Mind' On Twitter

It 's a rare day at Crooks and Liars when we start a post agreeing with Charlie Sykes , but @ @ @ @ @ GO INTO THE STREETS FOLKS .
Visit bars , restaurants , shopping malls , CHURCHES @ @ @ @ @ re-open .
NOW !
If government doesn ’ t stop this foolishness ... STAY IN @ @ @ @ @ CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES .
IF NOT NOW , WHEN ?
THIS IS AN EXPLOITATION @ @ @ @ @ expect he 's been taken off of Fox and has to get his attention fix @ @ @ @ @ yep , definite anger at `` Fox Management . ''
Conservative voices remaining at FOX @ @ @ @ @ on a short leash & the slightest provocation of the LIBERAL MURDOCH BOYS running the @ @ @ @ @ off the air .
@ seanhannity @ IngrahamAngle @ TuckerCarlson @ JudgeJeanine work looking over @ @ @ @ @ forget to wash your head with lots of SOROS !

It's a rare day at Crooks and Liars when we start a post agreeing with Charlie Sykes, but these are rare times:
I’ve known this guy for years. He’s lost his f**king mind .... pic.twitter.com/8yX78lGg6h — Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) March 16, 2020
Yep, David Clarke HAS lost his effing mind.
GO INTO THE STREETS FOLKS. Visit bars, restaurants, shopping malls, CHURCHES and demand that your schools re-open. NOW!
If government doesn’t stop this foolishness...STAY IN THE STREETS.
END GOVERNEMNT CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES. IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
THIS IS AN EXPLOITATION OF A CRISIS. — David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) March 15, 2020
I expect he's been taken off of Fox and has to get his attention fix any way he can -- yep, definite anger at "Fox Management."
Conservative voices remaining at FOX News Channel know they are on a short leash & the slightest provocation of the LIBERAL MURDOCH BOYS running the news will have them taken off the air. @seanhannity @IngrahamAngle @TuckerCarlson @JudgeJeanine work looking over their shoulders. — David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) March 15, 2020
Don't forget to wash your head with lots of SOROS!
Not ONE media outlet has asked about George Soros’s involvement in this FLU panic. He is SOMEWHERE involved in this. — David A. Clarke, Jr. (@SheriffClarke) March 15, 2020
Twitter responds:
Who had David Clarke, Jr. in the "Blame The Coronavirus On The Jews" pool?
My money was on a white nationalist, but Clarke proves that ALL of the crazies are predictably unpredictable! — TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes) March 16, 2020
Look, you can snort cocaine or sniff glue, but you really shouldn't do both. — Billy Brooksher (@Mr_Brooksher) March 15, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-16--Mar-A-Lago, 'A Gilded Petri Dish For A Global Disease'

There 's a deep irony at play here , that Trump 's own property needs immediate disinfection because so many of his guests are contracting the coronavirus .
Even RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has gotten sick after attending an event at Mar-A-Lago .
Mar-a-Lago , the crown jewel of President Donald Trump ’ s real estate empire , has been his refuge and sanctuary throughout his time in office .
Unlike in Washington , where the president is mostly cloistered inside the White House and interacts with a constant stream of aides and lawmakers , he gets to rub elbows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glitterati at his Palm Beach estate — showing off a real estate beauty to other elites .
Now it could take a place in history as an international transfer point for a deadly virus spreading across the globe .
At least three people who visited Mar-a-Lago in the past 10 days have tested positive for the deadly virus , and were spotted in photographs with the president and other club members .
A top Brazilian official , Ambassador to the U.S. Nestor Forster , who was seated with the president at a Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 .
So did Fabio Wajngarten , the press secretary to President Jair Bolsonaro who was spotted standing next to Trump in an Instagram post .
An email to Trump supporters who attended a fundraiser at the club last Sunday suggests there was now also a mysterious third person who was at the club last weekend with the virus .
The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee , Ronna McDaniel , came down with flu-like symptoms on Friday and her doctor determined a test for coronavirus was necessary , a spokesman @ @

There's a deep irony at play here, that Trump's own property needs immediate disinfection because so many of his guests are contracting the coronavirus. Even RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has gotten sick after attending an event at Mar-A-Lago.
Source: Politico
Mar-a-Lago, the crown jewel of President Donald Trump’s real estate empire, has been his refuge and sanctuary throughout his time in office.
Unlike in Washington, where the president is mostly cloistered inside the White House and interacts with a constant stream of aides and lawmakers, he gets to rub elbows and hobnob with his friends and other glitterati at his Palm Beach estate — showing off a real estate beauty to other elites.
Now it could take a place in history as an international transfer point for a deadly virus spreading across the globe.
At least three people who visited Mar-a-Lago in the past 10 days have tested positive for the deadly virus, and were spotted in photographs with the president and other club members. A top Brazilian official, Ambassador to the U.S. Nestor Forster, who was seated with the president at a Saturday night dinner at the club, tested positive for COVID-19. So did Fabio Wajngarten, the press secretary to President Jair Bolsonaro who was spotted standing next to Trump in an Instagram post. An email to Trump supporters who attended a fundraiser at the club last Sunday suggests there was now also a mysterious third person who was at the club last weekend with the virus.
The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, came down with flu-like symptoms on Friday and her doctor determined a test for coronavirus was necessary, a spokesman said.


crooksandliars--2020-03-16--BOMBSHELL: Trump Tried To Lure German Vaccine Company Here For Exclusive Rights

A German newspaper reported yesterday that the Trump administration offered `` large sums of money '' to get a German company to move here and give the U.S. exclusive access to a coronavirus vaccine in development .
Via Politico : According to the article , Trump was trying to get the Tübingen-based CureVac company — which also has sites in Frankfurt and Boston — to move its research wing to the United States and develop the vaccine `` for the U.S .
only . ''
A spokesperson for Germany 's Health Ministry quoted in the article appeared to acknowledge the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` very interested in ensuring that vaccines and active substances against the new coronavirus are also developed in Germany and Europe . ''
On Sunday afternoon , Germany 's Health Ministry told Reuters that its spokesperson had been quoted correctly in the newspaper article , confirming that Washington had attempted to take over the biopharmaceutical company .
Government sources indicated that Berlin was now offering CureVac financial incentives to remain in Germany .
Clearly , he 's looking for ways to monetize it -- and maybe not just for his Big Pharma buddies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut ?
After all , this pandemic is cutting into his hotel profits and he 's got to scare up some revenue somewhere .
His bootlick Richard Grenell insists the story is wrong , but I think we all know better : Can you imagine Obama doing this , trying to get rights to a badly-needed vaccine during a global pandemic so the pharmaceutical industry can hold the rest of the world at gunpoint ?

A German newspaper reported yesterday that the Trump administration offered "large sums of money" to get a German company to move here and give the U.S. exclusive access to a coronavirus vaccine in development. Via Politico:
According to the article, Trump was trying to get the Tübingen-based CureVac company — which also has sites in Frankfurt and Boston — to move its research wing to the United States and develop the vaccine "for the U.S. only." A spokesperson for Germany's Health Ministry quoted in the article appeared to acknowledge the U.S. approach and said that Berlin was "very interested in ensuring that vaccines and active substances against the new coronavirus are also developed in Germany and Europe." On Sunday afternoon, Germany's Health Ministry told Reuters that its spokesperson had been quoted correctly in the newspaper article, confirming that Washington had attempted to take over the biopharmaceutical company. Government sources indicated that Berlin was now offering CureVac financial incentives to remain in Germany.
Clearly, he's looking for ways to monetize it -- and maybe not just for his Big Pharma buddies. Was he trying to take a cut? After all, this pandemic is cutting into his hotel profits and he's got to scare up some revenue somewhere.
His bootlick Richard Grenell insists the story is wrong, but I think we all know better:
Not true. The Welt story was wrong. But Business Insider, Reuters and others went with it anyway despite not having their own sources. Now everyone is back peddling. https://t.co/88UohluwTj — Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) March 15, 2020
Can you imagine Obama doing this, trying to get rights to a badly-needed vaccine during a global pandemic so the pharmaceutical industry can hold the rest of the world at gunpoint?
'Not for sale': anger in Germany at report Trump seeking exclusive coronavirus vaccine deal https://t.co/VfZE7Ya2Bm — The Guardian (@guardian) March 16, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Moscow Mitch Has A Message For Old Federal Judges: Retire!

Moscow Mitch McConnell 's total obsession with overturning the federal judiciary really knows no bounds .
He 's prioritized it above everything , including safeguarding the nation 's health during a global pandemic that is shutting down large swathes of the country .
The Senate majority leader is so obsessed that he 's even trying to push federal judges into retirement .
He 's leaning particularly on `` judges nominated by Presidents Ronald Reagan , George Bush and George W. Bush , '' telling them that `` making the change now would be advantageous , '' The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of urgency is apparently driven by the likelihood that Donald Trump wo n't be in office another four years , as well as the fact that the Republican Senate majority is teetering right now .
Never mind that further packing the courts with Trump 's young , unqualified , and extremist partisans is one more issue voters are focusing on this election and will probably further endanger vulnerable Republicans : Moscow Mitch wants to put his lasting , extremist , nihilistic stamp on the nation for generations to come .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and place more than 50 appeals court judges .
Those are the most influential of judgeships , the cases that wind their way up to the Supreme Court .
As of right now , there 's only one open appellate seat .
More than one-quarter of the appeals court judges are now McConnell-Trump judges .
This campaign of trying to talk more judges into retiring is purely political .
Brian Fallon , the executive director of the progressive judicial group Demand Justice , describes it as `` court-packing in a different form .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what , if anything , McConnell is offering them to take senior status earlier than planned .
This type of hand-in-glove coordination shows how utterly politicized the judicial branch is . ''
Here 's an example of one issue these judges can fundamentally alter that 's particularly important right now : health care .
The Alliance for Justice has compiled a list of Trump nominees and appointees who have taken extremist positions against reproductive health freedom , against the Affordable Care Act , against the very basic notion that Americans have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court justice and alleged sexual assailant Brett Kavanaugh , who while sitting in the D.C .
Circuit twice wrote dissenting opinions to rulings upholding the ACA .
One of Kavanaugh 's clerks describes his dissent as providing the `` road map '' to invalidating the whole law .
Access to health care has been the battleground Republicans , and especially McConnell , have chosen for the past decade and they 've put that fight smack dab in the middle of the courts .
They 've succeeded to a terrifying extent , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 epidemic starts to take hold .
It seems like kind of an arcane , political-insiderish , and wonky issue , the federal courts .
It 's not : It 's life and death , when it comes right down to it .
Mitch McConnell is once again demonstrating that he 's perfectly willing to kill you for the sake of his ideology .

Moscow Mitch McConnell's total obsession with overturning the federal judiciary really knows no bounds. He's prioritized it above everything, including safeguarding the nation's health during a global pandemic that is shutting down large swathes of the country. The Senate majority leader is so obsessed that he's even trying to push federal judges into retirement.
He's leaning particularly on "judges nominated by Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush," telling them that "making the change now would be advantageous," The New York Times’ Carl Hulse reports. McConnell's sense of urgency is apparently driven by the likelihood that Donald Trump won't be in office another four years, as well as the fact that the Republican Senate majority is teetering right now. Never mind that further packing the courts with Trump's young, unqualified, and extremist partisans is one more issue voters are focusing on this election and will probably further endanger vulnerable Republicans: Moscow Mitch wants to put his lasting, extremist, nihilistic stamp on the nation for generations to come.
It's already terrifying: McConnell has helped confirm and place more than 50 appeals court judges. Those are the most influential of judgeships, the cases that wind their way up to the Supreme Court. As of right now, there's only one open appellate seat. More than one-quarter of the appeals court judges are now McConnell-Trump judges. This campaign of trying to talk more judges into retiring is purely political. Brian Fallon, the executive director of the progressive judicial group Demand Justice, describes it as "court-packing in a different form. […] It raises the question of what, if anything, McConnell is offering them to take senior status earlier than planned. This type of hand-in-glove coordination shows how utterly politicized the judicial branch is."
Here's an example of one issue these judges can fundamentally alter that's particularly important right now: health care. The Alliance for Justice has compiled a list of Trump nominees and appointees who have taken extremist positions against reproductive health freedom, against the Affordable Care Act, against the very basic notion that Americans have a right to health care. That includes Supreme Court justice and alleged sexual assailant Brett Kavanaugh, who while sitting in the D.C. Circuit twice wrote dissenting opinions to rulings upholding the ACA. One of Kavanaugh's clerks describes his dissent as providing the "road map" to invalidating the whole law.
Access to health care has been the battleground Republicans, and especially McConnell, have chosen for the past decade and they've put that fight smack dab in the middle of the courts. They've succeeded to a terrifying extent, which we're just now seeing as the COVID-19 epidemic starts to take hold. It seems like kind of an arcane, political-insiderish, and wonky issue, the federal courts. It's not: It's life and death, when it comes right down to it.
Mitch McConnell is once again demonstrating that he's perfectly willing to kill you for the sake of his ideology.
Published with permission of Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Lead Lawyer For Impeachment Went Through Hell To Be Tested For COVID-19

Getting tested for COVID-19 is a disaster in our country , no matter what Donald Trump and the White House says .
No , you can not just get tested .
You have to jump through so many hoops and have a presumptive positive due to exposure to someone else who has a confirmed positive , have travelled to one of the countries dealing with an outbreak or be in a special category ( older , compromised immune system , etc ) .
Daniel Goldman , one of the lawyers from the House Impeachment trial , live tweeted his days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it turned out he was positive !
Here are the tweets about his journey : After exhausting options in New York , he went to Connecticut on March 13th .
Mr. Goldman did interviews with various news outlets , including CNN 's `` New Day '' .
He told the hosts that he is `` feeling much better . ''
Goldman made it clear that the Trump administration was largely related to the Trump administration 's ineptitude .
`` My difficulty in getting a test despite the exact symptoms and a negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration is to deal with this pandemic , '' he said .
`` In fact , I was told that NYC hospitals STILL would not test my wife — with similar symptoms — unless admitted . ''
Although a horrifying story of the medical maze Americans are going through every day across this country , Mr. Goldman 's story shines an even brighter light on how the Trump administration fails to protect all citizens and how the response from the medical community needs to be adjusted to ensure that everyone that needs the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen if the Trump administration is n't actually sending tests out .
The unavailability of testing on a broader basis has serious implications for the overall economy .
Here 's one example : Person A feels a little tired and run down but goes to work anyway .
While at work , Person A starts to run a fever , putting his co-workers at risk .
Person A has n't traveled or been in contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19 .
His co-workers go home , blissfully unaware that Person A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend with their spouses , significant others , children and friends .
When Person A notifies his employer that he is sick but untested , every person his co-workers came in contact with now must quarantine themselves because they can not rely on a test result to tell them whether or not he has the flu or COVID-19 .
That takes healthy workers out of the workforce simply because they can not be tested .
This is the PRIMARY failure of the Trump response to this virus .
By denying its severity for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply close borders and keep the virus out , the economy is at risk along with the health and well-being of every person in America .

Getting tested for COVID-19 is a disaster in our country, no matter what Donald Trump and the White House says. No, you cannot just get tested. You have to jump through so many hoops and have a presumptive positive due to exposure to someone else who has a confirmed positive, have travelled to one of the countries dealing with an outbreak or be in a special category (older, compromised immune system, etc).
Daniel Goldman, one of the lawyers from the House Impeachment trial, live tweeted his days long journey to finally getting tested. And it turned out he was positive!
Here are the tweets about his journey:
Let’s be very clear: unless you have pneumonia and traveled to one of 5 high-risk countries recently, you can NOT get a #COVID19 test in New York City. If you, like me, have a fever and a headache (but tested negative for the flu), you are unable to rule out #COVID19. Shameful. — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 11, 2020
This is not New York City’s fault. There simply are insufficient tests so they are being rationed.
(And I’m fine. Just want to rule it out for my family, including three little kids.) — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 11, 2020
UPDATE: my primary care doc said he could send a #coronavirus test to @QuestDX but it has to go to California and won’t come back for at least 4 days. (The tests at hospital ER’s apparently take 24-36 hours.) — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 12, 2020
2nd UPDATE: Banning Europeans will not get me tested faster. Nor will it stop the community spread that began weeks ago. — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 12, 2020
3rd UPDATE: Currently in hospital bed of overflowing ER @WeillCornell awaiting another flu test and chest x-ray. Bc my symptoms are not bad enough to be admitted, I am not eligible for a #COVID19 test. Self-quarantine is my only option. This is pure triage, not any solution. — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 12, 2020
4th UPDATE: after sitting for 6 hours in the hallway of the @WeillCornell ER, I tested negative for all non-Covid viruses and had a clean chest x-ray (so lungs are fine). Was told to go home and isolate until I feel better.
Now on to find a #COVID19 test in CT. — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 12, 2020
After exhausting options in New York, he went to Connecticut on March 13th.
5th UPDATE: Woke up at 4:45am to drive to Stamford, CT for a curbside #COVID19 test. One catch: I was told the results may not come back for 4 DAYS. @tomhanks test in Australia came back in 4 HOURS.
Now resting at home, feeling better, and trying to keep 3 little ones away. pic.twitter.com/zDX1dSHFj7 — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 13, 2020
Two days later: POSITIVE
FINAL UPDATE (thread): My #COVID19 test came back positive.
I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support. It means a lot to my family and me.
I am almost back to 100%. I’m lucky enough not to fall in the vulnerable category and, for me, it was just like the flu. 1/ — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 15, 2020
My difficulty in getting a test despite the exact symptoms and a neg flu test underscores how shockingly unprepared this administration is to deal with this pandemic. In fact, I was told that NYC hospitals STILL would not test my wife — with similar symptoms — unless admitted. 2/ — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 15, 2020
@realDonaldTrump can try to gaslight the American public by repeatedly saying that everyone who needs a test can get one, but that was not true one month ago (when it should have been the case) and it is not true today (when there is no excuse). 3/ — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 15, 2020
Given his stated desire to “keep numbers down” for his political benefit, it is impossible to reach any conclusion other than that the President is sacrificing the health of the American public for his own personal interests. 4/ — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 15, 2020
The upshot of my experience is that there are almost certainly hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people walking around the United States with #COVID19. I didn’t take no for an answer to get a test, but many people might. And they go home to transmit it unknowingly. 5/ — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 15, 2020
And because I did not knowingly come into contact with a “known positive”, docs said my family could go about their business. But we can’t know if people are positive if they can’t get a test! This is the administration’s great failing — the only way to stop this is to test. 6/ — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 15, 2020
One final note: I may be the first you know who tested positive, but I won’t be the last. Let’s take care of each other, listen to the experts and the cities, states and corporations who are taking the lead in the absence of the fed government, and get through this together. END — Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) March 15, 2020
Mr. Goldman did interviews with various news outlets, including CNN's "New Day". He told the hosts that he is "feeling much better." Goldman made it clear that the Trump administration was largely related to the Trump administration's ineptitude. "My difficulty in getting a test despite the exact symptoms and a negative flu test underscores how shockingly unprepared this administration is to deal with this pandemic," he said. "In fact, I was told that NYC hospitals STILL would not test my wife — with similar symptoms — unless admitted."
Although a horrifying story of the medical maze Americans are going through every day across this country, Mr. Goldman's story shines an even brighter light on how the Trump administration fails to protect all citizens and how the response from the medical community needs to be adjusted to ensure that everyone that needs the test gets one - which can't happen if the Trump administration isn't actually sending tests out.
The unavailability of testing on a broader basis has serious implications for the overall economy. Here's one example:
Person A feels a little tired and run down but goes to work anyway. While at work, Person A starts to run a fever, putting his co-workers at risk. Person A hasn't traveled or been in contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19. His co-workers go home, blissfully unaware that Person A may be sick, and spend the weekend with their spouses, significant others, children and friends. When Person A notifies his employer that he is sick but untested, every person his co-workers came in contact with now must quarantine themselves because they cannot rely on a test result to tell them whether or not he has the flu or COVID-19.
That takes healthy workers out of the workforce simply because they cannot be tested. This is the PRIMARY failure of the Trump response to this virus. By denying its severity for so long and arrogantly believing they could simply close borders and keep the virus out, the economy is at risk along with the health and well-being of every person in America.


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Louie Gohmert Holds Up House-Passed Coronavirus Relief Bill

Gohmert was one of 40 Republicans to vote against this bill , and is now delaying it from heading to @ @ @ @ @ .
He was later persuaded to stop his foolishness .
WASHINGTON — Rep. Louie Gohmert @ @ @ @ @ up the House-passed coronavirus relief bill and preventing it from being delivered to the Senate @ @ @ @ @ House was expected to make technical corrections Monday to the bipartisan measure , passed by @ @ @ @ @ but Gohmert is insisting on reading them , a Democratic leadership aide confirmed to NBC @ @ @ @ @ technical corrections package has not yet been finalized and the House wants to pass it @ @ @ @ @ House is on recess this week .
If one member stands in opposition , the @ @ @ @ @ the bill to the Senate without bringing the entire House back from their districts to @ @ @ @ @ The Senate is in session this week , but schedules have been fluid because of @ @ @ @

Gohmert was one of 40 Republicans to vote against this bill, and is now delaying it from heading to the Senate for a vote. He was later persuaded to stop his foolishness.
Source: NBC News
WASHINGTON — Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, is holding up the House-passed coronavirus relief bill and preventing it from being delivered to the Senate for a vote.
The House was expected to make technical corrections Monday to the bipartisan measure, passed by the House early Saturday, but Gohmert is insisting on reading them, a Democratic leadership aide confirmed to NBC News on Monday.
The technical corrections package has not yet been finalized and the House wants to pass it by unanimous consent because the House is on recess this week.
If one member stands in opposition, the House can’t send the bill to the Senate without bringing the entire House back from their districts to Washington for a vote. The Senate is in session this week, but schedules have been fluid because of the coronavirus outbreak.


crooksandliars--2020-03-16--Narcissist Trump Gives Himself A Perfect 10 For COVID-19 Response As Markets Crash

Please , how do we keep this man off the television ?
He 's killing the markets and the economy .
Knowing that the Dow futures were in the tank , was he still high because of a Friday bounce-back that he could magically think he would show his orange face and the markets would respond ?
Last week Trump said he takes `` no responsibility '' whatsoever for the federal government 's response to this pandemic and instead blamed Obama .
This has been his only political move : Attack previous administrations when he fails .
As Trump began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market tickers plummeted all the time he was talking .
As the markets were closing , a reporter yelled at the podium and was able to get in this question .
`` Mr. President , the other day you said you were not responsible for the testing shortfall .
Very simple question , does the buck stop with you ?
On a scale of 1 to 10 , how would you rate your response to this crisis ? ''
Trump did not respond to `` does the buck stop with him , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his response to this crisis .
`` I 'd rate it a 10 , '' he said .
I think we 've done a great job .
It started with the fact that we kept a very highly infected country , despite all of the -- even the professionals saying , no , it 's too early to do that , we were very , very early with respect to China .
We would have a whole different situation in this country if we did n't do that .
I would rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate ourselves and the professionals , I think the professionals have done a fantastic job .
As far as the testing , you heard the Admiral .
I think the testing that we 've done , we really took over an obsolete system or put it maybe in a different way a system that was n't meant to do anything like this , we took it over and we 're doing something that 's never been done in this country .
I think that we are doing very well .
We took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we had and we broke down the system purposely , we broke it down in order to do what we 're doing now .
And within a short period of time and even now we 're testing tremendous numbers of people and ultimately you 're saying it will be , what , it will be up to how many people will we be able to test ?
He keeps attacking Pres .
Obama 's H1N1 crisis response , but that is not relevant at all because he 's president and Obama is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Obama put in place a pandemic response team that Trump dissolved because he hates Obama .
And Obama did really well with the outbreak as Factcheck writers , `` While that death toll may sound high , it ’ s over an entire year and , in fact , ended up being far lower than was initially expected .
The strain of influenza also turned out to have a case fatality rate of just 0.02 % — well below even many typical seasonal influenzas . ''
This imbecile keeps flailing away with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does nothing absolutely nothing because confusion and chaos is the way he likes things .
He thought he could fluff the markets like he did on Friday and instead the opposite happened .

Please, how do we keep this man off the television?
He's killing the markets and the economy.
Knowing that the Dow futures were in the tank, was he still high because of a Friday bounce-back that he could magically think he would show his orange face and the markets would respond?
I thought Mike Pence was running the virus task force.
What about Dr. Fauci?
Last week Trump said he takes "no responsibility" whatsoever for the federal government's response to this pandemic and instead blamed Obama. This has been his only political move: Attack previous administrations when he fails.
As Trump began today's press conference, the stock market tickers plummeted all the time he was talking.
As the markets were closing, a reporter yelled at the podium and was able to get in this question.
"Mr. President, the other day you said you were not responsible for the testing shortfall. Very simple question, does the buck stop with you? On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your response to this crisis?"
Trump did not respond to "does the buck stop with him," but quickly gave himself a perfect 10 on his response to this crisis.
"I'd rate it a 10," he said.
I think we've done a great job. It started with the fact that we kept a very highly infected country, despite all of the -- even the professionals saying, no, it's too early to do that, we were very, very early with respect to China. We would have a whole different situation in this country if we didn't do that. I would rate it very, very -- I would rate ourselves and the professionals, I think the professionals have done a fantastic job. As far as the testing, you heard the Admiral. I think the testing that we've done, we really took over an obsolete system or put it maybe in a different way a system that wasn't meant to do anything like this, we took it over and we're doing something that's never been done in this country. I think that we are doing very well. We took the system, we worked with the system we had and we broke down the system purposely, we broke it down in order to do what we're doing now. And within a short period of time and even now we're testing tremendous numbers of people and ultimately you're saying it will be, what, it will be up to how many people will we be able to test?
He keeps attacking Pres. Obama's H1N1 crisis response, but that is not relevant at all because he's president and Obama is not. The biggest problem now is that President Obama put in place a pandemic response team that Trump dissolved because he hates Obama.
And Obama did really well with the outbreak as Factcheck writers, "While that death toll may sound high, it’s over an entire year and, in fact, ended up being far lower than was initially expected. The strain of influenza also turned out to have a case fatality rate of just 0.02% — well below even many typical seasonal influenzas."
This imbecile keeps flailing away with inaccurate talking points and improvised puffery that does nothing absolutely nothing because confusion and chaos is the way he likes things. He thought he could fluff the markets like he did on Friday and instead the opposite happened.


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Trump Lied About Rejecting WHO Tests, Doctor Confirms

During his press conference , Donald Trump claimed the WHO tests were not up to FDA standards , choosing instead to develop our own .
Dr. Joseph Fair confirms the exact opposite is the case .
`` The reason WHO did n't offer us the test is because they only offered them for free to impoverished nations , '' Dr. Fair explained on MSNBC .
`` We have to buy them . ''
Turning to the question of flawed tests , Dr. Fair said , `` The tests that were out that were inaccurate were -- false positives and false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not the commercial tests . ''
`` So that 's the opposite of what happened , '' he concluded .
That is backed up by this report from the Washington Post Founder of a small Berlin-based company , the ponytailed 54-year-old first raced to help German researchers come up with a diagnostic test and then spurred his company to produce and ship more than 1.4 million tests by the end of February for the World Health Organization .
“ My wife and I have been working 16 hours a day , seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Landt said by phone about 1 a.m. Friday , Berlin time .
“ Our days are full.
” By contrast , over the same critical period , U.S. efforts to distribute tests ground nearly to a halt , and the country ’ s inability to produce them left public health officials with limited means to determine where and how fast the virus was spreading .
From mid-January until Feb. 28 , fewer than 4,000 tests from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used out of more 160,000 produced .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ used ?
Because they DID NOT WORK .

During his press conference, Donald Trump claimed the WHO tests were not up to FDA standards, choosing instead to develop our own. Dr. Joseph Fair confirms the exact opposite is the case.
"The reason WHO didn't offer us the test is because they only offered them for free to impoverished nations," Dr. Fair explained on MSNBC. "We have to buy them."
Turning to the question of flawed tests, Dr. Fair said, "The tests that were out that were inaccurate were -- false positives and false negatives -- were actually the CDC tests, not the commercial tests."
"So that's the opposite of what happened," he concluded.
That is backed up by this report from the Washington Post
Founder of a small Berlin-based company, the ponytailed 54-year-old first raced to help German researchers come up with a diagnostic test and then spurred his company to produce and ship more than 1.4 million tests by the end of February for the World Health Organization. “My wife and I have been working 16 hours a day, seven days a week, ever since,” Landt said by phone about 1 a.m. Friday, Berlin time. “Our days are full.” By contrast, over the same critical period, U.S. efforts to distribute tests ground nearly to a halt, and the country’s inability to produce them left public health officials with limited means to determine where and how fast the virus was spreading. From mid-January until Feb. 28, fewer than 4,000 tests from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used out of more 160,000 produced.
The reason the CDC tests weren't used? Because they DID NOT WORK.


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Sherrod Brown Rains Hellfire On McConnell For Delaying Pandemic Vote

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and its resulting economic shock , Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took a three day recess back to Kentucky and spent time with Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh celebrating the confirmation of another unqualified judge .
At the same time he contacted older federal judges and asked them to retire before election day so he can fill their seats with young conservatives .
( Mitch can count votes and appears to be betting that Trump wo n't be president after this year . )
Meanwhile , Louie Gohmert is objecting to a House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Mitch McConnell for doing jack on the crisis due to the parliamentary issue of `` The House has n't sent the bill over to us yet . ''
Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Dick Durbin of Illinois called out this nonsense .
And Sherrod Brown was on fire : SEN SHERROD BROWN : I think you 've just watched what 's wrong with this place .
Senator Durbin comes here , and talks about the importance of doing something -- LAST THURSDAY we were supposed to start working on this !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this floor ...
I opened this door , Mister President , I pointed down the hall and I said Senator McConnell should come back here , and we should work on this bill .
Whether they 're actually finished in the House , down the hall doing it or not , we should be working on this .
Now we have four more days ...
Senator McConnell had to go back to Kentucky .
I do n't know really what he went back for .
We asked him to stay and finish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To take care of stopping this virus .
To take care of all the people in my state , in Illinois , in Senator Markey 's state , in Senator Coons ' state ... to take care of all these people who are losing their jobs , and do n't know what to do ?
Senator McConnell went back to Kentucky , wasted three days , make that FOUR days , today is another day we 're wasting .
Again , I do n't know why he went back .
Three more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of people self-quarantining .
It 's three more days of businesses in Columbus and Dayton shutting down .
It 's the anguish that you feel if you think one of your loved ones is sick .
All of that .
Empty airplanes .
All the things that are happening .
If we want to get something done , we get something done ... Who can say anything , but this is a national crisis ?
We 're going to make our unwillingness to do anything contingent on some parliamentary trick ?
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .
Just because Senator McConnell has taken four days and not done it , does n't mean we should n't .
We should work .

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and its resulting economic shock, Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took a three day recess back to Kentucky and spent time with Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
celebrating the confirmation of another unqualified judge.
REMINDER: The Senate is not voting on this #COVID19 bill today because, on Thursday afternoon, Mitch McConnell adjourned the Senate until Monday.
He & Brett Kavanaugh went to Kentucky for the investiture of a federal judge rated Not Qualified by the ABA.
That was his priority. https://t.co/FKMiZ9MZeE — The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) March 14, 2020
At the same time he contacted older federal judges and asked them to retire before election day so he can fill their seats with young conservatives. (Mitch can count votes and appears to be betting that Trump won't be president after this year.)
Meanwhile, Louie Gohmert is objecting to a House bill on the Coronavirus, giving cover to Mitch McConnell for doing jack on the crisis due to the parliamentary issue of "The House hasn't sent the bill over to us yet."
A single House Republican, Louie Gohmert of Texas, is holding up the House-passed Coronavirus-response bill.
Lord, I hope his stupidity isn't transmittable. — Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) March 16, 2020
Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Dick Durbin of Illinois called out this nonsense. And Sherrod Brown was on fire:
SEN SHERROD BROWN: I think you've just watched what's wrong with this place. Senator Durbin comes here, and talks about the importance of doing something -- LAST THURSDAY we were supposed to start working on this! We should... I asked Senator McConnell on this floor...I opened this door, Mister President, I pointed down the hall and I said Senator McConnell should come back here, and we should work on this bill. Whether they're actually finished in the House, down the hall doing it or not, we should be working on this. Now we have four more days...Senator McConnell had to go back to Kentucky. I don't know really what he went back for. We asked him to stay and finish this, negotiate it and do it. To take care of stopping this virus. To take care of all the people in my state, in Illinois, in Senator Markey's state, in Senator Coons' state... to take care of all these people who are losing their jobs, and don't know what to do? Senator McConnell went back to Kentucky, wasted three days, make that FOUR days, today is another day we're wasting. Again, I don't know why he went back. Three more days of people worrying, three more days of people self-quarantining. It's three more days of businesses in Columbus and Dayton shutting down. It's the anguish that you feel if you think one of your loved ones is sick. All of that. Empty airplanes. All the things that are happening. If we want to get something done, we get something done... Who can say anything, but this is a national crisis? We're going to make our unwillingness to do anything contingent on some parliamentary trick? No. We are paid to do this job. Just because Senator McConnell has taken four days and not done it, doesn't mean we shouldn't. We should work.
As usual Sherrod Brown is right pic.twitter.com/M5tI6w668g — Nelini Stamp 🐺🐜 (@NelStamp) March 17, 2020
UPDATE: Well, well...


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Stephanie Grisham Self-Quarantines After Saying Democrats Were Using COVID-19 To 'Scare People'

The Trump administration called the coronavirus a hoax just a few weeks ago , endangering the lives of millions of Americans .
Back on March 9th , Grisham appeared on Fox and Friends , and first claimed Trump was too virile to get sick .
Then the fake White House press secretary attacked the Democratic Party and the media for using the coronavirus `` as a tool to politicize things and scare people . ''
Most of Fox News , along with Trump 's sycophants and propagandists on hate talk radio echoed these ideas and claimed the virus was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency and destroy the economy all to make him look bad .
`` People need to be washing their hands , treating this like the flu , '' was all she said .
Flash Forward to today via The NY Post : White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham is self-quarantining after having contact with individuals from a Brazilian delegation while at Mar-a-Lago who have since tested positive for coronavirus , a White House official confirmed .
“ Out of an abundance of caution , she is working from home , ” the official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Is Grisham trying to scare people ?
Is she trying to destroy the stock markets ?
Is she politicizing a know-nothing flu ?
As Raw Story also notes , `` The White House also confirmed on Tuesday that Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney is under a self-imposed quarantine after his niece came in contact with the same Brazilian official at Mar-a-Lago .

The Trump administration called the coronavirus a hoax just a few weeks ago, endangering the lives of millions of Americans.
Back on March 9th, Grisham appeared on Fox and Friends, and first claimed Trump was too virile to get sick. Then the fake White House press secretary attacked the Democratic Party and the media for using the coronavirus "as a tool to politicize things and scare people."
Most of Fox News, along with Trump's sycophants and propagandists on hate talk radio echoed these ideas and claimed the virus was a way to fear monger against the Trump presidency and destroy the economy all to make him look bad.
"People need to be washing their hands, treating this like the flu," was all she said.
Flash Forward to today via The NY Post:
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham is self-quarantining after having contact with individuals from a Brazilian delegation while at Mar-a-Lago who have since tested positive for coronavirus, a White House official confirmed. “Out of an abundance of caution, she is working from home,” the official told The Post.
Wait, what? Is Grisham trying to scare people?
Is she trying to destroy the stock markets?
Is she politicizing a know-nothing flu?
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
As Raw Story also notes, "The White House also confirmed on Tuesday that Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney is under a self-imposed quarantine after his niece came in contact with the same Brazilian official at Mar-a-Lago.


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Trump Still Using 'Chinese Virus' For COVID-19

Before too many of us start congratulating Trump for doing the bare minimum to fight this pandemic , it was just a few weeks ago he was still calling this `` a hoax . ''
It 's worth reminding everyone that he 's still out there , dividing people , pitting people against one another , making counter-productive statements and actions which divide all of us .
Because that 's just who and what he is .
President Trump is doubling down on labeling the COVID-19 coronavirus the `` Chinese virus '' even as the Centers for Disease Control and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump in a tweet on Tuesday morning criticizing New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) labeled the virus that originated in Wuhan , China , the `` Chinese Virus , '' repeating the term after using it in a tweet on Monday .
Though the COVID-19 coronavirus was initially described in some media reports as the `` Wuhan virus '' before it became a global pandemic , CDC Director Robert Redfield recently agreed that it 's not appropriate to use terms like `` Chinese coronavirus , '' NBC News reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned about `` public stigmatization among specific populations and the rise of harmful stereotypes '' amid the spread of the virus , saying that `` governments , citizens , media , key influencers & communities have an important role to play in preventing & stopping stigma . ''
And even today as well .
Cuomo wants “ all states to be treated the same.
” But all states aren ’ t the same .
Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus , some are being hit practically not at all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotspot ” , West Virginia has , thus far , zero cases .
Andrew , keep politics out of it ... .
China ’ s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Trump should take care of his own matters first .
“ Some US politicians have tried to stigmatise China … which China strongly condemns , ” he said at a press briefing on Tuesday .
“ We urge the US to stop this despicable practice .
We are very angry and strongly oppose it [ the tweet ] .
” The World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link the virus to China or the city of Wuhan , where it was first detected , in order to avoid discrimination or stigmatisation .
And it 's pretty obvious why he 's doing this , and why it 's being embraced by the Trump cult .

Before too many of us start congratulating Trump for doing the bare minimum to fight this pandemic, it was just a few weeks ago he was still calling this "a hoax." It's worth reminding everyone that he's still out there, dividing people, pitting people against one another, making counter-productive statements and actions which divide all of us. Because that's just who and what he is.
Source: The Week
President Trump is doubling down on labeling the COVID-19 coronavirus the "Chinese virus" even as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's director calls such language inappropriate. Trump in a tweet on Tuesday morning criticizing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) labeled the virus that originated in Wuhan, China, the "Chinese Virus," repeating the term after using it in a tweet on Monday. Though the COVID-19 coronavirus was initially described in some media reports as the "Wuhan virus" before it became a global pandemic, CDC Director Robert Redfield recently agreed that it's not appropriate to use terms like "Chinese coronavirus," NBC News reports. The World Health Organization has also warned about "public stigmatization among specific populations and the rise of harmful stereotypes" amid the spread of the virus, saying that "governments, citizens, media, key influencers & communities have an important role to play in preventing & stopping stigma."
The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
And even today as well.
Cuomo wants “all states to be treated the same.” But all states aren’t the same. Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus, some are being hit practically not at all. New York is a very big “hotspot”, West Virginia has, thus far, zero cases. Andrew, keep politics out of it.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2020
Naturally, the Chinese are pissed-off.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Trump should take care of his own matters first. “Some US politicians have tried to stigmatise China … which China strongly condemns,” he said at a press briefing on Tuesday. “We urge the US to stop this despicable practice. We are very angry and strongly oppose it [the tweet].” The World Health Organization has advised against terms that link the virus to China or the city of Wuhan, where it was first detected, in order to avoid discrimination or stigmatisation.
DO - talk about the new #coronavirus disease (#COVID19)
DON'T - attach locations or ethnicity to the disease, this is not a “Wuhan Virus”, “Chinese Virus” or “Asian Virus”.
The official name for the disease was deliberately chosen to avoid stigmatizationhttps://t.co/yShiCMfYF3 pic.twitter.com/belHrq5HVo — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 2, 2020
And it's pretty obvious why he's doing this, and why it's being embraced by the Trump cult.
Trump is naming the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” so you’ll blame all the sickness and death, all the disruptions, all the financial loss in the US on Chinese people—and not the abysmal response of his administration. Don’t fall for this racism, for the latest form of Trumpism. https://t.co/orOAeAukfJ — Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) March 17, 2020
This morning a White House official referred to #Coronavirus as the “Kung-Flu” to my face. Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back. — Weijia Jiang (@weijia) March 17, 2020
This is why it’s so important that the President NOT refer to this as the “Chinese Virus”. It’s racist, offensive and counterproductive. https://t.co/yUkBuBNFjz — Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) March 17, 2020
Star Trek's George Takei offered up a novel solution.


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Trump Loving Pastor Tells His Followers To Shake Hands: 'We’re Raising Up Revivalists, Not Pansies'

Why are Trump-supporting Evangelical pastors trying to kill members of their congregations ?
Yesterday , I wrote about wingnut Pastor Guillermo Maldonado telling his flock down in Florida , “ If we die , we die for Christ .
If we live , we live for Christ , so what do you lose ?
” It 's an insane effort to push back against some radical Dem worldwide plot aided by the media to hurt Trump and tum the COIVD19 into a hoax .
Today we find radical conspiracy theorist Rodney Howard-Browne held services at his The River church in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where he encouraged congregants to greet one another by shaking hands because , as he said , “ we ’ re raising up revivalists , not pansies.
” This is another dangerous pretend religious moron , ( who should be under arrest if any of his congregants die from the virus ) claiming you 're a pansy if you take precautions against a world-wide pandemic .
They appear to be more frightened that they will lose some of their followers because of government guidelines than to the outbreak .
As RWW notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders who laid hands upon and prayed over President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in 2017 , dedicated most of his Sunday sermon to mocking fears about the spread of the coronavirus and calling it a “ phantom plague ” designed to terrify people into receiving vaccines that will kill them . ''
And Browne deserves a special place in hell for spreading these lies .
“ Because the climate change narrative for global governance failed , ” Howard-Browne continued , “ they are using the World Health Organization to then come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations and then they are going to bring in vaccines … There ’ s going to be forced vaccines , which they can kill off many people with vaccines .
It ’ s about population reduction because there are too many people on the planet , but with the correct vaccines we can shoot them and then they can die .
”

Why are Trump-supporting Evangelical pastors trying to kill members of their congregations?
Yesterday, I wrote about wingnut Pastor Guillermo Maldonado telling his flock down in Florida, “If we die, we die for Christ. If we live, we live for Christ, so what do you lose?”
It's an insane effort to push back against some radical Dem worldwide plot aided by the media to hurt Trump and tum the COIVD19 into a hoax.
Today we find radical conspiracy theorist Rodney Howard-Browne held services at his The River church in Tampa Bay, Florida, on Sunday, where he encouraged congregants to greet one another by shaking hands because, as he said, “we’re raising up revivalists, not pansies.”
This is another dangerous pretend religious moron, (who should be under arrest if any of his congregants die from the virus) claiming you're a pansy if you take precautions against a world-wide pandemic.
They appear to be more frightened that they will lose some of their followers because of government guidelines than to the outbreak.
As RWW notes, Rodney Howard-Browne "was among evangelical leaders who laid hands upon and prayed over President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in 2017, dedicated most of his Sunday sermon to mocking fears about the spread of the coronavirus and calling it a “phantom plague” designed to terrify people into receiving vaccines that will kill them."
And Browne deserves a special place in hell for spreading these lies.
“Because the climate change narrative for global governance failed,” Howard-Browne continued, “they are using the World Health Organization to then come in and take over the control of nations and then they are going to bring in vaccines … There’s going to be forced vaccines, which they can kill off many people with vaccines. It’s about population reduction because there are too many people on the planet, but with the correct vaccines we can shoot them and then they can die.”


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--How Trump So Badly Bungled COV-19 Crisis: He Went To Jared!

The New York Times dives into how Trump 's chaotic and capricious management methods virtually guaranteed the disaster that is his coronavirus pandemic response .
But one of the biggest factors was his decision to give preening peacock Jared Kushner , The World 's Smartest Man Ever© , a larger role in the policy : Mr. Kushner ’ s influence was immediately felt .
He urged his father-in-law to go ahead with a ban on some travel from Europe and to declare a national emergency , after Mr. Trump had dithered and second-guessed himself for agreeing to it .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree to help with mobilized testing efforts , and has pushed for an increase in medical supplies to hospitals .
But after Mr. Trump delivered an error-ridden Oval Office address last week , the president followed it with an appearance Friday in the Rose Garden in which he said Google had developed a coronavirus testing website that did not exist .
Mr. Kushner was deeply involved in both efforts , and had sold his father-in-law on the website as a smart concept .
By Sunday evening , Mr. Trump was raging to aides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the promised national website failed to materialize .
And on Monday , after Mr. Pence had been praised for his calm demeanor , Mr. Trump decided to answer questions from reporters himself .
According to various reports , Kushner told him the virus was no biggie , and advised Trump it was merely a PR problem .
( You can see why Ivanka likes him ! )
Now we have reports that the Obama team thoroughly prepped Trump staffers on pandemic planning -- but most of them do n't work there anymore : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lists of every wingnut donor who asked : Do n't worry , he 'll take care of his pals before he worries about the rest of us : Let 's get this human wrecking ball out of there .

The New York Times dives into how Trump's chaotic and capricious management methods virtually guaranteed the disaster that is his coronavirus pandemic response. But one of the biggest factors was his decision to give preening peacock Jared Kushner, The World's Smartest Man Ever©, a larger role in the policy:
Mr. Kushner’s influence was immediately felt. He urged his father-in-law to go ahead with a ban on some travel from Europe and to declare a national emergency, after Mr. Trump had dithered and second-guessed himself for agreeing to it. He got executives at several pharmaceutical corporations to agree to help with mobilized testing efforts, and has pushed for an increase in medical supplies to hospitals. But after Mr. Trump delivered an error-ridden Oval Office address last week, the president followed it with an appearance Friday in the Rose Garden in which he said Google had developed a coronavirus testing website that did not exist. Mr. Kushner was deeply involved in both efforts, and had sold his father-in-law on the website as a smart concept. By Sunday evening, Mr. Trump was raging to aides that the press coverage was terrible after the promised national website failed to materialize. And on Monday, after Mr. Pence had been praised for his calm demeanor, Mr. Trump decided to answer questions from reporters himself.
According to various reports, Kushner told him the virus was no biggie, and advised Trump it was merely a PR problem. (You can see why Ivanka likes him!)
Now we have reports that the Obama team thoroughly prepped Trump staffers on pandemic planning -- but most of them don't work there anymore:
Pandemic planning exercise during Obama-Trump transition: “In the words of several attendees, the atmosphere was ‘weird’ at best, chilly at worst.” @nahaltoosi @dlippman @ddiamond https://t.co/JtpqUzX45o — John F. Harris (@harrispolitico) March 17, 2020
And of course Trump filled the Christmas lists of every wingnut donor who asked:
Americans for Prosperity, the Koch dark money pressure group that has spent several hundred million electing Republicans, compiled a list of programs they wanted Congress to cut, which includes CDC funding for global pandemic response & disease prevention https://t.co/jKx6VBCKXB — Lee Fang (@lhfang) March 14, 2020
Don't worry, he'll take care of his pals before he worries about the rest of us:
Trump is planning to bail out his corporate pals for pandemic losses — and leave taxpayers with the bill: columnisthttps://t.co/XE2tp5LGMR — Raw Story (@RawStory) March 17, 2020
Let's get this human wrecking ball out of there.


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Tom Nichols: Trump's Lost The Benefit Of The Doubt With Most Americans

Joe Scarborough wondered it the U.S. would be locked down `` like France and Spain . ''
Tom Nichols warned that we should n't count on Trump having a normal press conference as proof he would do the right thing .
`` One press conference where the president meets kind of the minimum requirements of sobriety and clarity is not a sea change , '' he said .
`` It is something to be happy about .
It is something to applaud , but I think , you know , the president has trouble focusing .
I think that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think most Americans probably would be happy if Tony Fauci became president right about now .
I do n't think it 's going to be a good move to try to go for a national lockdown , '' he warned .
`` Looking at this as a matter of policy , I think the problem is that this president has lost the benefit of the doubt with a lot of people .
so things like very draconian measures that look like curtailments of freedom , especially during an election season , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of Americans .
That 's unfortunate .
I do n't say that because I somehow think the president would be up to no good doing that , or the team around him , or the doctors advising him .
`` Rather , because of the president 's track record , not just for three years , but especially in the past three months , where he has been really inconstant and lacked transparency and put out a lot of bad information .
If the president and the White House tries to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , these really draconian solutions , I think you 're going to have people second-guessing him because , again , he 's lost the benefit of the doubt among a lot of Americans .
`` I think what they 're doing is they 're trying to edge us toward more tougher solutions incrementally , so that we can accept it more easily . ''

Joe Scarborough wondered it the U.S. would be locked down "like France and Spain."
Tom Nichols warned that we shouldn't count on Trump having a normal press conference as proof he would do the right thing.
"One press conference where the president meets kind of the minimum requirements of sobriety and clarity is not a sea change," he said.
"It is something to be happy about. It is something to applaud, but I think, you know, the president has trouble focusing. I think that's true for this administration in general. I think most Americans probably would be happy if Tony Fauci became president right about now. I don't think it's going to be a good move to try to go for a national lockdown," he warned.
"Looking at this as a matter of policy, I think the problem is that this president has lost the benefit of the doubt with a lot of people. so things like very draconian measures that look like curtailments of freedom, especially during an election season, are going to get a jaundiced eye from a lot of Americans. That's unfortunate. I don't say that because I somehow think the president would be up to no good doing that, or the team around him, or the doctors advising him.
"Rather, because of the president's track record, not just for three years, but especially in the past three months, where he has been really inconstant and lacked transparency and put out a lot of bad information. If the president and the White House tries to move forward now with, you know, these really draconian solutions, I think you're going to have people second-guessing him because, again, he's lost the benefit of the doubt among a lot of Americans.
"I think what they're doing is they're trying to edge us toward more tougher solutions incrementally, so that we can accept it more easily."


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Fox Panel Slams Devin Nunes For COVID Stupidity

A panel of doctors on Fox News encouraged Americans not to listen to Rep. Devin Nunes ’ ( R-CA ) plea for people to go to restaurants and pubs during the novel coronavirus pandemic .
“ There ’ s a lot of concerns with the economy here because people are scared to go out , ” Nunes said during a Sunday appearance on Fox News .
“ But I will just say , one of the things you can do if you ’ re healthy , you and your family , it ’ s a great time to just go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Just don ’ t run to the grocery store and buy $ 4,000 of food !
” he added .
“ Go to your local pub.
” A panel of doctors on Fox News encouraged Americans not to listen to Rep. Devin Nunes ’ ( R-CA ) plea for people to go to restaurants and pubs during the novel coronavirus pandemic .
“ There ’ s a lot of concerns with the economy here because people are scared to go out , ” Nunes said during a Sunday appearance on Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , one of the things you can do if you ’ re healthy , you and your family , it ’ s a great time to just go out , go to a local restaurant.
” “ Just don ’ t run to the grocery store and buy $ 4,000 of food !
” he added .
“ Go to your local pub.
” “ You have Devin Nunes telling people , ‘ Go out to restaurants , go ahead and do that , ' ” the doctor lamented .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and just smart behaviors , and the truth is we don ’ t want people going out to busy restaurants right now .
We want people to just kind of stay in their homes for the betterment of themselves and their families , but also the community.
” Saphier warned that following Nunes ’ recommendation could leave the United States “ in the same situation as Italy.
” At that point , Fox News host Ed Henry played a clip of U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci explaining why he would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have to have a consistency in that regard , ” Fox News contributor Dr. Marc Siegel agreed .
“ That ’ s what Dr. Fauci ’ s talking about .
[ We must ] get people to understand how serious this is .
”

A panel of doctors on Fox News encouraged Americans not to listen to Rep. Devin Nunes’ (R-CA) plea for people to go to restaurants and pubs during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“There’s a lot of concerns with the economy here because people are scared to go out,” Nunes said during a Sunday appearance on Fox News. “But I will just say, one of the things you can do if you’re healthy, you and your family, it’s a great time to just go out, go to a local restaurant.”
“Just don’t run to the grocery store and buy $4,000 of food!” he added. “Go to your local pub.”
On Monday, Dr. Nicole Saphier — a Fox News contributor — shot down Nunes’ advice.
A panel of doctors on Fox News encouraged Americans not to listen to Rep. Devin Nunes’ (R-CA) plea for people to go to restaurants and pubs during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“There’s a lot of concerns with the economy here because people are scared to go out,” Nunes said during a Sunday appearance on Fox News. “But I will just say, one of the things you can do if you’re healthy, you and your family, it’s a great time to just go out, go to a local restaurant.”
“Just don’t run to the grocery store and buy $4,000 of food!” he added. “Go to your local pub.”
On Monday, Dr. Nicole Saphier — a Fox News contributor — shot down Nunes’ advice.
“You have Devin Nunes telling people, ‘Go out to restaurants, go ahead and do that,'” the doctor lamented. “And here’s the thing between panicking and just smart behaviors, and the truth is we don’t want people going out to busy restaurants right now. We want people to just kind of stay in their homes for the betterment of themselves and their families, but also the community.”
Saphier warned that following Nunes’ recommendation could leave the United States “in the same situation as Italy.”
At that point, Fox News host Ed Henry played a clip of U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci explaining why he would not go out to restaurants at this time.
“We have to have a consistency in that regard,” Fox News contributor Dr. Marc Siegel agreed. “That’s what Dr. Fauci’s talking about. [We must] get people to understand how serious this is.”


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Of Course Moscow Mitch Wants Old Federal Judges To Retire


crooksandliars--2020-03-18--Fox News: 'Never Apologize, Never Explain'

There was one more significant way that [ Roger ] Ailes positioned Fox News in a manner unlike any other news organization .
In just about every other place , journalistic mistakes and malpractice were dealt with openly ... .
Fox , by contrast , lived under the mantra : “ never apologize , never explain.
” -- Jeff Greenfiled , `` The Secret of Roger Ailes ’ Billion-Dollar Bubble , '' Politico Magazine , May 18 , 2017 That certainly seems to be the approach at Fox right now : PIRRO : And you must be informed about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You may be young and your children may be even younger , and while children do n't seem to be affected , kids can be carriers who , with just a simple hug or kiss to Grandma , or anyone older , can pass something that may be harmless to the child but lethal to the older person .
Pitch in !
It 'll make you feel better .
Coronavirus skeptics are becoming non-skeptics -- but they 're not acknowledging that their past statements were wrong .
And that appears to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : No one has more to apologize for than the president , who relentlessly downplayed the crisis until he stopped downplaying it , even though he 's never acknowledged his change of tone .
But one result is that people who believed him when he confidently asserted that there was nothing to worry about now believe him when he says it 's a very serious problem and he 's on top of it .
In conversations over the course of the past week , as the news and administration action on the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters overwhelmingly have said they trust the president and they trust whom he trusts .
They are not , in large part , completely dismissive of the virus , the way some right-wing media outlets have been .
But they are comforted because they see the president as a bulwark against outright panic , working with business leaders and experts from within a bureaucracy that both the president and many Republicans still distrust ... .
Lee Green , a 59-year-old who lives in the Florida retirement community of The Villages and leads the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically gets her news from Facebook , where she is subscribed to updates from outlets like The Daily Wire and The Jerusalem Post .
But on Wednesday she struggled to understand why , if the virus was indeed the equivalent of a “ bad flu , ” schools were closing and events were being canceled .
Now , she relies on the C.D.C .
website for updates .
“ I don ’ t see them as political hacks , ” she explained .
Ms. Green is confident in the C.D.C.
, in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too .
Later in the week , after the president declared a national emergency over the pandemic , her confidence that Mr. Trump was leaning on experts to do what was best for Americans had only soared .
“ I ’ m actually even more impressed after today ’ s press briefing , ” she said on Friday , after the president spoke in the Rose Garden , with top health officials and C.E.O.s .
“ I voted for Trump because he ’ s a problem solver .
And initially he wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but when the experts told him this was a really big deal , he instantly took action.
” When Trump said things were fine , this woman believed him .
Then when he said the problem was serious , she believed him again .
She gets most of her news from Facebook .
( I think Facebook is a malignant force in America not so much because of deliberate manipulation of public opinion by Russian troll farms or other purveyors of disinformation , or even by Facebook itself , but because it turns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from sophomore year into the editors of your top source of news . )
Many of us had a grasp on how fast this could spread and how important flattening the curve was weeks ago .
But most Americans did n't .
They were n't following the coronavirus news closely .
( Trump 's happy talk was one big reason , of course . )
Many of these people believe Trump was giving us the best available advice when he said we should n't worry , and is now changing his story because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
Do n't hold your breath waiting for The Great Trump Disillusionment .
Do n't believe anyone who tells you , `` This will finally make them see reason ! ''
That moment might never arrive .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

There was one more significant way that [Roger] Ailes positioned Fox News in a manner unlike any other news organization. In just about every other place, journalistic mistakes and malpractice were dealt with openly.... Fox, by contrast, lived under the mantra: “never apologize, never explain.” --Jeff Greenfiled, "The Secret of Roger Ailes’ Billion-Dollar Bubble," Politico Magazine, May 18, 2017
That certainly seems to be the approach at Fox right now:
Last week, Jeanine was arguing that the Coronavirus was no more deadlier than the flu. This week, her tone is noticeably different pic.twitter.com/UVLVUdqKDl — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) March 15, 2020
PIRRO: And you must be informed about this virus. You cannot be complacent. You may be young and your children may be even younger, and while children don't seem to be affected, kids can be carriers who, with just a simple hug or kiss to Grandma, or anyone older, can pass something that may be harmless to the child but lethal to the older person. Pitch in! It'll make you feel better.
Coronavirus skeptics are becoming non-skeptics -- but they're not acknowledging that their past statements were wrong. And that appears to be the approach the Trump administration is taking:
It’s been just shy of three weeks since this astonishing interview. https://t.co/WMAYJav4pM — southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) March 15, 2020
It would really help if Kudlow--and for that matter, Trump--would show up at the next briefing to say: "we were dangerously wrong a few weeks ago; we understand now what has to be done." Odds? "Slim and none and Slim just left town." (h/t Dan Rather) https://t.co/XPStALOc94 — Jeff Greenfield (@greenfield64) March 15, 2020
No one has more to apologize for than the president, who relentlessly downplayed the crisis until he stopped downplaying it, even though he's never acknowledged his change of tone.
But one result is that people who believed him when he confidently asserted that there was nothing to worry about now believe him when he says it's a very serious problem and he's on top of it.
In conversations over the course of the past week, as the news and administration action on the virus moved quickly, Mr. Trump’s supporters overwhelmingly have said they trust the president and they trust whom he trusts. They are not, in large part, completely dismissive of the virus, the way some right-wing media outlets have been. But they are comforted because they see the president as a bulwark against outright panic, working with business leaders and experts from within a bureaucracy that both the president and many Republicans still distrust.... Lee Green, a 59-year-old who lives in the Florida retirement community of The Villages and leads the Jewish Conservatives Club there, said she typically gets her news from Facebook, where she is subscribed to updates from outlets like The Daily Wire and The Jerusalem Post. But on Wednesday she struggled to understand why, if the virus was indeed the equivalent of a “bad flu,” schools were closing and events were being canceled. Now, she relies on the C.D.C. website for updates. “I don’t see them as political hacks,” she explained. Ms. Green is confident in the C.D.C., in large part because she believes Mr. Trump is, too. Later in the week, after the president declared a national emergency over the pandemic, her confidence that Mr. Trump was leaning on experts to do what was best for Americans had only soared. “I’m actually even more impressed after today’s press briefing,” she said on Friday, after the president spoke in the Rose Garden, with top health officials and C.E.O.s. “I voted for Trump because he’s a problem solver. And initially he wanted to be super optimistic about everything, but when the experts told him this was a really big deal, he instantly took action.”
When Trump said things were fine, this woman believed him. Then when he said the problem was serious, she believed him again. She gets most of her news from Facebook. (I think Facebook is a malignant force in America not so much because of deliberate manipulation of public opinion by Russian troll farms or other purveyors of disinformation, or even by Facebook itself, but because it turns your second cousin and your best friend from sophomore year into the editors of your top source of news.)
Many of us had a grasp on how fast this could spread and how important flattening the curve was weeks ago. But most Americans didn't. They weren't following the coronavirus news closely. (Trump's happy talk was one big reason, of course.) Many of these people believe Trump was giving us the best available advice when he said we shouldn't worry, and is now changing his story because new information only recently became accessible to him.
Don't hold your breath waiting for The Great Trump Disillusionment. Don't believe anyone who tells you, "This will finally make them see reason!" That moment might never arrive.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-03-17--Democratic Primaries Open Thread (AZ UPDATE)

After a confusing turn of events the # OhioPrimary IS postponed .
States STILL voting today are ... - Arizona - Florida - Illinois Normally I would be enthusiastically telling ppl to go vote , but every one has to decide what ’ s best 4 their the own health .
Stay safe .
Did you vote today ?
Our family did , including our 17 year old for the first time !
Open thread on the primaries below .
UPDATE 3 : Everyone has called Illinois for Biden but MSNBC , who insists it 's too early to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win IL in very light turnout .
Marie Newman 's race may be endangered by the state 's insistence on requiring in person voting instead of universal vote by mail .
I 'm watching that one , but right now it 's leaning hard toward Dan Lipinski .
With 82 % of districts reporting , Marie Newman is almost 4 percentage points ahead of Dan Lipinski .
pic.twitter.com/4FXsmph1J8 UPDATE 5 : Arizona called for Biden .
Bernie said there would be no speech or TV appearance tonight , and Biden gave a short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared for delivery below : Last week , I had the honor of speaking to all of you from Philadelphia , the birthplace of the foundational documents of our democracy .
Tonight , in keeping with the latest guidance from the CDC to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people , I am speaking to you from my home in Wilmington .
I hope that all of you are staying safe , taking the recommended precautions to keep social distance , and slow the spread of the coronavirus .
This pandemic has impacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every aspect of this campaign .
My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one , to those who have contracted the virus , and to all of the brave Americans who are working harder than ever to help their neighbors .
Doctors , nurses , EMTs , and public health officials , as well as front line emergency workers like fire fighters and the dedicated folks working to keep the shelves stocked in grocery stores .
Tackling this pandemic is a national emergency akin to fighting a war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from every level of government .
It will require us to move thoughtfully and decisively to quickly address both the public health crisis and the economic crisis we ’ re in .
It will require us to pay attention to the medical and scientific and health experts .
And it will require each and every one of us to do our part .
Yes , this is a moment where we need our leaders to lead .
But it is also a moment where the choices and decisions we make as individuals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a big difference in the severity of the outbreak and the ability of our medical and hospital systems to handle it .
I know that we as a people are up to this challenge .
I know that we will answer this moment of crisis with what is best in ourselves — because that is what Americans have always done .
That ’ s who we are .
And today , even as we are moving quickly to adapt our routines to meet this challenge , Americans in three states went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the public officials and the poll workers who worked closely with public health authorities to assure safe opportunities for voting — to clean and disinfect voting booths and to make sure that voters could cast their ballots while maintaining distance from one another .
It is important for us to get through this crisis , protecting both the public health and our democracy .
Today , it looks like , once again , in Florida and in Illinois — and we ’ re still waiting to hear in Arizona — our campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And we ’ ve moved closer to securing the Democratic party ’ s nomination for president .
We ’ re doing it by building the broad coalition that we will need to win in November with strong support from the African American community ; the Latino community ; high school educated people , like the ones I grew up with in my old neighborhood ; labor ; teachers , suburban women , veterans , fire fighters , and so many more .
And we ’ re doing it with a common vision .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics , but we share a common vision — for the need to provide affordable health care for all Americans to reducing income inequality to taking on climate change .
Senator Sanders and his supporters have brought remarkable passion and tenacity to these issues , and together , they have shifted the fundamental conversation in the country .
And let me say , especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders : I hear you .
I know what is at stake .
And I know what we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , and my goal as a candidate for president , is to unify our party – and to unify our nation .
It ’ s at moments like these that we realize we need to put politics aside and work together as Americans .
The coronavirus doesn ’ t care if you ’ re a Democrat or a Republican .
It will not discriminate based on national origin , race , gender , or zip code .
It will touch people in positions of power and the most vulnerable in our society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a moment for each of us to see and believe in the best in every one of us .
To look out for our neighbor .
To understand the fear and stress so many are feeling .
To care for the elderly couple down the street .
To thank the health workers and the doctors and the nurses and the pharmacists and the grocery store cashiers and the people re-stocking the shelves .
To believe in one another .
Because I assure you — when we do that , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , we ’ ll lift this nation up , and we ’ ll get through this together .
May God bless you all — and we say a special prayer for those on the front lines of this crisis — the doctors , the nurses , the health care workers caring for virus victims and their families .

After a confusing turn of events the #OhioPrimary IS postponed. States STILL voting today are... - Arizona - Florida - Illinois Normally I would be enthusiastically telling ppl to go vote, but every one has to decide what’s best 4 their the own health. Stay safe.
Did you vote today? Our family did, including our 17 year old for the first time!
Open thread on the primaries below.
UPDATE 1: 4:30 PM Early Florida returns:
UPDATE 2: Florida is called for Joe Biden
UPDATE 3: Everyone has called Illinois for Biden but MSNBC, who insists it's too early to call. It's not. Biden will win IL in very light turnout. Right now Marie Newman's race is leaning hard toward Dan Lipinski.
UPDATE 4: Marie Newman appears to have unseated anti-choice conservadem Dan Lipinski!
With 82% of districts reporting, Marie Newman is almost 4 percentage points ahead of Dan Lipinski. pic.twitter.com/4FXsmph1J8
UPDATE 5: Arizona called for Biden. Bernie said there would be no speech or TV appearance tonight, and Biden gave a short address from his home. Remarks as prepared for delivery below:
Last week, I had the honor of speaking to all of you from Philadelphia, the birthplace of the foundational documents of our democracy.
Tonight, in keeping with the latest guidance from the CDC to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, I am speaking to you from my home in Wilmington.
I hope that all of you are staying safe, taking the recommended precautions to keep social distance, and slow the spread of the coronavirus.
This pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives, and every aspect of this campaign.
My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one, to those who have contracted the virus, and to all of the brave Americans who are working harder than ever to help their neighbors.
Doctors, nurses, EMTs, and public health officials, as well as front line emergency workers like fire fighters and the dedicated folks working to keep the shelves stocked in grocery stores.
Tackling this pandemic is a national emergency akin to fighting a war.
It will require leadership and cooperation from every level of government.
It will require us to move thoughtfully and decisively to quickly address both the public health crisis and the economic crisis we’re in.
It will require us to pay attention to the medical and scientific and health experts.
And it will require each and every one of us to do our part.
Yes, this is a moment where we need our leaders to lead.
But it is also a moment where the choices and decisions we make as individuals, and collectively as a people, will make a big difference in the severity of the outbreak and the ability of our medical and hospital systems to handle it.
I know that we as a people are up to this challenge.
I know that we will answer this moment of crisis with what is best in ourselves — because that is what Americans have always done.
That’s who we are.
And today, even as we are moving quickly to adapt our routines to meet this challenge, Americans in three states went to the polls.
I want to thank all the public officials and the poll workers who worked closely with public health authorities to assure safe opportunities for voting — to clean and disinfect voting booths and to make sure that voters could cast their ballots while maintaining distance from one another.
It is important for us to get through this crisis, protecting both the public health and our democracy.
Today, it looks like, once again, in Florida and in Illinois — and we’re still waiting to hear in Arizona — our campaign has had a very good night. And we’ve moved closer to securing
the Democratic party’s nomination for president.
We’re doing it by building the broad coalition that we will need to win in November with strong support from the African American community; the Latino community; high school educated people, like the ones I grew up with in my old neighborhood; labor; teachers, suburban women, veterans, fire fighters, and so many more.
And we’re doing it with a common vision.
Senator Sanders and I may disagree on tactics, but we share a common vision — for the need to provide affordable health care for all Americans to reducing income inequality to taking on climate change.
Senator Sanders and his supporters have brought remarkable passion and tenacity to these issues, and together, they have shifted the fundamental conversation in the country.
And let me say, especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders: I hear you. I know what is at stake. And I know what we have to do.
Our goal as a campaign, and my goal as a candidate for president, is to unify our party – and to unify our nation.
It’s at moments like these that we realize we need to put politics aside and work together as Americans.
The coronavirus doesn’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican.
It will not discriminate based on national origin, race, gender, or zip code.
It will touch people in positions of power and the most vulnerable in our society.
We are all in this together.
This is a moment for each of us to see and believe in the best in every one of us.
To look out for our neighbor.
To understand the fear and stress so many are feeling.
To care for the elderly couple down the street.
To thank the health workers and the doctors and the nurses and the pharmacists and the grocery store cashiers and the people re-stocking the shelves.
To believe in one another.
Because I assure you — when we do that, when we see the best in each of us, we’ll lift this nation up, and we’ll get through this together.
May God bless you all — and we say a special prayer for those on the front lines of this crisis — the doctors, the nurses, the health care workers caring for virus victims and their families.


crooksandliars--2020-03-18--Fox News Medical 'Expert': 2009 Was 'A Bailout', Trump's Stimulus Is 'A Rescue'

During George Bush 's presidency , the world had a total global financial collapse that turned world economies into rubble and led to millions upon millions of people losing their jobs and their homes because of it .
As Obama was being elected , the U.S. was losing over 600,000 jobs a month .
After he won , the Democratic-led Congress took up the task of a massive stimulus package that would help the US worker , create jobs and rescue the financial institutions and the Recovery Act , passed in February 2009 .
It was a Keynesian inspired project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ television like Fox News attack and criticized the government for intervening , trying to save jobs and the economy by declaring the free markets should decide who lives and dies in this type of environment .
Because of Republicans and some other factors , the stimulus should have been far greater as Paul Krugman wrote and told us many times .
It also spurred on ( along with Obama 's election ) the bigoted tea party movement , which was funded by the Koch Brothers and fueled by many Fox News programs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many others who immediately jumped on that bandwagon .
Eleven years later , and we have a pandemic in the United States and a Republican in the Oval Office .
Can you guess what is happening ?
Suddenly , Fox News and conservatives around the country are in favor of a Keynesian stimulus type package to help the crashing economy .
( It 's mostly about trying to get Trump re-elected ) Watch your neck because the whiplash of their hypocrisy is palpable .
During Tuesday 's Fox News ' The FIVE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News ' new `` It Girl '' during these times of COVID-19 uncertainty joined the program .
She 's been roving around to many of their shows , giving advice on how to proceed and deal with the virus in a pleasant and reassuring tone , but suddenly she has turned into a Nobel prize-winning economist .
While The Five hosts , except Juan Williams were defending and praising Trump , Nicole Saphier made these incredibly ridiculous remarks and tried to rewrite 2009 .
Saphier said , `` I think it 's important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differentiated from the financial crisis of 2009 . ''
Oh , do tell .
`` That was a bailout , '' she said .
Saphier continued , `` What we 're dealing right now is a rescue mission of our small businesses , of our travel industry all of which we not only depend upon for personal reasons but for professional reasons ... '' As with most Fox News right-wing pundits , there was no mention of the impending suffering of the working class and their families who depend upon a paycheck each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work now and have no savings , backup or health insurance .
It 's all about Trump 's base .
How is bailing out the airlines and many other businesses today different than 2009 ?
It is n't , but since Trump is the preznit , Dr. Saphier has to come up with a unicorn for dear leader .

A little history...
During George Bush's presidency, the world had a total global financial collapse that turned world economies into rubble and led to millions upon millions of people losing their jobs and their homes because of it.
As Obama was being elected, the U.S. was losing over 600,000 jobs a month.
After he won, the Democratic-led Congress took up the task of a massive stimulus package that would help the US worker, create jobs and rescue the financial institutions and the Recovery Act, passed in February 2009.
It was a Keynesian inspired project and Republicans in Congress and conservatives on television like Fox News attack and criticized the government for intervening, trying to save jobs and the economy by declaring the free markets should decide who lives and dies in this type of environment.
Because of Republicans and some other factors, the stimulus should have been far greater as Paul Krugman wrote and told us many times.
It also spurred on (along with Obama's election) the bigoted tea party movement, which was funded by the Koch Brothers and fueled by many Fox News programs and hosts like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and many others who immediately jumped on that bandwagon.
Eleven years later, and we have a pandemic in the United States and a Republican in the Oval Office. Can you guess what is happening?
Suddenly, Fox News and conservatives around the country are in favor of a Keynesian stimulus type package to help the crashing economy. (It's mostly about trying to get Trump re-elected)
Watch your neck because the whiplash of their hypocrisy is palpable.
During Tuesday's Fox News' The FIVE, Nicole Saphier, M.D, Fox News' new "It Girl" during these times of COVID-19 uncertainty joined the program.
She's been roving around to many of their shows, giving advice on how to proceed and deal with the virus in a pleasant and reassuring tone, but suddenly she has turned into a Nobel prize-winning economist.
Who knew?
While The Five hosts, except Juan Williams were defending and praising Trump, Nicole Saphier made these incredibly ridiculous remarks and tried to rewrite 2009.
Saphier said, "I think it's important to remember that this needs to be differentiated from the financial crisis of 2009."
Oh, do tell.
"That was a bailout," she said.
Saphier continued, "What we're dealing right now is a rescue mission of our small businesses, of our travel industry all of which we not only depend upon for personal reasons but for professional reasons..."
As with most Fox News right-wing pundits, there was no mention of the impending suffering of the working class and their families who depend upon a paycheck each and every week that cannot go to work now and have no savings, backup or health insurance.
It's all about Trump's base.
How is bailing out the airlines and many other businesses today different than 2009?
It isn't, but since Trump is the preznit, Dr. Saphier has to come up with a unicorn for dear leader.