crooksandliars--2020-03-09--Donna Edwards:  On Coronavirus, Trump Should 'Just Shut Up'

Former Congresswoman Donna Edwards opined that Donald Trump ’ s mismanagement of the coronavirus is at least partly due to the fact that he keeps blabbing misinformation .
Not one of the conservatives on the panel defended Trump .
On today ’ s Fox News Sunday , none of the panelists had anything good to say about Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis .
It ’ s not in the video below but as the transcript shows , conservative Ben Domenech opened the discussion by saying , “ There were some early glitches in terms of their handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's really on the mind of the president , though , is his broader agenda going into the 2020 election .
And .. he should n't be viewing this in the context of politics , he should be viewing it in the contest of public health .
And there , I think , needs to be a real sticking to the talking points that he has , the facts as we know them… '' Conservative Jason Riley said , “ He needs to find a way to reassure people , without being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And it is going to affect the economy .
It 's going to affect the supply chains .
Businesses like certainty .
This introduces all kinds of uncertainty .
We have spring break travel coming up that 's being canceled .
Conferences are being canceled .
So he 's going to have to work through this.
” Later , Riley said Trump “ will have to find a way to reassure people , and not overpromise in terms of how quickly we are going to get past this .
I think he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their job and not be out there contradicting them or second-guessing them.
” Anchor Chris Wallace asked Edwards , “ How legitimate do you think it is for Democrats to go after the president on the administration response to the coronavirus ?
” Edwards ’ response was surprisingly blunt .
Even more surprising was that nobody had a problem with her criticism nor her claim that Trump has been putting out misinformation .
EDWARDS : The information that he puts out is just inaccurate .
I mean he would actually , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public if he just shut up because I do n't think people would necessarily blame the president for something that was out of his control , but if he continues and his administration mismanages the crisis , then I think it 's a legitimate point of challenge by anyone who wants to be president saying , I 'd manage it better .
I mean we saw the impact , for example , that Hurricane Katrina and the response had with President Bush , and I do n't think this is , you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president does n't do himself or the American public any good when he makes assertions that are completely contrary to the scientific evidence .
WALLACE : Ben , the president has literally tweeted this morning , prior to this conversation , that the administration is doing a great job and it 's the fake news media that 's running him down .
DOMENECH : You know , I think we can believe a couple of different things are true here .
One is , the panic is overblown .
This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet , that people are treating it in the way that they 're approaching it in some sections of the media .
However , it 's very serious .
It should result in changes in human behavior for the time being , as we figure out how we have to adjust to live our lives this way .
… [ P ] eople should take this seriously .
But do n't freak out .
Do n't -- do n't panic .
Do n't -- do n't turn into , you know , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday mob at the -- at the Costco when you 're trying to prepare for this .
WALLACE : And on -- quoting the congresswoman , that the president , I 'll be gentler , should be quiet ?
DOMENECH : I think that the president should , as I said , stick to the talking points that he 's given .
You know , he 's not a medical professional , but he 's surrounded by them now .
There are a lot of serious people working on this .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not go off script the way that he does so often .
JUAN WILLIAMS : Yes , I think it hurts them politically .
And you can see it , there 's a public opinion -- public policy poll out that says 51 percent of Americans at the moment disapprove of the way he 's handling this .
But I agree with Congresswoman Edwards that if he said nothing , people would n't blame him .
People might be , you know -- RILEY : No , people look to the present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He needs to watch what he says , yes , but I do n't think he should stop talking about this .
The president -- EDWARDS : Well , the president is incapable of doing that .
And so I think he should really , you know , defer to the people in his administration -- RILEY : Fine , but -- but -- but he should -- EDWARDS : Who really have the capacity to make the American public comfortable in where we need to be .
Wallace ended the discussion after @ @

Former Congresswoman Donna Edwards opined that Donald Trump’s mismanagement of the coronavirus is at least partly due to the fact that he keeps blabbing misinformation. Not one of the conservatives on the panel defended Trump.
On today’s Fox News Sunday, none of the panelists had anything good to say about Trump’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.
It’s not in the video below but as the transcript shows, conservative Ben Domenech opened the discussion by saying, “There were some early glitches in terms of their handling of this. I think the thing that's really on the mind of the president, though, is his broader agenda going into the 2020 election. And .. he shouldn't be viewing this in the context of politics, he should be viewing it in the contest of public health. And there, I think, needs to be a real sticking to the talking points that he has, the facts as we know them…"
Conservative Jason Riley said, “He needs to find a way to reassure people, without being overly dismissive of the seriousness of this. And it is going to affect the economy. It's going to affect the supply chains. Businesses like certainty. This introduces all kinds of uncertainty. We have spring break travel coming up that's being canceled. Conferences are being canceled. So he's going to have to work through this.” Later, Riley said Trump “will have to find a way to reassure people, and not overpromise in terms of how quickly we are going to get past this. I think he needs to let the health professionals do their job and not be out there contradicting them or second-guessing them.”
Anchor Chris Wallace asked Edwards, “How legitimate do you think it is for Democrats to go after the president on the administration response to the coronavirus?”
Edwards’ response was surprisingly blunt. Even more surprising was that nobody had a problem with her criticism nor her claim that Trump has been putting out misinformation.
EDWARDS: The information that he puts out is just inaccurate. I mean he would actually, I think, do better in terms of the public if he just shut up because I don't think people would necessarily blame the president for something that was out of his control, but if he continues and his administration mismanages the crisis, then I think it's a legitimate point of challenge by anyone who wants to be president saying, I'd manage it better.
I mean we saw the impact, for example, that Hurricane Katrina and the response had with President Bush, and I don't think this is, you know, different in that respect. But the president doesn't do himself or the American public any good when he makes assertions that are completely contrary to the scientific evidence.
WALLACE: Ben, the president has literally tweeted this morning, prior to this conversation, that the administration is doing a great job and it's the fake news media that's running him down.
DOMENECH: You know, I think we can believe a couple of different things are true here. One is, the panic is overblown. This is not the kind of public health crisis, yet, that people are treating it in the way that they're approaching it in some sections of the media.
However, it's very serious. It should result in changes in human behavior for the time being, as we figure out how we have to adjust to live our lives this way.
… [P]eople should take this seriously. But don't freak out. Don't -- don't panic. Don't -- don't turn into, you know, a -- a, you know, Black Friday mob at the -- at the Costco when you're trying to prepare for this.
WALLACE: And on -- quoting the congresswoman, that the president, I'll be gentler, should be quiet?
DOMENECH: I think that the president should, as I said, stick to the talking points that he's given. You know, he's not a medical professional, but he's surrounded by them now. There are a lot of serious people working on this. I think he should just stick to those points and not go off script the way that he does so often.
JUAN WILLIAMS: Yes, I think it hurts them politically. And you can see it, there's a public opinion -- public policy poll out that says 51 percent of Americans at the moment disapprove of the way he's handling this. But I agree with Congresswoman Edwards that if he said nothing, people wouldn't blame him. People might be, you know --
RILEY: No, people look to the present for leadership on things like this. He needs to watch what he says, yes, but I don't think he should stop talking about this. The president --
EDWARDS: Well, the president is incapable of doing that. And so I think he should really, you know, defer to the people in his administration --
RILEY: Fine, but -- but -- but he should --
EDWARDS: Who really have the capacity to make the American public comfortable in where we need to be.
Wallace ended the discussion after that.
Republished with permission from Newshounds


crooksandliars--2020-03-09--Trump Returns From Golf Weekend To Attack Democrats And Media For 'Inflaming' Coronavirus Worries

For Donald Trump , coronavirus is just one more excuse to attack Democrats and the media .
It sure isn ’ t a reason to interrupt his golfing .
Trump spent the weekend golfing in Florida , then launched into Monday morning by tweeting , “ The Fake News Media and their partner , the Democrat Party , is doing everything within its semi-considerable power ( it used to be greater ! )
to inflame the CoronaVirus situation , far beyond what the facts would warrant .
Surgeon General , ‘ The risk is low to the average American.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general who claimed that Trump “ sleeps less than I do and he 's healthier than what I am , ” so , you know , he may not be the validator Trump is imagining here .
Fear not , though .
While Trump himself was golfing in Florida , “ top officials met in the Situation Room in what has become a daily briefing and strategy session amid the growing crisis , ” The Washington Post reports .
And honestly , Trump ’ s absence is a good thing for an effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is a situation manufactured to hurt him politically .
” There is growing tension among Trump administration officials , who now view the rapidly spreading outbreak as a black swan event that could consume the president ’ s fourth year in office , even as Trump remains reluctant to see much cause for concern , ” according to the Post ’ s White House sources .
Trump insists he will even continue having campaign rallies—though none are scheduled this week—despite now having come two degrees away from a coronavirus-infected person when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union chair Matt Schlapp after Schlapp had shaken the hand of the CPAC attendee who was subsequently diagnosed with the disease .
After all , it ’ s just the “ Fake News Media and their partner , the Democrat Party ” making COVID-19 an issue .
Apparently the reach of the U.S. media and the Democratic Party extends all the way to Italy , where 16 million people are under quarantine .
The reality , of course , is that—as the surgeon general suggested—even if coronavirus becomes an unchecked pandemic , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from it .
But it turns out that it ’ s a problem even to those who survive if hundreds of thousands or millions of people become seriously ill and somewhere from 1 % to 3.4 % die .
So saying that “ the average American ” faces a low risk is … misleading in itself .
Like , “ Yay , I personally will survive , it ’ s just my elderly family members in danger !
Woo-hoo !
” And , “ Yay , I personally will survive , but my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for weeks and I ’ ll face the choice between going to work and exposing myself or staying home and losing pay !
Awesome !
” And having an administration led by someone who has undermined the competence and readiness of public health response and thinks the risk here is to his political prospects is not exactly putting us in a good position to weather the storm .

For Donald Trump, coronavirus is just one more excuse to attack Democrats and the media. It sure isn’t a reason to interrupt his golfing. Trump spent the weekend golfing in Florida, then launched into Monday morning by tweeting, “The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant. Surgeon General, ‘The risk is low to the average American.’”
That’s the same surgeon general who claimed that Trump “sleeps less than I do and he's healthier than what I am,” so, you know, he may not be the validator Trump is imagining here.
Fear not, though. While Trump himself was golfing in Florida, “top officials met in the Situation Room in what has become a daily briefing and strategy session amid the growing crisis,” The Washington Post reports. And honestly, Trump’s absence is a good thing for an effective response. Trump seems genuinely to believe that this is a situation manufactured to hurt him politically.
”There is growing tension among Trump administration officials, who now view the rapidly spreading outbreak as a black swan event that could consume the president’s fourth year in office, even as Trump remains reluctant to see much cause for concern,” according to the Post’s White House sources. Trump insists he will even continue having campaign rallies—though none are scheduled this week—despite now having come two degrees away from a coronavirus-infected person when he shook the hand of American Conservative Union chair Matt Schlapp after Schlapp had shaken the hand of the CPAC attendee who was subsequently diagnosed with the disease.
After all, it’s just the “Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party” making COVID-19 an issue. Apparently the reach of the U.S. media and the Democratic Party extends all the way to Italy, where 16 million people are under quarantine.
The reality, of course, is that—as the surgeon general suggested—even if coronavirus becomes an unchecked pandemic, the vast majority of people will not die from it. But it turns out that it’s a problem even to those who survive if hundreds of thousands or millions of people become seriously ill and somewhere from 1% to 3.4% die. So saying that “the average American” faces a low risk is … misleading in itself. Like, “Yay, I personally will survive, it’s just my elderly family members in danger! Woo-hoo!” And, “Yay, I personally will survive, but my kid’s school may be closed for weeks and I’ll face the choice between going to work and exposing myself or staying home and losing pay! Awesome!”
And having an administration led by someone who has undermined the competence and readiness of public health response and thinks the risk here is to his political prospects is not exactly putting us in a good position to weather the storm.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-03-09--Stephanie Ruhle Snaps At Gary Cohn: 'We're Not Getting Honest Information'

Stephanie Ruhle , Andrew Sorkin , and Trump adviser Gary Cohn talked about the need for specific help aimed at pulling the U.S.economy out of the coronavirus tailspin .
`` We 'll get into this bailout conversation and what that looks like , '' Sorkin said .
`` And I also think in this political climate we 'll get into a very interesting situation , not just about how we deal with employees and whether there 's unemployment insurance and the like but if we get into bailing out an airline , are we going to be having conversation about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're going to get back from those airlines given how much anger there was about what was given to banks and what was given to the auto -- all of this is going to become an interesting conversation , unfortunately , and I imagine it 's going to happen soon but it 's a little too soon before we get there . ''
Ruhle asked Cohn if it would n't be different this time .
`` In the financial crisis , the public was furious with banks or the auto industry because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , does n't this get looked at like a natural disaster ?
Nobody is blaming the airline industry or the cruise industry , '' she said .
`` I do hope that people look at this a little bit differently .
But again , it 's hard to predict people 's behavior and how they 're going to look on this with the whole socialism that we 've looked at and the way that people think about corporate America today , '' Cohn said .
`` They think differently than they did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely think differently than they did during the financial crisis .
I do believe that we are going to need the government to step in and help certain industries .
and there is a certain part of this country that does n't believe the government should come in and help certain industries , and the industries should stand on their own two feet .
But we 're not having -- we are not having totally rational consumer behavior right now . ''
`` We 're not getting honest information , Gary .
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I do n't know if we 're getting honest or enough .
I do n't know who knows what , '' Cohn replied .
`` I know we 're out of time but can you actually say you do n't know if we 're getting honest information ?
Two weeks ago the president said 'the number is 15 .
It 's going to zero . '
The number is over 500 .
So you ca n't say you do n't know if we 're not getting honest information .
We 're not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm not here to argue the numbers .
I do agree with the experts on this , though .
When Tom Bossert says certain things , I know they 've spent a lot of time studying this .
So I respect their opinion , '' Cohn said .

Stephanie Ruhle, Andrew Sorkin, and Trump adviser Gary Cohn talked about the need for specific help aimed at pulling the U.S.economy out of the coronavirus tailspin.
"We'll get into this bailout conversation and what that looks like," Sorkin said.
"And I also think in this political climate we'll get into a very interesting situation, not just about how we deal with employees and whether there's unemployment insurance and the like but if we get into bailing out an airline, are we going to be having conversation about corporate socialism? A conversation about what we're going to get back from those airlines given how much anger there was about what was given to banks and what was given to the auto -- all of this is going to become an interesting conversation, unfortunately, and I imagine it's going to happen soon but it's a little too soon before we get there."
Ruhle asked Cohn if it wouldn't be different this time. "In the financial crisis, the public was furious with banks or the auto industry because it was human made. In this case, doesn't this get looked at like a natural disaster? Nobody is blaming the airline industry or the cruise industry," she said.
"I do hope that people look at this a little bit differently. But again, it's hard to predict people's behavior and how they're going to look on this with the whole socialism that we've looked at and the way that people think about corporate America today," Cohn said.
"They think differently than they did even ten years ago. and they definitely think differently than they did during the financial crisis. I do believe that we are going to need the government to step in and help certain industries. and there is a certain part of this country that doesn't believe the government should come in and help certain industries, and the industries should stand on their own two feet. But we're not having -- we are not having totally rational consumer behavior right now."
"We're not getting honest information, Gary. Or enough information," Ruhle said.
"I don't know if we're getting honest or enough. I don't know who knows what," Cohn replied.
"I know we're out of time but can you actually say you don't know if we're getting honest information? Two weeks ago the president said 'the number is 15. It's going to zero.' The number is over 500. So you can't say you don't know if we're not getting honest information. We're not," Ruhle snapped.
"I'm not here to argue the numbers. I do agree with the experts on this, though. When Tom Bossert says certain things, I know they've spent a lot of time studying this. So I respect their opinion," Cohn said.


crooksandliars--2020-03-09--Monday Coronavirus Roundup: Markets Plunge, Trading Halted Over Virus Fears

Pres .
Trump : This is your # DailyLie .
It 's simply not true that your admin has helped @ @ @ @ @ who wants them .
You need stop spreading mistruths about coronavirus and use the resources @ @ @ @ @ to make sure America is prepared .
pic.twitter.com/atlvLA6jsk

Pres. Trump:
This is your #DailyLie. It's simply not true that your admin has helped make tests available to everyone who wants them.
You need stop spreading mistruths about coronavirus and use the resources Congress just fought to appropriate to make sure America is prepared. pic.twitter.com/atlvLA6jsk
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 8, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-09--Twitter Slaps 'Manipulated' Label On Trump Staffer's Biden Video

In this morning 's Washington Post , an explanation of a video in which Joe Biden was edited to make it seem he was supporting Trump 's reelection : Twitter applied its new “ manipulated media ” label for the first time on Sunday to a deceptively edited video of former vice president Joe Biden .
The video was shared by White House social media director Dan Scavino and retweeted by President Trump .
The video was the first test of a new policy the social media company implemented March 5 to label tweets that contain manipulated or synthetic media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sophisticated examples known as “ deepfakes ” that can fabricate events that never happened .
In this case , the altered video of Biden — who has surged to the front of the Democratic race to face Trump in November — is based on a speech he gave in Kansas City , Mo.
, on Saturday .
It was then shared on Twitter by Scavino , only edited to make it appear as if Biden inadvertently endorsed Trump for reelection .
The version of the video shared by Scavino showed Biden stumbling on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying : “ Excuse me .
We can only reelect Donald Trump.
” But the edited video deleted the second part of the former vice president ’ s sentence .
The whole thing said : “ Excuse me .
We can only reelect Donald Trump if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here .
It ’ s got to be a positive campaign .
”

In this morning's Washington Post, an explanation of a video in which Joe Biden was edited to make it seem he was supporting Trump's reelection:
Twitter applied its new “manipulated media” label for the first time on Sunday to a deceptively edited video of former vice president Joe Biden. The video was shared by White House social media director Dan Scavino and retweeted by President Trump.
The video was the first test of a new policy the social media company implemented March 5 to label tweets that contain manipulated or synthetic media, ranging from edited videos to more sophisticated examples known as “deepfakes” that can fabricate events that never happened.
In this case, the altered video of Biden — who has surged to the front of the Democratic race to face Trump in November — is based on a speech he gave in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday. It was then shared on Twitter by Scavino, only edited to make it appear as if Biden inadvertently endorsed Trump for reelection.
The version of the video shared by Scavino showed Biden stumbling on a line during a speech, then saying: “Excuse me. We can only reelect Donald Trump.”
But the edited video deleted the second part of the former vice president’s sentence. The whole thing said: “Excuse me. We can only reelect Donald Trump if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here. It’s got to be a positive campaign.”


crooksandliars--2020-03-09--Fox News' Jeanine Pirro Demands Everyone 'Snap Out Of It' And Stop 'Panicking'

This segment with `` Judge '' Jeanine Pirro is a perfect illustration of why Fox News is a toxic multiplier of lies and dangerous myths intended to keep their viewers stupid and billionaires filthy rich .
In this segment , Pirro bows to the great god Money and lies to her viewers in order to keep them from taking reasonable precautions to protect their health and the health of their loved ones .
Slamming reporters for `` doomsday reporting , '' Pirro then told anxious viewers that their response to go into `` survival mode , '' is a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't spend money .
The economy suffers .
They do n't invest .
The market suffers .
They talk about taking their children out of school .
Education suffers .
They talk about canceling March Madness , Coachella and local businesses suffer , '' she warned .
That seems like a logical response to the risk of contracting a deadly virus , especially when so many people are uninsured now , thanks to Trump 's gutting of the ACA .
But for Pirro , it does too much harm to the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Live and risk your lives worshipping at the altar of the markets .
It 's the least you can do , because clearly this whole virus is a conspiracy against Trump .
Look at this insane , wrong , and toxic argument she offers for why people should n't worry : Now they say the mortality rate for coronavirus is higher than the flu .
But consider , though , that we have a flu vaccine , and yet in 2019 16,000 Americans died from the flu .
Imagine if we did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a pandemic .
So all the talk about coronavirus being so much more deadly does n't reflect reality .
Without a vaccine , the flu would be far more deadly .
I 'm having some trouble actually parsing that argument because it 's so ridiculous , but it seems to boil down to the idea that the death rates of the flu and COVID-19 would be the same if there was n't a vaccine for the flu , which is utter nonsense , ignorant claptrap and dangerous propaganda .
The whole point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 and wo n't be for 18 months , leaving everyone at great risk of passing the virus to others who are vulnerable because of age or other health conditions .
Pirro went on for 9 minutes , telling her loyal viewers to `` snap out of it '' and stop worrying .
Unspoken : She and the rest of her Fox cohorts have to do this to bolster Trump , because if the economy tanks , he 's done .
No one wants a recession .
But we might get one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response .
Her entire `` pep talk '' is above , or watch the absurd argument about the flu vs COVID-19 in the tweet below :

This segment with "Judge" Jeanine Pirro is a perfect illustration of why Fox News is a toxic multiplier of lies and dangerous myths intended to keep their viewers stupid and billionaires filthy rich. In this segment, Pirro bows to the great god Money and lies to her viewers in order to keep them from taking reasonable precautions to protect their health and the health of their loved ones.
Slamming reporters for "doomsday reporting," Pirro then told anxious viewers that their response to go into "survival mode," is a very, very bad thing.
"They don't spend money. The economy suffers. They don't invest. The market suffers. They talk about taking their children out of school. Education suffers. They talk about canceling March Madness, Coachella and local businesses suffer," she warned.
That seems like a logical response to the risk of contracting a deadly virus, especially when so many people are uninsured now, thanks to Trump's gutting of the ACA. But for Pirro, it does too much harm to the economy, so go ahead, folks. Live and risk your lives worshipping at the altar of the markets. It's the least you can do, because clearly this whole virus is a conspiracy against Trump.
Look at this insane, wrong, and toxic argument she offers for why people shouldn't worry:
Now they say the mortality rate for coronavirus is higher than the flu. But consider, though, that we have a flu vaccine, and yet in 2019 16,000 Americans died from the flu. Imagine if we did not have the flu vaccine the flu would be a pandemic. So all the talk about coronavirus being so much more deadly doesn't reflect reality. Without a vaccine, the flu would be far more deadly.
I'm having some trouble actually parsing that argument because it's so ridiculous, but it seems to boil down to the idea that the death rates of the flu and COVID-19 would be the same if there wasn't a vaccine for the flu, which is utter nonsense, ignorant claptrap and dangerous propaganda. The whole point is that there ISN'T a vaccine for COVID-19 and won't be for 18 months, leaving everyone at great risk of passing the virus to others who are vulnerable because of age or other health conditions.
Pirro went on for 9 minutes, telling her loyal viewers to "snap out of it" and stop worrying. Unspoken: She and the rest of her Fox cohorts have to do this to bolster Trump, because if the economy tanks, he's done. No one wants a recession. But we might get one anyway because of this administration's horrendous response.
Her entire "pep talk" is above, or watch the absurd argument about the flu vs COVID-19 in the tweet below:


crooksandliars--2020-03-09--White House Says Pelosi's 'Discord And Disunity' Sparked Trump Boycott Of St. Patrick's Day Event

President Donald Trump plans to boycott an annual bipartisan St. Patrick 's Day lunch and the White House has blamed @ @ @ @ @ D-CA ) for the move .
The Irish Times reported that Trump had decided not @ @ @ @ @ of `` ongoing tensions '' with Pelosi .
The Speaker hosts the annual event and @ @ @ @ @ `` Since the Speaker has chosen to tear this Nation apart with her actions and @ @ @ @ @ will not participate in moments where she so often chooses to drive discord and disunity @ @ @ @ @ official told Politico .

President Donald Trump plans to boycott an annual bipartisan St. Patrick's Day lunch and the White House has blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for the move.
The Irish Times reported that Trump had decided not to attend the event because of "ongoing tensions" with Pelosi. The Speaker hosts the annual event and presidents have traditionally attended.
"Since the Speaker has chosen to tear this Nation apart with her actions and her rhetoric, the President will not participate in moments where she so often chooses to drive discord and disunity," a White House official told Politico.
Playbook this am: TRUMP is skipping the annual capitol St Patrick’s day lunch pic.twitter.com/HGZF32ZXYb — Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) March 8, 2020
/2 Trump is doing this as a snub of Pelosi (who is Italian-American, fwiw.) Trump will host Irish PM Leo Varadkar at White House on Thursday — John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) March 8, 2020
Trump to skip bipartisan St. Patrick's Day lunch on the Hill. "Since the Speaker has chosen to tear this Nation apart with her actions and her rhetoric, the President will not participate in moments where she so often chooses to drive discord and disunity," WH tells @playbookplus — Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) March 8, 2020
Trump will skip the annual St Patrick’s Day lunch hosted by Pelosi in the Capitol this Thursday, one of the oldest bipartisan functions, and will instead meet w/ Irish PM Leo Varadkar, the White House confirms. — Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) March 8, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--Trump Is Melting Down, Imagines Journalists Trying Infect Him With Coronavirus

Guys , we are getting perilously close to Howard Hughes level of paranoia and germaphobia .
Towards the end of his life , Hughes spent most of his time laying in bed in darkened hotel rooms , he wore tissue boxes on his feet and he burned his clothes if someone near him was sick .
Are we close to this sort of meltdown ?
If reports are true , we may be getting there .
Gabriel Sherman ( Vanity Fair ) put out a very disturbing report today that showed just how deep Trump 's paranoia is getting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ control the coronavirus story with his typical lies , deception and bluster .
Seeing his typical methods of disinformation be battered by evidence and science has deeply angered and panicked him .
He needs a person to attack .
Germs ca n't be attacked .
They ca n't be belittled via tweet .
They do not even have a Twitter account !
A former West Wing staffer told Sherman : “ He is trying to control the narrative and he can ’ t . ''
Trump still continues to tweet his feelings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is and how low the number of infected are ( because he wo n't test anyone , but that is besides the point ) .
He continues to be angry that his staff are n't controlling the news cycle more .
Larry Kudlow is n't calming the markets enough for him .
Kellyanne Conway ca n't get her Alternative Facts straight.Trump himself ca n't even get his stories straight .
Trump even told aides that he ’ s `` afraid journalists will try to purposefully contract coronavirus to give it to him on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond bananas .
This would require someone to INTENTIONALLY infect themselves or get infected accidentally and then intentionally go into work , thereby infecting not only Donald Trump , but all the White House staff and other pool reporters .
I do not know anyone that hates Donald Trump enough to actually do that .
In reality Donald Trump will most likely get the CPAC coronavirus from one of his GOP sycophants .
Period .

Guys, we are getting perilously close to Howard Hughes level of paranoia and germaphobia. Towards the end of his life, Hughes spent most of his time laying in bed in darkened hotel rooms, he wore tissue boxes on his feet and he burned his clothes if someone near him was sick. Are we close to this sort of meltdown? If reports are true, we may be getting there.
Gabriel Sherman (Vanity Fair) put out a very disturbing report today that showed just how deep Trump's paranoia is getting. Reports are that Trump thought he could control the coronavirus story with his typical lies, deception and bluster. Seeing his typical methods of disinformation be battered by evidence and science has deeply angered and panicked him. He needs a person to attack. Germs can't be attacked. They can't be belittled via tweet. They do not even have a Twitter account!
A former West Wing staffer told Sherman: “He is trying to control the narrative and he can’t."
Trump still continues to tweet his feelings. Mainly about how great the stock market is and how low the number of infected are (because he won't test anyone, but that is besides the point). He continues to be angry that his staff aren't controlling the news cycle more. Larry Kudlow isn't calming the markets enough for him. Kellyanne Conway can't get her Alternative Facts straight.Trump himself can't even get his stories straight.
Trump even told aides that he’s "afraid journalists will try to purposefully contract coronavirus to give it to him on Air Force One", which is beyond bananas. This would require someone to INTENTIONALLY infect themselves or get infected accidentally and then intentionally go into work, thereby infecting not only Donald Trump, but all the White House staff and other pool reporters. I do not know anyone that hates Donald Trump enough to actually do that.
Twitter had...thoughts:
One of the many levels of bizarre in this whole thing is the idea that a journalist would be willing to risk their own life by "purposefully contracting coronavirus" in order to find a way to give it to Trump on AF1. I mean, WHAT??? https://t.co/Hw08raRKDG — Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) March 9, 2020
Matt Gaetz who was exposed to coronavirus at CPAC and is supposedly in self-quarantine was spotted boarding Air Force One today.
If @realDonaldTrump gets the virus, it won’t be from journalists. It’ll be from his right wing bedfellows. https://t.co/SB42hCnm43 — Kaz Weida (@kazweida) March 9, 2020
President Trump told his aides that journalists will intentionally try to contract Coronavirus in order to spread it to him on Air Force One. Anyone with a cough is now banned from the White House.
This is not a joke tweet. — Travis Allen 🇺🇸 (@TravisAllen02) March 9, 2020
Trump is so batshit crazy he thinks journalists are purposely trying to contract the Coronavirus so they can spread it on Air Force One . Trump has now entered the Howard Hughes stage of his insanity. — Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) March 9, 2020
In reality Donald Trump will most likely get the CPAC coronavirus from one of his GOP sycophants. Period.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--Even David Urban Wants Trump To Fade Into The Background On Coronavirus

David Urban went on Jake Tapper 's Sunday show , State Of The Union , to spin the administration 's response to coronavirus into a WIN , BABY !
Even the Trump surrogate had to agree , though , that it would be best if Hair Fuhrer stood to the side as the experts took over the role of disseminating information .
The rest of Tapper 's panel did their level best to hammer home the point that in cases of public health emergencies such as these , things like `` truth '' and `` accuracy '' coming from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public more than anything , and protects them from harm .
Urban tried , though , to insist that truth is what we 've been getting .
The panel was n't buying what he was trying to sell .
Especially after seeing a clip of Trump comparing his response to coronavirus to his phone call to the president of Ukraine .
Seriously ?
He brought THAT up ?
On PURPOSE ?
Panelists Linda Chavez , Bakari Sellers , and Alexandra Rojas took turns slapping Trump 's pathetic surrogate around on his horribly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
URBAN : I think the surgeon general does a great job .
Dr. Fauci does a great job .
The men and women of the public health service they 've got this great team .
If I was the president , just let those guys speak .
The president is trying to be the calmer in chief here and say , listen , people , stick to the facts , just wash your hands .
I understand your -- TAPPER : He does n't stick to the facts .
He says things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would encourage the president to just let the folks push those guys out front , the surgeon general here is a very capable public health servant .
And they 're very smart .
I think people need to calm down .
CHAVEZ : The problem is , David , you can say that if anybody wants a test they can get it , but then when people who are sick and coughing and hacking show up and ca n't get the test that word gets around .
URBAN : Well , Linda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just ( INAUDIBLE ) out there -- CHAVEZ : He should in fact be calming the American public .
I think we have to -- not overreact , but the worst thing to do if you want to keep people calm is to speak mistruths .
URBAN : The tests are out there now .
The tests are out there now .
URBAN : There 's going to 4 million available this week .
CHAVEZ : They ca n't even test all the people from the cruise ship .
You know , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland , California that has been stuck offshore for days because of the number of people on board infected with coronavirus ?
Rojas pointed out that Pence stated we 'd have one million testing kits out by last Friday , and there were only 1,800 .
Now we 're supposed to believe the administration when they tell us there will be four million testing kits out this week ?
ROJAS : Yes .
I was just going to say , this is an unforced error by the president 's part .
Like he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are supposed to be at the forefront .
And , I mean , when Italy is literally shutting down , northern Italy , 16 million , a quarter of their population , to deal with this pandemic and the United States is not able to account for the number of tests that we have in the field , the contrast is stark .
And so it makes sense that the American public is very , very concerned with the way that this administration is handling it .
CHAVEZ : The one good thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more people show up , is that the fatality rate is probably going to go down because I think one of the reasons you 're seeing that 2 percent is the denominator that we 're using is a false denominator .
SELLERS : Because we do know that it 's less than 1 percent of people who passed away from the flu so hopefully you 're right about that .
Is it worth even pointing out to these GOP defenders of Dear Leader that MATH exists ?
At least at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even Urban .

David Urban went on Jake Tapper's Sunday show, State Of The Union, to spin the administration's response to coronavirus into a WIN, BABY! Even the Trump surrogate had to agree, though, that it would be best if Hair Fuhrer stood to the side as the experts took over the role of disseminating information.
The rest of Tapper's panel did their level best to hammer home the point that in cases of public health emergencies such as these, things like "truth" and "accuracy" coming from the administration would be the thing that calms the public more than anything, and protects them from harm. Urban tried, though, to insist that truth is what we've been getting.
The panel wasn't buying what he was trying to sell. Especially after seeing a clip of Trump comparing his response to coronavirus to his phone call to the president of Ukraine. Seriously? He brought THAT up? On PURPOSE? Panelists Linda Chavez, Bakari Sellers, and Alexandra Rojas took turns slapping Trump's pathetic surrogate around on his horribly negligent failure to respond to this crisis.
URBAN: I think the surgeon general does a great job. Dr. Fauci does a great job. The men and women of the public health service they've got this great team. If I was the president, just let those guys speak. The president is trying to be the calmer in chief here and say, listen, people, stick to the facts, just wash your hands. I understand your -- TAPPER: He doesn't stick to the facts. He says things that aren't true. URBAN: I would encourage the president to just let the folks push those guys out front, the surgeon general here is a very capable public health servant. And they're very smart. I think people need to calm down. CHAVEZ: The problem is, David, you can say that if anybody wants a test they can get it, but then when people who are sick and coughing and hacking show up and can't get the test that word gets around. URBAN: Well, Linda, they just -- yes, they just (INAUDIBLE) out there -- CHAVEZ: He should in fact be calming the American public. I think we have to -- not overreact, but the worst thing to do if you want to keep people calm is to speak mistruths. URBAN: The tests are out there now. The tests are out there now. CHAVEZ: No, they're not. URBAN: There's going to 4 million available this week. CHAVEZ: They can't even test all the people from the cruise ship.
You know, that ship that's about to dock in Oakland, California that has been stuck offshore for days because of the number of people on board infected with coronavirus? Rojas pointed out that Pence stated we'd have one million testing kits out by last Friday, and there were only 1,800. Now we're supposed to believe the administration when they tell us there will be four million testing kits out this week?
ROJAS: Yes. I was just going to say, this is an unforced error by the president's part. Like he is contradicting the very health officials that are supposed to be at the forefront. And, I mean, when Italy is literally shutting down, northern Italy, 16 million, a quarter of their population, to deal with this pandemic and the United States is not able to account for the number of tests that we have in the field, the contrast is stark. And so it makes sense that the American public is very, very concerned with the way that this administration is handling it. CHAVEZ: The one good thing, when we have more people tested and more people show up, is that the fatality rate is probably going to go down because I think one of the reasons you're seeing that 2 percent is the denominator that we're using is a false denominator. SELLERS: Because we do know that it's less than 1 percent of people who passed away from the flu so hopefully you're right about that.
Is it worth even pointing out to these GOP defenders of Dear Leader that MATH exists? At least at the end all agreed washing hands was important...even Urban.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--March 10 Primaries Open Thread

March 10 Primaries Open Thread

Poll closing times today .
In some states , closing times vary by county .
Times shown indicate last polling @ @ @ @ @ all polls closed by 11 p.m .
ET Michigan : all polls closed by 9 @ @ @ @ @ 8 p.m .
ET Missouri : 8 p.m .
ET North Dakota : all polls @ @ @ @ @ ET Washington : 11 p.m .
ET Share what you 're seeing in comments .

Poll closing times today. In some states, closing times vary by county. Times shown indicate last polling site closed.
Idaho: all polls closed by 11 p.m. ET
Michigan: all polls closed by 9 p.m. ET
Mississippi: 8 p.m. ET
Missouri: 8 p.m. ET
North Dakota: all polls close by 10 p.m. ET
Washington: 11 p.m. ET
Share what you're seeing in comments.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--Ron Johnson, Pushing Trump's Burisma Hoax, Accuses Dems Of Duplicity

GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin got a little hot under the collar after Democrats dared to state the obvious : that he 's suddenly barreling full steam ahead on investigating fabricated Biden-related issues now that former Vice President Joe Biden may be on the path to winning the Democratic nomination for president .
After Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan , ranking member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , opposed Johnson 's efforts to subpoena a former consultant to the Ukrainian gas company Burisma , Johnson , who chairs the panel , said that Peters was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. elections—as if that ’ s not a valid concern .
`` We have conducted our investigations methodically , responsibly , and largely out of public view , '' Johnson wrote in a letter released Monday , according to The Hill .
`` We have gone to great lengths to receive briefings and review and verify all information received by the Committee before making any of it public . ''
In other words : Do n't worry—all our dirt digging has been done in private so we can find the best dirt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peters of using `` 'disinformation efforts by Russia ' as a boogie man '' to oppose the dirt digging .
Johnson is pushing for a vote this week on subpoenaing Andrii Telizhenko , a former consultant for a U.S.-based public affairs firm that represented Burisma , the company for which Biden ’ s son Hunter was a board member .
Peters had sent a letter to Johnson last week suggesting that the panel would be wise to get a classified briefing on Telizhenko from both the FBI and intelligence officials in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't simply be advancing disinformation .
Bottom line : Johnson wants to push ahead with the vote without that briefing .
National security and protecting the nation 's elections from foreign interference are n't near as important to him as muddying up Biden , Trump ’ s potential rival this fall .

GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin got a little hot under the collar after Democrats dared to state the obvious: that he's suddenly barreling full steam ahead on investigating fabricated Biden-related issues now that former Vice President Joe Biden may be on the path to winning the Democratic nomination for president.
After Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, ranking member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, opposed Johnson's efforts to subpoena a former consultant to the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, Johnson, who chairs the panel, said that Peters was unnecessarily stoking concerns about Russian interference in U.S. elections—as if that’s not a valid concern.
"We have conducted our investigations methodically, responsibly, and largely out of public view," Johnson wrote in a letter released Monday, according to The Hill. "We have gone to great lengths to receive briefings and review and verify all information received by the Committee before making any of it public."
In other words: Don't worry—all our dirt digging has been done in private so we can find the best dirt to air in public hearings.
Johnson accused Peters of using "'disinformation efforts by Russia' as a boogie man" to oppose the dirt digging. Johnson is pushing for a vote this week on subpoenaing Andrii Telizhenko, a former consultant for a U.S.-based public affairs firm that represented Burisma, the company for which Biden’s son Hunter was a board member. Peters had sent a letter to Johnson last week suggesting that the panel would be wise to get a classified briefing on Telizhenko from both the FBI and intelligence officials in order to be sure he can be trusted and won't simply be advancing disinformation.
Bottom line: Johnson wants to push ahead with the vote without that briefing. National security and protecting the nation's elections from foreign interference aren't near as important to him as muddying up Biden, Trump’s potential rival this fall.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--Tucker Carlson Instructs Trump On How To Demagogue The Coronavirus Correctly

The mainstream media is praising Tucker Carlson for a monologue he delivered on his Fox show last night recommending that the new coronavirus be taken seriously .
Here 's CNN : While some of his colleagues have downplayed coronavirus fears , Tucker Carlson over the last few weeks has taken a much different approach .
And that approach was on full display Monday night when Carlson seemed to call out both President Donald Trump and some of his colleagues on Fox News — without naming them specifically — for dismissing what he told viewers is a `` very serious problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people you probably voted for , have spent weeks minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem , '' Carlson said .
`` 'It 's just partisan politics , ' they say .
'Calm down .
In the end this was just like the flu and people die from that every year .
Coronavirus will pass . ''
Carlson said people who make such arguments may have good intentions , but they 're wrong ... .
Carlson called it a `` major event , '' stressing , `` It 's definitely not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his monologue , it appeared as if Carlson were speaking directly to Trump .
Carlson said the `` surest sign of strength '' is to `` tell the truth '' instead of just `` assuring people that everything will be fine . ''
On Monday night , Fox News host Tucker Carlson appeared to indirectly criticize President Trump and Republicans over their response to the novel coronavirus , accusing U.S. leaders of downplaying the crisis ... .
Referring to the outbreak as “ an epidemic , ” Carlson kicked off his show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know will get sick , ” he said .
“ Some may die .
This is real.
” Carlson kicked off his primetime Fox News program by highlighting the latest number of reported coronavirus cases in the United States , noting that the real number of Americans infected is “ without question far higher ” and that we ’ ll soon “ have a better sense of just how much higher.
” With the Dow Jones suffering a record drop on Monday , the Fox News host pointed out that it won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will cause economic damage that will last for years .
He then took issue with those on the right who have minimized the spread of the disease for partisan purposes .
The authors of all these stories seem to regard Carlson 's coronavirus stance as a good thing , although they all note aspects of the monologue that they found troubling .
The Beast : But these are all treated as regrettable flaws in an otherwise admirable monologue .
However , there 's no contradiction between the reality-based parts of Carlson 's monologue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What Carlson is doing is showing President Trump and other conservative pundits how to demagogue the coronavirus better .
He 's saying that if Trump and other Fox hosts are in denial about the seriousness of the problem , they 'll lose the opportunity to blame the likely deaths , illnesses , societal disruptions , and economic turbulence on liberals and ( especially ) non-European foreigners .
That 's letting a crisis go to waste !
In one way , it would be good if more right-wing demagogues would adopt Carlson 's stance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismiss the virus as harmless , and there 'd be less community transmission in America .
But Carlson will never deliver this message without fanning the flames of liberal-hate and xenophobia .
If you do n't believe me , check out this transcript of an earlier Carlson monologue in which he refers to the `` Chinese coronavirus '' no fewer than six times , saying : The Chinese coronavirus really is Chinese .
It arose in that country for the same reason American businesses have sent so many of our jobs there – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endemic corruption .
China did this to the world and we should not pretend otherwise .
That 's not xenophobia .
It 's true .
The most bitter irony of all of this is that a few years from now , when every last victim of this virus has recovered or been buried , the Chinese government can easily grow stronger because of this disaster .
And America can grow weaker .
That 's why Carlson is doing this : He wants his audience to believe foreigners are evil , and he ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-wing bloviators are passing up the chance to spread that message .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

The mainstream media is praising Tucker Carlson for a monologue he delivered on his Fox show last night recommending that the new coronavirus be taken seriously. Here's CNN:
While some of his colleagues have downplayed coronavirus fears, Tucker Carlson over the last few weeks has taken a much different approach. And that approach was on full display Monday night when Carlson seemed to call out both President Donald Trump and some of his colleagues on Fox News — without naming them specifically — for dismissing what he told viewers is a "very serious problem." "People you trust, people you probably voted for, have spent weeks minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem," Carlson said. "'It's just partisan politics,' they say. 'Calm down. In the end this was just like the flu and people die from that every year. Coronavirus will pass." Carlson said people who make such arguments may have good intentions, but they're wrong.... Carlson called it a "major event," stressing, "It's definitely not just the flu." At one point in his monologue, it appeared as if Carlson were speaking directly to Trump. Carlson said the "surest sign of strength" is to "tell the truth" instead of just "assuring people that everything will be fine."
And The Washington Post:
On Monday night, Fox News host Tucker Carlson appeared to indirectly criticize President Trump and Republicans over their response to the novel coronavirus, accusing U.S. leaders of downplaying the crisis.... Referring to the outbreak as “an epidemic,” Carlson kicked off his show with a grave warning. “People you know will get sick,” he said. “Some may die. This is real.”
And The Daily Beast:
Carlson kicked off his primetime Fox News program by highlighting the latest number of reported coronavirus cases in the United States, noting that the real number of Americans infected is “without question far higher” and that we’ll soon “have a better sense of just how much higher.” With the Dow Jones suffering a record drop on Monday, the Fox News host pointed out that it won’t be long before the outbreak will cause economic damage that will last for years. He then took issue with those on the right who have minimized the spread of the disease for partisan purposes.
The authors of all these stories seem to regard Carlson's coronavirus stance as a good thing, although they all note aspects of the monologue that they found troubling. The Beast:
After mocking the left for complaining about racist reactions to the virus due to its origin in China—all while simultaneously airing a graphic that blared “The Chinese Coronavirus”—Carlson added the “other side has not been especially helpful either.” (The Fox host has made a habit recently of claiming that “wokeness” and “identity politics” will leave Americans vulnerable to the virus.)
The Post:
The host didn’t entirely deviate from conservative talking points though. He ridiculed people for taking offense to covid-19 being called “the Chinese coronavirus” or the “Wuhan virus,” labels that critics on the left have decried as racist and diversionary. Throughout his monologue, Carlson repeatedly made note of the virus’s Chinese origin, a tactic recently used by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.), among other Republicans.
And CNN:
Of note: While Carlson has taken coronavirus seriously, he also asked a guest about the conspiracy theory that the virus was created in a Chinese lab.
But these are all treated as regrettable flaws in an otherwise admirable monologue.
However, there's no contradiction between the reality-based parts of Carlson's monologue and the racist or conspiratorial parts.
What Carlson is doing is showing President Trump and other conservative pundits how to demagogue the coronavirus better. He's saying that if Trump and other Fox hosts are in denial about the seriousness of the problem, they'll lose the opportunity to blame the likely deaths, illnesses, societal disruptions, and economic turbulence on liberals and (especially) non-European foreigners. That's letting a crisis go to waste!
In one way, it would be good if more right-wing demagogues would adopt Carlson's stance: Fewer consumers of conservative media would dismiss the virus as harmless, and there'd be less community transmission in America.
But Carlson will never deliver this message without fanning the flames of liberal-hate and xenophobia. If you don't believe me, check out this transcript of an earlier Carlson monologue in which he refers to the "Chinese coronavirus" no fewer than six times, saying:
The Chinese coronavirus really is Chinese. It arose in that country for the same reason American businesses have sent so many of our jobs there – lack of health and safety standards and endemic corruption. China did this to the world and we should not pretend otherwise. That's not xenophobia. It's true. The most bitter irony of all of this is that a few years from now, when every last victim of this virus has recovered or been buried, the Chinese government can easily grow stronger because of this disaster. And America can grow weaker.
That's why Carlson is doing this: He wants his audience to believe foreigners are evil, and he can't understand why the president and other right-wing bloviators are passing up the chance to spread that message.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--Fox News Trashes 'Paid Sick Leave' For Americans

Trump is looking for any kind of a stimulus for the economy after the markets crashed since most of his reelection campaign for 2020 is based on the stock markets .
.
His administration is promoting payroll tax-cuts and even offering up help for those workers who do not get paid sick leave .
Almost every conservative pundit loves tax cuts so they are in favor of that measure , but when it comes to helping workers that are too sick to work , guess who they side with ?
On Monday , Stuart Varney had several guests on as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of a paid sick leave for workers , especially if they contract COVID–19 because in their minds it will start another social program that helps American workers .
And that 's `` bad for conservatism . ''
Varney asked , `` What do you make of this ?
Targeted stimulus , maybe an enhancement of paid leave , sick paid leave , deferred tax payments .
Do you think this is a good idea ?
Because we had Art Laffer on the show saying earlier , saying , “ No , get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the politicians out of it , we do n't want them to do anything , let the market work.
“ What say you ? ''
Peter Morici replied , `` I do n't like “ a ” or “ b.
” The extension of paid sick leave opens the door .
You know what 's going to happen on the Democratic side .
Schumer 's going to want a permanent program . ''
Daring to help the American worker is anathema to conservatives alike .
`` The old Rahm Emanuel approach , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unused.
” They 're going to try to get another social program out of this .
We ca n't let that happen , '' Morici said .
Dylan Scott on Vox has a great article about this very issue from February , `` The coronavirus makes a good case for America finally guaranteeing paid sick leave . ''
And Morici conveniently forgets about how Republicans in this country and conservatives around the world have used disaster capitalism to enrich themselves and promote the wealth class at the detriment to the working-class , time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump speak , with his obvious relish in creating an atmosphere of chaos and destabilization , I often think : I ’ ve seen this before , in those strange moments when portals seemed to open up into our collective future .
One of those moments arrived in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina , as I watched hordes of private military contractors descend on the flooded city to find ways to profit from the disaster , even as thousands of the city ’ s residents , abandoned by their government , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to survive .

Trump is looking for any kind of a stimulus for the economy after the markets crashed since most of his reelection campaign for 2020 is based on the stock markets.
.
His administration is promoting payroll tax-cuts and even offering up help for those workers who do not get paid sick leave.
Almost every conservative pundit loves tax cuts so they are in favor of that measure, but when it comes to helping workers that are too sick to work, guess who they side with?
On Monday, Stuart Varney had several guests on as the market crashed that attacked just the idea of a paid sick leave for workers, especially if they contract COVID–19 because in their minds it will start another social program that helps American workers.
And that's "bad for conservatism."
Varney asked, "What do you make of this? Targeted stimulus, maybe an enhancement of paid leave, sick paid leave, deferred tax payments. Do you think this is a good idea? Because we had Art Laffer on the show saying earlier, saying, “No, get the government out of this, get the politicians out of it, we don't want them to do anything, let the market work.“ What say you?"
Peter Morici replied, "I don't like “a” or “b.” The extension of paid sick leave opens the door. You know what's going to happen on the Democratic side. Schumer's going to want a permanent program."
Daring to help the American worker is anathema to conservatives alike.
"The old Rahm Emanuel approach, “Don't let any good crisis go unused.” They're going to try to get another social program out of this. We can't let that happen," Morici said.
Dylan Scott on Vox has a great article about this very issue from February, "The coronavirus makes a good case for America finally guaranteeing paid sick leave."
And Morici conveniently forgets about how Republicans in this country and conservatives around the world have used disaster capitalism to enrich themselves and promote the wealth class at the detriment to the working-class, time and time again..
Naomi Klein writes,


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--Irony: GOP 'Virus Hoaxers' Who Flocked To CPAC Are Now Quarantined

For weeks now , the GOP and FOX News have been calling coronavirus a hoax .
It is n't a hoax .
It is very real and people are dying .
CPAC , the Conservative Political Action Conference , held their 2020 meeting from February 26th through February 29th .
It was attended by every big name in conservative politics , including basically every single Republican government official ( minus Mitt Romney , who has been ostracized by his own party after voting to convict Donald Trump during his impeachment trial ) .
Wel , it looks like Romney may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke that an attendee tested positive and had access to numerous high level guests , many of which are now self-quaranting .
Unfortunately , CPAC is n't publicly disclosing who the attendee was , except to certain folks .
Reporters and average conservatives are positively apoplectic that organizers wo n't tell them who CPAC Patient Zero is .
Ironic that Breitbart , which shits on the little people every day , finally feels a scintilla of what the rest of us feel when faced with the despicable behavior of the GOP elite .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in charge of organizing CPAC events , announced that the infected man interacted with 4 Republicans : Ted Cruz , Paul Gosar , Doug Collins and Rep. Matt Gaetz .
Since the announcement , all four have announced they are self-quarantining , which is ironic since they claim it is a Democratic Hoax .
A 5th Republican , the dumbest one in Congress , continues to hold that title by refusing to self-quarantine .
That man is Louie Gohmert .
Right after finding out about his exposure , Gohmert gave a tour to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course .
Journalists have been trying to compile a list of others who may have been exposed : Matt Schlapp , who warned Romney not to attend and has been calling coronavirus a hoax for weeks is also in self quarantine after shaking the mans hand ... right before shaking Donald Trump 's hand .
Guaranteed he did n't wash his hands before touching Trump 's .
Whoops .
Gaetz did n't find out about his exposure until after he rode in the Beast with Donald Trump and as he was riding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shook hands with Donald Trump over the weekend .
So , we know that Trump was exposed numerous times ... but his own sycophants .
We will update this post as more names come out .

For weeks now, the GOP and FOX News have been calling coronavirus a hoax. It isn't a hoax. It is very real and people are dying.
CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, held their 2020 meeting from February 26th through February 29th. It was attended by every big name in conservative politics, including basically every single Republican government official (minus Mitt Romney, who has been ostracized by his own party after voting to convict Donald Trump during his impeachment trial). Wel, it looks like Romney may be getting the last laugh after news broke that an attendee tested positive and had access to numerous high level guests, many of which are now self-quaranting.
Unfortunately, CPAC isn't publicly disclosing who the attendee was, except to certain folks. Reporters and average conservatives are positively apoplectic that organizers won't tell them who CPAC Patient Zero is.
Breitbart reporter Brandon Darby tweeted this:
Good news: if you’re rich and important you get to know if you were exposed to someone with Coronavirus at CPAC.
Bad news: if you’re not rich and important, you don’t get to know if you were exposed to someone with Coronavirus at CPAC. — Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) March 9, 2020
Ironic that Breitbart, which shits on the little people every day, finally feels a scintilla of what the rest of us feel when faced with the despicable behavior of the GOP elite.
The American Conservative Union, which is in charge of organizing CPAC events, announced that the infected man interacted with 4 Republicans: Ted Cruz, Paul Gosar, Doug Collins and Rep. Matt Gaetz. Since the announcement, all four have announced they are self-quarantining, which is ironic since they claim it is a Democratic Hoax.
A 5th Republican, the dumbest one in Congress, continues to hold that title by refusing to self-quarantine. That man is Louie Gohmert.
Right after finding out about his exposure, Gohmert gave a tour to around 100 school age kids. Because of course.
>@replouiegohmert, who interacted with COVID positive person at CPAC last week, is leading this large group of schoolkids around the Capitol right now pic.twitter.com/zTzd7IOQIq — Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) March 10, 2020
Journalists have been trying to compile a list of others who may have been exposed:
Here are some of the other people who may have been in the green room on Thursday afternoon at the same time as the CPAC #coronavirus infectee:
- Rep Louie Gohmert;
- Ronna McDaniel
- Michael Knowles
- Kay James
- KellyAnne Conway
- Betsy Devos
- Rep Matt Gaetz
- Diamond/Silk — Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) March 9, 2020
Matt Schlapp, who warned Romney not to attend and has been calling coronavirus a hoax for weeks is also in self quarantine after shaking the mans hand...right before shaking Donald Trump's hand. Guaranteed he didn't wash his hands before touching Trump's. Whoops. Gaetz didn't find out about his exposure until after he rode in the Beast with Donald Trump and as he was riding in Air Force One. Collins also shook hands with Donald Trump over the weekend. So, we know that Trump was exposed numerous times...but his own sycophants.
Karma is a Democrat. Clearly.
We will update this post as more names come out.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--Trump's Press Secretary: He Won't Get Coronavirus Since He Doesn't Sleep Much

Donald Trump is Superman-like during the coronavirus outbreak !
That 's what Jerome Adams , the Surgeon General told Jake Tapper on CNN -- that Trump is much healthier than he is and he 's in his 40s .
The man should lose his position immediately .
Doctors are not supposed to lie to their patients and the Surgeon General is n't supposed to lie to the American people .
But in Trump 's world , every administration official must bow down , bend the knee and claim Trump is superhuman .
Then on Monday 's Fox and Friends , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grisham doubled down on this lie when asked if both Bernie Sanders and Pres .
Trump should stop holding rallies .
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt said , `` Stephanie , when Bernie was on 'Meet the Press ' over the weekend , Chuck Todd asked him if he was going to continue to be on the campaign trail because we keep hearing if you 're around 80 years old you are susceptible , and he is 78 years old . ''
`` President Trump is 73 .
Will he continue to have rallies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
she asked .
Grisham dutifully replied , `` He actually just addressed this .
Yes , he plans on still holding rallies .
And I 'll tell you what , with our President -- this man who does n't sleep and who I have seen work 15-16 hours a day every day -- I have no problem thinking that he 's going to be just fine and just healthy . ''
This is the most moronic response to a health question during a pandemic about the spread of a virus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acting White House press secretary .
It 's as if the coronavirus can sniff out who It should Infect and Trump watches too much Fox News TV to be at risk .
The lack of White House press briefings , which has had an enormous impact on the country , was not mentioned .
CNN 's Cillizza writes , `` Grisham 's response is akin to being asked about whether you are worried about getting the flu and responding : `` No , I lift a lot of weights and I am pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is also part of their efforts to claim Bernie 's heart and Biden 's head are not up to the high standard of their lord .
Really .

Donald Trump is Superman-like during the coronavirus outbreak!
That's what Jerome Adams, the Surgeon General told Jake Tapper on CNN -- that Trump is much healthier than he is and he's in his 40s.
"But speaking of being at risk, the president, he sleeps less than I do and he’s healthier than what I am,” Adams said.
The man should lose his position immediately. Doctors are not supposed to lie to their patients and the Surgeon General isn't supposed to lie to the American people. But in Trump's world, every administration official must bow down, bend the knee and claim Trump is superhuman.
Then on Monday's Fox and Friends, the faux White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham doubled down on this lie when asked if both Bernie Sanders and Pres. Trump should stop holding rallies.
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt said, "Stephanie, when Bernie was on 'Meet the Press' over the weekend, Chuck Todd asked him if he was going to continue to be on the campaign trail because we keep hearing if you're around 80 years old you are susceptible, and he is 78 years old."
"President Trump is 73. Will he continue to have rallies and be out there on the campaign trail?" she asked.
Grisham dutifully replied, "He actually just addressed this. Yes, he plans on still holding rallies. And I'll tell you what, with our President -- this man who doesn't sleep and who I have seen work 15-16 hours a day every day -- I have no problem thinking that he's going to be just fine and just healthy."
This is the most moronic response to a health question during a pandemic about the spread of a virus in the history of the presidency from an acting White House press secretary.
It's as if the coronavirus can sniff out who It should Infect and Trump watches too much Fox News TV to be at risk.
The lack of White House press briefings, which has had an enormous impact on the country, was not mentioned.
CNN's Cillizza writes, "Grisham's response is akin to being asked about whether you are worried about getting the flu and responding: "No, I lift a lot of weights and I am pretty jacked."
This godlike praise of Trump is also part of their efforts to claim Bernie's heart and Biden's head are not up to the high standard of their lord. Really.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--VOTER SUPPRESSION: Kansas City Missouri's Mayor Gets Turned Away At Ballot Box

Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City , Missouri was unable to VOTE this morning because his name was allegedly missing from the voting rolls .
After some investigation , it was discovered that a poll worker was looking up his name as Lucas Quinton .
COME ON .
KCTV-5 has the story : Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas was turned away from his polling location Tuesday morning because poll workers mistakenly thought he was n't in the election database 's system .
Lucas , a Democrat , made a video about the importance of voting before he headed into his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church , to cast his ballot shortly after 7 a.m .
But he said a worker could n't find his name in the system , even though he had cast ballots for himself at the site several times during 11 years of voting there .
`` I think the biggest threat to America 's elections is not letting people vote , and I think we saw a little of that challenge today , '' [ Lucas ] said .
People who may not have the pull and media presence of the Mayor can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help .

This. Is. Absurd.
I made a video this morning about the importance of voting and then got turned away because I wasn’t in the system even though I’ve voted there for 11 years, including for myself four times! Go figure, but that’s okay. We’ll be back later today! #Vote #KCMO pic.twitter.com/3mYNrO6jmC — Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) March 10, 2020
Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Missouri was unable to VOTE this morning because his name was allegedly missing from the voting rolls.
After some investigation, it was discovered that a poll worker was looking up his name as Lucas Quinton.
COME ON. KCTV-5 has the story:
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas was turned away from his polling location Tuesday morning because poll workers mistakenly thought he wasn't in the election database's system. Lucas, a Democrat, made a video about the importance of voting before he headed into his normal polling location, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, to cast his ballot shortly after 7 a.m. But he said a worker couldn't find his name in the system, even though he had cast ballots for himself at the site several times during 11 years of voting there. "I think the biggest threat to America's elections is not letting people vote, and I think we saw a little of that challenge today," [Lucas] said.
People who may not have the pull and media presence of the Mayor can call the ACLU's voter hotline for help.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--John Berman Tries To Find Out How Many Virus Testing Kits Are Out There

New Day 's John Berman asked HHS Secretary Alex Azar how many Americans have been tested for coronavirus .
`` We do n't know exactly how many , because of hundreds of thousands of our tests have gone out to private labs and hospitals that currently do not report in to CDC , '' he said .
( Translation : There used to be some kind of tracking system here , but we fired all those people and now we 're outsourcing the work to our buddies . )
`` We 're working with the CDC and those partners to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running hopefully this week where we would be able to get that data to keep track of how many we 're testing .
We think we 've got probably 10,000 a day could be getting tested by the end of the week , 20,000 a day according to a study that I 've heard about .
We 've got 2.1 million tests available , 1.1 million have shipped .
We actually have a surplus at the moment that are awaiting orders to be shipped . ''
`` But you do n't know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't know how many people have been tested ? ''
an incredulous Berman asked .
`` Well , because a private vendor shipped -- most of those 1.1 million that shipped were from a private vendor selling to their customers and those entities that used their tests do not have to report back to CDC .
But we 're trying to set up a reporting system where they would in effect do that , '' Azar said .
`` The Atlantic has made a bunch of calls to some of these organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been test .
Does that seem ballpark accurate to you ? ''
Berman asked .
`` I would n't want to speculate .
My hallmark here is , I 'm going to tell you what I know and I 'm going to tell you what we do not know . ''
( He does n't know much . )
`` We 're about leveling with the American people and being transparent .
Right now I 'm just telling you , when somebody sells a test kit to a private entity , right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's been used , but we are working with them to get that system set up . ''
So Berman asked about why is it that South Korea managed to start testing more than 10,000 people a day within a week of their first case , and why we 're still not testing as many people as they are .
Blah blah blah , excuses , excuses , excuses .
`` At no time , at no time has a public health official who wanted to get an individual tested for novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the CDC 's labs or other labs authorized by CDC early on . ''
Yeah , that 's B.S .
Many people reporting otherwise .
Berman still tries to pin the guy down .
`` Anecdotally , and there 's an op-ed in the New York Times , is that some people are confused or having a hard time getting the test or it 's taking some time .
We 'll see how this develops over the next few days .
Italy just closed its borders today , it 's on lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What 's to keep the United States from becoming Italy ?
You said local clusters .
Well , a few weeks ago in Italy this was locally clustered to the north .
What 's to keep the United States from becoming Italy ? ''
`` Appropriate travel measures .
We engage in immediate community mitigation efforts as we are seeing in Seattle , Santa Clara , and hopefully in New York , '' Azar said .
This is n't really what Berman 's asking .
Italy did not initially take the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did , the virus was out of control and causing war-like levels of stress on the country 's hospitals .
They 're turning away heart attacks , strokes , and other emergency patients because they ca n't handle the load .

New Day's John Berman asked HHS Secretary Alex Azar how many Americans have been tested for coronavirus.
"We don't know exactly how many, because of hundreds of thousands of our tests have gone out to private labs and hospitals that currently do not report in to CDC," he said. (Translation: There used to be some kind of tracking system here, but we fired all those people and now we're outsourcing the work to our buddies.)
"We're working with the CDC and those partners to get an IT reporting system up and running hopefully this week where we would be able to get that data to keep track of how many we're testing. We think we've got probably 10,000 a day could be getting tested by the end of the week, 20,000 a day according to a study that I've heard about. We've got 2.1 million tests available, 1.1 million have shipped. We actually have a surplus at the moment that are awaiting orders to be shipped."
"But you don't know, you honestly don't know? You don't know how many people have been tested?" an incredulous Berman asked.
"Well, because a private vendor shipped -- most of those 1.1 million that shipped were from a private vendor selling to their customers and those entities that used their tests do not have to report back to CDC. But we're trying to set up a reporting system where they would in effect do that," Azar said.
Wow. Just, wow.
"The Atlantic has made a bunch of calls to some of these organizations and they estimate about 4,300 people have been test. Does that seem ballpark accurate to you?" Berman asked.
"I wouldn't want to speculate. My hallmark here is, I'm going to tell you what I know and I'm going to tell you what we do not know." (He doesn't know much.)
"We're about leveling with the American people and being transparent. Right now I'm just telling you, when somebody sells a test kit to a private entity, right now we don't know when or if that's been used, but we are working with them to get that system set up."
So Berman asked about why is it that South Korea managed to start testing more than 10,000 people a day within a week of their first case, and why we're still not testing as many people as they are.
Blah blah blah, excuses, excuses, excuses. "At no time, at no time has a public health official who wanted to get an individual tested for novel coronavirus been unable to get them tested through the CDC's labs or other labs authorized by CDC early on."
Yeah, that's B.S. Many people reporting otherwise.
Berman still tries to pin the guy down. "Anecdotally, and there's an op-ed in the New York Times, is that some people are confused or having a hard time getting the test or it's taking some time. We'll see how this develops over the next few days. Italy just closed its borders today, it's on lockdown, a country of 60 million people. What's to keep the United States from becoming Italy? You said local clusters. Well, a few weeks ago in Italy this was locally clustered to the north. What's to keep the United States from becoming Italy?"
"Appropriate travel measures. We engage in immediate community mitigation efforts as we are seeing in Seattle, Santa Clara, and hopefully in New York," Azar said.
This isn't really what Berman's asking. Italy did not initially take the pandemic seriously, and by the time they did, the virus was out of control and causing war-like levels of stress on the country's hospitals. They're turning away heart attacks, strokes, and other emergency patients because they can't handle the load.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--See No Evil: The Villages Are A Test Case Of Whether Virus Ignorance Is Bliss

CNN 's Martin Savidge went to The Villages , the famously conservative Florida retirement community , to see how it was affecting the lives of the residents .
The answer ?
Not much .
One of the things that was very clear was the kind of attitude you see with anti-vaxxers about herd immunity .
They look at the facts in a vacuum of self-interest , and they 're either ignorant of or indifferent to the concept of spreading a dangerous disease by sticking to their familiar routine .
Florida is expected to be a hot spot because , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tourists .
But they also have a high percentage of elderly people , especially in places like The Villages .
`` The CDC recommends people over the age of 60 practice social distancing , limiting close contact with others , avoiding crowds and in some cases even staying home .
In central Florida , there are few signs seniors are listening .
At this softball game at The Villages outside Orlando , most of the players are in their 60s , 70s , even 80s .
The only thing they say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is their post-game high fives , '' Savidge said .
He interviews 72-year-old Rick Sanford , who seems to be a classic Fox News viewer : `` I 'll be frank and say it 's bogus and each individual has to decide upon their own . ''
He interviews Donna , a woman who thinks it 's no big whoop , thanks to Donald Trump .
`` I think it 's overdone .
Absolutely .
I think the media is -- I know they have to cover it , but it does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flu or anything else if you 're relatively healthy , '' she said .
`` He ( Trump ) does n't seem to be , I do n't think he 's going one way or the other .
It does n't seem like he 's being too overly fearful . ''
Again : It 's not overreaction to see what 's on the horizon , and take measures to mitigate it .
The fact is , if older people do n't start paying attention and do n't change their lives to limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be completely overwhelmed with critical cases and people will die .
At this stage , we can only try to lower the rate of those getting the virus ; we ca n't avoid it completely .
But to assume Trump believes what he 's saying and knows what he 's talking about ?
That 's just suicidal .

CNN's Martin Savidge went to The Villages, the famously conservative Florida retirement community, to see how it was affecting the lives of the residents. The answer? Not much.
One of the things that was very clear was the kind of attitude you see with anti-vaxxers about herd immunity. They look at the facts in a vacuum of self-interest, and they're either ignorant of or indifferent to the concept of spreading a dangerous disease by sticking to their familiar routine.
Florida is expected to be a hot spot because, as Savidge points out, they get millions of tourists. But they also have a high percentage of elderly people, especially in places like The Villages.
"The CDC recommends people over the age of 60 practice social distancing, limiting close contact with others, avoiding crowds and in some cases even staying home. In central Florida, there are few signs seniors are listening. At this softball game at The Villages outside Orlando, most of the players are in their 60s, 70s, even 80s. The only thing they say they've been told to cut back on is their post-game high fives," Savidge said.
He interviews 72-year-old Rick Sanford, who seems to be a classic Fox News viewer: "I'll be frank and say it's bogus and each individual has to decide upon their own."
He interviews Donna, a woman who thinks it's no big whoop, thanks to Donald Trump.
"I think it's overdone. Absolutely. I think the media is -- I know they have to cover it, but it doesn't seem like it's any worse than the flu or anything else if you're relatively healthy," she said.
"He (Trump) doesn't seem to be, I don't think he's going one way or the other. It doesn't seem like he's being too overly fearful."
Again: It's not overreaction to see what's on the horizon, and take measures to mitigate it. The fact is, if older people don't start paying attention and don't change their lives to limit exposure to the virus, our hospitals will be completely overwhelmed with critical cases and people will die.
At this stage, we can only try to lower the rate of those getting the virus; we can't avoid it completely. But to assume Trump believes what he's saying and knows what he's talking about? That's just suicidal.


crooksandliars--2020-03-10--Bernie Sanders Scoffs At Trump’s ‘Stupid’ 'Natural Ability' Brag

Bernie Sanders ’ Fox News town hall got off to a raucous start Monday evening when he responded to the first question , “ What is your assessment of the Trump administration ’ s handling of the [ coronavirus ] outbreak and what would you do differently ?
” Not surprisingly , Sanders gave the Trump administration a bad review .
“ Sadly , we have an administration in Washington that has shown the world that it does not believe in science , ” Sanders said .
He also touted his Medicare for all and sick leave plans as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to , goes to the doctor and stays home when ill , not just for their own sakes , but for the sake of not infecting others .
Then when pressed as to what he ’ d do differently right now , Sanders laid into Trump .
“ I would not be a president saying to the world [ … ] I have a natural ability to understand the problem , ” Sanders said .
Cohost Bret Baier sounded reluctant to admit that Trump had said that .
Sanders continued , “ My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a president , I do n't claim if I 'm president that I 'm the world 's greatest scientific expert on climate change or coronavirus .
You listen to the scientists .
You do n't say stupid things .
You do n't suggest to people that you can go to work .
That 's not what the science or the doctors – Baier interrupted , talked over Sanders at that point , and said , “ Let ’ s talk about the economy .
The markets dropped – “ Now it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What , we ’ re not talking about coronavirus anymore ?
” There was an exchange between them that I didn ’ t quite hear before Sanders joked , “ I always give this guy a hard time , ” ( Baier agreed ) “ Because I remind him he ’ s on Fox television .
He forgot about it.
” It was a charming moment and Sanders got in some great jabs at the Trump administration .
But here ’ s the thing .
Despite the needling , Sanders gave Fox a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prestige .
Probably advertising dollars , too .
And , I ’ m sorry , but Democrats need to treat Fox News as an enemy every bit as dangerous as Donald Trump is , no matter how nice any individual host ( s ) may be .
Needling doesn ’ t cut it , in my book .
Sanders should have insisted on finishing his thoughts .
The coronavirus is killing Americans and it is obvious that Trump is terrifyingly ill-equipped to handle the crisis .
You can read my more in-depth post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing Fox News town halls here .
But for now , you can watch Sanders slam Trump below , from Sanders ' March 9 , 2020 town hall .

Bernie Sanders’ Fox News town hall got off to a raucous start Monday evening when he responded to the first question, “What is your assessment of the Trump administration’s handling of the [coronavirus] outbreak and what would you do differently?”
Not surprisingly, Sanders gave the Trump administration a bad review. “Sadly, we have an administration in Washington that has shown the world that it does not believe in science,” Sanders said. He also touted his Medicare for all and sick leave plans as a way to make sure everybody who needs to, goes to the doctor and stays home when ill, not just for their own sakes, but for the sake of not infecting others.
Then when pressed as to what he’d do differently right now, Sanders laid into Trump.
“I would not be a president saying to the world […] I have a natural ability to understand the problem,” Sanders said.
Cohost Bret Baier sounded reluctant to admit that Trump had said that.
“He doesn’t have a natural ability!” Sanders roared. The crowd cheered.
Sanders continued, “My point is, for a start, as a president, I don't claim if I'm president that I'm the world's greatest scientific expert on climate change or coronavirus. You listen to the scientists. You don't say stupid things. You don't suggest to people that you can go to work. That's not what the science or the doctors –
Baier interrupted, talked over Sanders at that point, and said, “Let’s talk about the economy. The markets dropped – “
Now it was Sanders’ turn to interrupt. “What, we’re not talking about coronavirus anymore?”
There was an exchange between them that I didn’t quite hear before Sanders joked, “I always give this guy a hard time,” (Baier agreed) “Because I remind him he’s on Fox television. He forgot about it.”
It was a charming moment and Sanders got in some great jabs at the Trump administration.
But here’s the thing. Despite the needling, Sanders gave Fox a big, undeserved boost in credibility and prestige. Probably advertising dollars, too. And, I’m sorry, but Democrats need to treat Fox News as an enemy every bit as dangerous as Donald Trump is, no matter how nice any individual host(s) may be. Needling doesn’t cut it, in my book. Sanders should have insisted on finishing his thoughts. The coronavirus is killing Americans and it is obvious that Trump is terrifyingly ill-equipped to handle the crisis.
You can read my more in-depth post about what’s wrong with Democrats doing Fox News town halls here. But for now, you can watch Sanders slam Trump below, from Sanders' March 9, 2020 town hall.
Published with permission of NewsHounds


crooksandliars--2020-03-12--Rep. Katie Porter Is Our Coronavirus Shero

Rep. Katie Porter , former law professor , told Chris Hayes last night that she would push for a commitment from the CDC to pay for coronavirus testing and treatment .
`` There is an existing regulation already in U.S. law that provides during a public health emergency that the CDC can pay for treatment and examination and testing all of those things and so that 's already in our code of federal regulations .
That 's already one of the tools that has been at the disposal of the Department of Health and Human Services and CDC this entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So I 'm going to call on them tomorrow publicly to make sure that testing and treatment is free and that insurers pay their portion and no American is left paying out-of-pocket or deterred from getting testing or treatment because of cost barriers . ''
And today , SHE DID IT .
She got CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield to agree .
There are a lot of Americans who will sleep better tonight , thanks to the amazing Katie Porter , an Iowa farmer 's daughter who 's one of those Democratic `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yale .
Let 's hear it for the women who get it done !

Rep. Katie Porter, former law professor, told Chris Hayes last night that she would push for a commitment from the CDC to pay for coronavirus testing and treatment.
"There is an existing regulation already in U.S. law that provides during a public health emergency that the CDC can pay for treatment and examination and testing all of those things and so that's already in our code of federal regulations. That's already one of the tools that has been at the disposal of the Department of Health and Human Services and CDC this entire time," she said.
"So I'm going to call on them tomorrow publicly to make sure that testing and treatment is free and that insurers pay their portion and no American is left paying out-of-pocket or deterred from getting testing or treatment because of cost barriers."
And today, SHE DID IT. She got CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield to agree.
I did the math: a full battery of coronavirus testing costs at minimum $1,331.
I also did the legal research: the Administration has the authority to make testing free for every American TODAY.
I secured a commitment from a high-level Trump official that they’d actually do it. pic.twitter.com/RmolCtmNbG — Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) March 12, 2020
There are a lot of Americans who will sleep better tonight, thanks to the amazing Katie Porter, an Iowa farmer's daughter who's one of those Democratic "elites" who went to Harvard and Yale. Let's hear it for the women who get it done!


crooksandliars--2020-03-12--Trump 2020 Insists Trump Will Keep Shaking Hands At Rallies

When you 're the Trump 2020 campaign press secretary and you lose STUART VARNEY ... Kayleigh `` Mensa '' McEnany went on Fox Business and bravely insisted that Donald Trump is virtually immune from coronavirus because of his `` commander in chief '' status .
Or something .
Varney , yes , THAT Varney , was not convinced .
STUART VARNEY ( HOST ) : Are you a little worried about holding those kind of rallies ?
” KAYLEIGH MCENANY : I ’ m not , because we have the added advantage here at the Trump campaign that our candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , who is surrounded by the best and most talented health experts in the world .
Dr. Fauci said , take it case by case and in a community where there ’ s an outbreak— ” VARNEY : But Dr. Fauci just said there should be no large crowds .
He said it .
MCENANY : Look , we have the commander in chief , we have the best health experts , we are taking it day by day , we are currently proceeding as normal .
And look , Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rallies .
He ’ s been dying to get off the campaign trail .
The man can only speak for seven minutes .
No wonder he wants to suspend his rallies .
Varney tried to advise Kayleigh that being casual about a pandemic might not be a good look for the campaign .
But she pressed on with her talking points .
MCENANY : Joe Biden is looking for an excuse to get off the campaign trail .
The media ’ s best hope is for Donald Trump to suspend his rallies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , they know it ’ s his avenue to speak directly to the American people .
So we ’ re going to follow the president ’ s lead , we ’ re not going to cave to the media and Joe Biden , we ’ re certainly not going to follow his lead as he tries to hide from the people .
Kayleigh might want everyone in the White House to get tested .

When you're the Trump 2020 campaign press secretary and you lose STUART VARNEY...
Kayleigh "Mensa" McEnany went on Fox Business and bravely insisted that Donald Trump is virtually immune from coronavirus because of his "commander in chief" status. Or something.
Varney, yes, THAT Varney, was not convinced.
STUART VARNEY (HOST): Are you a little worried about holding those kind of rallies?” KAYLEIGH MCENANY: I’m not, because we have the added advantage here at the Trump campaign that our candidate happens to be the President of the United States, who is surrounded by the best and most talented health experts in the world. Dr. Fauci said, take it case by case and in a community where there’s an outbreak—” VARNEY: But Dr. Fauci just said there should be no large crowds. He said it. MCENANY: Look, we have the commander in chief, we have the best health experts, we are taking it day by day, we are currently proceeding as normal. And look, Joe Biden, he’s suspending his rallies. He’s been dying to get off the campaign trail. The man can only speak for seven minutes. No wonder he wants to suspend his rallies.
Varney tried to advise Kayleigh that being casual about a pandemic might not be a good look for the campaign. But she pressed on with her talking points.
MCENANY: Joe Biden is looking for an excuse to get off the campaign trail. The media’s best hope is for Donald Trump to suspend his rallies. They have been wanting him to stop this, they know it’s his avenue to speak directly to the American people. So we’re going to follow the president’s lead, we’re not going to cave to the media and Joe Biden, we’re certainly not going to follow his lead as he tries to hide from the people.
Kayleigh might want everyone in the White House to get tested.