crooksandliars--2020-03-24--Pumping Blood Into The Economy: Dan Patrick Invites Seniors To Make The Ultimate Sacrifice

Death panels are here , courtesy of those who cried the loudest about them .
And of course it 's not Democrats who are promoting them , but instead Republicans on Fox News .
Texas Lt .
Governor Dan Patrick said the words out loud , but many Republicans are arguing that it 's time to let the old folks die in order to get the economy moving again .
“ No one reached out to me and said as a senior citizen , are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and grandchildren , '' Patrick told Tucker Carlson .
`` And if that ’ s the exchange , I ’ m all in.
” Because you know , the America we `` all love '' is the one where older people are seen as excess baggage .
This is still a new thing , the idea of human sacrifice , but Rick Wilson is right : And of course it 's a death panel .
Remember when death panels were something bad ?
Not anymore .
That whole `` life is precious '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just lay down , ladies and gents and prepare to die .
The Wall Street bell doth toll for thee .
Here , even the `` Christians '' are in on it !
Raw Story : But not all those of faith feel this way .
In an angry article published in the right-wing Christian Journal First Things , editor R. R. Reno took a different position , suggesting that Christianity does not , in fact , command the faithful to take steps to save lives from COVID-19 .
“ At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York shutdown , Governor Andrew Cuomo said , ‘ I want to be able to say to the people of New York — I did everything we could do .
And if everything we do saves just one life , I ’ ll be happy , ' ” wrote Reno .
“ This statement reflects a disastrous sentimentalism .
Everything for the sake of physical life ?
What about justice , beauty , and honor ?
There are many things more precious than life .
“ Fear of death and causing death is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of survival at any price and unchecked by Christian leaders who in all likelihood secretly accept the materialist assumptions of our age , ” concluded Reno .
“ As long as we allow fear to reign , it will cause nearly all believers to fail to do as Christ commands in Matthew 25 .
It already is.
” Look for this to be what they say .
Step up to the death panel if you 're over age 60 or have some other weakness , because really you 're just too expensive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the moral or ethical failures of this because they 're not killing anyone .
Not really .
Just letting them sacrifice for the greater good .
So tell me .
Would you give your life for the NASDAQ ?
Or the Dow ?
Because that is what is being asked of you .

Death panels are here, courtesy of those who cried the loudest about them. And of course it's not Democrats who are promoting them, but instead Republicans on Fox News.
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said the words out loud, but many Republicans are arguing that it's time to let the old folks die in order to get the economy moving again.
“No one reached out to me and said as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren," Patrick told Tucker Carlson. "And if that’s the exchange, I’m all in.”
Because you know, the America we "all love" is the one where older people are seen as excess baggage.
This is still a new thing, the idea of human sacrifice, but Rick Wilson is right:
Watch how this becomes the mainstream view on the Trump right pic.twitter.com/mkY8Vscwv0 — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 23, 2020
And of course it's a death panel. Remember when death panels were something bad? Not anymore. That whole "life is precious" thing? That expires at age 60. Just lay down, ladies and gents and prepare to die. The Wall Street bell doth toll for thee.
Here, even the "Christians" are in on it! Raw Story:
But not all those of faith feel this way. In an angry article published in the right-wing Christian Journal First Things, editor R. R. Reno took a different position, suggesting that Christianity does not, in fact, command the faithful to take steps to save lives from COVID-19. “At the press conference on Friday announcing the New York shutdown, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, ‘I want to be able to say to the people of New York — I did everything we could do. And if everything we do saves just one life, I’ll be happy,'” wrote Reno. “This statement reflects a disastrous sentimentalism. Everything for the sake of physical life? What about justice, beauty, and honor? There are many things more precious than life. ... “Fear of death and causing death is pervasive — stoked by a materialistic view of survival at any price and unchecked by Christian leaders who in all likelihood secretly accept the materialist assumptions of our age,” concluded Reno. “As long as we allow fear to reign, it will cause nearly all believers to fail to do as Christ commands in Matthew 25. It already is.”
Look for this to be what they say. Step up to the death panel if you're over age 60 or have some other weakness, because really you're just too expensive to maintain. And Christians needn't worry about the moral or ethical failures of this because they're not killing anyone. Not really. Just letting them sacrifice for the greater good.
So tell me. Would you give your life for the NASDAQ? Or the Dow? Because that is what is being asked of you.


crooksandliars--2020-03-24--Jennifer Rubin: OANN's Chanel Rion Is A 'Propagandist' And A 'Kook'

There 's a growing chorus calling for networks to stop running live coverage and streaming of Trump 's horrifying COVID-19 `` task force '' press conferences .
The theory is that Trump is holding these daily disaster briefings because he can no longer hold rallies .
Helping to verify this , Joy Reid and Jennifer Rubin pointed to a couple of extremely questionable `` reporters '' being allowed into the briefing room , whose job it seemed to be to fluff and soothe the ego-in-chief : Sean Spicer and Chanel Rion .
You remember Rion , right ?
The one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered `` Chinese food '' racist `` because it 's food that originates in China ? ''
( pssst ... Chanel ... most American Chinese food *isn't* even food that originated in China , but whatever ... ) Then she went on to assert that `` major left-wing news media '' had `` teamed up with Chinese Communist Party narratives '' by calling out the language he uses surrounding COVID-19 as racist .
Jennifer Rubin had a great deal to say about Rion , none of it flattering , all of it accurate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised there was n't reaction in the room as this was going on to object .
That individual is not a reporter .
She 's a propagandist , she 's a kook , she 's , she 's a nut .
I think there 's several things going on .
First of all , Donald Trump , from the beginning , treated this like an immigration problem .
His first impulse is to block out the rest of the world , to blame others .
He does n't seem to understand the problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's already here .
The problem is , he did nothing , as Rick said .
So , I think his effort to either whip up prejudice or toss the blame somewhere else really is this pathetic need for reaffirmation , and to have an enemy that he can blame .
I will say one thing .
If they are going to broadcast these things , no reporter should ask Donald Trump a question .
He 's going to talk , but they should direct all questions to the experts .
He may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to those experts again and again .
I thought that was one of the most effective displays when Dr. Fauci did jump in of saying , hey , this guy does n't know what he 's talking about .
It 's dangerous .
Stop .
So , I think part of it is , if they 're going to do it , stop asking him questions .
And I do think we 're getting to the point where there are other ways in which we can communicate this information .
Governors are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources , newsprint and online can directly quote from Dr. Fauci , as they are doing .
We do n't need to inform the public by going to Donald Trump .
That 's counterproductive .
HEY !
That 's funny , because I swear , I had no idea she said that when I tweeted basically the exact same suggestion right before his presser later that afternoon ... Why are reporters even asking him anything anymore ?
Does anyone think they 're going to get anything truthful as an answer ?
Anything NOT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before ?
Anything remotely helpful or useful in this time where we need sober , knowledgable heads to prevail ?
Please , please , media , follow Jennifer Rubin 's advice .
Ask the experts .
Not the dotard .

There's a growing chorus calling for networks to stop running live coverage and streaming of Trump's horrifying COVID-19 "task force" press conferences. The theory is that Trump is holding these daily disaster briefings because he can no longer hold rallies. Helping to verify this, Joy Reid and Jennifer Rubin pointed to a couple of extremely questionable "reporters" being allowed into the briefing room, whose job it seemed to be to fluff and soothe the ego-in-chief:
Sean Spicer and Chanel Rion.
You remember Rion, right? The one who asked with faux outrage if Trump considered "Chinese food" racist "because it's food that originates in China?" (pssst...Chanel...most American Chinese food *isn't* even food that originated in China, but whatever...) Then she went on to assert that "major left-wing news media" had "teamed up with Chinese Communist Party narratives" by calling out the language he uses surrounding COVID-19 as racist.
Yeah, THAT Chanel Rion.
Jennifer Rubin had a great deal to say about Rion, none of it flattering, all of it accurate:
RUBIN: Yeah, I'm surprised there wasn't reaction in the room as this was going on to object. That individual is not a reporter. She's a propagandist, she's a kook, she's, she's a nut. I think there's several things going on. First of all, Donald Trump, from the beginning, treated this like an immigration problem. His first impulse is to block out the rest of the world, to blame others. He doesn't seem to understand the problem we have is community spread. It's already here. The problem is, he did nothing, as Rick said. So, I think his effort to either whip up prejudice or toss the blame somewhere else really is this pathetic need for reaffirmation, and to have an enemy that he can blame. I will say one thing. If they are going to broadcast these things, no reporter should ask Donald Trump a question. He's going to talk, but they should direct all questions to the experts. He may butt in, but they should come back to those experts again and again. I thought that was one of the most effective displays when Dr. Fauci did jump in of saying, hey, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. It's dangerous. Stop. So, I think part of it is, if they're going to do it, stop asking him questions. And I do think we're getting to the point where there are other ways in which we can communicate this information. Governors are reliable sources, the scientists are reliable sources, newsprint and online can directly quote from Dr. Fauci, as they are doing. We don't need to inform the public by going to Donald Trump. That's counterproductive.
HEY! That's funny, because I swear, I had no idea she said that when I tweeted basically the exact same suggestion right before his presser later that afternoon...
Dear #media ,
Stations, pls don't run it live. If he says anything true or newsworthy, run it later.
Reporters in the room, pls don't even ask him any questions. Just take down what he says and leave.
Sincerely,
A tired nation@Karoli @maddow @DavidCornDC @ElieNYC https://t.co/swrbzqGFeN — (((Bad at Ballet))) (@AlizaWrites) March 22, 2020
Why are reporters even asking him anything anymore? Does anyone think they're going to get anything truthful as an answer? Anything NOT racist? Anything they have not heard before? Anything remotely helpful or useful in this time where we need sober, knowledgable heads to prevail?
Please, please, media, follow Jennifer Rubin's advice. Ask the experts. Not the dotard.


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

d r i f t g l a s s - the Face Masque of the Red Death ; eclectablog @ @ @ @ @ deadly for black people ?
First Draft - does anybody really know what time it @ @ @ @ @ Misfit , I - Trump and Xi and the failure to act ; The BradBlog @ @ @ @ @ of food , milk destroyed by producers .
Steve in Manhattan ( @ blogenfreude ) @ @ @ @ @ listening to ( you can also read it ) Sarah Kendzior 's new book Hiding @ @ @ @ @ recommend a link , send it to mbru @ crooksandliars.com - we do check it @

d r i f t g l a s s - the Face Masque of the Red Death;
eclectablog - why is COVID-19 so deadly for black people?
First Draft - does anybody really know what time it is?
Just an Earthbound Misfit, I - Trump and Xi and the failure to act;
The BradBlog - millions of dollars worth of food, milk destroyed by producers.
Steve in Manhattan (@blogenfreude) blogs at stinque.com and is listening to (you can also read it) Sarah Kendzior's new book Hiding in Plain Sight.
To recommend a link, send it to mbru@crooksandliars.com - we do check it!


crooksandliars--2020-04-17--Who's Your Choice For 'The Trumpandemic Movie' Casting Call?

For those of us privileged enough to feel boredom , or stir-crazy enough to need diversion , this is for you .
My parents sent my sister and me an email with the critical directive/challenge to cast the movie that will inevitably be made one day when this whole COVID-19 nightmare is over .
They got us started with Al Pacino as Dr. Fauci and Meryl Streep as Dr. Birx , and threw in a few more suggestions , like John Travolta as Andrew Cuomo and Stephen Colbert as Steven Mnuchin .
They promised us that we should expect no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Trump .
At first I said that I would like Steve Carrell to play every single role , but they vetoed that , saying it was against union rules .
Apparently , for this exercise , we can cast actors in no more than three roles simultaneously , but at least we do not have to stick to actors who are still alive , though my choices are all apparently above ground .
My sister wanted a young David Hyde Pierce for Jared , and while I love the potential , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sis .
And while I realize Colbert does a kick-ass Mnuchin imitation , I like my choice better .
Sorry , mom and dad .
I think , also , we really , REALLY need Colbert to play Rachel Maddow .
First , let 's start with the doctors : I also like this next possibility , just based on the height , looks , and toughness .
Picture him with less hair and glasses .
Then , we have the Cuomos : Let 's have some journos , now : I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see Mike Memoli 's face and NOT think of Steve Carrell .
Now , for the evil Trump Brigade : But , as mentioned previously , there 's the very good possibility of this : My sister suggested this one : My dad suggested Tony Hale for Jared , but I thought he fit better here : I left Trump for you .
Alec Baldwin was too easy .
Some suggestions from my family were Peter Boyle and Jeffrey Tambor .
Who should it be ?
What about Melania ?
Who will play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gupta ?
Keep it going in the comments !
I KNOW I am missing other important people in this sh*tshow , and actors to play them .
Help a girl out who happens to be bouncing off the walls ...

For those of us privileged enough to feel boredom, or stir-crazy enough to need diversion, this is for you.
My parents sent my sister and me an email with the critical directive/challenge to cast the movie that will inevitably be made one day when this whole COVID-19 nightmare is over. They got us started with Al Pacino as Dr. Fauci and Meryl Streep as Dr. Birx, and threw in a few more suggestions, like John Travolta as Andrew Cuomo and Stephen Colbert as Steven Mnuchin. They promised us that we should expect no compensation, just like anyone who works with Trump.
At first I said that I would like Steve Carrell to play every single role, but they vetoed that, saying it was against union rules. Apparently, for this exercise, we can cast actors in no more than three roles simultaneously, but at least we do not have to stick to actors who are still alive, though my choices are all apparently above ground.
My sister wanted a young David Hyde Pierce for Jared, and while I love the potential, he is just too short. Sorry, sis. And while I realize Colbert does a kick-ass Mnuchin imitation, I like my choice better. Sorry, mom and dad. I think, also, we really, REALLY need Colbert to play Rachel Maddow.
First, let's start with the doctors:
Credit: Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Flickr/Youtube Screenshot
I also like this next possibility, just based on the height, looks, and toughness. Picture him with less hair and glasses.
Dr. Anthony Fauci/Mark Hamill Credit: Flickr/Wikipedia
Then, we have the Cuomos:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo/Robert DeNiro Credit: Wikipedia/Wikipedia
Chris Cuomo/John Travolta
Let's have some journos, now:
Yamiche Alcindor/Mo'Nique Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Wikimedia Commons
Jim Acosta/George Clooney
Mike Memoli/Steve Carell
I cannot help it. I can't see Mike Memoli's face and NOT think of Steve Carrell.
Now, for the evil Trump Brigade:
Steven Mnuchin/Steve Buscemi Credit: Wikipedia/Youtube Screenshot
But, as mentioned previously, there's the very good possibility of this:
Steven Mnuchin/Stephen Colbert Credit: Wikipedia/Wikipedia
Surg. Genl. Jerome Adams/Trevor Noah Credit: Flickr/Wikimedia Commons
My sister suggested this one:
Ivanka Trump/Brooklyn Decker Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Flickr
Jared Kushner/Jim Parsons Credit: Flickr/Flickr
Mike Pence/Steve Martin Credit: Flickr/Youtube Screenshot
Kellyanne Conway/Reese Witherspoon Credit: Flickr/Wikimedia Commons
Steve Bannon/Michael Douglas Credit: Wikimedia/Wikipedia
My dad suggested Tony Hale for Jared, but I thought he fit better here:
Stephen Miller/Tony Hale Credit: Wikimedia/Wikimedia
Betsy DeVos/Kristin Wiig Credit: Flickr/Flickr
I left Trump for you. Alec Baldwin was too easy. Some suggestions from my family were Peter Boyle and Jeffrey Tambor. Who should it be?
What about Melania? Who will play Nancy Pelosi? Alex Azar? Sanjay Gupta? Keep it going in the comments!
I KNOW I am missing other important people in this sh*tshow, and actors to play them. Help a girl out who happens to be bouncing off the walls...


crooksandliars--2020-04-10--Nancy Pelosi's New Anti-Trump Ad Should Bury Him In The Polls

Speaker Nancy Pelosi unleashed a devastating ad against Trump , laying waste to any delusion his supporters might have that he is handling this pandemic competently or with care .
It runs clips of him downplaying the danger posed by COVID-19 , despite clear warnings from people in his own administration as early as January .
TRUMP : Stay calm./We have it totally under control./We 're in great shape./One day it 's like a miracle , it will disappear./This is their new hoax .
It charts the rise of illness and death ravaging the nation , the toll being taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while superimposing him trumpeting his desire to eliminate the Affordable Care Act .
TRUMP : What we want to do is terminate it .
It shows our journalistic crown jewel , Rachel Maddow , making a dire prediction that has already come true : MADDOW : This is the kind of useless national response that 's going to result in the deaths of thousands and thousands .
Then it shows him uttering the words that should be the chyron of every network every time they air his repugnant presence live : TRUMP : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all .
It ends with the words , `` He fiddles while Americans die , '' and the haunting sound of a heart monitor 's flat-lining beep .
Nicolle Wallace showed that ad today , then followed it up with this : WALLACE : It 's tape like that , those clips of Donald Trump in his own words at official public events , that represent either Donald Trump telling deliberate lies or showcasing a gross misunderstanding of what a pandemic is , that have his allies people like Lindsey Graham very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times , Graham says , quote , `` I told him your opponent is no longer Joe Biden , it 's the virus . ''
And Lindsey Graham is not alone .
The Times adds , Mr. Trump 's re-election campaign , staff members have closely monitored internal polling data that shows an erosion of the gains Mr. Trump made immediately after he put social distancing guidelines in place .
Advisers are torn between knowing that a less abrasive approach would help Mr. Trump , and their awareness that he ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His allies are worried ?
Good .
Lindsey Graham is sh*tting his pants ?
Excellent .
I hope every single one of those enabling Republican sons-of-bitches have to wear diapers 24/7 because they are terrified of the next word that comes out of the monster they elevated to destroy this government and the people who live in this nation .
Advisors are torn ?
They their boss does n't like criticism ?
Boo-f*cking-hoo .
How many of them voted to have him removed from office when they had the chance ?

Speaker Nancy Pelosi unleashed a devastating ad against Trump, laying waste to any delusion his supporters might have that he is handling this pandemic competently or with care. It runs clips of him downplaying the danger posed by COVID-19, despite clear warnings from people in his own administration as early as January.
TRUMP: Stay calm./We have it totally under control./We're in great shape./One day it's like a miracle, it will disappear./This is their new hoax.
It charts the rise of illness and death ravaging the nation, the toll being taken on doctors, nurses, caregivers, while superimposing him trumpeting his desire to eliminate the Affordable Care Act.
TRUMP: What we want to do is terminate it.
It shows our journalistic crown jewel, Rachel Maddow, making a dire prediction that has already come true:
MADDOW: This is the kind of useless national response that's going to result in the deaths of thousands and thousands.
Then it shows him uttering the words that should be the chyron of every network every time they air his repugnant presence live:
TRUMP: No, I don't take responsibility at all.
It ends with the words, "He fiddles while Americans die," and the haunting sound of a heart monitor's flat-lining beep.
Nicolle Wallace showed that ad today, then followed it up with this:
WALLACE: It's tape like that, those clips of Donald Trump in his own words at official public events, that represent either Donald Trump telling deliberate lies or showcasing a gross misunderstanding of what a pandemic is, that have his allies people like Lindsey Graham very worried today. According to The New York Times, Graham says, quote, "I told him your opponent is no longer Joe Biden, it's the virus." And Lindsey Graham is not alone. The Times adds, Mr. Trump's re-election campaign, staff members have closely monitored internal polling data that shows an erosion of the gains Mr. Trump made immediately after he put social distancing guidelines in place. Advisers are torn between knowing that a less abrasive approach would help Mr. Trump, and their awareness that he can't tolerate criticism, regardless of the setting.
His allies are worried? Good. Lindsey Graham is sh*tting his pants? Excellent. I hope every single one of those enabling Republican sons-of-bitches have to wear diapers 24/7 because they are terrified of the next word that comes out of the monster they elevated to destroy this government and the people who live in this nation.
Advisors are torn? They their boss doesn't like criticism? Boo-f*cking-hoo. How many of them voted to have him removed from office when they had the chance?


crooksandliars--2020-04-10--BBC Reporter Delivers Knock-Out Opener On Pandemic's Unequal Impact

Credit where it is due .
The BBC put U.S. media to shame with an opening to Newsnight 's broadcast filled with fact , straight talk , and zero spin .
Emily Maitlis gave a master class in concise dressing down of dressing up the effects of COVID-19 's impact being `` the great equalizer '' among the rich and poor .
In the U.S. the media just now seems to be discovering ( SHOCKER ) that the darker your skin , the worse the impact of this pandemic .
Maitlis did n't speak to this , exactly , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The language around COVID-19 has sometimes felt trite and misleading .
You do not survive the illness through fortitude and strength of character , whatever the prime minister 's colleagues will tell us .
And the disease is not a great leveler , the consequences of which everyone , rich or poor , suffers the same .
This is a myth which needs debunking .
Those of whom I 'm thinking right now , bus drivers and shelf-stackers , nurses , care home workers , hospital staff , and shopkeepers are disproportionately the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are more likely to catch the disease because they are more exposed .
Those who live in tower blocks and small flats all found the lockdown tougher .
Those in manual jobs will be unable to work from home .
This is a health issue with huge ramifications for social welfare , and it 's a welfare issue with huge ramifications for public health .
Tonight as France goes into recession , and the World Trade Organization warns the pandemic could provoke the deepest economic downturn of our lifetimes , we ask what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be put into place to stop the inequality from becoming even more stark .
Not only was this no bullsh*t , this had some nice turns of phrase that will stick in the listener 's head .
It 's a health issue with social welfare ramifications .
It 's a welfare issue with public health ramifications .
What will the social settlement be once this is all over ?
Will it be one that keeps the inequality from becoming even more stark than it is now ?
THAT is how you open a @ @

Credit where it is due. The BBC put U.S. media to shame with an opening to Newsnight's broadcast filled with fact, straight talk, and zero spin. Emily Maitlis gave a master class in concise dressing down of dressing up the effects of COVID-19's impact being "the great equalizer" among the rich and poor. In the U.S. the media just now seems to be discovering (SHOCKER) that the darker your skin, the worse the impact of this pandemic. Maitlis didn't speak to this, exactly, but her version was good.
MAITLIS: The language around COVID-19 has sometimes felt trite and misleading. You do not survive the illness through fortitude and strength of character, whatever the prime minister's colleagues will tell us. And the disease is not a great leveler, the consequences of which everyone, rich or poor, suffers the same. This is a myth which needs debunking. Those of whom I'm thinking right now, bus drivers and shelf-stackers, nurses, care home workers, hospital staff, and shopkeepers are disproportionately the lower-paid members of our workforce. They are more likely to catch the disease because they are more exposed. Those who live in tower blocks and small flats all found the lockdown tougher. Those in manual jobs will be unable to work from home. This is a health issue with huge ramifications for social welfare, and it's a welfare issue with huge ramifications for public health. Tonight as France goes into recession, and the World Trade Organization warns the pandemic could provoke the deepest economic downturn of our lifetimes, we ask what kind of social settlement might need to be put into place to stop the inequality from becoming even more stark.
Not only was this no bullsh*t, this had some nice turns of phrase that will stick in the listener's head. It's a health issue with social welfare ramifications. It's a welfare issue with public health ramifications. What will the social settlement be once this is all over? Will it be one that keeps the inequality from becoming even more stark than it is now?
THAT is how you open a show.


crooksandliars--2020-04-10--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

Jerry Coyne : Why Trump really is the worst president ever .
Tikun Olam : Lift sanctions on Iran so @ @ @ @ @ of covid-19 .
Also , Iranian cartoons celebrate the heroes of the pandemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ does n't seem very positively impressed by Jared Kushner .
Strangely Blogged : It 's @ @ @ @ @ Trump in November .
The alternative is too horrifying to contemplate .
Bonus link : @ @ @ @ @ city under lockdown looks eerily almost deserted ( this is Johannesburg ) .
Blog round-up @ @ @ @ @ a post , send link to mbru [ at ] crooksandliars [ dot ] com @ @ @ @ @ !

Jerry Coyne: Why Trump really is the worst president ever.
Tikun Olam: Lift sanctions on Iran so it can fight the devastation of covid-19. Also, Iranian cartoons celebrate the heroes of the pandemic.
The Rude Pundit: This blogger doesn't seem very positively impressed by Jared Kushner.
Strangely Blogged: It's time to unify to defeat Trump in November. The alternative is too horrifying to contemplate.
Bonus link: From the air, a city under lockdown looks eerily almost deserted (this is Johannesburg).
Blog round-up by Infidel753. To recommend a post, send link to mbru [at] crooksandliars [dot] com -- I do check it!


crooksandliars--2020-04-10--‘Pro-Life’ O’Reilly Shrugs Off 13,000 American Pandemic Deaths: Many Were ‘On Their Last Legs Anyway

‘Pro-Life’ O’Reilly Shrugs Off 13,000 American Pandemic Deaths: Many Were ‘On Their Last Legs Anyway’

Bill O ’ Reilly , who obsessively attacked abortion-provider Dr. Tiller as “ the baby killer , '' said he did n't “ want to sound callous ” - as he dismissed 13,000 American deaths from coronavirus as no biggie .
In fact , O ’ Reilly suggested that 13,000 deaths was a bit of good news during his chat with Sean Hannity yesterday .
Media Matters caught the discussion on Hannity ’ s radio show .
It started with Hannity asking O ’ Reilly if he could “ fix ” things so that life can get “ back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ optimistic ” outlook : The projections that you just mentioned are down to 60,000 , I do n't think it will be that high .
13,000 dead now in the USA .
Many people who are dying , both here and around the world , were on their last legs anyway , and I do n't want to sound callous about that .
O'REILLY : But we 're making little steps .
Bernie Sanders , you know , he 's -- he 's gone , that 's really good for everybody .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- hold on , you 're going to get hammered for that .
O'REILLY : Well , I do n't care .
I mean , a simple man tells the truth .
Hannity jumped in to throw O ’ Reilly a lifeline , pardon the pun .
“ You mean people that have underlying conditions and compromised immune systems .
Any virus you ’ re saying would ’ ve… ” Hannity began .
O ’ Reilly interrupted , “ Not only that , they were damaged.
” He went on to claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 10 times higher than in the U.S. because they have socialized medicine and because “ many more people smoke.
” FACT CHECK : Dr. Maria von Kerkhove , of the World Health Organization has noted that more and more younger individuals are becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 .
Not all who have died had underlying conditions .
“ But what we are seeing in some countries is that there are individuals who are in their 30s , who are in their 40s , who are in their 50s who are in ICU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
O ’ Reilly ’ s comments would be despicable coming from anyone but they are especially so coming from him .
Rolling Stone has a good reminder of O ’ Reilly ’ s “ pro-life ” campaign against Dr. Tiller : According to Salon , between 2005 and April 2009 , O ’ Reilly talked about Tiller on 29 episodes of his show .
He repeatedly referred to him as “ Tiller the Baby Killer ” and hurled all sorts of other epithets in Tiller ’ s direction : He equated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; said he was “ operating a death mill ” ; claimed he was “ executing babies about to be born ” ; and equated his profession with the actions of Mao , Hitler and Stalin .
In perhaps the most direct attack on Tiller , O ’ Reilly came close to saying that he personally would be violent toward Tiller if he could get away with it : “ And if I could get my hands on Tiller – well , you know .
Can ’ t be vigilantes .
Can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a figure of speech .
But despicable ?
Oh , my God .
Oh , it doesn ’ t get worse .
Does it get worse ?
No.
” If only the 10,000 American coronavirus fatalities had remained fetuses !
You can listen to O ’ Reilly ’ s callousness below , from the April 8 , 2020 The Sean Hannity Show , via Media Matters .
Newshound Ellen also contributed to this post .

Bill O’Reilly, who obsessively attacked abortion-provider Dr. Tiller as “the baby killer," said he didn't “want to sound callous” - as he dismissed 13,000 American deaths from coronavirus as no biggie.
In fact, O’Reilly suggested that 13,000 deaths was a bit of good news during his chat with Sean Hannity yesterday. Media Matters caught the discussion on Hannity’s radio show. It started with Hannity asking O’Reilly if he could “fix” things so that life can get “back to normal.” O’Reilly offered this “optimistic” outlook:
The projections that you just mentioned are down to 60,000, I don't think it will be that high. 13,000 dead now in the USA. Many people who are dying, both here and around the world, were on their last legs anyway, and I don't want to sound callous about that. O'REILLY: But we're making little steps. Bernie Sanders, you know, he's -- he's gone, that's really good for everybody. HANNITY: You're gonna get -- hold on, you're going to get hammered for that. O'REILLY: Well, I don't care. I mean, a simple man tells the truth.
Hannity jumped in to throw O’Reilly a lifeline, pardon the pun. “You mean people that have underlying conditions and compromised immune systems. Any virus you’re saying would’ve…” Hannity began.
O’Reilly interrupted, “Not only that, they were damaged.” He went on to claim that the death rate in Italy and Spain is 10 times higher than in the U.S. because they have socialized medicine and because “many more people smoke.”
FACT CHECK: Dr. Maria von Kerkhove, of the World Health Organization has noted that more and more younger individuals are becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. Not all who have died had underlying conditions. “But what we are seeing in some countries is that there are individuals who are in their 30s, who are in their 40s, who are in their 50s who are in ICU and who have died,” she said.
O’Reilly’s comments would be despicable coming from anyone but they are especially so coming from him. Rolling Stone has a good reminder of O’Reilly’s “pro-life” campaign against Dr. Tiller:
According to Salon, between 2005 and April 2009, O’Reilly talked about Tiller on 29 episodes of his show. He repeatedly referred to him as “Tiller the Baby Killer” and hurled all sorts of other epithets in Tiller’s direction: He equated him with Nazis, al-Qaida and NAMBLA; said he was “operating a death mill”; claimed he was “executing babies about to be born”; and equated his profession with the actions of Mao, Hitler and Stalin. In perhaps the most direct attack on Tiller, O’Reilly came close to saying that he personally would be violent toward Tiller if he could get away with it: “And if I could get my hands on Tiller – well, you know. Can’t be vigilantes. Can’t do that. It’s just a figure of speech. But despicable? Oh, my God. Oh, it doesn’t get worse. Does it get worse? No.”
If only the 10,000 American coronavirus fatalities had remained fetuses!
You can listen to O’Reilly’s callousness below, from the April 8, 2020 The Sean Hannity Show, via Media Matters.
Newshound Ellen also contributed to this post.
Published with permission from News Hounds.


crooksandliars--2020-04-09--Actually, Franklin Graham Is Anti-Jesus

Actually, Franklin Graham Is Anti-Jesus

You may have noticed a contradiction among members of the president ’ s most loyal voting bloc , white evangelical Christians .
On the one hand , their leaders are not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously .
Pastors continue to hold Sunday services , many in the thousands , thus exposing their congregations , which include the sick and elderly , to a contagion that has killed 13,000 people in this country , 2,000 yesterday alone .
On the other hand , their leaders are taking the disease outbreak very seriously , seeing it as an outcome of mankind ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seek salvation through Jesus Christ .
Rev .
Franklin Graham spelled this out Saturday on Fox News : This is a result of a fallen world , a world that has turned its back on God .
So I would encourage people to pray and let ’ s ask God for help .
I don ’ t think that God planned for this … It ’ s because of the sin that ’ s in the world .
Man has turned his back against God .
We have sinned against Him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s forgiveness .
In plain English , here ’ s the contradiction : the viral rampage is serious enough to fall to your knees in penitence , but not serious enough to cease attending church , where you are most likely to contract it among throngs of worshipers .
If you don ’ t go to church Sunday , does that mean you ’ ve sinned against God ?
If you get sick , does that mean you ’ ve sinned against God ?
Are you damned if you do and damned if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is yes .
Now the popular thing for me to do at this point in the argument is to say damn the religion .
Being put between a rock and hard place is why all religions , and all genuine commitments to God , are the world ’ s bane .
This is not only popular in certain liberal-progressive-leftist quarters ; it ’ s expected .
A person of faith can ’ t be totally with it .
There are counterarguments aplenty , but here ’ s mine .
Being put between a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what an all-knowing and all-loving God would ever do .
No God I am bound to respect using the gifts of reason and empathy endowed to me would force my fellow human beings to choose between offending God and death by disease .
By extension , no God I am bound to respect would ever threaten people with an eternity of pain and suffering for one brief lifetime , however “ sinful ” it was .
Rev .
Graham says humanity turned against God .
More likely , his spiteful God turned against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I am making not only a claim on a situation Graham ’ s vindictive God put me in ( a low-stakes version of Sophie ’ s choice ) ; I am making a claim on the nature of God itself .
I am making a claim on a God I believe should exist given the powers of consciousness and compassion I was born with as a human being .
( I ’ m not really sure if I ’ m a theist or not ; just roll with it , please .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kind popularized by militant atheists like Richard Dawkins , Steven Pinker and Sam Harris .
They say they are making anti-religious arguments , but in choosing to dismiss believers rather than holding them to their respective standards of morality , their arguments are in fact deeply anti-moral .
This is important to note for reasons that might not be obvious .
By making anti-moral arguments against believers , militant atheists—and the liberal-progressive-leftist quarters that can ’ t quite take people of faith seriously—make room for Graham and other white evangelical leaders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact not .
You can ’ t be moral when you refuse to think through the ramifications of holding Sunday services in the middle of a global pandemic , thus endangering the sick and elderly as well as the young and healthy .
You can ’ t be moral when you rationalize bad decisions using your earned , or unearned , reputation among religious Americans .
More importantly , and this is my big point , you can ’ t claim to be a follower of Jesus .
Despite everything you think you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all an empiricist .
He could not have been anything less , because empiricism lies at the heart of the Golden Rule .
To do unto others what I would have done unto me , which is the center of Christ ’ s teachings , I must work toward an honest grasp of reality , a fact-based sense of truth and falsehood , an acceptance of human limits without despair , and a trust in the shared state of our fleeting existence .
We , all of us , are equal in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t new .
Indeed , this argument is ancient .
But it ’ s hard to see through the fog of militant ( and fashionable ) atheism claiming to know the truth and white evangelical Christians claiming to know the true God .
Posted with permission of The Editorial Board .
Subscribe here

You may have noticed a contradiction among members of the president’s most loyal voting bloc, white evangelical Christians. On the one hand, their leaders are not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously. Pastors continue to hold Sunday services, many in the thousands, thus exposing their congregations, which include the sick and elderly, to a contagion that has killed 13,000 people in this country, 2,000 yesterday alone.
On the other hand, their leaders are taking the disease outbreak very seriously, seeing it as an outcome of mankind’s sinful ways, and thus encouragement to seek salvation through Jesus Christ. Rev. Franklin Graham spelled this out Saturday on Fox News:
This is a result of a fallen world, a world that has turned its back on God. So I would encourage people to pray and let’s ask God for help. I don’t think that God planned for this … It’s because of the sin that’s in the world. Man has turned his back against God. We have sinned against Him. We need to ask for God’s forgiveness.
In plain English, here’s the contradiction: the viral rampage is serious enough to fall to your knees in penitence, but not serious enough to cease attending church, where you are most likely to contract it among throngs of worshipers. If you don’t go to church Sunday, does that mean you’ve sinned against God? If you get sick, does that mean you’ve sinned against God? Are you damned if you do and damned if you don’t?
The answer is yes.
Now the popular thing for me to do at this point in the argument is to say damn the religion. Being put between a rock and hard place is why all religions, and all genuine commitments to God, are the world’s bane. This is not only popular in certain liberal-progressive-leftist quarters; it’s expected. A person of faith can’t be totally with it.
There are counterarguments aplenty, but here’s mine. Being put between a rock and a hard place is not what an all-knowing and all-loving God would ever do. No God I am bound to respect using the gifts of reason and empathy endowed to me would force my fellow human beings to choose between offending God and death by disease. By extension, no God I am bound to respect would ever threaten people with an eternity of pain and suffering for one brief lifetime, however “sinful” it was. Rev. Graham says humanity turned against God. More likely, his spiteful God turned against humanity.
This counterargument is doubly moral. I am making not only a claim on a situation Graham’s vindictive God put me in (a low-stakes version of Sophie’s choice); I am making a claim on the nature of God itself. I am making a claim on a God I believe should exist given the powers of consciousness and compassion I was born with as a human being. (I’m not really sure if I’m a theist or not; just roll with it, please.)
My counterargument is therefore better than the kind popularized by militant atheists like Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker and Sam Harris. They say they are making anti-religious arguments, but in choosing to dismiss believers rather than holding them to their respective standards of morality, their arguments are in fact deeply anti-moral.
This is important to note for reasons that might not be obvious. By making anti-moral arguments against believers, militant atheists—and the liberal-progressive-leftist quarters that can’t quite take people of faith seriously—make room for Graham and other white evangelical leaders to appear deeply moral when they are in fact not.
You can’t be moral when you refuse to think through the ramifications of holding Sunday services in the middle of a global pandemic, thus endangering the sick and elderly as well as the young and healthy. You can’t be moral when you rationalize bad decisions using your earned, or unearned, reputation among religious Americans.
More importantly, and this is my big point, you can’t claim to be a follower of Jesus. Despite everything you think you know about him, Jesus was first of all an empiricist. He could not have been anything less, because empiricism lies at the heart of the Golden Rule. To do unto others what I would have done unto me, which is the center of Christ’s teachings, I must work toward an honest grasp of reality, a fact-based sense of truth and falsehood, an acceptance of human limits without despair, and a trust in the shared state of our fleeting existence. We, all of us, are equal in the eyes of God.
This isn’t new. Indeed, this argument is ancient.
But it’s hard to see through the fog of militant (and fashionable) atheism claiming to know the truth and white evangelical Christians claiming to know the true God.
Posted with permission of The Editorial Board. Subscribe here


crooksandliars--2020-04-09--Joe Biden Pledges To Lower Medicare Age To 60 And Forgive Student Debt

As part of his recovery plan for the post-pandemic challenges ahead , Vice President Biden has adopted some of his progressive competitors ' ideas .
In a Medium post published Thursday , Biden revealed his intention to develop detailed plans for lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 60 , arguing that those covered under employer plans could either continue with them or opt to receive Medicare benefits .
This would make Medicare available to a set of Americans who work hard and retire before they turn 65 , or who would prefer to leave their employer plans , the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the Affordable Care Act before they retire .
It reflects the reality that , even after the current crisis ends , older Americans are likely to find it difficult to secure jobs .
I think he should start with age 50 , and hopefully get it to 55 , but that 's just me .
At least it 's a start and one that is sorely needed .
The Great Recession showed me just how difficult it is for anyone over the age of 50 to get a decent job that includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know Medicare for All is the best way .
But I will take achievable goals right now and work for the long-term goal other ways .
We need a Senate that can get us there .
That means lots of Democrats and few Republicans , though the Republican party should be as obsolete as the Edsel in the post-Trump , post-pandemic era .
Biden also announced a student loan forgiveness program for low and middle income students at public universities .
This is in addition to the other proposals for debt forgiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today will align my student debt relief proposal with my forward-looking college tuition proposal .
Under this plan , I propose to forgive all undergraduate tuition-related federal student debt from two- and four-year public colleges and universities for debt-holders earning up to $ 125,000 , with appropriate phase-outs to avoid a cliff .
The federal government would pay the monthly payment in lieu of the borrower until the forgivable portion of the loan was paid off .
This benefit would also apply to individuals holding federal student loans for tuition from private HBCUs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in addition to my existing student debt proposals : • Immediately cancel a minimum of $ 10,000 of student debt per person , as proposed by Senator Warren in the midst of the coronavirus crisis .
• Those earning less than $ 25,000 per year will not have to make monthly payments and will accrue no interest • Those earning more than $ 25,000 per year will pay no more than 5 % of discretionary income toward payments • After 20 years , the remainder of federal student loans will be forgiven without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in public service will be eligible for additional federal loan forgiveness , including $ 10,000 per year of forgiveness for up to five years .
All excellent beginnings .
I would add that student debt should be cancelled for doctors and nurses who train for general practice and infectious disease specialties , given the risks they have to take every day .
We need far more of them .

As part of his recovery plan for the post-pandemic challenges ahead, Vice President Biden has adopted some of his progressive competitors' ideas.
In a Medium post published Thursday, Biden revealed his intention to develop detailed plans for lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 60, arguing that those covered under employer plans could either continue with them or opt to receive Medicare benefits.
This would make Medicare available to a set of Americans who work hard and retire before they turn 65, or who would prefer to leave their employer plans, the public option, or other plans they access through the Affordable Care Act before they retire. It reflects the reality that, even after the current crisis ends, older Americans are likely to find it difficult to secure jobs.
I think he should start with age 50, and hopefully get it to 55, but that's just me. At least it's a start and one that is sorely needed. The Great Recession showed me just how difficult it is for anyone over the age of 50 to get a decent job that includes health insurance.
Yes, yes. I know Medicare for All is the best way. But I will take achievable goals right now and work for the long-term goal other ways. We need a Senate that can get us there. That means lots of Democrats and few Republicans, though the Republican party should be as obsolete as the Edsel in the post-Trump, post-pandemic era.
Biden also announced a student loan forgiveness program for low and middle income students at public universities. This is in addition to the other proposals for debt forgiveness:
The concept I’m announcing today will align my student debt relief proposal with my forward-looking college tuition proposal. Under this plan, I propose to forgive all undergraduate tuition-related federal student debt from two- and four-year public colleges and universities for debt-holders earning up to $125,000, with appropriate phase-outs to avoid a cliff. The federal government would pay the monthly payment in lieu of the borrower until the forgivable portion of the loan was paid off. This benefit would also apply to individuals holding federal student loans for tuition from private HBCUs and MSIs. This proposal would be in addition to my existing student debt proposals: Immediately cancel a minimum of $10,000 of student debt per person, as proposed by Senator Warren in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
Those earning less than $25,000 per year will not have to make monthly payments and will accrue no interest
Those earning more than $25,000 per year will pay no more than 5% of discretionary income toward payments
After 20 years, the remainder of federal student loans will be forgiven without any tax burden
Those who participate in public service will be eligible for additional federal loan forgiveness, including $10,000 per year of forgiveness for up to five years.
All excellent beginnings. I would add that student debt should be cancelled for doctors and nurses who train for general practice and infectious disease specialties, given the risks they have to take every day. We need far more of them.


crooksandliars--2020-05-15--Wisconsin Supreme Kangaroo Court Rules In Favor Of Pandemic

The Wisconsin State Supreme Kangaroo Court has decided , in a 4-3 ruling that Wisconsin 's Safer at Home order was illegal and immediately abolished the order .
The decision is , of course , disappointing but not surprising , since many of the judges had obviously decided the ruling even before they heard the case .
Among the pro-pandemic judges was Rebecca Bradley , who compared the order to Japanese internment camps during WWII and Dan Kelly , the Scott Walker appointee , who is obviously still better in getting his ass handed to him in last month 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to support their decision made it obvious that this whole thing was nothing more than another power grab by the Republicans and their special interest masters : In the majority opinion , Roggensack determined Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm should have issued regulations through a process known as rulemaking , which gives lawmakers veto power over agency policies .
Without legislative review , “ an unelected official could create law applicable to all people during the course of COVID-19 and subject people to imprisonment when they disobeyed her order , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasoning is that state law clearly spells out that the governor 's administration 's authority to issue the order that it did .
Surprisingly , another one of Walker 's appointees actually had a rare moment of lucidity : Hagedorn , who worked as chief legal counsel for former GOP Gov .
Scott Walker , wrote in another dissent that the court should not be a referee between the warring parties controlling the other two branches of state government .
`` We are a court of law .
We are not here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not here to step in and referee every intractable political stalemate , '' Hagedorn wrote .
`` In striking down most of ( the order ) , this court has strayed from its charge and turned this case into something quite different than the case brought to us .
`` To make matters worse , it has failed to provide almost any guidance for what the relevant laws mean , and how our state is to govern through this crisis moving forward .
The legislature may have buyer 's remorse for the breadth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health Services ) .
But those are the laws it drafted ; we must read them faithfully whether we like them or not , '' he said .
But here 's the kicker - the Republicans had no plan of their own to deal with the pandemic .
They belatedly realized this and had asked the court to order a six-day stay so that they could cobble something together but they were denied .
Now they are begging Evers to give them a plan for them to approve .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic pandemonium .
With no statewide order in place , many counties and cities have quickly rigged up their own versions of stay at home .
But these are different from county to county and even from city to city .
Some places already had their orders in place so nothing changed .
Many others did not .
Thus one can expect that the state will become one giant COVID-19 hot spot as bars across the state opened up within an hour of the ruling .
Laughingly , Robin `` Full PPEs '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Republicans believe business owners can safely reopen using the guidelines provided by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation .
We urge our fellow small business owners to utilize the suggestions as a safe and effective way to open up our state .
“ Wisconsin now joins multiple states that do n't have extensive ‘ stay at home orders ’ but can continue to follow good practices of social distancing , hand washing , hand sanitizer usage and telecommuting .
This order does not promote people to act in a way that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not support this inanity : I have to wonder how many of these bars are having Corona specials , since that is what they are mostly serving up .
The really ironic part is that the Republicans , on behalf of their Big Business masters , think that they have won .
But it will be a Pyrrhic victory at best .
Sick and/or dying workers are n't very productive and sick and/or dying consumers do n't buy a lot of things .

The Wisconsin State Supreme Kangaroo Court has decided, in a 4-3 ruling that Wisconsin's Safer at Home order was illegal and immediately abolished the order. The decision is, of course, disappointing but not surprising, since many of the judges had obviously decided the ruling even before they heard the case.
Among the pro-pandemic judges was Rebecca Bradley, who compared the order to Japanese internment camps during WWII and Dan Kelly, the Scott Walker appointee, who is obviously still better in getting his ass handed to him in last month's election.
The rationale that the kangaroos used to support their decision made it obvious that this whole thing was nothing more than another power grab by the Republicans and their special interest masters:
In the majority opinion, Roggensack determined Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm should have issued regulations through a process known as rulemaking, which gives lawmakers veto power over agency policies. Without legislative review, “an unelected official could create law applicable to all people during the course of COVID-19 and subject people to imprisonment when they disobeyed her order,” the majority wrote.
The problem with their reasoning is that state law clearly spells out that the governor's administration's authority to issue the order that it did.
Surprisingly, another one of Walker's appointees actually had a rare moment of lucidity:
Hagedorn, who worked as chief legal counsel for former GOP Gov. Scott Walker, wrote in another dissent that the court should not be a referee between the warring parties controlling the other two branches of state government. "We are a court of law. We are not here to do freewheeling constitutional theory. We are not here to step in and referee every intractable political stalemate," Hagedorn wrote."In striking down most of (the order), this court has strayed from its charge and turned this case into something quite different than the case brought to us. "To make matters worse, it has failed to provide almost any guidance for what the relevant laws mean, and how our state is to govern through this crisis moving forward. The legislature may have buyer's remorse for the breadth of discretion it gave to (the Department of Health Services). But those are the laws it drafted; we must read them faithfully whether we like them or not," he said.
But here's the kicker - the Republicans had no plan of their own to deal with the pandemic. They belatedly realized this and had asked the court to order a six-day stay so that they could cobble something together but they were denied. Now they are begging Evers to give them a plan for them to approve.
Meanwhile, the state has been thrown into a pandemic pandemonium. With no statewide order in place, many counties and cities have quickly rigged up their own versions of stay at home. But these are different from county to county and even from city to city. Some places already had their orders in place so nothing changed. Many others did not.
Thus one can expect that the state will become one giant COVID-19 hot spot as bars across the state opened up within an hour of the ruling.
Laughingly, Robin "Full PPEs" Vos made this statement about the ruling:
“Republicans believe business owners can safely reopen using the guidelines provided
by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. We urge our fellow small
business owners to utilize the suggestions as a safe and effective way to open up our
state. “Wisconsin now joins multiple states that don't have extensive ‘stay at home orders’ but
can continue to follow good practices of social distancing, hand washing, hand sanitizer
usage and telecommuting. This order does not promote people to act in a way that they
believe endangers their health.
Reality did not support this inanity:
I have to wonder how many of these bars are having Corona specials, since that is what they are mostly serving up.
The really ironic part is that the Republicans, on behalf of their Big Business masters, think that they have won. But it will be a Pyrrhic victory at best. Sick and/or dying workers aren't very productive and sick and/or dying consumers don't buy a lot of things.
Cross posted from Cog Dis


crooksandliars--2020-04-07--Kudlow: Trump Wants To Re-Open Economy ASAP

`` Do n't forget , Brian , we had a roaring economy coming into 2020 , '' said Larry Kudlow @ @ @ @ @ going to forget everything except Trump 's failed Coronavirus response , Larry .
But Kudlow @ @ @ @ @ with Fox and Friends .
Kudlow said that the private sector is “ pretty smart @ @ @ @ @ Trump White House is n't going to use an `` entirely governmental '' response to @ @ @ @ @ 's working overtime to put lipstick on this pig .
LARRY KUDLOW : We are @ @ @ @ @ keep people going , to just get them through this period and so we can @ @ @ @ @ side and America can return to business and prosperity and the blue-collar boom .
As @ @ @ @ @ , the conservative playbook is being destroyed day-by-day .
All the Larry Kudlow appearances on @ @ @ @ @ change that .

"Don't forget, Brian, we had a roaring economy coming into 2020," said Larry Kudlow on Tuesday.
Voters are going to forget everything except Trump's failed Coronavirus response, Larry.
But Kudlow still tried to sugarcoat it with Fox and Friends.
Kudlow said that the private sector is “pretty smart," and that the Trump White House isn't going to use an "entirely governmental" response to the economic crisis.
Larry's working overtime to put lipstick on this pig.
@realDonaldTrump @larry_kudlow Hubris and greed blind you to the fact the virus is in control, not you. Until actions are taken to change that reality the nightmare is prolonged and people will continue to die. — Really (@Contrarrion) April 7, 2020
LARRY KUDLOW: We are doing what we can to keep people going, to just get them through this period and so we can come back on the other side and America can return to business and prosperity and the blue-collar boom.
As this British tweeter points out, the conservative playbook is being destroyed day-by-day. All the Larry Kudlow appearances on Fox and Friends won't change that.


crooksandliars--2020-04-07--Acting Secretary Of The Navy Resigns After Calling Ousted Aircraft Carrier Captain 'Stupid'

It only took 24 hrs for Thomas Modly to be out of a job in the Trump administration after his stupid comments were made public .
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned on Tuesday , a day after leaked audio revealed he called the ousted commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt `` stupid '' in an address to the ship 's crew .
Modly 's resignation comes a little more than a week after Capt .
Brett Crozier , the then-commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt , sent a memo warning of coronavirus spreading among the sailors on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Modly subsequently removed Crozier from command .
The former acting secretary flew to Guam to address the ship , insulting Crozier to thousands of sailors who had given their former captain a standing ovation as he left the ship days before .
The audio of that address was leaked to media outlets and the uproar over Modly 's remarks -- calling Crozier `` too naive or too stupid '' to be in command of the aircraft carrier and saying that going outside of the chain-of-command with his memo represented a `` betrayal '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his resignation letter , Modly did not mention the controversy but later apologized to the whole of the Navy for the incident in a memo .

It only took 24 hrs for Thomas Modly to be out of a job in the Trump administration after his stupid comments were made public.
Source: CNN
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned on Tuesday, a day after leaked audio revealed he called the ousted commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt "stupid" in an address to the ship's crew.
Modly's resignation comes a little more than a week after Capt. Brett Crozier, the then-commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, sent a memo warning of coronavirus spreading among the sailors on the aircraft carrier. The memo leaked and Modly subsequently removed Crozier from command. The former acting secretary flew to Guam to address the ship, insulting Crozier to thousands of sailors who had given their former captain a standing ovation as he left the ship days before.
The audio of that address was leaked to media outlets and the uproar over Modly's remarks -- calling Crozier "too naive or too stupid" to be in command of the aircraft carrier and saying that going outside of the chain-of-command with his memo represented a "betrayal" -- quickly made his position untenable.
In his resignation letter, Modly did not mention the controversy but later apologized to the whole of the Navy for the incident in a memo.


crooksandliars--2020-04-08--BREAKING: Bernie Sanders Suspends Presidential Campaign

Very grateful for all that Bernie Sanders has done , and will do , to move the Democratic Party to the left .
A partial transcript of Sanders 's remarks , which begin above at the 9:05 mark : BERNIE SANDERS : Good morning .
And thank you very much for joining me .
I want to express to each of you , my deep gratitude for helping to create an unprecedented grassroots political campaign , that has had a profound impact in changing our nation .
I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who knocked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the freezing winters of Iowa and New Hampshire , and in the heat of Nevada and South Carolina , and in states throughout the country .
I want to thank the 2 million Americans who have contributed financially to our campaign .
And paving the road that we can take on a campaign system , run a campaign without being dependent on the wealthy and powerful .
Thank you for your 10 million contributions averaging $ 18.58 a donation .
I want to thank those who phone banked for our campaign and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ texts .
I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of Americans that attended our rallies and town meetings and house parties from New York to California .
Some of these events held over 25,000 people , some had a few hundred , and some had a dozen , but all were important .
Let me thank those who made these many events possible .
I want to thank our surrogates .
Too many to name .
I ca n't imagine any candidate that 's ever been blessed with a stronger and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our message to every part of this country .
And I want to thank all of those who made the music and the art an integral part of our campaign .
I want to thank all of you who spoke to your friends and neighbors , posted on social media and worked as hard as you can to make this a better country .
Together we have transformed American consciousness as to what kind of nation we can become , and have taken this country a major step forward in the never-ending struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial justice and environmental justice .
I also want to thank the hundreds of people on our campaign staff .
You were willing to move from one state to the other and do all of the work that had to be done .
No job was too big or too small for you .
You rolled up your sleeves , and you did it .
You embodied the words at the core of our movement : `` not me , but us . ''
I thank you each and every one of you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandela , one of the greatest freedom fighters in modern world history , famously said , quote , `` it always seems impossible until it is done , '' end quote .
What he meant by that , is the greatest obstacle to real social change has everything to do with the power of the corporate and political establishment to limit our vision as to what is possible and what we are entitled to as human beings .
If we do n't believe we 're entitled to health care as a human right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care .
If we do n't believe we 're entitled to decent wages and working conditions , millions of us will continue to live in poverty .
If we do n't believe we 're entitled to all of the education we require to fulfill our dreams , is many of us will leave schools saddled with huge debt or never get the education we need .
If we do n't believe we 're entitled to live in a world that has a clean environment and is not ravaged by climate change , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floods , rising sea levels and increasingly uninhabitable planet .
If we do n't believe that we are entitled to live in a world of justice , democracy and fairness without racism , sexism , homophobia , xenophobia or religious bigotry , we will continue to have massive income wealth and equality , prejudice and hatred , mass incarceration , terrified immigrants and hundreds of thousands of Americans sleeping out on the streets in the richest country on earth .
And focusing on that new vision for America is what our campaign has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we have accomplished .
Few that have denied that over the course of the last five years , our movement has won the ideological struggle .
In so-called red states and blue states , purple states , a majority of the American people now understand that we must raise the minimum wage to at least $ 15 an hour .
That we must guarantee health care as a right to all of our people .
That we must transform our energy system away from fossil fuel , and higher education must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was not long ago people considered these ideas radical and fringe .
Today they are mainstream ideas and many of them are already being implemented in cities and states across the country .
That is what we have accomplished together .
In terms of health care , even before this horrific pandemic , we are now experiencing more or more Americans understood that we must move to a Medicare-for-all single-payer program .
During the time of elections exit polls show state after state , a strong majority of Democratic primary voters supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace private insurance .
That was true even in states where our campaign did not prevail .
And let me just say this , in terms of health care , this current , horrific crisis that we are now in has exposed for all to see how absurd our current employer-based health insurance system is .
The current economic downturn we are experiencing has not only led to a massive loss of jobs but has also resulted in millions of Americans losing their health insurance .
While Americans have been told over and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance system is , those claims sound very hollow , hollow today as a growing number of unemployed workers struggle with how they can afford to go the doctor or not go bankrupt with a huge hospital bill .
We have always believed health care must be considered as a human right , not an employee benefit .
And we are right .
Please also appreciate that not only are we winning the struggle ideologically , we are also winning it generationally .
The future of our country rests with young people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ won or whether we lost , the Democratic primaries or caucuses , we received a significant majority of the votes , sometimes overwhelming majority from people not only 30 years of age or under but 50 years of age or younger .
In other words , the future of this country is with our ideas .
As we are all painfully aware , we now face an unprecedented crisis .
Not only are with we dealing with a coronavirus pandemic , which is taking lives of thousands of our people , we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has resulted in the loss of millions of jobs .
Today families all across our country face financial hardship unimaginable only a few months ago .
And because of the unacceptable levels of income and wealth , inequality in our economy , many of our friends and neighbors have little or no savings and are desperately trying to pay their rent or mortgage or even put food on the table .
This reality makes clear that Congress must address this unprecedented crisis in an unprecedented way that protects the health and economic well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , not just powerful special interests .
As a member of the democratic leadership and the united states senate , and as a senator from the state of Vermont , this is something that I intend to intensely be involved in over the next number of months , and that will require an enormous amount of work .
Which takes me to the state of our presidential campaign .
I wish I could give you better news , but I think you know the truth .
And that is we are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the path toward victory is virtually impossible .
So while we are winning the ideological battle , and while we are winning the support of so many young people and working people throughout the country , I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful .
So today I 'm announcing the suspension of my campaign .
Please know that I do not make this decision lightly .
In fact , it has been a very difficult and painful decision .
Over the past few weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top staff and many of our prominent supporters , have made an honest assessment of the prospects for victory .
If I believe we had a feasible path to the nomination , I would certainly continue the campaign .
But it 's just not there .
I know there may be some in our movement who disagree with this decision .
Who would like us to fight on until the last valid task at the Democratic Convention .
I understand that position .
But as I see the crisis gripping the nation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide any kind of credible leadership and the work that needs to be done to protect people in this most desperate hour , I could not in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that could not win and which would interfere with the important work required by all of us in this difficult hour .
Let me say this very emphatically .
As you all know , we have never been just a campaign .
We are a grassroots , multi-racial , multi-generational movement which has always believed that real change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but always from the bottom on up .
We have taken on Wall Street , the insurance companies , the drug companies , the fossil fuel industry , the military-industrial complex , the prison industrial complex , and the greed of the entire corporate elite .
That struggle continues .
While this campaign is coming to an end , our movement is not .
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that , quote , `` the ark of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice , '' end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what our campaign has been about .
The fight for justice is what our movement remains about .
Today I congratulate Joe Biden , a very decent man who I will work with to move our progressive ideas forward .
On a practical note , let me also say this , I will stay on the ballot in all remaining states and continue to gather delegates .
While Vice President Biden will be the nominee , we must continue working to assemble as many delegates as possible at the Democratic Convention , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence over the party platform and other functions .
Then together , standing united , we will go forward to defeat Donald Trump , the most dangerous president in modern American history .
And we will fight to elect strong progressives at every level of government from Congress to the school board .
As I hope all of you know , this race has never been about me .
I ran for the presidency because I believe that as a president , I could accelerate and institutionalize the progressive changes that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep organizing and fighting , I have no doubt that that is exactly what will happen .
While the path may be slower now , we will change this nation and with like-minded friends around the globe , change the entire world .
On a very personal note , speaking for Jane , myself and our entire family , we will always carry in our hearts the memory of the extraordinary people we have met across this country .
We often hear about the beauty of America , and this country is incredibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will remember most is the faces of the people we have met from one corner of the station to the other , the compassion and love and decency I have seen and it makes me so hopeful for our future .
It also makes me more determined than ever to work to create a nation that reflects those values and lifts up all of our people .
Please stay in this fight with me .
Let us go forward together , as our goal continues .
Thank you all very much .

Very grateful for all that Bernie Sanders has done, and will do, to move the Democratic Party to the left.
A partial transcript of Sanders's remarks, which begin above at the 9:05 mark:
BERNIE SANDERS: Good morning. And thank you very much for joining me.
I want to express to each of you, my deep gratitude for helping to create an unprecedented grassroots political campaign, that has had a profound impact in changing our nation. I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who knocked on doors, millions of them, in the freezing winters of Iowa and New Hampshire, and in the heat of Nevada and South Carolina, and in states throughout the country. I want to thank the 2 million Americans who have contributed financially to our campaign. And paving the road that we can take on a campaign system, run a campaign without being dependent on the wealthy and powerful. Thank you for your 10 million contributions averaging $18.58 a donation. I want to thank those who phone banked for our campaign and those of you who sent out millions of texts. I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of Americans that attended our rallies and town meetings and house parties from New York to California. Some of these events held over 25,000 people, some had a few hundred, and some had a dozen, but all were important. Let me thank those who made these many events possible.
I want to thank our surrogates. Too many to name. I can't imagine any candidate that's ever been blessed with a stronger and more dedicated group of people who have taken our message to every part of this country. And I want to thank all of those who made the music and the art an integral part of our campaign. I want to thank all of you who spoke to your friends and neighbors, posted on social media and worked as hard as you can to make this a better country. Together we have transformed American consciousness as to what kind of nation we can become, and have taken this country a major step forward in the never-ending struggle for economic justice, social justice, racial justice and environmental justice.
I also want to thank the hundreds of people on our campaign staff. You were willing to move from one state to the other and do all of the work that had to be done. No job was too big or too small for you. You rolled up your sleeves, and you did it. You embodied the words at the core of our movement: "not me, but us." I thank you each and every one of you.
And as you recall, Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest freedom fighters in modern world history, famously said, quote, "it always seems impossible until it is done," end quote. What he meant by that, is the greatest obstacle to real social change has everything to do with the power of the corporate and political establishment to limit our vision as to what is possible and what we are entitled to as human beings. If we don't believe we're entitled to health care as a human right, we will never achieve universal health care. If we don't believe we're entitled to decent wages and working conditions, millions of us will continue to live in poverty. If we don't believe we're entitled to all of the education we require to fulfill our dreams, is many of us will leave schools saddled with huge debt or never get the education we need. If we don't believe we're entitled to live in a world that has a clean environment and is not ravaged by climate change, we will continue to see more drought, floods, rising sea levels and increasingly uninhabitable planet. If we don't believe that we are entitled to live in a world of justice, democracy and fairness without racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia or religious bigotry, we will continue to have massive income wealth and equality, prejudice and hatred, mass incarceration, terrified immigrants and hundreds of thousands of Americans sleeping out on the streets in the richest country on earth.
And focusing on that new vision for America is what our campaign has been about and what, in fact, we have accomplished. Few that have denied that over the course of the last five years, our movement has won the ideological struggle. In so-called red states and blue states, purple states, a majority of the American people now understand that we must raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. That we must guarantee health care as a right to all of our people. That we must transform our energy system away from fossil fuel, and higher education must be available to all regardless of income. It was not long ago people considered these ideas radical and fringe. Today they are mainstream ideas and many of them are already being implemented in cities and states across the country. That is what we have accomplished together.
In terms of health care, even before this horrific pandemic, we are now experiencing more or more Americans understood that we must move to a Medicare-for-all single-payer program. During the time of elections exit polls show state after state, a strong majority of Democratic primary voters supported a single government health insurance program to replace private insurance. That was true even in states where our campaign did not prevail.
And let me just say this, in terms of health care, this current, horrific crisis that we are now in has exposed for all to see how absurd our current employer-based health insurance system is.
The current economic downturn we are experiencing has not only led to a massive loss of jobs but has also resulted in millions of Americans losing their health insurance. While Americans have been told over and over again how wonderful our employer-based private insurance system is, those claims sound very hollow, hollow today as a growing number of unemployed workers struggle with how they can afford to go the doctor or not go bankrupt with a huge hospital bill. We have always believed health care must be considered as a human right, not an employee benefit. And we are right.
Please also appreciate that not only are we winning the struggle ideologically, we are also winning it generationally. The future of our country rests with young people. In state after state, whether we won or whether we lost, the Democratic primaries or caucuses, we received a significant majority of the votes, sometimes overwhelming majority from people not only 30 years of age or under but 50 years of age or younger.
In other words, the future of this country is with our ideas.
As we are all painfully aware, we now face an unprecedented crisis. Not only are with we dealing with a coronavirus pandemic, which is taking lives of thousands of our people, we're also dealing with an economic meltdown that has resulted in the loss of millions of jobs. Today families all across our country face financial hardship unimaginable only a few months ago. And because of the unacceptable levels of income and wealth, inequality in our economy, many of our friends and neighbors have little or no savings and are desperately trying to pay their rent or mortgage or even put food on the table. This reality makes clear that Congress must address this unprecedented crisis in an unprecedented way that protects the health and economic well being of the working families of our country, not just powerful special interests. As a member of the democratic leadership and the united states senate, and as a senator from the state of Vermont, this is something that I intend to intensely be involved in over the next number of months, and that will require an enormous amount of work.
Which takes me to the state of our presidential campaign.
I wish I could give you better news, but I think you know the truth. And that is we are now some 300 delegates behind Vice President Biden and the path toward victory is virtually impossible. So while we are winning the ideological battle, and while we are winning the support of so many young people and working people throughout the country, I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful.
So today I'm announcing the suspension of my campaign.
Please know that I do not make this decision lightly. In fact, it has been a very difficult and painful decision. Over the past few weeks, Jane and I, in consultation with top staff and many of our prominent supporters, have made an honest assessment of the prospects for victory. If I believe we had a feasible path to the nomination, I would certainly continue the campaign. But it's just not there. I know there may be some in our movement who disagree with this decision. Who would like us to fight on until the last valid task at the Democratic Convention. I understand that position. But as I see the crisis gripping the nation, exacerbated by a president unwilling or unable to provide any kind of credible leadership and the work that needs to be done to protect people in this most desperate hour, I could not in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that could not win and which would interfere with the important work required by all of us in this difficult hour. Let me say this very emphatically. As you all know, we have never been just a campaign. We are a grassroots, multi-racial, multi-generational movement which has always believed that real change never comes from the top on down, but always from the bottom on up. We have taken on Wall Street, the insurance companies, the drug companies, the fossil fuel industry, the military-industrial complex, the prison industrial complex, and the greed of the entire corporate elite. That struggle continues. While this campaign is coming to an end, our movement is not. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that, quote, "the ark of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice," end quote. The fight for justice is what our campaign has been about. The fight for justice is what our movement remains about.
Today I congratulate Joe Biden, a very decent man who I will work with to move our progressive ideas forward. On a practical note, let me also say this, I will stay on the ballot in all remaining states and continue to gather delegates. While Vice President Biden will be the nominee, we must continue working to assemble as many delegates as possible at the Democratic Convention, where we will be able to exert significant influence over the party platform and other functions. Then together, standing united, we will go forward to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history.
And we will fight to elect strong progressives at every level of government from Congress to the school board. As I hope all of you know, this race has never been about me. I ran for the presidency because I believe that as a president, I could accelerate and institutionalize the progressive changes that we are all building together. And if we keep organizing and fighting, I have no doubt that that is exactly what will happen. While the path may be slower now, we will change this nation and with like-minded friends around the globe, change the entire world. On a very personal note, speaking for Jane, myself and our entire family, we will always carry in our hearts the memory of the extraordinary people we have met across this country.
We often hear about the beauty of America, and this country is incredibly beautiful. But to me the beauty I will remember most is the faces of the people we have met from one corner of the station to the other, the compassion and love and decency I have seen and it makes me so hopeful for our future. It also makes me more determined than ever to work to create a nation that reflects those values and lifts up all of our people. Please stay in this fight with me. Let us go forward together, as our goal continues. Thank you all very much.