crooksandliars--2020-02-04--Trump Compiling Another 'Enemies List' As Revenge For Impeachment

President Donald Trump is reportedly compiling a Nixonian `` enemies list '' that includes former national security adviser John Bolton and top House Democrats as he seeks to retaliate for the congressional impeachment process , which is expected to come to a close as early as Wednesday with a Senate vote to acquit .
Vanity Fair 's Gabriel Sherman reported Monday that `` Republicans briefed on Trump 's thinking believe that the president is out for revenge against his adversaries . ''
`` This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit .
They know this is terrifying and destructive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more afraid of what Trump might do to them . ''
—Susan Hennessey '' It 's payback time , '' an anonymous Republican lawmaker told Vanity Fair .
`` He has an enemies list that is growing by the day . ''
According to Sherman , names mentioned in his conversations with Republicans familiar with the president 's plans included House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) , House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler ( D-N.Y. ) , Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) , and Bolton , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the list . ''
`` Trump wants Bolton to be criminally investigated , '' Sherman reported .
`` A person familiar with Trump ’ s thinking said Trump believes Bolton might have mishandled classified information .
According to a former official , the White House is planning to leak White House emails from Bolton that purportedly allege Bolton abused his position at the National Security Council . ''
Walter Shaub , former director of the Office of Government Ethics , tweeted Monday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch the post-checks and balances era , and already the would-be authoritarian is escalating his abuses of power . ''
`` This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit , '' said CNN legal analyst Susan Hennessey .
`` They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country , but they 're more afraid of what Trump might do to them . ''
The expected Senate vote to acquit Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress will come after Republican senators last week largely unified to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the impeachment trial .
As Common Dreams reported Monday , protests are set to take place across the country Wednesday condemning the Senate GOP 's `` cover-up '' and making clear that a trial without witnesses is no trial at all .
`` We the people do not accept this disgraceful attempt to cover up Donald Trump 's abuse of the powers of the presidency and we will make our voices heard in protests Wednesday and on Election Day , '' said Karen Hobert Flynn , president of Common Cause , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide demonstrations .

President Donald Trump is reportedly compiling a Nixonian "enemies list" that includes former national security adviser John Bolton and top House Democrats as he seeks to retaliate for the congressional impeachment process, which is expected to come to a close as early as Wednesday with a Senate vote to acquit.
Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman reported Monday that "Republicans briefed on Trump's thinking believe that the president is out for revenge against his adversaries."
"This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit. They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country, but they're more afraid of what Trump might do to them."
—Susan Hennessey
"It's payback time," an anonymous Republican lawmaker told Vanity Fair. "He has an enemies list that is growing by the day."
According to Sherman, names mentioned in his conversations with Republicans familiar with the president's plans included House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Bolton, who Sherman noted is "at the top of the list."
"Trump wants Bolton to be criminally investigated," Sherman reported. "A person familiar with Trump’s thinking said Trump believes Bolton might have mishandled classified information. According to a former official, the White House is planning to leak White House emails from Bolton that purportedly allege Bolton abused his position at the National Security Council."
Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, tweeted Monday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) "hasn't even held the final vote to launch the post-checks and balances era, and already the would-be authoritarian is escalating his abuses of power."
McConnell hasn't even held the final vote to launch the post checks and balances era, and already the would-be authoritarian is escalating his abuses of power. https://t.co/XLnR5tb2xu — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 4, 2020
"This is what Senate Republicans are voting to permit," said CNN legal analyst Susan Hennessey. "They know this is terrifying and destructive of the country, but they're more afraid of what Trump might do to them."
The expected Senate vote to acquit Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress will come after Republican senators last week largely unified to block witnesses, including Bolton, from testifying in the impeachment trial.
As Common Dreams reported Monday, protests are set to take place across the country Wednesday condemning the Senate GOP's "cover-up" and making clear that a trial without witnesses is no trial at all.
"We the people do not accept this disgraceful attempt to cover up Donald Trump's abuse of the powers of the presidency and we will make our voices heard in protests Wednesday and on Election Day," said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause, one of the progressive groups that organized the nationwide demonstrations.
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-02-04--Susan Collins Gets $1.5mil In Help From Shadowy Hawaiian 'Company'

The Campaign Legal Center ( CLC ) which filed the FEC complaint over this called this practice likely illegal , with the sole intent of disguising where these funds in benefit of Susan Collins actually came from , now to the tune of $ 1.5mil dollars .
Notably , just $ 500 of that has come from any Maine residents .
The FEC is largely a toothless organization now , without even a quorum of commissioners to rule on this complaint .
Dark money is virtually free to roam around at this point , which is just as Republicans like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have illegally funneled a six-figure contribution to a political group boosting an embattled Republican Senator 5,000 miles away , an ethics watchdog alleged on Monday .
The company , Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers LLC , was formed in late November , according to corporate records in Hawaii .
Just over a month later , on December 31 , the company donated $ 150,000 to 1820 PAC , a deep-pocketed super PAC with ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that was created to help reelect Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the company .
It does not appear to have a website or any social media presence .
Its listed address is a P.O .
box in Honolulu ( listed as a “ unit ” number in 1820 ’ s FEC filings ) .
Google searches turn up no information on the company .
And there ’ s no record of prior political involvement by its sole officer , Jennifer Lam .
And who is behind this organization ?
We 're not sure , but there are ties to the U.S. Chamber of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guise of a pro-business organization to benefit Republicans and conservative causes .
In 2008 it was found that just 45 people were behind and donators to that organization .
1820 PAC is one of the most prominent super PACs in the fight over control of the U.S. Senate , which could very much rest on Collins ’ ability to hold her seat in the 2020 elections .
As The Daily Beast has reported , 1820 PAC has notable ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , the nation ’ s largest business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics .
1820 PAC has raised more than $ 1.5 million for its pro-Collins campaign .
Its top donors include prominent financial services executives Stephen Schwarzman and Warren Stephens .
The group has reported just $ 500 in contributions from donors in Maine .

The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) which filed the FEC complaint over this called this practice likely illegal, with the sole intent of disguising where these funds in benefit of Susan Collins actually came from, now to the tune of $1.5mil dollars. Notably, just $500 of that has come from any Maine residents.
The FEC is largely a toothless organization now, without even a quorum of commissioners to rule on this complaint. Dark money is virtually free to roam around at this point, which is just as Republicans like it.
Source: The Daily Beast
A mysterious Hawaii company may have illegally funneled a six-figure contribution to a political group boosting an embattled Republican Senator 5,000 miles away, an ethics watchdog alleged on Monday. The company, Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers LLC, was formed in late November, according to corporate records in Hawaii. Just over a month later, on December 31, the company donated $150,000 to 1820 PAC, a deep-pocketed super PAC with ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that was created to help reelect Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). There is scant public information about the company. It does not appear to have a website or any social media presence. Its listed address is a P.O. box in Honolulu (listed as a “unit” number in 1820’s FEC filings). Google searches turn up no information on the company. And there’s no record of prior political involvement by its sole officer, Jennifer Lam.
And who is behind this organization? We're not sure, but there are ties to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a quasi-Republican outfit which uses the guise of a pro-business organization to benefit Republicans and conservative causes. In 2008 it was found that just 45 people were behind and donators to that organization.


crooksandliars--2020-02-04--Triumph The Insult Comic Dog Visits The Senate During Impeachment

Thank the news gods Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is back , this time via The Late Show with Stephen @ @ @ @ @ special attention for Sen. Lindsey Graham : holding up a sign that read `` USA @ @ @ @ @ one side , and “ Will lie for rubles ” on the other .
His @ @ @ @ @ Why do you look like every guy that saw the movie ‘ Cats ’ alone @ @ @ @ @ on Ted Cruz 's office door to suggest the Texas Senator run for president again @ @ @ @ @ a real shot in 2024 !
The latest polls show you 're only 3 % @ @ @ @ @ '' Be sure to stick around for Triumph 's John Bolton costume .
No expense @ @ @

Thank the news gods Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is back, this time via The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
He held out special attention for Sen. Lindsey Graham: holding up a sign that read "USA! USA!" on one side, and “Will lie for rubles” on the other.
His question for Lindsey? “Why do you look like every guy that saw the movie ‘Cats’ alone?”
And he knocked on Ted Cruz's office door to suggest the Texas Senator run for president again: "You've got a real shot in 2024! The latest polls show you're only 3% behind the Wuhan Virus!"
Be sure to stick around for Triumph's John Bolton costume. No expense was spared.


crooksandliars--2020-02-04--Fox Pollster Disses Trumps: Stop Saying Iowa Was 'Rigged'

Yes , Iowa was a clusterf*** and changes will be made .
But the Trump crime syndicate tweeted last night that `` something-something Democrat Party rigged . ''
Pollster Chris Anderson of Anderson Robbins Research is apparently paid to report actual results and he was not having it .
CHRIS ANDERSON : One thing that we can say with a whole lot of confidence is this was not rigged .
Because if something is `` rigged , '' it benefits the people that rigged it .
And this is the absolute worst outcome .
SANDRA SMITH : That would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brad Parscale sent out a tweet , `` Quality Control = rigged ? ''
ANDERSON : Yeah , that is slightly more ridiculous than the outcome of the caucuses last night , which is a travesty .
It was n't rigged .
There 's just no way around that .
This is a total diminishment of the Iowa Caucuses .
Even if they do put their results out -- presumably they will sometime , the impact is greatly diminished .
The candidates could n't make victory speeches .
The field is n't winnowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iowa .

Yes, Iowa was a clusterf*** and changes will be made. But the Trump crime syndicate tweeted last night that "something-something Democrat Party rigged."
Without evidence, top Trump campaign officials — including sons @EricTrump & @DonaldJTrumpJr — are sowing distrust in the democratic process, suggesting the Democratic Iowa caucuses are “rigged.” pic.twitter.com/AlpFJTZYxw — Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) February 4, 2020
Pollster Chris Anderson of Anderson Robbins Research is apparently paid to report actual results and he was not having it.


crooksandliars--2020-02-04--Scarborough: 'If You Want To Rig A Process, Make Sure There's No Paper Involved'

A frustrated Joe Scarborough went off on a mini-rant this morning about Iowa using an app to tabulate results .
First he complained about out-of-order bathrooms in the Minneapolis airport , and compared it to the chaos of Iowa caucus results .
`` It is not about Des Moines bathrooms , it is about paper ballots .
Does last night not show again -- people with their crappy little apps , '' he sneered .
`` Remember Mitt Romney 's crappy little app ? '
I got the best app in the world , you know Mitt was a tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes in .
But Rev , we got ta have paper ballots everywhere .
You want to rig a process , make sure there is no paper involved . ''
`` No question about it , what people need to realize that the people in Iowa were disenfranchised , '' Rev .
Al Sharpton pronounced .
`` We talk about voter rights , they robbed people .
`` They came out and said weeks , some of them .
Whatever the results come out , it will almost not matter .
It will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the people of Iowa ?
I also think it will be the last Iowa caucus .
Now all of a sudden everybody will say move it out of Iowa . ''
The only part I agree with is that we need paper ballots .
But the rest ?
First of all , the Iowa caucuses are thoroughly documented -- on paper .
The delay is that they are re-tallying the results from the original paper .
There will be no `` cloud '' over the results .
The app was for tabulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the information on paper to prove the results .
No more conspiracy theories , please .
We would n't even have had this caucus if Bernie 's people on the DNC committee had n't insisted on it .
Everyone knows the caucuses are deeply undemocratic , because so many people ca n't take hours out of the day for the process .
The next time , Iowa will almost certainly have a real primary , like most other states .

A frustrated Joe Scarborough went off on a mini-rant this morning about Iowa using an app to tabulate results. First he complained about out-of-order bathrooms in the Minneapolis airport, and compared it to the chaos of Iowa caucus results.
"It is not about Des Moines bathrooms, it is about paper ballots. Does last night not show again -- people with their crappy little apps," he sneered.
"Remember Mitt Romney's crappy little app? 'I got the best app in the world, you know Mitt was a tech guy.' And it crashed two minutes in. But Rev, we gotta have paper ballots everywhere. You want to rig a process, make sure there is no paper involved."
"No question about it, what people need to realize that the people in Iowa were disenfranchised," Rev. Al Sharpton pronounced. "We talk about voter rights, they robbed people.
"They came out and said weeks, some of them. Whatever the results come out, it will almost not matter. It will be under a cloud now. What about the people of Iowa? I also think it will be the last Iowa caucus. Now all of a sudden everybody will say move it out of Iowa."
The only part I agree with is that we need paper ballots. But the rest?
First of all, the Iowa caucuses are thoroughly documented -- on paper. The delay is that they are re-tallying the results from the original paper.
There will be no "cloud" over the results. The app was for tabulation of the final results only. They have the information on paper to prove the results.
No more conspiracy theories, please. We wouldn't even have had this caucus if Bernie's people on the DNC committee hadn't insisted on it.
Everyone knows the caucuses are deeply undemocratic, because so many people can't take hours out of the day for the process. The next time, Iowa will almost certainly have a real primary, like most other states.


crooksandliars--2020-02-04--Harry Enten Warns That Iowa's Voter Turnout Doesn't Look Good For Dems

Harry Enten on CNN 's New Day dug into the numbers we do know from Iowa .
`` Tell us who showed up , '' John Berman asked .
Enten said there was a real question going in about whether those under the age of 45 who support Bernie Sanders in large numbers `` would make up a larger portion of the electorate than they did in 2016 . ''
`` What did the entrance poll show ?
There was that jump in that under the age of the under 45 vote and that 's very , very important for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's something we continue seeing .
However , if you also look at the ideological breakdown , liberals versus moderates to conservatives , that looks the same exact as it did in 2016 , '' Enten said .
`` That 's a bad sign for Bernie Sanders .
so when you take those two things into account , right , that there were more younger people but there were just as many liberals that came out to caucus last night , that 's good news for Bernie Sanders and bad news for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news , though , for Joe Biden , who really needed those older voters who make up a larger portion of the electorate . ''
`` So in terms of news for the Democratic party writ large , the turnout was not particularly high , '' Berman noted .
`` No , it was n't particularly high .
If you go back to four years ago , what the Iowa Democratic party has said , it 's about the same exact turnout .
It 's not as strong as in 2008 .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the Democratic party wanting to beat Donald Trump and this is n't the only data point that shows that .
If we look at the special elections that we 've seen so far in 2019 and 2020 , and compare it to the 2016 baseline , what we see is that Democrats are overperforming at a lower level than between 2017 and 2018 .
So when you take those two data points and put them together , maybe there 's a little bit of an enthusiasm problem for Democrats going forward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is probably due to the fact that we have n't yet coalesced around a candidate .
I do n't anticipate a problem in the general election .

Harry Enten on CNN's New Day dug into the numbers we do know from Iowa.
"Tell us who showed up," John Berman asked.
Enten said there was a real question going in about whether those under the age of 45 who support Bernie Sanders in large numbers "would make up a larger portion of the electorate than they did in 2016."
"What did the entrance poll show? There was that jump in that under the age of the under 45 vote and that's very, very important for Bernie Sanders, especially going forward if that's something we continue seeing. However, if you also look at the ideological breakdown, liberals versus moderates to conservatives, that looks the same exact as it did in 2016," Enten said.
"That's a bad sign for Bernie Sanders. so when you take those two things into account, right, that there were more younger people but there were just as many liberals that came out to caucus last night, that's good news for Bernie Sanders and bad news for Bernie Sanders. It's particularly bad news, though, for Joe Biden, who really needed those older voters who make up a larger portion of the electorate."
"So in terms of news for the Democratic party writ large, the turnout was not particularly high," Berman noted.
"No, it wasn't particularly high. If you go back to four years ago, what the Iowa Democratic party has said, it's about the same exact turnout. It's not as strong as in 2008. There's supposed to be all this excitement around the Democratic party wanting to beat Donald Trump and this isn't the only data point that shows that. If we look at the special elections that we've seen so far in 2019 and 2020, and compare it to the 2016 baseline, what we see is that Democrats are overperforming at a lower level than between 2017 and 2018. So when you take those two data points and put them together, maybe there's a little bit of an enthusiasm problem for Democrats going forward," Enten said.
The enthusiasm problem is probably due to the fact that we haven't yet coalesced around a candidate. I don't anticipate a problem in the general election.


crooksandliars--2020-02-04--Iowa Caucuses Were A Disaster, Primary Results Still Not Released

.
@ WillieGeist : `` I 'm going to start with the positive news : we 're going to find out later today who won Iowa .
Everything else is bad news .
This is an unmitigated disaster not just for the state of Iowa , but for this entire process . ''
pic.twitter.com/rET7HNQ8CW Good morning !
In a move meant to promote transparency , the DNC had requested that the Iowa Democratic party provide raw data in the voting results ( still not sure exactly how that raw data collection could be verified , since so many people leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- presumably to prevent 2016-type conspiracy theories .
The app that was supposed to tally the results seems to have gone kerblooey .
( That 's the technical term ! )
Already , the conspiracy lovers are pointing out that Shadow Inc. , the company that developed the app , is ( you guessed it ) RELATED TO THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN .
Also the Buttigieg campaign ( Buttigieg invested in the company ) , and the Nevada caucuses .
It 's all a plot , a conspiracy !
( Or you could note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small one , comprised of experienced hands from past campaigns . )
Fox News is pushing this , trying to fan the flames : I 'm not the only one sharing this screen shot , but it seems important for this to get around to as many people as possible .
This is the `` About '' page for Shadow Inc , which was contracted to make the app for # IowaCaucuses .
No staff named .
This outfit is inexcusably secretive .
pic.twitter.com/kUZorA9Pi5 So , as candidates do , pretty much everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who `` won '' the GOP caucuses ) , following Amy Klobuchar 's example : We will know the results sometime later today .

Good morning! In a move meant to promote transparency, the DNC had requested that the Iowa Democratic party provide raw data in the voting results (still not sure exactly how that raw data collection could be verified, since so many people leave the caucus after the first round) -- presumably to prevent 2016-type conspiracy theories.
Hah! Good luck with THAT.
The app that was supposed to tally the results seems to have gone kerblooey. (That's the technical term!) Already, the conspiracy lovers are pointing out that Shadow Inc., the company that developed the app, is (you guessed it) RELATED TO THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN. Also the Buttigieg campaign (Buttigieg invested in the company), and the Nevada caucuses. It's all a plot, a conspiracy! (Or you could note that the Democratic tech world is a small one, comprised of experienced hands from past campaigns.)
Fox News is pushing this, trying to fan the flames:
Homeland Security's @CISAgov offered to test the Iowa Caucus app. They declined. See @DHS_Wolf interview https://t.co/GoQeEMZbuJ — Heather Swift, DHS spokesperson (@SpoxDHS) February 4, 2020
I just want to let the NYTimes Op-Ed political team know, for the record, that the DNC doesn't actually have anything to do w/ the results in Iowa. That's all on the state party. pic.twitter.com/lAZ9Cbwzz9 — Mangy Jay (@magi_jay) February 4, 2020
We don't know yet who won the Iowa caucuses. But here's what we do know. https://t.co/ZmaJZZoCb5 — Statesman Journal (@Salem_Statesman) February 4, 2020
For reporters looking ahead to the Nevada Caucus, the @nvdems refused to tell the media who built their app.
FEC reports would seem to suggest it was built by...wait for it....SHADOW INC pic.twitter.com/OOxYEnaU73 — Jeremy Hughes (@jeremybhughes) February 4, 2020
I'm not the only one sharing this screen shot, but it seems important for this to get around to as many people as possible.
This is the "About" page for Shadow Inc, which was contracted to make the app for #IowaCaucuses. No staff named. This outfit is inexcusably secretive. pic.twitter.com/kUZorA9Pi5 — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) February 4, 2020
ICYMI: #TeamJoe’s very own @SymoneDSanders breaks down what happened during last night’s Iowa caucuses.
This was just the beginning. Now, on to New Hampshire! pic.twitter.com/UhKh5Ujm7L — Team Joe (Text JOE to 30330) (@TeamJoe) February 4, 2020
The #IowaCaucuses are a difficult thing to do. Numbers are coming out slowly, there are issues, plus Iowa is 90% white. It's not representative of the party. All of that is going to make it really problematic to have caucuses moving forward.
-@NBCNewsNow @chucktodd #IowaCaucus pic.twitter.com/eXhAnrAYLx — Karine Jean-Pierre (@K_JeanPierre) February 4, 2020
"While the app was recording data accurately, it was reporting out only partial data. We have determined that this was due to a coding issue in the reporting system. This issue was identified and fixed," says Price in statement. #IowaCaucuses — Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 4, 2020
So, as candidates do, pretty much everyone kinda-sorta declared victory (even Donald Trump, who "won" the GOP caucuses), following Amy Klobuchar's example:
WATCH LIVE: Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks to supporters amid delay of Iowa results. https://t.co/1UhradjrOp — ABC News (@ABC) February 4, 2020
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden addressed his supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, during a delay in the results of the caucus. Live updates from #IowaCaucuses https://t.co/DiWoAZ2LPf pic.twitter.com/Brl6lirW7k — Reuters (@Reuters) February 4, 2020
“@PeteButtigieg coming as close to a victory speech as you can, without actually knowing if you have won. Nobody knows at this point, because no results have thus far been released. A highly unusual situation..” pic.twitter.com/JRzPrnVSgf — comfortably_numb (@c0mf0rtablenumb) February 4, 2020
"Today marks the beginning of the end for Donald Trump."
Bernie Sanders tells caucus participants he has a "good feeling" despite the delay of results in Iowa. #cnnelection https://t.co/GmhFqLGy2L pic.twitter.com/BGFk36YXaw — CNN (@CNN) February 4, 2020
Since CNN cut away from Elizabeth Warren in Iowa last night to show Rick Santorum wax not so poetic, you can watch the entire @ewarren #IowaCaucus speech here: https://t.co/zzQ0CaSzv0 — Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) February 4, 2020
We will know the results sometime later today.


crooksandliars--2020-02-04--Rush Limbaugh Has Advanced Lung Cancer Now. But Then, He Asked For 'A Medal For Smoking'

Rush Limbaugh , who announced this week that he has advanced lung cancer , has a history of praising the practice of smoking .
Speaking to a caller in 2015 , Limbaugh said that Americans should thank smokers .
“ Earlier you were saying about smoking , that people ought to be thankful that there are smokers , because the money gotten from smoking helps to fund all these child programs and everything ?
” a caller told Limbaugh .
“ But that ’ s like saying I ’ m glad that there ’ s bumper accidents because then auto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improves the economy.
” “ Well , now , wait .
Hold it , hold it just a second , ” Limbaugh grumbled .
“ I ’ m sure the hospital industry would agree with you that they support knives , there wouldn ’ t be scalpels without knives.
” “ Yeah , but how long does it take ?
” Limbaugh scoffed .
“ There ’ s no even major sickness component associated with secondhand smoke .
It may irritate you , and you may not like it , but it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not kill you.
” “ Firsthand smoke takes 50 years to kill people , if it does , ” he continued .
“ Not everybody that smokes gets cancer .
Now , it ’ s true that everybody who smokes dies , but so does everyone who eats carrots.
” Limbaugh ranted as the caller listened : “ I ’ m telling you , there ought to be some measure of appreciation for people who buy tobacco products , despite the forces arrayed against them , It ’ s getting harder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want to call marijuana tobacco , and you can do that anywhere , for the most part .
But the fact of the matter is they have to endure a lot , the public hates them , they ’ re despised , they can ’ t smoke in places of comfort anymore , can ’ t even smoke outside in a park !
And yet their actions and their taxes and their purchases are funding children ’ s health care programs .
I ’ m just saying there ought to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of having them hated and reviled .
I would like a medal for smoking cigars , is what I ’ m saying.
” Just years later , Limbaugh would reveal his lung cancer live on his radio show .
“ This day has been one of the most difficult days in recent memory , for me , because I ’ ve known this moment was coming , ” Limbaugh said on Monday .
“ I can ’ t help but feel that I ’ m letting everybody down .
The upshot is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer .
”

Rush Limbaugh, who announced this week that he has advanced lung cancer, has a history of praising the practice of smoking.
Speaking to a caller in 2015, Limbaugh said that Americans should thank smokers.
“Earlier you were saying about smoking, that people ought to be thankful that there are smokers, because the money gotten from smoking helps to fund all these child programs and everything?” a caller told Limbaugh. “But that’s like saying I’m glad that there’s bumper accidents because then auto mechanics would still have jobs and it improves the economy.”
“Well, now, wait. Hold it, hold it just a second,” Limbaugh grumbled. “I’m sure the hospital industry would agree with you that they support knives, there wouldn’t be scalpels without knives.”
“Smokers aren’t killing anybody,” the conservative host added.
“Except themselves,” the caller noted.
“Yeah, but how long does it take?” Limbaugh scoffed. “There’s no even major sickness component associated with secondhand smoke. It may irritate you, and you may not like it, but it will not make you sick, and it will not kill you.”
“Firsthand smoke takes 50 years to kill people, if it does,” he continued. “Not everybody that smokes gets cancer. Now, it’s true that everybody who smokes dies, but so does everyone who eats carrots.”
Limbaugh ranted as the caller listened: “I’m telling you, there ought to be some measure of appreciation for people who buy tobacco products, despite the forces arrayed against them, It’s getting harder and harder to use tobacco products, unless you want to call marijuana tobacco, and you can do that anywhere, for the most part. But the fact of the matter is they have to endure a lot, the public hates them, they’re despised, they can’t smoke in places of comfort anymore, can’t even smoke outside in a park! And yet their actions and their taxes and their purchases are funding children’s health care programs. I’m just saying there ought to be a little appreciation shown for them, instead of having them hated and reviled. I would like a medal for smoking cigars, is what I’m saying.”
Just years later, Limbaugh would reveal his lung cancer live on his radio show.
“This day has been one of the most difficult days in recent memory, for me, because I’ve known this moment was coming,” Limbaugh said on Monday. “I can’t help but feel that I’m letting everybody down. The upshot is that I have been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.”


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Gov. Cuomo: 'Panicked' New Yorkers Planned To Leave City After Trump's Reckless Quarantine Threat

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D-NY ) revealed on Sunday that `` panicked '' New Yorkers told him that they @ @ @ @ @ state after President Donald Trump threatened to `` quarantine '' surrounding areas .
Cuomo made @ @ @ @ @ Trump said that he was considering a quarantine before backing off the threat .
`` @ @ @ @ @ in a way that does n't create more fear , '' Cuomo explained .
`` @ @ @ @ @ and you 're fighting the fear .
I ca n't tell you how many people @ @ @ @ @ the mandatory quarantine comment that the president made as he was getting into a helicopter @ @ @ @ @ so on edge , I mean it really panicked people , '' he continued .
@ @ @ @ @ leave the city last night .
Really .
You need to manage that fear and @ @ @ @ @ also need to deal with the virus . ''

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) revealed on Sunday that "panicked" New Yorkers told him that they are planning to leave the state after President Donald Trump threatened to "quarantine" surrounding areas.
Cuomo made the remarks a day after Trump said that he was considering a quarantine before backing off the threat.
"You want to do it in a way that doesn't create more fear," Cuomo explained. "You're fighting the virus and you're fighting the fear. I can't tell you how many people called all night long about the mandatory quarantine comment that the president made as he was getting into a helicopter."
"People are so on edge, I mean it really panicked people," he continued. "They were going to leave the city last night. Really. You need to manage that fear and the panic. And you also need to deal with the virus."


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Trump:  New York Is Fine, Won't Need Extra Ventilators

You would THINK Fox News knows these phone calls with Trump do .
not .
help .
them .
or .
him .
He loves doing them and thinks he does a great job so never mind .
And one highlight ( ? )
was when he told the clearly wishing-for-sweet-death-to-take-them-now Fox and Friends hosts that New York has enough ventilators .
TRUMP : I think New York should be fine based on the numbers that we see , they should have more than enough .
I 'm hearing stories that they ’ re not used or not used them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 4,000 that have been sent and aren ’ t used .
We ’ ve done a job .
Now , we ’ re still getting more ventilators .
After this is over they ’ ll be selling ventilators for a dollar a piece , we ’ ll have a lot of them .
If , unlike the Fox and Friends hosts ( please kill me now say the dead eyes of Ainsley Earhardt ) you are n't getting PAID to listen to Donald J. Trump ramble for ... here are some highlights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Editor Heather : By end of June , death brought down to very low number .
We 're very close , pushing untested drugs again , we 're going to know within days .
Tested more than anybody in the world , our test is better .
In one day they said a virus is coming and in one day we shut it down .
I 've gotten a lot of accolades , I do n't want the accolades .
If Sleepy Joe was president , he would n't even know what 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China blaming us , how long are we going to let them get away with it ?
Washington Post will do everything they can to hurt this presidency , but my poll numbers are at all-time high .
Cuomo approval in 80 's ... would have been a better candidate than Sleepy Joe , but his numbers are high because of federal government .
Polls say I 'm going to win , I 've gotten good marks even from every Democrat governor .
Dems want windmills , Green New Deal , no more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't fly anymore .
When you read about it in a week and people do n't get their money , it 's the Dems ' fault .
Republicans are going to take back the House .
The wall coming soon at the end of the year .
It 's going to be great blessing when it 's up .
They do n't fight me on it anymore .
Attacks Comey and McCabe .
[ No really .
We 're at forty-two minutes of this now .
-eds ] Russia was our partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They lost 50 million people .
No one talks about that .
We do n't talk to Russia , we talk to Germany .
The new drugs you 're testing , I 'm getting FDA approval .
The results with these drugs have been unbelievable .

You would THINK Fox News knows these phone calls with Trump do. not. help. them. or. him.
He loves doing them and thinks he does a great job so never mind.
And one highlight (?) was when he told the clearly wishing-for-sweet-death-to-take-them-now Fox and Friends hosts that New York has enough ventilators.
TRUMP: I think New York should be fine based on the numbers that we see, they should have more than enough. I'm hearing stories that they’re not used or not used them right. We find anywhere from 2 to 4,000 that have been sent and aren’t used. We’ve done a job. Now, we’re still getting more ventilators. After this is over they’ll be selling ventilators for a dollar a piece, we’ll have a lot of them.
If, unlike the Fox and Friends hosts (please kill me now say the dead eyes of Ainsley Earhardt) you aren't getting PAID to listen to Donald J. Trump ramble for
FIFTY
FOUR
MINUTES,
...here are some highlights provided by C&L's Associate Editor Heather:


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Trump Spreads Lies, Attacks Healthcare Workers In Unhinged Pandemic Press Briefing

Donald Trump 's daily pandemic campaign rallies have been the sources of countless lies and bizarre asides , but this Sunday 's effort , moved to the Rose Garden in belated effort to more closely adhere to social distancing guidelines , was unhinged .
In stream of consciousness ramblings , Trump publicly suggested the continued shortage of masks in the nation 's hospitals might be because healthcare workers are making off with them `` out the back door '' ; accused , without evidence , hospitals of `` hoarding '' ventilators ; repeated the lie that the U.S. military was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; etc .
He is lying about all of it , straight-up .
The man remains unfit , incompetent , and a direct danger to the public .
`` How do you go from 10 to 20 to 30,000 , to 300,000 -- even though this is different .
Something is going on .
And you ought to look into it as reporters .
Where are the masks going ? ''
-- Trump suggests that there is some sort of New York nurse conspiracy to steal masks pic.twitter.com/6vubm89vgQ In actual news , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to advise social distancing through at least April 30 , as recommended by top federal experts .
after repeated earlier musings of re-opening businesses `` by Easter .
”

Donald Trump's daily pandemic campaign rallies have been the sources of countless lies and bizarre asides, but this Sunday's effort, moved to the Rose Garden in belated effort to more closely adhere to social distancing guidelines, was unhinged.
In stream of consciousness ramblings, Trump publicly suggested the continued shortage of masks in the nation's hospitals might be because healthcare workers are making off with them "out the back door"; accused, without evidence, hospitals of "hoarding" ventilators; repeated the lie that the U.S. military was out of ammunition, before he arrived; etc. He is lying about all of it, straight-up.
The man remains unfit, incompetent, and a direct danger to the public.
"How do you go from 10 to 20 to 30,000, to 300,000 -- even though this is different. Something is going on. And you ought to look into it as reporters. Where are the masks going?" -- Trump suggests that there is some sort of New York nurse conspiracy to steal masks pic.twitter.com/6vubm89vgQ — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 29, 2020
In an effort to shift blame to Obama, Trump claims the federal shortage of medical gear he inherited is like his made up story about how the military was out of ammunition before he took office pic.twitter.com/lGMK8kbPaE — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 29, 2020
In actual news, Trump also announced that the federal government would continue to advise social distancing through at least April 30, as recommended by top federal experts. after repeated earlier musings of re-opening businesses "by Easter.”
Trump, reframing the crisis, says he's now seen a study that shows 2.2 million people could've died if they did nothing, so "if we can hold that down to 100,000...maybe even less," it'd show they did a "good job." — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) March 29, 2020
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Trump: Increased Voting Means Republicans Lose

During yet another rambling phone-in segment with Fox and Friends ... And seriously , this is all Donald Trump WANTED @ @ @ @ @ Election .
A way to market the Trump name on the political scene and a @ @ @ @ @ paid segment on Fox and Friends .
Damn the Electoral College to Hell .
And @ @ @ @ @ part out loud about voting rights .
He complained to the Fox and Friends hosts @ @ @ @ @ `` I wish I was dead '' ) about the Democrats and their push in @ @ @ @ @ and extended voting times : `` The things they had in there were crazy .
@ @ @ @ @ , that if you ever agreed to it you 'd never have a Republican elected @ @ @ @ @ '' You 'd never have a Republican elected in this country again ?
Of course @ @ @ @ @ first person to admit that voter suppression helps Republicans .
Remember Mike Turzai ?

During yet another rambling phone-in segment with Fox and Friends...
And seriously, this is all Donald Trump WANTED out of the 2016 Presidential Election. A way to market the Trump name on the political scene and a permanent (yet flexible) paid segment on Fox and Friends. Damn the Electoral College to Hell.
And Stable Genius said the quiet part out loud about voting rights. He complained to the Fox and Friends hosts, (whose faces said "I wish I was dead") about the Democrats and their push in the stimulus bill for vote-by-mail and extended voting times: "The things they had in there were crazy. They had levels of voting, that if you ever agreed to it you'd never have a Republican elected in this country again."
Wait, what?
You'd never have a Republican elected in this country again?
PROMISE?
Of course, Trump isn't the first person to admit that voter suppression helps Republicans. Remember Mike Turzai?
Twitter noticed Trump's admission:
Another quote that should be used in every Dem campaign ad. In fact every Dem campaign ad should just be 45* saying what he says every day. — Jim "Socially Distant" Gobetz 🌊 (@aiki14) March 30, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Stephen King Slams Trump And DeSantis For 'Indecisive, Wishy-Washy' Leadership

Horror master Stephen King was a guest on Reliable Sources with Brian Stetler yesterday .
`` In the last three or four weeks , people are saying to me , 'We 're living in a Stephen King world . '
And all I can say is boy , I wish we were n't .
But there 's been -- this has been waiting in the wings for a long , long time .
I wrote The Stand about a pandemic that wipes out most of the human race .
Thank God this one is n't that bad .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since then , there 's been -- this has just been waiting to happen .
And the fact that nobody really seemed prepared still mystifies me , '' King said .
Stelter asked King what he thought of Trump 's leadership in the pandemic .
King said it was `` almost impossible '' to comprehend .
`` I mean , I remember back in the 70s when Republicans kind of laughed at Jimmy Carter as being indecisive and wishy-washy , and the President that we have now -- and again , Ron DeSantis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These are supposed to be 'go to it ' guys , these are supposed to be the take-charge guy .
It 's the guy that you want in charge when something really goes wrong , because they do n't waffle .
They do n't 'wishy-washy . '
`` So , you had Trump at first saying , well , this really is n't very serious .
Do n't worry , everything 's going to be OK. Then when the stock market starts to dive , when the reality of the thing hits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , take it easy , really , this thing is going to be like a miracle .
`` Everything 's going to be OK by Easter and we 'll have the churches open and everything will be back .
And then a couple of days later he talks about a quarantine .
Andrew Cuomo did n't know about it .
Nobody really seemed to know about it .
It just came out of his head , '' King said .
`` And he 's not even talking about Easter anymore , '' Stelter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roads all the time down here .
They 're walking together .
They 're talking together .
And I have to say that there 's been a horrible example set from the top on down .
The thing that sticks in my mind is the fact that all these people got together in the Oval Office when President Trump signed the bailout bill .
Basically , we 'll call it a bailout , '' King said .
`` So here they all are side by side and to me , the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppose everyone in that picture had a cigarette , you know , because you 'd be talking about the same kind of damage , same kind of possibility of damage to people , and it 's a terrible example , horrible example .
`` But it 's a way of saying , and the same thing is true with the sadness down here in Florida , there is a sense , here 's an undertext to this thing , Brian , where people are saying at the top , 'Really , do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if they continue with that attitude , people are going to take it from the pictures they see . ''

Horror master Stephen King was a guest on Reliable Sources with Brian Stetler yesterday.
"In the last three or four weeks, people are saying to me, 'We're living in a Stephen King world.' And all I can say is boy, I wish we weren't. But there's been -- this has been waiting in the wings for a long, long time. I wrote The Stand about a pandemic that wipes out most of the human race. Thank God this one isn't that bad. But I wrote that in 1979, and ever since then, there's been -- this has just been waiting to happen. And the fact that nobody really seemed prepared still mystifies me," King said.
Stelter asked King what he thought of Trump's leadership in the pandemic.
King said it was "almost impossible" to comprehend.
"I mean, I remember back in the 70s when Republicans kind of laughed at Jimmy Carter as being indecisive and wishy-washy, and the President that we have now -- and again, Ron DeSantis here in Florida, the same way. These are supposed to be 'go to it' guys, these are supposed to be the take-charge guy. It's the guy that you want in charge when something really goes wrong, because they don't waffle. They don't 'wishy-washy.'
"So, you had Trump at first saying, well, this really isn't very serious. Don't worry, everything's going to be OK. Then when the stock market starts to dive, when the reality of the thing hits home, he's talking about well, take it easy, really, this thing is going to be like a miracle.
"Everything's going to be OK by Easter and we'll have the churches open and everything will be back. And then a couple of days later he talks about a quarantine. Andrew Cuomo didn't know about it. Nobody really seemed to know about it. It just came out of his head," King said.
"And he's not even talking about Easter anymore," Stelter said.
"I see people on the roads all the time down here. They're walking together. They're talking together. And I have to say that there's been a horrible example set from the top on down. The thing that sticks in my mind is the fact that all these people got together in the Oval Office when President Trump signed the bailout bill. Basically, we'll call it a bailout," King said.
"So here they all are side by side and to me, the only anything I could think of was, suppose everyone in that picture had a cigarette, you know, because you'd be talking about the same kind of damage, same kind of possibility of damage to people, and it's a terrible example, horrible example.
"But it's a way of saying, and the same thing is true with the sadness down here in Florida, there is a sense, here's an undertext to this thing, Brian, where people are saying at the top, 'Really, don't worry about this too much.' And if they continue with that attitude, people are going to take it from the pictures they see."


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Tom Cotton Revives Conspiracy Theory About Chinese Bioengineering Virus

Hello , darkness , it 's our old friend Tom Cotton , for whom there is no conspiracy theory dumb enough or no science solid enough for him to deny over and over and over again .
Appearing on Fox News Sunday , Cotton referred to the Chinese as the `` Chinese Communist Party '' more than once as he worked very hard to promote the idea that China created the virus in a lab without actually saying the words out loud .
Because if he said the words out loud he would remove any doubt as to what a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Communist Party is still lying , '' Cotton told Maria Bartiromo , referring to their claim that they 've contained the virus .
`` Back in January i knew this virus had the potential to become a worldwide pandemic for two reasons : Not because I 'm a scientist or epidemiologist but because I could see one , how the Chinese Communist Party was lying and two , the dramatic extreme measures they were taking like locking in 75 million people into their homes and apartment buildings .
Those two things simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only true thing he said there was that he 's not a scientist .
He 's actually not too bright at all , or he would understand that the locking-down was EXACTLY what was needed to contain the virus , and that 's precisely what did n't happen here because His Hero Trump was too full of happy talk about 15 cases , blah , blah .
He went on to accuse the Chinese government of lying about containment in spite of the fact that they 've disclosed the concerns they have about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And of course , he blamed the pandemic on China .
Here 's a fact for him : The head of the CDC , Dr. Redfield , testified to Congress that he had a conversation about the virus with his Chinese counterpart on New Year 's Eve .
Perhaps someone could read this New York Times article to Tom Cotton , outlining how exactly Donald Trump and his merry band of incompetents botched the response while Trump was doing his song and dance in front of the networks about how it would just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found `` Patient Zero '' yet , but that did n't stop Cotton from feeding a conspiracy theory to Fox `` News '' viewers .
`` We do n't know where it originated but we do know that we have to get to the bottom of that and we also know that just a few miles away from that [ Wuhan ] food market is China 's only biosafety Level IV super laboratory that researches human infectious diseases , '' he said .
If Tom Cotton actually believed in science , he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change is helping new viruses to emerge .
From LiveScience : For the past 15,000 years , a glacier on the northwestern Tibetan Plateau of China has hosted a party for some unusual guests : an ensemble of frozen viruses , many of them unknown to modern science .
Scientists recently broke up this party after taking a look at two ice cores from this Tibetan glacier , revealing the existence of 28 never-before-seen virus groups .
Investigating these mysterious viruses could help scientists on two fronts : For one , these stowaways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different climates and environments over time , the researchers wrote in a paper posted on the bioRxiv database on Jan. 7 .
`` However , in a worst-case scenario , this ice melt [ from climate change ] could release pathogens into the environment , '' the researchers wrote in the study , which has not yet been peer-reviewed .
If this happens , it 's best to know as much about these viruses as possible , the researchers wrote .
Instead , what Tom Cotton did was to turn genuine scientific research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal in facts , he turns to a fiction and hate-mongering to feed Fox `` news '' viewers ' worst instincts .
That network is poison and a menace .
They should be shut down , along with irresponsible Senators who use a pandemic to try and muscle other countries .

Hello, darkness, it's our old friend Tom Cotton, for whom there is no conspiracy theory dumb enough or no science solid enough for him to deny over and over and over again.
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Cotton referred to the Chinese as the "Chinese Communist Party" more than once as he worked very hard to promote the idea that China created the virus in a lab without actually saying the words out loud. Because if he said the words out loud he would remove any doubt as to what a fool he actually is.
"The Chinese Communist Party is still lying," Cotton told Maria Bartiromo, referring to their claim that they've contained the virus. "Back in January i knew this virus had the potential to become a worldwide pandemic for two reasons: Not because I'm a scientist or epidemiologist but because I could see one, how the Chinese Communist Party was lying and two, the dramatic extreme measures they were taking like locking in 75 million people into their homes and apartment buildings. Those two things simply did not line up."
The only true thing he said there was that he's not a scientist. He's actually not too bright at all, or he would understand that the locking-down was EXACTLY what was needed to contain the virus, and that's precisely what didn't happen here because His Hero Trump was too full of happy talk about 15 cases, blah, blah.
He went on to accuse the Chinese government of lying about containment in spite of the fact that they've disclosed the concerns they have about cleared virus survivors testing positive again.
And of course, he blamed the pandemic on China. Here's a fact for him: The head of the CDC, Dr. Redfield, testified to Congress that he had a conversation about the virus with his Chinese counterpart on New Year's Eve. Perhaps someone could read this New York Times article to Tom Cotton, outlining how exactly Donald Trump and his merry band of incompetents botched the response while Trump was doing his song and dance in front of the networks about how it would just "disappear."
They haven't found "Patient Zero" yet, but that didn't stop Cotton from feeding a conspiracy theory to Fox "News" viewers.
"We don't know where it originated but we do know that we have to get to the bottom of that and we also know that just a few miles away from that [Wuhan] food market is China's only biosafety Level IV super laboratory that researches human infectious diseases," he said.
If Tom Cotton actually believed in science, he would know something he doesn't: Climate change is helping new viruses to emerge. From LiveScience:
For the past 15,000 years, a glacier on the northwestern Tibetan Plateau of China has hosted a party for some unusual guests: an ensemble of frozen viruses, many of them unknown to modern science. Scientists recently broke up this party after taking a look at two ice cores from this Tibetan glacier, revealing the existence of 28 never-before-seen virus groups. Investigating these mysterious viruses could help scientists on two fronts: For one, these stowaways can teach researchers which viruses thrived in different climates and environments over time, the researchers wrote in a paper posted on the bioRxiv database on Jan. 7. "However, in a worst-case scenario, this ice melt [from climate change] could release pathogens into the environment," the researchers wrote in the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed. If this happens, it's best to know as much about these viruses as possible, the researchers wrote.
Instead, what Tom Cotton did was to turn genuine scientific research into a conspiracy theory. Unable to deal in facts, he turns to a fiction and hate-mongering to feed Fox "news" viewers' worst instincts.
That network is poison and a menace. They should be shut down, along with irresponsible Senators who use a pandemic to try and muscle other countries.


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Why Trump Originally Chose Easter To Kill Us, Er, Open Up The Economy

Noted serial-adulterer , grifter , and tax cheat , and scam university provost Lord Damp Nut is a very pious man .
We learned that he was deeply moved by his fellow grifters , er , evangelicals who were preaching to empty megachurches .
And when the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll —you know the one where he tells the toddlers how great he is and how the economy is booming— was cancelled , well it was just a bridge too far .
Trump ’ s impatience to get everyone back to work set in almost immediately after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he watched a sermon delivered by a prominent evangelical preacher to an empty megachurch .
It gained momentum as Trump listened to advice from conservative economists who warned of near-apocalyptic financial damage , a view reinforced by a free-fall in markets .
And it coalesced around a single day , among the most sacred in the Christian calendar—Easter Sunday , April 12—for reasons more symbolic than scientific after a key meeting headed by Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner just four days after the stay-at-home advice .
So , you see , choosing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ um , more optics and not for any real reason… Anyway , we discover an escape clause in the usual GOP litmus test : Life begins at conception , but ends when the stock market craters by 20 % .
Save the fetus and kill Grandpa !
UPDATE 1 : Lord Damp Nut ’ s palace-o-grift , DC , hotel is already advertising its overpriced Easter brunch .

Noted serial-adulterer, grifter, and tax cheat, and scam university provost Lord Damp Nut is a very pious man. We learned that he was deeply moved by his fellow grifters, er, evangelicals who were preaching to empty megachurches. And when the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll —you know the one where he tells the toddlers how great he is and how the economy is booming— was cancelled, well it was just a bridge too far.
Bloomberg:
Trump’s impatience to get everyone back to work set in almost immediately after he urged everyone to stay home—touched off as he watched a sermon delivered by a prominent evangelical preacher to an empty megachurch. It gained momentum as Trump listened to advice from conservative economists who warned of near-apocalyptic financial damage, a view reinforced by a free-fall in markets. And it coalesced around a single day, among the most sacred in the Christian calendar—Easter Sunday, April 12—for reasons more symbolic than scientific after a key meeting headed by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner just four days after the stay-at-home advice.
So, you see, choosing Easter as the target date was, um, more optics and not for any real reason…
A star is born.
Bravo.
pic.twitter.com/FSesfGVESW — Ken Olin (@kenolin1) March 25, 2020
OK, maybe competition.
Anyway, we discover an escape clause in the usual GOP litmus test: Life begins at conception, but ends when the stock market craters by 20%. Save the fetus and kill Grandpa!
UPDATE 1: Lord Damp Nut’s palace-o-grift, DC, hotel is already advertising its overpriced Easter brunch.
Posted with permission from Mock Paper Scissors


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Stable Genius Says New York Is Fine, Won't Need Extra Ventilators


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--Trump: Easier Voting Means Republicans Lose


crooksandliars--2020-03-30--MyPillow CEO Gives Impromptu Sermon At White House Briefing: 'God Gave Us Grace On 11/9/2016'

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell led today 's Parade of Sycophants in a little devotional to call the nation to prayer and worship of the Almighty Dollar during the White House `` briefing '' this afternoon .
Lindell was there with a parade of Fortune 500 CEOs to crow about how they 're making things needed to combat the pandemic , from masks to gowns to test kits .
The Sycophant Parade read like a list from the Dow or S & P average .
After crowing about his contribution to the effort ( Masks ) , Lindell burst out with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` God gave us grace on November 8 , 2016 , to change the course we were on , '' Lindell said .
`` God had been taken out of our schools and lives , a nation had turned its back on God .
I encourage you to use this time at home to get back in the word .
Read our Bible and spend time with our families . ''
CNN cut away at that point .
They should have stopped sooner , but at least they did .
MSNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it , just like Fox News .
And yes , Twitter erupted , though I had some handy retorts .
To this one , a question : WHY ARE YOU RUNNING THIS LIVE ?
You know they 're all gon na be at that podium by Friday , right ?
And this is actually the thing that bothers me the most : The White House belongs to US .
We , the people , regardless of what our religion , race or creed is .
Every day it is defiled , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into our homes uncritically , unedited , and without apology .

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell led today's Parade of Sycophants in a little devotional to call the nation to prayer and worship of the Almighty Dollar during the White House "briefing" this afternoon.
Lindell was there with a parade of Fortune 500 CEOs to crow about how they're making things needed to combat the pandemic, from masks to gowns to test kits. The Sycophant Parade read like a list from the Dow or S&P average.
After crowing about his contribution to the effort (Masks), Lindell burst out with a chorus of "Amazing Trump grace."
"God gave us grace on November 8, 2016, to change the course we were on," Lindell said. "God had been taken out of our schools and lives, a nation had turned its back on God. I encourage you to use this time at home to get back in the word. Read our Bible and spend time with our families."
CNN cut away at that point. They should have stopped sooner, but at least they did. MSNBC, on the other hand, stayed with it, just like Fox News.
And yes, Twitter erupted, though I had some handy retorts.
To this one, a question: WHY ARE YOU RUNNING THIS LIVE?
Trump just called the “My Pillow” guy up to the podium in the Rose Garden. You cannot make this stuff up. — Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) March 30, 2020
He isn't always wrong:
My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell: "God gave us grace on November 8, 2016 to change the course we were on.”
God: 🤦♂😬🤷♂ — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 30, 2020
You know they're all gonna be at that podium by Friday, right?
This guy called the My Pillow thing a week ago. https://t.co/TLPa170BnQ — Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) March 30, 2020
And this is actually the thing that bothers me the most:
I’m sorry, is it me or does it feel like the Christian right is using this plague to bring Handmaid’s Tale to life in real time? Between the My Pillow Guy, the OAN reporter and this it’s getting alarming https://t.co/GikmXb19Px — Stefanie Iris Weiss 🔥 (@EcoSexuality) March 30, 2020
The White House belongs to US. We, the people, regardless of what our religion, race or creed is. Every day it is defiled, and every day media allows that defiling to come into our homes uncritically, unedited, and without apology.
It is wrong. 100% wrong.


crooksandliars--2020-03-31--Stephanie Ruhle Steamed Over How Hard It Is To Access Stimulus Help

Stephanie Ruhle was on Morning Joe to talk with Willie Geist about the crisis ordinary people and small businesses are going through .
`` We were just talking about tomorrow being April 1st .
The day , of course , the rent is due .
This is the first , the 1st of the month since this crisis escalated .
What are the implications of that for small businesses , homeowners and all the people worried now about making those payments ? ''
Willie Geist said .
`` They 're massive across the board .
While people at home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs and see headlines with members of Congress and the president touting how great the CARES Act is , $ 2 trillion , and it is , but of those $ 2 trillion , no checks have been cut , '' Ruhle said .
`` Talk to any , anyone in New York State , right ?
People trying to file for unemployment right now , it 's a two-step process .
First , you 've got to go online .
These websites are crashing over and over .
Then you 've got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines are busy .
Whether talking about New York , California , Connecticut , take your pick , these governors are saying , we are frantically trying to hire retired employees we used to have .
Staffing up to solve for this but it 's not solved yet and the small business loans people are so excited about ?
Those paycheck protection loans , which are essentially these short-term emergency loans for businesses to get them through this period , potentially having them completely forgiven , they 're not even set up yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own bank .
`` Those 1,800 banks working with the SBSA do n't even know the details yet .
A huge amount of lag time , and bills are due tomorrow .
Now , you could call your landlord , call your credit card company and try to work something out , but there has n't been a federally mandated national economic holiday .
We have to pay our bills tomorrow , and that 's just the way it is , '' she said .
`` Thinking about all of those small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been frequenting all their lives , '' Geist said .
`` That little restaurant or the bagel place in Jersey or the dry cleaner , who 's struggling now and looking for federal help and wondering what life is going to be like on the other side of this crisis .
What is the best hope for that restaurant that 's got a sign on its door that says 'We 're closed for now but will be back soon , we hope . '
There 's a lot of heaviness in that 'we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Well , twofold , '' she said .
`` I mean , these loan programs are expansive .
They could be hugely helpful , but they 're not there yet and people need to pay their bills immediately .
If you remember when the president spoke Sunday , he said he spoke to Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Boulud .
We 'll bring things back to the way they used to be .
People can deduct those , expense them .
What the president is talking about , rules where you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do spend more than $ 100 , well that would impact huge , fancy restaurants , but the mom and pop establishments that you 're talking about , when you think about all of those people who are losing their retail jobs , these problems are real and they 're not going to be solved overnight . ''
She also talked about Trump 's signing statement refusing oversight of the $ 500 billion corporate slush fund .
`` So while Congress does have some level of oversight , they do n't have subpoena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scenes , every CEO in this country is knocking on Steve Mnuchin 's door saying , 'please , sir , may I have some more ? '
And right now , he 's in a position to be a corporate kingmaker . ''

Stephanie Ruhle was on Morning Joe to talk with Willie Geist about the crisis ordinary people and small businesses are going through.
"We were just talking about tomorrow being April 1st. The day, of course, the rent is due. This is the first, the 1st of the month since this crisis escalated. What are the implications of that for small businesses, homeowners and all the people worried now about making those payments?" Willie Geist said.
"They're massive across the board. While people at home, individuals and small businesses might watch our programs and see headlines with members of Congress and the president touting how great the CARES Act is, $2 trillion, and it is, but of those $2 trillion, no checks have been cut," Ruhle said.
"Talk to any, anyone in New York State, right? People trying to file for unemployment right now, it's a two-step process. First, you've got to go online. These websites are crashing over and over. Then you've got to make a phone call and the lines are busy. Whether talking about New York, California, Connecticut, take your pick, these governors are saying, we are frantically trying to hire retired employees we used to have. Staffing up to solve for this but it's not solved yet and the small business loans people are so excited about? Those paycheck protection loans, which are essentially these short-term emergency loans for businesses to get them through this period, potentially having them completely forgiven, they're not even set up yet and you can only get one through your own bank.
"Those 1,800 banks working with the SBSA don't even know the details yet. A huge amount of lag time, and bills are due tomorrow. Now, you could call your landlord, call your credit card company and try to work something out, but there hasn't been a federally mandated national economic holiday. We have to pay our bills tomorrow, and that's just the way it is," she said.
"Thinking about all of those small businesses that anyone watching this show has been frequenting all their lives," Geist said.
"That little restaurant or the bagel place in Jersey or the dry cleaner, who's struggling now and looking for federal help and wondering what life is going to be like on the other side of this crisis. What is the best hope for that restaurant that's got a sign on its door that says 'We're closed for now but will be back soon, we hope.' There's a lot of heaviness in that 'we hope' part of the statement."
"Well, twofold," she said.
"I mean, these loan programs are expansive. They could be hugely helpful, but they're not there yet and people need to pay their bills immediately. If you remember when the president spoke Sunday, he said he spoke to Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Boulud. We'll bring things back to the way they used to be. People can deduct those, expense them. What the president is talking about, rules where you can entertain people, where companies can and do spend more than $100, well that would impact huge, fancy restaurants, but the mom and pop establishments that you're talking about, when you think about all of those people who are losing their retail jobs, these problems are real and they're not going to be solved overnight."
She also talked about Trump's signing statement refusing oversight of the $500 billion corporate slush fund.
"So while Congress does have some level of oversight, they don't have subpoena power and I can tell you behind the scenes, every CEO in this country is knocking on Steve Mnuchin's door saying, 'please, sir, may I have some more?' And right now, he's in a position to be a corporate kingmaker."


crooksandliars--2020-03-31--Biden's Virtual Town Hall Put Empathy Front And Center

It was n't really a town hall the way we 're used to .
The questions are pre-recorded and Biden is answering from his home studio .
I did n't see it when it aired , but I saw so many positive responses on social media , I thought some of you might like to see it .
Incredibly powerful moment on tonight 's @ CNN town hall with @ JoeBiden .
I miss hearing empathy from public officials , and the simple message of `` seek help '' will save people 's lives .
https : //t.co/kAW9hOCbTh Powerful close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town hall from @ JoeBiden , who sends an incredibly moving message ( and nearly his phone number ) to families who have lost someone but ca n't attend the funeral bc of the virus .
In November , let 's bring that kind of empathy back to the WH .
pic.twitter.com/DNobGrjCAx @ JoeBiden talks directly to @ realDonaldTrump during his CNN town hall , criticizing him for his attacks on governors : `` This is not personal .
It has nothing to do with you , Donald Trump , nothing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stop personalizing everything . ''
@ cnn @ JoeBiden Town Hall is hitting Trump with real talk .
Says a real president would get materials out now in any quantity .
Joe laughs at Trump accusation that Obama don ’ t prepare for outbreaks .
Hammers him on getting rid of Pandemic team .
Says he is not taking it seriously .

It wasn't really a town hall the way we're used to. The questions are pre-recorded and Biden is answering from his home studio. I didn't see it when it aired, but I saw so many positive responses on social media, I thought some of you might like to see it.
Incredibly powerful moment on tonight's @CNN town hall with @JoeBiden. I miss hearing empathy from public officials, and the simple message of "seek help" will save people's lives. https://t.co/kAW9hOCbTh — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) March 28, 2020
Powerful close to tonight's #COVID19 @CNN town hall from @JoeBiden, who sends an incredibly moving message (and nearly his phone number) to families who have lost someone but can't attend the funeral bc of the virus.
In November, let's bring that kind of empathy back to the WH. pic.twitter.com/DNobGrjCAx — TJ Ducklo (@TDucklo) March 28, 2020
@JoeBiden talks directly to @realDonaldTrump during his CNN town hall, criticizing him for his attacks on governors: "This is not personal. It has nothing to do with you, Donald Trump, nothing to do with you. Do your job. Stop personalizing everything." — Molly Nagle (@MollyNagle3) March 28, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-04-01--Finally! Morning Joe Blames Newt And Grover For Our Broken Government

I 've been saying it for 20 years : Tax cuts are only a loan against deferred maintenance .
And while Newt Gingrich got the ball rolling , it was Grover Norquist who really institutionalized them into a protection racket , where Republican congressmen are literally afraid to vote for tax increases -- or against tax cuts .
Finally , people are starting to say it out loud .
On Morning Joe , for instance , where this morning Joe Scarborough and Mike Barnicle pointed out in an extended conversation that decades of Republican budget cutting led us directly to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it : Scarborough led with the famous quote from Grover Norquist .
`` He said ' I do n't want to abolish government , I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub , '' he said .
`` Well , that 's exactly what 's happened with NIH .
That 's exactly what 's happened with the pandemic task force .
That 's exactly what 's happened , again , with that 12 % of the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that small part of that pie that republicans have only had the political will to cut .
Of course , expanding the defense budget at record rates , passing record tax cuts , being fiscally reckless , and then gutting the small part of the federal budget that actually would be saving lives right now , Mike . ''
`` Well , Grover , who grew up about 15 miles from where I 'm sitting here right now this morning , should be pleased with his efforts because they have been quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- you know that they 're quite successful when you talk to emergency room nurses or doctors or people in hospitals who do n't have enough protection equipment , who do n't have the kind of gloves , the kind of masks that they 've needed now for months because government has been so inefficient in delivering these things , '' Barnicle said .
`` And I might remind Grover to go around to a hospital and talk to these people at the appropriate distance , of course , and then ask yourself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America ?
Are you telling me in the United States of America , in the year 2020 , that we can not provide nurses and doctors with personal protection equipment needed to combat this virus without putting their lives on the line every day , which they do ?
But this is the United States of America 2020 , thanks to the efforts of people like Grover Norquist , Newt Gingrich who began this whole thing , in my estimation , in the mid 1980s , and this is where we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll tell you , Mika , I am a small government conservative .
I 've been fighting for small government and balanced budgets my entire life , I 'm still a small government conservative , '' Scarborough said .
`` But you 've got to keep the part of the budget that actually helps the American people .
And , again , it 's something I 've been warning about for a decade now .
It 's something that other conservatives have been -- small government conservatives have been warning about for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up defense spending to record levels .
You ca n't jack up tax cuts that end up not helping the economy in the long run .
`` You ca n't do all that while gutting the NIH , while gutting , again , a pandemic task force , abolishing them .
You ca n't deconstruct the government the way Steve Bannon said he wanted to deconstruct the government , without having this sort of impact .
I do n't want a big huge massive runaway government , even though that 's what Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an efficient government .
I want a smart government .
I want a government that pays attention to that 12 % and grows out the parts , makes the investments that actually protects Americans and protects us moving forward as well .
`` That 's not been done .
And we 're paying the price . ''
Here 's a little stroll down memory lane .
I 've spelled it out for journalists .
Maybe a few of them will highlight the root causes of this mess , because it did n't start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Real Boss Of Louisiana Grover Norquist Tells Republicans To Get Rid Of CBO Director How Grover Norquist Hypnotized The GOP Into Refusing To Raise Taxes Why Does The Corporate Media Ignore The GOP 's Un-American Pledge To Grover Norquist , An Enemy Of The Constitution ?

I've been saying it for 20 years: Tax cuts are only a loan against deferred maintenance. And while Newt Gingrich got the ball rolling, it was Grover Norquist who really institutionalized them into a protection racket, where Republican congressmen are literally afraid to vote for tax increases -- or against tax cuts.
Finally, people are starting to say it out loud. On Morning Joe, for instance, where this morning Joe Scarborough and Mike Barnicle pointed out in an extended conversation that decades of Republican budget cutting led us directly to this pandemic disaster. Here's part of it:
Scarborough led with the famous quote from Grover Norquist.
"He said 'I don't want to abolish government, I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub," he said.
"Well, that's exactly what's happened with NIH. That's exactly what's happened with the pandemic task force. That's exactly what's happened, again, with that 12% of the federal government, the domestic discretionary spending part, that small part of that pie that republicans have only had the political will to cut. Of course, expanding the defense budget at record rates, passing record tax cuts, being fiscally reckless, and then gutting the small part of the federal budget that actually would be saving lives right now, Mike."
"Well, Grover, who grew up about 15 miles from where I'm sitting here right now this morning, should be pleased with his efforts because they have been quite successful. And I can know that -- you know that they're quite successful when you talk to emergency room nurses or doctors or people in hospitals who don't have enough protection equipment, who don't have the kind of gloves, the kind of masks that they've needed now for months because government has been so inefficient in delivering these things," Barnicle said.
"And I might remind Grover to go around to a hospital and talk to these people at the appropriate distance, of course, and then ask yourself, is this really the United States of America? Are you telling me in the United States of America, in the year 2020, that we cannot provide nurses and doctors with personal protection equipment needed to combat this virus without putting their lives on the line every day, which they do? But this is the United States of America 2020, thanks to the efforts of people like Grover Norquist, Newt Gingrich who began this whole thing, in my estimation, in the mid 1980s, and this is where we are today, Joe."
"I'll tell you, Mika, I am a small government conservative. I've been fighting for small government and balanced budgets my entire life, I'm still a small government conservative," Scarborough said.
"But you've got to keep the part of the budget that actually helps the American people. And, again, it's something I've been warning about for a decade now. It's something that other conservatives have been -- small government conservatives have been warning about for a decade now. You can't jack up defense spending to record levels. You can't jack up tax cuts that end up not helping the economy in the long run.
"You can't do all that while gutting the NIH, while gutting, again, a pandemic task force, abolishing them. You can't deconstruct the government the way Steve Bannon said he wanted to deconstruct the government, without having this sort of impact. I don't want a big huge massive runaway government, even though that's what Donald Trump has given us. I want an efficient government. I want a smart government. I want a government that pays attention to that 12% and grows out the parts, makes the investments that actually protects Americans and protects us moving forward as well.
"That's not been done. And we're paying the price."
Here's a little stroll down memory lane. I've spelled it out for journalists. Maybe a few of them will highlight the root causes of this mess, because it didn't start with Trump:
Grover Norquist Is The Real Boss Of Louisiana
Yippy Little Anti-Tax Watchdog Grover Norquist Turns On Sam Brownback
Grover Norquist Tells Republicans To Get Rid Of CBO Director
Two Billionaires Are Pulling Grover Norquist's Strings
Hurricane Sandy: Finally, Grover Norquist's Dream Comes True
How Grover Norquist Hypnotized The GOP Into Refusing To Raise Taxes
Why Does The Corporate Media Ignore The GOP's Un-American Pledge To Grover Norquist, An Enemy Of The Constitution?


crooksandliars--2020-04-01--Claire McCaskill: Trump 'Irrationally' Attacks Women Because He Is 'Massively Insecure'

Former Senator Claire McCaskill hit several nails on the head in her analysis of Trump 's compulsion to attack strong , smart women .
On Deadline White House , Nicolle Wallace opened the segment by playing a montage of just a few of the most recent misogyny-laced cheap shots he 's taken at women who have dared not kiss the ring .
TRUMP : We 've had a big problem with the young , a woman governor from , you know who I 'm talking about , from Michigan ... ( cut ) ... and you should be saying congratulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I know exactly what you mean by that .
( cut ) Well , you know , it 's a sad thing .
She 's a sick puppy in my opinion .
She really is .
She 's got a lot of problems .
Wallace ran down a few more of Trump 's targets , like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton , quoting the New York Times piece taking note that he 's apparently gone back to attacking strong women who challenge him .
( Dear NYT ... '' gone back ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked , `` What gives ? ''
WALLACE : What do you think gives with a time of pandemic , not softening any of his attacks , but in some ways , against some women , seeming to sharpen them ?
The former Missouri Senator had the perfect answer .
President Putinpoodle is a quivering , spineless coward .
McCASKILL : Yeah , you know , let me just say , I 've got a little bit of experience with this .
Having gone through a political career for decades , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack women in positions of power .
And what is always true is they are massively insecure .
They are really threatened by women who are strong and smart .
And there is one commonality that all the women he has , that he 's attacked have .
They are strong and they are smart .
And they have overcome .
You know , he was given millions of dollars by his father .
You know , he was , you know , never really had to scratch and scrape and figure out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't supposed to , quote/unquote .
From bone spurs to , you know , getting in a good school to being given millions of dollars to be able to do his career , you compare and contrast that to a Governor Whitmer , or to a Nancy Pelosi or to Yamiche or to the other African-American reporter who he 's gone after in the briefing room , these are women who have had to fight and use their strength and they are not afraid of him .
And he really does n't do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of him .
And so it is pretty obvious to me what 's going on .
And I think as Gene said , I think it 's pretty obvious to most women in the country .
It 's not like we do n't get this .
And that 's why if Donald Trump is not re-elected , it will be because the women of America have just had enough .
We 've just had enough .
Sen. McCaskill is right , though .
One hundred percent .
Trump is threatened by competence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not attract talent of any substance .
He is filled with misogyny , so combine womanhood with strength and intelligence , throw in real courage , and you have Trump 's kryptonite .
Have we had enough , yet ?

Former Senator Claire McCaskill hit several nails on the head in her analysis of Trump's compulsion to attack strong, smart women. On Deadline White House, Nicolle Wallace opened the segment by playing a montage of just a few of the most recent misogyny-laced cheap shots he's taken at women who have dared not kiss the ring.
TRUMP: We've had a big problem with the young, a woman governor from, you know who I'm talking about, from Michigan... (cut) ...and you should be saying congratulations instead of asking a really snarky question because I know exactly what you mean by that. (cut) Well, you know, it's a sad thing. She's a sick puppy in my opinion. She really is. She's got a lot of problems.
Wallace ran down a few more of Trump's targets, like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton, quoting the New York Times piece taking note that he's apparently gone back to attacking strong women who challenge him. (Dear NYT..."gone back?" Had he stopped?) She asked, "What gives?"
WALLACE: What do you think gives with a time of pandemic, not softening any of his attacks, but in some ways, against some women, seeming to sharpen them?
The former Missouri Senator had the perfect answer. President Putinpoodle is a quivering, spineless coward.
McCASKILL: Yeah, you know, let me just say, I've got a little bit of experience with this. Having gone through a political career for decades, there is one common theme to men who irrationally attack women in positions of power. And what is always true is they are massively insecure. They are really threatened by women who are strong and smart. And there is one commonality that all the women he has, that he's attacked have. They are strong and they are smart. And they have overcome. You know, he was given millions of dollars by his father. You know, he was, you know, never really had to scratch and scrape and figure out how to achieve something when he wasn't supposed to, quote/unquote. From bone spurs to, you know, getting in a good school to being given millions of dollars to be able to do his career, you compare and contrast that to a Governor Whitmer, or to a Nancy Pelosi or to Yamiche or to the other African-American reporter who he's gone after in the briefing room, these are women who have had to fight and use their strength and they are not afraid of him. And he really doesn't do well with people who aren't afraid of him. And so it is pretty obvious to me what's going on. And I think as Gene said, I think it's pretty obvious to most women in the country. It's not like we don't get this. And that's why if Donald Trump is not re-elected, it will be because the women of America have just had enough. We've just had enough.
(psst...is "the other African-American reporter" April Ryan, Sen. McCaskill? Love ya, but do better next time.)
Sen. McCaskill is right, though. One hundred percent. Trump is threatened by competence and intelligence, which is why he cannot attract talent of any substance. He is filled with misogyny, so combine womanhood with strength and intelligence, throw in real courage, and you have Trump's kryptonite.
Have we had enough, yet?


crooksandliars--2020-04-01--Dr. Sanjay Gupta Settles The Mask-In-Public Debate: 'Benefits Outweigh Risks'

One of the questions I 've had during the first month of this pandemic is pretty straightforward : Why is the public not wearing masks when they 're outside ?
And the answer always seems to relate to the current medical personal protective equipment ( PPE ) shortage .
Only , I 'm not interested in using their equipment .
I just want to wear a mask outside that will protect me and protect others .
Look at South Korea , Japan , or any other Asian country and you see EVERYONE in a mask .
There are dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a sewing machine .
The best patterns I 've found allow for an insert , which can be as simple as a paper towel or even a piece of a HEPA vacuum cleaner bag .
Still , there is a lot of confusion about them , which prompted Wolf Blitzer to ask Dr. Sanjay Gupta about them .
After acknowledging that the guidelines are fluid and changing , Gupta explained why the idea is getting traction .
`` Two big things I think that are worth pointing out , one is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is this idea that there is , you know , significant community spread of this virus , '' Gupta explained .
`` That 's important , because we know there are a lot of people who are asymptomatic , you know , do n't really have symptoms , that can still spread the virus . ''
`` So the way to think about this mask issue is it 's not really still for people who are not infected , '' he continued.This is more for people who might be infected and do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the likelihood that they would spread this to somebody else . ''
So yes , that 's certainly part of it .
But the other part of it is simply that there is protection -- maybe not N95 level protection , but there IS , in fact some measure of protection for the wearer of the mask as well as the people that person might encounter .
Gupta then went on to make perfectly clear that the masks for everyday folks are n't the same as the masks doctors need .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks .
`` First advice for anybody is to stay home , '' he cautioned .
`` But if somebody does need to go out , and look , anybody might be infected and not know it , we all have to behave like we have the virus , I think that is what 's driving the idea that if you have to go out for something essential , that wearing a mask may not be a bad idea . ''
He also said Dr. Fauci was in favor of it too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , before concluding that the benefits outweighed any risk .
So let 's get busy making masks , if you have the ability .
I 'm planning to make them for my family and then neighbors and we 'll see what happens from there .
These masks are n't magic .
If you wear one outside , boil it in water for at least 5 minutes and hang to dry .
But they will offer some protection for you , and for the people you encounter .
For that reason alone , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howard 's video on # Masks4All , explaining why we need to make masks :

One of the questions I've had during the first month of this pandemic is pretty straightforward: Why is the public not wearing masks when they're outside? And the answer always seems to relate to the current medical personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage.
Only, I'm not interested in using their equipment. I just want to wear a mask outside that will protect me and protect others. Look at South Korea, Japan, or any other Asian country and you see EVERYONE in a mask.
There are dozens of patterns online, I have the fabric and a sewing machine. The best patterns I've found allow for an insert, which can be as simple as a paper towel or even a piece of a HEPA vacuum cleaner bag.
Still, there is a lot of confusion about them, which prompted Wolf Blitzer to ask Dr. Sanjay Gupta about them.
After acknowledging that the guidelines are fluid and changing, Gupta explained why the idea is getting traction.
"Two big things I think that are worth pointing out, one is that I think what is really driving this is this idea that there is, you know, significant community spread of this virus," Gupta explained. "That's important, because we know there are a lot of people who are asymptomatic, you know, don't really have symptoms, that can still spread the virus."
"So the way to think about this mask issue is it's not really still for people who are not infected," he continued.This is more for people who might be infected and don't know it and to try and lower the likelihood that they would spread this to somebody else."
So yes, that's certainly part of it. But the other part of it is simply that there is protection -- maybe not N95 level protection, but there IS, in fact some measure of protection for the wearer of the mask as well as the people that person might encounter.
Gupta then went on to make perfectly clear that the masks for everyday folks aren't the same as the masks doctors need. They are not N95 masks, but just cloth masks.
"First advice for anybody is to stay home," he cautioned. "But if somebody does need to go out, and look, anybody might be infected and not know it, we all have to behave like we have the virus, I think that is what's driving the idea that if you have to go out for something essential, that wearing a mask may not be a bad idea."
He also said Dr. Fauci was in favor of it too, saying that there was no harm done, before concluding that the benefits outweighed any risk.
So let's get busy making masks, if you have the ability. I'm planning to make them for my family and then neighbors and we'll see what happens from there.
Here's a good tutorial, too:
These masks aren't magic. If you wear one outside, boil it in water for at least 5 minutes and hang to dry. But they will offer some protection for you, and for the people you encounter. For that reason alone, they're worth it.
Here is Jeremy Howard's video on #Masks4All, explaining why we need to make masks:


crooksandliars--2020-04-02--New York Mag: 'Small Business Bailout Just Got A Whole Lot Better'

New York Magazine 's Eric Levitz is not an easy sell , so if he 's pleased with this , we should all be .
Via New York Magazine : According to Levitz , the SBA and the Treasury Department worked to resolve problems with the small business bailout package and they have been successful .
And in this CNBC interview , Mnuchin indicated that Congress is already agreed that they will raise the cap on the program when needed .
Levitz summarizes : Who qualifies for a small-business loan ?
What do I get if I qualify ?
First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( newly confirmed ) nuts and bolts of the program : If you are a company , nonprofit , veterans organization , or tribal concern with 500 or fewer employees — or else , a self-employed individual or independent contractor — the government will provide you with a loan equivalent to eight weeks of your prior average payroll ( or , for the self-employed , earnings ) , plus an additional 25 percent of that sum ( unless that grand total adds up to more than $ 10 million , which is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You do not need to make any payments on that loan for six months .
And if you maintain your workforce , then the government will entirely forgive the portion of the loan spent on payroll , benefits , utilities , rent , mortgage payments , or other debts .
In other words , it will forgive more or less all of it .
The policy isn ’ t actually intended as a loan program so much as a payroll-support policy akin to those adopted in Denmark and the United Kingdom .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primarily because America ’ s private-banking infrastructure is more robust than its state capacity , and so having private banks issue government-guaranteed loans is a quicker way of getting money out the door .
How do I apply for the loan ?
Which brings us to the first critical clarification in Tuesday ’ s guidance : Small businesses don ’ t need to work through the SBA or its affiliated lenders to secure loans , but , rather , can apply for them at most any “ federally insured depository institution , federally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ System institution.
” In other words , an eligible business owner should be able to walk into just about any FDIC bank and secure enough capital to cover payroll for two months .
This will ostensibly allow firms to get the money they need to survive posthaste .
Will this loan help workers who were already laid off ?
The guidance also goes a way toward resolving concerns about already fired workers .
The new rules ( 1 ) require businesses to spend 75 percent of their loans on payroll in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) clarify that firms that have already done layoffs can secure forgiveness by “ quickly ” rehiring laid-off workers .
Taken together , this provides a powerful incentive for businesses to bring staff back on , since ( essentially ) any money you save by lowering your monthly payroll costs will just end up going to the government .

UPDATE: Not so fast. Turns out there are a lot of problems. Stephanie Ruhle's on the case.
#FACTCHECK
Minutes ago @stevenmnuchin1 said the UST/SBA gave the banks ALL the info needed to process #PPP
I just spoke to a senior exec at one of the largest lenders - disputing this.
Telling me they have NOT received anything from the UST as of now. — Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) April 2, 2020
UPDATE: MOMENTS AGO SBA LENDING BANKS received the necessary info from Treasury on #PPP
It’s 30 pages to dig through & they have massive regulatory hurdles
Multiple lenders tell me they will not be able to turn this around & process applications by tomorrow morning. — Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) April 2, 2020
#PPP
Sources inside @chase telling me
“we just got guidance, 31 pages long, and we are working hard so we can be ready as soon as humanly possible.” — Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) April 2, 2020
New York Magazine's Eric Levitz is not an easy sell, so if he's pleased with this, we should all be. Via New York Magazine:
According to Levitz, the SBA and the Treasury Department worked to resolve problems with the small business bailout package and they have been successful. And in this CNBC interview, Mnuchin indicated that Congress is already agreed that they will raise the cap on the program when needed. Levitz summarizes: