occupydemocrats--2020-08-08--“Does anybody want a pen?”: Trump evades tough questions and the Constitution at laugh-filled presse

“Does anybody want a pen?”: Trump evades tough questions and the Constitution at laugh-filled presser

Does it seem to anyone else that Donald Trump ’ s latest stunt of holding press conferences at his golf resort in Bedminster , New Jersey is a prelude to a strategy of setting up a government in exile once he is cited out of office in an enormous landslide in November ?
If so , we got a chilling glimpse into the dystopian future when the president took to the podium for the second day of his self-declared three day weekend to hold his bizarre cross between a press briefing and a campaign rally on his own property rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House .
Self-declared was the order of the day , as Trump decided to announce his end-run around stalled negotiations with Democrats who are holding out for comprehensive relief for unemployed Americans and financially insolvent state and local governments and the parsimonious — and suddenly fiscally sanctimonious — Republicans who are suddenly checking their wallets after giving all the money away to billionaires and corporations with their ill-conceived tax cuts .
In declaring his own relief plan by executive order , Trump is further undermining the constitutional order using the exact same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constantly called unconstitutional when Barack Obama used it in his executive order establishing the DACA program for undocumented immigrants brought into the country as children .
It wasn ’ t the only thing that Trump tried to steal from Obama , as these clips gathered by the intrepid Vox reporter Aaron Rupar demonstrate .
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
This is not a good look for someone whose main campaign thrust so far has been that his opponent isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency , Trump is trying to combine his usual staple technique of projection — where he accuses Democrats of engaging in things that he himself is already doing — with his new preparations to denounce the elections he now knows he will likely lose as illegitimate .
It is clearly concerning when a president criticizes the media for not reporting on his hallucinations .
It must be allergy season in New Jersey , given the sniffles and snorting the president exhibited to the press and any passing members of his golf club who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unwitting comedy lounge act as a bonus to their golf privileges as Trump peddled his lies about the Democratic platform .
That Trump is willing to singlehandedly destroy the financial underpinnings of Social Security and Medicare by waiving payroll tax deductions — even temporarily — may prove to be the stupidest thing this mentally-challenged president has ever done to alienate the seniors who helped elect him .
Almost as stupid as his insistence that 160,000 dead Americans is an impressive scorecard for his pandemic response .
That last video hints that adding an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every press briefing going forward — or at least a laugh track — may be in the cards going forward .
Trump proves that he ’ s either never read the United States Constitution — or that he holds it in the ultimate contempt — as he usurps the power of Congress with his executive orders .
One practically expects the server to tell you that it ’ s the last call as the president jokes to an appreciative audience that has already paid thousands for the privilege of being at the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his own actions are most likely the leading cause of depression in America at the moment .
Trump then signed the executive orders while handing out the signing pens to his customers like promotional swag , before reporters were allowed to start asking questions .
Now , this is the part that should be getting laughs from the audience as Trump tries to convince Americans that the $ 400 in unemployment insurance supplements he signed off on are better than the $ 600 that they were receiving previously .
Of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like is when reporters fact check his lies in real-time as CBS ’ s Paula Reid tried to do when she attempted to ask him why he keeps claiming credit for passing a law signed by Obama years before the nightmare of a Trump presidency was even conceivable .
When Trump couldn ’ t get Reid to stop repeating the question he quickly declares an end to the briefing and walks off stage without answering .
( Please exucse the double posting due to the vagaries of Twitter threading . )
There you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Expect to see this scene again and again after the Biden inauguration as Trump established his Vichy government in exile , at least on the days when Trump isn ’ t in court attempting to stay out of prison .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

Does it seem to anyone else that Donald Trump’s latest stunt of holding press conferences at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey is a prelude to a strategy of setting up a government in exile once he is cited out of office in an enormous landslide in November?
If so, we got a chilling glimpse into the dystopian future when the president took to the podium for the second day of his self-declared three day weekend to hold his bizarre cross between a press briefing and a campaign rally on his own property rather than in the proper confines of the White House.
Self-declared was the order of the day, as Trump decided to announce his end-run around stalled negotiations with Democrats who are holding out for comprehensive relief for unemployed Americans and financially insolvent state and local governments and the parsimonious — and suddenly fiscally sanctimonious — Republicans who are suddenly checking their wallets after giving all the money away to billionaires and corporations with their ill-conceived tax cuts.
In declaring his own relief plan by executive order, Trump is further undermining the constitutional order using the exact same method that he and the Republican establishment constantly called unconstitutional when Barack Obama used it in his executive order establishing the DACA program for undocumented immigrants brought into the country as children.
It wasn’t the only thing that Trump tried to steal from Obama, as these clips gathered by the intrepid Vox reporter Aaron Rupar demonstrate.
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
This is not a good look for someone whose main campaign thrust so far has been that his opponent isn’t up to the intellectual rigors of the presidency,
Trump is trying to combine his usual staple technique of projection — where he accuses Democrats of engaging in things that he himself is already doing — with his new preparations to denounce the elections he now knows he will likely lose as illegitimate.
It is clearly concerning when a president criticizes the media for not reporting on his hallucinations.
It must be allergy season in New Jersey, given the sniffles and snorting the president exhibited to the press and any passing members of his golf club who were treated to the spectacle of an unwitting comedy lounge act as a bonus to their golf privileges as Trump peddled his lies about the Democratic platform.
Trump falsely characterizes his executive orders as "bills." Bills are passed by Congress. pic.twitter.com/HJNAEAUiUy — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2020
That Trump is willing to singlehandedly destroy the financial underpinnings of Social Security and Medicare by waiving payroll tax deductions — even temporarily — may prove to be the stupidest thing this mentally-challenged president has ever done to alienate the seniors who helped elect him.
Almost as stupid as his insistence that 160,000 dead Americans is an impressive scorecard for his pandemic response.
Trump's paying Bedminster customers applaud his crude attacks on Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/4DHwjOe8jO — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2020
That last video hints that adding an audience of wealthy golfing Trump supporters at every press briefing going forward — or at least a laugh track — may be in the cards going forward.
Trump proves that he’s either never read the United States Constitution — or that he holds it in the ultimate contempt — as he usurps the power of Congress with his executive orders.
Trump suggests stay-at-home orders have increased suicides, but I've yet to see any evidence that that's true. He also suggests they ruin marriages, which is a topic he should probably sit out. pic.twitter.com/xD4fR1u2Ds — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2020
One practically expects the server to tell you that it’s the last call as the president jokes to an appreciative audience that has already paid thousands for the privilege of being at the Trump resort, yet he fails to realize that his own actions are most likely the leading cause of depression in America at the moment.
Trump then signed the executive orders while handing out the signing pens to his customers like promotional swag, before reporters were allowed to start asking questions.
I don't understand why reporters are asking questions that assume Trump's moves to completely bypass Congress are lawful pic.twitter.com/VJlgXqnvT4 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2020
Now, this is the part that should be getting laughs from the audience as Trump tries to convince Americans that the $400 in unemployment insurance supplements he signed off on are better than the $600 that they were receiving previously.
Of course, one thing that Trump doesn’t like is when reporters fact check his lies in real-time as CBS’s Paula Reid tried to do when she attempted to ask him why he keeps claiming credit for passing a law signed by Obama years before the nightmare of a Trump presidency was even conceivable.
When Trump couldn’t get Reid to stop repeating the question he quickly declares an end to the briefing and walks off stage without answering. (Please exucse the double posting due to the vagaries of Twitter threading.)
Trump gets frustrated when @PaulaReidCBS won't stop trying to ask him a question about why he keeps lying about Veterans Choice, then abruptly ends the news conference as "YMCA" plays pic.twitter.com/Z3uVxebKGH — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 8, 2020
There you have it. Another ridiculous Trump lie-fest.
Expect to see this scene again and again after the Biden inauguration as Trump established his Vichy government in exile, at least on the days when Trump isn’t in court attempting to stay out of prison.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Aaron Rupar at Vox.
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Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-08--“Not a well person”: Pelosi brutally dumps on Trump while briefing congressional Democrats

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) has the White House and Senate Republicans by the gonads and she knows it .
The leader of the House Democratic Caucus briefed her members today on the pitiful lack of progress being made on a new stimulus bill in negotiations that have largely by-passed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) — who is saddled with a number of GOP senators who have already declared their opposition to offering any relief to everyday Americans instead of their usual corporate donors and billionaire benefactors — to deal directly with a White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staff Mark Meadows .
Meadows , a former Freedom Caucus congressman who is more used to blowing up bi-partisan deals than actually reaching consensus on anything , walked away from the negotiating table on Friday evening having not managed to convince the Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) that the White House was ready to make the concessions needed to strike a deal with the Democrats who held the all the political cards with public opinion on their sides and Trump and the GOP left holding the blame for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
During the call to appraise her members of the details of the negotiations , Speaker Pelosi and other senior Democrats offered a bleak assessment of the talks while pointing fingers at Meadows for their failure so far , according to reports leaked to New York Times congressional correspondent Luke Broadwater .
The comments that Broadwater attributes to Pelosi show that she is using every ounce of political leverage that she has to stick to her guns and get the best deal possible for working-class Americans and small businesses despite the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
As much as the GOP adherents will dislike the House Speaker questioning their manhood , the likelihood of Donald Trump appreciating Pelosi ’ s diagnosis of his mental state is even smaller .
Pelosi ’ s casual dismissal of Trump minions Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin demonstrates that she knows that the leverage in this deal is on her side and that any further delay in providing relief for the crisis of the president ’ s own making will only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower than they already have fallen .
Hopefully , Pelosi will continue to hold out for a renewal of the $ 600 federal unemployment insurance supplement as well as the state and local funding needed to keep local governments operating after local tax revenues have been decimated by the pandemic business closures .
As harsh as Pelosi ’ s words for Trump and his Republican enablers may be in national political circles , they pale in comparison to what many people would like to say to the president .
Feel free to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d call the president in the comments section below .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has the White House and Senate Republicans by the gonads and she knows it.
The leader of the House Democratic Caucus briefed her members today on the pitiful lack of progress being made on a new stimulus bill in negotiations that have largely by-passed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — who is saddled with a number of GOP senators who have already declared their opposition to offering any relief to everyday Americans instead of their usual corporate donors and billionaire benefactors — to deal directly with a White House that has been represented by Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Meadows, a former Freedom Caucus congressman who is more used to blowing up bi-partisan deals than actually reaching consensus on anything, walked away from the negotiating table on Friday evening having not managed to convince the Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that the White House was ready to make the concessions needed to strike a deal with the Democrats who held the all the political cards with public opinion on their sides and Trump and the GOP left holding the blame for the disastrous federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the call to apprise her members of the details of the negotiations, Speaker Pelosi and other senior Democrats offered a bleak assessment of the talks while pointing fingers at Meadows for their failure so far, according to reports leaked to New York Times congressional correspondent Luke Broadwater.
The comments that Broadwater attributes to Pelosi show that she is using every ounce of political leverage that she has to stick to her guns and get the best deal possible for working-class Americans and small businesses despite the Republican intransigence.
Some highlights of House Democrats' call today, per sources on call: -Leaders blame Meadows for lack of deal Hoyer: “Meadows, when John Boehner & Paul Ryan was Speaker, impeded every agreement they tried to make w/ us on must-pass legislation” Pelosi: “Meadows is problematic” — Luke Broadwater☀ (@lukebroadwater) August 8, 2020
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
As much as the GOP adherents will dislike the House Speaker questioning their manhood, the likelihood of Donald Trump appreciating Pelosi’s diagnosis of his mental state is even smaller.
-Pelosi on Trump’s claim that he’s protecting health coverage for pre-existing conditions that are already protected by Obamacare: “This is not a well person.” — Luke Broadwater☀ (@lukebroadwater) August 8, 2020
Pelosi’s casual dismissal of Trump minions Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin demonstrates that she knows that the leverage in this deal is on her side and that any further delay in providing relief for the crisis of the president’s own making will only send his already dismal approval ratings even lower than they already have fallen.
-Pelosi says Trump only cares about stock market and if his name is on the letter "when those direct payments go out” — Luke Broadwater☀ (@lukebroadwater) August 8, 2020
Hopefully, Pelosi will continue to hold out for a renewal of the $600 federal unemployment insurance supplement as well as the state and local funding needed to keep local governments operating after local tax revenues have been decimated by the pandemic business closures.
As harsh as Pelosi’s words for Trump and his Republican enablers may be in national political circles, they pale in comparison to what many people would like to say to the president. Feel free to share your own thoughts on what you’d call the president in the comments section below.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Bob Brigham at RawStory.
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Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-08--Memphis woman with COVID-19 evicted over deceased partner’s mother’s medical debt

Do you think it ’ s bad now ?
It ’ s only going to get worse .
Sorry for the pessimism , but now that the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures has expired and the federal government is bickering over the next pandemic stimulus bill that could expand unemployment benefits and prevent millions from sliding into poverty after their jobs have evaporated , homelessness and hunger will reach levels in the United States that haven ’ t been seen since the 1930s .
That can ’ t happen here in the 21st century , you say ?
Modern Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen , you think ?
Well , take a look at what ’ s already happened in Memphis , Tennessee as revealed in a video by the folks at TNHoller .
The video shows an eviction in progress , the sudden and unannounced eviction of Leslie Nelson , a 56-year-old woman who was just released from the hospital and is still suffering from the lingering effects of a COVID-19 infection .
The reason for the eviction ?
A lawyer representing those owed medical debts by the late mother of the woman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to order the home seized and sold to pay those debts , claiming that the house was “ abandoned ” while the woman was being treated for her coronavirus in a local hospital .
As police and sheriffs galore pile her belongings on the front lawn , Hunter Dempster , a friend of the woman , live streams the scene on Facebook , interviews the distraught woman about the reasons for her plight , and confronts the police for executing an eviction that the county health department has declared is illegal because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
A horrifying and disturbing scene it is .
It is only the beginning .
The first of countless evictions that will replay similar scenes again and again .
Some of the people being evicted may have COVID-19 infections , whether they are aware of it or not .
Some will be healthy .
All will be homeless , many will be jobless , all will be desperate .
Meanwhile , Republicans are opposing a new pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra $ 600 a week will not lead to enough desperation that people will be willing to go back to work in unsafe workplaces as they fight to shield employers from any liability for conditions that could lead to their employees catching the deadly disease while at work .
If this doesn ’ t give you the impetus to vote each and every one of the Republican sadists masquerading as politicians out of office , then nothing ever will .
Original reporting by Micaela A Watts at The Memphis Commercial Appeal .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

Do you think it’s bad now? It’s only going to get worse.
Sorry for the pessimism, but now that the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures has expired and the federal government is bickering over the next pandemic stimulus bill that could expand unemployment benefits and prevent millions from sliding into poverty after their jobs have evaporated, homelessness and hunger will reach levels in the United States that haven’t been seen since the 1930s.
That can’t happen here in the 21st century, you say? Modern Americans simply won’t allow it to happen, you think?
Well, take a look at what’s already happened in Memphis, Tennessee as revealed in a video by the folks at TNHoller.
The video shows an eviction in progress, the sudden and unannounced eviction of Leslie Nelson, a 56-year-old woman who was just released from the hospital and is still suffering from the lingering effects of a COVID-19 infection.
The reason for the eviction? A lawyer representing those owed medical debts by the late mother of the woman’s also deceased partner had gone to court to order the home seized and sold to pay those debts, claiming that the house was “abandoned” while the woman was being treated for her coronavirus in a local hospital.
As police and sheriffs galore pile her belongings on the front lawn, Hunter Dempster, a friend of the woman, live streams the scene on Facebook, interviews the distraught woman about the reasons for her plight, and confronts the police for executing an eviction that the county health department has declared is illegal because of the woman’s COVID-positivity status.
https://twitter.com/TheTNHoller/status/1292094968148955136?s=20
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
A horrifying and disturbing scene it is.
It is only the beginning. The first of countless evictions that will replay similar scenes again and again.
Some of the people being evicted may have COVID-19 infections, whether they are aware of it or not. Some will be healthy.
All will be homeless, many will be jobless, all will be desperate.
Meanwhile, Republicans are opposing a new pandemic stimulus bill because they feel that an extra $600 a week will not lead to enough desperation that people will be willing to go back to work in unsafe workplaces as they fight to shield employers from any liability for conditions that could lead to their employees catching the deadly disease while at work.
If this doesn’t give you the impetus to vote each and every one of the Republican sadists masquerading as politicians out of office, then nothing ever will.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Micaela A Watts at The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
We want to hear what YOU have to say. Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section!
Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-09--Five reasons why Trump’s new pandemic executive order is disastrous for America

“ Warning sign , warning sign I hear it , but I pay it no mind Hear my voice , hear my voice It ’ s saying something and it ’ s not very nice Pay attention , pay attention I ’ m talking to you and I hope you ’ re concentrating I ’ ve got money now , I ’ ve got money now Come on , baby , come on , baby ” If you didn ’ t interpret Donald Trump ’ s move yesterday to impose his own dismal and likely ineffective solutions to the effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy — an economy that he loves to claim credit for when it ’ s doing well — as a “ warning sign of things to come , ” you may be missing out on the true significance of the president ’ s “ Hail Mary ” play .
While some people may simply be so desperate for money for food and housing at this point that they are willing to ignore the implications of Trump ’ s actions yesterday afternoon , a closer examination of the controversial move by the president shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to govern by executive fiat is damaging to our nation .
Firstly , there is the issue of the constitutionality of the orders .
The U.S. Constitution clearly places the responsibility for the levying of taxes and the appropriations of that revenue in the hands of the two houses of Congress , not with the executive branch .
Any attempt by Trump to ignore the constitutional order is justifiably seen by many as the first step on the road to fascist , totalitarian rule by a wanna-be dictator with a lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a self-serving agenda .
The presidential proclamation is also likely to be delayed in its implementation after being caught up in lengthy court battles because of its dubious legality , limiting its utility as an “ emergency ” solution when time is of the essence .
Secondly , Trump ’ s payroll tax deferral proclamation completely undermines the financial structure that funds Social Security and Medicare .
This portion of the president ’ s executive order is likely the first step in achieving a goal — shared by Republican plotters since the days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case of Social Security and since LBJ ’ s Great Society in the case of Medicare— to eliminate the federal role in social services .
An odd move by a president who will need the votes of seniors to win the November election , but Trump likely thinks his appearance of decisive action will overcome any deeper thoughts about the ultimate motivation for this action .
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
Thirdly , the actions being put in place won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems — nor the medical issues — caused by the pandemic .
While the extra $ 400 added to unemployment benefits is better than nothing , it is a third less than the previous $ 600 supplement , and , since it relies on cash-strapped state governments agreeing to contribute a $ 100 to the federal government ’ s $ 300 contribution , it is far from guaranteed .
Moreover , the payroll tax deferral — which neither Democrats nor Republicans in Congress thought was a worthwhile idea — will only benefit those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people who need assistance the most right now .
The fact that it is merely a deferral , and not an elimination of the payroll deductions , means that workers will have to pay their contributions to the system at some undetermined point in the future , proving that any temporary cash flow benefit will be both short-lived and ultimately more painful .
The move does allow Trump to boast that he put more money in some people ’ s pockets between now and the November elections and have his minions dangle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deductions if he and Senate Republicans are re-elected in November — as Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin intimated today on Fox News — while neglecting to mention that such a move would be akin to slitting the throat of the universally popular long-standing social safety-net programs .
Fourthly , Trump ’ s executive order will delay or prevent Democrats and Republicans in Congress from reaching a legitimate deal to pass lawful legislation to address the pandemic crises .
With at least a portion of the public tuned out to the legalities and ulterior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pressure is off the Republican party to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution in an urgent manner .
Nor will many Republicans be willing , even at this point in the pandemic , to be seen as opposing their nominal , if certifiable , leader when such opposition carries a political risk to their own electoral opportunities .
Fifthly , Trump ’ s orders may be seen by enough people as decisive action rather than the constitutional overreach that it truly is to begin a turnaround in his electoral fortunes .
The entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders is to try to salvage a re-election bid that has been faltering badly as deaths related to COVID-19 soar and unemployment reaches levels not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
If enough people are bamboozled by Trump ’ s Trojan horse scheme here to turn the electoral tide , then America faces a heretofore unthinkable protect : four more years of a president who has torn the nation apart and presided over an unprecedented decline in our nation ’ s fortunes , both literally and figuratively .
“ Warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before , it will happen again Hear my voice ” This dictatorial move from Donald Trump must be opposed and stopped .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

If you didn’t interpret Donald Trump’s move yesterday to impose his own dismal and likely ineffective solutions to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the American economy — an economy that he loves to claim credit for when it’s doing well — as a “warning sign of things to come,” you may be missing out on the true significance of the president’s “Hail Mary” play.
While some people may simply be so desperate for money for food and housing at this point that they are willing to ignore the implications of Trump’s actions yesterday afternoon, a closer examination of the controversial move by the president shows at least five ways in which his attempt to govern by executive fiat is damaging to our nation.
1. There is the issue of the constitutionality of the orders.
The U.S. Constitution clearly places the responsibility for the levying of taxes and the appropriations of that revenue in the hands of the two houses of Congress, not with the executive branch.
Any attempt by Trump to ignore the constitutional order is justifiably seen by many as the first step on the road to fascist, totalitarian rule by a wanna-be dictator with a lack of patience, poor impulse control, and a self-serving agenda.
The presidential proclamation is also likely to be delayed in its implementation after being caught up in lengthy court battles because of its dubious legality, limiting its utility as an “emergency” solution when time is of the essence.
2. Trump’s payroll tax deferral proclamation completely undermines the financial structure that funds Social Security and Medicare.
This portion of the president’s executive order is likely the first step in achieving a goal — shared by Republican plotters since the days of FDR’s New Deal in the case of Social Security and since LBJ’s Great Society in the case of Medicare— to eliminate the federal role in social services.
An odd move by a president who will need the votes of seniors to win the November election, but Trump likely thinks his appearance of decisive action will overcome any deeper thoughts about the ultimate motivation for this action.
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
3. The actions being put in place won’t actually resolve the major economic problems — nor the medical issues — caused by the pandemic.
While the extra $400 added to unemployment benefits is better than nothing, it is a third less than the previous $600 supplement, and, since it relies on cash-strapped state governments agreeing to contribute a $100 to the federal government’s $300 contribution, it is far from guaranteed.
Moreover, the payroll tax deferral — which neither Democrats nor Republicans in Congress thought was a worthwhile idea — will only benefit those who have currently have jobs, hardly the people who need assistance the most right now.
The fact that it is merely a deferral, and not an elimination of the payroll deductions, means that workers will have to pay their contributions to the system at some undetermined point in the future, proving that any temporary cash flow benefit will be both short-lived and ultimately more painful.
The move does allow Trump to boast that he put more money in some people’s pockets between now and the November elections and have his minions dangle the carrot of a permanent cut of the deductions if he and Senate Republicans are re-elected in November — as Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin intimated today on Fox News — while neglecting to mention that such a move would be akin to slitting the throat of the universally popular long-standing social safety-net programs.
4. Trump’s executive order will delay or prevent Democrats and Republicans in Congress from reaching a legitimate deal to pass lawful legislation to address the pandemic crises.
With at least a portion of the public tuned out to the legalities and ulterior motivations behind Trump’s move, the pressure is off the Republican party to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution in an urgent manner.
Nor will many Republicans be willing, even at this point in the pandemic, to be seen as opposing their nominal, if certifiable, leader when such opposition carries a political risk to their own electoral opportunities.
5. Trump’s orders may be seen by enough people as decisive action rather than the constitutional overreach that it truly is to begin a turnaround in his electoral fortunes.
The entire rationale behind the president’s executive orders is to try to salvage a re-election bid that has been faltering badly as deaths related to COVID-19 soar and unemployment reaches levels not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
If enough people are bamboozled by Trump’s Trojan horse scheme here to turn the electoral tide, then America faces a heretofore unthinkable protect: four more years of a president who has torn the nation apart and presided over an unprecedented decline in our nation’s fortunes, both literally and figuratively.
“Warning sign of things to come
It happened before, it will happen again
Hear my voice”
— Talking Heads – “Warning Sign”
Hear my voice.
This dictatorial move from Donald Trump must be opposed and stopped.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
We want to hear what YOU have to say. Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section!
Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-09--“Keep punching each other in the face!” — Police supporters beat BLM protestors in Colorado ditch

It ’ s bad enough that protestors standing up against police brutality against Black Americans have to face violence from the officers whose behavior they are calling out , but now BLM activists are being targeted by right-wing extremists who support the police unquestioningly even as they themselves violate the law during their “ Back the Blue ” demonstrations .
A case in point took place in Fort Collins , Colorado yesterday when a pro-police demonstration came across some counter-protestors advocating for police reform and instigated a confrontation that quickly devolved into a massive fistfight in a roadside ditch .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the incident and its aftermath on Instagram with her account of what happened : “ I was at the Pro Police FCPD rally today .
Counter protestors were violently beaten and had no signs of aggression or hostility .
Pro Police protestors forced them to the end of the block and then savagely assaulted them .
Afterwards the COUNTER PROTESTORS WERE DETAINED .
The officers did not tell them why they were being detained .
The pro police protestors who literally assaulted these people for no fucking reason other than being PSYCHOPATHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so sick and tired of this , ” Ciara Wilsonn wrote .
As the ironically pro- “ law & order ” demonstrators engage in an orgy of illicit violence , one of their group shouts : How kind of them to discourage outright murder .
Sooo law-abiding !
Watch the intolerant rage of proto-fascists at work .
Who needs brownshirts when you can cloak yourself in the red , white , and particularly the blue to enforce your Nazi-like ideals ?
Take a look at the fists of fury for yourself and lament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy for yourself . ]
Make sure to scroll through the four different videos in the Instagram post to see the arrival of the police and their targeting of the counter-protestors who were the victims of the violence rather than their supporters who instigated it .
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
Suffice it say that without the divisive political presence of Donald Trump , likely none of this would be happening right now .
The only way to prevent the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence as contagious as a coronavirus , is to remove the inspiration to goons like this and vote Trump out of office in an overwhelming landslide for Joe Biden .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

It’s bad enough that protestors standing up against police brutality against Black Americans have to face violence from the officers whose behavior they are calling out, but now BLM activists are being targeted by right-wing extremists who support the police unquestioningly even as they themselves violate the law during their “Back the Blue” demonstrations.
A case in point took place in Fort Collins, Colorado yesterday when a pro-police demonstration came across some counter-protestors advocating for police reform and instigated a confrontation that quickly devolved into a massive fistfight in a roadside ditch.
One witness to the brawl posted videos of the incident and its aftermath on Instagram with her account of what happened:
“I was at the Pro Police FCPD rally today. Counter protestors were violently beaten and had no signs of aggression or hostility. Pro Police protestors forced them to the end of the block and then savagely assaulted them. Afterwards the COUNTER PROTESTORS WERE DETAINED. The officers did not tell them why they were being detained. The pro police protestors who literally assaulted these people for no fucking reason other than being PSYCHOPATHS got away with it. I am so sick and tired of this,” Ciara Wilsonn wrote.
As the ironically pro-“law & order” demonstrators engage in an orgy of illicit violence, one of their group shouts:
“Everybody keep their hands off their weapons!” “Keep punching each other in the face. Don’t shoot anybody.”
How kind of them to discourage outright murder. Sooo law-abiding!
Watch the intolerant rage of proto-fascists at work. Who needs brownshirts when you can cloak yourself in the red, white, and particularly the blue to enforce your Nazi-like ideals?
Take a look at the fists of fury for yourself and lament the fate of the American experiment in democracy for yourself.
]Make sure to scroll through the four different videos in the Instagram post to see the arrival of the police and their targeting of the counter-protestors who were the victims of the violence rather than their supporters who instigated it.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by ciara (@ciarawilsonn) on Aug 8, 2020 at 3:34pm PDT
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
Suffice it say that without the divisive political presence of Donald Trump, likely none of this would be happening right now.
The only way to prevent the spread of more incidents like this, with violence as contagious as a coronavirus, is to remove the inspiration to goons like this and vote Trump out of office in an overwhelming landslide for Joe Biden.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by David Edwards at RawStory.
We want to hear what YOU have to say. Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section!
Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-11--Trump’s interrupted press conference resumes with outrageous lies unchallenged by reporters

Donald Trump ’ s press conference finally got some excitement to liven up the boring drone of the president poorly trying to read and recite the pre-prepared words that his aides put before him .
Unfortunately , it took the Secret Service rushing him out of the briefing room due to a shooting that took place outside the White House to generate excitement today , with no sustained push back by White House correspondents to the president ’ s litany of lies , dystopian visions for America if the country does not re-elect him , and outrageously false allegations against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly returned to the podium after a short lockdown and continued to slather his verbal manure on the public .
Here are the highlights from today ’ s briefing , cheerfully compiled by Vox ’ s Aaron Rupar .
Trump began with a staple of his recent public comments , the incredible dangers of universal suffrage as enabled during this pandemic by mail-in ballots , a hyped-up , phony danger that he combined with another of his delusional predictions that the COVID-19 virus would disappear just in time for Election Day .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another one of Trump ’ s distractive moves to get you to take your eye off the card that he ’ s about to palm in his political three-card monte game , the interruption turned out to be more legitimate than anything that was subsequently uttered by the president during the rest of the news conference .
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
If only we had a president who was capable of making the world less dangerous rather than this virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone born into enough wealth that he could squander his inheritance and still have enough money to play at being rich , Trump seems to think that every American has a stock portfolio and a 401K that will be greatly affected by his intentions to propose a capital gains tax cut yet again , a cut that will only benefit those who need the least assistance during the current crisis .
The president cried wolf again by raising the promise of a middle-class tax cut , the kind the Republicans somehow forgot to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rupar is giving Trump too much credit in attributing Trump ’ s stubborn insistence that coronavirus cases are somehow caused by testing to stupidity rather than self-interested malice .
Take his comparisons in the caseloads experienced by Japan and Australia to that here in the U.S .
Even a complete moron knows when one number is bigger than another , so intentional misinformation is the only explanation for this next comment .
That and a stunningly low estimation of the intelligence of the American public .
The president engages in revisionist history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7th : “ Great discipline is taking place in China , as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation.
” Speaking of revisionist history , it takes a complete reversal of IQ to buy Trump ’ s claims that his payroll tax deferral instituted by yesterday ’ s executive order won ’ t damage Social Security and Medicare which are mostly funded by that income deduction .
Believing what Trump says about that won ’ t be nearly as harmful , however , as accepting his cynically ignorant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by catching coronavirus .
Funny , we don ’ t see him volunteering Barron to demonstrate the validity of his claims .
Ambulance-chasing lawyers are salivating as we speak over the class-action suits that this statement from the president will likely inspire…if the GOP isn ’ t successful in passing a liability suit ban as part of any negotiated pandemic relief bill — if one is even possible after Trump ’ s executive order antics .
Now it was time for the president to try to instill the fear of a nightmarish post-Trumpian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Trump had any ambition to become the host of a TV horror anthology series in his dotage , someone should suggest that he abandon them immediately , since his scare tactics are so literally incredible as to inspire derision at their ludicrousness .
Trump ’ s attempts to paint himself as the savior of those with pre-existing conditions when the Obamacare legislation currently in effect that already guarantees those protections is being assaulted in the federal courts by his own Department of Justice is an audacious move that further insults the intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civic awareness .
With this number of lies packed into a brief press conference , Trump can certainly lay claim to preserving the jobs of media fact-checkers across the country .
Trump made sure to keep his Russian handlers happy with his next set of answers to the assembled press .
With few reporters daring to challenge the president ’ s nonsensical responses to their questions , Trump let the Q & A go on a bit longer than he has at most recent press briefings .
He ended by deigning to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazil and from one of the audience plants from OAN .
There you have it .
Your daily dose of that which makes you ashamed to be an American until we manage to oust this ignoramus from the seat of power .
Now that he ’ s used a gunfight to liven up the festivities , Trump will have to come up with something new to distract the audience tomorrow .
Trained seals , perhaps ?
Nah , Trump never likes being upstaged by anyone smarter than himself .
We want to hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

Donald Trump’s press conference finally got some excitement to liven up the boring drone of the president poorly trying to read and recite the pre-prepared words that his aides put before him.
Unfortunately, it took the Secret Service rushing him out of the briefing room due to a shooting that took place outside the White House to generate excitement today, with no sustained push back by White House correspondents to the president’s litany of lies, dystopian visions for America if the country does not re-elect him, and outrageously false allegations against his Democratic opponents.
Sadly, Trump quickly returned to the podium after a short lockdown and continued to slather his verbal manure on the public.
Here are the highlights from today’s briefing, cheerfully compiled by Vox’s Aaron Rupar.
Trump began with a staple of his recent public comments, the incredible dangers of universal suffrage as enabled during this pandemic by mail-in ballots, a hyped-up, phony danger that he combined with another of his delusional predictions that the COVID-19 virus would disappear just in time for Election Day.
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1292942452433747969?s=20
Despite speculation that the sudden presidential evacuation was another one of Trump’s distractive moves to get you to take your eye off the card that he’s about to palm in his political three-card monte game, the interruption turned out to be more legitimate than anything that was subsequently uttered by the president during the rest of the news conference.
Deep thoughts with Trump: "The world has always been a dangerous place. Not something that is unique. You look back over the centuries, the world has been a dangerous place, very dangerous place, and it will continue, I guess, for a period of time." pic.twitter.com/pQfjDSW6Xw — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
If only we had a president who was capable of making the world less dangerous rather than this virtual arsonist of a chief executive.
In an effort to hype the economy, Trump claims "a lot of car companies" are "moving in" to Michigan, which I don't think is true pic.twitter.com/hjb2w4malo — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
As someone born into enough wealth that he could squander his inheritance and still have enough money to play at being rich, Trump seems to think that every American has a stock portfolio and a 401K that will be greatly affected by his intentions to propose a capital gains tax cut yet again, a cut that will only benefit those who need the least assistance during the current crisis.
The president cried wolf again by raising the promise of a middle-class tax cut, the kind the Republicans somehow forgot to include in their last billionaire tax giveaway.
Trump still hasn't figured out that coronavirus testing does not cause Covid cases. People in America really have a disease that has killed 163,000 of them. pic.twitter.com/44mOwoNpzt — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
Rupar is giving Trump too much credit in attributing Trump’s stubborn insistence that coronavirus cases are somehow caused by testing to stupidity rather than self-interested malice.
Take his comparisons in the caseloads experienced by Japan and Australia to that here in the U.S.
Even a complete moron knows when one number is bigger than another, so intentional misinformation is the only explanation for this next comment. That and a stunningly low estimation of the intelligence of the American public.
Trump tries to shift blame to China: "We must stop politicizing the virus and instead be united in our condemnation of how this virus came to America, how this virus came to the world, & we are going to figure it out, and we are going to find out, and we are very angry about it." pic.twitter.com/Q5MQatlWXt — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
The president engages in revisionist history once again here.
Trump on February 7th: “Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation.”
Speaking of revisionist history, it takes a complete reversal of IQ to buy Trump’s claims that his payroll tax deferral instituted by yesterday’s executive order won’t damage Social Security and Medicare which are mostly funded by that income deduction. Believing what Trump says about that won’t be nearly as harmful, however, as accepting his cynically ignorant and damaging assertion that children are not harmed by catching coronavirus.
Funny, we don’t see him volunteering Barron to demonstrate the validity of his claims.
REPORTER: 97,000 children tested positive for coronavirus in the last week of July. Does that give you any pause about schools reopening for in-person learning? TRUMP: No REPORTER: So do you still think kids are essentially immune? TRUMP: Yeah [this is false — kids can die] pic.twitter.com/5UCuRkOuRK — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
Ambulance-chasing lawyers are salivating as we speak over the class-action suits that this statement from the president will likely inspire…if the GOP isn’t successful in passing a liability suit ban as part of any negotiated pandemic relief bill — if one is even possible after Trump’s executive order antics.
Now it was time for the president to try to instill the fear of a nightmarish post-Trumpian world under a prospective Biden administration.
If Trump had any ambition to become the host of a TV horror anthology series in his dotage, someone should suggest that he abandon them immediately, since his scare tactics are so literally incredible as to inspire derision at their ludicrousness.
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1292952843192868865?s=20
Trump’s attempts to paint himself as the savior of those with pre-existing conditions when the Obamacare legislation currently in effect that already guarantees those protections is being assaulted in the federal courts by his own Department of Justice is an audacious move that further insults the intelligence of anyone with the slightest bit of civic awareness.
President Infowars claims without evidence that China "released" the coronavirus into the US pic.twitter.com/fFCbpXXAIc — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
With this number of lies packed into a brief press conference, Trump can certainly lay claim to preserving the jobs of media fact-checkers across the country.
Trump made sure to keep his Russian handlers happy with his next set of answers to the assembled press.
REPORTER: If 160,000 people had died on Obama's watch, would you have called for his resignation? TRUMP: No [Trump called for Obama to resign over ebola, which didn't kill anyone in the US!] pic.twitter.com/mkJ3T4r1vr — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
With few reporters daring to challenge the president’s nonsensical responses to their questions, Trump let the Q & A go on a bit longer than he has at most recent press briefings. He ended by deigning to take a question from a foreign reporter from Brazil and from one of the audience plants from OAN.
Trump wraps up the briefing with a question from Chanel Rion of ultra-bootlicking OAN and uses it as an opportunity to rub his favorite old sores about the Russia investigation pic.twitter.com/jFpV0zi3PE — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
There you have it. Your daily dose of that which makes you ashamed to be an American until we manage to oust this ignoramus from the seat of power.
Now that he’s used a gunfight to liven up the festivities, Trump will have to come up with something new to distract the audience tomorrow.
Trained seals, perhaps? Nah, Trump never likes being upstaged by anyone smarter than himself.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Aaron Rupar at Vox.
We want to hear what YOU have to say. Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section!
Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-10--Trump returns to podium after evacuation, says Secret Service has shot someone

Donald Trump ’ s White House press briefing was ended abruptly today mid-remarks .
A Secret Service agent approached the president , whispered something in his ear , then quickly escorted him out of the room .
Reporters and photographers were visible in the live stream rushing to the window to apparently view something going on outside .
Bloomberg ’ s Jennifer Jacobs reported via Twitter that Trump was “ evacuated ” and that an agent locked the briefing room doors from the outside .
It ’ s as yet unclear what occurred , but there are unconfirmed reports on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angle of the moment appears to show the agent telling the president : “ We have shots fired outside.
” Trump returned to the podium and stated that there was a “ shooting ” outside of the White House but that it is now “ under control.
” “ Somebody ’ s been taken to the hospital .
I don ’ t know the condition of the person .
It seems that the person was shot by Secret Service so we ’ ll see what happens , ” Trump said .
He further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured .
The president then quickly moved on to discussing his usual talking points .
THIS STORY WILL BE UPDATED AS SOON AS MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE .

Donald Trump’s White House press briefing was ended abruptly today mid-remarks. A Secret Service agent approached the president, whispered something in his ear, then quickly escorted him out of the room. Reporters and photographers were visible in the live stream rushing to the window to apparently view something going on outside.
Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs reported via Twitter that Trump was “evacuated” and that an agent locked the briefing room doors from the outside. It’s as yet unclear what occurred, but there are unconfirmed reports on Twitter of shots being fired.
One angle of the moment appears to show the agent telling the president: “We have shots fired outside.”
Trump returned to the podium and stated that there was a “shooting” outside of the White House but that it is now “under control.”
“Somebody’s been taken to the hospital. I don’t know the condition of the person. It seems that the person was shot by Secret Service so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said. He further claimed that no law enforcement officers were injured. The president then quickly moved on to discussing his usual talking points.
Deep thoughts with Trump: "The world has always been a dangerous place. Not something that is unique. You look back over the centuries, the world has been a dangerous place, very dangerous place, and it will continue, I guess, for a period of time." pic.twitter.com/pQfjDSW6Xw — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
BREAKING: Trump evacuated from White House Briefing Room, cause unknown pic.twitter.com/zBqTpP5Jvn — BNO News (@BNONews) August 10, 2020
TRUMP EVACUATED from White House press briefing room by US Secret Service. An agent locked the briefing room doors from the exterior. pic.twitter.com/El9Xi4lAlE — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) August 10, 2020
JUST IN: @johnrobertsFox reports the sounds of shots fired near the White House, developing — Sean Langille (@SeanLangille) August 10, 2020
Camera crews and producers moved off Pebble Beach. Reports of shots fired. This is all developing pic.twitter.com/zA6rFN5MCp — Christian Datoc (@TocRadio) August 10, 2020
THIS STORY WILL BE UPDATED AS SOON AS MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
OD STAFF Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-10--Trump is evacuated from press briefing room by Secret Service minutes into presser

Donald Trump ’ s White House press briefing was ended abruptly today mid-remarks .
A Secret Service agent approached the @ @ @ @ @ his ear , then quickly escorted him out of the room .
Reporters and photographers @ @ @ @ @ stream rushing to the window to apparently view something going on outside .
Bloomberg ’ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter that Trump was “ evacuated ” and that an agent locked the briefing room @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s as yet unclear what occurred , but there are unconfirmed reports on @ @ @ @ @ .
One angle of the moment appears to show the agent telling the president : @ @ @ @ @ outside.
” This story is still developing .
THIS STORY WILL BE UPDATED AS SOON @ @ @ @ @ .

Donald Trump’s White House press briefing was ended abruptly today mid-remarks. A Secret Service agent approached the president, whispered something in his ear, then quickly escorted him out of the room. Reporters and photographers were visible in the live stream rushing to the window to apparently view something going on outside.
Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs reported via Twitter that Trump was “evacuated” and that an agent locked the briefing room doors from the outside. It’s as yet unclear what occurred, but there are unconfirmed reports on Twitter of shots being fired.
One angle of the moment appears to show the agent telling the president: “We have shots fired outside.”
This story is still developing.
BREAKING: Trump evacuated from White House Briefing Room, cause unknown pic.twitter.com/zBqTpP5Jvn — BNO News (@BNONews) August 10, 2020
TRUMP EVACUATED from White House press briefing room by US Secret Service. An agent locked the briefing room doors from the exterior. pic.twitter.com/El9Xi4lAlE — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) August 10, 2020
JUST IN: @johnrobertsFox reports the sounds of shots fired near the White House, developing — Sean Langille (@SeanLangille) August 10, 2020
Camera crews and producers moved off Pebble Beach. Reports of shots fired. This is all developing pic.twitter.com/zA6rFN5MCp — Christian Datoc (@TocRadio) August 10, 2020
THIS STORY WILL BE UPDATED AS SOON AS MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
OD STAFF Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-10--Trump gets a major roasting for proposing Gettysburg as location for his GOP nomination speech

Philosopher George Santayana originally coined that famous quote back in 1905 , but it is still being proven true with each and every passing day of the presidency of Donald Trump .
That truism came to mind today when the president tweeted that he had narrowed his choices for the location of his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination to two locations : the White House — which would present a problematic co-mingling of politics and official government business and “ The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , ” as Trump refers to the site of the turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19th century Civil War .
Reactions to the introduction of the Civil War battlefield as a potential location for Trump ’ s acceptance speech was swift and pointed in a manner that demonstrates that , while the president may have failed to learn the lessons of history , many others have studied it sufficiently enough to get didactic with the learning-adverse occupant of the White House .
Perhaps not the reaction that Trump — who often laughably boasts that he has done more for African Americans than any president since Lincoln graced Gettysburgh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but certainly one that this president deserves for attempting another episode of stolen valor from a bone-spur-claiming , draft-dodging incompetent liar .
It won ’ t matter where Trump decides to accept the GOP nomination .
The latest polls show that the American people are finally onto his con and that only massive cheating and electoral interference can save him now .
Let ’ s hope that that majority of us who have learned from the history of the past three years don ’ t repeat the mistakes of 2016 .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Philosopher George Santayana originally coined that famous quote back in 1905, but it is still being proven true with each and every passing day of the presidency of Donald Trump.
That truism came to mind today when the president tweeted that he had narrowed his choices for the location of his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination to two locations: the White House — which would present a problematic co-mingling of politics and official government business and “The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,” as Trump refers to the site of the turning of the tide in America’s 19th century Civil War.
We have narrowed the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, to be delivered on the final night of the Convention (Thursday), to two locations – The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the White House, Washington, D.C. We will announce the decision soon! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020
Reactions to the introduction of the Civil War battlefield as a potential location for Trump’s acceptance speech was swift and pointed in a manner that demonstrates that, while the president may have failed to learn the lessons of history, many others have studied it sufficiently enough to get didactic with the learning-adverse occupant of the White House.
He’s all about the Big Reveal — Suzanne Elva (@SuzanneCayman) August 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/Tacticus22/status/1292872751758233600?s=20
“Four whores and seven attorneys ago” — FredSanford (@FredSan56422496) August 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/Jaymie65195962/status/1292891381543735297?s=20
Perhaps not the reaction that Trump — who often laughably boasts that he has done more for African Americans than any president since Lincoln graced Gettysburgh with his speechifying — was looking for, but certainly one that this president deserves for attempting another episode of stolen valor from a bone-spur-claiming, draft-dodging incompetent liar.
It won’t matter where Trump decides to accept the GOP nomination.
The latest polls show that the American people are finally onto his con and that only massive cheating and electoral interference can save him now.
Let’s hope that that majority of us who have learned from the history of the past three years don’t repeat the mistakes of 2016.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
We want to hear what YOU have to say. Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section!
Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-10--Sen. Ed Markey torches Ted Cruz for mocking his plan to help unemployed Americans

So reviled by at least half the population , given today ’ s polarized society , and so removed from the lives of the people that they are meant to represent , many political leaders get so disconnected from the everyday reality of their constituents that they lay the groundwork for their own obsolescence as effective representatives of the needs and desires of their prospective voters .
Take , for example , Senator Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) .
Here is a man who has done everything he can to further remove himself from the lives of the people he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abandon the Hispanic-sounding first name , Raphael , that would align him with Texas ’ sizeable Latinx population in favor of the “ Ted ” that allowed him to move more comfortably in the Anglo-controlled corridors of his State ’ s political elite .
The distance between Senator Cruz and the working classes of Texas seemed particularly pronounced in the sarcastic tweet he posted in response to a proposal on how to fairly treat Americans suffering from the economic devastation caused by the Trump administration ’ s incompetent response to the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ed Markey ( D-MA ) .
Markey ’ s sensible proposal mirrors a strategy successfully employed by several European countries that delivers money directly to their countries ’ citizens rather than funneling it to big businesses and large corporate interests , suggesting payments of $ 2000 a month to every person regardless of their current income during the pandemic as a way to encourage people to stay at home until the virus is defeated while ensuring that they have enough cash to cover food and shelter as the necessary nationwide shut-downs work their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrates not only how little he cares about the ability of ordinary Americans to survive in these desperate times , but how little he knows about how far $ 2000 a month will get you in parts of the country where you couldn ’ t even rent a one-bedroom apartment for that sum , much less have anything left over for food and medical expenses .
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
Funny how Cruz had no objection to a “ magic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Republicans were handing out trillions of dollars in tax reductions to their wealthy billionaire donors .
There seemed to be plenty of fruit to spread around back then .
Senator Markey saw Cruz ’ s response of imperial disdain and tried to bring his colleague back to the reality faced by those Americans who don ’ t have the luxury of congressional perks and deep-pocketed donors .
The sudden parsimoniousness of Cruz and his fellow members of the GOP when it comes to finding a solution to our current economic situation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has presided over all of the worst economic declines in this country during the past 100 years , with Democrats continually forced to clean up their financial messes and gigantic macroeconomic blunders .
It is so obviously apparent that Cruz and his gang of Republican self-dealers have no interest in any solution that will call on those who have suffered the least and profited the most from the pandemic — the same ultra-wealthy oligarchs who received an undeserved windfall from the 2o17 tax giveaway — to go back to paying a more reasonable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Treasury ’ s coffers .
The amenities that Cruz facetiously imagines that those Americans not fortunate enough to have been born into fabulous wealth would be spending their government stimulus money on may actually be commonplace in the circles that the senator travels in , but ask yourself , why do only billionaires deserve soy lattes and foot massages ?
If Cruz thinks that his Calvinistic view of rewards only going to those who work hard and diligently , then why is he joining his congressional colleagues in taking yet another vacation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do to solve the multiple crises that the pandemic — and Donald Trump have caused ?
One can only surmise that when politicians have their own “ magic money tree ” and hoard its benefits all to themselves and those who contribute to their re-election campaigns it does something to their minds that causes their brains , their ethics , and their common sense to dissolve .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

Pity the poor politician!
So reviled by at least half the population, given today’s polarized society, and so removed from the lives of the people that they are meant to represent, many political leaders get so disconnected from the everyday reality of their constituents that they lay the groundwork for their own obsolescence as effective representatives of the needs and desires of their prospective voters.
Take, for example, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).
Here is a man who has done everything he can to further remove himself from the lives of the people he represents, going so far as to abandon the Hispanic-sounding first name, Raphael, that would align him with Texas’ sizeable Latinx population in favor of the “Ted” that allowed him to move more comfortably in the Anglo-controlled corridors of his State’s political elite.
The distance between Senator Cruz and the working classes of Texas seemed particularly pronounced in the sarcastic tweet he posted in response to a proposal on how to fairly treat Americans suffering from the economic devastation caused by the Trump administration’s incompetent response to the coronavirus pandemic as tweeted by his congressional colleague Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).
Markey’s sensible proposal mirrors a strategy successfully employed by several European countries that delivers money directly to their countries’ citizens rather than funneling it to big businesses and large corporate interests, suggesting payments of $2000 a month to every person regardless of their current income during the pandemic as a way to encourage people to stay at home until the virus is defeated while ensuring that they have enough cash to cover food and shelter as the necessary nationwide shut-downs work their virus-strangling magic.
Cruz’s response demonstrates not only how little he cares about the ability of ordinary Americans to survive in these desperate times, but how little he knows about how far $2000 a month will get you in parts of the country where you couldn’t even rent a one-bedroom apartment for that sum, much less have anything left over for food and medical expenses.
Why be so cheap? Give everyone $1 million a day, every day, forever. And three soy lattes a day. And a foot massage. We have a magic money tree — we should use it! https://t.co/0ODgPBhc4O — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 10, 2020
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
Funny how Cruz had no objection to a “magic money tree” when he and other Senate Republicans were handing out trillions of dollars in tax reductions to their wealthy billionaire donors. There seemed to be plenty of fruit to spread around back then.
Senator Markey saw Cruz’s response of imperial disdain and tried to bring his colleague back to the reality faced by those Americans who don’t have the luxury of congressional perks and deep-pocketed donors.
It's not a goddamn joke Ted. Millions of families are facing hunger, the threat of eviction, and the loss of their health care during a pandemic that is worsening every day. Get real. https://t.co/z6ygY8lSxc — Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) August 10, 2020
The sudden parsimoniousness of Cruz and his fellow members of the GOP when it comes to finding a solution to our current economic situation is unsurprising given the fact that their party has presided over all of the worst economic declines in this country during the past 100 years, with Democrats continually forced to clean up their financial messes and gigantic macroeconomic blunders.
It is so obviously apparent that Cruz and his gang of Republican self-dealers have no interest in any solution that will call on those who have suffered the least and profited the most from the pandemic — the same ultra-wealthy oligarchs who received an undeserved windfall from the 2o17 tax giveaway — to go back to paying a more reasonable share of their considerable profits into the U.S. Treasury’s coffers.
The amenities that Cruz facetiously imagines that those Americans not fortunate enough to have been born into fabulous wealth would be spending their government stimulus money on may actually be commonplace in the circles that the senator travels in, but ask yourself, why do only billionaires deserve soy lattes and foot massages?
If Cruz thinks that his Calvinistic view of rewards only going to those who work hard and diligently, then why is he joining his congressional colleagues in taking yet another vacation recess when there is still so much to do to solve the multiple crises that the pandemic — and Donald Trump have caused?
One can only surmise that when politicians have their own “magic money tree” and hoard its benefits all to themselves and those who contribute to their re-election campaigns it does something to their minds that causes their brains, their ethics, and their common sense to dissolve.
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Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-10--Rubio gets slammed for claiming there’s good news about child COVID infections

You have to give Senator Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) an “ A ” for effort .
Even if his grade for the understanding of science would be a solid “ F , ” the Florida senator — who is known for his fondness for tweeting out hypocritical bible verses to disguise his deplorable conservative/anti-humanist agenda — keeps trying to spin the harsh reality of trying to open schools in a pandemic into the least damaging light for Republicans who have failed mightily in their feeble efforts to prevent the coronavirus from spreading like soft cream cheese on a toasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding a silver lining in the news about the quick shuttering of a Georgia high school because of active COVID-19 infections — just days after a student there was suspended for posting a photo of the school ’ s hallways crowded with maskless teenagers — fell spectacularly flat after he sent this tweet : Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
Besides Rubio ’ s shaky grasp of the epidemiology of this virus which can lead to one out of three children infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rate among adults and hardy “ low-risk ” — according to one study , the senator ignores a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children ’ s Hospital Association which found that “ at least 97,000 children around the United States tested positive in the last two weeks of July , ” pointing to children being a significant potential source of further spread of the virus to their families and friends .
It didn ’ t take long for critics on social media to pile onto Rubio for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of opening schools during a pandemic to try to advance Republican electoral goals .
At this point , few people actually expect much better than this type of partisan propaganda from Sentator Marco Rubio .
At least it ’ s good to know that a good proportion of the public sees right through his pitiful bleatings and into the core of his erroneous and deceitful soul .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

You have to give Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) an “A” for effort.
Even if his grade for the understanding of science would be a solid “F,” the Florida senator — who is known for his fondness for tweeting out hypocritical bible verses to disguise his deplorable conservative/anti-humanist agenda — keeps trying to spin the harsh reality of trying to open schools in a pandemic into the least damaging light for Republicans who have failed mightily in their feeble efforts to prevent the coronavirus from spreading like soft cream cheese on a toasted bagel.
Rubio’s efforts at finding a silver lining in the news about the quick shuttering of a Georgia high school because of active COVID-19 infections — just days after a student there was suspended for posting a photo of the school’s hallways crowded with maskless teenagers — fell spectacularly flat after he sent this tweet:
Any setting in which people interact will lead to infections The good news is these infected students are at very low risk of complications The key is:
-lowering risk of student infections
-more importantly lowering risk of students infecting staff or high risk family members https://t.co/rdvQT3IqdH — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 10, 2020
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
Besides Rubio’s shaky grasp of the epidemiology of this virus which can lead to one out of three children infected admitted to the ICU — similar to the rate among adults and hardy “low-risk”— according to one study, the senator ignores a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association which found that “at least 97,000 children around the United States tested positive in the last two weeks of July,” pointing to children being a significant potential source of further spread of the virus to their families and friends.
It didn’t take long for critics on social media to pile onto Rubio for his self-serving attempts to downplay the risks of opening schools during a pandemic to try to advance Republican electoral goals.
I live in Florida and the GOP govoner and legislature care nothing about the citizens. Their focus is their greed and ambition. — Savannah Starbuck (@SavannahStarbu1) August 10, 2020
At this point, few people actually expect much better than this type of partisan propaganda from Sentator Marco Rubio.
At least it’s good to know that a good proportion of the public sees right through his pitiful bleatings and into the core of his erroneous and deceitful soul.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Brad Reed at RawStory.
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Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-08-10--Trump lashes out after Scaramucci trashes his virus response on Fox

Since leaving the Trump administration ( where he served a historically short tenure of eleven days as White House Communications Director ) , Anthony Scaramucci has transformed himself into one of the more outspoken critics of the president .
While the apparent change of heart is likely far more opportunistic than genuine it has had the desirable effect of agitating Trump .
Scaramucci spoke with Fox News ’ s Steve Hilton last night , and the conversation quickly became contentious as the former comms chief accurately stated that President Trump has been inappropriately injecting partisan politics into the COVID-19 response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re leaving out here is that the president has actually failed on his mission , ” said Scaramucci .
“ Number one , the economy is upside down .
You have thirteen percent unemployment for the African American community .
Number two , he ’ s politicized the science around the pandemic , ” he added , going on to point out that other countries have handled the coronavirus far more competently .
“ And the last thing and I ’ ll let you talk of course because it ’ s your show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important thing for me , about the Republican Party we are shrinking the tent here , and so in order to expand the tent , we have to reframe and reengineer the Republican Party , ” said Scaramucci .
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay the election !
Hilton hit back against Scaramucci ’ s surprisingly sober headed and considerate analysis of the disaster Trump has become for the GOP by attacking him for supporting Joe Biden in the 2020 election .
“ Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important issue for every small business out there for jobs and growth .
In 2016 , Anthony , you said that regulation is crushing growth .
Now you want it much higher than even it was then .
Why ?
” asked Hilton .
“ But it is because you ’ re backing Joe Biden , who wants that too .
You ’ re backing those policies .
If you don ’ t want it , why are you backing the candidate who supports that ?
” Hilton asked , seemingly not understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting Biden against Trump doesn ’ t mean you support every single one of Biden ’ s policies .
Scaramucci responded by reeling off a number of different ways Trump is hurting the country , from bullying voters to his constant lying .
Hilton then acted as if Scaramucci ’ s concerns are all about Trump ’ s tweeting , intentionally misinterpreting his words and talking over him .
“ Go ahead , talk over me , ” said Scaamucci , getting visibly irritated .
From there the two went back and forth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hilton worked to create an economic case for voting for Trump while ignoring the meat of Scaramucci ’ s criticism .
“ He ’ s a divider .
He divides people .
He incenses people .
He ’ s creating hate in our democracy .
And now you ’ re a conservative , look at what he ’ s doing with these executive declarations .
It ’ s absolutely insane .
It ’ s not even inside the ambit of the Constitution Steven .
You know that .
You know that Steven , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again twisting Scaramucci ’ s words and immediately moving on to another topic .
Scaramucci again stood up for himself , re-explained the risks Trump poses to the GOP , and slammed the president for blowing a “ racist dog whistle.
” Hilton responded by ridiculously trying to characterize Biden as the racist candidate .
The appearance clearly irritated our television-addicted president because he took to Twitter to call Scaramucci a “ fool ” who got fired from his “ favorite of all time Administration ” for being a “ fool.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come back .
I said ‘ No Thanks ’ , ” claimed Trump , conveniently ignoring the fact that it was he who fired this “ fool ” and “ loser.
” This president has a well-documented pattern of hiring people and then attacking them the moment they leave his service and start honestly discussing his White House .
At this point , the only “ fool ” is the person who believes a word this man says .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !

Since leaving the Trump administration (where he served a historically short tenure of eleven days as White House Communications Director), Anthony Scaramucci has transformed himself into one of the more outspoken critics of the president. While the apparent change of heart is likely far more opportunistic than genuine it has had the desirable effect of agitating Trump.
Scaramucci spoke with Fox News’s Steve Hilton last night, and the conversation quickly became contentious as the former comms chief accurately stated that President Trump has been inappropriately injecting partisan politics into the COVID-19 response and discourse.
“What you’re leaving out here is that the president has actually failed on his mission,” said Scaramucci. “Number one, the economy is upside down. You have thirteen percent unemployment for the African American community. Number two, he’s politicized the science around the pandemic,” he added, going on to point out that other countries have handled the coronavirus far more competently.
“And the last thing and I’ll let you talk of course because it’s your show, but the last thing, the most important thing for me, about the Republican Party we are shrinking the tent here, and so in order to expand the tent, we have to reframe and reengineer the Republican Party,” said Scaramucci.
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
Hilton hit back against Scaramucci’s surprisingly sober headed and considerate analysis of the disaster Trump has become for the GOP by attacking him for supporting Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
“Let’s start with regulation, an important issue for every small business out there for jobs and growth. In 2016, Anthony, you said that regulation is crushing growth. Now you want it much higher than even it was then. Why?” asked Hilton.
“That’s not what I want,” responded Scaramucci.
“But it is because you’re backing Joe Biden, who wants that too. You’re backing those policies. If you don’t want it, why are you backing the candidate who supports that?” Hilton asked, seemingly not understanding or choosing to ignore the fact that supporting Biden against Trump doesn’t mean you support every single one of Biden’s policies.
Scaramucci responded by reeling off a number of different ways Trump is hurting the country, from bullying voters to his constant lying. Hilton then acted as if Scaramucci’s concerns are all about Trump’s tweeting, intentionally misinterpreting his words and talking over him.
“Go ahead, talk over me,” said Scaamucci, getting visibly irritated. From there the two went back and forth, largely talking past each other as Hilton worked to create an economic case for voting for Trump while ignoring the meat of Scaramucci’s criticism.
“He’s a divider. He divides people. He incenses people. He’s creating hate in our democracy. And now you’re a conservative, look at what he’s doing with these executive declarations. It’s absolutely insane. It’s not even inside the ambit of the Constitution Steven. You know that. You know that Steven, ” said.
Hilton responded by once again twisting Scaramucci’s words and immediately moving on to another topic. Scaramucci again stood up for himself, re-explained the risks Trump poses to the GOP, and slammed the president for blowing a “racist dog whistle.” Hilton responded by ridiculously trying to characterize Biden as the racist candidate.
The appearance clearly irritated our television-addicted president because he took to Twitter to call Scaramucci a “fool” who got fired from his “favorite of all time Administration” for being a “fool.”
“Anthony is a loser who begged to come back. I said ‘No Thanks’,” claimed Trump, conveniently ignoring the fact that it was he who fired this “fool” and “loser.” This president has a well-documented pattern of hiring people and then attacking them the moment they leave his service and start honestly discussing his White House. At this point, the only “fool” is the person who believes a word this man says.
.@Scaramucci, who just made a fool of himself as he got taken apart by @SteveHiltonx, only lasted 11 days in his favorite of all time Administration, before being fired for, again, making a fool of himself. Anthony is a loser who begged to come back. I said “No Thanks”. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020
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occupydemocrats--2020-08-10--Twitter trashes Jim “Gym” Jordan for putting students at risk with call for college ball during pand

Twitter trashes Jim “Gym” Jordan for putting students at risk with call for college ball during pandemic

As the coronavirus crisis continues to worsen across the country , the Republican response has by and large been to try to normalize the mass infection , hospitalizations and deaths that regular Americans ( but not them , of course ) must suffer at the hands of the virus that the President and his cronies allowed to spread across the nation .
First they bitterly protested the lockdowns and quarantines , then tried to fight against the use of masks and began pushing for schools to re-open .
The latest health crisis issue turned culture war battle is over college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in serious doubt as schools cancel their programs and students refuse to put their lungs at risk .
Rep. Ben Sasse ( R-NE ) sparked controversy this morning when he wrote a letter to the presidents of the “ Big Ten ” universities demanding that they play the college football season anyway despite the pandemic .
He was quickly joined by Rep. Jim “ Gym ” Jordan , who echoed that America “ needs ” college football .
In reality , the only people who “ need ” college football are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding any solution to the coronavirus crisis and are desperately trying to make everyone believe that everything is fine .
Even in normal circumstances , sports provide a blessed respite from the unceasingly soul-crushing pressures and petty tyrannies of living in American society , and the GOP now need it more than ever to distract the nation from the COVID-19 crisis — and keep them from focusing on the GOP ’ s role in deliberately exacerbating the crisis .
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump ’ s dictatorial call to delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fury at Jim Jordan , who infamously looked the other way while former Ohio State team doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused his students while Jordan was an assistant coach there .
Having already proven that he doesn ’ t care about the wellbeing of his students , Jordan is the last person who should be advocating for college ball during a pandemic — as Twitter users were quick to remind him .

As the coronavirus crisis continues to worsen across the country, the Republican response has by and large been to try to normalize the mass infection, hospitalizations and deaths that regular Americans (but not them, of course) must suffer at the hands of the virus that the President and his cronies allowed to spread across the nation.
First they bitterly protested the lockdowns and quarantines, then tried to fight against the use of masks and began pushing for schools to re-open. The latest health crisis issue turned culture war battle is over college football, the 2020 season of which is in serious doubt as schools cancel their programs and students refuse to put their lungs at risk.
Rep. Ben Sasse (R-NE) sparked controversy this morning when he wrote a letter to the presidents of the “Big Ten” universities demanding that they play the college football season anyway despite the pandemic.
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) has drafted a letter that he plans to send to Big Ten presidents, identifying reasons why he believes college football should be played.@SINow obtained a copy. Sasse is a former university president. pic.twitter.com/xrpRjiWREf — Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 10, 2020
He was quickly joined by Rep. Jim “Gym” Jordan, who echoed that America “needs” college football.
America needs college football. — Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 10, 2020
In reality, the only people who “need” college football are the Republicans, who have entirely given up finding any solution to the coronavirus crisis and are desperately trying to make everyone believe that everything is fine. Even in normal circumstances, sports provide a blessed respite from the unceasingly soul-crushing pressures and petty tyrannies of living in American society, and the GOP now need it more than ever to distract the nation from the COVID-19 crisis — and keep them from focusing on the GOP’s role in deliberately exacerbating the crisis.
Add your name to demand Congress reject Trump’s dictatorial call to delay the election!
Social media immediately erupted in fury at Jim Jordan, who infamously looked the other way while former Ohio State team doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused his students while Jordan was an assistant coach there. Having already proven that he doesn’t care about the wellbeing of his students, Jordan is the last person who should be advocating for college ball during a pandemic — as Twitter users were quick to remind him.
I’m shocked — SHOCKED! — that Jim Jordan wouldn’t care about the safety of student athletes. https://t.co/9QA89POwJY — Miranda Yaver (@mirandayaver) August 10, 2020
shocking that Jim Jordan doesn't care about the welfare of college athletes it's almost as if he stood by idly while countless college wrestlers were abused by their team doctor and his weirdo friends https://t.co/cIjsmLZp0w — David Bixenspan (@davidbix) August 10, 2020
Imagine being the elected official who thinks risking the long-term health and wellfare of unpaid young (mostly black) men is what America “needs” during a pandemic— Oh wait. Never mind. This is entirely on brand for Jim Jordan. pic.twitter.com/uwEgEzqj8E — andrewkarre (@andrewkarre) August 10, 2020
stay the hell out of the showers you sicko — mike (getting worried) (@aniceburrito) August 10, 2020
oh, so NOW you choose to speak up on an issue affecting college athletes hmm. — Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) August 10, 2020
People like Jim Jordan who won’t wear a mask are the reason there’ll be no college football https://t.co/IOjyXSdpz8 pic.twitter.com/TYrpGbuHPf — Matt Blakely (@mattwblakely) August 10, 2020
Apparently it's not only wrestlers that Jim Jordan is willing to put in danger. — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) August 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/verysmallanna/status/1292856421965537280?s=20
America needs Jim Jordan in jail for enabling sexual abuse on the wrestling team at Ohio State https://t.co/6db9Yd7PpH — Icculus The Brave (@FirenzeMike) August 10, 2020
Colin Taylor Opinion columnist and former editor-in-chief of Occupy Democrats. He graduated from Bennington College with a Bachelor's degree in history and political science. He now focuses on advancing the cause of social justice and equality in America. Latest Posts