occupydemocrats--2020-05-04--Schumer tears into McConnell for wasting time on Trump’s judges while virus rages

Not even a global pandemic can convince the Republican Party to prioritize the welfare of the American people over their own political interests .
The GOP ’ s dual stranglehold over the Senate and Oval Office is an incredible liability at a time when the federal government needs to be able to react quickly to the constantly shifting nature of this viral outbreak .
Instead , we find ourselves in an inevitable position in which any measures enacted have to be watered down to appease a conservative movement innately disdainful of government and pathologically averse to any kind of federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit the super-wealthy .
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans ’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save the stock market !
Earlier today , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) took a stand and called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) over his party ’ s failure to do enough for those suffering due to the current crisis .
Schumer specifically criticized McConnell ’ s obsession with passing judicial nominees when he should be far more focused on COVID-19 .
“ We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have enough tests .
Months ago , in early March , here ’ s what President Trump said : ‘ Anybody who needs a test gets a test.
’ It was a lie then , it remains a lie now , ” said Schumer .
“ Leader McConnell must hear this .
Right now Leader McConnell and the Republican majority should shelve the divisive judicial fights and the partisan , divisive red lines .
Let ’ s focus on working together : to heal the sick , employ the unemployed , stabilize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer shared similar sentiments on his personal Twitter page , urging McConnell and the rest of the Senate Republicans to focus on helping Americans recover from the coronavirus outbreak instead of focusing on “ confirming right-wing judges or protecting big businesses that threaten to put workers at serious risk.
” The Senate Minority Leader ’ s assessment is spot on .
Americans are dying by the tens of thousands and still McConnell has his party focused single-mindedly on entrenching more right-wing lunatics in our court systems .
Under normal circumstances , McConnell ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a methodical assault on our democracy .
With a pandemic raging , his continued insistence on forcing through judges while the country struggles to get enough testing done is nothing short of abject evil .
People will die because of the GOP ’ s actions .
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Not even a global pandemic can convince the Republican Party to prioritize the welfare of the American people over their own political interests. The GOP’s dual stranglehold over the Senate and Oval Office is an incredible liability at a time when the federal government needs to be able to react quickly to the constantly shifting nature of this viral outbreak.
Instead, we find ourselves in an inevitable position in which any measures enacted have to be watered down to appease a conservative movement innately disdainful of government and pathologically averse to any kind of federal economic action that doesn’t primarily benefit the super-wealthy.
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
Earlier today, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) took a stand and called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) over his party’s failure to do enough for those suffering due to the current crisis. Schumer specifically criticized McConnell’s obsession with passing judicial nominees when he should be far more focused on COVID-19.
“We need to know why we still don’t have enough tests. Months ago, in early March, here’s what President Trump said: ‘Anybody who needs a test gets a test.’ It was a lie then, it remains a lie now,” said Schumer.
Schumer criticizes McConnell for returning to do nominees before Covid work: "We need to know why we still don't have enough tests. Months ago, in early March, here's what President Trump said: 'Anybody who needs a test gets a test.' It was lie then, it remains a lie now." — Michael McAuliff (@mmcauliff) May 4, 2020
Fox News’ Chad Pergram reported on the McConnell-specific remarks.
“Leader McConnell must hear this. Right now Leader McConnell and the Republican majority should shelve the divisive judicial fights and the partisan, divisive red lines. Let’s focus on working together: to heal the sick, employ the unemployed, stabilize the economy,” said Schumer.
Schumer: Leader McConnell must hear this. Right now Leader McConnell and the Republican majority should shelve the divisive judicial fights and the partisan, divisive red lines. Let’s focus on working together: to heal the sick, employ the unemployed, stabilize the economy — Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 4, 2020
Schumer shared similar sentiments on his personal Twitter page, urging McConnell and the rest of the Senate Republicans to focus on helping Americans recover from the coronavirus outbreak instead of focusing on “confirming right-wing judges or protecting big businesses that threaten to put workers at serious risk.”
Senator McConnell and Senate Republicans must concentrate on helping Americans recover from COVID-19 not confirming right-wing judges or protecting big businesses that threaten to put workers at serious risk. — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 4, 2020
The Senate Minority Leader’s assessment is spot on. Americans are dying by the tens of thousands and still McConnell has his party focused single-mindedly on entrenching more right-wing lunatics in our court systems.
Under normal circumstances, McConnell’s judicial fixation should be seen as a methodical assault on our democracy. With a pandemic raging, his continued insistence on forcing through judges while the country struggles to get enough testing done is nothing short of abject evil. People will die because of the GOP’s actions.
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occupydemocrats--2020-05-04--Trump fans flood Boston, screaming “virus is a hoax”

The zombie apocalypse is here .
Or at least its closest approximation : a hoard of right-wing media-brainwashed Trump supporters gathering at statehouses across the country demanding that governments re-open so they have the right to spread deadly viruses to anyone that they encounter .
Of course , they don ’ t frame their protests in quite those words despite the fact that that is essentially the upshot of their demands .
Boston is the latest city to be beset by these mindless promoters of the freedom to prolong the COVID-19 pandemic by prematurely ending lockdown restrictions and business closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts State House for a so-called “ Liberty Rally ” organized by local right-wing radio provocateur Jeffrey Kuhner and the organizers of last September ’ s controversial Straight Pride Parade .
As described by The Boston Globe : “ Demonstrators brandished American flags and Trump 2020 signs , along with signs that read ‘ end the shutdown , ’ ‘ all jobs are essential , ’ and ‘ media is the virus . '
” Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans ’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those essentials-for-life like frosted tips , root touch-ups , and cool new tattoos , protestors demonstrated their complete abandonment of rationality and science for a denial of reality that is tragically insulting to those who have lost loved ones already to the pandemic on a day after even their feckless leader revised his death estimates from the initial projections of nearly zero cases to the six-figure revised estimate that he floated at his town hall last night .
Anyone dumb enough to take medical advice from a two-bit radio talk show charlatan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called a zombie , among many other choice words , particularly when a majority of them were refusing to wear face coverings for their own safety and more importantly those of the poor innocents who don ’ t share their delusions .
It ’ s a shame no one bothered to ask him his position on abortion restrictions .
With Republican-controlled states already relaxing restrictions on businesses before meeting CDC guidelines on when it will be safe to do so , we can expect social Darwinism to cull the ranks of some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be without collateral damage to others around them and to the long term prospects for their precious economy which will continue to flounder as a likely second wave of infections sweeps across the nation from a disease that has no proven cure , no vaccine , and a high rate of contagion and fatalities .
In the words of the late , great Afrobeat star Fela Kuti : Kuti wrote that song in reference to the blind obedience of the police in his native Nigeria , but it applies equally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ lies ” of the mainstream media and scientific experts , all while swallowing whole the evil and dangerous propaganda fed to them by self-interested right-wing media .
Don ’ t be a zombie .
Stay home .
Stay safe .
Wear a mask when you absolutely go out in public .
And let your legislators know that they should keep restrictions in place until the science says it ’ s safe to loosen them .
You can see some photos from the “ Liberty Rally ” in Boston in the tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 statistics in Massachusetts in about 14 days to see the results of their maskless protests .
Original reporting by Anissa Gardizy at The Boston Globe .
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The zombie apocalypse is here.
Or at least its closest approximation: a hoard of right-wing media-brainwashed Trump supporters gathering at statehouses across the country demanding that governments re-open so they have the right to spread deadly viruses to anyone that they encounter.
Of course, they don’t frame their protests in quite those words despite the fact that that is essentially the upshot of their demands.
Boston is the latest city to be beset by these mindless promoters of the freedom to prolong the COVID-19 pandemic by prematurely ending lockdown restrictions and business closures, as hundreds of proto-zombies surrounded the Massachusetts State House for a so-called “Liberty Rally” organized by local right-wing radio provocateur Jeffrey Kuhner and the organizers of last September’s controversial Straight Pride Parade.
As described by The Boston Globe: “Demonstrators brandished American flags and Trump 2020 signs, along with signs that read ‘end the shutdown,’ ‘all jobs are essential,’ and ‘media is the virus.'”
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
Risking their lives for those essentials-for-life like frosted tips, root touch-ups, and cool new tattoos, protestors demonstrated their complete abandonment of rationality and science for a denial of reality that is tragically insulting to those who have lost loved ones already to the pandemic on a day after even their feckless leader revised his death estimates from the initial projections of nearly zero cases to the six-figure revised estimate that he floated at his town hall last night.
“I’m not going to sugar coat this, America is committing national suicide,” Kuhner told the crowd. “I see churches closed, I see an economic collapse, thousands of businesses bankrupt and shuttered — all of this for a lousy virus? For a contagious flu at the absolute worse? This is not a pandemic.”
Anyone dumb enough to take medical advice from a two-bit radio talk show charlatan who denies scientific consensus deserves to be called a zombie, among many other choice words, particularly when a majority of them were refusing to wear face coverings for their own safety and more importantly those of the poor innocents who don’t share their delusions.
“We should be able to decide whether or not we want to work, social distance, or wear a mask,” said a 61-year-old biker who rode to tke protest from Cape Cod . “I think people are going to get hooked on government pay — it is government overreach.”
It’s a shame no one bothered to ask him his position on abortion restrictions.
With Republican-controlled states already relaxing restrictions on businesses before meeting CDC guidelines on when it will be safe to do so, we can expect social Darwinism to cull the ranks of some of these misguided protestors. Unfortunately, it won’t be without collateral damage to others around them and to the long term prospects for their precious economy which will continue to flounder as a likely second wave of infections sweeps across the nation from a disease that has no proven cure, no vaccine, and a high rate of contagion and fatalities.
In the words of the late, great Afrobeat star Fela Kuti:
“Zombie no go go, unless you tell ’em to go (zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell ’em to stop (zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell ’em to turn (zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell ’em to think (zombie)”
Kuti wrote that song in reference to the blind obedience of the police in his native Nigeria, but it applies equally to the blindly sheep-like protestors who decry the “lies” of the mainstream media and scientific experts, all while swallowing whole the evil and dangerous propaganda fed to them by self-interested right-wing media.
Don’t be a zombie. Stay home. Stay safe. Wear a mask when you absolutely have to go out in public.
And let your legislators know that they should keep restrictions in place until the science says it’s safe to loosen them.
You can see some photos from the “Liberty Rally” in Boston in the tweets attached below.
Remember to check the COVID-19 statistics in Massachusetts in about 14 days to see the results of their maskless protests.
Now chants of “USA! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” as crowd grows. pic.twitter.com/9BJNhQa7I2 — Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
Directed at @CharlieBakerMA and @marty_walsh: “We’re tired of your BS. We’re tired of your lies. We’re tired of you acting like wanna-be dictators … We don’t want your shutdown anymore!” Note: Polls have shown vast majority of ppl back Baker’s actions/restrictions in pandemic pic.twitter.com/EBudEAZ9L0 — Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
“It’s not a pandemic!” speaker claims. “The reason why they’re doing this … to turn the United States of America into the United Socialist States of America.” pic.twitter.com/O7fdaPQVck — Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
Before the protest, @CharlieBakerMA was asked about the objections to the restrictions and order he's put in place. "Look, I think all of us believe, collectively here, that the decisions that we’ve made were the ones we felt were the best among bad choices, OK." — Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
A few dozen protesters continue to linger, including one with a Ron Paul sign across the street pic.twitter.com/o4wD6snXez — Matt Stout (@MattPStout) May 4, 2020
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Original reporting by Anissa Gardizy at The Boston Globe.
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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--2020-05-04--U.S. mysteriously absent from major international virus vaccine summit

If you needed any more proof that the administration of Donald Trump is now more closely aligned with Russia than with our traditional European allies , just take a look at the effort to raise 7.5 billion Euros ( a little over $ 8 Billion ) for research to find a vaccine against the COVID-19 virus .
According to the Associated Press , a consortium of world leaders , organizations , and banks took part in a video conference summit hosted by the European Union today and raised the bulk of the funding they sought .
Conspicuously absent from participation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States and Russia , who have apparently decided that global cooperation is for socialist sissies .
A Trump administration official , speaking on conditions of anonymity to preserve their position since they weren ’ t authorized to discuss the issue publicly told the AP that “ the United States is in the process of providing $ 2.4 billion in global health , humanitarian , and economic assistance towards the COVID-19 response , and we continue to ensure that the substantial U.S. funding and scientific efforts on this front remain an essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against COVID-19.
” Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans ’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save the stock market !
None of that money , however , will go towards the World Health Organization which Donald Trump has repeatedly condemned as “ severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.
” Trump ’ s accusations against the WHO are typical of the president who routinely tries to shift blame for his own failings by attributing the exact same behavior that he is being accused of on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their fundraising goal , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was happy with the initial pledges made .
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that this initial round of funding would amount to a mere “ down-payment ” on the amount needed to develop a vaccine and innoculate the global population .
With the health of the entire worldwide population at stake , as well as the interconnected global economy , French President Emmanuel Macron said that “ a race against time is underway , ” as he donated 500 million euros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident that the U.S. will eventually join the initiative , stressing that he personally discussed the issue with President Donald Trump .
Macron said that while the U.S. currently “ is on the sidelines , ” its lack of participation — conveniently aligned with Russia ’ s stance — won ’ t compromise or slow down the EU-led project that also included contributions from Japan and Israel .
Perhaps Macron is making a sly reference to the upcoming presidential elections and the likelihood that the next administration will make enormous efforts to rebuild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s allies while ranting like a paranoid elderly lunatic about how the neighboring countries are stealing all our hard-earned money .
America ’ s suffering citizens can only count the days until that hopeful moment arrives .
Original reporting by Lorne Cook at The Associated Press .
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If you needed any more proof that the administration of Donald Trump is now more closely aligned with Russia than with our traditional European allies, just take a look at the effort to raise 7.5 billion Euros (a little over $8 Billion) for research to find a vaccine against the COVID-19 virus.
According to the Associated Press, a consortium of world leaders, organizations, and banks took part in a video conference summit hosted by the European Union today and raised the bulk of the funding they sought.
Conspicuously absent from participation in the joint research effort were both the United States and Russia, who have apparently decided that global cooperation is for socialist sissies.
A Trump administration official, speaking on conditions of anonymity to preserve their position since they weren’t authorized to discuss the issue publicly told the AP that “the United States is in the process of providing $2.4 billion in global health, humanitarian, and economic assistance towards the COVID-19 response, and we continue to ensure that the substantial U.S. funding and scientific efforts on this front remain an essential and coordinated part of this worldwide effort against COVID-19.”
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
None of that money, however, will go towards the World Health Organization which Donald Trump has repeatedly condemned as “severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”
Trump’s accusations against the WHO are typical of the president who routinely tries to shift blame for his own failings by attributing the exact same behavior that he is being accused of on others.
Despite having fallen slightly short of their fundraising goal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was happy with the initial pledges made.
“In the space of just a few hours we have collectively pledged 7.4 billion euros for vaccines, diagnostics and treatments,” von der Leyen said. “All this money will help kick-start unprecedented global cooperation.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that this initial round of funding would amount to a mere “down-payment” on the amount needed to develop a vaccine and innoculate the global population.
“To reach everyone, everywhere, we likely need five times that amount,” Guterres said.
With the health of the entire worldwide population at stake, as well as the interconnected global economy, French President Emmanuel Macron said that “a race against time is underway,” as he donated 500 million euros on behalf of France.
“The race to discover the vaccine to defeat this virus is not a competition between countries, but the most urgent shared endeavor of our lifetimes,” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who knows all to well how important defeating the virus is after contracting a case of it that put him under hospitalization for a few days last month.
Macron is confident that the U.S. will eventually join the initiative, stressing that he personally discussed the issue with President Donald Trump.
Macron said that while the U.S. currently “is on the sidelines,” its lack of participation — conveniently aligned with Russia’s stance — won’t compromise or slow down the EU-led project that also included contributions from Japan and Israel.
Perhaps Macron is making a sly reference to the upcoming presidential elections and the likelihood that the next administration will make enormous efforts to rebuild the bridges that Trump burns with America’s allies while ranting like a paranoid elderly lunatic about how the neighboring countries are stealing all our hard-earned money.
America’s suffering citizens can only count the days until that hopeful moment arrives.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Lorne Cook at The Associated Press.
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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--2020-05-04--Trump admin bans entire Coronavirus Task Force from testifying before Congress

When the long nightmare that is the COVID-19 pandemic finally ends it will fall to medical professionals , policy experts , and historians to perform a comprehensive post mortem analysis on the Trump administration ’ s abysmal handling of this deadly outbreak .
The president himself has consistently downplayed the risks posed by the novel coronavirus and has made a string of disastrous decisions , from picking fights with governors at a time when he should be unifying the country to appointing the woefully inexperienced and absurdly unqualified Jared Kushner to lead a coronavirus shadow task force .
Throughout all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the federal government has been Dr. Anthony Fauci , Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a prominent member of the White House ’ s Coroanvirus Task Force .
Even as Trump and his many lackeys work to spread misinformation and paint themselves in as flattering a light as possible , Fauci has remained stalwart , gently pushing back on false claims when needed and sticking to the facts .
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans ’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Appropriations Committee is holding a COVID-19 hearing overseen by the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee .
Dr. Fauci would serve as an ideal witness , but the committee revealed last week that their official request for his testimony has been blocked by the White House .
Clearly , the administration is worried that Fauci might get up in front of Congress and state the full and unvarnished truth , exposing their myriad shortcomings in the process .
By blocking him from testifying outright they completely avoid that possible outcome .
In the process , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s invaluable insight .
It ’ s a clear case of the Trump team putting their own political needs above the health interests of the country .
“ While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19 , including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development , it is counter-productive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at Congressional hearings .
We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time , ” White House Spokesperson Judd Deere said to NBC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its war on transparency even further .
RealClearPolitics ‘ Phillip Wegmann reports that the White House is expanding its testifying ban from Fauci to the rest of the Coronavirus Task Force for the entire month of May .
The unconvincing explanation offered by officials is that the Task Force members have to “ focus on the task at hand , ” a particularly hypocritical statement since the president himself wastes most of his time hurling insults on Twitter .
There is no real reason why Task Force members shouldn ’ t be allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to share what they know with the American people .
This is a blatant effort to suppress the truth and must be condemned as such .
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When the long nightmare that is the COVID-19 pandemic finally ends it will fall to medical professionals, policy experts, and historians to perform a comprehensive post mortem analysis on the Trump administration’s abysmal handling of this deadly outbreak.
The president himself has consistently downplayed the risks posed by the novel coronavirus and has made a string of disastrous decisions, from picking fights with governors at a time when he should be unifying the country to appointing the woefully inexperienced and absurdly unqualified Jared Kushner to lead a coronavirus shadow task force.
Throughout all of this, the one reliable fixture in the federal government has been Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a prominent member of the White House’s Coroanvirus Task Force. Even as Trump and his many lackeys work to spread misinformation and paint themselves in as flattering a light as possible, Fauci has remained stalwart, gently pushing back on false claims when needed and sticking to the facts.
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
This week, the House Appropriations Committee is holding a COVID-19 hearing overseen by the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee. Dr. Fauci would serve as an ideal witness, but the committee revealed last week that their official request for his testimony has been blocked by the White House.
CONFIRMED: The House Appropriations Committee says it sought Dr. Anthony Fauci as a witness at Wednesday’s Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee hearing on COVID-19 response. It says an administration official informed it that the White House has blocked Dr. Fauci from testifying. — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) May 1, 2020
Clearly, the administration is worried that Fauci might get up in front of Congress and state the full and unvarnished truth, exposing their myriad shortcomings in the process. By blocking him from testifying outright they completely avoid that possible outcome. In the process, they also deny the American people Fauci’s invaluable insight. It’s a clear case of the Trump team putting their own political needs above the health interests of the country.
“While the Trump Administration continues its whole-of-government response to COVID-19, including safely opening up America again and expediting vaccine development, it is counter-productive to have the very individuals involved in those efforts appearing at Congressional hearings. We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time,” White House Spokesperson Judd Deere said to NBC News.
Now the Trump administration is escalating its war on transparency even further. RealClearPolitics‘ Phillip Wegmann reports that the White House is expanding its testifying ban from Fauci to the rest of the Coronavirus Task Force for the entire month of May.
The unconvincing explanation offered by officials is that the Task Force members have to “focus on the task at hand,” a particularly hypocritical statement since the president himself wastes most of his time hurling insults on Twitter. There is no real reason why Task Force members shouldn’t be allowed to carve out a few hours of time to share what they know with the American people. This is a blatant effort to suppress the truth and must be condemned as such.
White House stopped Fauci from testifying last week. New guidance will apply to all members of the task force for May. The goal is to make sure "task force members have the time they need to focus on the task at hand." https://t.co/F0HsCAkymq — Philip Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) May 4, 2020
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occupydemocrats--2020-05-04--One of Trump’s “very fine” anti-quarantine protestors is arrested for having pipe bombs

“ Freedom ’ s just another word for nothin ’ left to lose ” Kris Kristofferson once wrote .
Yet , the possibility of losing one ’ s health and potentially one ’ s life is , well , lost upon the people who have taken to dressing up in military garb , grabbing automatic weapons , and storming state capitols and governor ’ s mansions in protest of emergency pandemic regulations mandating that they stay at home and wear masks when they absolutely have to go out in public .
Their militant actions — which would likely be forcibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protestors were not primarily white — are all taken under the protestors ’ misinterpreted notions of “ freedom ” which apparently are completely free of the concomitant corollary of responsibility towards their fellow citizens to prevent the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus .
As the estimates of the ultimate death toll from the pandemic skyrocket to the six-figure mark , the extremist nature of at least one of the organizers of such public demonstrations of intense selfishness was not unsurprisingly exposed today with the news of the arrest of one Bradley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been one of the organizers of an armed protest demanding that the state government lift its coronavirus restrictions .
ABC News reported today that federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , and Firearms executed a search warrant at Bunn ’ s home on Friday after they were notified about his aggressively militant social media posts trying to encourage other angry protestors to take their automatic weapons to a May 1st demonstration at Colorado ’ s capitol building .
Upon arriving at Bunn ’ s residence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as additional potential pipe bomb components inside the house .
Luckily , Bunn ’ s arrest came before he could leave to attend the protest .
According to a press release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Colorado Jason Dunn , the pipe bombs that were found were transported to a gun range where they were “ rendered safe ” by bomb technicians .
While people who suddenly find themselves without a job or income due to the coronavirus pandemic are justifiably scared and angry , the barrage of right-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News and conservative talk radio — and the financing from shadowy billionaire-funded organizations — have led them to vent their anger at state restrictions mandating business closures and social distancing requirements designed to help save theirs and others ’ lives .
Their true targets should be the Republican-led government that prioritizes and provides financial relief to businesses rather than individuals , repeating the same mistakes made at the end of the GOP-instigated 2008 financial crisis .
If the trillions of dollars in government assistance went to individuals then the majority of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cover an extraordinary income interruption like this would be able to pay their rent and mortgages , buy food and clothing , and seek medical care without the desperation they currently face .
To those who cry “ that would be socialism !
” , we ask what is it when those same dollars are paternalistically given to corporations instead and expected to trickle down to the down-trodden masses ?
Might we suggest Socialist Voodoo Economics as the proper designation for the current system that preserves and extends the massive income inequality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans have nothing left to lose because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The rest of us still have our freedom and our responsibility to keep that number from growing .
If people are going to protest they should be protesting for a change in the system that put us in the current situation and demanding universal health care , bailouts for individuals , not companies , and a government of the people , not one dedicated to the interests of the oligarchy .
Let ’ s give the billionaires a taste of freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose .
And to the misguided armed protestors too stir crazy to want to wear personal protective gear like face masks — or too cluelessly selfish — we ’ ll leave you with this bit of commentary from this man who encountered a group of anti-lockdown protestors .
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“Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose” Kris Kristofferson once wrote.
Yet, the possibility of losing one’s health and potentially one’s life is, well, lost upon the people who have taken to dressing up in military garb, grabbing automatic weapons, and storming state capitols and governor’s mansions in protest of emergency pandemic regulations mandating that they stay at home and wear masks when they absolutely have to go out in public.
Their militant actions — which would likely be forcibly and quickly suppressed by police if the protestors were not primarily white — are all taken under the protestors’ misinterpreted notions of “freedom” which apparently are completely free of the concomitant corollary of responsibility towards their fellow citizens to prevent the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus.
As the estimates of the ultimate death toll from the pandemic skyrocket to the six-figure mark, the extremist nature of at least one of the organizers of such public demonstrations of intense selfishness was not surprisingly exposed today with the news of the arrest of one Bradley Bunn, a 53-year-old Colorado man who had been one of the organizers of an armed protest demanding that the state government lift its coronavirus restrictions.
ABC News reported today that federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms executed a search warrant at Bunn’s home on Friday after they were notified about his aggressively militant social media posts trying to encourage other angry protestors to take their automatic weapons to a May 1st demonstration at Colorado’s capitol building.
Upon arriving at Bunn’s residence, the federal agents discovered four pipe bombs as well as additional potential pipe bomb components inside the house. Luckily, Bunn’s arrest came before he could leave to attend the protest.
According to a press release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Colorado Jason Dunn, the pipe bombs that were found were transported to a gun range where they were “rendered safe” by bomb technicians.
While people who suddenly find themselves without a job or income due to the coronavirus pandemic are justifiably scared and angry, the barrage of right-wing propaganda that they are subjected to from Fox News and conservative talk radio — and the financing from shadowy billionaire-funded organizations — have led them to vent their anger at state restrictions mandating business closures and social distancing requirements designed to help save theirs and others’ lives.
Their true targets should be the Republican-led government that prioritizes and provides financial relief to businesses rather than individuals, repeating the same mistakes made at the end of the GOP-instigated 2008 financial crisis.
If the trillions of dollars in government assistance went to individuals then the majority of Americans living paycheck to paycheck without enough savings to cover an extraordinary income interruption like this would be able to pay their rent and mortgages, buy food and clothing, and seek medical care without the desperation they currently face.
To those who cry “that would be socialism!”, we ask what is it when those same dollars are paternalistically given to corporations instead and expected to trickle down to the down-trodden masses?
Might we suggest Socialist Voodoo Economics as the proper designation for the current system that preserves and extends the massive income inequality in our robber baron economy?
68,678 Americans have nothing left to lose because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rest of us still have our freedom and our responsibility to keep that number from growing.
If people are going to protest they should be protesting for a change in the system that put us in the current situation and demanding universal health care, bailouts for individuals, not companies, and a government of the people, not one dedicated to the interests of the oligarchy.
Let’s give the billionaires a taste of freedom and leave them with nothing left to lose.
And to the misguided armed protestors too stir crazy to want to wear personal protective gear like face masks — or too cluelessly selfish — we’ll leave you with this bit of commentary from this man who encountered a group of anti-lockdown protestors.
https://twitter.com/Freeyourmindkid/status/1257298294302289920?s=20
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Original reporting by Clayton Sandell at ABC News.
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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--2020-05-04--Don Lemon directly calls out Trump for obsessing over Obama in biting CNN segment

It ’ s no secret that President Donald Trump harbors a pathological obsession with his predecessor , Barack Obama .
Beginning with his racist campaign to prove the Obama wasn ’ t born in America and then manifesting in the Oval Office as an unrelenting crusade to undo every accomplishment and improvement our first black president introduced to our nation , Trump has made it clear that he sees Obama ’ s tenure as an abhorrent stain on our nation ’ s history — which ironically is how most Americans see Trump ’ s administration .
Add your name to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save the stock market !
CNN anchor Don Lemon called out the President on his show last night after Trump used his Twitter account to retweet a conspiracy theory about Obama .
Lemon , who is regularly referred to as the “ dumbest man on television ” by Trump , directly addressed the president with a scathing soliloquy that is certain to provoke yet another round of Twitter abuse from Trump and his rabid fans : “ What is it about President Obama that really gets under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s smarter than you ?
Better educated ?
Made it on his own—didn ’ t need Daddy ’ s help ?
Wife is more accomplished ?
Better looking ?
I don ’ t know , what is it , what is it about him ?
That he ’ s a black man that ’ s accomplished being president ?
That he punked you on the whole birth certificate thing ?
What is it about him ?
Just wondering.
” Good question , Don Lemon !
We ’ re willing to bet we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it hits the President ’ s TiVo…

It’s no secret that President Donald Trump harbors a pathological obsession with his predecessor, Barack Obama.
Beginning with his racist campaign to prove the Obama wasn’t born in America and then manifesting in the Oval Office as an unrelenting crusade to undo every accomplishment and improvement our first black president introduced to our nation, Trump has made it clear that he sees Obama’s tenure as an abhorrent stain on our nation’s history — which ironically is how most Americans see Trump’s administration.
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
CNN anchor Don Lemon called out the President on his show last night after Trump used his Twitter account to retweet a conspiracy theory about Obama.
Lemon, who is regularly referred to as the “dumbest man on television” by Trump, directly addressed the president with a scathing soliloquy that is certain to provoke yet another round of Twitter abuse from Trump and his rabid fans:
“What is it about President Obama that really gets under your skin? Is it because he’s smarter than you? Better educated? Made it on his own—didn’t need Daddy’s help? Wife is more accomplished? Better looking? I don’t know, what is it, what is it about him? That he’s a black man that’s accomplished being president? That he punked you on the whole birth certificate thing? What is it about him? Just wondering.”
Don Lemon with zero fucks left.pic.twitter.com/kbC0zghhzB — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) May 4, 2020
Good question, Don Lemon! We’re willing to bet we’ll find out the answer whenever it hits the President’s TiVo…
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occupydemocrats--2020-05-04--Trump cheers that he’s finally getting “great reviews” as virus deaths soar past 68,000

It has become painfully clear over the past few months that Donald J. Trump is the last person you would ever want in the Oval Office during a pandemic .
The man lacks the intellect , work ethic , and fundamental moral spine to provide the kind of leadership needed by this country right now and each day makes that reality even more apparent .
As Americans continue to fall ill and die en masse our president continues to focus on petty feuds with his political rivals and his own overinflated ego .
Trump has repeatedly bragged about the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and today he took to Twitter to boast about some “ great reviews ” he claims his administration is receiving for its handling of COVID-19 .
The “ great reviews ” in question are most likely a complete fabrication because he failed to specify who had given them or where he saw them .
More important even than the existence or nonexistence of the reviews though is his fixation on them .
Instead of spending his time tending to his administration ’ s response to the pandemic , he ’ s tapping away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good .
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans ’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save the stock market !
CNN commentator Keith Boykin put the president ’ s tweet into perfect context .
He pointed out that 30 million Americans are now unemployed , over 1 million now have the virus , and over 68,000 have died .
Meanwhile , the president is bragging about “ ‘ great reviews ’ like a washed up B-movie star desperate for attention.
” At this point , the United States has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is who Donald Trump is .
He will never change for the better , he will never grow into his office .
He ’ s a small , cruel man incapable of stepping outside his own interests and obsessions .
He should never have been made president and every American has a moral obligation to ensure that he is voted out this election .
Until then , all we can do is refuse to accept this sordid state of affairs as normal .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our NEW comment section !

It has become painfully clear over the past few months that Donald J. Trump is the last person you would ever want in the Oval Office during a pandemic. The man lacks the intellect, work ethic, and fundamental moral spine to provide the kind of leadership needed by this country right now and each day makes that reality even more apparent.
As Americans continue to fall ill and die en masse our president continues to focus on petty feuds with his political rivals and his own overinflated ego. Trump has repeatedly bragged about the “ratings” for his coronavirus press conferences and today he took to Twitter to boast about some “great reviews” he claims his administration is receiving for its handling of COVID-19.
The “great reviews” in question are most likely a complete fabrication because he failed to specify who had given them or where he saw them. More important even than the existence or nonexistence of the reviews though is his fixation on them. Instead of spending his time tending to his administration’s response to the pandemic, he’s tapping away on Twitter trying to make himself look good.
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
CNN commentator Keith Boykin put the president’s tweet into perfect context. He pointed out that 30 million Americans are now unemployed, over 1 million now have the virus, and over 68,000 have died. Meanwhile, the president is bragging about “‘great reviews’ like a washed up B-movie star desperate for attention.”
At this point, the United States has no real option until November. This is who Donald Trump is. He will never change for the better, he will never grow into his office. He’s a small, cruel man incapable of stepping outside his own interests and obsessions. He should never have been made president and every American has a moral obligation to ensure that he is voted out this election. Until then, all we can do is refuse to accept this sordid state of affairs as normal.
30 million unemployed. 1 million infected with coronavirus. 68,000 dead. And he’s bragging about his “great reviews” like a washed up B-movie star desperate for attention. https://t.co/FPKuhLAL6e — Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) May 4, 2020
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occupydemocrats--2020-05-04--Trump demands “Concast” open “cold case” probe into Joe Scarborough in furious tweet

President Trump kicked off yet another new week in the ongoing coronavirus crisis by throwing insulting conspiracy theories at his media enemies , this taking aim at MSNBC ’ s conservative ex-Republican host Joe Scarborough .
After Joe Scarborough and his now-wife Mika Brezinski had a public falling out with their former friend Donald Trump after criticizing him on the air , Trump began to publicly suggest that there was foul play involved in the 2001 death of one of Scarborough ’ s aides while he was a Florida Congressman .
Medical examiners have concluded that 28-year-old Lori Klausutis died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abnormal heart rhythm caused her to lose consciousness and she tragically struck her head on a desk .
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But Trump has clung to the story ever since and enjoys taunting Scarborough with the accusation .
He is now appearing to demand Comcast open a “ cold case ” into the matter , which is odd because media conglomerates usually do not conduct criminal investigations .
Trump appeared to be responding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls that showed Trump losing to presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in a slew of southern states , including Texas .
The president can send out all the insulting conspiracy tweets he wants , but all they accomplish is digging him into a deeper hole as the coronavirus crisis grows around him .

President Trump kicked off yet another new week in the ongoing coronavirus crisis by throwing insulting conspiracy theories at his media enemies, this taking aim at MSNBC’s conservative ex-Republican host Joe Scarborough.
“Concast” should open up a long overdue Florida Cold Case against Psycho Joe Scarborough. I know him and Crazy Mika well, used them beautifully in the last Election, dumped them nicely, and will state on the record that he is “nuts”. Besides, bad ratings! #OPENJOECOLDCASE — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 4, 2020
After Joe Scarborough and his now-wife Mika Brezinski had a public falling out with their former friend Donald Trump after criticizing him on the air, Trump began to publicly suggest that there was foul play involved in the 2001 death of one of Scarborough’s aides while he was a Florida Congressman.
Medical examiners have concluded that 28-year-old Lori Klausutis died in Scarborough’s office after an abnormal heart rhythm caused her to lose consciousness and she tragically struck her head on a desk.
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
But Trump has clung to the story ever since and enjoys taunting Scarborough with the accusation.
He is now appearing to demand Comcast open a “cold case” into the matter, which is odd because media conglomerates usually do not conduct criminal investigations.
Trump appeared to be responding to Mika and Joe’s discussion of polls that showed Trump losing to presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in a slew of southern states, including Texas.
The president can send out all the insulting conspiracy tweets he wants, but all they accomplish is digging him into a deeper hole as the coronavirus crisis grows around him.
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occupydemocrats--2020-05-05--Majority Leader Mitch McConnell faces ethics inquiry over judicial nominee in DC Court of Appeals

The stealthy Republican takeover of the American justice system began long before Donald Trump took office .
Ever since the GOP took control of the Senate and elected Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader , the Kentucky senator has made it a barely publicized priority to put ambitious young right-wing judges into lifetime positions with an eye on rolling back the policies such as voting and abortion rights that older , more experienced , and more liberal judges had enforced through their legal rulings .
McConnell ’ s completely fabricated policy of not allowing President Barack Obama to even get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vacant Supreme Court seat in his last year in office was the most egregious manifestation of this nefarious right-wing plot to stack the courts with their allies and foster their conservative agenda .
With the Majority Leader now recalling the Senate back into session in the middle of a pandemic — not to enact much needed additional relief for those rendered jobless and soon homeless by the economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak , but to confirm additional judicial nominees , many of which have been rated as unqualified by the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today was very welcome by progressives across the country .
Judge Sri Srinivasan , the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit , formally requested that Chief Justice John Roberts assign another circuit to look into a complaint of ethical improprieties by McConnell and the judge whose resignation created a controversial opening on the DC circuit , Judge Thomas B. Griffith .
The complaint was filed by the progressive advocacy group Demand Justice which is questioning the timing and circumstances of Griffith ’ s retirement announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader “ had been contacting appeals court judges nominated by Republican presidents to encourage them to retire , ” according to an account in The New York Times .
With the 2020 elections looming and both the balance of power in the Senate and the White House up for grabs , McConnell ’ s move was seen as a last-ditch effort to pack the courts as much as possible while he still controlled the levers of power to use his majority to confirm his army of Federalist Society-approved nominees .
That the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Justin Walker , “ a 37-year-old protégé of Mr. McConnell ’ s whom the senator had ardently promoted for the seat , ” as The Times recounts , was not seen as coincidental by many .
According to The New York Times : Judge Srinivasan , nominated to the appeals court by President Barack Obama , decided to request “ review and disposition ” of the Demand Justice complaint by a judicial council in another circuit to prevent any question of bias about the outcome .
The original complaint from Demand Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D-RI ) , a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who will be voting on Walker ’ s confirmation later this week , said : Today , Brian Fallon , the executive director of Demand Justice , called for a delay of the hearing “ until we know the truth about what ethical lines Mitch McConnell crossed to get Walker this seat.
” We will see whether the politicization of the American judicial system is complete by your reaction to Judge Srinivasan ’ s request and whether an obviously unqualified nominee can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved .
And about that doctrine that says presidents aren ’ t allowed to nominate judges during their last year in office ?
Does that only apply to Democrats ?
Because if Trump gets another term in the White House , we may as well abandon all hope now .
Original reporting by Carl Hulse at The New York Times .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
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The stealthy Republican takeover of the American justice system began long before Donald Trump took office.
Ever since the GOP took control of the Senate and elected Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader, the Kentucky senator has made it a barely publicized priority to put ambitious young right-wing judges into lifetime positions with an eye on rolling back the policies such as voting and abortion rights that older, more experienced, and more liberal judges had enforced through their legal rulings.
McConnell’s completely fabricated policy of not allowing President Barack Obama to even get a Senate confirmation hearing for his pick for the vacant Supreme Court seat in his last year in office was the most egregious manifestation of this nefarious right-wing plot to stack the courts with their allies and foster their conservative agenda.
With the Majority Leader now recalling the Senate back into session in the middle of a pandemic — not to enact much needed additional relief for those rendered jobless and soon homeless by the economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, but to confirm additional judicial nominees, many of which have been rated as unqualified by the American Bar Association — the news that broke today was very welcome by progressives across the country.
Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, formally requested that Chief Justice John Roberts assign another circuit to look into a complaint of ethical improprieties by McConnell and the judge whose resignation created a controversial opening on the DC circuit, Judge Thomas B. Griffith.
The complaint was filed by the progressive advocacy group Demand Justice which is questioning the timing and circumstances of Griffith’s retirement announcement in March after reports that the Senate Majority Leader “had been contacting appeals court judges nominated by Republican presidents to encourage them to retire,” according to an account in The New York Times.
With the 2020 elections looming and both the balance of power in the Senate and the White House up for grabs, McConnell’s move was seen as a last-ditch effort to pack the courts as much as possible while he still controlled the levers of power to use his majority to confirm his army of Federalist Society-approved nominees.
That the replacement nominated to fill Judge Griffiths seat was Justin Walker, “a 37-year-old protégé of Mr. McConnell’s whom the senator had ardently promoted for the seat,” as The Times recounts, was not seen as coincidental by many.
According to The New York Times:
“It is not known whether Mr. McConnell had been in touch with Judge Griffith, a former Senate legal counsel who was nominated to the appeals court in 2004 by President George W. Bush, and on Monday a top aide to the majority leader refused to say.”
Judge Srinivasan, nominated to the appeals court by President Barack Obama, decided to request “review and disposition” of the Demand Justice complaint by a judicial council in another circuit to prevent any question of bias about the outcome.
“The organization’s request for an inquiry concerns the decision of a judge of this court to retire from service and the resulting creation of a vacancy on this court, which would be filled by a future colleague on this court,” the judge wrote, saying that the circumstances made a review from outside the D.C. circuit court to be an obvious decision.
The original complaint from Demand Justice outlines their concerns.
“The coordinated manner of Majority Leader McConnell’s involvement in the judges’ decision-making is quite unprecedented and raises significant ethical questions for the judges who heed his advice,” the group said when requesting an investigation. It said a “thorough inquiry into the judge’s announcement and scheduled retirement, including when and how the decision to retire was made, and with whose input, is crucial.”
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who will be voting on Walker’s confirmation later this week, said:
“The judiciary is right to take seriously allegations that sitting judges are gaming their retirements at the request of politicians. “Mitch McConnell has been clear that his top priority is packing the courts with the judges his right-wing donors want, and that he’s actively pushing judges to retire. A judge would undermine the credibility of the bench by participating in that partisan gamesmanship.”
Today, Brian Fallon, the executive director of Demand Justice, called for a delay of the hearing “until we know the truth about what ethical lines Mitch McConnell crossed to get Walker this seat.”
“At the very least,” Fallon said in a statement, “McConnell should come clean about whether and when he contacted Judge Thomas Griffith prior to his sudden retirement.” According to The New York Times:
Mr. McConnell has known Judge Walker since the nominee was in high school and has been a zealous advocate for him, including taking him to the Oval Office to meet Mr. Trump. Judge Walker, who has served only six months as a U.S. District Court judge in Kentucky, was previously rated unqualified by the American Bar Association because of his limited experience, but he has strong Republican support.
Your move, Chief Justice Roberts.
We will see whether the politicization of the American judicial system is complete by your reaction to Judge Srinivasan’s request and whether an obviously unqualified nominee can pass muster despite the potential ethical lapses involved.
And about that doctrine that says presidents aren’t allowed to nominate judges during their last year in office? Does that only apply to Democrats? Because if Trump gets another term in the White House, we may as well abandon all hope now.
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Original reporting by Carl Hulse at The New York Times.
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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--2020-05-05--Trump refuses to wear mask at mask-obligatory mask factory

With Arizona increasingly leaning blue , with Joe Biden leading Donald Trump by 9 points in at least one recent poll , and Democratic Senatorial candidate Mark Kelly leading Republican Martha McSally by an equal number , the president decided to break quarantine and take a trip to the Grand Canyon state as he sees his electoral chances in the state falling off the edge of the canyon and down far below into the Colorado River .
The official excuse the White House gave for Trump ’ s risky violation of social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic was so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that manufactures precious N95 masks , which , like much of the personal protective equipment required by health care workers fighting a highly contagious virus , have been in short supply .
The symbolic significance of the trip — at a time when Trump is urging Americans to risk their lives by going back to work to reopen the economy and save his electoral possibilities — can not , however , be ignored .
Trump said as much to reporters as he spoke to them before boarding Air Force One for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans ’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save the stock market !
Of course , the term “ warrior ” can easily be translated into “ cannon fodder , ” with the lives of workers at stake if they are unnecessarily exposed to a virus with an extraordinarily high fatality rate compared to the common flu ( despite the frequent intimations otherwise being circulated on right-wing media ) .
The difference is that the actual warriors in the United States ’ volunteer-based armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing up for and are presumably ( and usually only theoretically ) defending national security in one way or another .
The workers being told that it is their patriotic duty to ignore the pandemic and get back to earning profits for the billionaires who lord over the American economy , for the most part never imagined that doing so would put the health — and even the lives — of themselves and anyone else they came into contact with , including their families and friends , at risk to help Trump get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump ’ s concept of respect does not include wearing a mask at a factory that not only makes the protective gear but requires that all of its workers wear them while on the premises .
Yesterday evening , before he left , the president indicated that even though he has eschewed the use of facial coverings in public to date , he might indeed don one for his factory tour .
It was a mask facility , and , as this tweet from CNN ’ s Jim Acosta reveals , last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the many falsehoods that pass daily through the president ’ s lips .
Acosta later updated his tweet to report the official White House line that Honeywell executives told the presidential tour group that they wouldn ’ t be required to wear masks , in what was likely a sign of some serious executive pandering .
At least they didn ’ t try to pretend that they didn ’ t want to squander such in-demand commodities simply to keep the president safe .
Leading by example at a time when states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet the safety guidelines issued by the CDC regarding the number of new coronavirus cases in their regions seems to be beyond the concepts that the president can grasp .
Whether it is personal vanity , a false sense of machismo , a disregard for the safety of others , or some combination of these reasons , Trump and his retinue marched around the Honeywell facility blithely ignoring the signs informing them of the mask requirements .
Arrogance or just plain dumb-fuckery ?
You be the judge .
We want to hear what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and let us know in our NEW comment section !

With Arizona increasingly leaning blue, with Joe Biden leading Donald Trump by 9 points in at least one recent poll, and Democratic Senatorial candidate Mark Kelly leading Republican Martha McSally by an equal number, the president decided to break quarantine and take a trip to the Grand Canyon state as he sees his electoral chances in the state falling off the edge of the canyon and down far below into the Colorado River.
The official excuse the White House gave for Trump’s risky violation of social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic was so the president could tour a Honeywell factory that manufactures precious N95 masks, which, like much of the personal protective equipment required by health care workers fighting a highly contagious virus, have been in short supply.
The symbolic significance of the trip — at a time when Trump is urging Americans to risk their lives by going back to work to reopen the economy and save his electoral possibilities — cannot, however, be ignored.
Trump said as much to reporters as he spoke to them before boarding Air Force One for the first time since the end of March.
“The people of our country should think of themselves as warriors,” Trump told the reporters. “Our country has to open.”
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
Of course, the term “warrior” can easily be translated into “cannon fodder,” with the lives of workers at stake if they are unnecessarily exposed to a virus with an extraordinarily high fatality rate compared to the common flu (despite the frequent intimations otherwise being circulated on right-wing media).
The difference is that the actual warriors in the United States’ volunteer-based armed forces know in advance what they are signing up for and are presumably (and usually only theoretically) defending national security in one way or another.
The workers being told that it is their patriotic duty to ignore the pandemic and get back to earning profits for the billionaires who lord over the American economy, for the most part never imagined that doing so would put the health — and even the lives — of themselves and anyone else they came into contact with, including their families and friends, at risk to help Trump get a second term in office.
“I’m going to pay my respects to a great company and a great state, the state of Arizona,” Trump said before his departure.
Unfortunately, Trump’s concept of respect does not include wearing a mask at a factory that not only makes the protective gear but requires that all of its workers wear them while on the premises.
Yesterday evening, before he left, the president indicated that even though he has eschewed the use of facial coverings in public to date, he might indeed don one for his factory tour.
“I think it’s a mask facility, right? If it’s a mask facility I will, yeah. I don’t know if it’s a mask facility. We’re going to see Honeywell,” Trump said.
It was a mask facility, and, as this tweet from CNN’s Jim Acosta reveals, last night’s comment was just another one of the many falsehoods that pass daily through the president’s lips.
Trump not wearing mask but goggles at Honeywell facility. Other aides not wearing masks at all. Sign in facility says “face mask required in this area.” pic.twitter.com/Uq7Fr2ioeS — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 5, 2020
Acosta later updated his tweet to report the official White House line that Honeywell executives told the presidential tour group that they wouldn’t be required to wear masks, in what was likely a sign of some serious executive pandering.
At least they didn’t try to pretend that they didn’t want to squander such in-demand commodities simply to keep the president safe.
WH official said they were told by Honeywell officials they didn’t need to wear masks https://t.co/aVyu0rflMW — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 5, 2020
Leading by example at a time when states are reopening their economies well before they meet the safety guidelines issued by the CDC regarding the number of new coronavirus cases in their regions seems to be beyond the concepts that the president can grasp.
Whether it is personal vanity, a false sense of machismo, a disregard for the safety of others, or some combination of these reasons, Trump and his retinue marched around the Honeywell facility blithely ignoring the signs informing them of the mask requirements.
Arrogance or just plain dumb-fuckery? You be the judge.
Whoever controls the music playing in the background at the factory at least managed to get in a bit of ironic mockery of the president’s current push to reopen the economy before most states have met the CDC guidelines to do so.
The soundtrack to Trump’s factory tour? The theme song to Live and Let Die.
They blasted “Live and Let Die” while Trump walked around a Honeywell plant today in Arizona without a mask. It’s hard to believe this clip is real. pic.twitter.com/M1dMe8KaMK — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 5, 2020
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Original reporting by Kevin Liptak at CNN.
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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--2020-05-05--Leaked audio shows Texas’ Governor admitting state reopening will spread the virus further

At least one Republican state governor who is hell-bent on re-opening their state ’ s businesses and reanimating their local economies can no longer claim to be unaware of the deadly consequences of their actions .
Just two days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent out the tweet below bragging about his state ’ s high ranking among those with the largest number of recovered COVID-19 patients — a virus that scientists are still not sure that people can ’ t succumb to a second time — an incriminating audio recording of the governor speaking to Texas state legislators was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Progress Texas released the leaked audio and slammed Governor Abbott for knowingly putting the lives of Texans on the line by prematurely relaxing restrictions while the pandemic still rages on .
“ How do we know reopening businesses won ’ t result in the faster spread of more cases of COVID-19 ?
” the recording of Governor Abbot begins .
“ Listen , the fact of the matter is pretty much every scientific and medical report shows that , whenever you have a reopening , whether you want to call it a reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society in the aftermath of something like this , it actually will lead to an increase in spread.
” “ It ’ s almost ipso facto .
The more that you have people out there , the greater the possibility there is for transmission , ” the recording concludes .
What is also ipso facto is the fact that Governor Abbott knew that reopening his state for business would lead to increased contagion and ultimately more deaths .
Since the first phase of relaxing coronavirus-inspired restrictions began on May 1st , Texas set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 cases over a two-day period since the pandemic began , with 1,142 new cases reported on May 1st and 1,293 new cases on May 2nd .
While Abbott is currently in the middle of a live press conference defending his decision to begin reopening his state , the leaked audio from his discussion with Texas legislators proves that he is willing to risk the price of his citizens ’ health and potentially their lives to restart the moribund economy , placing mammon over life as his most sacred objective .
Such actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization as the Grand Old Party of Death .
GOPOD has such a nice symmetry with COVID after all .
Plus if you eliminate that party , it ’ s all GOOD .
The GOPOD ’ s nefarious schemes to avoid having to pay extended unemployment benefits — which would undoubtedly require repealing the billionaire tax breaks that they enacted once Donald Trump took office — by forcing people back to work under dangerous conditions will only work if people are actually willing to venture out of their homes .
Businesses can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so individuals hold all the power ultimately .
If you can afford to , stay home until there is an effective treatment for COVID-19 , a vaccine , or sufficient testing and contact tracing to minimize the personal risk to yourselves and others .
Make sure , however , to venture out to cast your ballots to rid our political system of members of a Republican party that values commerce over the lives of America ’ s citizens .
UPDATE : The full recording of Governor Abbott ’ s remarks are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the link below : We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

At least one Republican state governor who is hell-bent on re-opening their state’s businesses and reanimating their local economies can no longer claim to be unaware of the deadly consequences of their actions.
Just two days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent out the tweet below bragging about his state’s high ranking among those with the largest number of recovered COVID-19 patients — a virus that scientists are still not sure that people can’t succumb to a second time — an incriminating audio recording of the governor speaking to Texas state legislators was leaked.
GREAT NEWS: The number of Texans who have RECOVERED from #COVID19 now exceeds the number of active COVID cases for the past 2 days. That’s exactly what we want to see. Texas ranks 3rd highest among states for number of people who have recovered from #coronavirus. #txlege — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 3, 2020
The non-profit progressive media group Progress Texas released the leaked audio and slammed Governor Abbott for knowingly putting the lives of Texans on the line by prematurely relaxing restrictions while the pandemic still rages on.
“How do we know reopening businesses won’t result in the faster spread of more cases of COVID-19?” the recording of Governor Abbot begins.
“Listen, the fact of the matter is pretty much every scientific and medical report shows that, whenever you have a reopening, whether you want to call it a reopening of business or just a reopening of society in the aftermath of something like this, it actually will lead to an increase in spread.”
“It’s almost ipso facto. The more that you have people out there, the greater the possibility there is for transmission,” the recording concludes.
What is also ipso facto is the fact that Governor Abbott knew that reopening his state for business would lead to increased contagion and ultimately more deaths.
BREAKING: As @GovAbbott reopens the state in the midst of a rising infection and death rate, leaked audio from a call with Texas Legislators reveals that he knows reopening puts more Texans at risk. #txlege pic.twitter.com/kTK4M8gpSY — Progress Texas (@ProgressTX) May 5, 2020
Since the first phase of relaxing coronavirus-inspired restrictions began on May 1st, Texas set a record for the largest gain of COVID-19 cases over a two-day period since the pandemic began, with 1,142 new cases reported on May 1st and 1,293 new cases on May 2nd.
While Abbott is currently in the middle of a live press conference defending his decision to begin reopening his state, the leaked audio from his discussion with Texas legislators proves that he is willing to risk the price of his citizens’ health and potentially their lives to restart the moribund economy, placing mammon over life as his most sacred objective.
Such actions will certainly help Republicans rebrand their political organization as the Grand Old Party of Death.
GOPOD has such a nice symmetry with COVID after all. Plus if you eliminate that party, it’s all GOOD.
The GOPOD’s nefarious schemes to avoid having to pay extended unemployment benefits — which would undoubtedly require repealing the billionaire tax breaks that they enacted once Donald Trump took office — by forcing people back to work under dangerous conditions will only work if people are actually willing to venture out of their homes. Businesses can’t function without workers and without customers, so individuals hold all the power ultimately.
If you can afford to, stay home until there is an effective treatment for COVID-19, a vaccine, or sufficient testing and contact tracing to minimize the personal risk to yourselves and others.
Make sure, however, to venture out to cast your ballots to rid our political system of members of a Republican party that values commerce over the lives of America’s citizens.
UPDATE: The full recording of Governor Abbott’s remarks are now available and you can hear them in the link below:
.@texasdemocrats and @ProgressTX release conference call recording from last Friday in which @GovAbbott tells state lawmakers and congressional delegation that reopening business will result in an increase in spread of #COVID19. https://t.co/GmY74ifpSl — Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) May 5, 2020
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Original reporting by Progress Texas.
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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--2020-05-05--Trump threatens to hold state virus relief funding hostage unless he gets tax cuts for wealthy

On Tuesday , President Trump appeared to openly consider various things he could blackmail state governments into giving him in exchange for desperately needed budget relief for states hit hard by the ravages of coronavirus .
The pandemic is projected to blow a half-trillion-dollar hole in the budgets of America ’ s 50 states .
If the states are not bailed out , the shortfall is likely to trigger crushing austerity , massive job losses , and an abrupt end to critical public services that could push our economy into years of recession or even a great depression to rival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reject Trump & Republicans ’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save the stock market !
But , as heartless sociopaths are wont to do , Trump and his cronies see this as an opportunity for some good old shock doctrine — exploiting a crisis in order to force through a right-wing political agenda .
That much was made obvious when the president rolled out a Republican wish list of unrelated concessions that he ’ s considering demanding in order to stave off mass layoffs and abrupt shuttering of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crises : The two big ones here are the Republican Party ’ s bread and butter : tax cuts and racism .
Eliminating sanctuary cities would expose millions of undocumented workers to arrest , incarceration and deportation while eliminating the capital gains tax would funnel even more money into the pockets of the ultrawealthy — and explode the deficit even further .
Trump ’ s assertion that only blue states are “ poorly run ” and facing budget problems is ridiculous ; the fact of the matter is that all kinds of states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue states like New York , Connecticut , and Rhode Island face huge shortfalls due to lack of tax revenue and spending on healthcare supplies , red states like Texas , Oklahoma , Alaska , and Louisiana are facing huge budget shortfalls due to the collapse of the fossil fuel industry and the bottom-barrel price of oil .
It is beyond appalling for Trump and his cronies to try to use this crisis as an excuse to cut their taxes or implement white supremacist policies , but it ’ s par for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing but malicious neglect and astonishing incompetence at every turn .

On Tuesday, President Trump appeared to openly consider various things he could blackmail state governments into giving him in exchange for desperately needed budget relief for states hit hard by the ravages of coronavirus.
The pandemic is projected to blow a half-trillion-dollar hole in the budgets of America’s 50 states. If the states are not bailed out, the shortfall is likely to trigger crushing austerity, massive job losses, and an abrupt end to critical public services that could push our economy into years of recession or even a great depression to rival the 1929 crash.
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
But, as heartless sociopaths are wont to do, Trump and his cronies see this as an opportunity for some good old shock doctrine — exploiting a crisis in order to force through a right-wing political agenda. That much was made obvious when the president rolled out a Republican wish list of unrelated concessions that he’s considering demanding in order to stave off mass layoffs and abrupt shuttering of public services that would surely follow state budget crises:
Well run States should not be bailing out poorly run States, using CoronaVirus as the excuse! The elimination of Sanctuary Cities, Payroll Taxes, and perhaps Capital Gains Taxes, must be put on the table. Also lawsuit indemnification & business deductions for restaurants & ent. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2020
The two big ones here are the Republican Party’s bread and butter: tax cuts and racism. Eliminating sanctuary cities would expose millions of undocumented workers to arrest, incarceration and deportation while eliminating the capital gains tax would funnel even more money into the pockets of the ultrawealthy — and explode the deficit even further.
Trump’s assertion that only blue states are “poorly run” and facing budget problems is ridiculous; the fact of the matter is that all kinds of states are facing severe budget shortfalls. While blue states like New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island face huge shortfalls due to lack of tax revenue and spending on healthcare supplies, red states like Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Louisiana are facing huge budget shortfalls due to the collapse of the fossil fuel industry and the bottom-barrel price of oil.
Coronavirus threatens $500bn hole in US state budgets – typically excellent piece by @bhgreeley on the huge financial stress on the budgets of US states. On the ground this matters at least as much as anything decided in DC. https://t.co/eQV0xrdmud pic.twitter.com/DQgstOyjMS — Adam Tooze (@adam_tooze) April 22, 2020
It is beyond appalling for Trump and his cronies to try to use this crisis as an excuse to cut their taxes or implement white supremacist policies, but it’s par for the course for an administration that has shown nothing but malicious neglect and astonishing incompetence at every turn.
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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


occupydemocrats--2020-05-05--Kamala Harris grills Trump’s intelligence director nominee after he appears unable to answer a simpl

Kamala Harris grills Trump’s intelligence director nominee after he appears unable to answer a simple question

President Trump ’ s nominee for Director of National Intelligence Rep. John Ratcliffe ( R-TX ) seems to poised to sail to confirmation in the GOP-controlled Senate .
The deeply conservative Congressman was previously considered for the position in 2019 but ultimately withdrew his name from consideration after it was widely and correctly pointed out that he lacks the national security experience for the position .
Trump , never one to care about the actual qualifications of his appointees so long as they ’ re loyal to him and right-wing enough to please his base , has clearly decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s resume and forge ahead with his ill-advised plan to invest him with tremendous institutional power .
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans ’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors ’ lives to save the stock market !
Today , the Senate Intelligence Committee held a hearing on Ratcliffe ’ s nomination and the Congressman ’ s performance did little to alleviate well-founded fears that he is a partisan hatchet man , a MAGA loyalist who is more interested in furthering the interests of the GOP than serving the truth or the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) asked Ratcliffe an incredibly straightforward question .
“ Do you believe that President Trump has accurately conveyed the severity of the threat of COVID-19 to the American people ?
” asked Senator Harris .
“ Are you saying presently ?
” Ratcliffe responded , scrunching his face up in what appeared to be faux confusion .
“ We are in the midst of the pandemic presently .
Correct , ” Harris said dryly .
“ Umm .
So , repeat the question because I guess I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Has he accurately reflected the status of the pandemic ?
” dissembled Ratcliffe .
“ Conveyed the severity of the pandemic yes .
Has he accurately conveyed the severity of COVID-19 to the American people ?
” Harris said .
“ Um , I believe so , ” said Ratcliffe , closing ranks around his incompetent boss .
Senator Harris , unwilling to let the blatant mischaracterization of the Trump administration ’ s disastrous handling of the pandemic go unchallenged , then proceeded to detail the intelligence briefings on the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-documented downplaying of the virus ’ s risks to the public .
In short , Senator Harris made it abundantly clear that no rational person can claim in good conscience that Trump accurately conveyed the nature of COVID-19 .
The evidence to the contrary is overwhelming .
Ratcliffe ’ s refusal to admit that the president misrepresented the pandemic means he ’ s either too ignorant to realize the truth or too partisan to admit it .
Either trait is disqualifying for such an important position as DNI .
He should immediately withdraw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone more competent and qualified to take the job .
We want to hear what YOU have to say .
Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section !

President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) seems to poised to sail to confirmation in the GOP-controlled Senate. The deeply conservative Congressman was previously considered for the position in 2019 but ultimately withdrew his name from consideration after it was widely and correctly pointed out that he lacks the national security experience for the position.
Trump, never one to care about the actual qualifications of his appointees so long as they’re loyal to him and right-wing enough to please his base, has clearly decided to ignore the valid concerns about Ratcliffe’s resume and forge ahead with his ill-advised plan to invest him with tremendous institutional power.
Add your name to reject Trump & Republicans’ vile idea of sacrificing seniors’ lives to save the stock market!
Today, the Senate Intelligence Committee held a hearing on Ratcliffe’s nomination and the Congressman’s performance did little to alleviate well-founded fears that he is a partisan hatchet man, a MAGA loyalist who is more interested in furthering the interests of the GOP than serving the truth or the American people.
At one point, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) asked Ratcliffe an incredibly straightforward question.
“Do you believe that President Trump has accurately conveyed the severity of the threat of COVID-19 to the American people?” asked Senator Harris.
“Are you saying presently?” Ratcliffe responded, scrunching his face up in what appeared to be faux confusion.
“We are in the midst of the pandemic presently. Correct,” Harris said dryly.
“Umm. So, repeat the question because I guess I’m misunderstanding. I’m sorry. Has he accurately reflected the status of the pandemic?” dissembled Ratcliffe.
“Conveyed the severity of the pandemic yes. Has he accurately conveyed the severity of COVID-19 to the American people?” Harris said.
“Um, I believe so,” said Ratcliffe, closing ranks around his incompetent boss.
Senator Harris, unwilling to let the blatant mischaracterization of the Trump administration’s disastrous handling of the pandemic go unchallenged, then proceeded to detail the intelligence briefings on the novel coronavirus the president received and his repeated and well-documented downplaying of the virus’s risks to the public.
In short, Senator Harris made it abundantly clear that no rational person can claim in good conscience that Trump accurately conveyed the nature of COVID-19. The evidence to the contrary is overwhelming.
Ratcliffe’s refusal to admit that the president misrepresented the pandemic means he’s either too ignorant to realize the truth or too partisan to admit it. Either trait is disqualifying for such an important position as DNI. He should immediately withdraw his name from consideration again and allow someone more competent and qualified to take the job.
Ratcliffe: Are you saying presently?
Harris: We are in the midst of a pandemic presently
Chile #Kamala brought that “boy don’t play dumb with me” energy as always. You absolutely cannot pull the Okey doke on her 👊🏾 #KamalaHarrisForVP h/t @heatherrosegoes pic.twitter.com/SCob1CDNFd https://t.co/p7muF5pcxK — BlackWomenViews (@blackwomenviews) May 5, 2020
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