occupydemocrats--2020-02-23--Adam Schiff issues a devastating reply after Trump calls for his investigation over intel leaks

Donald Trump may be headed to India today to focus on foreign policy , but he still managed to incite some domestic political furor before he left on his overseas journey .
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn right before boarding a helicopter waiting to transport him to Air Force One , Trump was asked about press reports concerning a classified briefing given to members of Congress that indicated that Russia was already actively interfering in this year ’ s presidential election by seeking to boost both Trump and also the candidacy of Senator Bernie Sanders ( I-VT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the question , the president denied having heard any such intelligence report , despite the fact that multiple intelligence officials — including FBI Director Christopher Wray — have been warning about Kremlin meddling for a long time .
With recent reports warning that the heads of U.S. intelligence agencies are now afraid of appearing to contradict the president — particularly given his spate of retaliatory axing of those who dared to testify under oath in his impeachment hearings about his attempts to seek out just such electoral intervention — it is entirely plausible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence reports that would contradict his public denials of Russian aid to his campaign efforts simply because no one wanted to face his potential wrathful reaction .
After implying that the information is false because he hadn ’ t been briefed on it , Trump then inexplicably and illogically pivoted to accusing House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) of leaking the supposedly non-existent intelligence .
Add your name to tell the ABA : Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
For his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president on his feeble attempts to deflect attention from the main point of the leaked intelligence : that any Russian support of Senator Sanders ’ candidacy was fully in service to its main goal of reelecting their servile puppet Trump — a president who has done everything in his power to achieve the goals that Vladimir Putin would love to see him accomplish , including weakening America ’ s bond with our European allies , withholding military support for Ukraine , withdrawing troops from Syria , and fiercely dividing the U.S. populace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders now leading the field of Democratic candidates in the delegate count after yesterday ’ s victory in the Nevada caucuses , Trump and his Kremlin helpers may come to regret their assessment that Sanders would be the easiest candidate for Trump to defeat in the general election because they believe that their fearmongering using cold war-era anti-Socialist tropes will dissuade moderate voters from supporting him and either picking Trump or staying home instead .
The broad popularity of Sanders ’ Medicare-for-All plan at a time when Trump is lying about his promise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Justice Department is actively trying to overturn that requirement of Obamacare in the courts , could be the reason that Sanders will be a much more formidable opponent than Trump and his Kremlin plotters initially realized .
Original reporting by Jeff Mason and Tim Ahmann at Reuters .
What do you think ?

Donald Trump may be headed to India today to focus on foreign policy, but he still managed to incite some domestic political furor before he left on his overseas journey.
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn right before boarding a helicopter waiting to transport him to Air Force One, Trump was asked about press reports concerning a classified briefing given to members of Congress that indicated that Russia was already actively interfering in this year’s presidential election by seeking to boost both Trump and also the candidacy of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Shaking his head upon hearing the question, the president denied having heard any such intelligence report, despite the fact that multiple intelligence officials — including FBI Director Christopher Wray — have been warning about Kremlin meddling for a long time.
“Nobody said it. I read where Russia is helping Bernie Sanders. Nobody said it to me at all. Nobody briefed me about that at all,” Trump claimed.
With recent reports warning that the heads of U.S. intelligence agencies are now afraid of appearing to contradict the president — particularly given his spate of retaliatory axing of those who dared to testify under oath in his impeachment hearings about his attempts to seek out just such electoral intervention — it is entirely plausible that Trump was indeed not told about intelligence reports that would contradict his public denials of Russian aid to his campaign efforts simply because no one wanted to face his potential wrathful reaction.
After implying that the information is false because he hadn’t been briefed on it, Trump then inexplicably and illogically pivoted to accusing House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) of leaking the supposedly non-existent intelligence.
“They leaked it, Adam Schiff and his group, they leaked it to the papers, and, as usual, they oughta investgate Adma Schiff for leaking that information. He should not be leaking information out of intelligence. They oughta investigate Adam Schiff,” Trump accused the congressman who headed the impeachment inquiry in another fit of psychological projection.
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
For his part, Representative Schiff responded by complimenting the president on his feeble attempts to deflect attention from the main point of the leaked intelligence: that any Russian support of Senator Sanders’ candidacy was fully in service to its main goal of reelecting their servile puppet Trump — a president who has done everything in his power to achieve the goals that Vladimir Putin would love to see him accomplish, including weakening America’s bond with our European allies, withholding military support for Ukraine, withdrawing troops from Syria, and fiercely dividing the U.S. populace through his polarizing rhetoric.
Nice deflection, Mr. President. But your false claims fool no one. You welcomed Russian help in 2016, tried to coerce Ukraine’s help in 2019, and won’t protect our elections in 2020. Now you fired your intel chief for briefing Congress about it. You’ve betrayed America. Again. https://t.co/WlMDaz8stF — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 23, 2020
Touche´, Congressman Schiff!
With Bernie Sanders now leading the field of Democratic candidates in the delegate count after yesterday’s victory in the Nevada caucuses, Trump and his Kremlin helpers may come to regret their assessment that Sanders would be the easiest candidate for Trump to defeat in the general election because they believe that their fearmongering using cold war-era anti-Socialist tropes will dissuade moderate voters from supporting him and either picking Trump or staying home instead.
The broad popularity of Sanders’ Medicare-for-All plan at a time when Trump is lying about his promise of protecting coverage of pre-existing conditions while his Justice Department is actively trying to overturn that requirement of Obamacare in the courts, could be the reason that Sanders will be a much more formidable opponent than Trump and his Kremlin plotters initially realized.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Jeff Mason and Tim Ahmann at Reuters.
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--2020-02-22--Trump goes Bollywood, retweeting bizarre video mashup of himself as an Indian action hero

Ahead of a planned trip to India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi , a leader with similar anti-Muslim sentiments to his own proven views , Donald Trump retweeted a bizarre video mashup featuring his own face superimposed over the face of the hero of a Bollywood historical action flick .
Captioned with Trump ’ s comment “ Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA !
” , the video features our decidedly non-athletic president as a sword-wielding warrior vanquishing foes left and right on a crowded and violent battlefield , riding an elephant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a galloping steed in scenes that he is hardly likely to encounter while visiting his great friends on the subcontinent .
The video , created by a right-wing meme-maker , also manages to fit in superimposed cameos by Melania Trump , Ivanka Trump , and Donald Trump Jr. , as well as Prime Minister Modi and , presumably , his estranged wife Jashodaben .
In the self-described “ warped mind ” of the creator of the viral video , Trump ’ s superhuman strength allows him to carry both Don Jr. and Ivanka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way through throngs of adoring crowds on his way to meet Modi .
Add your name to tell the ABA : Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
While Trump ’ s upcoming trip to India is largely seen by political analysts as a transparent attempt to court the vote of Indian Americans for his reelection bid , the nod of approval for the Bollywood mashup stands in stark contrast to his criticism of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when they awarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film , the South Korean-produced Parasite , recently .
Just yesterday at a rally in Las Vegas , the president went on a jingoistic rant about his displeasure over the Academy ’ s decision .
“ This year we had a movie , they said ‘ best movie ’ — they announced the movie from South Korea .
I said what ’ s that all about ?
” Trump told the crowd at his rally .
“ Look , I get along great with South Korea , ” Trump added , “ but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
They used to call it ‘ best foreign movie.
’ Now we do it that way.
” “ I don ’ t get it , ” he said .
“ But that ’ s what it used to be .
And this is really an incredible time , I ’ ll tell you what , for our country .
That ’ s why I like to see things that we do get honored.
” With a score consisting of a Bollywood ditty sung entirely in Hindi , the video clip that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t care what language is used in a film as long as he ’ s portrayed as the conquering hero .
If only he was as honest about his own “ warped mind ” as the originator of the video mashup seems to be .
For it is only in a cinematic fantasy land that Donald Trump could be seen as a conquering hero .
What do you think ?

Ahead of a planned trip to India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a leader with similar anti-Muslim sentiments to his own proven views, Donald Trump retweeted a bizarre video mashup featuring his own face superimposed over the face of the hero of a Bollywood historical action flick.
Captioned with Trump’s comment “Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA!”, the video features our decidedly non-athletic president as a sword-wielding warrior vanquishing foes left and right on a crowded and violent battlefield, riding an elephant, and plucking flowers while leaning precariously from a galloping steed in scenes that he is hardly likely to encounter while visiting his great friends on the subcontinent.
The video, created by a right-wing meme-maker, also manages to fit in superimposed cameos by Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Donald Trump Jr., as well as Prime Minister Modi and, presumably, his estranged wife Jashodaben.
In the self-described “warped mind” of the creator of the viral video, Trump’s superhuman strength allows him to carry both Don Jr. and Ivanka on his shoulders as he pushes his way through throngs of adoring crowds on his way to meet Modi.
Look so forward to being with my great friends in INDIA! https://t.co/1jdk3AW6fG — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2020
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
While Trump’s upcoming trip to India is largely seen by political analysts as a transparent attempt to court the vote of Indian Americans for his reelection bid, the nod of approval for the Bollywood mashup stands in stark contrast to his criticism of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when they awarded the best picture Oscar to a foreign film, the South Korean-produced Parasite, recently.
Just yesterday at a rally in Las Vegas, the president went on a jingoistic rant about his displeasure over the Academy’s decision.
“This year we had a movie, they said ‘best movie’ — they announced the movie from South Korea. I said what’s that all about?” Trump told the crowd at his rally. “Look, I get along great with South Korea,” Trump added, “but I’ve never seen that movie before. They used to call it ‘best foreign movie.’ Now we do it that way.” “I don’t get it,” he said. “But that’s what it used to be. And this is really an incredible time, I’ll tell you what, for our country. That’s why I like to see things that we do get honored.”
President Trump on #Parasite: "They used to call it 'Best Foreign Movie.' Now we do it that way. I don't get it. But that's what it used to be. And this is really an incredible time, I'll tell you what, for our country. That's why I like to see things that we do get honored." pic.twitter.com/uSXMcv8ahM — The Hill (@thehill) February 21, 2020
With a score consisting of a Bollywood ditty sung entirely in Hindi, the video clip that Trump retweeted proves that he really doesn’t care what language is used in a film as long as he’s portrayed as the conquering hero.
If only he was as honest about his own “warped mind” as the originator of the video mashup seems to be. For it is only in a cinematic fantasy land that Donald Trump could be seen as a conquering hero.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
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--2020-02-28--Trump spends day with right-wing playwright and D-list FOX hosts while markets plunge

While the stock market records one of the worst drops in history and public concern skyrockets over disturbing reports of careless mismanagement of infected coronavirus patients by the Department of Health and Human Services , one might expect the president of the United States to be spending his days meeting with advisers and experts , coordinating the national response and keeping abreast of incoming developments .
Not President Donald Trump , however , who continues to break new ground in the field of “ fiddling while Rome burns.
” While multiple crises unfold across the country , the president could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a low-budget right-wing play , “ FBI Lovebirds : Undercovers.
” The play is a depiction of one of the president ’ s favorite conspiracy theory : the affair of Peter Strzok and Lisa Page , two FBI agents involved in the investigation into Hillary Clinton ’ s email server who were discovered to have been exchanging text messages disapproving of Trump ’ s candidacy .
The pair have since become the subject of countless hours of Hannity monologues and play a very prominent role in the paranoid mythology that the president has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensive and well-documented wrongdoing .
The Daily Beast reports that Trump was so engaged in the concept that his scheduled 15-minute meeting with the playwright ran for nearly an hour , because the president was busy ranting about how unfair the entire thing has been to him and his people : “ McAleer said Trump complained in the meeting about “ why some people are in prison [ and ] why other people aren ’ t ” — an apparent re-airing of grievances that law enforcement officials involved in investigating his campaign haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own campaign staffers have been.
” Following this meeting , Trump held a press event with his favorite African-American talking heads like right-wing extremist Candace Owens of Turning Point USA and pro-Trump commentators “ Diamond and Silk.
” Apparently , it is too much to ask that the leader of the free world spend some of his day doing actual work when there are multiple crises to deal with .
Original reporting by Will Sommer at the Daily Beast .
What do you think ?

While the stock market records one of the worst drops in history and public concern skyrockets over disturbing reports of careless mismanagement of infected coronavirus patients by the Department of Health and Human Services, one might expect the president of the United States to be spending his days meeting with advisers and experts, coordinating the national response and keeping abreast of incoming developments.
Not President Donald Trump, however, who continues to break new ground in the field of “fiddling while Rome burns.” While multiple crises unfold across the country, the president could be found talking to the stars of a low-budget right-wing play, “FBI Lovebirds: Undercovers.”
The play is a depiction of one of the president’s favorite conspiracy theory: the affair of Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, two FBI agents involved in the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server who were discovered to have been exchanging text messages disapproving of Trump’s candidacy.
The pair have since become the subject of countless hours of Hannity monologues and play a very prominent role in the paranoid mythology that the president has concocted to excuse the investigations into his extensive and well-documented wrongdoing.
The Daily Beast reports that Trump was so engaged in the concept that his scheduled 15-minute meeting with the playwright ran for nearly an hour, because the president was busy ranting about how unfair the entire thing has been to him and his people:
“McAleer said Trump complained in the meeting about “why some people are in prison [and] why other people aren’t” — an apparent re-airing of grievances that law enforcement officials involved in investigating his campaign haven’t been charged, while his own campaign staffers have been.”
Following this meeting, Trump held a press event with his favorite African-American talking heads like right-wing extremist Candace Owens of Turning Point USA and pro-Trump commentators “Diamond and Silk.”
Trump is here with many guests including Candace Owens and Diamond and Silk. pic.twitter.com/JmLv10tP7b — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) February 27, 2020
Apparently, it is too much to ask that the leader of the free world spend some of his day doing actual work when there are multiple crises to deal with.
Original reporting by Will Sommer at the Daily Beast.
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--2020-02-27--DeVos raked over the coals by Rep. Barbara Lee for trying to hide data about Black and Latino childr

DeVos raked over the coals by Rep. Barbara Lee for trying to hide data about Black and Latino children

Donald Trump has stuffed his Cabinet full of all manner of crooks , ignoramuses , and opportunists but few agitate such a visceral reaction from reasonable Americans as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for the simple reason that her terrible policies directly affect vulnerable children .
Here is a woman who wasn ’ t content to simply sit on her vast fortune in peace , but chose instead to join a cruel , incompetent administration so that she could accumulate even more power and wealth .
DeVos was called to testify before Congress today about Trump ’ s 2021 education budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to task by Democratic representatives .
Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California wasn ’ t afraid to directly challenge the Secretary on the topic of systemic discrimination towards Black and Latino students , zeroing in on DeVos ’ s elimination of programs aimed at ensuring that students of color aren ’ t subjected to harsher punishments than white children .
Lee brought up new proposals from the Department of Education that could disproportionately affect children of color .
Specifically , Lee wanted to know why DeVos ’ s department wants to remove race and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student suspensions .
Doing so would make it much harder to judge how fairly or unfairly students of color are being treated .
Add your name to tell the ABA : Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
Rather than giving a real answer , DeVos insisted that she loves children and wants them all to have the opportunity to get a great education .
She unconvincingly claimed that her department has been focused on “ answering and responding ” to Congress ’ s requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madam Secretary , ” Lee said , refusing to fall for DeVos ’ s obfuscations .
The Secretary , in turn , rambled off more platitudes while flashing a fake smile .
Lee refused to back down .
“ Madam Secretary , you tell us that every year but what about Black and Latino kids ?
” Lee asked .
DeVos tried to interrupt her but the Congresswoman managed to remain on task .
“ You ’ re trying to mask this by saying you ’ re not going to collect the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world are you going to be able to say you care about Black and Latino kids ?
” Rep. Lee then asked the Secretary about an education report on the adverse impacts of resegregation that the Secretary failed to deliver to Congress despite her obligation to do so .
“ That is not the case .
We are responsive .
We have continued to be responsive to the many requests from Congress , ” DeVos responded robotically .
Lee again reiterated that the Department of Education has not been responsive and that such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being kicked out of school in addition to their systemic racial disadvantages .
“ Madam Secretary this committee has asked you for this data and instead of providing the data and the reports you ’ re now trying to mask it by saying you ’ re not going to use race and ethnicity to even present the facts ?
So how can you sit there and say that ?
We ask you over , and over , and over again every year , ” Lee said , growing visibly frustrated with DeVos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spit out her rehearsed line about caring about children .
“ A report does not solve a child ’ s problem .
A report is not a child ’ s future , ” DeVos said in an incredibly condescending manner .
Somehow , Lee managed to keep her cool in the face of the Secretary ’ s patronizing strawman argument and asked again for an explanation .
DeVos pivoted to shilling for charter schools and said she ’ d “ check on ” when the reports would be delivered .
One would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after this performance .
What do you think ?

Donald Trump has stuffed his Cabinet full of all manner of crooks, ignoramuses, and opportunists but few agitate such a visceral reaction from reasonable Americans as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for the simple reason that her terrible policies directly affect vulnerable children. Here is a woman who wasn’t content to simply sit on her vast fortune in peace, but chose instead to join a cruel, incompetent administration so that she could accumulate even more power and wealth.
DeVos was called to testify before Congress today about Trump’s 2021 education budget and found herself repeatedly and rightfully taken to task by Democratic representatives. Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California wasn’t afraid to directly challenge the Secretary on the topic of systemic discrimination towards Black and Latino students, zeroing in on DeVos’s elimination of programs aimed at ensuring that students of color aren’t subjected to harsher punishments than white children.
Lee brought up new proposals from the Department of Education that could disproportionately affect children of color. Specifically, Lee wanted to know why DeVos’s department wants to remove race and ethnicity as data points collected on preschool student suspensions. Doing so would make it much harder to judge how fairly or unfairly students of color are being treated.
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
Rather than giving a real answer, DeVos insisted that she loves children and wants them all to have the opportunity to get a great education. She unconvincingly claimed that her department has been focused on “answering and responding” to Congress’s requests.
“You said that last year Madam Secretary,” Lee said, refusing to fall for DeVos’s obfuscations. The Secretary, in turn, rambled off more platitudes while flashing a fake smile. Lee refused to back down.
“Madam Secretary, you tell us that every year but what about Black and Latino kids?” Lee asked. DeVos tried to interrupt her but the Congresswoman managed to remain on task. “You’re trying to mask this by saying you’re not going to collect the data by race, so how in the world are you going to be able to say you care about Black and Latino kids?”
Rep. Lee then asked the Secretary about an education report on the adverse impacts of resegregation that the Secretary failed to deliver to Congress despite her obligation to do so.
“That is not the case. We are responsive. We have continued to be responsive to the many requests from Congress,” DeVos responded robotically. Lee again reiterated that the Department of Education has not been responsive and that such stonewalling hurts Black and Latino children who are being kicked out of school in addition to their systemic racial disadvantages.
“Madam Secretary this committee has asked you for this data and instead of providing the data and the reports you’re now trying to mask it by saying you’re not going to use race and ethnicity to even present the facts? So how can you sit there and say that? We ask you over, and over, and over again every year,” Lee said, growing visibly frustrated with DeVos’s nonanswers.
Again, DeVos spit out her rehearsed line about caring about children.
“But you’re not showing that,” Lee shot back.
“A report does not solve a child’s problem. A report is not a child’s future,” DeVos said in an incredibly condescending manner. Somehow, Lee managed to keep her cool in the face of the Secretary’s patronizing strawman argument and asked again for an explanation.
DeVos pivoted to shilling for charter schools and said she’d “check on” when the reports would be delivered. One would have to be a fool to believe her after this performance.
Watch the blood-boiling interaction below.
"How can you sit there and say that?" WATCH: @RepBarbaraLee's fiery gilling of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. pic.twitter.com/EctBI2LQZ9 — The Hill (@thehill) February 27, 2020
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-02-27--White House muzzles National Institute of Health doctor about coronavirus outbreak

The Trump White House is slamming the brakes on factual information from at least one of America ’ s top epidemiologists after a National Institute of Health ( NIH ) doctor explained that there won ’ t be a vaccine cure for the growing coronavirus outbreak .
Yesterday , President Trump held a press conference to formally designate Vice President Mike Pence as the “ czar ” for handling the federal government ’ s public health crisis response .
He introduced a pair of actual scientists for a real update before he continued to spread his typical misinformation with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a side of partisan attacks .
President Trump introduced Centers for Disease Control ’ s ( CDC ) top career official , Dr. Anne Schuchat , who explained yesterday that contrary to Trump ’ s assertion only minutes earlier that the risk to America is “ very low , ” she expects more transmissions of the disease and “ this is a good time to prepare : ” “ The coronavirus that we ’ re talking about is a respiratory virus .
It ’ s spread in a similar way to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dr. Schuchat said , recounting the simple precautions anyone can take to stop the spread of the flu or the novel coronavirus .
“ It ’ s spread through coughs and sneezes , and so , those everyday sensible measures that we tell people to do every year with the flu are important here ; covering your cough , staying home when you ’ re sick , and washing your hands .
Tried and true , not very exciting measures , but really important ways that you can prevent the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an NIH medical doctor who candidly stressed that “ the answer to containing is public health measures .
We can ’ t rely on a vaccine over the next several months to a year.
” However , the New York Times reports that it may have contained the last does of unfiltered real information we could see for a while because that NIH doctor has now been muzzled : Last night , Vacaville , California doctors reported the first non-travel transmission of the novel coronavirus dubbed COVID-19 .
Not only is the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact-based updates without its consent as the threat grows , but there is an ongoing scheme at the highest levels to pass the buck for ultimate responsibility for the federal government ’ s public health response to the novel coronavirus and it ’ s creating a “ leadership ” logjam .
Less than 24-hours after last night ’ s press conference , chaos reigns in the chain of command as Vice President Pence has turned to a scientific expert to do his job for him—which is comforting considering his abysmal past history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor—while Health and Human Services ( HHS ) Secretary Alex Azar continues to be the chairman of the federal coronavirus task force .
Facing a real crisis , it ’ s the second time that the two top executives in the federal government have passed the buck in under two days .
The New York Times reports : Apparently , that means Pence ’ s role has been relegated to being Trump ’ s press agent , handling all statements about the coronavirus after the President vituperatively complained earlier this week that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hurting him politically and personally by tanking the stock market .
It ’ s uncertain that the vice president is really even handling that , as he has decided to bring in Trump ’ s notoriously inaccurate chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow—who predicted no recession in 2007 before the financial crash began a year later—to continue in his role as a leading disinformation agent .
Now that there ’ s a growing sense of urgency over the virus , the strain of dismantling the public health infrastructure that President Obama created in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major Ebola outbreak is starting to rear its ugly head as President Trump applies his usual style of mismanagement to a genuine national security threat .
Because the response to this coronavirus outbreak is a matter of life or death , Trump and his prevaricating band of panderers can ’ t pass the hot potato of the crisis response fast enough , while squelching scientific professionals who could do a better job of informing the public with facts instead of spin .
It ’ s unfortunate but completely unsurprising that the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of a public health crisis since that ’ s pretty much all Donald Trump knows how to do .
In the sarcastic words of Dr. Michael R. Carpenter , Vice President Joe Biden ’ s former National Security Advisor who foresaw today ’ s crisis in public health response without the NCS ’ s Directorate on Global Health Security last month , “ But we ’ re building an awesome border wall.
” What do you think ?

The Trump White House is slamming the brakes on factual information from at least one of America’s top epidemiologists after a National Institute of Health (NIH) doctor explained that there won’t be a vaccine cure for the growing coronavirus outbreak.
Yesterday, President Trump held a press conference to formally designate Vice President Mike Pence as the “czar” for handling the federal government’s public health crisis response. He introduced a pair of actual scientists for a real update before he continued to spread his typical misinformation with a heaping dose of factless, wishful thinking and a side of partisan attacks.
President Trump introduced Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) top career official, Dr. Anne Schuchat, who explained yesterday that contrary to Trump’s assertion only minutes earlier that the risk to America is “very low,” she expects more transmissions of the disease and “this is a good time to prepare:”
“The coronavirus that we’re talking about is a respiratory virus. It’s spread in a similar way to the common cold, or to influenza,” Dr. Schuchat said, recounting the simple precautions anyone can take to stop the spread of the flu or the novel coronavirus. “It’s spread through coughs and sneezes, and so, those everyday sensible measures that we tell people to do every year with the flu are important here; covering your cough, staying home when you’re sick, and washing your hands. Tried and true, not very exciting measures, but really important ways that you can prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.”
She was followed by an NIH medical doctor who candidly stressed that “the answer to containing is public health measures. We can’t rely on a vaccine over the next several months to a year.”
However, the New York Times reports that it may have contained the last does of unfiltered real information we could see for a while because that NIH doctor has now been muzzled:
“Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, one of the country’s leading experts on viruses and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases, told associates that the White House had instructed him not to say anything else without clearance,” Michael D. Shear and Maggie Haberman write in the Times.
Last night, Vacaville, California doctors reported the first non-travel transmission of the novel coronavirus dubbed COVID-19.
Not only is the Trump White House putting the breaks on more fact-based updates without its consent as the threat grows, but there is an ongoing scheme at the highest levels to pass the buck for ultimate responsibility for the federal government’s public health response to the novel coronavirus and it’s creating a “leadership” logjam.
Less than 24-hours after last night’s press conference, chaos reigns in the chain of command as Vice President Pence has turned to a scientific expert to do his job for him—which is comforting considering his abysmal past history of public health failures as Indiana’s governor—while Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar continues to be the chairman of the federal coronavirus task force. Facing a real crisis, it’s the second time that the two top executives in the federal government have passed the buck in under two days. The New York Times reports:
“In turn, Mr. Pence said on Thursday that he had selected Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the director of the United States effort to combat H.I.V. and AIDS, to serve as the Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House, enlisting an experienced scientist and physician to manage the response to the potential spread of the virus.” “But with Mr. Pence’s announcement, Dr. Birx becomes the third person to be designated as the administration’s primary coronavirus official.”
Apparently, that means Pence’s role has been relegated to being Trump’s press agent, handling all statements about the coronavirus after the President vituperatively complained earlier this week that all the bad news about the growing pandemic is hurting him politically and personally by tanking the stock market.
It’s uncertain that the vice president is really even handling that, as he has decided to bring in Trump’s notoriously inaccurate chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow—who predicted no recession in 2007 before the financial crash began a year later—to continue in his role as a leading disinformation agent.
Huh. Pence adds Larry Kudlow to the coronavirus task force. — Michael McAuliff (@mmcauliff) February 27, 2020
Now that there’s a growing sense of urgency over the virus, the strain of dismantling the public health infrastructure that President Obama created in the National Security Council to fight a major Ebola outbreak is starting to rear its ugly head as President Trump applies his usual style of mismanagement to a genuine national security threat.
Because the response to this coronavirus outbreak is a matter of life or death, Trump and his prevaricating band of panderers can’t pass the hot potato of the crisis response fast enough, while squelching scientific professionals who could do a better job of informing the public with facts instead of spin.
It’s unfortunate but completely unsurprising that the Trump administration is busy trying to lie its way out of a public health crisis since that’s pretty much all Donald Trump knows how to do.
In the sarcastic words of Dr. Michael R. Carpenter, Vice President Joe Biden’s former National Security Advisor who foresaw today’s crisis in public health response without the NCS’s Directorate on Global Health Security last month, “But we’re building an awesome border wall.”
As you read about coronavirus, remember the Trump administration shut down the entire NSC Directorate on Global Health Security. And it cut funding to deal with pandemic diseases. (But we're building an awesome border wall). @BethCameron_DC @maddow @RonaldKlain https://t.co/JNeuAv6YFW — Michael Carpenter (@mikercarpenter) January 22, 2020


occupydemocrats--2020-02-27--DeVos melts down and cries fake news after being unable to answer questions in House hearing

The past three years of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos ’ management of America ’ s public school system have been defined entirely by a systematic assault on the protective regulations that shield our most vulnerable students and a palpable contempt for the institution of public schools as a whole .
Whether it was rolling back President Obama ’ s rules governing campus sexual assault , revoking a guidance aiming to curb racial discrimination in schools , stripping transgender students of their rights , or cutting off debt relief for students defrauded by fake for-profit “ colleges , ” she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most vulnerable students and enable some of the worst fraudsters that American capitalism has ever produced .
Her petty cruelties , cartoonish malice , and preposterous incompetence were put on full display during today ’ s House hearing on the president ’ s 2021 budget request as Democratic Representatives demanded justification for the $ 5.6 billion in cuts to education sought by the White House and her efforts to shunt even more public money to private charter schools , which are hotbeds of corruption and tools for racial segregation .
Add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
Rep. Mark Pocan ( D-WI ) confronted DeVos over reports showing an astonishingly high rate of charter school failures and gave her the ugly numbers : “ On academic performance , we know in charter schools one out of six do better than public schools , half are the same , and two out of six perform worse on academic performance , but there ’ s something even worse , what we bought with this spending…a thousand charter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Education were given to schools that never opened or later closed because of mismanagement or poor performance or fraud… another report from last December say its actually worse than that , it was 2,127 schools out of 5,286 that actually never opened or failed , that ’ s 40.5 % failure rate on charter schools .
That ’ s an F grade.
” Her response was to pull the “ fake news ” card , but when pushed for the “ real ” numbers from the Department of Education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued that it was the “ states ” who had the figures .
Pocan went on to demand answers for a small example of the outrageous corruption and thievery that the Trump administration is enabling through its charter school grant program : “ Also , there was a school , the Idea charter chain , that had been awarded about $ 200 million in federal funds…yet this is some of what they ’ ve spent their money on : they had $ 400,000 going to a luxury box in tickets for Spurs tickets…they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board members for $ 1.7 million…another board member got the commission on that sale… Only after a lot of scrutiny did the CEO back off on a plan to lease a private jet for $ 2 million a year over six years… Do you think charter schools should be allowed to use federal funding to purchase private jets ?
” DeVos tried to argue that it was “ not a yes or no question , ” which was immediately responded to with “ actually yes it is ” from an incredulous Mark Pocan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer a yes or no question I don ’ t know why you should be the Secretary.
” An embarrassing display of protest and deflection from DeVos ensues .
It ’ s clear from DeVos ’ protestations , the appallingly high rate of charter school failures , and the lengths to which she refuses to condemn the use of public funds for selfish corruption that she has no regard for America ’ s students or their education and views her position as an opportunity to dismantle our public schools and funnel taxpayer dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the very idea of using the federal government to protect vulnerable children was so obvious that Rep. Katherine Clark ( D-MASS ) demanded that she resign for her “ appalling ” refusal to stand up for our students .
What do you think ?

The past three years of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ management of America’s public school system have been defined entirely by a systematic assault on the protective regulations that shield our most vulnerable students and a palpable contempt for the institution of public schools as a whole.
Whether it was rolling back President Obama’s rules governing campus sexual assault, revoking a guidance aiming to curb racial discrimination in schools, stripping transgender students of their rights, or cutting off debt relief for students defrauded by fake for-profit “colleges,” she has done nothing but heap hardship on America’s most vulnerable students and enable some of the worst fraudsters that American capitalism has ever produced.
Her petty cruelties, cartoonish malice, and preposterous incompetence were put on full display during today’s House hearing on the president’s 2021 budget request as Democratic Representatives demanded justification for the $5.6 billion in cuts to education sought by the White House and her efforts to shunt even more public money to private charter schools, which are hotbeds of corruption and tools for racial segregation.
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) confronted DeVos over reports showing an astonishingly high rate of charter school failures and gave her the ugly numbers:
“On academic performance, we know in charter schools one out of six do better than public schools, half are the same, and two out of six perform worse on academic performance, but there’s something even worse, what we bought with this spending…a thousand charter schools program grants were given out by the Department of Education were given to schools that never opened or later closed because of mismanagement or poor performance or fraud… another report from last December say its actually worse than that, it was 2,127 schools out of 5,286 that actually never opened or failed, that’s 40.5% failure rate on charter schools. That’s an F grade.”
Her response was to pull the “fake news” card, but when pushed for the “real” numbers from the Department of Education, she could not produce them and instead argued that it was the “states” who had the figures.
.@repmarkpocan: 40% of charter schools that you're giving grant to are closing down BETSY DeVOS: That's a totally debunked report. It's just propaganda POCAN: So what percent of charters are failing? Do you have an idea? DeVOS: ¯_(ツ)_/¯ P: You're the secretary of education! pic.twitter.com/92K13Awaav — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 27, 2020
Pocan went on to demand answers for a small example of the outrageous corruption and thievery that the Trump administration is enabling through its charter school grant program:
“Also, there was a school, the Idea charter chain, that had been awarded about $200 million in federal funds…yet this is some of what they’ve spent their money on: they had $400,000 going to a luxury box in tickets for Spurs tickets…they purchased a property from one of their board members for $1.7 million…another board member got the commission on that sale… Only after a lot of scrutiny did the CEO back off on a plan to lease a private jet for $2 million a year over six years… Do you think charter schools should be allowed to use federal funding to purchase private jets?”
DeVos tried to argue that it was “not a yes or no question,” which was immediately responded to with “actually yes it is” from an incredulous Mark Pocan. “If you can’t answer a yes or no question I don’t know why you should be the Secretary.” An embarrassing display of protest and deflection from DeVos ensues.
.@repmarkpocan: "Do you think charter schools who receive federal funding should be allowed to use those funds to purchase private jets? A yes or no question." Sec. Betsy DeVos: "It's not a yes or no question." Pocan: "Actually it is. Actually it really is." pic.twitter.com/93CnQV4TAZ — The Hill (@thehill) February 27, 2020
It’s clear from DeVos’ protestations, the appallingly high rate of charter school failures, and the lengths to which she refuses to condemn the use of public funds for selfish corruption that she has no regard for America’s students or their education and views her position as an opportunity to dismantle our public schools and funnel taxpayer dollars to her rich friends.
Her disgust at the very idea of using the federal government to protect vulnerable children was so obvious that Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MASS) demanded that she resign for her “appalling” refusal to stand up for our students.
.@RepKClark to DeVos: “Your inability to say that you would stand up for kids is appalling, and you really should resign.” pic.twitter.com/E6j7PHkzkS — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 27, 2020
We couldn’t agree more.
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--2020-02-27--Speaker Pelosi shreds Trump for claiming that the debate caused a stock market slide

As the world braces for the spread of the coronavirus , President Trump is already proving himself incapable of or unwilling to guide the United States through what could prove to be a disastrous pandemic .
The Center for Disease Control has told Americans to prepare for the virus to disrupt their daily lives and that it ’ s a matter of “ when ” not “ if ” it spreads through the country .
Rather than amplify this message so that people can prepare , Trump grew angry about the announcement because he thinks it might reflect poorly on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have caused the stock market to plummet and Trump is more concerned about the drop ( and the negative effect it could have on his reelection ) than the disease poised to kill citizens he swore to protect .
During a rambling , contradictory press conference about the virus yesterday Trump astonishingly tried to blame the stock market drop on the Democratic debates .
It was pathetic rhetorical flailing on his part and a clear sign that he ’ s desperate for some kind of scapegoat and has no real options at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ABA : Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
“ I think the financial markets are very upset when they look at the Democrat candidates standing on that stage , making fools out of themselves , and they say , ‘ If we ever have a president like this … ’ And there ’ s always a possibility , it ’ s an election you know ?
Who knows what happens , right ?
I think we ’ re gon na win , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a lot .
But when they look at the statements made by the people standing behind those podiums , I think that has a huge effect , ” said Trump .
Speaker Pelosi , never one to let Trump ’ s ludicrous claims go unchallenged , address his claim about the Democratic debates today .
“ The president said something so strange that you really have to wonder .
He said the reason the market dropped was because of the debate the other night .
Well , the market had dropped 1,800 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The market dropped while he was speaking yesterday at his press conference .
So you know , let ’ s not be silly about what that is , ” Pelosi said , before explaining how the coronavirus caused the drop .
As usual , we see Speaker Pelosi stepping up to the plate to offer the kind of leadership that Trump is habitually and pathologically incapable of displaying .
As the coronavirus situations escalates and Trump actively works to make us less safe , we can at least take some solace in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public servants like Pelosi to help us navigate it .
What do you think ?

As the world braces for the spread of the coronavirus, President Trump is already proving himself incapable of or unwilling to guide the United States through what could prove to be a disastrous pandemic.
The Center for Disease Control has told Americans to prepare for the virus to disrupt their daily lives and that it’s a matter of “when” not “if” it spreads through the country. Rather than amplify this message so that people can prepare, Trump grew angry about the announcement because he thinks it might reflect poorly on his administration.
Concerns about the coronavirus have caused the stock market to plummet and Trump is more concerned about the drop (and the negative effect it could have on his reelection) than the disease poised to kill citizens he swore to protect.
During a rambling, contradictory press conference about the virus yesterday Trump astonishingly tried to blame the stock market drop on the Democratic debates. It was pathetic rhetorical flailing on his part and a clear sign that he’s desperate for some kind of scapegoat and has no real options at this point.
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
“I think the financial markets are very upset when they look at the Democrat candidates standing on that stage, making fools out of themselves, and they say, ‘If we ever have a president like this …’ And there’s always a possibility, it’s an election you know? Who knows what happens, right? I think we’re gonna win, I think we’re gonna win by a lot. But when they look at the statements made by the people standing behind those podiums, I think that has a huge effect,” said Trump.
Trump blamed this week’s 2,000-point drop in the stock market on Tuesday night’s Democratic debate (which occurred after the drop): “I think the financial markets are very upset when they look at the Democrat candidates on that stage making fools out of themselves.” pic.twitter.com/UrdzjinWx6 — Minh Ngo (@minhtngo) February 27, 2020
Speaker Pelosi, never one to let Trump’s ludicrous claims go unchallenged, address his claim about the Democratic debates today.
“The president said something so strange that you really have to wonder. He said the reason the market dropped was because of the debate the other night. Well, the market had dropped 1,800 points before the debate the other night. The market dropped while he was speaking yesterday at his press conference. So you know, let’s not be silly about what that is,” Pelosi said, before explaining how the coronavirus caused the drop.
As usual, we see Speaker Pelosi stepping up to the plate to offer the kind of leadership that Trump is habitually and pathologically incapable of displaying. As the coronavirus situations escalates and Trump actively works to make us less safe, we can at least take some solace in the fact that we still have real public servants like Pelosi to help us navigate it.
PELOSI: “The president said something so strange that you really have to wonder. He said the reason the market dropped was because of the debate the other night. Well, the market had dropped 1,000 points before the debate … Let’s not by silly.” pic.twitter.com/3uwJspNDDM — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 27, 2020
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-02-27--Social media erupts in worry after Trump’s disturbing coronavirus presser

After proving that he is second to all in providing leadership as the global Coronavirus crisis continues to grow — sending tweets downplaying the danger of the threat the virus poses and seemingly more concerned with its effects on the stock market than on the health of the American people — Donald Trump finally addressed the nation this evening to attempt to demonstrate that his administration is completely on top of the developing health emergency surrounding the erupting pandemic .
After a brief preface expressing condolences to the victims of the shooting at the Molson Coors facility in Milwaukee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reassuring America by declaring that he was putting Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the government response to the coronavirus crisis .
In essence , Trump did exactly the same thing that he slammed then-President Obama for doing when he appointed someone without medical experience to oversee the government response to the Ebola crisis back in 2014 .
Of course , there ’ s a Trump tweet for everything .
Given Pence ’ s track record slashing healthcare spending in Indiana when he was governor of that state — a policy widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his tenure — the appointment of the Vice President as the point person for the federal response to the outbreak inspired the president ’ s critics on Twitter to new heights of sarcasm and despair as they typed their outraged comments on the press conference as it was broadcast live .
What do you think ?

After proving that he is second to all in providing leadership as the global Coronavirus crisis continues to grow — sending tweets downplaying the danger of the threat the virus poses and seemingly more concerned with its effects on the stock market than on the health of the American people — Donald Trump finally addressed the nation this evening to attempt to demonstrate that his administration is completely on top of the developing health emergency surrounding the erupting pandemic.
After a brief preface expressing condolences to the victims of the shooting at the Molson Coors facility in Milwaukee, Trump immediately undercut the intended purpose of reassuring America by declaring that he was putting Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the government response to the coronavirus crisis.
In essence, Trump did exactly the same thing that he slammed then-President Obama for doing when he appointed someone without medical experience to oversee the government response to the Ebola crisis back in 2014.
Of course, there’s a Trump tweet for everything.
Obama just appointed an Ebola Czar with zero experience in the medical area and zero experience in infectious disease control. A TOTAL JOKE! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2014
Given Pence’s track record slashing healthcare spending in Indiana when he was governor of that state — a policy widely credited for causing a massive HIV outbreak during his tenure — the appointment of the Vice President as the point person for the federal response to the outbreak inspired the president’s critics on Twitter to new heights of sarcasm and despair as they typed their outraged comments on the press conference as it was broadcast live.
This is the opposite of reassuring — Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp) February 26, 2020
Reassured yet, folks? — Susan Glasser (@sbg1) February 26, 2020
oh word, we're talking about how pence has handled disease outbreaks? and he's in charge now? oh great, fab — Caitlin Kelly (@caitlin__kelly) February 26, 2020
I know this Trump press conference seems frightening and all, but on the other hand, if we go with one of the Democratic candidates, they’ll try to raise taxes on the rich and give more people health care. — Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) February 26, 2020
So, the guy who allowed an HIV outbreak in Indiana while he was governor is now in charge of dealing with containing the coronavirus outbreak?https://t.co/cYDk414oR3 ARE YOU REASSURED???#coronavirususa https://t.co/qFTDoTqERZ — Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) February 26, 2020
Crazy Coronavirus has been Very Mean and Nasty to Mr Trump! — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) February 27, 2020
The struggle to get the dosage right backstage continues.#Pressconference — Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) February 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/earthy__crunchy/status/1232815440914763777?s=20
https://twitter.com/InterruptedSue/status/1232812846657998857?s=20
My takeaway from that #Pressconference: It’s time to drink heavily. pic.twitter.com/RrCKhxfYwb — Elaine (@rosalita2740) February 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/LTrctrc/status/1232819094530985986?s=20
Trump says we only have 15 cases. Then two seconds later says we admitted 42 ppl infected in to the country. So which is it moron? #CoronavirusOutbreak #PressConference pic.twitter.com/Ydf1IkVV25 — UndergroundViews (@LoveitStill) February 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/JonathanBSmall/status/1232819321707094018?s=20
https://twitter.com/silverbell/status/1232815787016101888?s=20
Nothing like having a religious zealot that doesn't understand science run point on pandemic response. we are living in the worst possible future. #pence #VPPence #Pressconference — Deep State All-star (@DeepSt8AllStar) February 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/sweet_cheri_pie/status/1232813720268468230?s=20
Somehow at the #Pressconference trump managed to chide Congress for not providing funding for his wall while asking them for money to fight pandemics. Because of coruse he did. #CoronaVirusUpdates — 999Username000 (@OrionWinning) February 27, 2020
trump had no idea there were so many flu deaths a year, but sure, let's trust him that coronavirus is under control! #Pressconference #coronavirususa — SageRobinson (@SageRobinson) February 27, 2020
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--2020-02-26--Trump rages about a top CDC official telling the truth about coronavirus risk

The greatest fear that critics of the Trump administration have held for a long time now is that the United States might suddenly face a crisis which our president—grossly incompetent and ill-intentioned at the best of times—would be uniquely unsuited to lead us through .
With the global coronavirus outbreak dominating more and more of the news coverage , it looks like we might finally be lurching towards just such a crisis .
The Center for Disease Control is now warning Americans to prepare for the virus to disrupt their daily lives .
Just yesterday , Dr. Nancy Messonnier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , said that it ’ s not a matter of “ if ” the virus spreads in America , it ’ s a matter of “ when.
” It ’ s beginning to look like a serious threat not only for the United States , but the entire world .
Even as things seem to be worsening , Trump appears to have little concern for the health and welfare of his citizens .
He has repeatedly tried to downplay the coronavirus in a transparent attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negatively affecting reelection bid .
For the umpteenth time , we find this man putting his own personal desires over the safety and security of the American people .
Add your name to tell the ABA : Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
CNBC ’ s Eamon Javers reports that Trump was infuriated by Dr. Messonnier ’ s public announcement that the spread of the virus throughout the United States is inevitable .
“ She never should have said that it ’ s bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Javers , presumably echoing Trump ’ s opinion on the matter .
In other words , the administration is more worried about PR than ensuring that Americans are adequately warned and able to prepare for what could be a disastrous pandemic .
One struggles to envision a starker dereliction of duty than this .
The president ’ s primary and most sacred duty is protecting the American people .
If he doesn ’ t have the intellect or courage to guide us through this outbreak , the very least he can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Messonnier do their jobs .
What do you think ?

The greatest fear that critics of the Trump administration have held for a long time now is that the United States might suddenly face a crisis which our president—grossly incompetent and ill-intentioned at the best of times—would be uniquely unsuited to lead us through. With the global coronavirus outbreak dominating more and more of the news coverage, it looks like we might finally be lurching towards just such a crisis.
The Center for Disease Control is now warning Americans to prepare for the virus to disrupt their daily lives. Just yesterday, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the Director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said that it’s not a matter of “if” the virus spreads in America, it’s a matter of “when.” It’s beginning to look like a serious threat not only for the United States, but the entire world.
Even as things seem to be worsening, Trump appears to have little concern for the health and welfare of his citizens. He has repeatedly tried to downplay the coronavirus in a transparent attempt to prevent the markets from dipping and possibly negatively affecting reelection bid. For the umpteenth time, we find this man putting his own personal desires over the safety and security of the American people.
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
CNBC’s Eamon Javers reports that Trump was infuriated by Dr. Messonnier’s public announcement that the spread of the virus throughout the United States is inevitable.
“She never should have said that it’s bad,” a senior White House official told Javers, presumably echoing Trump’s opinion on the matter.
In other words, the administration is more worried about PR than ensuring that Americans are adequately warned and able to prepare for what could be a disastrous pandemic. One struggles to envision a starker dereliction of duty than this. The president’s primary and most sacred duty is protecting the American people. If he doesn’t have the intellect or courage to guide us through this outbreak, the very least he can do is step aside and let people like Dr. Messonnier do their jobs.
I’m told the president’s anger about the CDC briefing yesterday is focused on Dr. Nancy Messonnier, who said it’s not whether, it’s when the virus will hit the US. “She never should have said that,” a senior administration official told me. “it’s bad.” — Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) February 26, 2020
“It’s great to make emergency preparations, it’s not great to make predictions,” the official said. — Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) February 26, 2020
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-02-26--The NRCC’s press secretary sends “FOR SALE” sign to southern Black Congresswoman

It was inevitable that the circular firing squad approach that Democratic candidates for president have employed in their recent debates would be weaponized by Republican political operatives .
Thus , it wasn ’ t surprising when a regional press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee , Camille M. Gallo , jumped on the verbal gaffe by billionaire former New York City Mayor — and former Republican — Michael Bloomberg when he almost blurted out that he had “ bought ” the election of 40 congressional seats for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections .
Bloomberg caught himself before he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying : “ They talk about 40 Democrats .
Twenty-one of those are people that I spent a hundred million dollars to help elect , ” Bloomberg replied to Senator Elizabeth Warren ’ s accusations that he had helped fund the campaigns of mulitple Republican senators .
“ All of the new Democrats that came in and put Nancy Pelosi in charge and gave the Congress the ability to control this president , I bough — I , I got them.
” ” Ms. Gallo extrapolated from Bloomberg ’ s math to compose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the legislators who benefited from his legal campaign contributions , Congresswoman Lucy McBath ( D-GA ) .
Add your name to tell the ABA : Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
The National Republican Congressional Committee operative ’ s publicity stunt implying that the African- American Representative McBath was somehow corrupt , compromised , and “ For Sale ” due to accepting money from the now-Democratic candidate for the presidential nomination was not only in excruciatingly poor taste given the history of slavery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As an employee of a party that has accepted millions from the National Rifle Association — with some percentage of those NRA funds suspected of being illegally funneled from Russian oligarchs — from pharmaceutical companies looking to keep drug prices in America the highest in the world , from an energy industry that has applauded GOP deregulation and the opening of federally-controlled public land to exploration and exploitation , and from many other special interests , Gallo ’ s willful blindness to the “ For Sale ” signs virtually pinned on every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tattooed on their foreheads — signals either blatant cluelessness or cynical hypocrisy of the highest order .
Perhaps Ms. Gallo would appreciate being inundated with mailed requests for copies of the campaign contribution receipts for the donations to each and every Republican member of Congress so we can see who they have been bought and sold by ?
Or maybe she will come to realize that people in the thinnest of glass houses shouldn ’ t be slinging dull and heavy objects about .
What do you think ?

It was inevitable that the circular firing squad approach that Democratic candidates for president have employed in their recent debates would be weaponized by Republican political operatives.
Thus, it wasn’t surprising when a regional press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Camille M. Gallo, jumped on the verbal gaffe by billionaire former New York City Mayor — and former Republican — Michael Bloomberg when he almost blurted out that he had “bought” the election of 40 congressional seats for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections.
Bloomberg caught himself before he managed to say the entire word, saying:
“They talk about 40 Democrats. Twenty-one of those are people that I spent a hundred million dollars to help elect,” Bloomberg replied to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s accusations that he had helped fund the campaigns of mulitple Republican senators. “All of the new Democrats that came in and put Nancy Pelosi in charge and gave the Congress the ability to control this president, I bough — I, I got them.””
Ms. Gallo extrapolated from Bloomberg’s math to compose a literally trumped-up tweeted attack on one of the legislators who benefited from his legal campaign contributions, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA).
NRCC press secretary sending a Black woman from the south a "For Sale" sign without a scintilla of self-awarenesses. https://t.co/0FSCICGQFz — jordan (@JordanUhl) February 26, 2020
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
The National Republican Congressional Committee operative’s publicity stunt implying that the African- American Representative McBath was somehow corrupt, compromised, and “For Sale” due to accepting money from the now-Democratic candidate for the presidential nomination was not only in excruciatingly poor taste given the history of slavery in her southern state but incredibly hypocritical.
As an employee of a party that has accepted millions from the National Rifle Association — with some percentage of those NRA funds suspected of being illegally funneled from Russian oligarchs — from pharmaceutical companies looking to keep drug prices in America the highest in the world, from an energy industry that has applauded GOP deregulation and the opening of federally-controlled public land to exploration and exploitation, and from many other special interests, Gallo’s willful blindness to the “For Sale” signs virtually pinned on every Republican candidates back — if not metaphorically tattooed on their foreheads — signals either blatant cluelessness or cynical hypocrisy of the highest order.
Perhaps Ms. Gallo would appreciate being inundated with mailed requests for copies of the campaign contribution receipts for the donations to each and every Republican member of Congress so we can see who they have been bought and sold by? Or maybe she will come to realize that people in the thinnest of glass houses shouldn’t be slinging dull and heavy objects about.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
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--2020-02-26--Trump escalates war on press as his campaign files lawsuit again New York Times

Donald Trump ’ s scorched earth campaign against the free press has taken a disturbing turn with a new report from Reuters that the president ’ s re-election campaign is suing The New York Times for libel .
Ludicrously , they ’ re claiming that the paper knowingly published a fabricated story on March 27th , 2019 about the Russian election interference investigation .
The lawsuit is , of course , driven by Trump ’ s need to smear and undermine the media , something he has been trying to do since day one of his presidency .
And , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proof that his claim is rooted in anything even vaguely resembling the truth .
The article in question was an opinion piece by Max Frankel which postulated that Trump ’ s 2016 campaign had an implied quid pro quo understanding with Russia : Putin ’ s regime would help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton and in return the victorious Trump would cultivate a pro-Russia foreign policy for the United States .
While the claim was never proven , there is no evidence that it was an intentional lie on Frankel ’ s part .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York State Supreme Court and the campaign is claiming that it ’ s aimed at holding the Times “ accountable ” for intentionally spreading mistruths about the president .
Coming from what can only be described as the most aggressively mendacious leader in American history , it ’ s difficult not to laugh at the brazen hypocrisy on display here .
Like any publication , the Times makes mistakes sometimes .
Unlike Trump , they issue corrections and admit their errors once they realize them .
Add your name to tell the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
“ Today the President ’ s re-election campaign filed suit against the New York Times for falsely stating the Campaign had an ‘ overarching deal ’ with ‘ Vladimir Putin ’ s oligarchy ’ to ‘ help the campaign against Hillary Clinton ’ in exchange for ‘ a new pro-Russian foreign policy , starting with relief from … economic sanctions , ’ ” said Jenna Ellis , the Senior Legal Adviser for the Trump campaign .
She went on to blast the Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defamatory ” information and that the paper was explicitly trying to hurt Trump ’ s campaign .
As The Hill ‘ s Harper Neidig explains , the Trump team could have a difficult time finding any purchase with their lawsuit : Regardless of how this suit shakes out , it should serve as a reminder of just how anti-First Amendment this president is and how little respect he has for the Constitution he swore to uphold .
The longer he stays in power , the more egregious his attacks on our fundamental rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?

Donald Trump’s scorched earth campaign against the free press has taken a disturbing turn with a new report from Reuters that the president’s re-election campaign is suing The New York Times for libel.
Ludicrously, they’re claiming that the paper knowingly published a fabricated story on March 27th, 2019 about the Russian election interference investigation. The lawsuit is, of course, driven by Trump’s need to smear and undermine the media, something he has been trying to do since day one of his presidency. And, as usual, there is absolutely no proof that his claim is rooted in anything even vaguely resembling the truth.
The article in question was an opinion piece by Max Frankel which postulated that Trump’s 2016 campaign had an implied quid pro quo understanding with Russia: Putin’s regime would help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton and in return the victorious Trump would cultivate a pro-Russia foreign policy for the United States. While the claim was never proven, there is no evidence that it was an intentional lie on Frankel’s part.
The libel suit was filed in the New York State Supreme Court and the campaign is claiming that it’s aimed at holding the Times “accountable” for intentionally spreading mistruths about the president. Coming from what can only be described as the most aggressively mendacious leader in American history, it’s difficult not to laugh at the brazen hypocrisy on display here. Like any publication, the Times makes mistakes sometimes. Unlike Trump, they issue corrections and admit their errors once they realize them.
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
“Today the President’s re-election campaign filed suit against the New York Times for falsely stating the Campaign had an ‘overarching deal’ with ‘Vladimir Putin’s oligarchy’ to ‘help the campaign against Hillary Clinton’ in exchange for ‘a new pro-Russian foreign policy, starting with relief from … economic sanctions,’” said Jenna Ellis, the Senior Legal Adviser for the Trump campaign. She went on to blast the Times for spreading “100 percent false and defamatory” information and that the paper was explicitly trying to hurt Trump’s campaign.
As The Hill‘s Harper Neidig explains, the Trump team could have a difficult time finding any purchase with their lawsuit:
“The lawsuit will likely have to overcome tough hurdles in order to succeed. In 1964, the Supreme Court severely restricted the ability of public officials to sue for defamation, ruling in the landmark case New York Times v. Sullivan that a plaintiff would have to prove that false statements about them were made with ‘actual malice,'” writes Neidig.
Regardless of how this suit shakes out, it should serve as a reminder of just how anti-First Amendment this president is and how little respect he has for the Constitution he swore to uphold. The longer he stays in power, the more egregious his attacks on our fundamental rights will become.
President Trump's re-election campaign says it has filed a libel lawsuit against the New York Times, accusing the newspaper of intentionally publishing a false story last year related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election https://t.co/ABdiSrfxMt pic.twitter.com/sSKhgIdOjr — Reuters (@Reuters) February 26, 2020
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-02-26--Social media hammers Trump for blaming media and downplaying”caronavirus” fears

Will the coronavirus wind up accomplishing what impeachment couldn ’ t do and bring the presidency of Donald Trump to an ignominious end ?
Given the disastrously incompetent manner in which the Trump administration has discounted the severity of the impending threat that the deadly viral infection poses to both the health of the American public and the continued smooth functioning of our society — a threat that has already massively affected the profit projections of the financial seers on Wall Street and driven stock markets to record drops over the past two days — the coronavirus could have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health than any unknown chance of the notoriously germaphobic president contracting an infection might have on his physical health .
Trump ’ s decision to send White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow before the public yesterday to declare that “ We have contained this , I won ’ t say airtight but pretty close to airtight ” — at the same time that the Centers for Disease Control ’ s director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases was warning that “ It ’ s not a question of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how many people in this country will have severe illness ” — indicates that the president is more concerned with the falling stock market impacting his chances at reelection than in preparing concrete steps to address the encroaching pandemic .
Trump proved that interpretation of his actions with a clueless tweet this morning that blamed media accounts of the growing global epidemic for tanking the markets — as well as inexplicably blaming Democrats for his own incompetence as he perfectly described his own inaction and attributed it to them — all while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own credibility by misspelling the infectious agent in question as “ Caronavirus.
” Add your name to tell the ABA : Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
With all of Trump ’ s efforts to dismantle the federal government infrastructure that had been built to handle health emergencies such as the coronavirus pandemic — including the slashing of funding for the Centers for Disease Control , the elimination of the entire global-health-security unit of the National Security Council , the killing of the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crises Fund , and the reduction of national health spending by $ 15 billion , among other short-sighted moves — it was only natural that the president ’ s critics on social media lashed out at his ignorance , incompetence , and inability to grasp the significance of scientific matters beyond his intellectual capabilities .
The fact that at least some of the money diverted from the defense against public health crises was used to construct his useless border wall that won ’ t do a thing to prevent invading microbes from entering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire .
Naturally , these sensible responses to the president ’ s gaslighting and spread of malicious misinformation were met with vicious replies from ill-informed MAGA-types who blamed Democrats for spreading fear and attacking their infallible leader .
Hopefully , when they start rationing the N95 respirator masks due to shortages caused by the burgeoning pandemic , they ’ ll institute an IQ test to ensure that those who downplayed the seriousness of the medical threat that the coronavirus poses are moved to the bottom of the list .
Just kidding , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration devises some sort of loyalty oath to be signed in order to get treatment or restricts medical services to U.S. citizens with fully-paid health insurance , at a time when global supply issues raise the threats of mass layoffs in the manufacturing sector and the subsequent loss of health benefits for those newly unemployed .
If that doesn ’ t make you long for universal health care — and a president with the intelligence and leadership to handle the pending crisis — nothing will .
What do you think ?

Will the coronavirus wind up accomplishing what impeachment couldn’t do and bring the presidency of Donald Trump to an ignominious end?
Given the disastrously incompetent manner in which the Trump administration has discounted the severity of the impending threat that the deadly viral infection poses to both the health of the American public and the continued smooth functioning of our society — a threat that has already massively affected the profit projections of the financial seers on Wall Street and driven stock markets to record drops over the past two days — the coronavirus could have a bigger impact on Trump’s political health than any unknown chance of the notoriously germaphobic president contracting an infection might have on his physical health.
Trump’s decision to send White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow before the public yesterday to declare that “We have contained this, I won’t say airtight but pretty close to airtight” — at the same time that the Centers for Disease Control’s director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases was warning that “It’s not a question of if but rather a question of when and how many people in this country will have severe illness” — indicates that the president is more concerned with the falling stock market impacting his chances at reelection than in preparing concrete steps to address the encroaching pandemic.
Trump proved that interpretation of his actions with a clueless tweet this morning that blamed media accounts of the growing global epidemic for tanking the markets — as well as inexplicably blaming Democrats for his own incompetence as he perfectly described his own inaction and attributed it to them — all while contradicting the CDC warning and undermining his own credibility by misspelling the infectious agent in question as “Caronavirus.”
Low Ratings Fake News MSDNC (Comcast) & @CNN are doing everything possible to make the Caronavirus look as bad as possible, including panicking markets, if possible. Likewise their incompetent Do Nothing Democrat comrades are all talk, no action. USA in great shape! @CDCgov….. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2020
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
With all of Trump’s efforts to dismantle the federal government infrastructure that had been built to handle health emergencies such as the coronavirus pandemic — including the slashing of funding for the Centers for Disease Control, the elimination of the entire global-health-security unit of the National Security Council, the killing of the US government’s $30 million Complex Crises Fund, and the reduction of national health spending by $15 billion, among other short-sighted moves — it was only natural that the president’s critics on social media lashed out at his ignorance, incompetence, and inability to grasp the significance of scientific matters beyond his intellectual capabilities.
The fact that at least some of the money diverted from the defense against public health crises was used to construct his useless border wall that won’t do a thing to prevent invading microbes from entering the country only added fuel to the fire.
Did you know Trump admin over last two years has cut funding that could've prevented or at least slowed the spread of the #coronavirus. Instead he wanted $ to build his wall- a wall that he promised Mexico was supposed to pay for! https://t.co/XvZ14ELBc6 — (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) February 26, 2020
bro the stock market is in free fall and you've defunded the CDC to the level where it can no long function, but cool story my dude, maybe our next president can glue all the broken pieces of government back together — Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) February 26, 2020
You can't even be bothered to spell it correctly, you fucking idiot. — Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) February 26, 2020
“They’re trying to make Coronavirus look bad when, in fact, it is a good thing. Don’t believe the fake news!” — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) February 26, 2020
The incompetence of your Administration is spooking the markets plus the fact that no one can believe a word you or lackeys say. Do better — Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) February 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/lesleyabravanel/status/1232654701721784320?s=20
The coronavirus has the unique issue of inspiring fear against Asian Americans, many of whom have never set foot in China and yet many consider us to be dirty carriers. We are human beings, not an infestation. We need a president who can protect both public health and our rights. — Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) February 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/Pacoluismonta9a/status/1232732827738767360?s=20
https://twitter.com/HerrThorsten/status/1232661206986567685?s=20
But this is different. This is dangerous af. The markets are not more important than public safety and people’s lives. Coronavirus is a pandemic NOW and is going to be a global pandemic soon. It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when. 2/ — Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) February 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/DMorrisMichael/status/1232730197696405506?s=20
Don’t be shy. Tell us how you feel! — Kevin Hill (@kmhill461) February 26, 2020
Trump Regime is responding to this pandemic just like any other authoritarian regime: declare everything is perfect, threaten media for reporting, threaten opposition for asking for help, attack people in government who try to help. — David Rothschild (@DavMicRot) February 26, 2020
Naturally, these sensible responses to the president’s gaslighting and spread of malicious misinformation were met with vicious replies from ill-informed MAGA-types who blamed Democrats for spreading fear and attacking their infallible leader.
Hopefully, when they start rationing the N95 respirator masks due to shortages caused by the burgeoning pandemic, they’ll institute an IQ test to ensure that those who downplayed the seriousness of the medical threat that the coronavirus poses are moved to the bottom of the list.
Just kidding, although don’t be surprised if the Trump administration devises some sort of loyalty oath to be signed in order to get treatment or restricts medical services to U.S. citizens with fully-paid health insurance, at a time when global supply issues raise the threats of mass layoffs in the manufacturing sector and the subsequent loss of health benefits for those newly unemployed.
If that doesn’t make you long for universal health care — and a president with the intelligence and leadership to handle the pending crisis — nothing will.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
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--2020-02-28--Trump mystifies reporters with preparations for virus, promises “a lot of different elements of medi

Trump mystifies reporters with preparations for virus, promises “a lot of different elements of medical”

Instead of adequately preparing the United States for the spread of the coronavirus , President Trump is desperately trying to downplay the risks of the outbreak in the hopes of stabilizing the stock market and insulating his reelection campaign from economic backlash .
In what amounts to a tacit admission that Trump isn ’ t taking the threat seriously enough , he has appointed Vice President Mike Pence to be our coronavirus czar , this despite the fact that Pence failed miserably at dealing with an HIV outbreak while he was Governor of Indiana .
On top of that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mick Mulvaney are blaming the media for overhyping fears about the virus and are smearing the coverage as nothing more than a plot to bring down the president .
Trump also tried to scapegoat Democrats for good measure , which just proves that he realizes he isn ’ t handling this problem and will need someone else to blame when things worsen .
While all of this was going on , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) upgraded its threat assessment of the coronavirus to “ very high.
” Clearly , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the White House but instead the president has been raging about CDC officials doing their jobs and hosting D-List right-wing celebrities to amuse himself .
Add your name to tell the ABA : Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump ’ s corruption !
Speaking to reporters today , the president did little to assuage concerns .
He claimed that things are under control because the federal government is stockpiling supplies .
He made sure to keep the details incredibly vague ( presumably because he has no idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bragged with his usual cluelessness that his administration is “ ordering a lot of different elements of medical.
” One struggles to imagine a single person who could watch this rambling , incoherent clip and come away thinking our government is handling things properly .
The president lacks the attention span to read up on the issue enough to speak intelligently on it and the people he ’ s delegated to oversee it are incompetent opportunists .
Look to the CDC for guidance , not the White House .
Of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he didn ’ t also manage to get in some smearing of the free press .
Expect more of this inane rhetorical flailing as things worsen .
What do you think ?

Instead of adequately preparing the United States for the spread of the coronavirus, President Trump is desperately trying to downplay the risks of the outbreak in the hopes of stabilizing the stock market and insulating his reelection campaign from economic backlash.
In what amounts to a tacit admission that Trump isn’t taking the threat seriously enough, he has appointed Vice President Mike Pence to be our coronavirus czar, this despite the fact that Pence failed miserably at dealing with an HIV outbreak while he was Governor of Indiana.
On top of that, Trump and his Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney are blaming the media for overhyping fears about the virus and are smearing the coverage as nothing more than a plot to bring down the president. Trump also tried to scapegoat Democrats for good measure, which just proves that he realizes he isn’t handling this problem and will need someone else to blame when things worsen.
While all of this was going on, the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded its threat assessment of the coronavirus to “very high.” Clearly, this is something that deserves the full attention of the White House but instead the president has been raging about CDC officials doing their jobs and hosting D-List right-wing celebrities to amuse himself.
Add your name to tell the ABA: Disbar William Barr for abusing the Justice Department to abet Trump’s corruption!
Speaking to reporters today, the president did little to assuage concerns. He claimed that things are under control because the federal government is stockpiling supplies. He made sure to keep the details incredibly vague (presumably because he has no idea what he’s talking about) and bragged with his usual cluelessness that his administration is “ordering a lot of different elements of medical.”
One struggles to imagine a single person who could watch this rambling, incoherent clip and come away thinking our government is handling things properly. The president lacks the attention span to read up on the issue enough to speak intelligently on it and the people he’s delegated to oversee it are incompetent opportunists. Look to the CDC for guidance, not the White House.
"We're ordering a lot of supplies. We're ordering a lot of, uh, elements that frankly we wouldn't be ordering unless it was something like this. But we're ordering a lot of different elements of medical." — Trump on the coronavirus pic.twitter.com/id6YLzbmRE — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 28, 2020
Of course, it wouldn’t be Trump if he didn’t also manage to get in some smearing of the free press. Expect more of this inane rhetorical flailing as things worsen.
Reporter: Do you think this is a hoax?
Trump: Well I think that the media is uhh yes, I think that CNN is uhh a very disreputable network pic.twitter.com/GwCiadzuQy — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) February 28, 2020
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts