dailykos--2020-05-22--Why Absentee Voting Preparations Across the Country Are Worrying Experts, by Steven Rosenfeld

Nine primaries on June 2 may reveal blue states have a long way to go .
This article was produced by , a project of the Independent Media Institute .
More than 30 will be held in the 91 days from May 19 to August 18 , previewing how unfamiliar or difficult absentee voting may be across America this fall .
The next big test is June 2 , when eight states and the District of Columbia hold their presidential primaries .
Despite President Trump ’ s that absentee voting can not be trusted , red-run states ( Indiana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that day have with voting by mail and voters dropping off ballots at polling places than blue states and territories ( Maryland , New Mexico , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island and D.C. ) .
Only one state in this group , purple Montana , an election where most people voted absentee .
States are turning to absentee voting in response to the pandemic .
But as the next wave of statewide contests nears , experts are beginning to worry about the capacity of many states to handle surges of mail-based voting—now and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and were mostly mail-based elections that were beset with problems due to partisan factors and rapidly changing plans .
Meanwhile , many election officials preparing for June 2 primaries are scrambling .
“ Administrators have struggled to accommodate both the requests for and issuance of absentee ballots in a timely manner during low turnout primaries , ” Christopher Thomas , Michigan ’ s former election director , and Matthew Weil , director of the Elections Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center ( BPC ) , wrote in one of the few recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ During a high turnout general election , these [ requests ] are likely to overwhelm jurisdictions , causing huge delays in sending and subsequently counting absentee ballots.
” In 2018 , 52 million people , or 43.2 percent of voters nationally , cast ballots outside of Election Day in-person options , the U.S. Election Assistance Commission .
In 2016 ’ s presidential election , the figure was 57.2 million , the EAC .
“ Regardless of what policy changes are made , we predict that vote-by-mail ballots will represent more than half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall of ] 2020 , ” the BPC authors , “ which would be at least a 190 percent increase over 2016.
” In the next three months , starting with Idaho on May 19 and continuing to Florida on August 18 , will be holding presidential primaries or other statewide elections .
While many states have some aspects of their absentee voting rules , what is becoming clear is that most of these states are not likely to offer voting options that meet the touted by elections experts .
How easy or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A few states automatically send voters ballots .
Most states require voters to apply for an absentee ballot .
That step has variables , such as providing IDs , who pays for postage and deadlines .
On the receiving end , officials have to vet applicants and then send ballots .
Ballots have to be returned on time with correctly filled-out envelopes or dropped off at polling places .
Just like voters are checked into precincts , these envelopes have to be vetted before ballots are counted .
These steps are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the processes .
The dividing line between less-prepared and better-prepared states does not always follow the map of red and blue states .
While there is a among some GOP-run states that are making absentee voting easier ( ignoring President Trump ’ s rants that mail-based voting can not be trusted ) and states where partisan legislators are forcing state election officials to impose procedures that have voters , the real dividing line is battleground and non-battleground states .
The most recent example of that contrast can be seen in Ohio and Nebraska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 and May 12 , respectively .
The rule-heavy process in Ohio in 20 percent voter turnout , a historic low .
Two weeks later , nearly 14 percent of all ballots had yet to be officially ( see “ Ballots Cast ” tab ) .
Nebraska , in contrast , its rules and sent absentee ballot applications to all registered voters .
It set a turnout record that was higher than its prior record set during 1972 ’ s primary .
( In 2018 , 24 percent of Nebraskans had absentee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Looking to the 10 primaries on June 2 , the assessments are not overly encouraging .
( NVAHI ) , the leading national organization promoting mail-based voting , on May 14 issued a assessing every state and the District of Columbia ’ s ability to meet best practices .
On a one-to-five scale based on 30 variables in running mail-based elections , six of the nine places holding June 2 primaries received a low grade of two ( Indiana , Iowa , Maryland , Pennsylvania , South Dakota and Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of three ( New Mexico , Rhode Island ) and one a grade of four ( Montana ) .
The NVAHI report is a policy document .
It strives for what it considers to be the ideal .
As its experts said on a May 14 conference call , a successful vote-at-home election is glitch-free and boring .
They cited Alaska ’ s trouble-free Democratic Party primary and Wisconsin ’ s problematic primary ( for both parties ) , both held the same week in April , as counterpoints .
The contrast makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primaries were different in scale .
Alaska ’ s party-run primary had —all were sent mail-based ballots , while Wisconsin ’ s government-run primary had , who endured court fights , had to request absentee ballots or had to find an open polling place to vote .
Nonetheless , NVAHI has the difficult role of trying to advise state officials and lawmakers of what to do while encountering layers of resistance for adopting their preferred voting method : partisan to expanded balloting , administrative challenges , budgetary constraints and little time to prepare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t looked at updating their voting rules or have not acted have left many election officials clear rules or funds for voting this fall .
When asked for examples of progress , NVAHI ’ s responses revealed that elections evolve incrementally .
For example , they said that Pennsylvania might adopt one of its suggestions , a that helps voters to track ballots in the mail like people track Amazon packages .
Some Wisconsin counties were eyeing the same tool , NVAHI said .
But that step , as helpful as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 12 “ categories that we determined to be the foundation of a vote by mail system , ” its said .
Their other 11 foundational categories and concerns included : do voters need to give an excuse to obtain an absentee ballot—and does COVID-19 qualify ?
Does the state have good enough “ data integrity ” to mail all registered voters a ballot ?
Does it have online voter registration ?
Does it have online absentee ballot request forms , or must voters submit paper forms ?
Does the state pay for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envelopes ?
Does it have other return options , such as drop boxes ?
Do state deadlines allow for all of the processing—applying for , sending , receiving , vetting and counting ballots—to be completed ?
Does the state have a uniform signature verification process ( before taking ballots out of envelopes ) ?
Does it have processes to allow voters to fix mistakes ?
Does it count ballots postmarked on Election Day that arrive later ?
Does it mail ballots to voters ?
In a prepared for the Wisconsin Election Commission ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that 120,989 ballots—9.3 percent of the 1.3 million ballots sent to voters for April ’ s primary—were not returned or counted .
That figure was lower than the of mail-based ballots in 2018 , according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission .
Standing up absentee voting systems is more complex than debuting a new voting machine .
NVAHI ’ s list also was not the full picture of what awaits voters .
Other national groups , such as the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , have compiled charts with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee balloting .
Some of these rules are the subject of more than two-dozen by the Democratic Party , which seeks to reverse or suspend pre-COVID-19 requirements such as that an absentee ballot envelope must have a witness signature or be notarized .
Voting rights activists also look at the emerging absentee voting landscape differently than policy experts .
Instead of seeing what needs to be done to have a functional process , advocates such as and , a civil rights law group , have been discussing what can go wrong for voters—and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can vote and their ballots count .
These discussions have identified voter information that is not readily available .
For example , Voting Booth has yet to find a table of which states allow people to register to vote and to receive an absentee ballot at the same time .
( In most states , one has to register first , wait until they are added to voter rolls , and then apply for an absentee ballot ; all of which can not be done at the last minute . )
Grassroots groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what to tell voters to do if they have applied for an absentee ballot and it does not arrive .
Must they go to a polling place and vote with a provisional ballot ?
Those ballots are the last to be counted and are rarely audited when assessing vote count accuracy .
In short , most stakeholders—voters , advocacy groups and election officials—are scrambling to stand up new systems and fill in the blanks .
Against this backdrop , the Bipartisan Policy Center subtly suggested that many states might not have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting .
“ States that choose to push more voters toward this option must address policy , implementation , and capacity issues on an extraordinarily short timeline , ” Thomas and Weil wrote for BPC .
“ Regardless of what decisions are made , we strongly believe by November there will be high voter interest in the presidential election ; voting by mail will likely represent well over half the ballots cast ; and some amount of Election Day voting will continue but may be very different than normal.
” Steven Rosenfeld is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a project of the Independent Media Institute .
He has reported for National Public Radio , Marketplace , and Christian Science Monitor Radio , as well as a wide range of progressive publications including Salon , AlterNet , the American Prospect , and many others .

rss@dailykos.com (Independent Media Institute)

Nine primaries on June 2 may reveal blue states have a long way to go.
By Steven Rosenfeld
This article was produced by Voting Booth , a project of the Independent Media Institute.
More than 30 statewide elections will be held in the 91 days from May 19 to August 18, previewing how unfamiliar or difficult absentee voting may be across America this fall.
The next big test is June 2, when eight states and the District of Columbia hold their presidential primaries. Despite President Trump’s claims that absentee voting cannot be trusted, red-run states (Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota) holding primaries that day have more experience with voting by mail and voters dropping off ballots at polling places than blue states and territories (Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and D.C.). Only one state in this group, purple Montana, has held an election where most people voted absentee.
States are turning to absentee voting in response to the pandemic. But as the next wave of statewide contests nears, experts are beginning to worry about the capacity of many states to handle surges of mail-based voting—now and in the fall. April’s primaries in Wisconsin and Ohio were mostly mail-based elections that were beset with problems due to partisan factors and rapidly changing plans. Meanwhile, many election officials preparing for June 2 primaries are scrambling.
“Administrators have struggled to accommodate both the requests for and issuance of absentee ballots in a timely manner during low turnout primaries,” Christopher Thomas, Michigan’s former election director, and Matthew Weil, director of the Elections Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), wrote in one of the few recent reports to assess voting in the pandemic. “During a high turnout general election, these [requests] are likely to overwhelm jurisdictions, causing huge delays in sending and subsequently counting absentee ballots.”
In 2018, 52 million people, or 43.2 percent of voters nationally, cast ballots outside of Election Day in-person options, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission said . In 2016’s presidential election, the figure was 57.2 million, the EAC said .
“Regardless of what policy changes are made, we predict that vote-by-mail ballots will represent more than half of all ballots cast in [the fall of] 2020,” the BPC authors said , “which would be at least a 190 percent increase over 2016.”
Precedents for the Fall?
In the next three months, starting with Idaho on May 19 and continuing to Florida on August 18, more than 30 states will be holding presidential primaries or other statewide elections. While many states have updated some aspects of their absentee voting rules, what is becoming clear is that most of these states are not likely to offer voting options that meet the best practices touted by elections experts.
How easy or hard mail-based voting will be varies by state. A few states automatically send voters ballots. Most states require voters to apply for an absentee ballot. That step has variables, such as providing IDs, who pays for postage and deadlines. On the receiving end, officials have to vet applicants and then send ballots. Ballots have to be returned on time with correctly filled-out envelopes or dropped off at polling places. Just like voters are checked into precincts, these envelopes have to be vetted before ballots are counted. These steps are laborious , even with technology that automates some of the processes.
The dividing line between less-prepared and better-prepared states does not always follow the map of red and blue states. While there is a split among some GOP-run states that are making absentee voting easier (ignoring President Trump’s rants that mail-based voting cannot be trusted) and states where partisan legislators are forcing state election officials to impose procedures that have confounded voters, the real dividing line is battleground and non-battleground states.
The most recent example of that contrast can be seen in Ohio and Nebraska, which held their primaries on April 28 and May 12, respectively. The rule-heavy process in Ohio resulted in 20 percent voter turnout, a historic low. Two weeks later, nearly 14 percent of all ballots had yet to be officially accounted for (see “Ballots Cast” tab). Nebraska, in contrast, loosened its rules and sent absentee ballot applications to all registered voters. It set a turnout record that was 14 percent higher than its prior record set during 1972’s primary. (In 2018, 24 percent of Nebraskans had voted absentee, underscoring its experience with mail-based elections.)
Looking to the 10 primaries on June 2, the assessments are not overly encouraging.
The National Vote at Home Institute (NVAHI), the leading national organization promoting mail-based voting, on May 14 issued a report assessing every state and the District of Columbia’s ability to meet best practices. On a one-to-five scale based on 30 variables in running mail-based elections, six of the nine places holding June 2 primaries received a low grade of two (Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Washington, D.C.). Two states received a grade of three (New Mexico, Rhode Island) and one a grade of four (Montana).
The NVAHI report is a policy document. It strives for what it considers to be the ideal. As its experts said on a May 14 conference call, a successful vote-at-home election is glitch-free and boring. They cited Alaska’s trouble-free Democratic Party primary and Wisconsin’s problematic primary (for both parties), both held the same week in April, as counterpoints.
The contrast makes a broad point, but the two primaries were different in scale. Alaska’s party-run primary had 19,600 voters —all were sent mail-based ballots, while Wisconsin’s government-run primary had 1.55 million voters , who endured court fights, had to request absentee ballots or had to find an open polling place to vote.
Nonetheless, NVAHI has the difficult role of trying to advise state officials and lawmakers of what to do while encountering layers of resistance for adopting their preferred voting method: partisan opposition to expanded balloting, administrative challenges, budgetary constraints and little time to prepare for upcoming elections. Legislatures that haven’t looked at updating their voting rules or have not acted have left many election officials without clear rules or funds for voting this fall.
When asked for examples of progress, NVAHI’s responses revealed that elections evolve incrementally. For example, they said that Pennsylvania might adopt one of its suggestions, a tool that helps voters to track ballots in the mail like people track Amazon packages. Some Wisconsin counties were eyeing the same tool, NVAHI said. But that step, as helpful as it may be, was only one of the 12 “categories that we determined to be the foundation of a vote by mail system,” its assessment said.
Their other 11 foundational categories and concerns included: do voters need to give an excuse to obtain an absentee ballot—and does COVID-19 qualify? Does the state have good enough “data integrity” to mail all registered voters a ballot? Does it have online voter registration? Does it have online absentee ballot request forms, or must voters submit paper forms? Does the state pay for postage on ballot applications and ballot return envelopes? Does it have other return options, such as drop boxes? Do state deadlines allow for all of the processing—applying for, sending, receiving, vetting and counting ballots—to be completed? Does the state have a uniform signature verification process (before taking ballots out of envelopes)? Does it have processes to allow voters to fix mistakes? Does it count ballots postmarked on Election Day that arrive later? Does it mail ballots to voters?
In a report prepared for the Wisconsin Election Commission’s May 20 meeting, statewide administrators said that 120,989 ballots—9.3 percent of the 1.3 million ballots sent to voters for April’s primary—were not returned or counted. That figure was lower than the national non-return rate of mail-based ballots in 2018, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
Voting Isn’t Always Simple
Standing up absentee voting systems is more complex than debuting a new voting machine. NVAHI’s list also was not the full picture of what awaits voters. Other national groups, such as the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, have compiled charts with every state’s voter registration and absentee balloting laws, applications and filing deadlines . Some of these rules are the subject of more than two-dozen federal lawsuits by the Democratic Party, which seeks to reverse or suspend pre-COVID-19 requirements such as that an absentee ballot envelope must have a witness signature or be notarized.
Voting rights activists also look at the emerging absentee voting landscape differently than policy experts. Instead of seeing what needs to be done to have a functional process, advocates such as Progressive Democrats of America and Advancement Project , a civil rights law group, have been discussing what can go wrong for voters—and how to educate voters so that they can vote and their ballots count.
These discussions have identified voter information that is not readily available. For example, Voting Booth has yet to find a table of which states allow people to register to vote and to receive an absentee ballot at the same time. (In most states, one has to register first, wait until they are added to voter rolls, and then apply for an absentee ballot; all of which cannot be done at the last minute.)
Grassroots groups are also scrambling to compile state-by-state advice on what to tell voters to do if they have applied for an absentee ballot and it does not arrive. Must they go to a polling place and vote with a provisional ballot? Those ballots are the last to be counted and are rarely audited when assessing vote count accuracy.
In short, most stakeholders—voters, advocacy groups and election officials—are scrambling to stand up new systems and fill in the blanks. Against this backdrop, the Bipartisan Policy Center report subtly suggested that many states might not have the ability to accommodate a surge in absentee voting.
“States that choose to push more voters toward this option must address policy, implementation, and capacity issues on an extraordinarily short timeline,” Thomas and Weil wrote for BPC. “Regardless of what decisions are made, we strongly believe by November there will be high voter interest in the presidential election; voting by mail will likely represent well over half the ballots cast; and some amount of Election Day voting will continue but may be very different than normal.”


dailykos--2020-05-23--Countries led by right-wing populist strongmen (USA, Russia, Brazil, UK) top the COVID-19 rankings

The United States , Russia , Brazil , and the United Kingdom have very different cultures , ethnicities , histories @ @ @ @ @ wealth levels , climates , geopolitical alliances , and geographic locations .
But they do @ @ @ @ @ , they are ruled by corrupt , right-wing , pro-business , nationalistic , racist , @ @ @ @ @ , they are the four countries at the top of the COVID-19 case count rankings @ @ @ @ @ seem like a coincidence .
Indeed , these four men are the best of friends @ @ @ @ @ ’ interests are opposed .
Birds of a feather flock together .
They are definitely @ @ @ @ @ type ” .
The lesson that people all over the world should learn from this @ @ @ @ @ choose this type of leader if they want to stay alive .

The United States, Russia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom have very different cultures, ethnicities, histories, economies, industries, wealth levels, climates, geopolitical alliances, and geographic locations. But they do have two things in common—one, they are ruled by corrupt, right-wing, pro-business, anti-science, nationalistic, racist, populist strongmen, and two, they are the four countries at the top of the COVID-19 case count rankings. This doesn’t seem like a coincidence. Indeed, these four men are the best of friends, even when their countries’ interests are opposed. Birds of a feather flock together. They are definitely a distinct and recognizable “type”. The lesson that people all over the world should learn from this is that they should not choose this type of leader if they want to stay alive.


dailykos--2020-05-24--We are in deep trouble as long as 35% to 45% of the country remains committed to idiocy

I clicked on the below Super Bowl halftime interview of frmr .
President Obama by Bill O ’ Reilly because I remembered that it got some notice at the time for how often O ’ Reilly interrupted and talked over Pres .
Obama .
But watching it is also both a time capsule and a time machine .
Particularly after the Republican silence regarding Trump ’ s malfeasance , it reminds you of just how stupid and obsessed with distraction Republicans will be during a Biden presidency .
The interview is 9 minutes long and covered 7 basic topics : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the ACA website was a disaster ?
2 .
Why haven ’ t you done the right thing for taxpayers and fired Kathleen Sibelius ?
3 .
Was it the biggest mistake of your presidency when you said “ if you like your policy , you can keep it ?
” 4 .
Why did you and your campaign cover up that Benghazi was an act of terrorism ?
5 .
But Susan Rice lied to the country .
6 .
Were you coordinating with the IRS commissioner to target conservative groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a citizen : “ Why do you feel it is necessary to fundamentally transform a country that gave you so much opportunity and success ? ''
That was the whole interview .
For any sane observer , Obama patiently swats down every dumb meme — which is why O ’ Reilly keeps talking over him .
But this is also the future .
Sort of like with the manic opposition to face masks , you have 1 of 2 political parties obsessively committed to an imaginary world of petty grievances and distraction .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as these morons remain 34 % to 45 % of the country .
But I do know that the first necessary step to breaking this confederacy of dunces is to deliver a sweeping electoral blow in 2020 .
It would not be enough by itself , but it is a crucial and important first step .
You can watch the full interview below ( and remember the time when we had a committed , competent and classy President ) :

I clicked on the below Super Bowl halftime interview of frmr. President Obama by Bill O’Reilly because I remembered that it got some notice at the time for how often O’Reilly interrupted and talked over Pres. Obama. But watching it is also both a time capsule and a time machine. Particularly after the Republican silence regarding Trump’s malfeasance, it reminds you of just how stupid and obsessed with distraction Republicans will be during a Biden presidency.
.
The interview is 9 minutes long and covered 7 basic topics:
.
1. When did you secretly know that the ACA website was a disaster?
2. Why haven’t you done the right thing for taxpayers and fired Kathleen Sibelius?
3. Was it the biggest mistake of your presidency when you said “if you like your policy, you can keep it?”
4. Why did you and your campaign cover up that Benghazi was an act of terrorism?
5. But Susan Rice lied to the country.
6. Were you coordinating with the IRS commissioner to target conservative groups?
7. Reads a letter from a citizen: “Why do you feel it is necessary to fundamentally transform a country that gave you so much opportunity and success?"
.
That was the whole interview. For any sane observer, Obama patiently swats down every dumb meme — which is why O’Reilly keeps talking over him.
.
But this is also the future. Sort of like with the manic opposition to face masks, you have 1 of 2 political parties obsessively committed to an imaginary world of petty grievances and distraction. We are not going anywhere as long as these morons remain 34% to 45% of the country. But I do know that the first necessary step to breaking this confederacy of dunces is to deliver a sweeping electoral blow in 2020. It would not be enough by itself, but it is a crucial and important first step.
.
You can watch the full interview below (and remember the time when we had a committed, competent and classy President):


dailykos--2020-05-25--Trump is a dumpster fire.  But have any of your Republican friends admitted that to you?

Trump ’ s unfitness for office , and his destruction of government institutions and norms , is positively cartoonish in its obviousness and threat .
But — three years in — have any of your Republican friends admitted that to you ?
It is a really important question because as bad as Trump is , the long term threat to the country consists of the people who voted Trump into power .
And , even as someone who lives in the North East , I don ’ t hear any previous Trump voters expressing regret , disappointment or ( more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( I have Republican neighbors , friends , co-workers and ( much less so ) family members . )
What I hear falls mostly into three categories : 1 .
“ You know , I have been so busy with [ X or Y ] that I really have n't had a chance to pay attention to politics.
” From my experience , this is an answer predominantly from women Trump voters .
“ Umm , a family pet was sick , or there was some kerfuffle with a school teacher .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking care of my family and so can ’ t talk about any of this.
” In faux interest , they will typically add : “ What did Trump do wrong ?
” It is all transparent bullshit , of course , and these committed Trump voters will remain committed Trump voters , 2 .
“ I think Trump is crazy and I voted for an independent .
But do you see how dangerous [ Sanders , AOC , Pelosi , Warren , Hillary ] is ?
And Biden will be joining that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of stereotyping , I find in my experience that this response is mostly from Republican men .
First , there is a fake declaration of agency ( “ I wrote in Bill Weld ’ s name.
” ) .
Then they turn to a diatribe about women ( much more so than Obama ) .
You can expect a whole castration argument about Hillary , AOC , Pelosi and ( maybe most of all now ) Elizabeth Warren .
But .
.
.
that is just the warm-up to defense against “ socialism.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain non-confrontational , eventually the racist stuff comes pouring out .
3 .
This is the other group , and while they are less populous in the NE , you have to at least give them credit for honesty .
Here you get the whole Fox News agenda — immigrants , sanctuary cities , vote fraud , anti-abortion , judicial appointments , gays , feminism .
.
.
really anything on the Republican playbook .
But .
.
.
at least in my experience .
.
.
wherever they fall above .
.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ know disavow Trump , or voting for him again .
That is sobering and terrifying .
And we can ’ t ignore this .
My own , optimistic view is that a good deal of these people will stay home ( i.e.
, not turn-out ) but I have no idea if that is true in the “ swing ” states .
These are scary times .
But — again — let us know if you have had different experiences with your Republican friends , neighbors , co-workers or family members .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .

Trump’s unfitness for office, and his destruction of government institutions and norms, is positively cartoonish in its obviousness and threat. But — three years in — have any of your Republican friends admitted that to you?
It is a really important question because as bad as Trump is, the long term threat to the country consists of the people who voted Trump into power. And, even as someone who lives in the North East, I don’t hear any previous Trump voters expressing regret, disappointment or (more appropriately) embarrassment for their prior vote. (I have Republican neighbors, friends, co-workers and (much less so) family members.)
What I hear falls mostly into three categories:
1. “You know, I have been so busy with [X or Y] that I really haven't had a chance to pay attention to politics.” From my experience, this is an answer predominantly from women Trump voters. “ Umm, a family pet was sick, or there was some kerfuffle with a school teacher . . . you know I have been taking care of my family and so can’t talk about any of this.” In faux interest, they will typically add: “What did Trump do wrong?” It is all transparent bullshit, of course, and these committed Trump voters will remain committed Trump voters,
2. “I think Trump is crazy and I voted for an independent. But do you see how dangerous [Sanders, AOC, Pelosi, Warren, Hillary] is? And Biden will be joining that list soon. At the continued risk of stereotyping, I find in my experience that this response is mostly from Republican men. First, there is a fake declaration of agency (“I wrote in Bill Weld’s name.”). Then they turn to a diatribe about women (much more so than Obama). You can expect a whole castration argument about Hillary, AOC, Pelosi and (maybe most of all now) Elizabeth Warren. But . . . that is just the warm-up to defense against “socialism.” If you stick it out and remain non-confrontational, eventually the racist stuff comes pouring out.
3. Flat-out Trump Supporters. This is the other group, and while they are less populous in the NE, you have to at least give them credit for honesty. Here you get the whole Fox News agenda — immigrants, sanctuary cities, vote fraud, anti-abortion, judicial appointments, gays, feminism . . . really anything on the Republican playbook.
But . . . at least in my experience . . . wherever they fall above . . . none of the Republicans that I know disavow Trump, or voting for him again.
That is sobering and terrifying. And we can’t ignore this.
My own, optimistic view is that a good deal of these people will stay home (i.e., not turn-out) but I have no idea if that is true in the “swing” states. These are scary times.
But — again — let us know if you have had different experiences with your Republican friends, neighbors, co-workers or family members. I would love to be wrong about all this.


dailykos--2020-05-25--Will Trump Try To Get Nikki Haley To Be His Running Mate?

Nikki Haley has already started auditioning for a 2024 run .
She speaks favorably of Trump without lapsing in to the fawning obsequiousness Pence has been willing to engage in .
She has higher approval ratings with Republicans than he does and independents like her too .
Will Trump try to get her on his ticket ?
I believe he will .
He may direct one of his favorite phrases toward his own candidacy , “ What do I have to lose ” as he keeps getting further behind in polls .
With Biden about to pick a woman running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump every day , he desperately needs to inject new life in to his campaign .
A dramatic shift like this would blow up the news cycle for a week at least .
She could be his main defender against Biden who is being painted on the right as having his own baggage regarding interactions with women .
Pence has served his purpose to bring Evangelicals on board , they now love Trump .
He ’ s dead weight and Trump has neutered him as any kind of rival .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ongoing reports .
The question becomes , will she be willing to jeopardize her chances for 2024 and run with him ?
That kind of taint is hard to get off .
The Trump brand will continue to degrade over time as Democrats do a proper autopsy on his failed presidency .
I doubt there will be any nostalgia for the Trump era four years from now .

Nikki Haley has already started auditioning for a 2024 run. She speaks favorably of Trump without lapsing in to the fawning obsequiousness Pence has been willing to engage in. She has higher approval ratings with Republicans than he does and independents like her too. Will Trump try to get her on his ticket? I believe he will.
He may direct one of his favorite phrases toward his own candidacy, “What do I have to lose” as he keeps getting further behind in polls. With Biden about to pick a woman running mate, Covid-19 news getting worse for Trump every day, he desperately needs to inject new life in to his campaign. A dramatic shift like this would blow up the news cycle for a week at least. She could be his main defender against Biden who is being painted on the right as having his own baggage regarding interactions with women.
Pence has served his purpose to bring Evangelicals on board, they now love Trump. He’s dead weight and Trump has neutered him as any kind of rival. It’s no secret that Pence irritates Trump according to ongoing reports.
The question becomes, will she be willing to jeopardize her chances for 2024 and run with him? That kind of taint is hard to get off. The Trump brand will continue to degrade over time as Democrats do a proper autopsy on his failed presidency. I doubt there will be any nostalgia for the Trump era four years from now.


dailykos--2020-05-26--Equal Pay & Women's Rights

Equal Pay & Women's Rights

The United States is the only developed nation in the world without mandatory paid family leave .
I believe paid @ @ @ @ @ society as a whole .
In Congress , I will fight to expand these policies @ @ @ @ @ people deserve time off to care for newborn children or sick loved ones .
Most @ @ @ @ @ the right to make her own healthcare decisions .
The federal government has no say @ @ @ @ @ healthcare decisions .
Family planning options , including contraception , should be accessible and affordable @ @ @ @ @ of income or insurance .
Politicians and special interest groups have no business being involved @ @ @ @ @ made between a woman and her healthcare professional .
Women should receive equal pay for @ @ @ @ @ equal pay for work of equal value .
This disparity not only affects women ’ @ @ @ @ @ penalizes their retirement security by creating gaps in Social Security and pensions .
I strongly @ @ @ @ @ of 1963 signed by President John F. Kennedy .

The United States is the only developed nation in the world without mandatory paid family leave. I believe paid family leave polices benefits our society as a whole. In Congress, I will fight to expand these policies for all Kentuckians, because people deserve time off to care for newborn children or sick loved ones. Most importantly, every woman has the right to make her own healthcare decisions. The federal government has no say in a woman’s healthcare decisions. Family planning options, including contraception, should be accessible and affordable to all women, regardless of income or insurance. Politicians and special interest groups have no business being involved in the private medical choices made between a woman and her healthcare professional. Women should receive equal pay for equal work, let alone equal pay for work of equal value. This disparity not only affects women’s spending power, it penalizes their retirement security by creating gaps in Social Security and pensions. I strongly support the Equal Pay Act of 1963 signed by President John F. Kennedy.
secure.actblue.com/…


dailykos--2020-05-26--"Private gain must no longer be allowed to elbow out the public good" was published in The Week

`` Adam Smith had an elegant idea when addressing the notorious difficulty that humans face in trying to be smart , efficient , and moral .
In The Wealth of Nations ( 1776 ) , he maintained that the baker bakes bread not out of benevolence , but out of self-interest .
No doubt , public benefits can result when people pursue what comes easiest : self-interest .
And yet : the logic of private interest — the notion that we should just `` let the market handle it '' — has serious limitations .
Particularly in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social policy in response to the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak has brought the contradictions into high relief .
Around the world , the free market rewards competing , positioning , and elbowing , so these have become the most desirable qualifications people can have .
Empathy , solidarity , or concern for the public good are relegated to the family , houses of worship , or activism .
Meanwhile , the market and private gain do n't account for social stability , health , or happiness .
As a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market system has depleted and ravaged the public sphere — public health , public education , public access to a healthy environment — in favor of private gain .
COVID-19 reveals a further irrational component : the people who do essential work — taking care of the sick ; picking up our garbage ; bringing us food ; guaranteeing that we have access to water , electricity , and WiFi — are often the very people who earn the least , without benefits or secure contracts .
On the other hand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills — the pontificators and chief elbowing officers — continue to be the winners .
Think about it : what 's the harm if the executive suites of private equity , corporate law , and marketing firms closed down during quarantine ?
Unless your stock portfolio directly profits from their activities , the answer is likely : none .
But it is those people who make millions — sometimes as much in an hour as healthcare workers or delivery personnel make in an entire year .
Simply put , a market system driven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never will protect public health , essential kinds of freedom , and communal wellbeing .
Many have pointed out the immorality of our system of greed and self-centered gain , its inefficiency , its cruelty , its shortsightedness , and its danger to planet and people .
But , above all , the logic of self-interest is superficial in that it fails to recognize the obvious : every private accomplishment is possible only on the basis of a thriving commons — a stable society and a healthy environment .
How did I become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some wit and hard work , one hopes .
But mostly I credit my choice of good parents ; being born at the right time and the right place ; excellent public schools ; fresh air , good food , fabulous friends ; lots of people who continuously and reliably provide all the things that I ca n't : healthcare , sanitation , electricity , free access to quality information .
And , of course , as the scholar Robert H Frank at Cornell University so clearly demonstrated in his 2016 book on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and simple luck .
Commenting on how we track performance in modern economies — counting output not outcome , quantity not quality , prices not possibilities — the U.S. senator Robert F Kennedy said in 1968 that we measure `` everything , in short , except that which makes life worthwhile . ''
His larger point : freedom , happiness , resilience — all are premised on a healthy public .
They rely on our collective ability to benefit from things such as clean air , free speech , good public education .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a healthy commons .
And yet , the world 's most powerful metric , gross domestic product ( GDP ) , counts none of it .
The term `` commons '' came into widespread use , and is still studied by most college students today , thanks to an essay by a previously little-known American academic , Garrett Hardin , called `` The Tragedy of the Commons '' ( 1968 ) .
His basic claim : common property such as public land or waterways will be spoiled if left to the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his theory , as he later admitted himself : it was mostly wrong .
Our real problem , instead , might be called `` the tragedy of the private . ''
From dust bowls in the 1930s to the escalating climate crisis today , from online misinformation to a failing public health infrastructure , it is the insatiable private that often despoils the common goods necessary for our collective survival and prosperity .
Who , in this system based on the private , holds accountable the fossil fuel industry for pushing us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens to the land and mountaintops and oceans forever ravaged by violent extraction for private gain ?
What will we do when private wealth has finally destroyed our democracy ?
The privately controlled corporate market has , in the precise words of the late economics writer Jonathan Rowe , `` a fatal character flaw — namely , an incapacity to stop growing .
No matter how much it grew yesterday it must continue to do so tomorrow , and then some ; or else the machinery will collapse .
To top off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public assistance , late-stage extractive capitalism , turbocharged by private interest and greed , would long be dead .
The narrow kind of macroeconomic thinking currently dominating the halls of government and academia invokes a simpleminded teenager who variously berates and denounces his parents , only to come home , time and again , when he is out of ideas , money , or support .
Boeing , Goldman Sachs , Bank of America , Exxon — all would be bust without public bailouts and tax breaks and subsidies .
Every time the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , public funds bail it out — in the current crisis , to the tune of trillions of dollars .
As others have noted , for more than a century , it 's a clever machine that privatizes gains and socializes costs .
When private companies are back up and running , they do n't hold themselves accountable to the public who rescued them .
As witnessed by activities since the 2008 bailouts at Wells Fargo , American Airlines , and AIG , companies that have been rescued often go right back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private market exchanges at the expense of the social good , policymakers and economists have taken an idea that is good under clearly defined and very limited circumstances and expanded it into a poisonous and blind ideology .
Now is the time to assert the obvious : without a strong public , there can be no private .
My health depends on public health .
My freedom depends on social freedom .
The economy is embedded in a healthy society with functional public services , not the other way around .
This moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wakeup call ; a realization that the public is our greatest good , not the private . ''

By Dirk Philipsen
"Adam Smith had an elegant idea when addressing the notorious difficulty that humans face in trying to be smart, efficient, and moral. In The Wealth of Nations (1776), he maintained that the baker bakes bread not out of benevolence, but out of self-interest. No doubt, public benefits can result when people pursue what comes easiest: self-interest. And yet: the logic of private interest — the notion that we should just "let the market handle it" — has serious limitations. Particularly in the United States, the lack of an effective health and social policy in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has brought the contradictions into high relief.
Around the world, the free market rewards competing, positioning, and elbowing, so these have become the most desirable qualifications people can have. Empathy, solidarity, or concern for the public good are relegated to the family, houses of worship, or activism. Meanwhile, the market and private gain don't account for social stability, health, or happiness. As a result, from Cape Town to Washington, the market system has depleted and ravaged the public sphere — public health, public education, public access to a healthy environment — in favor of private gain.
COVID-19 reveals a further irrational component: the people who do essential work — taking care of the sick; picking up our garbage; bringing us food; guaranteeing that we have access to water, electricity, and WiFi — are often the very people who earn the least, without benefits or secure contracts. On the other hand, those who often have few identifiably useful skills — the pontificators and chief elbowing officers — continue to be the winners. Think about it: what's the harm if the executive suites of private equity, corporate law, and marketing firms closed down during quarantine? Unless your stock portfolio directly profits from their activities, the answer is likely: none. But it is those people who make millions — sometimes as much in an hour as healthcare workers or delivery personnel make in an entire year.
Simply put, a market system driven by private interests never has protected and never will protect public health, essential kinds of freedom, and communal wellbeing.
Many have pointed out the immorality of our system of greed and self-centered gain, its inefficiency, its cruelty, its shortsightedness, and its danger to planet and people. But, above all, the logic of self-interest is superficial in that it fails to recognize the obvious: every private accomplishment is possible only on the basis of a thriving commons — a stable society and a healthy environment. How did I become a professor at an elite university? Some wit and hard work, one hopes. But mostly I credit my choice of good parents; being born at the right time and the right place; excellent public schools; fresh air, good food, fabulous friends; lots of people who continuously and reliably provide all the things that I can't: healthcare, sanitation, electricity, free access to quality information. And, of course, as the scholar Robert H Frank at Cornell University so clearly demonstrated in his 2016 book on the myth of the meritocracy: pure and simple luck.
Commenting on how we track performance in modern economies — counting output not outcome, quantity not quality, prices not possibilities — the U.S. senator Robert F Kennedy said in 1968 that we measure "everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile." His larger point: freedom, happiness, resilience — all are premised on a healthy public. They rely on our collective ability to benefit from things such as clean air, free speech, good public education. In short: we all rely on a healthy commons. And yet, the world's most powerful metric, gross domestic product (GDP), counts none of it.
The term "commons" came into widespread use, and is still studied by most college students today, thanks to an essay by a previously little-known American academic, Garrett Hardin, called "The Tragedy of the Commons" (1968). His basic claim: common property such as public land or waterways will be spoiled if left to the use of individuals motivated by self-interest. One problem with his theory, as he later admitted himself: it was mostly wrong.
Our real problem, instead, might be called "the tragedy of the private." From dust bowls in the 1930s to the escalating climate crisis today, from online misinformation to a failing public health infrastructure, it is the insatiable private that often despoils the common goods necessary for our collective survival and prosperity. Who, in this system based on the private, holds accountable the fossil fuel industry for pushing us to the brink of extinction? What happens to the land and mountaintops and oceans forever ravaged by violent extraction for private gain? What will we do when private wealth has finally destroyed our democracy?
The privately controlled corporate market has, in the precise words of the late economics writer Jonathan Rowe, "a fatal character flaw — namely, an incapacity to stop growing. No matter how much it grew yesterday it must continue to do so tomorrow, and then some; or else the machinery will collapse.
To top off the items we rarely discuss: without massive public assistance, late-stage extractive capitalism, turbocharged by private interest and greed, would long be dead. The narrow kind of macroeconomic thinking currently dominating the halls of government and academia invokes a simpleminded teenager who variously berates and denounces his parents, only to come home, time and again, when he is out of ideas, money, or support. Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Exxon — all would be bust without public bailouts and tax breaks and subsidies. Every time the private system works itself into a crisis, public funds bail it out — in the current crisis, to the tune of trillions of dollars. As others have noted, for more than a century, it's a clever machine that privatizes gains and socializes costs.
When private companies are back up and running, they don't hold themselves accountable to the public who rescued them. As witnessed by activities since the 2008 bailouts at Wells Fargo, American Airlines, and AIG, companies that have been rescued often go right back to milking the public.
By focusing on private market exchanges at the expense of the social good, policymakers and economists have taken an idea that is good under clearly defined and very limited circumstances and expanded it into a poisonous and blind ideology. Now is the time to assert the obvious: without a strong public, there can be no private. My health depends on public health. My freedom depends on social freedom. The economy is embedded in a healthy society with functional public services, not the other way around.
This moment of pain and collapse can serve as a wakeup call; a realization that the public is our greatest good, not the private."


dailykos--2020-05-27--Get Ready For A Long Difficult Recovery

Get Ready For A Long Difficult Recovery

If you are looking for positive , upbeat diaries you might want to not read mine for awhile .
There is a lot hitting the fan right now and I am going to be posting what I feel are the most important messages people may want to pay attention to .
This is my take of course , others may have their own ideas about the direction we are headed in .
First , we have a legitimately mentally unstable person at the head of our government and he now has almost unlimited power .
Someone who realizes he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Surrounding him are enablers , true believers and people who are so far in now they don ’ t know how to get out but will do anything to hold on to power .
You are going to see and hear things over the next 6 months that you never thought possible in our democracy .
Some of your fellow Americans may be going to the dark side .
I am concerned that the armed protests in Michigan were just a warm up .
Trump is going to try to delegitimize the upcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was cheated in the outcome .
We are in the middle of a pandemic that is far worse than people are being led to believe .
It ’ s not going away this year and will come back in the fall with a vengeance .
The intital steps to limit the damage early on were missed .
It has ravaged the world economy and we are looking at 3-5 years if no other catastrophes happen before we even get back to something that might appear “ normal ” economically .
America was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession when this thing hit .
This is going to get nasty as the way business is conducted in America has shifted and much of it will not return to the way it was pre-pandemic .
Unemployment will be hard pressed to get back under 10 % this decade .
We don ’ t have a new economy ready to replace the one we lost .
These kind of circumstances are ripe for social unrest and chaos .
Desperation makes people do desperate things .
One looming problem that no one is even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barreling down on us and will be exacerbating already highly volatile conditions .
Our generation has no training for the things we are going to go through the next 20 years .
I say these things not to inflame or depress you , rather to warn you so you can prepare and help your children understand that things will be more challenging going forward .
Let ’ s try to be there for each other .

If you are looking for positive, upbeat diaries you might want to not read mine for awhile. There is a lot hitting the fan right now and I am going to be posting what I feel are the most important messages people may want to pay attention to. This is my take of course, others may have their own ideas about the direction we are headed in.
First, we have a legitimately mentally unstable person at the head of our government and he now has almost unlimited power. Someone who realizes he is on track to lose his re-election. Surrounding him are enablers, true believers and people who are so far in now they don’t know how to get out but will do anything to hold on to power. You are going to see and hear things over the next 6 months that you never thought possible in our democracy. Some of your fellow Americans may be going to the dark side. I am concerned that the armed protests in Michigan were just a warm up. Trump is going to try to delegitimize the upcoming election and will convince some people that he was cheated in the outcome.
We are in the middle of a pandemic that is far worse than people are being led to believe. It’s not going away this year and will come back in the fall with a vengeance. The intital steps to limit the damage early on were missed. It has ravaged the world economy and we are looking at 3-5 years if no other catastrophes happen before we even get back to something that might appear “normal” economically.
America was already sitting on the edge of a recession when this thing hit. This is going to get nasty as the way business is conducted in America has shifted and much of it will not return to the way it was pre-pandemic. Unemployment will be hard pressed to get back under 10% this decade. We don’t have a new economy ready to replace the one we lost.
These kind of circumstances are ripe for social unrest and chaos. Desperation makes people do desperate things. One looming problem that no one is even talking about is that climate change is barreling down on us and will be exacerbating already highly volatile conditions. Our generation has no training for the things we are going to go through the next 20 years. I say these things not to inflame or depress you, rather to warn you so you can prepare and help your children understand that things will be more challenging going forward. Let’s try to be there for each other.


dailykos--2020-05-27--Tackling Addiction & the Opioid Crisis

Tackling Addiction & the Opioid Crisis

The opioid epidemic is devastating Kentucky ’ s communities .
And data shows that the crisis is only getting worse @ @ @ @ @ pharmaceutical companies accountable for marketing practices that mislead the American public about the risks of @ @ @ @ @

The opioid epidemic is devastating Kentucky’s communities. And data shows that the crisis is only getting worse. Congress must hold big pharmaceutical companies accountable for marketing practices that mislead the American public about the risks of highly addictive prescription drugs.


dailykos--2020-05-28--There needs to be a cure!

There needs to be a cure!

We Are Treating the Symptom , Not the Cause !
President Donald J Trump and his Administration ( minions ) are the reason that things are semi dealt with and not effectively to any real notable degree .
Being the way that he is , arrogant , opinionated , egotistical , vengeful and vindictive , accusative , self involved , with a false sense of impunity ( “ I have absolute power !
” Remember that one folks ?
! )
, along with a slew of personal agendas that are capricious and arbitrary , and the ideas that contradict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that is basically holy , is it a surprise that those still around him that do his bidding ( since he has said , “ You ’ re fired !
” so many times outside of reality TV ) have led us down the road to nowhere and fast ?
A while back , with Trump and those of like mind as his , were criticized by a community contributor that said , “ He and his following is exactly what is wrong with America !
” I agree whole-heartedly .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don ’ , can be totally blamed for everything .
That is too simple and just isn ’ t true .
Rather , it is a collective that thinks on the line of simplistic psychology .
There are the protesters of the procedures of dealing with COVID-19 that say , “ Hell no , we won ’ t mask or social distance !
” That right there shows that either these misguided people believe in some weird way want to promote liberty to the extent that they are , and or , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conspiracy and not all that serious .
I guess a 100,000 Americans dead and a whole bunch sick in addition to don ’ t shed any light of intelligence on their agendas .
It is the mindset of let me run wild , naked and free despite the fact that it might cause people death and illness , along with many other complications as well .
Donald Trump not wearing a mask and Joe Biden doing so illustrates this clearly .
The so called ‘ commander and chief ’ s ’ actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Damn the mask , full speed ahead !
’ Since he does this , so do a great deal of people , respectively .
Doing that justifies all those that are wanton to have things normal , whatever that is right now .
There is no normal left for anyone or anything .
People on many levels get it , however , many don ’ t .
Policies and efforts from the White House on down the line reflect this in a big way that can not be denied .
It ranges from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ( most illegal immigrants enter the U. S. on planes and ships , never seeing the Rio Grande in their quests ) , giving more to the military which we might need since the Trump Administration has done such a great job in isolating the United States from all other countries and pissing them off big time and the mere fact that so many things , such as constant Tweets and the like , spew out an attempt to fortify and justify his and all others in league , all of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative .
These are all symptoms and not causes .
They reflect the sad and dark part of our country .
That we have a segment of the population that sees things as a ‘ go get ‘ em ’ attitude which fits their ideology like a glove .
Don ’ t think , just do !
Viola !
There it is .
It is an easy , fast food and quick fix attitude .
We want quick solutions and we want them fast , which can be applied to almost everyone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the only method that is chosen , it normally ends with bad results and little for resolutions .
Why take the painstaking task of brainstorming good solutions and projecting the effort necessary to execute them when you can listen to some nut that tells you that ‘ everything is wonderful and we are in control ’ ?
Sorry !
Nothing is simple , there is no ‘ quick fix ’ and nothing is really under control .
Looking at the leader for the answer is not bad .
What is bad is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and basically bad on so many levels .
There are those that support Trump and his banditos and they have their reasons .
I wish they could see the faulty nature of all that has been presented .
Time will tell .
Many folks , by the way that voted for Trump and the GOP in 2016 , are having real doubts and are actually reflecting on all as a bad thing .
Again , time will tell .
November should prove nothing less than interesting .
We are a vast and complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or no , black or white , this or that , scenario .
Rather there is so much middle ground and grey area involved that it isn ’ t funny by any degree .
Some think that there are bigger threats than COVID-19 , such as immigration , racial discord , economic and societal class division , and a number of issues that override having to wear a mask , being socially distant and taking precautions that are proven effective against the virus in question .
Granted .
There are other things outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corona Virus 2019 , being important as well .
We do need to focus on that too .
It will take a great deal of stamina and hard work to overcome this mess in question .
Unfortunately , when mentioned , a good strong minority out there want the simple and easy way .
The path of least resistance is sought out by them and not the concept of getting down to the nitty gritty ugly truth of dealing with that on a small and grand scale , both .
The world looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Too bad since by the asinine things that we have done as a nation !
We have what we have and there can be no less than disappointment with the course of matters .
If the good ol ’ U. S. of A. can not provide examples for the common good , who can ?
I can only imagine how anyone in a another country perceives us by all mentioned .
We have a great number of citizens that wear masks , though a good amount don ’ t want to and don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs and methods encouraged that are proven to be unsafe and potentially deadly , yet so many succumb to them as a ‘ good thing ’ .
We ’ ll protest with guns in hands on state capitols and raise cane to get what we want with the , “ Virus ain ’ t so bad !
” attitude .
Our political structure reflects an obligatory system rather than one of a rational nature where decisions are supposed to be based on logic as opposed to simply raw emotion .
Then there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be ignored , nor would they want to be .
United States ?
How ?
!
We couldn ’ t be more polarized and separated if we tried any harder .
That is the picture we have now .
A nation without strong and solid leadership that cares about the state of all and bent on arbitration and following a ranting and demanding person that doesn ’ t really ‘ get it ’ , as it were .
There is no way that Trump can get it for he is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one to reflect that inner image of all .
Those that oppose him are fired , compelled to resign and even change political parties , et cetera .
The most important factor being considered is not , “ How can I and others solve this crisis and all else ?
” but rather the thinking geared towards political ends and means , “ How can I flim flam , duck and weave , camouflage things and create an environment that will assure me reelection ?
” Depressing as it is , Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast to actually doing things effectively .
The mentality is not how you play the game but whether you win or lose .
Sadly , many in the nation choose the latter and don ’ t care about the circumstances in question .
It is the overall and basic symptom , not the cause .
That is much deeper and smaller in general .
Getting to the ‘ grass roots ’ of matters is the only way we can do so reasonably .
Until we can really get the notion that we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it or not and respond in kind , things will not get better .
Bitterness , xenophobia , insecurity and all negatives things are not just a Washington DC , military or corporate thing , but the issues that are rooted at the basic level , the citizen .
Each one of us is the cause or the solution .
Do we seek self involved agendas or try to do things for the common good of all ?
Is the color of one ’ s skin more important than whether or not they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Is life on a higher level than money ?
Do we want someone to solve our problems or do we try to solve much of that ourselves ?
Our nation has so many great attributes that it is a cryin ’ shame that so much exists that contradicts the efforts of those aforementioned .
Racism , nepotism , egotism and a generalize view of things are the symptoms at the group and higher levels .
All of us must look towards ourselves and affirm whether we can sacrifice and do the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all .
I hate masks , but I wear them .
I have gloves , but I wear those too .
Don ’ t care for social distancing , but I adhere to that as well .
A majority of those that I know and meet do the same because we want to be the solution , not the problem .
If solidarity takes place and more and more folks see the light and do their part , then this crisis will be defeated .
Division of our society only makes things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so many things that we ’ d rather not do .
All of us want things to be normal again , granted .
That takes work and enlightenment , both .
We need to cure the cause and stop simply treating the symptom .
What actions any of us take will equal the result in the long run .

We Are Treating the Symptom, Not the Cause!
By
Mike Arroyo
President Donald J Trump and his Administration (minions) are the reason that things are semi dealt with and not effectively to any real notable degree. Being the way that he is, arrogant, opinionated, egotistical, vengeful and vindictive, accusative, self involved, with a false sense of impunity (“I have absolute power!” Remember that one folks?!), along with a slew of personal agendas that are capricious and arbitrary, and the ideas that contradict the American Way, the Constitution and all that is basically holy, is it a surprise that those still around him that do his bidding (since he has said, “You’re fired!” so many times outside of reality TV) have led us down the road to nowhere and fast? A while back, with Trump and those of like mind as his, were criticized by a community contributor that said, “He and his following is exactly what is wrong with America!” I agree whole-heartedly. No one person, not even ‘the Don’, can be totally blamed for everything. That is too simple and just isn’t true. Rather, it is a collective that thinks on the line of simplistic psychology. There are the protesters of the procedures of dealing with COVID-19 that say, “Hell no, we won’t mask or social distance!” That right there shows that either these misguided people believe in some weird way want to promote liberty to the extent that they are, and or, are convinced that the whole virus thing is a conspiracy and not all that serious. I guess a 100,000 Americans dead and a whole bunch sick in addition to don’t shed any light of intelligence on their agendas. It is the mindset of let me run wild, naked and free despite the fact that it might cause people death and illness, along with many other complications as well. Donald Trump not wearing a mask and Joe Biden doing so illustrates this clearly. The so called ‘commander and chief’s’ actions sends a message to everyone, ‘Damn the mask, full speed ahead!’ Since he does this, so do a great deal of people, respectively. Doing that justifies all those that are wanton to have things normal, whatever that is right now. There is no normal left for anyone or anything. People on many levels get it, however, many don’t. Policies and efforts from the White House on down the line reflect this in a big way that cannot be denied. It ranges from the immigration thing ‘build a wall’ (most illegal immigrants enter the U. S. on planes and ships, never seeing the Rio Grande in their quests), giving more to the military which we might need since the Trump Administration has done such a great job in isolating the United States from all other countries and pissing them off big time and the mere fact that so many things, such as constant Tweets and the like, spew out an attempt to fortify and justify his and all others in league, all of which have done very little positive and much negative. These are all symptoms and not causes. They reflect the sad and dark part of our country. That we have a segment of the population that sees things as a ‘go get ‘em’ attitude which fits their ideology like a glove. Don’t think, just do! Viola! There it is. It is an easy, fast food and quick fix attitude. We want quick solutions and we want them fast, which can be applied to almost everyone to some degree. However, when that is the only method that is chosen, it normally ends with bad results and little for resolutions. Why take the painstaking task of brainstorming good solutions and projecting the effort necessary to execute them when you can listen to some nut that tells you that ‘everything is wonderful and we are in control’? Sorry! Nothing is simple, there is no ‘quick fix’ and nothing is really under control. Looking at the leader for the answer is not bad. What is bad is when the answer is wrong, dangerous and basically bad on so many levels. There are those that support Trump and his banditos and they have their reasons. I wish they could see the faulty nature of all that has been presented. Time will tell. Many folks, by the way that voted for Trump and the GOP in 2016, are having real doubts and are actually reflecting on all as a bad thing. Again, time will tell. November should prove nothing less than interesting.
We are a vast and complex society. Nothing is just a yes or no, black or white, this or that, scenario. Rather there is so much middle ground and grey area involved that it isn’t funny by any degree. Some think that there are bigger threats than COVID-19, such as immigration, racial discord, economic and societal class division, and a number of issues that override having to wear a mask, being socially distant and taking precautions that are proven effective against the virus in question. Granted. There are other things outside the star of the show, the Corona Virus 2019, being important as well. We do need to focus on that too. It will take a great deal of stamina and hard work to overcome this mess in question. Unfortunately, when mentioned, a good strong minority out there want the simple and easy way. The path of least resistance is sought out by them and not the concept of getting down to the nitty gritty ugly truth of dealing with that on a small and grand scale, both. The world looks at us for guidance and help. Too bad since by the asinine things that we have done as a nation! We have what we have and there can be no less than disappointment with the course of matters. If the good ol’ U. S. of A. cannot provide examples for the common good, who can? I can only imagine how anyone in a another country perceives us by all mentioned. We have a great number of citizens that wear masks, though a good amount don’t want to and don’t, respectively. There are drugs and methods encouraged that are proven to be unsafe and potentially deadly, yet so many succumb to them as a ‘good thing’. We’ll protest with guns in hands on state capitols and raise cane to get what we want with the, “Virus ain’t so bad!” attitude. Our political structure reflects an obligatory system rather than one of a rational nature where decisions are supposed to be based on logic as opposed to simply raw emotion. Then there is the ‘white supremacy’ movement that cannot be ignored, nor would they want to be. United States? How?! We couldn’t be more polarized and separated if we tried any harder. That is the picture we have now. A nation without strong and solid leadership that cares about the state of all and bent on arbitration and following a ranting and demanding person that doesn’t really ‘get it’, as it were. There is no way that Trump can get it for he is in his own world and wants the real one to reflect that inner image of all. Those that oppose him are fired, compelled to resign and even change political parties, et cetera. The most important factor being considered is not, “How can I and others solve this crisis and all else?” but rather the thinking geared towards political ends and means, “How can I flim flam, duck and weave, camouflage things and create an environment that will assure me reelection?” Depressing as it is, Trump is relative to keeping his damn job in contrast to actually doing things effectively. The mentality is not how you play the game but whether you win or lose. Sadly, many in the nation choose the latter and don’t care about the circumstances in question. It is the overall and basic symptom, not the cause. That is much deeper and smaller in general. Getting to the ‘grass roots’ of matters is the only way we can do so reasonably.
Until we can really get the notion that we’re in this together whether anyone likes it or not and respond in kind, things will not get better. Bitterness, xenophobia, insecurity and all negatives things are not just a Washington DC, military or corporate thing, but the issues that are rooted at the basic level, the citizen. Each one of us is the cause or the solution. Do we seek self involved agendas or try to do things for the common good of all? Is the color of one’s skin more important than whether or not they wear a mask and prevent COVID spread? Is life on a higher level than money? Do we want someone to solve our problems or do we try to solve much of that ourselves? Our nation has so many great attributes that it is a cryin’ shame that so much exists that contradicts the efforts of those aforementioned. Racism, nepotism, egotism and a generalize view of things are the symptoms at the group and higher levels. All of us must look towards ourselves and affirm whether we can sacrifice and do the right thing and not just the simple want of all. I hate masks, but I wear them. I have gloves, but I wear those too. Don’t care for social distancing, but I adhere to that as well. A majority of those that I know and meet do the same because we want to be the solution, not the problem. If solidarity takes place and more and more folks see the light and do their part, then this crisis will be defeated. Division of our society only makes things that much harder and extend the need to do so many things that we’d rather not do. All of us want things to be normal again, granted. That takes work and enlightenment, both. We need to cure the cause and stop simply treating the symptom. What actions any of us take will equal the result in the long run.
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dailykos--2020-05-28--Trump’s Florida Absentee Ballot Lie

Trump’s Florida Absentee Ballot Lie

Donald Trump claims mail in voting is a recipe for election fraud .
He says this sort of thing a lot .
This has created a bit of public relations problem because Trump has voted remotely in his current home state of Florida .
His Press Secretary , Kayleigh McEnany has never voted in person , instead mailing in her Florida ballots eleven times .
The obvious criticism here is that these elitist Republicans love to vote by mail , they just don ’ t want us regular folks to do so .
However , Trump and McEnany offer the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different because they are “ absentee voting.
” As McEnany said : “ The president ’ s been very clear .
Every American is entitled to vote the way that I did if you are someone who is working out of state , that your domicile is in a different state , you are absolutely entitled to request an absentee ballot and to cast your ballot by mail .
The president has no qualms with that .
He ’ s for absentee voting for a reason.
” McEnany , who once promised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Neither she nor Trump has ever requested an absentee ballot from Florida or voted by absentee ballot in Florida .
The reason for this is simple .
Florida does not have absentee ballots .
Florida does not have absentee ballots or balloting or absentee ballot applications .
Florida does not have absentee ballots , or absentee ballot requests or applications , for a very simple reason .
Florida allows no excuse voting by mail .
One does not request an absentee ballot , one just requests to vote by mail , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no reason at all .
You can even designated a proxy to pick up your vote by mail ballot for you .
In short , this is precisely the kind of mass , free voting by mail that the President and McEnany insist leads to wide spread voter fraud .
The Florida Division of Elections website is quite clear about this : If being able to freely vote by mail is a recipe for widespread voter fraud then Florida is stewing in it and Trump , along with his press secretary , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his people , love to vote by mail , they just don ’ t want us regular folks to be able to do what they do all the time .
It ’ s a simple case of them thinking they are better and more entitled than the rest of us .

Donald Trump claims mail in voting is a recipe for election fraud. He says this sort of thing a lot.
x ....happen again. Just like we canÃ¢ÂÂt let large scale Mail-In Ballots take root in our Country. It would be a free for all on cheating, forgery and the theft of Ballots. Whoever cheated the most would win. Likewise, Social Media. Clean up your act, NOW!!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2020
This has created a bit of public relations problem because Trump has voted remotely in his current home state of Florida. His Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany has never voted in person, instead mailing in her Florida ballots eleven times. The obvious criticism here is that these elitist Republicans love to vote by mail, they just don’t want us regular folks to do so.
However, Trump and McEnany offer the excuse that their voting by mail is different because they are “absentee voting.” As McEnany said:
“The president’s been very clear. Every American is entitled to vote the way that I did if you are someone who is working out of state, that your domicile is in a different state, you are absolutely entitled to request an absentee ballot and to cast your ballot by mail. The president has no qualms with that. He’s for absentee voting for a reason.”
McEnany, who once promised to never lie to us, is lying. Neither she nor Trump has ever requested an absentee ballot from Florida or voted by absentee ballot in Florida. The reason for this is simple. Florida does not have absentee ballots. Florida does not have absentee ballots or balloting or absentee ballot applications.
Florida does not have absentee ballots, or absentee ballot requests or applications, for a very simple reason. Florida allows no excuse voting by mail. One does not request an absentee ballot, one just requests to vote by mail, which anyone can do for any reason or no reason at all. You can even designated a proxy to pick up your vote by mail ballot for you.
In short, this is precisely the kind of mass, free voting by mail that the President and McEnany insist leads to wide spread voter fraud. The Florida Division of Elections website is quite clear about this:
“Vote-by-mail refers to voting a ballot received by mail or picked up by or for a voter instead of going to the polls to vote during early voting period or Election Day. Except on Election Day, no excuse is needed to vote a vote-by-mail ballot.”
If being able to freely vote by mail is a recipe for widespread voter fraud then Florida is stewing in it and Trump, along with his press secretary, are among the cooks. Trump, and his people, love to vote by mail, they just don’t want us regular folks to be able to do what they do all the time. It’s a simple case of them thinking they are better and more entitled than the rest of us.


dailykos--2020-05-28--Social Security & Medicare

Social Security & Medicare

Medicare and Social Security are promises made in return for a life of hard work .
They are guarantees of @ @ @ @ @ .
Americans have paid into these initiatives with every paycheck , and we must honor @ @ @ @ @ , the high costs of healthcare and prescription drugs force Kentucky ’ s seniors to @ @ @ @ @ retire , into poverty .
I promise to honor all seniors and fight against the @ @ @ @ @ any kind of roll-backs of Medicare .
I will fight to make these programs more @ @ @ @ @ I will prioritize affordable senior housing and remodel long-term care services so that seniors always @ @ @ @ @ safely and comfortably at home .
Please visit the campaign ’ s website at www.Kemph2020.com @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic majority in the House :

Medicare and Social Security are promises made in return for a life of hard work. They are guarantees of a dignified and secure retirement. Americans have paid into these initiatives with every paycheck, and we must honor these earned benefits. However, the high costs of healthcare and prescription drugs force Kentucky’s seniors to continue to work, and retire, into poverty.
I promise to honor all seniors and fight against the privatization of Social Security and any kind of roll-backs of Medicare. I will fight to make these programs more efficient and greater accessibility. I will prioritize affordable senior housing and remodel long-term care services so that seniors always have the option of living safely and comfortably at home.
Please visit the campaign’s website at www.Kemph2020.com
And donate today to strengthen the Democratic majority in the House:
secure.actblue.com/…


dailykos--2020-05-29--A Draft Cease And Desist Letter To President Trump.

As detailed in a prior article , Donald Trump has posted a series of appallingly cruel tweets attacking his media nemesis Joe Scarborough .
The tweets falsely imply Scarborough might be guilty of murdering an intern ( Lori Klausutis ) who died of natural causes in 2001 ( Scarborough was five states away at the time of her death ) .
The prior article discusses the widower of Lori Klausutis ( Timothy Klausutis ) and his eloquent words pleading with Twitter ’ s CEO to delete Trump ’ s tweets .
The CEO of Twitter refused , apologizing for not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain the tweets caused the family of Lori Klausutis .
Recently , an opinion piece in the New York Times argued that Trump ’ s tweets constitute the tort of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress against Timothy Klausutis .
While I have retired from the practice of law and no longer maintain an active license , this prompted me to question what I would do if I represented Timothy Klausutis .
I determined that I would send a letter to the counsel for the President demanding that President Trump cease and desist his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead wife .
That cease and desist letter might read something like this : Dear Counsel for President of the United States Donald Trump , I represent Timothy Klausutis , and other members of the Klausutis family , who have been harmed by your client ’ s false and intentionally cruel insinuations about the death Lori Klausutis .
Contrary to your client ’ s malicious tweets , there is no “ cold case ” in regard to the death of my client ’ s wife .
There is no case at all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ smear Joe Scarborough , has also smeared the memory of my client ’ s wife .
As you undoubtedly know , my client wrote a letter to the CEO of Twitter pleading for your client ’ s painful tweets to be removed .
The CEO of Twitter declined , even while apologizing for the pain your client ’ s tweets caused my client .
As my client told the CEO of Twitter , “ the President of the United States has taken something that does not belong him — the memory of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political gain.
” Even after this letter was widely publicized , President Trump , with knowledge of the pain it causes my client , again tweeted his heinous allegations .
This must stop .
This letter is formal notice to you that your client ’ s actions constitute the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress against Timothy Klausutis and others in the Klausutis family .
On behalf of my client I am demanding that your client cease and desist further references to his wife ’ s death on Twitter or in any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made without waiving any existing rights for legal action against the President .
However , if the President disregards this demand I will urge my client to fully exercise his legal rights to recover damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress , and any other applicable torts , in a court of appropriate jurisdiction .
I am sure you understand that under well established Supreme Court precedent your client is not immune to civil liability even as a sitting President .
I ask that you make that clear to your client as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much .
He requests that the President of the United States merely forego deliberate , malicious cruelty toward him .
Mr. Klausutis never remarried and he still lives in the house he and Lori called home 20 years ago .
Please ask your client to be a human being first and a politician second .
If your client is incapable of that , I will zealously attempt to see our legal system order appropriate compensation from your client .
President Trump is free to fight his war with Mr. Scarborough in ways that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his wife ’ s death .

As detailed in a prior article, Donald Trump has posted a series of appallingly cruel tweets attacking his media nemesis Joe Scarborough. The tweets falsely imply Scarborough might be guilty of murdering an intern (Lori Klausutis) who died of natural causes in 2001 (Scarborough was five states away at the time of her death). The prior article discusses the widower of Lori Klausutis (Timothy Klausutis) and his eloquent words pleading with Twitter’s CEO to delete Trump’s tweets. The CEO of Twitter refused, apologizing for not being able to do so and the pain the tweets caused the family of Lori Klausutis.
Recently, an opinion piece in the New York Times argued that Trump’s tweets constitute the tort of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress against Timothy Klausutis. While I have retired from the practice of law and no longer maintain an active license, this prompted me to question what I would do if I represented Timothy Klausutis. I determined that I would send a letter to the counsel for the President demanding that President Trump cease and desist his exploitive smears against my client’s dead wife.
That cease and desist letter might read something like this: