dailykos--2020-04-17--Democratic Senate Candidate Paula Jean Swearengin Picks Up Momentum

COAL CITY , WV— For its April 15 , 2020 , FEC reporting , 2020 Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate for West Virginia Paula Jean Swearengin ’ s Campaign reports a total of $ 224,776.68 from 9600+ individual contributions .
Between January 1 , 2020 and March 31 , 2020 , the Paula Jean for West Virginia Committee raised $ 109,134.64 from nearly 4400 individual contributions , with an average contribution of $ 23.43 .
The Committee has received more individual , non-PAC donations than her opponents combined .
“ I think about the single mother who donated $ 5 from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better future .
I think about the supporter on disability who gives because they want a better future for their loved ones , Swearengin said .
“ Our volunteers and supporters believe we deserve lasting , viable work , healthcare as a human right , and sustainable economic opportunities to West Virginia.
” In line with her 2018 campaign , Swearengin has refused to accept corporate and corporate PAC donations .
She ’ s signed the West Virginia Wait pledge along with West Virginia gubernatorial candidate Stephen Smith .
Swearengin has received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blue America and others .
Swearengin ’ s fundraising stands in stark contrast to incumbent Republican Shelley Moore Capito who is primarily funded by corporate PACs and Leadership PAC funds .
Swearengin ’ s large number of individual donations showcase momentum for her small-dollar grassroots-driven campaign .
In 2018 , Swearengin ’ s U.S. Senate race broke state records by garnering 48,594 primary votes , the highest votes against a sitting incumbent in West Virginia in 75 years .
She also acquired more votes than any Republican candidate on the ballot including Patrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with hundreds of volunteers across the state .
We are going to take this fight all the way to the General election and beyond , Swearengin said .
“ We ’ re tired of representatives playing politics with our lives and we ’ re ready for leadership that will put West Virginia first .
To us , this is not about partisan politics , it ’ s about the future of West Virginia ” .
As of midnight April 16 , no campaign finance information from either of Sweareangin ’ s Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Election Commission website .
For more information on the campaign , visit paulajean.com or follow us on FB and Twitter @ PaulaJean2020 .
To contribute to the campaign , visit secure.actblue.com/ ...

COAL CITY, WV— For its April 15, 2020, FEC reporting, 2020 Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate for West Virginia Paula Jean Swearengin’s Campaign reports a total of $224,776.68 from 9600+ individual contributions. Between January 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020, the Paula Jean for West Virginia Committee raised $109,134.64 from nearly 4400 individual contributions, with an average contribution of $23.43. The Committee has received more individual, non-PAC donations than her opponents combined.
“I think about the single mother who donated $5 from her minimum-wage check because she believes in a better future. I think about the supporter on disability who gives because they want a better future for their loved ones, Swearengin said. “Our volunteers and supporters believe we deserve lasting, viable work, healthcare as a human right, and sustainable economic opportunities to West Virginia.”
In line with her 2018 campaign, Swearengin has refused to accept corporate and corporate PAC donations. She’s signed the West Virginia Wait pledge along with West Virginia gubernatorial candidate Stephen Smith. Swearengin has received notable endorsements from Brand New Congress, Blue America and others.
Swearengin’s fundraising stands in stark contrast to incumbent Republican Shelley Moore Capito who is primarily funded by corporate PACs and Leadership PAC funds. Swearengin’s large number of individual donations showcase momentum for her small-dollar grassroots-driven campaign.
In 2018, Swearengin’s U.S. Senate race broke state records by garnering 48,594 primary votes, the highest votes against a sitting incumbent in West Virginia in 75 years. She also acquired more votes than any Republican candidate on the ballot including Patrick Morrisey.
“Our team is gearing up with hundreds of volunteers across the state. We are going to take this fight all the way to the General election and beyond, Swearengin said. “We’re tired of representatives playing politics with our lives and we’re ready for leadership that will put West Virginia first. To us, this is not about partisan politics, it’s about the future of West Virginia”.
As of midnight April 16, no campaign finance information from either of Sweareangin’s Democratic primary challengers had been made available via the Federal Election Commission website.
For more information on the campaign, visit paulajean.com or follow us on FB and Twitter @PaulaJean2020. To contribute to the campaign, visit secure.actblue.com/...


dailykos--2020-04-17--Mike Bloomberg’s $1 Billion “Pledge” to the Presumptive Democratic Nominee

I may simply copy this post and stick it up every week .
The capitalist titan we all know and , well , know made a tentative pledge of a billion bucks to whomever wound up as the Democratic nominee .
I know this because I read it in a January 11 NYT and can ’ t imagine I ’ m the only one .
SAN MARCOS , Texas — Michael R. Bloomberg on Saturday did not rule out spending a billion dollars of his own money on the 2020 presidential race , even if he does not win the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobilize his well-financed political operation to help Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren win in November if either is the party nominee , despite their sharp policy differences .
For better or worse that nominee appears to be another politician we all know and ( for lack of a better word ) know .
Joe Biden — someone with whom he DOESN ’ T have “ sharp policy differences.
” And , given Joe ’ s short comings , he could use all Mike ’ s help he could get .
That , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little self serving on my end to hold the magnate ’ s feet to the fire on a campaign promise that will potentially serve the public good and sting him a little .
If we don ’ t keep the volley ball that HE inflated aloft people may forget whether or not the media mogul is full of what that ball is ( i.e .
hot air/excrement/pick your poison ) .
Let ’ s see just how much of that campaign bluster is true .
Go ahead Mike , make me eat my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Frusen Glädjé .

I may simply copy this post and stick it up every week. The capitalist titan we all know and, well, know made a tentative pledge of a billion bucks to whomever wound up as the Democratic nominee. I know this because I read it in a January 11 NYT and can’t imagine I’m the only one.
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Michael R. Bloomberg on Saturday did not rule out spending a billion dollars of his own money on the 2020 presidential race, even if he does not win the Democratic nomination, and said he would mobilize his well-financed political operation to help Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren win in November if either is the party nominee, despite their sharp policy differences.
For better or worse that nominee appears to be another politician we all know and (for lack of a better word) know. Joe Biden — someone with whom he DOESN’T have “sharp policy differences.” And, given Joe’s short comings, he could use all Mike’s help he could get. That, and I admit, it’s a little self serving on my end to hold the magnate’s feet to the fire on a campaign promise that will potentially serve the public good and sting him a little. If we don’t keep the volley ball that HE inflated aloft people may forget whether or not the media mogul is full of what that ball is (i.e. hot air/excrement/pick your poison).
Let’s see just how much of that campaign bluster is true. Go ahead Mike, make me eat my words. They’ll go down like Frusen Glädjé.


dailykos--2020-04-17--THE MASQUE OF THE RED MAR-A-LAGO

THE MASQUE OF THE RED MAR-A-LAGO

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago .
Or was it a couple of years ?
Who can tell anymore .
It ’ s still relevant .
Maybe even more so .
It was going to be a very clever ( well in my mind at least ) parody of Edgar Alan Poe ’ s The Masque of the Red Death .
It was going to be about an imaginary land called “ Merika ” .
That wasn ’ t its original name , but the Prince who ruled over it and his followers could never pronounce it quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The Prince ’ s name was Prospero .
He wasn ’ t actually a prince even though he thought he was a king .
And his name wasn ’ t Prospero .
He had changed his original name to Prosperous because he constantly told his subjects he was a great and wealthy businessman .
He never could spell it correctly in his royal tweets , so , everybody just started calling him that .
Why ?
Because you could never say the Prince did anything wrong .
Ever .
Ever .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as in the book , a great plague overtook the land .
In just a few short weeks millions were infected and thousands were dying .
So , what did the Prince do ?
He said it was a hoax .
Everything was fine .
If it was real , it would only affect people who didn ’ t like him .
He called them “ The Never Prosperos ” .
He asked his minister of Health , a very wise old doctor who had dealt with many plagues in the past , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did the exact opposite .
As the plague got worse , he gathered all his rich friends and he retreated to his beautiful luxury vacation palace .
It was called Mar-A-Lago .
The problem was that it wasn ’ t really that beautiful or that luxurious .
In fact , it was sort of a dump .
It had garish fake gold decorations everywhere .
The Prince even had a gold toilet .
But nobody ever said anything .
No one could ever give the Prince bad news .
Ever .
To prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his followers he threw a great masquerade party at the vacation palace .
His wife decorated all the rooms in different colors .
But only one color for each room .
Just like she did in the main palace during the Christmas holidays .
They were really sort of creepy and weird .
But nobody said anything because the Prince said they were great .
The greatest rooms in the history of rooms .
Ever .
Every hour on the hour a band would play “ Hail to the Prince ” .
Very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the palace band had all come down with the plague and were dead .
The only band the Prince could find was a band called “ Three Doors Down ” .
They had never played the song before , so they did what all bad bands do .
If you can ’ t play it well , play it loud .
When they did all the guests would cover their ears and grimace .
For some reason , people do n't like Three Doors Down .
When the last guest arrived , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palace locked and sealed so nobody who had the plague could get in .
The only problem was the last guest wasn ’ t wearing a mask .
He was wearing a red hat that said : “ Make Merika Great Again.
” He wore it because it was sold by the Prince ’ s company and the Prince wanted all his followers to wear one .
The original hats were made in China , where the plague originated and it was on all the red hats .
So , the plague made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not even the Prince could escape it because he had sealed all the doors .
All and all , I thought it was pretty clever .
Then reality said , Our actual wanna-be King had a real party down in Mar-A-Lago where he invited all his sycophant followers like Lindsey Graham and the Ambassador from Brazil and they all laughed at the Democrats ' response to the Covid 19 virus .
They hugged and shook hands and all told the King what a great job he was doing .
The only problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folks there already had the virus .
Graham has dropped off the planet because he is in self-quarantine .
Matt Gaetz , a congressman whose head is so far up Trump 's ass he can see Sean Hannity wore a gas mask to a House vote on an emergency bill to help fight the virus .
He wanted to show what a joke the whole thing was .
That was until he found out he was exposed to the virus a week earlier at the CPAC convention .
He had to sit all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip home and now he is in self-quarantine .
You just can ’ t make this shit up .
We ’ re in the middle of an unimaginable catastrophe and we ’ re being forced to listen to a bunch of ass clowns hold press briefings each day where all they do is tell us how the King is doing a great job and everything is just fine .
Except for Doctor Anthony Fauci , the only sane voice in the room .
I ’ m stunned he hasn ’ t been fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a heart attack .
Stay safe .
Wash your hands .
Stay home if possible .
Don ’ t shake hands .
Practice social distancing .
I know our government is full of shit .
But that ’ s not going to help .

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago. Or was it a couple of years? Who can tell anymore. It’s still relevant. Maybe even more so. It was going to be a very clever (well in my mind at least) parody of Edgar Alan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death.
It was going to be about an imaginary land called “Merika”. That wasn’t its original name, but the Prince who ruled over it and his followers could never pronounce it quite right. So, they just changed it.
The Prince’s name was Prospero. He wasn’t actually a prince even though he thought he was a king. And his name wasn’t Prospero. He had changed his original name to Prosperous because he constantly told his subjects he was a great and wealthy businessman. He never could spell it correctly in his royal tweets, so, everybody just started calling him that.
Why? Because you could never say the Prince did anything wrong. Ever. Ever. Ever.
So, of course, as in the book, a great plague overtook the land. In just a few short weeks millions were infected and thousands were dying. So, what did the Prince do? He said it was a hoax. Everything was fine. If it was real, it would only affect people who didn’t like him. He called them “The Never Prosperos”.
He asked his minister of Health, a very wise old doctor who had dealt with many plagues in the past, what he should do. Then he did the exact opposite. As the plague got worse, he gathered all his rich friends and he retreated to his beautiful luxury vacation palace. It was called Mar-A-Lago. The problem was that it wasn’t really that beautiful or that luxurious.
In fact, it was sort of a dump. It had garish fake gold decorations everywhere. The Prince even had a gold toilet. But nobody ever said anything. No one could ever give the Prince bad news. Ever.
To prove how great everything was for him and his followers he threw a great masquerade party at the vacation palace. His wife decorated all the rooms in different colors. But only one color for each room. Just like she did in the main palace during the Christmas holidays.
They were really sort of creepy and weird. But nobody said anything because the Prince said they were great. The greatest rooms in the history of rooms. Ever.
Every hour on the hour a band would play “Hail to the Prince”. Very loudly and very badly. This was because the palace band had all come down with the plague and were dead. The only band the Prince could find was a band called “Three Doors Down”. They had never played the song before, so they did what all bad bands do. If you can’t play it well, play it loud.
When they did all the guests would cover their ears and grimace. For some reason, people don't like Three Doors Down. When the last guest arrived, the Prince had the doors to the Palace locked and sealed so nobody who had the plague could get in.
The only problem was the last guest wasn’t wearing a mask. He was wearing a red hat that said: “Make Merika Great Again.” He wore it because it was sold by the Prince’s company and the Prince wanted all his followers to wear one.
The original hats were made in China, where the plague originated and it was on all the red hats. So, the plague made it into the palace and no one, not even the Prince could escape it because he had sealed all the doors.
The End
All and all, I thought it was pretty clever. Then reality said,
“Too late, already done!”
Our actual wanna-be King had a real party down in Mar-A-Lago where he invited all his sycophant followers like Lindsey Graham and the Ambassador from Brazil and they all laughed at the Democrats' response to the Covid 19 virus.
They hugged and shook hands and all told the King what a great job he was doing. The only problem was the Ambassador and a few other folks there already had the virus.
Graham has dropped off the planet because he is in self-quarantine. Matt Gaetz, a congressman whose head is so far up Trump's ass he can see Sean Hannity wore a gas mask to a House vote on an emergency bill to help fight the virus.
He wanted to show what a joke the whole thing was. That was until he found out he was exposed to the virus a week earlier at the CPAC convention. He had to sit all alone on Air Force One on the trip home and now he is in self-quarantine.
You just can’t make this shit up.
We’re in the middle of an unimaginable catastrophe and we’re being forced to listen to a bunch of ass clowns hold press briefings each day where all they do is tell us how the King is doing a great job and everything is just fine. Except for Doctor Anthony Fauci, the only sane voice in the room. I’m stunned he hasn’t been fired yet.
This is as serious as a heart attack. Stay safe. Wash your hands. Stay home if possible. Don’t shake hands. Practice social distancing.
And for Christ’s sake STOP BUYING TOILET PAPER!!
I know our government is full of shit. But that’s not going to help.
The End?


dailykos--2020-04-18--My name is Vangie Williams and I'm running for Congress. Here's my story.

Hi , my name is Vangie Williams and I 'm running for Congress in Virginia ’ s 1st Congressional District .
I 'm a resident of King George , Virginia , where I ’ ve lived my entire life .
I ’ ve been married for 27 years to my wonderful husband Glenn and we have six ( yes six ) daughters .
I ’ m a strategic planner who has worked at NASA and I helped create the TSA .
I have 32 years of experience dealing with national security , infrastructure , and many other areas .
Hi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm running for Congress in Virginia ’ s 1st Congressional District .
I 'm a resident of King George , Virginia , where I ’ ve lived my entire life .
I ’ ve been married for 27 years to my wonderful husband Glenn and we have six ( yes six ) daughters .
I ’ m a strategic planner who has worked at NASA and I helped create the TSA .
I have 32 years of experience dealing with national security , infrastructure , and many other areas .
Hi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm running for Congress in Virginia ’ s 1st Congressional District .
I 'm a resident of King George , Virginia , where I ’ ve lived my entire life .
I ’ ve been married for 27 years to my wonderful husband Glenn and we have six ( yes six ) daughters .
I ’ m a strategic planner who has worked at NASA and I helped create the TSA .
I have 32 years of experience dealing with national security , infrastructure , and many other areas .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has spent 34 years in government , over a decade of those in the U.S. House of Representatives .
He makes $ 174,000 every year in Congress , but he ’ s only passed five bills .
That 's not a typo .
He 's only passed five pieces of legislation in nearly 20 years .
In the last decade , he ’ s passed two .
That means that he ’ s been paid $ 1.7 million dollars this decade , only to pass two bills .
We can do better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per piece of legislation .
If it takes $ 850,000 to get a member of Congress to pass something , then we need to start playing the lottery if we want any chance of being heard .

Hi, my name is Vangie Williams and I'm running for Congress in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. I'm a resident of King George, Virginia, where I’ve lived my entire life. I’ve been married for 27 years to my wonderful husband Glenn and we have six (yes six) daughters. I’m a strategic planner who has worked at NASA and I helped create the TSA. I have 32 years of experience dealing with national security, infrastructure, and many other areas.
Hi, my name is Vangie Williams and I'm running for Congress in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. I'm a resident of King George, Virginia, where I’ve lived my entire life. I’ve been married for 27 years to my wonderful husband Glenn and we have six (yes six) daughters. I’m a strategic planner who has worked at NASA and I helped create the TSA. I have 32 years of experience dealing with national security, infrastructure, and many other areas.
Hi, my name is Vangie Williams and I'm running for Congress in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. I'm a resident of King George, Virginia, where I’ve lived my entire life. I’ve been married for 27 years to my wonderful husband Glenn and we have six (yes six) daughters. I’m a strategic planner who has worked at NASA and I helped create the TSA. I have 32 years of experience dealing with national security, infrastructure, and many other areas.
I’m running for Congress because my Republican opponent has spent 34 years in government, over a decade of those in the U.S. House of Representatives. He makes $174,000 every year in Congress, but he’s only passed five bills. That's not a typo. He's only passed five pieces of legislation in nearly 20 years. In the last decade, he’s passed two. That means that he’s been paid $1.7 million dollars this decade, only to pass two bills.


dailykos--2020-04-19--We cannot reach Trump!

We cannot reach Trump!

Hitler .
Stalin .
Mao Tse Tung .
One thing that these dudes had in common…they were dictators with authoritative rule .
People don ’ t change , times do .
Here in 2020 we have a situation of which is perplexing , comical and unsettling , all in the same context .
Never thought that to be possible , but it is and reality shows that .
Something that a former reality star knows better than anyone .
Enter President Donald J Trump .
Wow !
Who saw this coming , huh ?
A ruthless real estate mogul , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he even hosted his own infomercial for real estate , has become an important politician .
Isn ’ t it something that he has proven to be ‘ impotent ’ as well ?
The exception explains Ivanka Trump , but that is not the type of impotency that I am talking about .
I am talking about the fact that the man has grown from questionable businessman and tacit TV star to the bungling and diluted person he is right now .
He has shown his true colors and it isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump would think that he has ‘ absolute power ’ ?
It would be if he wasn ’ t president , but…he is !
Again , wow !
Here is a man that is supposed to guide us and help us through the ever-loved Corona Virus Crisis .
What has been done about it since the detection in China ?
A lot and many world leaders reacted in kind to the dire situation we faced then and now .
Most have had great results , such as reducing the curve and such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alliances have developed due to the fact that smart folk all know that we are in this together on a global level .
Enter the United States of America , but during November 2019 .
We all heard about the Chinese having the ground zero syndrome with COVID-19 .
Though it was hard hit , it was amazing how they developed medical retorts and basic quarantine measures right from the start .
Unfortunately , it didn ’ t stop there no matter how they tried .
They are to be commended for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , China had warned us all along about the looming threat .
Sadly , Western society and much of the other parts of the world just started to feel the burn .
More sad than that is the fact that many were too slow to react in a logical manner .
The United States of America was one of the last nations to react in a common sense basis in response to COVID-19 .
It hit our shores , but little was done since it didn ’ t seem to be in issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since it didn ’ t gain the ground , or the notoriety , that this deal is internationally and collectively .
People think that things couldn ’ t get worse or more bizarre at that .
Surprise !
A man is a legend in his own mind .
Could anyone match the audacity of this U. S. President or his administration ?
They cloak themselves in the flag , but they shouldn ’ t because we all know that judging by all the evidence and actions to date it is clear , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s right !
If you love America , you love the Constitution that provides us with what we have and most cherish that collectively fully despite any differences .
I said most , not all .
We are on the brink of perhaps one of the worst things to happen to this country and the world as a whole , respectively .
What is happening in Washington D.C. these days ?
Very good question and one that begs to be answered fully and truthfully , both .
For one thing , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
What we see is a man and his minions , such as Mitch McConnell , Jared Kushner and a slew of others that are not only leading us a stray , they are simply leading us…NOT !
Wouldn ’ t surprise me if they tried to call ‘ martial law ’ .
That is a distant , yet real , possibility .
History has proven that model over and over again .
It is one reason that you don ’ t see too many monarchies or royally run countries .
True , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few and far in between .
Take the United Kingdom ( England ) .
They have royalty and such , but things are run by the Prime Minister , Parliament and all else , not Queen Elizabeth exclusively .
Fair to say , should wouldn ’ t want to be .
The woman and her family have enough on their plate .
Not to digress , it spawned from the point that there is no room for countries with ‘ absolute power ’ .
Tyranny is the normal result of that , either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or simple civic uprising , such as a strike nationwide .
However , as is also proven that a crisis , such as the one we are being subjected to at this moment , can lay the foundation for the same .
We have a president that has acted like a gang leader rather than an astute politician with tact .
A person that is rash in his decisions , takes only to those that agree with his ideology and methods ( if that is what anyone cares to call them ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rage , is vengeful and vindictive , has a high unemployment rate in his own ranks due to him revisiting his role in ‘ The Apprentice ’ when his favorite and most noted expression was , “ You ’ re fired !
” The sad thing is is that he ’ s still doing it !
How many people out there can name all the people that have gone through the revolving door a-la-Trump ?
I am sure that there are very few that can accurately remember names , such as Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example of things then and what was to come .
Trump makes his own rules and has a ‘ follow or else ’ policy .
He is power hungry and has nothing but power handed to him , thanks to a hockey election , wealthy backers , GOP almost total support , then granted the right to act like a loose cannon , perpetuating only what he wishes , not what the welfare of the many are respectively .
I could not believe , though then again , believe , considering the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself ‘ dictator ’ .
Wow again !
Only in America .
Or another country where that attitude and self-proclamation might play .
Not here in the Good ‘ Ol U. S. of A. , my fellow country people !
The COVID-19 deal must be defeated and not muddled with and I am sure that it will happen , it is just really a question of when .
By all estimations , it will not have too much to do with the Trump machine .
It is ominous and hazardous to a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help .
Right now , that could mean mental health .
Think about it .
What sane individual sits and stares at a camera and claims total sovereignty over all these days ?
That is so ‘ last century ’ !
Back then and taking into account how things worked then , it is no wonder that we have seen the comings and goings of totalitarianism .
Those times and circumstances were ripe for several forms of tyrannical governments .
Could that be the case now ?
Is it possible that President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could find and will use that against us as collateral for his upcoming election this year ?
Might Trump be inclined to say , “ Hey !
If you want TP , you must side with me…or else !
” For some strange reason , I think at least a small minority might do just that , side with him for hygiene .
Wouldn ’ t be me though .
I would do the ‘ butt walk ’ like a dog on a carpet before I would ever join the ‘ dark side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , that is anything to do with the apparatus in question .
Instead of seeing rational responses and unified actions , we are seeing a man and his clan , as they are and act like , that are out to just keep their ideas intact .
It is unfortunate that their collective ideology , for the lack of better words , sucks !
What is the alternative to what we have now ?
The clearest , yet to a degree , most feasible way would be to try to talk sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called ‘ people ’ .
I am willing to wager that they might actual listen and take to heart what is being said in the name of sanity and decency .
That would happen way before any rational argument , no matter how right it might be , stir Donald Trump from what he thinks or does .
Futility settles in when the evidence shows that the ‘ old dog ’ can ’ t and wouldn ’ t want to learn ‘ new tricks ’ .
The man is increasingly out of step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in the 1950 ’ s and thinks he can solve all things and hopefully can brand his name on everything in existence .
By the way , was it really necessary for his infernal majesty to have his name printed on stimulus checks ?
Takes me back to the show , Just Shoot Me .
In the sitcom , the main character played by George Segal ( Jack Gallo ) , questions just what we have seen before and even now .
Gallo talked about how Donald Trump at the time wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name on whatever .
He said , “ I can ’ t believe it .
Is there nothing that Trump will not place his name on ?
” Couldn ’ t help but wonder if that sitcom was in actually a future viewer of sorts .
Trump was putting his name everywhere and on everything then and continues even in a crisis .
A legend in his own mind .
Interestingly .
It is amazing how President Trump thinks , if at all .
Perhaps he is simply a collection of negative emotions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that just won ’ t quit .
A field day for a psychoanalyst to dig into , which many have and it is fascinating as to what is revealed about Trumps agenda and why it is in place .
First , let ’ s examine the man himself and much of what is questioned will be eventually answered with interesting results .
Trump fancies himself a dictator .
Common traits among megalomaniacs , whom are people that basically want everything .
He wants everything .
Unhappy that he can ’ t have everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of effort to obtain that illusive goal .
Second , he is narcissistic by nature and feels the need to have not only a team , but a team that plays by his rules and truly believe what he believes , or at least pretend to be to him , respectively .
Anyone that does not fit into that category is outcast by Trump .
“ You ’ re fired !
” comes out of his mouth .
Enough said and done , rest assured .
Third , the man is a child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice his perpetual pout on his face when the media shows his presence ?
Along with raging and getting all red in the face when on a tirade of sorts at whomever for whatever reason it might be at the time .
Doesn ’ t matter which details are involved .
If Donald doesn ’ t like it , Donald gets upset and voices his opinion in a big way .
Composure is not one of his strongest qualities , that is for sure !
His credo should be , “ What I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t , I break !
” Has proven that fact over and over again .
Fourth , vindictive and vengeful .
Don ’ t really need to explain that one , just watch the news sometime and you ’ ll see the point .
‘ Join me or else.
’ That is the scenario .
The saddest part is that we have a man and an administration ( all are guilty in that realm ) of being a mechanism of self-fulfillment and has little to do with the better end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though they are waking up to the fact that they are targets as well as supporters .
Many are becoming increasingly disgusted with what they are seeing .
They rely on the racist groups that give him power in various ways , but they too , are targets .
Then there is the reliance on money .
Big money and the people with it were promised all sorts of things ranging from tax breaks to the mere notion that workers should just work and not form unions , et cetera .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , you ’ d be hard pressed to find someone that Donald J Trump has relied upon to get him to where he is at this time that now are targets in some fashion and level .
Because if he has ‘ total power ’ , then doesn ’ t it stand to reason that he considers dominion over everyone as well ?
If that is truly so , who does he need then ?
Nobody .
Once he has gotten whatever it is that he wants , needs or tacitly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the person , entity or organization in question has served its purpose .
There is no more need for them , it , or otherwise .
Gratitude ?
Forget about it !
We are in his eyes useful , then disposable .
Plain and simple .
It is a shame for if he possessed a different mentality , then the decent and right scenario would prevail .
It hasn ’ t and now we sit in the mire of a quagmire of indifference and uncertainty .
The president is supposed be for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selfish agenda .
That has overridden all logic and positive actions .
We can not reach Trump .
It is just something that is impossible .
He is not worried about the state of the nation , or the world for that matter , just about the election and how many other misguided capers he can pull off and he has pulled off several to date .
Conquest is his whole thing and not much more .
He smiles when he gets his way , as is with human nature , granted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , it is to the dismay of many .
When he doesn ’ t , look out !
Katy Kaboom ( volatile cartoon character of a dualistic temperament ) was civil in comparison to him with her outbursts and reactions .
The man holds grudges and acts upon them in kind .
Firing people left and right is just one way he accomplishes that one .
Withholding various things , such as money , support , materials , food and a list of other variables , is another method employed by him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Building a wall was a notion of grand proportions that has yet to be fully realized .
Mind you , quite an ambition to keep those out that are not ‘ citizens of the U. S. ’ .
Strangely enough , did Trump know that the majority of people entering the United States of America illegally are not crossing the Rio Grande , rather they are coming in by airplane and ship , both .
What would be his next move upon that realization of all ?
Mine the harbors and put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deepest fear is that he just might , given enough weird probabilities , such as winning the election with so-called Bolshevik assistance .
Not being able to gain his attention and comprehension reminds of the lyrics from Pink Floyd when Bob Geldof ( who plays Pink , the main character of the movie Pink Floyd the Wall ) envisions himself as a dictator with ultimate power and the word emit the picture in mind .
You can not reach me now , no matter how hard you try !
Sad but true .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are you and there is no changing that .
Guess we have to solve this COVID thing ourselves and not with your help .
Even when he tries to help or do something constructive , amazingly , it almost always falters .
His business ventures prove that without debate .
So many of those crashed and burned up , which should have been an indication as to how he would handle national and international matters .
Almost makes us want a superior alien race to come to our rescue by removing him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fantasy grows from reality .
Reality at this moment really , really sucks !
Really !
To Donald J Trump .
We are your people ( reluctantly ) and have been trying to get through to you on a sane level .
It is not working .
When you place yourself and your visions above all others , you negate those around you .
The same folks that gave you praise and power .
Nothing , by the way is 100 % , especially power .
Logic does not work with you and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but simply react the way you want to for whatever reason and without resolve .
Your vanity takes place over the welfare of the many , which is always bad !
Everything has failed and your presence has given us two things to deal with .
The first is the Corona Virus .
The second is…you !
You are either a part of the solution or part of the problem .
Unfortunately for all of us , you fit into the latter .
Twitter all you want and use social media and such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You reach us all the time , but we can not reach you .
It appears that sanity has taken a vacation and for a very long time indeed !
Hope you enjoy it to your heart ’ s content .

Sanity Takes a Vacation
By
Mike Arroyo
Hitler. Stalin. Mao Tse Tung. One thing that these dudes had in common…they were dictators with authoritative rule. People don’t change, times do. Here in 2020 we have a situation of which is perplexing, comical and unsettling, all in the same context. Never thought that to be possible, but it is and reality shows that. Something that a former reality star knows better than anyone. Enter President Donald J Trump. Wow! Who saw this coming, huh? A ruthless real estate mogul, former reality TV star and yes, he even hosted his own infomercial for real estate, has become an important politician. Isn’t it something that he has proven to be ‘impotent’ as well? The exception explains Ivanka Trump, but that is not the type of impotency that I am talking about. I am talking about the fact that the man has grown from questionable businessman and tacit TV star to the bungling and diluted person he is right now. He has shown his true colors and it isn’t a pretty picture! It is funny that Trump would think that he has ‘absolute power’? It would be if he wasn’t president, but…he is! Again, wow! Here is a man that is supposed to guide us and help us through the ever-loved Corona Virus Crisis. What has been done about it since the detection in China? A lot and many world leaders reacted in kind to the dire situation we faced then and now. Most have had great results, such as reducing the curve and such, along with innovation. And strange alliances have developed due to the fact that smart folk all know that we are in this together on a global level. Enter the United States of America, but during November 2019. We all heard about the Chinese having the ground zero syndrome with COVID-19. Though it was hard hit, it was amazing how they developed medical retorts and basic quarantine measures right from the start. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop there no matter how they tried. They are to be commended for their efforts. When it hit foreign shores, China had warned us all along about the looming threat. Sadly, Western society and much of the other parts of the world just started to feel the burn. More sad than that is the fact that many were too slow to react in a logical manner. The United States of America was one of the last nations to react in a common sense basis in response to COVID-19. It hit our shores, but little was done since it didn’t seem to be in issue. Reflecting on SARS is a rationalization since it didn’t gain the ground, or the notoriety, that this deal is internationally and collectively. People think that things couldn’t get worse or more bizarre at that. Surprise! A man is a legend in his own mind.
Could anyone match the audacity of this U. S. President or his administration? They cloak themselves in the flag, but they shouldn’t because we all know that judging by all the evidence and actions to date it is clear, they don’t mean it! That’s right! If you love America, you love the Constitution that provides us with what we have and most cherish that collectively fully despite any differences. I said most, not all. We are on the brink of perhaps one of the worst things to happen to this country and the world as a whole, respectively. What is happening in Washington D.C. these days? Very good question and one that begs to be answered fully and truthfully, both. For one thing, not much that anyone can use. Seriously! What we see is a man and his minions, such as Mitch McConnell, Jared Kushner and a slew of others that are not only leading us a stray, they are simply leading us…NOT! Wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to call ‘martial law’. That is a distant, yet real, possibility. History has proven that model over and over again. It is one reason that you don’t see too many monarchies or royally run countries. True, there are some, but they are few and far in between. Take the United Kingdom (England). They have royalty and such, but things are run by the Prime Minister, Parliament and all else, not Queen Elizabeth exclusively. Fair to say, should wouldn’t want to be. The woman and her family have enough on their plate. Not to digress, it spawned from the point that there is no room for countries with ‘absolute power’. Tyranny is the normal result of that, either through a military coup, rebel force, or simple civic uprising, such as a strike nationwide. However, as is also proven that a crisis, such as the one we are being subjected to at this moment, can lay the foundation for the same. We have a president that has acted like a gang leader rather than an astute politician with tact. A person that is rash in his decisions, takes only to those that agree with his ideology and methods (if that is what anyone cares to call them), has a tendency to show fits of rage, is vengeful and vindictive, has a high unemployment rate in his own ranks due to him revisiting his role in ‘The Apprentice’ when his favorite and most noted expression was, “You’re fired!” The sad thing is is that he’s still doing it! How many people out there can name all the people that have gone through the revolving door a-la-Trump? I am sure that there are very few that can accurately remember names, such as Steve Bannon and the like. A prime example of things then and what was to come. Trump makes his own rules and has a ‘follow or else’ policy. He is power hungry and has nothing but power handed to him, thanks to a hockey election, wealthy backers, GOP almost total support, then granted the right to act like a loose cannon, perpetuating only what he wishes, not what the welfare of the many are respectively.
I could not believe, though then again, believe, considering the person in question, has decided to claim himself ‘dictator’. Wow again! Only in America. Or another country where that attitude and self-proclamation might play. Not here in the Good ‘Ol U. S. of A., my fellow country people! The COVID-19 deal must be defeated and not muddled with and I am sure that it will happen, it is just really a question of when. By all estimations, it will not have too much to do with the Trump machine. It is ominous and hazardous to a great multitude, malfunctions constantly and needs serious help. Right now, that could mean mental health. Think about it. What sane individual sits and stares at a camera and claims total sovereignty over all these days? That is so ‘last century’!
Back then and taking into account how things worked then, it is no wonder that we have seen the comings and goings of totalitarianism. Those times and circumstances were ripe for several forms of tyrannical governments. Could that be the case now? Is it possible that President Trump has hoarded all the toilet paper he could find and will use that against us as collateral for his upcoming election this year? Might Trump be inclined to say, “Hey! If you want TP, you must side with me…or else!” For some strange reason, I think at least a small minority might do just that, side with him for hygiene. Wouldn’t be me though. I would do the ‘butt walk’ like a dog on a carpet before I would ever join the ‘dark side’ of the force. In this case, that is anything to do with the apparatus in question.
Instead of seeing rational responses and unified actions, we are seeing a man and his clan, as they are and act like, that are out to just keep their ideas intact. It is unfortunate that their collective ideology, for the lack of better words, sucks! What is the alternative to what we have now? The clearest, yet to a degree, most feasible way would be to try to talk sense to the man on top and his so-called ‘people’. I am willing to wager that they might actual listen and take to heart what is being said in the name of sanity and decency. That would happen way before any rational argument, no matter how right it might be, stir Donald Trump from what he thinks or does. Futility settles in when the evidence shows that the ‘old dog’ can’t and wouldn’t want to learn ‘new tricks’. The man is increasingly out of step with the times. He lives somewhere back in the 1950’s and thinks he can solve all things and hopefully can brand his name on everything in existence. By the way, was it really necessary for his infernal majesty to have his name printed on stimulus checks? Takes me back to the show, Just Shoot Me. In the sitcom, the main character played by George Segal (Jack Gallo), questions just what we have seen before and even now. Gallo talked about how Donald Trump at the time wanted to be into everything and place is name on whatever. He said, “I can’t believe it. Is there nothing that Trump will not place his name on?” Couldn’t help but wonder if that sitcom was in actually a future viewer of sorts. Trump was putting his name everywhere and on everything then and continues even in a crisis. A legend in his own mind.
Interestingly. It is amazing how President Trump thinks, if at all. Perhaps he is simply a collection of negative emotions, a thirsty ego and an ambition that just won’t quit. A field day for a psychoanalyst to dig into, which many have and it is fascinating as to what is revealed about Trumps agenda and why it is in place. First, let’s examine the man himself and much of what is questioned will be eventually answered with interesting results. Trump fancies himself a dictator. Common traits among megalomaniacs, whom are people that basically want everything. He wants everything. Unhappy that he can’t have everything and has gone through a great deal of effort to obtain that illusive goal. Second, he is narcissistic by nature and feels the need to have not only a team, but a team that plays by his rules and truly believe what he believes, or at least pretend to be to him, respectively. Anyone that does not fit into that category is outcast by Trump. “You’re fired!” comes out of his mouth. Enough said and done, rest assured. Third, the man is a child. That’s right! Ever notice his perpetual pout on his face when the media shows his presence? Along with raging and getting all red in the face when on a tirade of sorts at whomever for whatever reason it might be at the time. Doesn’t matter which details are involved. If Donald doesn’t like it, Donald gets upset and voices his opinion in a big way. Composure is not one of his strongest qualities, that is for sure! His credo should be, “What I like, I take, what I don’t, I break!” Has proven that fact over and over again. Fourth, vindictive and vengeful. Don’t really need to explain that one, just watch the news sometime and you’ll see the point. ‘Join me or else.’ That is the scenario.
The saddest part is that we have a man and an administration (all are guilty in that realm) of being a mechanism of self-fulfillment and has little to do with the better end of things. They rely on the old, though they are waking up to the fact that they are targets as well as supporters. Many are becoming increasingly disgusted with what they are seeing. They rely on the racist groups that give him power in various ways, but they too, are targets. Then there is the reliance on money. Big money and the people with it were promised all sorts of things ranging from tax breaks to the mere notion that workers should just work and not form unions, et cetera. They too, amazingly, are targets. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find someone that Donald J Trump has relied upon to get him to where he is at this time that now are targets in some fashion and level. Because if he has ‘total power’, then doesn’t it stand to reason that he considers dominion over everyone as well? If that is truly so, who does he need then? Nobody. Once he has gotten whatever it is that he wants, needs or tacitly feels that he must have, then the person, entity or organization in question has served its purpose. There is no more need for them, it, or otherwise. Gratitude? Forget about it! We are in his eyes useful, then disposable. Plain and simple. It is a shame for if he possessed a different mentality, then the decent and right scenario would prevail. It hasn’t and now we sit in the mire of a quagmire of indifference and uncertainty. The president is supposed be for the people and not exclusively himself or a selfish agenda. That has overridden all logic and positive actions.
We cannot reach Trump. It is just something that is impossible. He is not worried about the state of the nation, or the world for that matter, just about the election and how many other misguided capers he can pull off and he has pulled off several to date. Conquest is his whole thing and not much more. He smiles when he gets his way, as is with human nature, granted. However, normally when he gets his way, it is to the dismay of many. When he doesn’t, look out! Katy Kaboom (volatile cartoon character of a dualistic temperament) was civil in comparison to him with her outbursts and reactions. The man holds grudges and acts upon them in kind. Firing people left and right is just one way he accomplishes that one. Withholding various things, such as money, support, materials, food and a list of other variables, is another method employed by him as a result of him being himself. Building a wall was a notion of grand proportions that has yet to be fully realized. Mind you, quite an ambition to keep those out that are not ‘citizens of the U. S.’. Strangely enough, did Trump know that the majority of people entering the United States of America illegally are not crossing the Rio Grande, rather they are coming in by airplane and ship, both. What would be his next move upon that realization of all? Mine the harbors and put anti aircraft batteries around airports? My deepest fear is that he just might, given enough weird probabilities, such as winning the election with so-called Bolshevik assistance. Not being able to gain his attention and comprehension reminds of the lyrics from Pink Floyd when Bob Geldof (who plays Pink, the main character of the movie Pink Floyd the Wall) envisions himself as a dictator with ultimate power and the word emit the picture in mind. You cannot reach me now, no matter how hard you try!
Sad but true. Donald, we tried, but you are you and there is no changing that. Guess we have to solve this COVID thing ourselves and not with your help. Even when he tries to help or do something constructive, amazingly, it almost always falters. His business ventures prove that without debate. So many of those crashed and burned up, which should have been an indication as to how he would handle national and international matters. Almost makes us want a superior alien race to come to our rescue by removing him and running things right for a change. Fantasy grows from reality. Reality at this moment really, really sucks! Really!
To Donald J Trump. We are your people (reluctantly) and have been trying to get through to you on a sane level. It is not working. When you place yourself and your visions above all others, you negate those around you. The same folks that gave you praise and power. Nothing, by the way is 100%, especially power. Logic does not work with you and you don’t process information, but simply react the way you want to for whatever reason and without resolve. Your vanity takes place over the welfare of the many, which is always bad! Everything has failed and your presence has given us two things to deal with. The first is the Corona Virus. The second is…you! You are either a part of the solution or part of the problem. Unfortunately for all of us, you fit into the latter. Twitter all you want and use social media and such as much as you want as well. You reach us all the time, but we cannot reach you. It appears that sanity has taken a vacation and for a very long time indeed! Hope you enjoy it to your heart’s content.
************************************************************************


dailykos--2020-04-19--Where have all the leaders gone?

Where have all the leaders gone?

I am a senior citizen who has lived through many of the country ’ s ups and downs .
I was born at the end of WWII but learned about how our leaders brought the country together to support the war effort by gathering tin cans for bullets and victory gardens etc .
I grew up in the 50 ’ s which some think are the great years but not so great for woman or minorities .
In the sixties I joined protests for equality marching in Chicago with Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr .
I saw the towers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but you get my drift .
My concern is where have all the leaders gone ?
Where are the Roosevelts , the Martin Luther King Jrs , the Kennedys , the Churchills , the Obamas and all the leaders who knew how to pull the country together to face whatever issues we faced ?
Right now I see chaos .
I see a dysfunctional government led by dysfunctional people who have no idea what they are doing .
Leaders who spew out edicts without measuring their impact .
Leaders who refuse to listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our country is in chaos ; we are on a wild merry go round that won ’ t stop .
People are frightened , worried , and searching for answers , answers that aren ’ t coming .
So , of course , they do not comply to solutions that are offered because those solutions changing daily and contradict the previous solution .
People are creating their own theories .
They are listening to the wrong people because those people are offering alternative solutions that are touted as miracles .
They want a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need leaders who have a definite path , a definite solution , a plan .
We need leaders who will support the people , who understand their fears and acknowledged their fears .
We need leaders who will pull this nation toward a common goal .
We do not need leaders who pit people against each other .
Where have all the leaders gone ?

I am a senior citizen who has lived through many of the country’s ups and downs. I was born at the end of WWII but learned about how our leaders brought the country together to support the war effort by gathering tin cans for bullets and victory gardens etc. I grew up in the 50’s which some think are the great years but not so great for woman or minorities. In the sixties I joined protests for equality marching in Chicago with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I saw the towers go down. I could go on but you get my drift.
My concern is where have all the leaders gone? Where are the Roosevelts, the Martin Luther King Jrs, the Kennedys, the Churchills, the Obamas and all the leaders who knew how to pull the country together to face whatever issues we faced?
Right now I see chaos. I see a dysfunctional government led by dysfunctional people who have no idea what they are doing. Leaders who spew out edicts without measuring their impact. Leaders who refuse to listen to experts or even common sense. Our country is in chaos; we are on a wild merry go round that won’t stop. People are frightened, worried, and searching for answers, answers that aren’t coming. So, of course, they do not comply to solutions that are offered because those solutions changing daily and contradict the previous solution. People are creating their own theories. They are listening to the wrong people because those people are offering alternative solutions that are touted as miracles. They want a way out of this mess.
We need leaders who have a definite path, a definite solution, a plan. We need leaders who will support the people, who understand their fears and acknowledged their fears. We need leaders who will pull this nation toward a common goal. We do not need leaders who pit people against each other.
Where have all the leaders gone?


dailykos--2020-04-19--Political Economy – News and Views – April 19, 2020

This is an abbreviated version of the posts at Ian Welsh and Real Economics .
Is America Going to Have a Covid-19 Apocalypse ?
In the US , we have predictions of a 30 percent unemployment rate .
I just saw that less than half of Los Angeles county still has a job .
The bailout for regular people is $ 1,200 .
In a place like Los Angeles , that won ’ t even cover most people ’ s rent .
Meanwhile , multiple states have not instituted isolation , and there are “ protests , ” backed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not isolating nationally means there are pockets of plague which are still expanding exponentially , and which can reinfect the areas which did isolate .
Coming out of isolation too soon will mean that cases will explode again a month to a month and a half after self-isolation ends .
There ’ s been a vast bailout , mainly–though not exclusively–through the Fed , for the rich .
Basically , as much free money at the trough as they can gorge on .
But small businesses are toast .
A third of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the verge of not just homelessness but not being able to eat.… The New Fault Lines in a Post-Globalized World Marshall Auerback [ Economy for All ( Independent Media Institute ) , via Naked Capitalism 4-16-20 ] Forget about the “ new world order.
” Offshoring and global supply chains are out ; regional and local production is in .
Market fundamentalism is passé ; regulation is the norm .
Public health is now more valuable than just-in-time supply systems .
Stockpiling and industrial capacity suddenly make more sense , which may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate in the U.S. Biodata will drive the next phase of social management and surveillance , with near-term consequences for the way countries handle immigration and customs .
Health care and education will become digitally integrated the way newspapers and television were 10 years ago .
Health care itself will increasingly be seen as a necessary public good , rather than a private right , until now in the U.S. predicated on age , employment or income levels .
The Plan Is to Save Capital and Let the People Die [ In These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those are all obvious steps to take if your goal was to protect humans .
But imagine , instead , if you had an entirely different goal : protecting capital .
What would you do then ?
Well , you would prioritize the health of corporate balance sheets , rather than human bodies .
You would keep the healthcare industry , now booming , in private hands ; you would stimulate consumer demand via unemployment benefits , rather than by keeping workers on existing payrolls , in order to create an enormous pool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would pursue tax cuts for the investor class ; you would welcome the opportunity to allow debt to pile up on individuals ; and you wouldn ’ t be too sad about small businesses going bankrupt—they are , after all , just ceding market share to bigger , richer businesses .
You would use this crisis to create a greater , not lesser , concentration of wealth .
You would emerge on the other side with more , not less , inequality .
The truth is , it would be easy .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doing ?
It is allowing the unemployment rate to skyrocket , as tens of millions of workers are fired ; it is allowing countless small businesses to go bankrupt , from incompetence and neglect ; it has not even considered a national suspension of rent , nor a strong national policy of paid sick leave , much less a national system of free public healthcare ; as millions of needy people struggle with decrepit and broken state unemployment systems and wait weeks or months for their emergency checks to come , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk out to gain hazard pay , the administration plots a new bill featuring a capital gains tax cut and “ a waiver that would clear businesses of liability from employees who contract the coronavirus on the job.
” ... .The true heroes of this crisis , from the perspective of those in charge , will be the private equity firms that rush in to buy up distressed businesses , and the hedge funds that pour money into cheap debt , and the investors that scoop up the homes that people will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that renew the blood of capital , you see .
They are the ones that will rescue us .
They are the ones who will shepherd our precious capital through this dangerous time , and into the promised land .
On April 7th once-proud and progressive Wisconsin delivered scenes that seemed inspired by the Book of Revelations .
Milwaukee manned only 5 of the normal 182 election sites .
Voters , young and old , hale and frail , lined up for blocks and for hours in a day punctuated by hailstorms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin State Assembly Robert ] Vos served as election commissioner in a small town not yet hard hit by the virus , fully attired in safety glasses , protective gown , and surgical gloves .
Looking more like Hannibal Lecter than an election commissioner , he declared to the press that it was “ incredibly safe to go out ” and vote .
And then , emboldened by an election turned into a deadly farce , on April 8th Vos and Fitzgerald pressed for greater legislative powers to cut education spending during recessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austerity now or later , in the pandemic or afterward , is the path to economic suicide .
Of course it also belies the promises that President Trump made when he carried the state , and won the presidency , in 2016 .
There is an irony here , which is that the President ’ s Republican allies are working hard to make it more difficult , if not impossible , for him to win the state in 2020 – at least in a free and fair election .
But as this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fair elections are not on the agenda in Wisconsin either .
Austerity isn ’ t just bad economics ; it can be imposed , and maintained , only by force , fraud , a campaign based on fear , and the active subversion of democracy in Wisconsin and in America as a whole..

Political Economy – News and Views – April 19, 2020
by Tony Wikrent
Economics Action Group, North Carolina Democratic Party Progressive Caucus
This is an abbreviated version of the posts at Ian Welsh and Real Economics.
Is America Going to Have a Covid-19 Apocalypse?
Ian Welsh, April 17, 2020
In the US, we have predictions of a 30 percent unemployment rate. I just saw that less than half of Los Angeles county still has a job . The bailout for regular people is $1,200. In a place like Los Angeles, that won’t even cover most people’s rent.
Meanwhile, multiple states have not instituted isolation, and there are “protests,” backed by Republicans, to reopen states that have. Not isolating nationally means there are pockets of plague which are still expanding exponentially, and which can reinfect the areas which did isolate. Coming out of isolation too soon will mean that cases will explode again a month to a month and a half after self-isolation ends.
There’s been a vast bailout, mainly–though not exclusively–through the Fed, for the rich. Basically, as much free money at the trough as they can gorge on. But small businesses are toast. A third of households, at least, are on the verge of not just homelessness but not being able to eat.…
The New Fault Lines in a Post-Globalized World
Marshall Auerback [Economy for All (Independent Media Institute), via Naked Capitalism 4-16-20]
Forget about the “new world order.” Offshoring and global supply chains are out; regional and local production is in. Market fundamentalism is passé; regulation is the norm. Public health is now more valuable than just-in-time supply systems. Stockpiling and industrial capacity suddenly make more sense, which may have future implications in the recently revived antitrust debate in the U.S. Biodata will drive the next phase of social management and surveillance, with near-term consequences for the way countries handle immigration and customs. Health care and education will become digitally integrated the way newspapers and television were 10 years ago. Health care itself will increasingly be seen as a necessary public good, rather than a private right, until now in the U.S. predicated on age, employment or income levels.
The Plan Is to Save Capital and Let the People Die
[In These Times, via Common Dreams 1-9-20]
Those are all obvious steps to take if your goal was to protect humans. But imagine, instead, if you had an entirely different goal: protecting capital. What would you do then? Well, you would prioritize the health of corporate balance sheets, rather than human bodies. You would keep the healthcare industry, now booming, in private hands; you would stimulate consumer demand via unemployment benefits, rather than by keeping workers on existing payrolls, in order to create an enormous pool of cheap and desperate labor; you would pursue tax cuts for the investor class; you would welcome the opportunity to allow debt to pile up on individuals; and you wouldn’t be too sad about small businesses going bankrupt—they are, after all, just ceding market share to bigger, richer businesses. You would use this crisis to create a greater, not lesser, concentration of wealth. You would emerge on the other side with more, not less, inequality. The truth is, it would be easy. Now, guess what the U.S. federal government is doing? It is allowing the unemployment rate to skyrocket, as tens of millions of workers are fired; it is allowing countless small businesses to go bankrupt, from incompetence and neglect; it has not even considered a national suspension of rent, nor a strong national policy of paid sick leave, much less a national system of free public healthcare; as millions of needy people struggle with decrepit and broken state unemployment systems and wait weeks or months for their emergency checks to come, and essential workers are forced to agitate or walk out to gain hazard pay, the administration plots a new bill featuring a capital gains tax cut and “a waiver that would clear businesses of liability from employees who contract the coronavirus on the job.” ....The true heroes of this crisis, from the perspective of those in charge, will be the private equity firms that rush in to buy up distressed businesses, and the hedge funds that pour money into cheap debt, and the investors that scoop up the homes that people will be evicted from. They are the ones that renew the blood of capital, you see. They are the ones that will rescue us. They are the ones who will shepherd our precious capital through this dangerous time, and into the promised land.
Mark Blyth and Jeffrey Sommers: Austerity – A Dangerous Idea Returns
Mark Blyth and Jeffrey Sommers [Naked Capitalism 4-13-20]
On April 7th once-proud and progressive Wisconsin delivered scenes that seemed inspired by the Book of Revelations. Milwaukee manned only 5 of the normal 182 election sites. Voters, young and old, hale and frail, lined up for blocks and for hours in a day punctuated by hailstorms. Meanwhile, [Republican leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly Robert] Vos served as election commissioner in a small town not yet hard hit by the virus, fully attired in safety glasses, protective gown, and surgical gloves. Looking more like Hannibal Lecter than an election commissioner, he declared to the press that it was “incredibly safe to go out” and vote. And then, emboldened by an election turned into a deadly farce, on April 8th Vos and Fitzgerald pressed for greater legislative powers to cut education spending during recessions. Yes, you read that correctly.… Austerity now or later, in the pandemic or afterward, is the path to economic suicide. Of course it also belies the promises that President Trump made when he carried the state, and won the presidency, in 2016. There is an irony here, which is that the President’s Republican allies are working hard to make it more difficult, if not impossible, for him to win the state in 2020 – at least in a free and fair election. But as this week’s experience makes clear, free and fair elections are not on the agenda in Wisconsin either. Austerity isn’t just bad economics; it can be imposed, and maintained, only by force, fraud, a campaign based on fear, and the active subversion of democracy in Wisconsin and in America as a whole..


dailykos--2020-04-20--Trump Disrupts the Distinction Between Personal Loyalty & Constitutional Allegiance

Trump has expanded his responsibility for dealing with a pandemic by firing federal government watchdogs .
Donald Trump was elected president to disrupt our government and society ; to drain the swamp .
The specifics were vague , but the understanding was that someone had to change the “ system ” .
As Trump said at the 2016 Republican nominating convention in Cleveland , “ Only I can fix it.
” And , he wants explicit loyalty to him from government employees as the means for doing that .
While the coronavirus pandemic is ravaging our country , President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility for appropriately preparing for it to firing the institutional watchdogs that Congress had created to keep it informed of any department problems that could usurp their authority or endanger the public ’ s health .
A bipartisan congress established a network of independent watchdogs over various federal departments when it enacted the Inspector General Act of 1978 .
In an era when , despite party affiliations , there was a common recognition that congress needed to curb excessive presidential authority ; the House passed it 388 to 6 .
The law clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to conduct and supervise audits and investigations ” and “ to provide a means for keeping … Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of such programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action ; ” Congress in the past , has resisted presidents from interfering in the duties of IGs .
President Obama ’ s administration attempted to do so when it issued a 2015 legal memo allowing departments to withhold some information from them .
Senator Chuck Grassley , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amended the existing legislation guarantying the IGs had access to “ all records ” of the agencies they oversaw .
It was then signed into law by President Obama .
On April 3 , 2020 Trump fired Michael Atkinson , the IG for the intelligence community .
He handled the whistleblower complaint that eventually led to Trump ’ s impeachment .
Atkinson said the firing was retaliation for doing his job .
A bipartisan letter of eight senators led by Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , to President Trump followed the firing in less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of not providing a sufficient explanation for firing Atkin and for apparently circumventing Congress ’ s authority by not providing a proper 30 day notice .
Trump did not break new ground here .
President Obama in 2009 , removed the IG for the Corporation for National and Community Service after that IG investigated an Obama supporter .
Obama said he no longer had the “ fullest ” confidence in the IG .
Trump said that he lost his “ vital ” confidence in his IG .
Obama gave Congress a thirty day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both of them put the IG on administrative leave , effectively removing him from his position prior to the completion of the statutorily required notice period .
Congress failed to fix this ability to bypass Congress ’ s authority back in 2009 , by stripping out a key provision in the House version of the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 The final bill became law , but it did not include the House ’ s “ for cause ” requirement for removing an IG for 9 specific reasons , such as Neglect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a law , rule , or regulation ; Gross waste of funds ; or Abuse of authority .
So , the wording for firing IGs remained simply that an “ Inspector General may be removed from office by the President .
The President shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to both Houses of Congress.
” As a result , presidents have fired IGs because they just darn wished to .
President Reagan in 1981 fired all the watchdogs nominated by his predecessor , President Carter , a Democrat .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those dismissals .
Clearly all presidents appoint “ loyal ” followers to key White House positions , so that they can speak and act as freely as possible in pursuing any policy they choose .
Such loyalty is to be expected .
But Trump differs from former presidents , in that he has expanded his expectation of loyalty to offices that in the past were considered to be more bound to government rules and regulations than personal loyalty to the president .
Loyalty has come down to executing Trump ’ s policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ musty , old rules may say .
The assumption that federal employees should be personally loyal to him , puts employees in an awkward position .
Do they follow an allegiance to the nation ’ s constitution and law , or do they maintain the trust of the president by supporting his decisions if they run counter to the law ?
Early in Trump ’ s first term , former Senator Jeff Sessions found himself in that dilemma .
Trump appointed him as Attorney General , after Sessions had been the first senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sessions recused himself from his Department of Justice ’ s probe into whether Russia had interfered with the 2016 presidential election because a DOJ regulation forbid its officials from investigating campaigns of which they were a part .
Session was a Trump campaign surrogate throughout the race and served as chairman of the campaign 's national security advisory board .
In retaliation , President Trump said he never would have hired Sessions if he knew he was going to recuse himself , despite Trump knowing that if Sessions headed the investigation it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
Session defended his decision saying that it was necessary in order for the DOJ “ to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution '' .
Trump was outraged and removed Sessions ; loyalty was more important than the law .
Trump has fired a number of professional employees who have served under prior presidents who he considered disloyal for carrying out their legal duties .
FBI Director James Comey had served in the administrations of President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Comey claimed that in a personal meeting with Trump in the Oval Office , he was asked to end the investigation into Trump ’ s former national security adviser , Michael T. Flynn , who was later found guilty and sent to prison .
Two months after Sessions ' recusal Comey was fired .
Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was appointed as an ambassador three times , twice by a Republican President , and once by a Democrat .
She was abruptly told to come back to Washington from Ukraine “ on the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State informed her that the President had lost confidence in her and the Department had been under pressure from the President to remove her , although he told her that she had done nothing wrong .
Her office ’ s anticorruption efforts raised concerns with Ukrainians who “ played by the old , corrupt rules sought to remove me , ” Ms. Yovanovitch said .
Trump ’ s personal attorney , Rudi Giulani was representing the interests of some of these individuals .
She was subsequently dismissed as the Ambassador to Ukraine before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Vindman , a director for European Affairs at the National Security Council , testified before the Trump impeachment inquiry because he had raised concerns that a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatened US national security .
Afterwards , Trump called him `` insubordinate , '' and said Vindman had reported his “ 'perfect ' calls incorrectly . ''
The Army said they would not investigate him for disciplinary action , despite Trump recommending that they do so because Vindman told “ horrible things ” to the House investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Vindman was fired and escorted out of his White House office .
Most recently Trump has begun focusing on IGs who might balk at carrying his political message on the coronavirus pandemic rather than just reporting factually on it .
He attacked Health and Human Services Inspector General Christi Grimm , after she released a report describing widespread testing delays and supply issues at the nation ’ s hospitals .
In his tweeter account , Trump dismissed it as “ Another Fake Dossier !
” He mentioned that she served under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she had also previously served under the Bush administration .
More significantly , Trump removed Glenn Fine as the coronavirus relief watchdog .
Fine had just been named by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to lead the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee , because he was the acting Pentagon IG .
Since Trump did not have a say in that decision , he could not be assured that Fine would loyally publicize Trump ’ s role in fighting the pandemic .
So , while Congress was out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official to Fine ’ s position , who automatically became the new watchdog of federal government ’ s efforts to fight the pandemic .
The president has the right to replace certain government employees , but they have constraints when those positions protect the public ’ s interests .
Trump ’ s dismissal of ambassadors , justice department and investigation department directors , and IGs has revealed a pattern of firing those who do not follow his policies as opposed to following the law that frames their responsibilities .
To avoid having these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a particular president ’ s political agenda rather than having an allegiance to the constitution , Congress needs to pass new legislation .
It should reintroduce the 2009 legislation requiring a president to only fire an IG for specific cause .
In addition , they must not allow an IG to be suspended or put on administrative leave in order to circumvent Congress publicly reviewing his reasons for dismissing an IG before that person vacates the position .
Unless Congress acts accordingly , government agencies will fall under the sway of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mismanaged or corrupt agencies .
Any candidate for president could endorse such legislation and pledge to get it passed during their first year .
Nevertheless , regardless of who becomes president in 2021 , Congress must recognize that they are the government branch that must check any president , Republican or Democrat , from corralling too much authority that could endanger the public ’ s safety and liberties .
Nick Licata served 5 terms on the Seattle City Council , named progressive municipal official of the year by The Nation , and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national network of 1,000 progressive municipal officials .
And is author of Becoming a Citizen Activist .
Subscribe to Licata ’ s newsletter Urban Politics

Trump has expanded his responsibility for dealing with a pandemic by firing federal government watchdogs.
Donald Trump was elected president to disrupt our government and society; to drain the swamp. The specifics were vague, but the understanding was that someone had to change the “system”. As Trump said at the 2016 Republican nominating convention in Cleveland, “Only I can fix it.” And, he wants explicit loyalty to him from government employees as the means for doing that.
While the coronavirus pandemic is ravaging our country, President Trump’s attention has shifted from deflecting responsibility for appropriately preparing for it to firing the institutional watchdogs that Congress had created to keep it informed of any department problems that could usurp their authority or endanger the public’s health.
A bipartisan congress established a network of independent watchdogs over various federal departments when it enacted the Inspector General Act of 1978. In an era when, despite party affiliations, there was a common recognition that congress needed to curb excessive presidential authority; the House passed it 388 to 6. The law clearly states that Inspector Generals were created, “to conduct and supervise audits and investigations” and “to provide a means for keeping … Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of such programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action;”
Congress in the past, has resisted presidents from interfering in the duties of IGs. President Obama’s administration attempted to do so when it issued a 2015 legal memo allowing departments to withhold some information from them. Senator Chuck Grassley, then Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, amended the existing legislation guarantying the IGs had access to “all records” of the agencies they oversaw. It was then signed into law by President Obama.
On April 3, 2020 Trump fired Michael Atkinson, the IG for the intelligence community. He handled the whistleblower complaint that eventually led to Trump’s impeachment. Atkinson said the firing was retaliation for doing his job. A bipartisan letter of eight senators led by Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to President Trump followed the firing in less than a week. It accused him of not providing a sufficient explanation for firing Atkin and for apparently circumventing Congress’s authority by not providing a proper 30 day notice.
Trump did not break new ground here. President Obama in 2009, removed the IG for the Corporation for National and Community Service after that IG investigated an Obama supporter. Obama said he no longer had the “fullest” confidence in the IG. Trump said that he lost his “vital” confidence in his IG. Obama gave Congress a thirty day notice, as did Trump, but both of them put the IG on administrative leave, effectively removing him from his position prior to the completion of the statutorily required notice period.
Congress failed to fix this ability to bypass Congress’s authority back in 2009, by stripping out a key provision in the House version of the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 .
The final bill became law, but it did not include the House’s “for cause” requirement for removing an IG for 9 specific reasons, such as Neglect of duty; Malfeasance; Knowing violation of a law, rule, or regulation; Gross waste of funds; or Abuse of authority. So, the wording for firing IGs remained simply that an “Inspector General may be removed from office by the President. The President shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to both Houses of Congress.” As a result, presidents have fired IGs because they just darn wished to. President Reagan in 1981 fired all the watchdogs nominated by his predecessor, President Carter, a Democrat. After a fierce backlash, he reversed some of those dismissals.
Clearly all presidents appoint “loyal” followers to key White House positions, so that they can speak and act as freely as possible in pursuing any policy they choose. Such loyalty is to be expected. But Trump differs from former presidents, in that he has expanded his expectation of loyalty to offices that in the past were considered to be more bound to government rules and regulations than personal loyalty to the president.
Loyalty has come down to executing Trump’s policy or instructions, regardless of what some musty, old rules may say. The assumption that federal employees should be personally loyal to him, puts employees in an awkward position. Do they follow an allegiance to the nation’s constitution and law, or do they maintain the trust of the president by supporting his decisions if they run counter to the law?
Early in Trump’s first term, former Senator Jeff Sessions found himself in that dilemma. Trump appointed him as Attorney General, after Sessions had been the first senator to endorse Mr. Trump’s candidacy. Sessions recused himself from his Department of Justice’s probe into whether Russia had interfered with the 2016 presidential election because a DOJ regulation forbid its officials from investigating campaigns of which they were a part. Session was a Trump campaign surrogate throughout the race and served as chairman of the campaign's national security advisory board.
In retaliation, President Trump said he never would have hired Sessions if he knew he was going to recuse himself, despite Trump knowing that if Sessions headed the investigation it would have violated that Department’s rules. Session defended his decision saying that it was necessary in order for the DOJ “to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution". Trump was outraged and removed Sessions; loyalty was more important than the law.
Trump has fired a number of professional employees who have served under prior presidents who he considered disloyal for carrying out their legal duties.
FBI Director James Comey had served in the administrations of President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama and was overseeing the Russia probe. Comey claimed that in a personal meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, he was asked to end the investigation into Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, who was later found guilty and sent to prison. Two months after Sessions' recusal Comey was fired.
Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was appointed as an ambassador three times, twice by a Republican President, and once by a Democrat. She was abruptly told to come back to Washington from Ukraine “on the next plane.” In D.C. Deputy Secretary of State informed her that the President had lost confidence in her and the Department had been under pressure from the President to remove her, although he told her that she had done nothing wrong. Her office’s anticorruption efforts raised concerns with Ukrainians who “played by the old, corrupt rules sought to remove me,” Ms. Yovanovitch said. Trump’s personal attorney, Rudi Giulani was representing the interests of some of these individuals. She was subsequently dismissed as the Ambassador to Ukraine before her term was over.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, testified before the Trump impeachment inquiry because he had raised concerns that a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatened US national security. Afterwards, Trump called him "insubordinate," and said Vindman had reported his “'perfect' calls incorrectly." The Army said they would not investigate him for disciplinary action, despite Trump recommending that they do so because Vindman told “horrible things” to the House investigators. Two days after Trump's acquittal, Vindman was fired and escorted out of his White House office.
Most recently Trump has begun focusing on IGs who might balk at carrying his political message on the coronavirus pandemic rather than just reporting factually on it. He attacked Health and Human Services Inspector General Christi Grimm, after she released a report describing widespread testing delays and supply issues at the nation’s hospitals. In his tweeter account, Trump dismissed it as “Another Fake Dossier!” He mentioned that she served under the Obama administration, but did not note that she had also previously served under the Bush administration.
More significantly, Trump removed Glenn Fine as the coronavirus relief watchdog. Fine had just been named by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to lead the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, because he was the acting Pentagon IG.
Since Trump did not have a say in that decision, he could not be assured that Fine would loyally publicize Trump’s role in fighting the pandemic. So, while Congress was out of town, Trump named a new acting official to Fine’s position, who automatically became the new watchdog of federal government’s efforts to fight the pandemic.
The president has the right to replace certain government employees, but they have constraints when those positions protect the public’s interests. Trump’s dismissal of ambassadors, justice department and investigation department directors, and IGs has revealed a pattern of firing those who do not follow his policies as opposed to following the law that frames their responsibilities.
To avoid having these critical positions becoming fixated on being loyal to a particular president’s political agenda rather than having an allegiance to the constitution, Congress needs to pass new legislation. It should reintroduce the 2009 legislation requiring a president to only fire an IG for specific cause. In addition, they must not allow an IG to be suspended or put on administrative leave in order to circumvent Congress publicly reviewing his reasons for dismissing an IG before that person vacates the position. Unless Congress acts accordingly, government agencies will fall under the sway of a president that cuts off public scrutiny of mismanaged or corrupt agencies.
Any candidate for president could endorse such legislation and pledge to get it passed during their first year. Nevertheless, regardless of who becomes president in 2021, Congress must recognize that they are the government branch that must check any president, Republican or Democrat, from corralling too much authority that could endanger the public’s safety and liberties.
Nick Licata served 5 terms on the Seattle City Council, named progressive municipal official of the year by The Nation, and is founding board chair of Local Progress, a national network of 1,000 progressive municipal officials. And is author of Becoming a Citizen Activist.
Subscribe to Licata’s newsletter Urban Politics