dailykos--2020-04-06--Depressed, Anxious, Angry, Delighted…

Depressed, Anxious, Angry, Delighted…

If you ’ re a writer , then you know what I ’ m talking about .
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term , a pantser is a writer who doesn ’ t do any actual planning for a story , at least that is my definition of the term .
When inspiration for a new story hits , we pantsers jot down the story as it plays out in our minds .
My approach to writing fits in with my approach to life in general , which is to take on things as they come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essay pops into my head I sit down at whatever desk is available to write the story .
I don ’ t need to be stationed in front of my home computer to write , as most of what I write happens when I ’ m sitting in front of my work desktop computer .
I wrote the entire first draft of a book on teaching elementary students by setting aside thirty minutes of my allotted lunch period to write anywhere from two-hundred to three-hundred words .
That ’ s about two-hundred sixty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my book , likely a solid months-worth of writing for other professionals in the game .
And I ’ m not one of those writers who can produce an entire two thousand word piece in one setting , because I usually don ’ t have that much of the story in my head before I sit down to write .
I write until I get to the point of the story where the chasm separates my present thoughts from my future musings , and then I stop .
By the next day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughts has been lowered to reach the other side .
I ’ m proud to proclaim that I ’ ve finished every story I ’ ve started since I became a semi-professional fly by the seat of your pants writer of essays two years ago .
I ’ ve produced an income — close to 300 dollars over the course of one year .
Of course that is not enough for anyone to live on , but it is income nonetheless .
At the advent of the spring season , my writing ambitions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my day job floundered .
I wanted to make more money writing by producing more content , so I decided to become a more organized and disciplined writer .
I would create a list of story ideas on an excel spreadsheet , design a designated writing space that was free from interruptions , and craft outlines from which I would develop my next stories .
Former Vice President Joe Biden became the de facto democratic nominee for president after Super Tuesday ( March 3 , 2020 ) , and the man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American presidency in the ensuing months .
I was thinking about focusing my writing on the upcoming battle between the two white male septuagenarians , taking myself out of my pieces because I thought I was exhausting my supply of memoir pieces , and becoming more of a topical writer .
All that was before the coronavirus plague began to spread , prompting me to defenestrate my plan to become a more prolific writer , and revert back to writing whatever comes to mind .
I ’ m riding a wave if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that coronavirus exposure will get worse before it gets better , leading to a ghastly number of deceased human beings .
Thinking about what can happen to the world , what could happen to my sixty-seven year old mother if I bring the disease home — I work at a hospital — makes it harder to get out the bed on certain days .
The world is on fire , a deadly disease spreads nearly unabated , grocery shelves are empty , and some people are using the pandemic to exact an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jars of hand sanitizer just so they could sell it above market , practicing a wicked brand of capitalism .
I ’ m just so worried about everything now , thinking constantly about what is taking place from day to day .
I don ’ t want to plan for the long term if I am unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel today .
Every day , about two dozen times a day , I pull up the 538.com webpage on my cell phone , scroll down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent approval ratings , and gasp at what I see .
Although still a historically weak president , his approval rating has reached its highest point since I ’ ve been tracking it .
Political reporters have opined that his increased approval rating is a byproduct of the current crisis that we find ourselves in , and that all presidents who serve the country during a crisis experience a bump in approval .
As an addition , Trump ’ s jump in approval is minuscule when compared to other world leaders , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase by double digits during the outbreak .
Reporters are also quick to point out that President George H.W .
Bush ’ s approval rose to 89 % during the first Iraq War .
His son , George W. Bush , who was forced to steward a broken country through the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks , achieved 90 % approval .
The coronavirus outbreak , which has already killed more Americans than 9/11 and threatens the lives of many millions Americans , should have had a more galvanizing effect , and led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for president Trump , right ?
Well , I ’ m still aghast .
Trump is still treading water and remains in striking distance of Joe Biden .
How is it that Trump , who confidently asserted that the coronavirus was a democratic hoax that was no more deadly than the common flu , who perhaps is the main reason for why we are experiencing an explosion of coronavirus cases in this country , who is perhaps the paragon of laziness and stupidity , how is it that such a pathetic man continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters ?
I ’ ve been forcing myself to watch those daily coronavirus briefs on cable television recently .
When Dr. Fauci , the nation ’ s foremost infectious disease expert , stands behind the lectern to spit — not literally — facts and tell the unvarnished truth , I listen intently because I want to hear the truth .
And science and truth is what this country desperately needs from its leaders right now .
When it is time for Trump to take his turn behind the lectern I struggle to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump , flanked by a group of government and health officials as a means to project confidence and competency , spits — literally — lies , shouts down black female reporters who ask him reasonable questions that bring his abysmal failures as a “ leader ” of a nation to light , and is steadfast in his claims that he has done a great job stewarding the country through this crisis .
As of today , the coronavirus has sickened over 350,000 American people and is causing the morgues of America to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven-hundred thousand jobs during the month of March , stock portfolios are being depleted , and many economists are predicting that the worst is yet to come for the everyday worker .
America might be hurtling towards the second Great Depression .
Smart people know that the ensuing damage of this outbreak could have been mitigated if our federal government had been more forceful with the initial response .
If we ’ d been told the truth from the beginning and were afforded a competent commander-in-chief to lead the response to this pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death and devastation .
If Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton were in charge , I guarantee that our country would have been much further along in fighting a disease that is killing people indiscriminately .
I know this , as do millions of other Americans .
And yet , Donald Trump keeps on skating by when he should be thrashing and sinking in the quagmire that we now find ourselves in .
Nearly forty-six percent of the Americans believe that Donald Trump is doing at least an adequate job as president of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s job approval across party affiliation , you ’ ll see that he is being kept afloat by his base of support , or republican Americans , nine of ten of whom believe that he is performing well in his job .
Are we Trump skeptics missing something ?
Are we stupid ?
Or perhaps we are crazy ?
I really , really want to know what nearly half of the country continues to see in this man , a base defiler of the office that he holds .
I ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to get their opinion , look the delusional people in the eye as they list their reasons for why they insist on falling in line behind a man who continues to fail .
Because right now , I believe that the foundation upon which their support stands is hatred for people of color , immigrants , Muslims , and professional women .
Is there a Trump voter who can convince me otherwise ?
They ’ re ramping up testing for the coronavirus at my hospital .
So , I ’ ve had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office .
I ’ ve been a client services professional at the hospital for more than six years .
One of the main reasons for why I ’ ve remained at this job for so long is a work-life balance that was tilted heavily toward me spending the majority of my weekdays inside of my house .
After arriving home from work at about six in the evening , I ’ d run to my room to change clothes , scurry down the stairs to help my mother prepare the evening dinner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart television as I ate my food , and then head upstairs again to read a book before it was time for sleep at 10:00 .
I was content .
This past Friday , I left my house at 7:15 a.m. to arrive at work at 7:45 a.m .
I worked nonstop throughout the morning , apportioned half of my usual break time to wolf down as much of my lunch as I could , and then returned to my desk to work the next seven hours without a break .
My day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below the horizon .
I would not taste victory , as too much work had been left unfinished .
Multiple piles of paperwork would be awaiting my attention when I returned to the office on Monday morning .
After I put on my coat and skullcap , I took my third peek at my desktop ’ s digital clock .
It was 8:40 pm .
“ Jesus Christ , ” I said .
I ’ d just completed a thirteen hour workday , one of the longest of my entire life .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one that was not attached to the head of a family member .
Sandra and I have become so much closer as the coronavirus spreads further and deeper into the fabric of the country .
I wanted to officially end the work day by marveling at her gorgeous face , so I called to let her know that I was finally ready to go home .
My heart skipped when Sandra ’ s face appeared on my screen .
She was wearing those glasses that matched her auburn colored hair .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
You still haven ’ t left there yet ?
” “ Ah , nope .
Not yet .
I ’ m on way out now.
” Are you all right ?
” she said .
“ Yeah , ” I signed .
“ I ’ m all right .
Real tired though .
But I ’ ll be fine as long as they pay me for my overtime .
How was your day Sandra ?
” “ It was okay .
I ’ m still trying to get a handle on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I really hate virtual learning .
I hope that this virus goes away so that I can get back to teaching in the classroom.
” “ But you ’ re getting it done though , right ?
I remember you wondering if you could do it a few weeks ago .
Look at you now .
You ’ re actually conducting entire classes through your personal computer .
You ’ re fighting back against the coronavirus by giving the kids an education.
” She smiled and said , “ I guess so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ though .
You ’ re a hospital worker .
You ’ re at the front line for dealing with all of this.
” “ Thank you Sandra .
Thank you for choosing to remain in my life .
Thank you for just being alive and well .
You ’ re one of the reasons why I ’ m able to make it through times like these.
” “ I feel the same way about you.
” I pulled into my spot in the garage at 9:30 pm .
As I exited my car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right .
My work-life balance had shifted .
I hope that it does not become permanent .

I’ve always been a pantser.
If you’re a writer, then you know what I’m talking about.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, a pantser is a writer who doesn’t do any actual planning for a story, at least that is my definition of the term. When inspiration for a new story hits, we pantsers jot down the story as it plays out in our minds. My approach to writing fits in with my approach to life in general, which is to take on things as they come.
When an idea for a personal essay pops into my head I sit down at whatever desk is available to write the story. I don’t need to be stationed in front of my home computer to write, as most of what I write happens when I’m sitting in front of my work desktop computer. I wrote the entire first draft of a book on teaching elementary students by setting aside thirty minutes of my allotted lunch period to write anywhere from two-hundred to three-hundred words. That’s about two-hundred sixty hours of my life devoted to finishing my book, likely a solid months-worth of writing for other professionals in the game.
And I’m not one of those writers who can produce an entire two thousand word piece in one setting, because I usually don’t have that much of the story in my head before I sit down to write. I write until I get to the point of the story where the chasm separates my present thoughts from my future musings, and then I stop. By the next day, the bridge to connect past and present thoughts has been lowered to reach the other side. I’m proud to proclaim that I’ve finished every story I’ve started since I became a semi-professional fly by the seat of your pants writer of essays two years ago. I’ve produced an income — close to 300 dollars over the course of one year. Of course that is not enough for anyone to live on, but it is income nonetheless.
At the advent of the spring season, my writing ambitions sprouted like tree leaves while my interest in my day job floundered. I wanted to make more money writing by producing more content, so I decided to become a more organized and disciplined writer. I would create a list of story ideas on an excel spreadsheet, design a designated writing space that was free from interruptions, and craft outlines from which I would develop my next stories.
Former Vice President Joe Biden became the de facto democratic nominee for president after Super Tuesday (March 3, 2020), and the man who would face off against Donald Trump for the American presidency in the ensuing months. I was thinking about focusing my writing on the upcoming battle between the two white male septuagenarians, taking myself out of my pieces because I thought I was exhausting my supply of memoir pieces, and becoming more of a topical writer.
All that was before the coronavirus plague began to spread, prompting me to defenestrate my plan to become a more prolific writer, and revert back to writing whatever comes to mind. I’m riding a wave if emotions now, as it has become clear that coronavirus exposure will get worse before it gets better, leading to a ghastly number of deceased human beings. Thinking about what can happen to the world, what could happen to my sixty-seven year old mother if I bring the disease home — I work at a hospital — makes it harder to get out the bed on certain days. The world is on fire, a deadly disease spreads nearly unabated, grocery shelves are empty, and some people are using the pandemic to exact an unfair advantage — two brothers purchased 17,000 jars of hand sanitizer just so they could sell it above market, practicing a wicked brand of capitalism. I’m just so worried about everything now, thinking constantly about what is taking place from day to day. I don’t want to plan for the long term if I am unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel today.
*******
Every day, about two dozen times a day, I pull up the 538.com webpage on my cell phone, scroll down the page that contains Donald Trump’s recent approval ratings, and gasp at what I see. Although still a historically weak president, his approval rating has reached its highest point since I’ve been tracking it. Political reporters have opined that his increased approval rating is a byproduct of the current crisis that we find ourselves in, and that all presidents who serve the country during a crisis experience a bump in approval.
As an addition, Trump’s jump in approval is minuscule when compared to other world leaders, many of whom have seen their approval numbers increase by double digits during the outbreak. Reporters are also quick to point out that President George H.W. Bush’s approval rose to 89% during the first Iraq War. His son, George W. Bush, who was forced to steward a broken country through the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, achieved 90% approval. The coronavirus outbreak, which has already killed more Americans than 9/11 and threatens the lives of many millions Americans, should have had a more galvanizing effect, and led to a more robust “bounce” for president Trump, right?
Well, I’m still aghast. Trump is still treading water and remains in striking distance of Joe Biden. How is it that Trump, who confidently asserted that the coronavirus was a democratic hoax that was no more deadly than the common flu, who perhaps is the main reason for why we are experiencing an explosion of coronavirus cases in this country, who is perhaps the paragon of laziness and stupidity, how is it that such a pathetic man continues to inspire confidence from millions of potential voters?
I’ve been forcing myself to watch those daily coronavirus briefs on cable television recently. When Dr. Fauci, the nation’s foremost infectious disease expert, stands behind the lectern to spit — not literally — facts and tell the unvarnished truth, I listen intently because I want to hear the truth. And science and truth is what this country desperately needs from its leaders right now. When it is time for Trump to take his turn behind the lectern I struggle to keep the bile from escaping from my lips. Trump, flanked by a group of government and health officials as a means to project confidence and competency, spits — literally — lies, shouts down black female reporters who ask him reasonable questions that bring his abysmal failures as a “leader” of a nation to light, and is steadfast in his claims that he has done a great job stewarding the country through this crisis.
As of today, the coronavirus has sickened over 350,000 American people and is causing the morgues of America to overflow with bodies, the economy hemorrhaged seven-hundred thousand jobs during the month of March, stock portfolios are being depleted, and many economists are predicting that the worst is yet to come for the everyday worker. America might be hurtling towards the second Great Depression.
Smart people know that the ensuing damage of this outbreak could have been mitigated if our federal government had been more forceful with the initial response. If we’d been told the truth from the beginning and were afforded a competent commander-in-chief to lead the response to this pandemic, we’d have endured less death and devastation. If Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton were in charge, I guarantee that our country would have been much further along in fighting a disease that is killing people indiscriminately. I know this, as do millions of other Americans. And yet, Donald Trump keeps on skating by when he should be thrashing and sinking in the quagmire that we now find ourselves in.
Nearly forty-six percent of the Americans believe that Donald Trump is doing at least an adequate job as president of these United States. When breaking down Trump’s job approval across party affiliation, you’ll see that he is being kept afloat by his base of support, or republican Americans, nine of ten of whom believe that he is performing well in his job.
Are we Trump skeptics missing something?
Are we stupid? Or perhaps we are crazy?
I really, really want to know what nearly half of the country continues to see in this man, a base defiler of the office that he holds. I’d even be willing to interview supporters of Trump to get their opinion, look the delusional people in the eye as they list their reasons for why they insist on falling in line behind a man who continues to fail. Because right now, I believe that the foundation upon which their support stands is hatred for people of color, immigrants, Muslims, and professional women.
Is there a Trump voter who can convince me otherwise?
I don’t think so.
******
They’re ramping up testing for the coronavirus at my hospital. So, I’ve had to put in some extra time at the office.
I’ve been a client services professional at the hospital for more than six years. One of the main reasons for why I’ve remained at this job for so long is a work-life balance that was tilted heavily toward me spending the majority of my weekdays inside of my house. After arriving home from work at about six in the evening, I’d run to my room to change clothes, scurry down the stairs to help my mother prepare the evening dinner, watch some Netflix shows on my smart television as I ate my food, and then head upstairs again to read a book before it was time for sleep at 10:00. I was content.
This past Friday, I left my house at 7:15 a.m. to arrive at work at 7:45 a.m. I worked nonstop throughout the morning, apportioned half of my usual break time to wolf down as much of my lunch as I could, and then returned to my desk to work the next seven hours without a break. My day ended hours after the sun had dipped below the horizon. I would not taste victory, as too much work had been left unfinished. Multiple piles of paperwork would be awaiting my attention when I returned to the office on Monday morning. After I put on my coat and skullcap, I took my third peek at my desktop’s digital clock. It was 8:40 pm.
“Jesus Christ,” I said. I’d just completed a thirteen hour workday, one of the longest of my entire life.
I was in need of a sympathetic ear, one that was not attached to the head of a family member. Sandra and I have become so much closer as the coronavirus spreads further and deeper into the fabric of the country. I wanted to officially end the work day by marveling at her gorgeous face, so I called to let her know that I was finally ready to go home.
My heart skipped when Sandra’s face appeared on my screen. She was wearing those glasses that matched her auburn colored hair.
“Oh, my god,” Sandra said. You still haven’t left there yet?”
“Ah, nope. Not yet. I’m on way out now.”
“Oh, Eze. You poor thing!”
I know.
Are you all right?” she said.
“Yeah,” I signed. “I’m all right. Real tired though. But I’ll be fine as long as they pay me for my overtime. How was your day Sandra?”
“It was okay. I’m still trying to get a handle on this virtual learning thing. God, I really hate virtual learning. I hope that this virus goes away so that I can get back to teaching in the classroom.”
“But you’re getting it done though, right? I remember you wondering if you could do it a few weeks ago. Look at you now. You’re actually conducting entire classes through your personal computer. You’re fighting back against the coronavirus by giving the kids an education.”
She smiled and said, “I guess so. I’m more worried about you though. You’re a hospital worker. You’re at the front line for dealing with all of this.”
“Thank you Sandra. Thank you for choosing to remain in my life. Thank you for just being alive and well. You’re one of the reasons why I’m able to make it through times like these.”
“I feel the same way about you.”
I love you.
“You be safe now,” I said.
“You too.”
I pulled into my spot in the garage at 9:30 pm. As I exited my car, I felt myself tilt to the right. My work-life balance had shifted. I hope that it does not become permanent.


All Hope is Lost

Okay , can I just say that Democrats send the worst fund raising emails in history ?
It is no longer just during election season that my inbox is filled with political emails .
I get on average 20 to 30 emails every day trying to solicit money .
I am very active on ACT-BLUE and I give as much and as often as I can .
But when my inbox is full with messages that say things like : First of all , I am not an idiot .
At least I don ’ t think I am .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a candidate when “ All Hope is Lost ” ?
I would like to think that there is still hope and that my contribution might make a difference .
I am not going to use my limited funds to support a candidate that has zero chance of winning .
Just yesterday I received two emails about the same race .
One said “ McConnell wins Kentucky ” and the other said “ McGrath tied with McConnell ” .
Which of those two emails is going to encourage me to give money to McGrath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should become overly optimistic and complacent .
Our candidates need to raise money .
I understand that .
But sending out emails that do nothing but display a defeatist attitude do not , in my opinion , encourage people to contribute .
We want to think that the candidate has a chance of winning before we fork over the dollars .
I know that we are in the middle of a global pandemic and that is depressing enough .
I do not need to see emails about how the GOP is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 4 more years of Trump .
Let ’ s get some good marketing people to create these email solicitations .
Telling your customers that no matter what they invest in they are screwed is not good marketing .

Okay, can I just say that Democrats send the worst fund raising emails in history?
It is no longer just during election season that my inbox is filled with political emails. I get on average 20 to 30 emails every day trying to solicit money. I am very active on ACT-BLUE and I give as much and as often as I can.
But when my inbox is full with messages that say things like:
“It’s over — Trump wins again”
“All Hope is Lost”
“No one is contributing”
“McConnell Wins”
“Arizona is lost”
And so on…..
First of all, I am not an idiot. At least I don’t think I am. Why would I give my money to a candidate when “All Hope is Lost”? I would like to think that there is still hope and that my contribution might make a difference. I am not going to use my limited funds to support a candidate that has zero chance of winning.
Just yesterday I received two emails about the same race.
One said “McConnell wins Kentucky” and the other said “McGrath tied with McConnell”. Which of those two emails is going to encourage me to give money to McGrath?
Now I am not saying we should become overly optimistic and complacent. Our candidates need to raise money. I understand that. But sending out emails that do nothing but display a defeatist attitude do not, in my opinion, encourage people to contribute. We want to think that the candidate has a chance of winning before we fork over the dollars.
I know that we are in the middle of a global pandemic and that is depressing enough. I do not need to see emails about how the GOP is going to win and that we need to prepare for 4 more years of Trump.
Let’s get some good marketing people to create these email solicitations. Telling your customers that no matter what they invest in they are screwed is not good marketing.


dailykos--2020-04-05--The Game IS rigged!
...because the Republicans rigged it,
and intend to keep on doing so!

The President keeps saying the game is rigged .
By this he means that somehow the “ Deep State ” Democrats have unfairly fixed the political rules against him and his party .
He knows of what he speaks .
The rules ARE unfairly skewed .
However the skewing is being done right in front of our eyes , by him and his cohorts , members of the Republican ( Tea ) Party ) .
The Republican Party is morally bankrupt .
It embraces ideology over all .
Ideology over biology .
Ideology over sociology .
Ideology over financial equality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans complain and protest .
But don ’ t judge them by what they say , but by what they do .
Case in point : In the midst of the biggest worldwide pandemic since 1918 , which has already cost more American lives than 9/11 , with the coronavirus still rampaging across the country , the Governor of Wisconsin asked the state legislature to postpone the presidential primary election which scheduled ( by legislative mandate ) just 48 hours away .
And although the Governor exhibited a sense of urgency and called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday , that Republican controlled body refused to even consider the request - it adjourned within minutes of opening the session .
With the pandemic threatening lives in every state , and in the face of the continuing warnings of the most reputable and experienced scientists and medical experts , and even though Wisconsin already allows for absentee ballots for some voters , the legislature is apparently intent on using the dangerous health crisis to suppress the vote by daring voters to risk their health and that of their families to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue to hold power , these servants of the people would put lives at risk .
Apparently if you want to vote in Wisconsin you need to be willing to sign up for a kamikaze mission - chance your life to vote .
But this conduct simply follows a well established pattern of attempting to suppress votes of minorities and low income voters through the pretend attack on fraud that is the voter ID campaign .
A scam republicans have used in tandem with gerrymandering and such election day tactics as closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moves of voting sites .
Trump agrees with the “ less voting is better ” strategy of his party… “ The things they had in there were crazy .
They had things , levels of voting that if you ’ d ever agreed to it , you ’ d never have a Republican elected in this country again , ” Trump said in a recent interview reported by Politico .
The demonstrated immorality around voting is matched by the efforts to stack the courts with ideologically pure , but otherwise unqualified jurists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circuit Appeals Court , or the morally challenged approval of the last appointed Supreme Court Justice , or the recent termination of the Captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt , as well as that of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community .
The former for trying to protect the people whom he commanded and the latter for following the law requiring him to transmit valid whistle blower complaints to the Congress .
This partial list is , of course , only the tip of the iceberg of Republican tactics in recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the actions of the Republican Senators who agreed that the President violated the law when attempting to coerce the President of the Ukraine into smearing his anticipate political opponent to aid in his reelection efforts , but who voted not to impeach him - because although it was wrong , it wasn ’ t that wrong .
If it were only morality at stake that would be bad enough , but the Republicans are busy rigging the economy with vast tax cuts and regulatory breaks for the rich and big corporations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs ( remember infrastructure week ? )
.
Trying to rig the health system for private insurance companies , by tearing apart the only system yet instituted to provide most Americans with health insurance , by attempting to have it declared unconstitutional after multiple failed attempts to repeal “ Obamacare ” ( remember “ repeal and replace ?
’ ) Throw in climate change - the Paris accords , the Muller report findings of encouraging Russian involvement in our last presidential election , as well as the hollowing out of the agencies of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factual findings that are ideologically disfavored by the members of the administration or his big political donors .
The game is rigged !
But not against Trump or the Republicans… it is rigged against governmental accountability , democracy , morality and equity and the Republicans are the ones who ’ ve rigged it and keep on rigging it .

The President keeps saying the game is rigged. By this he means that somehow the “Deep State” Democrats have unfairly fixed the political rules against him and his party.
He knows of what he speaks.
The rules ARE unfairly skewed. However the skewing is being done right in front of our eyes, by him and his cohorts, members of the Republican (Tea) Party).
The Republican Party is morally bankrupt. It embraces ideology over all. Ideology over biology. Ideology over sociology. Ideology over financial equality. Even ideology over mortality!
The Republicans complain and protest. But don’t judge them by what they say, but by what they do.
Case in point: In the midst of the biggest worldwide pandemic since 1918, which has already cost more American lives than 9/11, with the coronavirus still rampaging across the country, the Governor of Wisconsin asked the state legislature to postpone the presidential primary election which scheduled (by legislative mandate) just 48 hours away. And although the Governor exhibited a sense of urgency and called the legislature back for a special session Saturday, that Republican controlled body refused to even consider the request - it adjourned within minutes of opening the session.
With the pandemic threatening lives in every state, and in the face of the continuing warnings of the most reputable and experienced scientists and medical experts, and even though Wisconsin already allows for absentee ballots for some voters, the legislature is apparently intent on using the dangerous health crisis to suppress the vote by daring voters to risk their health and that of their families to go to the polls. To increase its chances to continue to hold power, these servants of the people would put lives at risk. Apparently if you want to vote in Wisconsin you need to be willing to sign up for a kamikaze mission - chance your life to vote.
But this conduct simply follows a well established pattern of attempting to suppress votes of minorities and low income voters through the pretend attack on fraud that is the voter ID campaign. A scam republicans have used in tandem with gerrymandering and such election day tactics as closing and downsizing voting venues and last minute moves of voting sites.
Trump agrees with the “less voting is better” strategy of his party…“The things they had in there were crazy. They had things, levels of voting that if you’d ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again,” Trump said in a recent interview reported by Politico.
The demonstrated immorality around voting is matched by the efforts to stack the courts with ideologically pure, but otherwise unqualified jurists, like Trumps latest nominee to the DC Circuit Appeals Court, or the morally challenged approval of the last appointed Supreme Court Justice, or the recent termination of the Captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, as well as that of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community. The former for trying to protect the people whom he commanded and the latter for following the law requiring him to transmit valid whistle blower complaints to the Congress.
This partial list is, of course, only the tip of the iceberg of Republican tactics in recent years. But not to be left out are the actions of the Republican Senators who agreed that the President violated the law when attempting to coerce the President of the Ukraine into smearing his anticipate political opponent to aid in his reelection efforts, but who voted not to impeach him - because although it was wrong, it wasn’t that wrong.
If it were only morality at stake that would be bad enough, but the Republicans are busy rigging the economy with vast tax cuts and regulatory breaks for the rich and big corporations, at the expense of other vital national needs (remember infrastructure week?). Trying to rig the health system for private insurance companies, by tearing apart the only system yet instituted to provide most Americans with health insurance, by attempting to have it declared unconstitutional after multiple failed attempts to repeal “Obamacare” (remember “repeal and replace?’) Throw in climate change - the Paris accords, the Muller report findings of encouraging Russian involvement in our last presidential election, as well as the hollowing out of the agencies of government whenever they attempt to report science-based factual findings that are ideologically disfavored by the members of the administration or his big political donors.
The game is rigged! But not against Trump or the Republicans… it is rigged against governmental accountability, democracy, morality and equity and the Republicans are the ones who’ve rigged it and keep on rigging it.


dailykos--2020-04-05--Joseph Biden and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Obama's favorite will lead us through the famine

I just watched the Broadway musical , “ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ” .
What struck me at @ @ @ @ @ between Joe Biden and his namesake , Joseph , the favorite of his father Jacob @ @ @ @ @ Obama ) , who went through a lot of suffering , was willing to work @ @ @ @ @ enemies the Egyptians ( Republicans ) , rose to power in ways that some found @ @ @ @ @ best part was that his leadership ended up enabling Egyptians and Israelites alike survive the @ @ @ @ @ followed 7 years of prosperity .
Let ’ s hope this dream really is prophetic @

I just watched the Broadway musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. What struck me at this moment was the parallel between Joe Biden and his namesake, Joseph, the favorite of his father Jacob (America’s Dad Obama), who went through a lot of suffering, was willing to work with his people’s enemies the Egyptians (Republicans), rose to power in ways that some found surprising and inexplicable. The best part was that his leadership ended up enabling Egyptians and Israelites alike survive the 7 years of famine that followed 7 years of prosperity. Let’s hope this dream really is prophetic.
Biden was my least favorite of the Democratic frontrunners, but now I’m trying to gin up some enthusiasm for him given that he’s 99% certain to be our Democratic nominee for President, and at this surreal moment the best way to do that is through Biblical myth filtered through Broadway kitsch, LOL!


dailykos--2020-04-05--POTUS won't wear a mask

POTUS won't wear a mask

Tried searching on that , at my partner ’ s suggestion .
He heard it during the so-called WH “ @ @ @ @ @ April 3 , 2020 .
The Daily Beast , 2nd hit through DuckDuckGo , quoted @ @ @ @ @ ’ t wear one as he meets people in the Oval Office , including dictators @ @ @ @

reporter asks trump about cdc wear masks in public
Tried searching on that, at my partner’s suggestion. He heard it during the so-called WH “briefing” on Friday, April 3, 2020.
The Daily Beast, 2nd hit through DuckDuckGo, quoted POTUS as saying he won’t wear one as he meets people in the Oval Office, including dictators. WTH?!
www.thedailybeast.com/...


dailykos--2020-04-05--Authoritarian Leaders Rejected the Danger of a COVID-19 Pandemic Because It Challenged Their Image

In the current coronavirus pandemic authoritarian-oriented leaders , whether communist or capitalist , initially portrayed the virus as an insignificant danger .
Once they could no longer ignore the mounting number of infections and deaths , they turned to deflect criticism to condemning the behavior of others .
Their major concern was not protecting the welfare of their people but protecting their image as a leader whose control was above being challenged by men or nature .
Bad news resulting from natural events , such as the COVID-19 pandemic are particularly troublesome to them .
The leaders of the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin and China ’ s Xi , both initially downplayed the coronavirus pandemic and then accused others for their nation ’ s derelict response .
And , the leaders of two of the largest democracies , Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and our own President Donald Trump followed the same behavior of first ignoring the coronavirus problem and then blaming others .
On January 20 , Chinese President Xi Jinping commented publicly for the first time on the virus , and ordered `` resolute efforts '' to control the outbreak .
However , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making body , the Politburo Standing Committee , revealed that Xi was already aware of the virus on January 7 .
Two days later , the Chinese health commission said a 61-year-old man , had died of the virus .
Xi did not inform his people about the spreading virus for two weeks while , according to his government , it infected close to 300 people .
Even within China ’ s tightly controlling mainstream and social media , word of a deathly virus was spreading too fast for the censors to shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there was a such a virus , he began to find someone to blame .
China ’ s Foreign Ministry spokesman , Zhao Lijian , tweeted that “ It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan.
” Xi blamed local communist officials in Wuhan for not dealing with the virus after they had pointed to China ’ s top heavy central government for not giving them the authority to act .
Soon afterwards several top Wuhan and Hubei officials were fired for not acting fast enough to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reacted in a similar fashion of initially downplaying the coronavirus .
Through his control of the media , very few coronavirus infections were reported .
As late as Sunday , March 22 , CNN reported that Russia , with a population of 146 million had fewer confirmed cases than Luxembourg , with a population of less than 1 percent of Russia ’ s .
A few days later he was assuring the public that the coronavirus was “ under control ” .
It was not until Saturday , March 28 , Putin decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered all citizens to stay home for a week unless they provide essential services .
His staff probably had gotten to him that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the World Health Organization had more than doubled .
Although no health experts have suggested a week ’ s confinement is anywhere close enough time needed to contain the virus from spreading .
Opposition posted on the internet that there were over 20,000 confirmed cases .
Like in China , the government was removing any critical postings on social media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a doctor and leader of the non-government Alliance of Doctors union , was able to get out her claim that the authorities were using pneumonia and acute respiratory infection as a cause of sickness not the coronavirus .
Technically the authorities were correct because people don ’ t die from the virus , they die from the conditions that it produces , which is pneumonia and acute respiratory failure .
Brazil ’ s President Jair Bolsonaro was elected to office just 2 years ago on a very conservative anti-government platform .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he denied its danger .
He calls the coronavirus a “ little flu ” that largely threatens the old and vulnerable .
On Sunday , March 22 , he told his supporters “ Confront it like a man , not a boy !
” He has found Brazil ’ s democratic process detrimental to his own political goals .
In particular he ignored his own health officials trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by publicly gathering small crowds in neighborhoods within Brazil ’ s capital .
Bolsonaro , on March 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayors of Brazil ’ s largest states and cities for imposing lockdowns to slow the coronavirus outbreak .
He explained to the media that “ What a few mayors and governors are doing is a crime .
They ’ re destroying Brazil.
” He is seemed more concerned with meeting his campaign promise to revitalize their economy than protecting the public ’ s health .
His Minister of Health said recently that if the government is unable to curb transmission , the country ’ s health system would collapse by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authoritarian , although he has admired the power they have within their own country .
He had initially denied the coronavirus as dangerous and expected it to be over soon .
On February 26th , Trump said “ we ’ ve done a great job in keeping it down to a minimum .
We ’ ve had tremendous success — '' .
At that time , he proudly pointed out there were only 15 infections in the US .
“ As they get better , we take them off the list , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty soon at only five people.
” Two weeks later on March 12 we had 1,645 people infected with the virus .
The next day Trump blamed Barack Obama for his own administration ’ s inability to adequately test enough Americans for the coronavirus outbreak , claiming “ I don ’ t take responsibility at all . ''
Trump first blamed China for our country ’ s slow response to the pandemic because he said they withheld information for two months about the coronavirus .
However , the time lapse between the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on January 9 and when Trump suspended entry into the United States by any foreign nationals traveling from China on January 30th , was less than a month .
Without any evidence Trump has repeatedly made the two months claim .
When some Democrats were critical of how he was implementing restrictions on travelers from China , he accused them of “ working the Impeachment Hoax .
They didn ’ t have a clue !
Now they are fear mongering.
” Trump also singled out Democratic Governors for not appreciating his efforts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call them , “ I say , 'Mike , do n't call the governor of Washington .
You 're wasting your time with him .
Do n't call the woman in Michigan . '
” Trump was upset that they were critical of him for not using federal authority and resources to provide emergency medical supplies and assistance to their states .
In all of these countries , including ours , the authoritarian-oriented leader has received a lot of support because they are perceived as strong leaders .
Also , they either control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that endorse their policies , so that the public gets to hear directly from the leader what he wants them to believe .
But , as COVED-19 spreads , even an authoritarian approach can not demand an end to a pandemic in two weeks .
Once the infections and deaths reach a certain point , they must introduce policies that acknowledge that they are not in total control .
If there is any lasting effect from this health crisis , it may be a more knowledgeable electorate in democratic countries appreciating that an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cult of supporters following a strong leader .
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 author of Becoming a Citizen Activist .
Subscribe to Licata ’ s newsletter Urban Politics

In the current coronavirus pandemic authoritarian-oriented leaders, whether communist or capitalist, initially portrayed the virus as an insignificant danger.
Once they could no longer ignore the mounting number of infections and deaths, they turned to deflect criticism to condemning the behavior of others. Their major concern was not protecting the welfare of their people but protecting their image as a leader whose control was above being challenged by men or nature.
Bad news resulting from natural events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic are particularly troublesome to them. The leaders of the two largest authoritarian nations, Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi, both initially downplayed the coronavirus pandemic and then accused others for their nation’s derelict response. And, the leaders of two of the largest democracies, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and our own President Donald Trump followed the same behavior of first ignoring the coronavirus problem and then blaming others.
On January 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping commented publicly for the first time on the virus, and ordered "resolute efforts" to control the outbreak. However, a transcript of China's most powerful decision making body, the Politburo Standing Committee, revealed that Xi was already aware of the virus on January 7. Two days later, the Chinese health commission said a 61-year-old man, had died of the virus. Xi did not inform his people about the spreading virus for two weeks while, according to his government, it infected close to 300 people.
Even within China’s tightly controlling mainstream and social media, word of a deathly virus was spreading too fast for the censors to shut down. Once Xi had to admit that there was a such a virus, he began to find someone to blame.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, tweeted that “It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan.” Xi blamed local communist officials in Wuhan for not dealing with the virus after they had pointed to China’s top heavy central government for not giving them the authority to act. Soon afterwards several top Wuhan and Hubei officials were fired for not acting fast enough to contain the virus.
Russia’s President Putin reacted in a similar fashion of initially downplaying the coronavirus. Through his control of the media, very few coronavirus infections were reported. As late as Sunday, March 22, CNN reported that Russia, with a population of 146 million had fewer confirmed cases than Luxembourg, with a population of less than 1 percent of Russia’s. A few days later he was assuring the public that the coronavirus was “under control”.
It was not until Saturday, March 28, Putin decided to close all of its borders and ordered all citizens to stay home for a week unless they provide essential services. His staff probably had gotten to him that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the World Health Organization had more than doubled. Although no health experts have suggested a week’s confinement is anywhere close enough time needed to contain the virus from spreading.
Opposition posted on the internet that there were over 20,000 confirmed cases. Like in China, the government was removing any critical postings on social media. Fortunately for the public, Anastasia Vasilyeva, a doctor and leader of the non-government Alliance of Doctors union, was able to get out her claim that the authorities were using pneumonia and acute respiratory infection as a cause of sickness not the coronavirus. Technically the authorities were correct because people don’t die from the virus, they die from the conditions that it produces, which is pneumonia and acute respiratory failure.
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro was elected to office just 2 years ago on a very conservative anti-government platform. In the case of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic, he denied its danger. He calls the coronavirus a “little flu” that largely threatens the old and vulnerable. On Sunday, March 22, he told his supporters “Confront it like a man, not a boy!”
He has found Brazil’s democratic process detrimental to his own political goals. In particular he ignored his own health officials trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by publicly gathering small crowds in neighborhoods within Brazil’s capital.
Bolsonaro, on March 25, blasted as criminals the governors and mayors of Brazil’s largest states and cities for imposing lockdowns to slow the coronavirus outbreak. He explained to the media that “What a few mayors and governors are doing is a crime. They’re destroying Brazil.” He is seemed more concerned with meeting his campaign promise to revitalize their economy than protecting the public’s health. His Minister of Health said recently that if the government is unable to curb transmission, the country’s health system would collapse by the end of April.
President Trump is not an authoritarian, although he has admired the power they have within their own country. He had initially denied the coronavirus as dangerous and expected it to be over soon. On February 26th, Trump said “we’ve done a great job in keeping it down to a minimum. We’ve had tremendous success —". At that time, he proudly pointed out there were only 15 infections in the US. “As they get better, we take them off the list, so that we’re going to be pretty soon at only five people.” Two weeks later on March 12 we had 1,645 people infected with the virus. The next day Trump blamed Barack Obama for his own administration’s inability to adequately test enough Americans for the coronavirus outbreak, claiming “I don’t take responsibility at all."
Trump first blamed China for our country’s slow response to the pandemic because he said they withheld information for two months about the coronavirus. However, the time lapse between the first known death from the virus in China on January 9 and when Trump suspended entry into the United States by any foreign nationals traveling from China on January 30th, was less than a month. Without any evidence Trump has repeatedly made the two months claim.
When some Democrats were critical of how he was implementing restrictions on travelers from China, he accused them of “working the Impeachment Hoax. They didn’t have a clue! Now they are fear mongering.” Trump also singled out Democratic Governors for not appreciating his efforts and told Vice President Mike Pence not to call them, “I say, 'Mike, don't call the governor of Washington. You're wasting your time with him. Don't call the woman in Michigan.'” Trump was upset that they were critical of him for not using federal authority and resources to provide emergency medical supplies and assistance to their states.
In all of these countries, including ours, the authoritarian-oriented leader has received a lot of support because they are perceived as strong leaders. Also, they either control the media or have ideological media allies that endorse their policies, so that the public gets to hear directly from the leader what he wants them to believe.
But, as COVED-19 spreads, even an authoritarian approach cannot demand an end to a pandemic in two weeks. Once the infections and deaths reach a certain point, they must introduce policies that acknowledge that they are not in total control. If there is any lasting effect from this health crisis, it may be a more knowledgeable electorate in democratic countries appreciating that an effective government is an institution, not a cult of supporters following a strong leader.
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 author of Becoming a Citizen Activist.
Subscribe to Licata’s newsletter Urban Politics


dailykos--2020-04-03--So you hate lawyers, right?

So you hate lawyers, right?

One of my closest friends , a lawyer , likes to tell me , when I ( often ! )
tee off on his profession that “ everyone hates lawyers , until they need one.
” I decided to publish this Cafe Insider post from Elie Honig , a lawyer and associate of Preet Bharara because it contains so much of how I view Donald Trump ; and in the hope that you will read it in its entirety .
I know the DK is an anti-Trump choir of thousands but it ’ s still worth reading , IMHO .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ admit that we lawyers , as a group , are easy marks .
Lawyer jokes abound and , indeed , we can be picky , obsessive , egotistical know-it-alls .
So go ahead , tell your favorite lawyer joke and have a laugh on us .
We deserve it .
But if you want to see things get truly crazy , watch what happens without lawyers .
Because one of the most important services that lawyers provide is to convince people not to do stupid things , or at least not to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Donald Trump has shown us what happens without lawyers — or when powerful people ignore legal or other expert advice and just do and say whatever the hell they want .
Trump has legions of lawyers and other advisers , as any president would ( though a disconcertingly large portion of Trump ’ s braintrust — Michael Cohen , Paul Manafort , Michael Flynn , Roger Stone — are now convicted federal felons ) .
But Trump is what lawyers would call , politely , a “ difficult client ” — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ colossal pain in the ass.
” He values the advice and expertise of exactly nobody not named Donald J. Trump .
And why should he listen to anybody else , really ?
By self-proclamation , Trump is a “ very stable genius , ” “ so great looking and smart , ” possessed of “ one of the great memories of all time , ” with a “ natural ability ” for science and medicine , with more knowledge than anybody about topics ranging from ISIS to television ratings to taxes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” indeed .
The very concepts of “ advice ” and “ expertise ” are foreign to this Administration .
The only true measuring stick is sycophancy ; kiss the ring and you ’ ll be rewarded .
Trump is surrounded by yes-men who know and understand his need for blind praise : Vice President Mike Pence ( who seems incapable of starting a sentence with anything but “ Congratulations , Mr. President ” ) , Attorney General and See-No-Evil Fixer William Barr , and the Crown Prince of Entitled Idiocy , Jared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But those who have stood up and done their job , for better or worse , have suffered the consequences .
Just ask General John Kelly , Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch , General James Mattis , former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson , Lt. Col. Alex Vindman , and legions of others .
Trump is innately reluctant to heed advice , or even to receive it .
That ’ s why over the past few weeks , as the country faces a public health and economic crisis of unimaginable consequence , he has repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in full public view .
We ’ ve seen this clumsy dance , time and again .
Step one : make a vague proclamation or threat about invoking the potent legal powers that the president holds in times of emergency .
Step two : tweet about how he ’ s strongly considering taking some precipitous action that could trigger a constitutional crisis ( just what we need , in the midst of all this ) .
Step three : publicly equivocate , begin walkback .
Step four : announce some incoherent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , join the CAFE Insider community , where we explore issues at the intersection of law and politics.Trump danced this tangled tango with the Defense Production Act , which gives the president staggering power to order private companies to manufacture , expedite , and allocate essential goods .
He first claimed the Act was “ in full force , ” but he didn ’ t have to use it .
He then claimed he was using the Act — “ invoke P , ” he inexplicably tweeted — without actually doing anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This brought to mind the scene from “ The Office ” where Michael Scott tries to solve his financial woes by ceremonially shouting “ I declare bankruptcyyyyyyyy !
” before it can be explained to him that it doesn ’ t quite work that way ) .
Trump eventually did issue an actual order to General Motors to produce ventilators — but without specifying how many , on what timetable , and at what price , effectively rendering his own order mostly ceremonial .
Trump repeated the process when he openly contemplated a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York and New Jersey .
( Disclosure : I live in Jersey .
This would not have gone well .
How exactly was this supposed to be enforced ?
With the National Guard stationed at the George Washington Bridge ?
Not gon na happen . )
After Trump daydreamed publicly about locking down the Northeastern states , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo demolished the silly notion and threatened to sue .
And Trump then backed almost all the way down and tweeted a meek “ travel advisory ” that was fully redundant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway .
In most instances , Trump stumbles to a harmless enough result — sorta invokes the Defense Production Act ( but not really ) , issues a travel advisory rather than an actual lockdown .
But the process itself is harmful because it undermines public confidence .
Anyone watching this disjointed process play out in the public eye would rightly ask : what the hell is going on here , how are these decisions being made , and just how competent is the top guy who makes them ?
So how would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lawyers — have made this any better ?
For one , any competent lawyer would ’ ve given Trump this basic guidance : we can talk about this stuff , but let ’ s use our indoor voices .
There ’ s nothing wrong with having a deliberative process .
In fact , any responsible decisionmaker should do just that .
But do it behind closed doors , not out in the open where the entire world can see it all unfold ( especially when that process is an illogical , legally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an added bonus , Trump might just arrive at better decisions if he could consider the possibility that somebody might know better than he does .
Any sentient lawyer would have told Trump that a federally-mandated lockdown of the Northeast was not gon na fly , legally or otherwise .
And a strong advisor might urge Trump to actually use the Defense Production Act to spur production and ensure optimal distribution of crucial goods , given the life-or-death stakes , rather than just pawing at the Act like a cat at a shiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead , just when the country needs him most .
I don ’ t pretend that effective lawyering could somehow change Trump completely , turn him into an empathetic visionary with sound judgment .
But a decent lawyer , if heeded , could sand down some of the more jagged edges of indecision and impulsivity , and might even lead Trump to better outcomes .
Make all the lawyer jokes you want , but a good one could be a godsend right now .

One of my closest friends, a lawyer, likes to tell me, when I (often!) tee off on his profession that “everyone hates lawyers, until they need one.” I decided to publish this Cafe Insider post from Elie Honig, a lawyer and associate of Preet Bharara because it contains so much of how I view Donald Trump; and in the hope that you will read it in its entirety. I know the DK is an anti-Trump choir of thousands but it’s still worth reading, IMHO.
Anyway, here goes:
Dear Reader,
I readily admit that we lawyers, as a group, are easy marks. Lawyer jokes abound and, indeed, we can be picky, obsessive, egotistical know-it-alls. So go ahead, tell your favorite lawyer joke and have a laugh on us. We deserve it.
But if you want to see things get truly crazy, watch what happens without lawyers. Because one of the most important services that lawyers provide is to convince people not to do stupid things, or at least not to do them publicly. These past few weeks, President Donald Trump has shown us what happens without lawyers — or when powerful people ignore legal or other expert advice and just do and say whatever the hell they want.
Trump has legions of lawyers and other advisers, as any president would (though a disconcertingly large portion of Trump’s braintrust — Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Roger Stone — are now convicted federal felons). But Trump is what lawyers would call, politely, a “difficult client” — or what normal people would call a “colossal pain in the ass.” He values the advice and expertise of exactly nobody not named Donald J. Trump.
And why should he listen to anybody else, really? By self-proclamation, Trump is a “very stable genius,” “so great looking and smart,” possessed of “one of the great memories of all time,” with a “natural ability” for science and medicine, with more knowledge than anybody about topics ranging from ISIS to television ratings to taxes to drones. The “chosen one,” indeed.
The very concepts of “advice” and “expertise” are foreign to this Administration. The only true measuring stick is sycophancy; kiss the ring and you’ll be rewarded. Trump is surrounded by yes-men who know and understand his need for blind praise: Vice President Mike Pence (who seems incapable of starting a sentence with anything but “Congratulations, Mr. President”), Attorney General and See-No-Evil Fixer William Barr, and the Crown Prince of Entitled Idiocy, Jared Kushner, to name a few. But those who have stood up and done their job, for better or worse, have suffered the consequences. Just ask General John Kelly, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, General James Mattis, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, and legions of others.
Trump is innately reluctant to heed advice, or even to receive it. That’s why over the past few weeks, as the country faces a public health and economic crisis of unimaginable consequence, he has repeatedly stumbled over major legal and policy decisions, in full public view. We’ve seen this clumsy dance, time and again. Step one: make a vague proclamation or threat about invoking the potent legal powers that the president holds in times of emergency. Step two: tweet about how he’s strongly considering taking some precipitous action that could trigger a constitutional crisis (just what we need, in the midst of all this). Step three: publicly equivocate, begin walkback. Step four: announce some incoherent, face-saving half-measure.
For more content like this, join the CAFE Insider community, where we explore issues at the intersection of law and politics.Trump danced this tangled tango with the Defense Production Act, which gives the president staggering power to order private companies to manufacture, expedite, and allocate essential goods. He first claimed the Act was “in full force,” but he didn’t have to use it. He then claimed he was using the Act — “invoke P,” he inexplicably tweeted — without actually doing anything meaningful or enforceable with it. (This brought to mind the scene from “The Office” where Michael Scott tries to solve his financial woes by ceremonially shouting “I declare bankruptcyyyyyyyy!” before it can be explained to him that it doesn’t quite work that way). Trump eventually did issue an actual order to General Motors to produce ventilators — but without specifying how many, on what timetable, and at what price, effectively rendering his own order mostly ceremonial.
Trump repeated the process when he openly contemplated a Mad Max-style quarantine on certain states including New York and New Jersey. (Disclosure: I live in Jersey. This would not have gone well. How exactly was this supposed to be enforced? With the National Guard stationed at the George Washington Bridge? Not gonna happen.) After Trump daydreamed publicly about locking down the Northeastern states, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo demolished the silly notion and threatened to sue. And Trump then backed almost all the way down and tweeted a meek “travel advisory” that was fully redundant of what the states were already doing anyway.
In most instances, Trump stumbles to a harmless enough result — sorta invokes the Defense Production Act (but not really), issues a travel advisory rather than an actual lockdown. But the process itself is harmful because it undermines public confidence. Anyone watching this disjointed process play out in the public eye would rightly ask: what the hell is going on here, how are these decisions being made, and just how competent is the top guy who makes them?
So how would lawyers — or Trump heeding the advice of lawyers — have made this any better? For one, any competent lawyer would’ve given Trump this basic guidance: we can talk about this stuff, but let’s use our indoor voices. There’s nothing wrong with having a deliberative process. In fact, any responsible decisionmaker should do just that. But do it behind closed doors, not out in the open where the entire world can see it all unfold (especially when that process is an illogical, legally dubious mess).
And, as an added bonus, Trump might just arrive at better decisions if he could consider the possibility that somebody might know better than he does. Any sentient lawyer would have told Trump that a federally-mandated lockdown of the Northeast was not gonna fly, legally or otherwise. And a strong advisor might urge Trump to actually use the Defense Production Act to spur production and ensure optimal distribution of crucial goods, given the life-or-death stakes, rather than just pawing at the Act like a cat at a shiny toy.
Trump is failing miserably to lead, just when the country needs him most. I don’t pretend that effective lawyering could somehow change Trump completely, turn him into an empathetic visionary with sound judgment. But a decent lawyer, if heeded, could sand down some of the more jagged edges of indecision and impulsivity, and might even lead Trump to better outcomes. Make all the lawyer jokes you want, but a good one could be a godsend right now.
Stay healthy and safe,
Elie


dailykos--2020-03-30--The Electoral College: Time to Go?

The Electoral College: Time to Go?

To many , the only thing that can save the Republican Party is voter suppression .
Republican operatives know it and , as we all know now , they ’ re doing everything in their power to maintain it .
In a diary entry this morning the diarist notes a comment Trump made to “ Fox and Friends ” that if reforms to the electoral process Democrats espoused , “ they had levels of voting that if you ever agreed to it you ’ d never have a Republican elected in this country again.
” ( I ’ m just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no doubt Trump is a goddam tragedy for this nation . )
But Trump is right to the extent that the Republican Party is now nothing more than a white man ’ s party , made up of plutocrats with enormous wealth on one end of the spectrum and relatively uneducated , rural , poor-ish , white men on the other .
The two are a numeric minority in this country and , as a voting bloc , are becoming a smaller percentage of the electorate with each new year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to it , voting itself apparently doesn ’ t count since at least four elections in modern times ( since 1876 : Hayes , Harrison , Bush II and Trump ) ) have given the presidency to candidates who didn ’ t receive even a voting plurality , let alone a majority .
The Electoral college actually selects the president .
We , the voters , don ’ t even know who makes up the members of the Electoral College , for criminy sakes !
( Can you , gentle reader , name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s Electoral College , without guessing at it ? )
The rules governing how the Electoral College operates ( such as the “ winner take all ” ( WTA ) rule in most states ) were created by the state politicians ( not by the Constitution ) in order to keep political power for their state in presidentiai elections .
And it doesn ’ t matter which party is in power in a given state .
There are only two solutions to that problem commonly talked about : ( A ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires a Constitution a amendment—and is therefore enormously difficult—or ( B ) enact state laws which award EC votes proportionately to the presidential candidates .
There are now considered to be around ten “ swing states ” who carry enough votes for a Democrat or a Republican to win an election .
The other forty states are solid red or blue .
This means that candidates spend almost all their time and money on those ten states , leaving the other 40 states devoid of appearances , debate , speeches , campaigning in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In my solid blue state of Oregon , Trump didn ’ t even put in a single appearance in 2016 .
Why should he , when he knows that Oregon is certain to award its seven EC votes to the Democrat ?
Same with , say , a deep red state like Alabama .
By the same token , however , proportional voting by the EC almost guarantees that small states , like ME or NE , with but few Electoral College votes , would be almost forgotten by candidates , who would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electoral clout .
Yet , should not the people , regardless of where they are , decide who the President should be ?
Maybe sectional voting might be some part of an answer .
Divide the EC into larger entities i.e.
, a number of sections with common interests and large bloc of EC votes , and let them elect the president .
( another amendment required ? )
You decide !
But the biggest flaw in the EC and the WTA provision is that when ALL the votes go to one candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become absolutely meaningless .
The Democratic voters in the state of Alabama might as well not vote because it is almost certain that ALL of Alabama ’ s delegates will be given to the Republican .
Imagine if Alabama ’ s votes were awarded proportionately !
Similarly , in California , five million Republican votes for President go uncounted in the EC .
Every one of them went to the Democratic candidate .
There is an interesting historical record of how both the Electoral College and the Congress came to be and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Along with the 3/5th ’ s rule , both constructions really had a pronounced anti-democratic bias built into the Constitution , mostly done to bring the southern states into the new republic the framers were trying to create .
Now , 235 years later , it ’ s really time to reconsider how we choose our Presidents .

To many, the only thing that can save the Republican Party is voter suppression. Republican operatives know it and, as we all know now, they’re doing everything in their power to maintain it.
In a diary entry this morning the diarist notes a comment Trump made to “Fox and Friends” that if reforms to the electoral process Democrats espoused, “they had levels of voting that if you ever agreed to it you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” (I’m just glad someone is monitoring Fox. There’s no doubt Trump is a goddam tragedy for this nation.)
But Trump is right to the extent that the Republican Party is now nothing more than a white man’s party, made up of plutocrats with enormous wealth on one end of the spectrum and relatively uneducated, rural, poor-ish, white men on the other. The two are a numeric minority in this country and, as a voting bloc, are becoming a smaller percentage of the electorate with each new year.
But then, when it comes down to it, voting itself apparently doesn’t count since at least four elections in modern times (since 1876: Hayes, Harrison, Bush II and Trump) ) have given the presidency to candidates who didn’t receive even a voting plurality, let alone a majority. The Electoral college actually selects the president. We, the voters, don’t even know who makes up the members of the Electoral College, for criminy sakes! (Can you, gentle reader, name even one of the delegates to your state’s Electoral College, without guessing at it?)
Even though [in his 2012 re-election race] Obama won the popular vote by a single percentage point (50% to 49%), many consider the election to be a landslide, because Obama’s margin in the Electoral College was 62% to 38%. [Link]
The rules governing how the Electoral College operates (such as the “winner take all” (WTA) rule in most states) were created by the state politicians (not by the Constitution) in order to keep political power for their state in presidentiai elections. And it doesn’t matter which party is in power in a given state.
There are only two solutions to that problem commonly talked about: (A) do away with the EC, which requires a Constitution a amendment—and is therefore enormously difficult—or (B) enact state laws which award EC votes proportionately to the presidential candidates.
There are now considered to be around ten “swing states” who carry enough votes for a Democrat or a Republican to win an election. The other forty states are solid red or blue. This means that candidates spend almost all their time and money on those ten states, leaving the other 40 states devoid of appearances, debate, speeches, campaigning in general by the two presidential candidates. In my solid blue state of Oregon, Trump didn’t even put in a single appearance in 2016. Why should he, when he knows that Oregon is certain to award its seven EC votes to the Democrat? Same with, say, a deep red state like Alabama.
By the same token, however, proportional voting by the EC almost guarantees that small states, like ME or NE, with but few Electoral College votes, would be almost forgotten by candidates, who would focus attention on populated states with the electoral clout. Yet, should not the people, regardless of where they are, decide who the President should be?
Maybe sectional voting might be some part of an answer. Divide the EC into larger entities i.e., a number of sections with common interests and large bloc of EC votes, and let them elect the president. (another amendment required?) You decide!
But the biggest flaw in the EC and the WTA provision is that when ALL the votes go to one candidate, the votes of the the minority become absolutely meaningless. The Democratic voters in the state of Alabama might as well not vote because it is almost certain that ALL of Alabama’s delegates will be given to the Republican. Imagine if Alabama’s votes were awarded proportionately! Similarly, in California, five million Republican votes for President go uncounted in the EC. Every one of them went to the Democratic candidate.
There is an interesting historical record of how both the Electoral College and the Congress came to be and the effects of both on elections over time. Along with the 3/5th’s rule, both constructions really had a pronounced anti-democratic bias built into the Constitution, mostly done to bring the southern states into the new republic the framers were trying to create.
Now, 235 years later, it’s really time to reconsider how we choose our Presidents.
###


dailykos--2020-03-29--Trump changes his mind!

Trump changes his mind!

He is waiting to see if a Governor scolds him .
He is waiting to see if professionals agree with @ @ @ @ @ if re-elected .
He is waiting to see the effect on the DOW .

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Trump Air

By now it should be abundantly clear that the American experiment , the American Dream if you will , has been hijacked .
With each passing day the political , economic and physical health of the nation slides deeper and deeper into an ever darkening pool of political incompetence and poisonous venality .
With each passing day it is becoming increasingly clear that the Trump administration has systematically undermined the foundations of the U.S. government in order to protect and enrich their brand .
We are all outliers now .
Socially distanced , mentally and physically exhausted .
The failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought into sharp relief the Trump administration ’ s inability to govern — at all .
In its place , we now have a daily Kabuki dance , featuring an elaborately made-up President and suggestive tropes about the Chinese virus that has scared the hell out of traders and shoppers alike .
Everybody is stocking up on debt and toilet paper .
The shelves of economic clearing houses are being gutted while we shop at Costco .
Can this really be the end of the American Dream ?
Are the heady days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mountains of debt propping up our economy ?
What happens when it all comes crashing down ?
What about the declining price of oil ?
We desperately need to address our collapsing energy markets if we are to whether this storm .
The duality of this crises can not be stressed enough .
As the world leader in oil production , the United States should be leading negotiations to keep prices stable .
Instead we have seen squabbling between OPEC members , particularly the Saudis and the Russians , devolve into a tit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production .
Not only are these actions manifestly damaging to our economy , they are destroying the world economy .
In light of growing concern about Covid-19 , and the wider implications of global warming , the collapse of oil prices due to a conflict among producers is horrifically ill-timed .
This is not a complex problem .
Prices need to remain stable while the world fights the virus .
Why is the President on the sidelines when a huge financial tsunami is threatening to destroy the backbone of our financial system ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our most enduring allies .
Presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner has Mohammad bin Salman ’ s private cell phone number .
President Trump proudly visited the Saudi Kingdom shortly after his inauguration .
Clearly there are multiple avenues of communication that exist between both nations .
Why have we been blind-sided by this development ?
Conversely , if the Russians threatened to pull out of OPEC negotiations because they felt high oil prices protected the American shale industry , why wasn ’ t the State Department monitoring this situation ?
Shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefed on the dangerous multiplier effect of collapsing oil prices , especially at a time of national emergency ?
It is not difficult to conclude that a developing health pandemic would negatively impact international rates of consumption .
Don ’ t we , as a nation , at least owe the Russians a call ?
Aren ’ t we all in this together ?
President Trump has repeatedly stated , throughout his incumbency , that negotiating with the Russians should be on the table .
Why not now ?
The deep , systemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial markets suggests that we should be calling the Russians and the Saudis everyday .
This is what great leaders and great nations do .
They bring people together .
They make deals that prevent the oversupply of a resource that underpins the economy of our nation and the wider world .
We can ’ t fight the virus with a rate cut when the foundation of our economy has been jeopardized by falling oil prices .
This isn ’ t rocket science .
Unfortunately , in place of thoughtful and well reasoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a confusing melange of knee-jerk reactions that has instilled a discordant blend of complacency and fear across the nation .
The President and his staff need to realize that a large majority of the country is still seeking true leadership .
Not the type of self-aggrandizing leadership often portrayed in American action movies but real , honest to goodness leadership that inspires us to toss aside our differences and find strength in our unity .
One man can not be expected to fight every battle , solve every crime , and protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a possibility is pure fantasy .
It takes a nation of men and women dedicated to the principles inscribed in our Constitution to make us safe and protect our way of life .
This is why we have governments in the first place .
As CEO of Trump Air , our President would have us believe that half the “ stupid ” instruments in the cockpit are completely unnecessary .
Ditto for old people and those with underlying medical conditions .
The daily press briefings .
We should have seen them coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The broken sentences , the endless repetition , the sense of unreality…is the plane really going down ?
Do I pray ?
Do I just sit there and wait for instructions ?
What do you do when you no longer recognize your country ?
It ’ s a sinking feeling that gnaws ever deeper — Faustian and unrelenting .
Republican political activist Grover Nordquist quipped at the turn of this century that he would like to see our government shrunk down to a size where it could be drowned in a bathtub .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump Air .
Those in first class get parachutes while the rest of us must endure prayers led by Mike Pence .
For the past three years this big bird has been cruising at altitude like a big Boeing 747 on auto-pilot .
Inside the cabin the President preens and struts , thrusting his jaw for the sky .
His plump , orange jowls , gently quiver as he rotates his head from side to side seeking adulation .
His hair is perfectly coiffed .
Somebody has been watching old film of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address system with barely concealed contempt .
His tiny hands wave expressively while he discounts the need for a safety review .
“ Welcome to Trump Air .
Everything is going to be perfect — just perfect .
My people sit on the right , everybody else sits on the left.
” There is a brief commotion as passengers gasp , and then set about exchanging seats .
Trump ’ s eyes twinkle with glee .
A sarcastic smirk spreads across his craggy face .
For those of you who don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be good times .
( laughter ) The entire plane is yours .
NO immigrants !
I.C.E.
, ( spoken with a hiss ) is up front checking IDs .
The right side of the plane erupts in wild cheers and applause .
Trump is sitting in the big chair !
Jobs are coming back !
Coal is coming back !
The wall is going up , and best of all , Mexico is paying for it .
Some start chanting USA , USA , USA .
The left side looks out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether there is still time to re-book with a different airline .
Trump keeps talking .
His voice drones over the PA system endlessly .
They are the same words , repeated over and over .
After a while it doesn ’ t even seem like anyone on the plane is really listening .
The words melt like fat snowflakes hitting warm pavement .
Welcome to Trump Air everybody .
Take a look around you .
It ’ s a beautiful thing , isn ’ t it ?
The folks on the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great time .
There are free movies , soft drinks and little bottles of booze .
Hell , they don ’ t mind waiting , that ’ s what good Christians do .
The people seated on the left are not so sure .
The plane has been up for hours .
There ’ s been a big dust up over impeachment and Mike Pence keeps popping his head out of the pilot ’ s cabin every time the plane lurches unexpectedly .
Don ’ t worry , he says , the President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best President .
I have never served a better President .
No shit Mike , he ’ s the only President you have ever served .
Suddenly , without warning , the lights in the cabin dim and the drone of the engines lowers an octave .
A palpable fear begins spreading through the cabin .
What ’ s going on ?
Did somebody mention the CCP virus ?
Is that the same as the Wuhan virus ?
What about Covid-19 ?
Can you get it from drinking Corona beer ?
Where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wobbling on the precipice of a widening gap between what is real and what is not .
To make matters worse , refueling hasn ’ t been mentioned and the bathrooms are starting to overflow .
Did somebody say they saw Trump up in the cockpit , smiling and flipping switches , shutting down parts of the plane he assumes we no longer need ?
Let ’ s face it , before Covid-19 hit our shores we knew Washington was a mess .
Most of us chose to ignore the dysfunction as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highs .
We did this in spite of Border Patrol and ICE agents storming into our neighborhoods to look for immigrants .
We did this in spite of mass shootings , failing schools and crumbling infrastructure .
We did this without even saving some of the profits for a rainy day .
We just plowed it back into the stock market .
How ’ s that working for us now ?
Is there any faster way to destroy the future of our nation ?
Scientists , doctors and engineers have been challenging Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he took office .
These men and women are not politicians .
They are the voices of reason and truth .
We need them now .
We need their expertise just as dearly as we need masks and ventilators .
Above all , we need sensible leadership .
Leadership that recognizes that what goes up will occasionally go down .
Leadership that recognizes that it is not always possible to win every time .
Leadership that does not exploit the cultural and economic divide simmering under the surface of the nation and use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks and months will be critical .
Will Trump Air stay aloft ?
Will the President continue to find success leveraging division within the country or will he run out of social credit ?
The messaging has been clear .
Those loyal to the President will never lose again .
But what about the rest of us ?
How do we square this type of message with our friends and family ?
How do we square this message with our political system ?
Won ’ t a permanent set of winners leave us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wake up America , before it ’ s to late !
Seize the cockpit or you die .

By now it should be abundantly clear that the American experiment, the American Dream if you will, has been hijacked. With each passing day the political, economic and physical health of the nation slides deeper and deeper into an ever darkening pool of political incompetence and poisonous venality. With each passing day it is becoming increasingly clear that the Trump administration has systematically undermined the foundations of the U.S. government in order to protect and enrich their brand. We are all outliers now. Socially distanced, mentally and physically exhausted.
The failure to adequately address the Covid-19 pandemic has brought into sharp relief the Trump administration’s inability to govern — at all. In its place, we now have a daily Kabuki dance, featuring an elaborately made-up President and suggestive tropes about the Chinese virus that has scared the hell out of traders and shoppers alike. Everybody is stocking up on debt and toilet paper. The shelves of economic clearing houses are being gutted while we shop at Costco.
Can this really be the end of the American Dream? Are the heady days of American domination about to collapse under the mountains of debt propping up our economy? What happens when it all comes crashing down? What about the declining price of oil? We desperately need to address our collapsing energy markets if we are to whether this storm. The duality of this crises cannot be stressed enough.
As the world leader in oil production, the United States should be leading negotiations to keep prices stable. Instead we have seen squabbling between OPEC members, particularly the Saudis and the Russians, devolve into a tit for tat loosening of all curbs on production. Not only are these actions manifestly damaging to our economy, they are destroying the world economy.
In light of growing concern about Covid-19, and the wider implications of global warming, the collapse of oil prices due to a conflict among producers is horrifically ill-timed.
This is not a complex problem. Prices need to remain stable while the world fights the virus. Why is the President on the sidelines when a huge financial tsunami is threatening to destroy the backbone of our financial system?
Despite 9/11, the Saudis remain one of our most enduring allies. Presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner has Mohammad bin Salman’s private cell phone number. President Trump proudly visited the Saudi Kingdom shortly after his inauguration. Clearly there are multiple avenues of communication that exist between both nations. Why have we been blind-sided by this development?
Conversely, if the Russians threatened to pull out of OPEC negotiations because they felt high oil prices protected the American shale industry, why wasn’t the State Department monitoring this situation? Shouldn’t the President of the United States be briefed on the dangerous multiplier effect of collapsing oil prices, especially at a time of national emergency?
It is not difficult to conclude that a developing health pandemic would negatively impact international rates of consumption. Don’t we, as a nation, at least owe the Russians a call? Aren’t we all in this together? President Trump has repeatedly stated, throughout his incumbency, that negotiating with the Russians should be on the table. Why not now?
The deep, systemic damage tearing through the world’s financial markets suggests that we should be calling the Russians and the Saudis everyday. This is what great leaders and great nations do. They bring people together. They make deals that prevent the oversupply of a resource that underpins the economy of our nation and the wider world. We can’t fight the virus with a rate cut when the foundation of our economy has been jeopardized by falling oil prices. This isn’t rocket science.
Unfortunately, in place of thoughtful and well reasoned precautions, we have been presented with a confusing melange of knee-jerk reactions that has instilled a discordant blend of complacency and fear across the nation. The President and his staff need to realize that a large majority of the country is still seeking true leadership. Not the type of self-aggrandizing leadership often portrayed in American action movies but real, honest to goodness leadership that inspires us to toss aside our differences and find strength in our unity.
One man cannot be expected to fight every battle, solve every crime, and protect the health of every American. Belief in such a possibility is pure fantasy. It takes a nation of men and women dedicated to the principles inscribed in our Constitution to make us safe and protect our way of life. This is why we have governments in the first place.
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