(Snopes) We are not ready for the deep fake shit that is headed our way.
Jul 1, 2020
Taken Together
45* can't quite defend himself on the Russian bounties thing. Then he makes a lot more noise in favor of Confederate statues, and his firm commitment not to change the names of US military bases named for Confederate celebrities.
Can we not conclude from all this that he's generally supportive of organizations fighting against The United States, trying to kill American troops?
Can we not conclude from all this that he's generally supportive of organizations fighting against The United States, trying to kill American troops?
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| It is a wonderment |
Today's Beau
Senate Republicans are co-signing Trump's selling out the country.
Justin King - Beau Of The Fifth Column
Justin King - Beau Of The Fifth Column
COVID-19 Update
We have 32 times as many dead Americans now as we had 3 months ago.
Dead Americans:
Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease specialist, warned Tuesday that the United States could soon have 100,000 new coronavirus cases a day “if this does not turn around” — a surge that would be more than twice as many as the record so far and three times as many as the original peak this spring.
Fauci said that recent images of Americans gathering in bars or other crowds foreshadow a greater spike in infections that “is going to be very disturbing … We’re going to continue to be in a lot of trouble, and there’s going to be a lot of hurt if that does not go away.”
Fauci gave his bleak assessment in response to questions during his latest appearance on Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers on the state of the pandemic as new infections are rampant across much of the South and West, with hospitalizations escalating in a dozen states.
He and other top health officials acknowledge that the nation’s public health system was ill prepared for a major infectious-disease outbreak, as the Republican chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee called on President Trump to start heeding federal guidance to wear a mask in public.
“Unfortunately, this simple lifesaving practice has become part of the political debate that says this: If you’re for Trump, you don’t wear a mask. If you’re against Trump, you do,” said the chairman, Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.). “That’s why I’ve suggested that the president occasionally wear a mask, even though in most case it’s not necessary for him to do so. The president has plenty of admirers. They would follow his lead.”
Dead Americans:
- APR 1st: 4,081
- MAY 1st: 63,871
- JUN 1st: 106,220
- JUL 1st: 130,134
Top 20 States
Fauci said that recent images of Americans gathering in bars or other crowds foreshadow a greater spike in infections that “is going to be very disturbing … We’re going to continue to be in a lot of trouble, and there’s going to be a lot of hurt if that does not go away.”
Fauci gave his bleak assessment in response to questions during his latest appearance on Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers on the state of the pandemic as new infections are rampant across much of the South and West, with hospitalizations escalating in a dozen states.
He and other top health officials acknowledge that the nation’s public health system was ill prepared for a major infectious-disease outbreak, as the Republican chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee called on President Trump to start heeding federal guidance to wear a mask in public.
“Unfortunately, this simple lifesaving practice has become part of the political debate that says this: If you’re for Trump, you don’t wear a mask. If you’re against Trump, you do,” said the chairman, Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.). “That’s why I’ve suggested that the president occasionally wear a mask, even though in most case it’s not necessary for him to do so. The president has plenty of admirers. They would follow his lead.”
Jun 30, 2020
Borowitz
New Yorker:
Trump Did Not Read Taliban Brief
Trump Did Not Read Taliban Brief
Because He Was Busy Not Reading Coronavirus Brief
By Andy Borowitz
Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, angrily accused reporters of being “totally unaware” of just how much Trump has to not read in a given day.
By Andy Borowitz
Donald Trump did not read a Presidential Daily Brief about Russia paying Taliban militants to attack U.S. troops because he was busy not reading a Presidential Daily Brief about the coronavirus, the White House said on Monday.
“Day in, day out, the President has to ignore briefs on a wide range of subjects,” McEnany said. “His ‘Do Not Read’ box is overflowing.”
“I’d like to see any of you try to not read all of that stuff,” she said. “It isn’t easy, especially when the briefs have words like ‘urgent’ and ‘must read’ stamped in big red letters on them.”
After lashing out at the press, McEnany saved her most blistering remarks for the authors of the Presidential Daily Briefs themselves. “Anyone who expects this President to find out something important by reading does not know Donald Trump,” she said.
Ignorance
- The president didn't hear the guy yell "White power"
- The president didn't know about Tulsa or Juneteenth
- The president didn't know how complicated healthcare was
- The president didn't know Finland wasn't part of Russia
- The president didn't know you can't nuke a hurricane
- The president didn't know the UK was a nuclear power
- The president didn't know about the Russian bounties
If we substitute "a regular guy" for "the president", then we're not talking about anything of great import.
But we're not talking about a regular guy. We're talking about POTUS.
Ignorance is not an excuse - it's an indictment
The White House appears to be homing in on a defense of last resort for President Trump when it comes to the Russia bounties controversy: He doesn’t read.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Monday claimed Trump hadn’t been briefed on the intelligence that Russia placed bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan. But when pressed on whether the intel appeared in Trump’s written President’s Daily Brief, or PDB, she declined to directly respond.
There appears to be a reason for that. The Washington Post and others have confirmed that the information has indeed appeared in the PDB. The Post reports that two sources say “the intelligence was considered significant and credible enough that it was included in the President’s Daily Brief.” The New York Times is also reporting that information appeared in the PDB in late February. The Associated Press reported that it appeared in the PDB as far back as early 2019. And GOP lawmakers who were briefed Monday at the White House also appeared to grant that the info was probably in the PDB. “I believe it may have been,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.) told NBC News.
The first thing to note here is the semantic game the White House appears to be playing. They’re suggesting that the President’s Daily Brief document doesn’t itself constitute a “briefing” — despite having “brief” in its name — but that a briefing must be done orally.
The first thing to note here is the semantic game the White House appears to be playing. They’re suggesting that the President’s Daily Brief document doesn’t itself constitute a “briefing” — despite having “brief” in its name — but that a briefing must be done orally.
Of course, that's not how it works. You can get as pedantic as you want with the word "briefing", but the point here is that we've got a big fuckin' problem because the "president" doesn't know anything.
Let's be clear. This is a guy who knows right from wrong. He knows when he's lying. He knows when he's doing a shitty thing. It just doesn't matter to him. He'll do &/or say whatever he thinks will accrue to his benefit.
He doesn't even care that everybody knows he's lying and that his lies are now getting us killed. His whole thing for his whole life has been all about keeping his name in the news - there's no such thing as bad publicity. And that's continued to be his whole thing for his whole term as POTUS.
"Russian interference? Doesn't matter - I'm the one they're all talking about."
"Pandemic? Doesn't matter - my name is mentioned most in every news story."
"Bounties on American troops? Yeah, too bad - guess whose name they're all screaming."
The guy's gotta go. We've taken some considerable damage points so far, but the probability that America survives as a decent place to live goes in the shitter completely if we "elect" 45* again.
COVID-19 Update
Continuing to hold the growth rate for Deaths to just over 1.00 (1.004)
Americans are still dying unnecessarily, of course, but the numbers seem to be down - that's assuming Cult45 isn't playing games with the reporting.
Americans are still dying unnecessarily, of course, but the numbers seem to be down - that's assuming Cult45 isn't playing games with the reporting.
Jun 29, 2020
New Democracy Stuff
Virginia put the Dems in charge, and we're finally making some progress towards that more perfect union.
2 really big ones, IMHO are Drivers License reinstatement and Voting.
License restrictions were closely tied in with other obvious and corrupt attempts at voter suppression. And the items that expand voting, especially the one making Election Day a state holiday - comprise a very healthy package of democracy.
BTW, "conservatives" benefit from all of this too. You're welcome.
Hundreds of new laws in Virginia go into effect Wednesday, July 1 that could affect your life.
The laws reflect the Democratic majority in the Virginia General Assembly and the governor’s mansion.
More than 1,200 bills cleared the legislature, and were signed by Gov. Ralph Northam, with most taking effect Wednesday. Others, including a minimum wage increase, to $9.50 per hour won’t become law until 2021. A law banning holding a cellphone while driving will go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.
Abortion
New legislation rolls back a 24-hour waiting period and the requirement that a woman undergo an ultrasound and receive printed counseling materials before having the procedure.
Casinos
Lawmakers voted to legalize casino gambling in five cities, including Richmond, if voters give their approval in local referendums. The four other cities would be Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth. Sports betting will be legal, regulated by the Virginia Lottery. Betting on games with in-state colleges will be prohibited.
Lawmakers voted to legalize casino gambling in five cities, including Richmond, if voters give their approval in local referendums. The four other cities would be Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth. Sports betting will be legal, regulated by the Virginia Lottery. Betting on games with in-state colleges will be prohibited.
Confederate statutes
As of July 1, localities will have the ability to decide the fate of Confederate statues in their jurisdictions. Previous Virginia law made it illegal to remove war monuments. Under the new law, localities can remove, relocate or contextualize monuments on public property.
As of July 1, localities will have the ability to decide the fate of Confederate statues in their jurisdictions. Previous Virginia law made it illegal to remove war monuments. Under the new law, localities can remove, relocate or contextualize monuments on public property.
Driver’s license suspensions
Drivers will no longer have their licenses suspended for unpaid fines and court costs. Last year, lawmakers approved a budget amendment proposed by Northam, which reinstated 600,000 suspended licenses to Virginians.
Drivers will no longer have their licenses suspended for unpaid fines and court costs. Last year, lawmakers approved a budget amendment proposed by Northam, which reinstated 600,000 suspended licenses to Virginians.
Education
New laws eliminate the requirement that school principals report misdemeanors committed at school to police. Parents will get at least 24 hours’ notice before a school holds a lockdown drill.
Guns
Several new laws go into effect July 1, including a ban on the possession of firearms by a person subject to a restraining order. New requirements call for a background check on all firearm sales and a limit on handgun purchases to one a month. A lost or stolen gun will need to be reported within 48 hours.
Health insurance
Health insurers will be limited to charging a maximum of $50 per month for insulin. Virginia is creating a state health insurance exchange, rather than relying on the federal marketplace.for people to buy health insurance.
In-state tuition regardless of citizenship status
Students living in the U.S. without documentation, but who still meet Virginia residency requirements will be eligible for in-state colleges and universities. Under the law, a student will have to show proof of filing taxes, will have to have attended high school in Virginia for two years or been homeschooled there or passed a high school equivalency test before enrolling.
LGBTQ
Furthering the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that protects lesbian, gay and transgender people from discrimination in employment, Virginia added sexual identity and gender identity to its protected classes, making it illegal to discriminate in housing, employment and public accommodations. In addition, conversion therapy on minors will be banned.
Marijuana
As of July 1, people found in possession of under 1 ounce of marijuana will face a $25 civil fine. There will no longer be jail time or a criminal conviction. Criminal records of simple possession will be sealed, and employers and schools will be banned from asking about prior simple possession convictions.
Transportation
Lawmakers raised the gas tax by 7.6 cents a gallon and created the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, to oversee and finance transportation projects in Richmond, Ashland, and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan.
Voting
Starting Wednesday, voters will no longer need to show a photo ID at polls, but will be required to show other documents that show the name and address of the voter. For absentee voting, voters will no longer be asked to state an excuse. Election Day will be recognized as a state holiday, with the elimination of Lee-Jackson Day, which paid tribute to Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.
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