Election Day Observation

And start with the guy at the top.

Middle Age Riot

@middleageriot

It seems only fair that the people responsible for 40 million lost jobs should lose theirs. #VoteOutTheGOP

Vote, folks!!

And vote blue!!

#BlueWave2020

86 45!

BYEDON!

Donald Trump's America

 Yes sir, Mr. and Mrs. America. Herewith, Donald Trump's, very Republican Party President Donald Trump's America.

Thank you, sir!

May we have another?!

86 45

BYEDON

And Repulbicans.  Know, just know we are never, never going to let you forget this guy. Nor certainly the damage he wreaked on the nation. You're never living this down.

America, a Reality Check

So understand where we are.

• California is burning.
• They also experienced their highest, worst summer temperatures in recorded history this year, a few weeks ago.
• Colorado is now burning.
• A derecho went through Iowa a week ago, destroying many buildings and millions of dollars of crops, making it far worse for farmers yet.
• A hurricane just smashed into the Gulf yesterday morning.
• More than 180,000 Americans have now died from this pandemic, more than any other nation.

But Donald Trump wants you to fear someone else's Presidency.

Oh, and also hate that other political party.

Right.
Got it.

86 45

BYEDON

Still more:

U.S. economy plunged an annualized 31.7% in second quarter

This Republican National Convention, In a Nutshell

 Here you go, folks.  Donald J "Jenius" Trump and his request for the nation.    

He, Trump, and the Republicans, are serious, too. 

They mean this.

To them, the US is, on the one hand, a big mess but hey, it's in far better shape now, with Trump "leading" us than it would be if he hadn't made all the sacrifices he has.

And we'll be far, far worse if we hand everything over to that Trotsky-lover Biden.

Right. 

Sure. 

Got it.

Sure we will.

What? We haven't handed out yet enough of the nation's treasure to the already-wealthy and corporations in the nation?

86 45

BYEDON

Quote of the Day -- On This Convention Edition

 Unsourced quote I saw today on last evening's Republican National Convention nightmare.

“America right now has: deadly pandemic, massive unemployment and recession, schools unable to open, protests over racial injustice, a killer hurricane bearing down on the South… And I am watching Mike Pence talk about how bad things would be in Joe Biden’s America,”

I don't know what's worse.

All these people telling us things will be worse under Joe Biden or Donald Trump telling us he's the "law and order" candidate.

Vote.

And Vote blue.

86 45

BYEDON

An Open Letter to Missouri's Senator Josh Hawley

A note, a request, to our Missouri Senator Josh Hawley--

Make yourself useful, Senator Hawley. Please. Work on this. 

Fear of post office cuts grows in rural Kansas, Missouri towns. ‘It will hurt people’

Instead of TikTok or the NBA, which isn't remotely in MIssouri and which you've railed on for weeks, work on fixing funding for the USPS. 

See to it mail boxes are put back. 

Make certain all the mail sorting machines are back in place and functioning. 

We're not a Third World backwater. We're the United States of America. We shouldn't need to remind you. We're supposed to be the wealthiest nation in the world. Our Postal Service should work and it should be functioning for all of us, all the time. We're not some leader's banana republic for his reelection.

Do your work.

Do this work.

Please.

Then, after that, there's this thing called a pandemic?  You may have heard of it...

Donald Trump This Week at the RNC

After yesterday's opening performance at the Republican National Convention, it's extremely clear this is going to be like a badly failing student going to a class assembly in the auditorium, telling the entire student body he's making straight As.

And the heck of it is, some of his friends on the staff are going along with it.

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

86 45

BYEDON

At What Point, America, Do You Get This on Health Care?

Okay, America. It's 2020. Worst, most killing international pandemic in more than 100 years.

You're the only Western, industrialized nation without universal health care. You're the only nation that tied and ties health care to profit.

The U.S. is the Only Very Highly Developed Country Without Universal HealthCare

You have, far and away, THE MOST EXPENSIVE health care system IN THE WORLD. And it also gives you THE WORST OUTCOMES, for all that money.

U.S. Healthcare: Most 

Expensive and Worst Performing

The U.S. Has the Most Expensive Healthcare System in the World

And we're the only nation--IN THE WORLD--where citizens can and do go bankrupt for health care costs.

Only in America: Bankruptcy Due to Health Care Costs

And not just bankruptcies, which is bad enough, but it's the NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF BANKRUPTCY in the nation.

Health Care Costs Number One Cause of Bankruptcy for American Families

And now? As I said, with this worst, most killing international pandemic in over 100 years? And the job losses? And so, people losing their health insurance?

Millions Have Lost Health Insurance in Pandemic

COVID-19 Job Losses Threaten Insurance Coverage

27M Americans may have lost job-based health insurance

At what point do you get this?

How long are we going to let corporations and profits be more important than people? And their lives?

You didn't used to be clueless. Or heartless.

Or downright stupid.

Covid-19: A Very Current International Comparison

 Check that out. This was yesterday. Deaths from this pandemic in 7 different allies and us, the United States of America. 

The world's richest, "most advanced" nation.

1,120 Americans died yesterday. Now, more than 168,000 Americans dead from this pandemic.

We're exceptional, all right.

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

What This Pandemic Is and Is Not, Here In America

I found this on the interwebs, on Facebonkers, today and thought it good to the point of important.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but you need to know how silly you look if you post some variation of, "Welcome to Socialism..."

You are not seeing Socialism. What you are seeing is one of the wealthiest, geographically advantaged, and productive capitalist societies in the world flounder and fail at its most basic test. Taking care of its people.

This crisis is not about the virus.

This crisis is about the massive failure of our, "Booming economy," to survive even modest challenges. It is about the market dissonance of shortages in stores, even as farmers/producers destroy unused crops and products. This crisis is about huge corporations needing an emergency bailout within days of the longest Bull Market in our history ending and despite the ability to borrow with zero percent interest rates.

This crisis is about corporatized healthcare systems being unable and ill equipped to provide basic healthcare, at the same time they post record profits. It is about crisis response depending on antiquated systems nobody remembers how to operate.

But most of all, this crisis is a direct result of the politicization of every aspect of our society for the benefit of a privileged few. The vilification of education, science, media, natural rights, rural lifestyles, urban lifestyles, charity, compassion, and virtually everything else for brief political gain has gutted our society.

What you are seeing is a quarter century of technological brilliance being reduced to a narcissistic popularity contest. You're seeing the folly of basing the health and welfare of an entire society on personal greed. You're seeing all the necessary tools, for us to shrug off this crisis, go unused while people argue over who should get the credit and profit. Even worse, you're seeing vital help withheld because recipients might not, "deserve it..."

You're seeing a lot of things nobody thought they'd ever see, but you're not seeing Socialism...

"Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves."  -- Horace Mann

-- Paul Field

Ladies and Gentlemen, I Give You Donald J Trump

Herewith, Donald J Trump:

~Got his own birthday wrong when trying to vote.

~Got his own father's place of birth wrong.
~Got his own wife's name wrong.
~Called his own son "Melania's kid" (he does get credit for getting her name right that time).
~Repeatedly wandered away from Melania because he forgot she was with him.
~Waddled away from signing ceremonies forgetting to have signed anything (at least twice).
~Asked where Giuliani was when Rudy was sitting right in front of him.
~Thinks he talked with "Tim Apple".
~Thinks his own Secretary of Defense is named "Mark Esperanto".
~Thinks people need to have an ID to buy groceries (at least twice).
~Thinks tariffs are paid to the federal government (numerous times).
~Thinks people don't know that President Lincoln was a Republican (which, of course, means he didn't know).
~Thinks he met the president of the Virgin Islands (he is the (so-called) president of the Virgin Islands).
~Thought he was in Fairfax when he was in Fredericksburg.
~Thought there was a mass shooting in Toledo when it happened in Dayton.
~Thinks we have a "Marine Core".
~Has a Russian Soyuz spacecraft depicted on his official Space Farce coin.
~Thinks Nambia, Nipple, and Button are all countries.
~Waddles around in public stuck to toilet paper (at least twice).
~Waddled away looking for a gigantic limo that was parked right in front of him.
~Thought he got "beautiful letters" from the Boy Scouts and the NFL (both of whom denied sending any).
~Called Detroit a "titty".
~Referred to the USA as the "United Straits of America" (maybe it will be by the time he's done).
~Thinks there were airports during the Revolutionary War and that we rammed the ramparts.
~Thinks he invented the phrase "priming the pump".
~Had Kellyanne Conway try to convince people "covfefe" is a word and his supporters would know what it meant.
~Thinks injecting people with light bulbs and disinfectant might be a viable medical procedure.
~Talked about the attacks on 7-Eleven.
~Thinks Colorado is building a wall.
~Can't even spell "coronavirus," much less, mitigate it.
~Thinks we can nuke hurricanes.
~Tried to pass off a hurricane map he altered as official.
~Thinks there's a "Noble" prize.
~Doesn't exercise because he thinks people have a "battery" that will get depleted.
~Thinks he personally redesigned naval warships to be "more beautiful" and "less expensive," like "yachts with missiles on them".
~Considers being able to waddle down a ramp at a snail's pace without falling over ("Look, Ma! I didn't even use the handrail!" and drink water with one hand are major accomplishments that he should brag about.
~Refers to himself in the third person so he can praise himself on the extremely rare occasions when he actually does his job.
~Uses pseudonyms like "David Dennison," John Miller," "John Baron," and "John Barron" to praise himself.
~Thinks increased testing spreads Donnie's Covfever.
~Brags about passing a cognitive test given to people suspected of having serious mental deficiencies.
~Thinks he visited "Paradise" California. There is no such place.
~Wanted William Barr to determine the "oranges" of the Mueller investigation (twice).
~Thinks astronauts travel in "capsicles".
~Thinks windmills cause cancer.
~Thinks we have a national park called "Yo! Semite!"
~Thinks there's a country called "Thighland".
~Thinks stealth fighters are literally invisible.

Now that we've covered senility, lets move on to creepiness:

~He said he would like to date his own daughter.
~He told a minor he would probably date her someday.
~Let Princess Nepotisma sit on his lap long after it was appropriate.
~Told Howard Stern he could call her "a piece of @ss".
--Speculated on Tiffany's future breast size when she was an infant.
~Walked in on teenagers, including minors, intentionally, in their dressing rooms because he thought owning the pageants made it OK for him to be a lecherous, leering old man.
~Has been accused of sexual impropriety by about 2 dozen women, at least one of whose lawsui is currently working its way through the legal system.
~Bragged about grabbing women by the genitals. Cavemen didn't even do that.

Thanks, Republicans.

Quite the guy you foisted on us all, pushed off on the nation.

You must be so proud.

So much winning.

Links:

Coronavirus: US surpasses 5 million confirmed cases

Trump on Americans Dead From COVID-19: 'It is what it is'

America has more coronavirus deaths than other countries

Coronavirus: Why America Has More Deaths Than Any Other

The World Is Looking on in Disbelief, if not Horror, America

 For a bit of what Italy and Europe and the world are seeing as they look on at America.

Europe stunned by American coronavirus response as US approaches five million infections

The United States' failure to contain the spread of coronavirus has been met with astonishment and alarm in Europe

"'We Italians always saw America as a model,' said Massimo Franco, columnist with daily Corriere della Sera. 'But with this virus we've discovered a country that is very fragile, with bad infrastructure and a public health system that is non-existent.'"

Much of the incredulity in Europe stems from the fact that America had the benefit of time, European experience and medical know-how to treat the virus that the continent itself didn't have when the first Covid patients started filling intensive care units.

Yet, more than four months into a sustained outbreak, the US is about to hit an astonishing milestone of five million confirmed infections, easily the highest in the world.

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

MASK UP!!

 Proof it works.  Proof it's important, if anyone still needs it.

KC health director says evidence is unquestionable that masks slow coronavirus spread

66,000 lives could be saved if more people wear masks

So yes! Mask up, everyone! Stay home, if/when/as possible! Stay safe! Be well!

And have a great weekend!

Somehow!

Congress, Those Unemployment Payments and the Rent Moratorium

If Congress doesn't get help out across the nation and then only sends $200 in unemployment payments instead of the $600 they were sending but then also doesn't keep the moratorium on evictions during this pandemic?

There could be so many ramifications.

--Putting people, whole families, too, out on the streets.
--Putting people squarely in either poverty or deeper poverty.
--People not able to maybe go, then, to work, because they are on the streets
--Children maybe not able to go to school
--Consequential food insecurity.

All kinds of things, more, much more than I've even poster here, above.

Insane.

This could get really ugly, folks. 

Really ugly.

Think as bad as or worse than the Great Depression.

Quote of the Day -- Presidential Pandemic Edition

Thanks, Mr. President!

Thanks, Republicans!

Entertainment Overnight -- Covid Edition

Can't touch this...


Stay safe out there, y'all.

Be well.

Quote of the Day -- Missouri Governor Edition

Thanks, Governor Parson!

Thanks, Republicans!

Donald J Trump and What Passes for "Leadership"

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

Have You Seen This Ad for the Republicans?

I've seen this ad on TV multiple times and I have to say, I just love it.



"America first", it says and shows Vice President Mike Pence.

But that's it.

Not once do they show the Trumpster.

They seem to be clearly running from him.

Fantastic.

And why shouldn't they? Check out these articles today.

Broad disapproval for Trump's handling of coronavirus

Biden leads Trump by 8 points, holds big advantage among undecided voters: poll

Biden Now Leads Trump In Texas, 

Poll Finds

Bring it on. 

On to November.

Vote blue.

#BlueWave

Is Missouri Governor Parson Trying to Out-Stupid Donald Trump?

Missouri's Governor Parson---showing that not just this deeply ignorant, even dangerous Republican Party President Trump can be or is reckless and stupid.  First, last week, he did this:

Missouri spending $15M in coronavirus relief funds on boosting tourism

Because yeah. In a pandemic.

Then yesterday, he said this.

From Randy Turner today at The Turner Report blog out of Joplin, Missouri.

"No truth to the rumor- Gov. Parson directed the Department of Tourism to use the $15 million CARES Act grant to promote Missouri through the slogan- Come to Missouri, Get COVID 19. You'll Get Over It!"

Once again and as ever, thanks, Republicans!