Must-See Articles on this President

Yes, here are some, what I would call "must-see" articles on this President that broke in the last day or two.

First, letters to the Editor at The New York Times:

Trump’s Slow Response to the 

Coronavirus Pandemic

“The case can be made that, among industrialized countries, the United States has had the worst overall response,” a reader writes.

And that writer isn't just any writer out there but a microbiologist, formerly with the Environmental Protection Agency. And that's just the first letter.

Then there is this:

Ann Coulter: "The Only National Emergency Is That Our President Is An Idiot"

Even Ann Coulter, uber Right Wing and conservative, very Republican Party Ann Coulter, of all people is not just against Donald J Trump but publicly calls him an idiot.

What's not to love about that?

And not just Ann Coulter but more Republicans are irritated by Mr. Trump.

Trump sparks GOP backlash with claim of 'total' power to reopen the country

Next up, in response to his assertion that his power as President, is absolute:

‘The Definition of Totalitarian’: Lawyers Erupt as American President Asserts That His ‘Authority Is Total’

Seems he didn't want to tell each and every state governor what to do individually on "stay at home" orders but now that we're considering taking them off, Mr. Trump suddenly thought he should, in fact, be able to tell all 50 states' governors if they should or should not take off those same orders.

Like it both ways much?

Next is this. One of my favorite things during this nightmare of a Trump Presidency is when even Fox shuts him down.

Fox Biz Host Blows Out Trump's 'Total Authority' Claim: 'The Constitution Disagrees'

Finally, at least today, is this on this President's Attorney General William Barr.

Burr sold townhouse for $900K to lobbyists who had business before his committees: report

Could this administration get more corrupt?

To which I answer, I don't think so---but they keep surprising us, don't they?

So there you have it. A brief summary of, again, what I've seen to be some of the most important articles out in the last few days.

With Republican Party groups organizing against this President and even the likes of Ann Coulter and Fox coming down, and hard, at times, on him, well, it's enough to give me hope.

Wish us all luck, campers.

Huge New Unbelievabilities From This President

Breaking this afternoon...

Unbelievable.

If it were anyone else but Donald J Trump, it would be unbelievable.

Trump Says He Will Halt WHO Funding

Just this afternoon, first, is this:  Republican Party President Donald J Trump declared that WE ARE CUTTING OFF ALL AID to the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, the WHO.

During a pandemic.

During the largest, most killing, deadly international pandemic of the last 100 years.

And he's cutting aid to them.

President Trump said the U.S. will stop funding to the World Health Organization while his administration reviews its role in “mismanaging” the coronavirus.

He said the U.S. contributes up to $400 million while superpowers like China, where the outbreak began, contribute closer to $40 million.

“The United States has a duty to insist on full accountability,” Mr. Trump said.
And wait.

It gets worse.

Naturally.

He calls for this because

Second, he says they mislead on the pandemic

He cited the WHO’s lack of pushback to Beijing’s foggy reporting on the virus in the early going, saying it cost the rest of the world valuable time.

THEY mislead? He's claiming SOMEONE ELSE MISLEAD on this pandemic?

Where do we even start, Mr. "It's a Democratic Hoax"?

Then, because he can't be done there, no, no. Not this man, not this President.

Finally, he said  they, the WHO handled this pandemic badly.

He also blasted the WHO’s opposition to bans on travel from China, accusing it of putting “political correctness above life-saving measures.”

Staggering.

What did he do if not handle this pandemic badly?  Extremely badly, in fact. Documentedly so.

Again, "The Onion" can't write stuff this bizarre.

He's accusing the WHO of the very things he did.

Once again, thanks, Republicans!!

Link:

'Appalling Betrayal of Global Solidarity': Trump Condemned for Halting US Funding to World Health Organization Amid Pandemic

Star Gives Us Ways We Can Help Locally

Okay, so we're all in an international pandemic no one would have ever imagined, we're in a stay at home order and we have time on our hands.

With that, are there ways we can help, help one another, locally, and hopefully use all this time we have on our hands?

The answer is yes, of course, and our own Kansas City Star gave us ways to do just that in Sunday's paper.

Your money, your blood, your time: 

How to help Kansas City during COVID-19 crisis

Herewith:

Perhaps you’re looking for ways to make a difference during this COVID-19 crisis that has affected us all. The possibilities are endless.

You can simply donate to worthwhile causes. That would be one way to get the most good out of the government’s stimulus checks set to arrive in the coming weeks.

Your funds can assist charities that are on the front lines of the ongoing pandemic battle (disaster-relief organizations, hospitals and other health-related groups) as well as those that help people struggling to survive. Food pantries and other charities such as the Salvation Army are requesting donations of food, clothing and other basic-need items.

But don’t forget the many organizations that have been devastated by the virtual shutdown of the economy and are struggling to stay afloat until a return to normalcy. Think the arts, restaurants and entertainers.

Your time is also valuable. Many organizations are looking for volunteers during this time of need.

But perhaps the most basic way to make a difference is simply to be a good neighbor or citizen.

The Star has compiled a list of ideas and resources, which we’ll add to as more become available. Please give us your ideas by emailing calendar@kcstar.com.

HELP THE HUNGRY

Harvesters, harvesters.org/givetime

Don Bosco Senior Center, donbosco.org

Food Equality Initiative, foodequalityinitiative.org

MCC Food Pantry locations, mcckc.edu/counseling/food-pantries

St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at St. Therese Church, sttheresenorth.org/svdpfoodpantry

Thelma’s Kitchen at Reconciliation Services, thelmaskitchen.org

Meals on Wheels, mealsonwheelsamerica.org (search by ZIP code)

Feeding America, feedingamerica.org

No Kid Hungry, nokidhungry.org

Operation BBQ Relief, operationbbqrelief.org

GIVE BLOOD

Community Blood Center has canceled blood drives but has expanded hours at its seven donor centers around the area (no walk-ins). Donors can schedule appointments at 877-468-6844 or savealifenow.org.

The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City is taking appointments at 800­-733-2767 or redcrossblood.org.

HELP THE HOMELESS

Agencies need funding, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and food. Veterans Community Project, at 8900 Troost Ave., is accepting donations, which will be distributed to agencies throughout the community. veteranscommunityproject.org

City Union Mission, cityunionmission.org

Community LINC, communitylinc.org

Cross-Lines Community Outreach, cross-lines.org

Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness, gkcceh.org/community-closures-and-openings

Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus, hopefaithministries.org

Restart, restartinc.org

ASSIST RESTAURANT WORKERS

Curbside KC (order food for pickup), curbsidekc.com

BaristaKC Virtual Tip Jar, linktr.ee/baristakc

Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation, restaurantworkerscf.org

James Beard Food & Beverage Industry Relief Fund, jamesbeard.org/blog/relief-fund

Rally for Restaurants, rallyforrestaurants.com

Unite Here, unitehere.org/covid-19

HELP THE HELPERS

I Got You KC (donations and sponsorships for restaurants to provide meals for health-care workers and first responders), igotyoukc.com

SUPPORT ARTISTS AND ARTISANS

KC Spaces Fund, kcspacesfund.com

KCYA teaching artists, kcya.org/?page=artist-emergency-fund

Strawberry Swing makers’ products, thestrawberryswing.org

CERF+ visual artists, cerfplus.org/donate

Americans for the Arts Action Fund, artsactionfund.org

Support for local filmmakers, kcfilmoffice.com

MAKE/DONATE FACE MASKS

Some health-care providers, such as the University of Kansas Health System, say they can’t use homemade masks. But other groups, including Heart to Heart International and Johnson County’s emergency management team, welcome the donations.

Martin City Brewing Company tutorial, facebook.com/watch/?v=2606071786387858

The Whole Person, thewholeperson.org

Sandlot, sandlotgoods.com

JoAnn Craft Stores resources, joann.com/make-to-give-response

Johnson County is accepting donated cloth masks, jocogov.org

Million Mask Challenge, facebook.com/groups/millionmaskchallengekc

Rightfully Sewn, rightfullysewn.org

Buy one and one is donated to someone in our community, sewkc.com

GENERAL RESPONSE

Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, growyourgiving.org/covid

Heart to Heart International, hearttoheart.org

Volunteer Johnson County, joco.samaritan.com

Salvation Army, centralusa.salvationarmy.org/mokan

American Red Cross, redcross.org/volunteer

Center for Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Response Fund, disasterphilanthropy.org

United Nations Foundation, unfoundation.org

World Health Organization COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, covid19responsefund.org

Doctors Without Borders, doctorswithoutborders.org

Partners in Health, pih.org/article/pihs-emergency-coronavirus-response

National Council on Aging, ncoa.org

Facebook will double your donation to the CDC Foundation’s coronavirus response support, facebook.com/cdcfoundation and give.cdcfoundation.org

OTHER RESOURCES

Direct Relief humanitarian aid organization, directrelief.org

Elder Helpers, elderhelpers.org

Find your local mutual-aid network, mutualaidhub.org

Charity rating sites, Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) and CharityWatch (charitywatch.org)

Catchafire online volunteer opportunities, catchafire.org

DO SOMETHING NICE

The following list was compiled from suggested activities by Doing Good Together (doinggoodtogether.org), a Minneapolis group that provides tools to help raise compassionate, engaged children, as well as The Washington Post and other online sources:

• Arrange for meals to be delivered to those working on the front lines, such as police, EMTs and hospital workers (first make sure they are allowed to accept food).
• Send a note of thanks to front line health-care workers.
• Call or text neighbors (especially older ones) to make sure they’re doing OK.
• Leave packaged, sealed treats or beverages by your front door as a way to thank delivery people.
• Start a neighborhood hunt (bear, tiger or whatever) in which residents put teddy bears (or whatever) in their windows for families on walks to watch for.
• Write encouraging messages in chalk on your sidewalk.
• Set up FaceTime and Skype sessions with relatives or acquaintances in assisted living facilities.
• Advocate on social media for individuals and organizations that need help.
• Support local businesses by buying gift cards.

So there you are.  A great, long and I think pretty comprehensive list of all the things we can maybe do to help one another during this very trying, difficult, even surprising time. 

Again, we have time on our hands.  Let's see if we can help one another out there. 

Go get 'em, Kansas City!

And kudos and thank you, Kansas City Star!

Y'all be well, be safe and STAY AT HOME!!

Quote of the Day -- Poignant Version

Seems especially timely and poignant just now.

Stay safe out there, folks. Stay well. Stay home.

Banana Republic?

Saw this online earlier today.

Doug Antelman

We are a Banana Republic. 

Don't believe it?

• Extremely stratified social classes-check
• Large impoverished working class- check
• Ruling class plutocracy comprised of business political and military elites- check
• Kleptocrats who maximize their financial gains on the backs of the every day workers- check
• Elimination of accountability and oversight- check. (White House ethics officer quit, Inspectors General being fired, Intel heads fired, Attorneys General fired, refusal to comply with subpoenas from Congress, refusal to recognize authority of the legislative branch)
• Nepotism- check.
• Cronyism- check (see Elaine Chou and Betsy DeVos)
• Policies designed to benefit the wealthiest- check
• State run news- check
• Attacks on the free press and journalists - check
• Weaponize justice through Department of Justice- check
• Enemies list- check
• Attacks on free and fair elections - check
• Dismantle checks and balances- check
• Eliminate all internal opposition within the cabinet, agencies, their staff, National Security Council, Generals etc- check.

This is where we are, folks This all happened in the past three short years, right under our noses with this President and his administration.

Thanks, Mr. President!
Thanks, Republicans!

What shall we do about it?

Who This President Is Working For Just Now, Today

Two hours ago, this President just posted the following tweet online:

Having been involved in the negotiations, to put it mildly, the number that OPEC+ is looking to cut is 20 Million Barrels a day, not the 10 Million that is generally being reported. If anything near this happens, and the World gets back to business from the Covid 19 disaster, the Energy Industry will be strong again, far faster than currently anticipated. Thank you to all of those who worked with me on getting this very big business back on track, in particular Russia and Saudi Arabia.

This is who this President is working for presently.

He's working for the oil companies. 

He's working so they have higher gas prices for us to pay.

We're in the middle of the worst, most killing, deadly pandemic in the last 100 years, at least, and he's working for the oil companies today.

Not done there, he famously, in the last few weeks, made it completely clear he was leaving "stay at home" orders for this pandemic up to each of the 50 governors of each state. Today, this hits:

Trump says he’ll decide on easing guidelines, not governors

Now, suddenly, he doesn't like not having this power any longer so he's saying it's up to him, him of all people, to decide when we'll ease these orders, not the governors.

And at the same time, he's also disavowing Dr. Anthony Fauci, this administration's head of this pandemic work. Earlier today he retweeted #FireFauci.

The man is nuts. I think he's losing or lost it. Seriously.

Thanks, Mr. President!
Thanks, Republicans!

Song for a Pandemic

It's only for now.

BREAKING, GREAT NEWS, KANSAS!!

From David Hammet tonight at Loud Light.

Kansas Supreme Court says executive order banning religious service of more than 10 people stands

Kansas Supreme Court finds Republican Leadership had no legal authority to revoke Governor Kelly’s executive order limiting gatherings due to COVID19.

The revocation is null. The Governor's executive orders can only be revoked by the entire state legislature not the small leadership council.

Great, great news!

As it should be!

For the people!

I hope it's not too late to get the word out to all the churches.

It's all here:

https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/High%20Interest%20Cases/Kelly%20v%20LCC/122765Opinion.pdf?fbclid=IwAR27IrIFBxF43IeSTQNsG_eNB1sYxF3Hn3FY0jx18l0M7-fxlpDMQnQGb9c

This President. This Presidency

No overstatement.

The worst president. Ever.

Nixon-era White House counsel John Dean: Nixon was 'corrupt,' but Trump is 'evil'

Quote of the Day --- On the Coming Election

“Vice President Biden will be the nominee Together, standing united, we will go forward to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history.”

--Senator Bernie Sanders

Vote.

And vote blue.

November 3, 2020

#bluewave

From Now to November---Never Forget

All true. No overstatement.

(click on picture for easier reading)

Thanks, Republicans!

Kansans! What You Need To Know About Changes In Voting This Year!

From our hard working friend, Davis Hammet, over at Loud Light.



You can find more about this great group here:

Loud Light

Maybe help them, if you can?

Yet More Unbelievability From This President

Trump to Freeze WHO Funding

"Trump on Wednesday said the administration will freeze $452 million in appropriations to support public health efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) while investigating its stance with China and the pandemic."

Freezing aid.

To the World Health Organization. 

During the worst, most killing, deadly international pandemic in the last 100 years.

Thanks, Mr. President!

Thanks, Republicans!

Links:

Ocasio-Cortez Decries Trump Halt to Federal Funding of Coronavirus Testing as 'Completely Irresponsible' Amid Pandemic

Trump's self-interest is at odds with safe coronavirus policy

Our Very Slow Response to this Pendemic is on this President's--and his political party's--hands

From the very Right Wing, very conservative, very Republican Party group Liberty Project.


Thanks, Republicans!

And Now, Biden v. Trump

I think it's sad and unfortunate we've come down to Joe Biden as a candidate for the presidency this year.

Enlarge Image

But it's absolutely, literally frightening, no understatement, that we've come down to Donald Trump.

Again.

Fortunately, we have this in our favor. This is from last Fall.

Poll: Most Voters Dislike President Donald Trump

Mr. Trump had, almost singularly, the economy going for him. Now, he certainly doesn't have that. 

Added to the above link is this:

Polls: Majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak

Joe Biden may not have been your first pick for President this year.

He certainly wasn't mine.

And sure, he's likely at least unimaginative and uninspired and yes, accused in the past of sexual assault.

Unlike Mr. Trump, he was not accused of sexual assault--or rape--by 80 different women.

But Joe Biden is, by far, far and away, a huge preference to Donald J Trump even the first time, let alone for a second term.

It's sad we've come to this.

Vote.

And vote blue.

And get all your family and friends out to vote, too.

Well, except your crotchety old Uncle Goober, the Trump supporter.

#bluewave

Link:

Biden vs. Trump: The General Election Is Here, and Transformed

Breaking News Today

This just broke.

Bernie Sanders drops out of presidential race

So now it's on to November.

November 3, 2020.

VOTE BLUE

BLUE WAVE

We must, we have to get this very dangerous, greedy, selfish, reckless, self-serving lunatic and his toady minions out of the White House and out of power.

And this Fall, please, please do all you can to not just vote but to help all you can get out there, too, and vote.

We can do this.

Again, we must.

Quote of the Day -- On President Donald J Trump and This Pandemic

“That the pandemic occurred is not Trump’s fault.

The utter unpreparedness of the United States for a pandemic is Trump’s fault.

The loss of stockpiled respirators to breakage because the federal government let maintenance contracts lapse in 2018 is Trump’s fault.

The failure to store sufficient protective medical gear in the national arsenal is Trump’s fault.

That states are bidding against other states for equipment, paying many multiples of the precrisis price for ventilators, is Trump’s fault.

Air travelers summoned home and forced to stand for hours in dense airport crowds alongside infected people? That was Trump’s fault too.

Ten weeks of insisting that the coronavirus is a harmless flu that would miraculously go away on its own? Trump’s fault again.

The refusal of red-state governors to act promptly, the failure to close Florida and Gulf Coast beaches until late March? That fault is more widely shared, but again, responsibility rests with Trump: He could have stopped it, and he did not.”

The lying about the coronavirus by hosts on Fox News and conservative talk radio is Trump’s fault: They did it to protect him.

The false hope of instant cures and nonexistent vaccines is Trump’s fault, because he told those lies to cover up his failure to act in time.

The severity of the economic crisis is Trump’s fault; things would have been less bad if he had acted faster instead of sending out his chief economic adviser and his son Eric to assure Americans that the first stock-market dips were buying opportunities.

The firing of a Navy captain for speaking truthfully about the virus’s threat to his crew? Trump’s fault.

The fact that so many key government jobs were either empty or filled by mediocrities? Trump’s fault.

The insertion of Trump’s arrogant and incompetent son-in-law as commander in chief of the national medical supply chain? Trump’s fault.”

For three years, Trump has blathered and bluffed and bullied his way through an office for which he is utterly inadequate. But sooner or later, every president must face a supreme test, a test that cannot be evaded by blather and bluff and bullying. That test has overwhelmed Trump.

--David Frum, Canadian-American political commentator, speechwriter for President George W. Bush, conservative

Link:

David Frum - Wikipedia

The World Has Gone Mad

Yes, the world has gone mad.

And it keeps going madder and madder.

First this:

'Moronic But Consistent': Outrage Over Trump Admin Giving PPE to Private Companies, Not States

Then this:

Competition among state, local governments creates bidding war for medical equipment

And actually, on this last one, I understand it's even worse than this. I've seen where state and local government are bidding against each other, sure, but that they're also having to bid against our own Federal Government, too, driving prices up even more.

Not done there, then this:

Trump removes inspector general overseeing $2 trillion coronavirus relief package 

days after he was appointed

Swamp?   Drain the swamp?  What's that you say?

And then this, now, today.  Because that's just not enough insanity and stupidity for one day.

Trump threatens World Health Organization funding

He's attacking the World Health Organization. I assume they weren't toady enough for him.

During the worst international pandemic in the last 100 years, let's cut funding to one of the organizations out there in the world who can help fight it. Brilliant. As the British say, bloody brilliant. No pun intended.

Next up, this:

White House Press Secretary, Who Never Gave a News Conference, Replaced

"Stephanie Grisham is being replaced as White House press secretary after a rocky nine-month tenure that did not include a single on-the-record appearance in the White House briefing room."

She was this President's third Press Secretary.

Finally, there is this, lest anyone think I believe all insanity is singularly attributable to this President.

Conspiracy theorists claim 5G to blame for Coronavirus

Not bad enough there, some think they have to take action on it.

5G coronavirus conspiracists burning cell phone towers

Keep in mind, too. The above is just a short list. These are things that are happening today. I'm not going back the last, say, 3 months to post more insanity from this President and his administration. I'm taking it easy on you, on us all. Heck, I'm sparing myself.

I never, ever thought it would be possible to actually miss Richard Milhouse "Tricky Dick" Nixon.

This administration makes my head spin. I can't keep up.

Thanks, Republicans!

Link to yet more insanity:

Germany confirms that Trump tried to buy firm working on coronavirus vaccine

If We Could All Do Better After This Pandemic

Wouldn't it be incredible if all nations, the world over, took this event, this coronavirus pandemic as well as global warming and climate change, as a moment to give up war and all work together for the betterment of all people, all nations?

A guy can dream.

Be well. Be safe out there.

And stay at home.

Bad News For Missouri and Our Peak Deaths Date In This Pandemic

A friend sent me the following link and chart with information of when, exactly, the doctors and scientific community is projecting each state will peak in deaths from this novel coronavirus pandemic.

Here's when the coronavirus will peak in your state

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has developed a new model that predicts peak coronavirus in each US state

Missouri is, coincidentally, unfortunately, a worst case scenario, of all the states.

This table was last updated April 2:

State	PEAK USE OF RESOURCES	PEAK DAILY DEATHS	TOTAL ESTIMATED DEATHS (BY AUG 4)
USA	April 15	April 16	93,531
Alabama	April 17	April 19	5,516
Alaska	April 15	April 14	148
Arizona	April 27	April 26	1,387
Arkansas	April 26	April 26	619
California	April 26	April 26	5068
Colorado	April 17	April 18	2154
Connecticut	April 15	April 15	1144
Delaware	April 11	April 11	166
Florida	May 3	May 4	6897
Georgia	April 24	April 25	3232
Hawaii	May 3	May 1	372
Idaho	April 26	April 26	397
Illinois	April 20	April 20	3386
Indiana	April 19	April 20	1160
Iowa	May 1	May 1	1488
Kansas	April 28	April 26	640
Kentucky	May 16	May 13	821
Louisiana	April 9	April 10	1834
Maine	April 17	April 15	364
Maryland	April 29	April 28	1766
Massachusetts	April 16	April 17	2381
Michigan	April 9	April 11	3169
Minnesota	April 22	April 21	932
Mississippi	April 21	April 20	918
Missouri	May 21	May 18	1290
Montana	April 26	April 25	266
Nebraska	April 23	April 23	447
Nevada	April 20	April 18	799
New Hampshire	April 17	April 15	331
New Jersey	April 8	April 9	2117
New Mexico	April 24	April 22	525
New York	April 9	April 10	16261
North Carolina	April 26	April 27	1534
North Dakota	April 21	April 20	169
Ohio	April 19	April 19	1898
Oklahoma	April 23	April 23	1419
Oregon	May 5	May 2	558
Pennsylvania	April 18	April 19	2023
Rhode Island	April 20	April 16	259
South Carolina	April 28	April 28	1095
South Dakota	May 4	April 29	204
Tennessee	April 19	April 20	3422
Texas	May 6	May 6	6392
Utah	April 23	April 23	580
Vermont	April 9	April 2	58
Virginia	May 20	May 20	3152
Washington	April 11	April 9	978
West Virginia	May 4	May 1	487
Wisconsin	April 27	April 28	951
Wyoming	May 4	April 28	140

Tough luck there, Missouri, Missourians. Better luck.

STAY. AT. HOME.