This President Has Now Become Dangerous, Part II

Further proof, if you haven 't already seen or heard it, that this Republican Party President, Donald Trump, is, in face, beyond his now-usual reckless but become dangerous, no overstatement.

Trump’s ‘LIBERATE MICHIGAN!’ tweets incite insurrection.

Federal law bans advocating the overthrow of government

What he did yesterday.

President Trump incited insurrection Friday against the duly elected governors of the states of Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia. Just a day after issuing guidance for re-opening America that clearly deferred decision-making to state officials — as it must under our Constitutional order — the president undercut his own guidance by calling for criminal acts against the governors for not opening fast enough.

Trump tweeted, “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” followed immediately by “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” and then “LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!” This follows Wednesday’s demonstration in Michigan, in which armed protestors surrounded the state capitol building in Lansing chanting “Lock her up!” in reference to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and “We will not comply,” in reference to her extension of the state’s coronavirus-related stay-at-home order. Much smaller and less-armed groups had on Thursday protested on the state capitol grounds in Richmond, Va., and outside the governor’s mansion in St. Paul, Minn.

This President has been a lot of things these past 3 years, most of them reckless, ill-advised, wrong, impetuous---a lot of things. But with this, as with, as I wrote here earlier, his call to de-fund the World Health Organization during this most deadly pandemic in the last 100 years, with this he has now become dangerous. 

Literally dangerous.

At least we have this from yesterday.

Trump's Gallup approval rating sees the sharpest decline of his presidency

And this, today. Even this Republican Governor agrees with us.

GOP Gov. Hogan: Trump’s ‘LIBERATE’ tweets about coronavirus lockdowns aren’t helpful

He's never been popular, overall, period but at least we have this.  He doesn't know it but he does damage to himself.

Some hope.

Be well. Stay safe. Stay home.

With This Pandemic, President Trump Has Now Officially, Publicly Become Dangerous, Part I

So this President Trump said the World Health Organization, the WHO, didn't advise us soon enough and they misrepresented things? Then, in the middle of this worst, most deadly, killing pandemic in the last 100 years, cut their funding from us, the US.  Here's proof he's wrong. So very, very wrong.

First of all, here's what he did.

Trump tells a damnable 
and murderous lie

“It would have been so easy to be truthful.”

Thus spake President Trump this week on the very day he surpassed the milestone of uttering 18,000 falsehoods during his presidency, as tallied by the Post’s Fact Checker.

But on this day, Trump was not admitting to losing his own struggle with the truth. He was accusing the World Health Organization of “covering up the spread of the coronavirus” and failing to “share information in a timely and transparent fashion.” He declared he was cutting off funding for the world’s public health body in the middle of a pandemic.

The next day he called the WHO a “tool of China” and floated the vile conspiracy theory that the WHO deliberately concealed the danger of the virus: “There’s something going on” at the WHO “that’s very bad,” and "I have a feeling they knew exactly what was going on.”

This is not merely a falsehood. This is a damnable and murderous lie.

And here, ladies and gentlemen, is all the proof to show this President is wrong.

A Timeline Of Coronavirus Comments From President Trump And WHO

From NPR.

On Tuesday, President Trump said he's suspending U.S. funding for the World Health Organization. He said the agency has "mismanaged" the pandemic, has been slow to respond to the crisis and is "China-centric."

We looked at the public record to see what Trump and the WHO had to say over the past 15 weeks about the coronavirus pandemic. Here's a timeline highlighting key quotes.

Jan. 5

The WHO reported a "pneumonia of unknown cause" in Wuhan, China.

The health organization advised against restrictions to China: "WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China based on the current information available on this event."

Jan. 9

The WHO released a statement announcing the source of the disease: "Chinese authorities have made a preliminary determination of a novel (or new) coronavirus, identified in a hospitalized person with pneumonia in Wuhan."

It added: "In the coming weeks, more comprehensive information is required to understand the current status and epidemiology of the outbreak, and the clinical picture."

Jan. 14

WHO officials gave conflicting signals about whether there is human-to-human transmission. At a press conference in Geneva, Maria Van Kerkhove of WHO's emerging diseases unit told a Reuters reporter: "From the information that we have it is possible that there is limited human-to-human transmission, potentially among families, but it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission." However, that same day WHO tweeted a different take, stating that "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China" and also told an NPR reporter that Van Kerkhove had been misunderstood and there was in fact no evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Jan. 22

Asked by CNBC whether there were any concerns about the virus spreading to the U.S., Trump responded: "We have it totally under control. It's one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It's going to be just fine."

Jan. 23

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that it was too early to declare the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. "Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one."

Jan. 24

In a tweet, Trump praised China for its efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. "China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!"

Jan. 29

Dr. Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, said, "The whole world needs to be on alert now. The whole world needs to take action and be ready for any cases that come from the epicenter or other epicenter that becomes established."

Jan. 30

At a campaign rally in Iowa, Trump talked about the U.S. partnership with China to control the disease. "We only have five people. Hopefully, everything's going to be great. They have somewhat of a problem, but hopefully, it's all going to be great. But we're working with China, just so you know, and other countries very, very closely. So it doesn't get out of hand."

Tedros announced that the outbreak had become a "public health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of novel coronavirus."

Feb. 2

In an interview with Sean Hannity, Trump said, "We pretty much shut it down coming in from China." His executive order banning anyone who has been in China in the previous 14 days — with exceptions, including for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and their close family members — went into effect.

Feb. 4

At a WHO briefing, Tedros urged that there be no travel bans. "We reiterate our call to all countries not to impose restrictions that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. Such restrictions can have the effect of increasing fear and stigma, with little public health benefit. ... Where such measures have been implemented, we urge that they are short in duration, proportionate to the public health risks and are reconsidered regularly as the situation evolves."

Feb. 10

At a campaign rally in Manchester, N.H., Trump said: "Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away. I hope that's true. But we're doing great in our country. China, I spoke with President Xi, and they're working very, very hard. And I think it's going to all work out fine."

Feb. 11

At a WHO briefing, Tedros urged world leaders to give priority to containing the virus: "To be honest, a virus is more powerful in creating political, economic and social upheaval than any terrorist attack. A virus can have more powerful consequences than any terrorist action, and that's true. If the world doesn't want to wake up and consider this enemy virus as Public Enemy Number 1, I don't think we will learn our lessons."

Feb. 13

In an interview with Geraldo Rivera, Trump characterized the threat of the virus in the U.S. by saying: "In our country, we only have, basically, 12 cases, and most of those people are recovering and some cases fully recovered. So it's actually less."

Feb. 24

In a tweet, Trump wrote, "The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!"

Feb. 26

In a news conference, Trump said: "When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that's a pretty good job we've done."

Feb. 28

The WHO raises the global risk of the coronavirus from "high" to "very high."

March 5

In a WHO briefing, Tedros praised China and the U.S. for taking "the right approach." He said: "After our visit to Beijing and seeing China's approach, and President Xi leading that, and also in the U.S., President Trump himself, and also for regular coordination, designating the vice president. These are the approaches we're saying are the right ones, and these are the approaches we're saying are going to mobilize the whole government."

In a Fox News town hall, Trump said, "It's going to all work out. Everybody has to be calm. It's all going to work out."

March 10

In a meeting with Republican senators at the U.S. Capitol, Trump said, "This was unexpected. ... And it hit the world. And we're prepared, and we're doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away."

March 11

Trump said in an Oval Office address: "The vast majority of Americans, the risk is very, very low."

Tedros said the WHO had "made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."

March 16

"You cannot fight a fire blindfolded. And we cannot stop this pandemic if we don't know who is infected," Tedros said at a briefing in Geneva. He added, "We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test. Test every suspected case."

At a press briefing, Trump issued orders to control the spread of the virus in the U.S.: "My administration is recommending that all Americans, including the young and healthy, work to engage in schooling from home when possible. Avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people. Avoid discretionary travel. And avoid eating and drinking at bars, restaurants and public food courts. If everyone makes this change or these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus. And we're going to have a big celebration all together. With several weeks of focused action, we can turn the corner and turn it quickly."

March 17

Trump told reporters: "This is a pandemic. ... I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic."

March 21

Trump tweeted about potential coronavirus treatments: "HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine. The FDA has moved mountains - Thank You! Hopefully they will BOTH (H works better with A, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)....."

March 23

In a WHO briefing, Tedros said, "Using untested medicines without the right evidence could raise false hope and even do more harm than good."

He also said that the "pandemic is accelerating. ... It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the second 100,000 cases and just four days for the third 100,000 cases."

March 24

Trump said: "Easter is a very special day for me. And I see it sort of in that timeline that I'm thinking about. And I say, wouldn't it be great to have all of the churches full?"

March 26

"We are at war with a virus that threatens to tear us apart," said Tedros to world leaders in a special virtual summit on the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 6

Dr. Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, said you can't lift a lockdown all at once. "You need to say, 'We will stop doing this element of the shutdown, and then we will wait, and we will look at the data. If that works, we go to the next stage and the next stage.' So a careful, calibrated stepwise exit from lockdown."

April 7

Trump criticized the WHO for mishandling the pandemic. "The WHO really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China-centric. We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately, I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?"

April 8

"Please don't politicize this virus," Tedros said in a briefing in Geneva after he was asked about Trump's remarks the day before. He later urged political leaders to "please quarantine politicizing COVID."

April 14

"Today I am instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus," Trump said in a briefing at the White House.

April 15

"We regret the decision of the president of the United States to order a halt in funding to the World Health Organization," said Tedros at a news conference.

Responding to the U.S. accusations, Ryan of the WHO said, "In the first weeks of January, the WHO was very, very clear."

"We alerted the world on January the 5th," Ryan said. "Systems around the world, including the U.S., began to activate their incident management systems on January the 6th. And through the next number of weeks, we've produced multiple updates to countries, including briefing multiple governments, multiple scientists around the world, on the developing situation — and that is what it was, a developing situation."

In an interview with NPR that will air on April 16, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, stated: "[The World Health Organization] was not accurate. Had it been accurate, it would have slowed the virus and saved thousands of lives."

Jason Beaubien, Pien Huang, Ben de la Cruz, Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, Domenico Montanaro and Barbara Van Woerkom contributed to this report.

This President Trump has repeatedly been reckless and cavalier with facts.

With cutting funding to the WHO during this once in a lifetime, again, killing, deadly pandemic, he has become dangerous.

Further proof of President Trump being so very wrong.

State Department cables warned of safety issues at Wuhan lab studying bat coronaviruses

It's as I said some time ago. Richard Nixon had nothing on this guy.

We need to vote this guy, this President, out come November. Him and all who support him.

Further proof of his being dangerous later today, in my next post at 3 pm Central here.

Link:

In COVID Briefings, Trump Again Relies On Both Shock And Strategic Retreat

Quote of the Day -- From This President

What we're dealing with now.

REPORTER: I wanted to ask you specifically about one industry in particular, and that’s food-processing plants. Is there a priority to get testing at food-processing plants all across the country?

This Republican Party President: "Well, you’re asking that because of what happened — it’s a fair question, too — what happened in Denver. Because in Denver, I’ve never seen — I said, “What’s going on?” We’re looking at this graph where everything’s looking beautiful and it’s coming down and then you got this one spike. It’s — I said, 'What happened to Denver?'

And many people, very quickly, and they — by the way, they were on it like, so fast, you wouldn’t believe it. They knew every aspect. They had people go and — not only testing, 'Who did you see? Where were you? How many people did you meet? Were you out to dinner in somebody else’s home? Where were you?' Where did — where did this number of people come from? How did — they are totally on it.

Now, this just happened. I just saw it this morning. I’m looking at everything smooth, going down, topping out. And then you have this one spike in Denver. It’s like, where did this come from?
So we’ll be looking at that. And we don’t want cases like that happening. This was — but this — this is the kind of thing can happen. This is very complex.

This is a very brilliant enemy. You know, it’s a brilliant enemy. They develop drugs like the antibiotics. You see it. Antibiotics used to solve every problem. Now one of the biggest problems the world has is the germ has gotten so brilliant that the antibiotic can’t keep up with it. And they’re constantly trying to come up with a new — people go to a hospital and they catch — they go for a heart operation — that’s no problem, but they end up dying from — from problems. You know the problems I’m talking about. There’s a whole genius to it.

We’re fighting — not only is it hidden, but it’s very smart. Okay? It’s invisible and it’s hidden, but it’s — it’s very smart. And you see that in a case like a Denver.

But, you know, I think we’re doing well, and they’re on Denver like you wouldn’t believe. I came in this morning; it was a flurry. I said what’s going on? They said, “Denver.” I said, “What happened to Denver?” Because Denver was doing pretty well. And they’ve got that under control. But, yeah, that would be a case where you do some very big testing."

First, what the absolute heck?

Second, who talks like this?  What adult talks like this?

Not even third graders talk like this, let alone adults. Let alone the leaders of nations. Let alone the leader of what is supposed to be the head of nations. Let alone what is supposed to be the wealthiest of nations.

Thanks, Republicans!

Seriously. Honestly. God help us.  Get us to November.

Now This President Wants to Adjourn Both Chambers of Congress--So He Can Stack the Courts

And now this Republican Party Gestapo agent--President Donald J Trump, in case you've been buried in sand for 3 years, wants to actually adjourn BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS so he can stack the courts with yet more Right Wing, no doubt inexperienced judges. He actually said it.

Trump threatens to adjourn 

both chambers of Congress

What part of this is not Fascist?

fascism
[ˈfaSHˌizəm]

NOUN
an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.
synonyms:
authoritarianism · totalitarianism · dictatorship · despotism · autocracy · absolute rule · Nazism · rightism · militarism · nationalism · xenophobia · racism · anti-Semitism

(in general use) extreme authoritarian, oppressive, or intolerant views or practices.

We're in the middle of a killing, international pandemic that, by the way, has most of the nation rightly shut down so we don't spread the virus and he declares he wants to, again, adjourn both houses of Congress so he can stack the courts.

Oh, and his claim yesterday that the WHO, the World Health Organization, didn't notify us all, the world, that there was a pandemic out there and that they were irresponsible so we should actually cut their funding---in the middle of this pandemic?

'We Alerted The World' To Coronavirus On Jan. 5, WHO Says In Response To U.S.

So much for that claim. Not this his followers and supporters will agree or understand or accept this.

Naturally, this President didn't do his homework. "The Constitution does grant the power to adjourn the House and Senate, but only if the two chambers are in disagreement over when to adjourn, which is not currently the case." (With thanks to Gabe Fleisher at "Wake Up to Politics" for that last bit).

Not done there, check this out.

CIA: Please Ignore Trump’s Medical Advice On Coronavirus

Now even his own, our own CIA is saying ignore this President.

God help us.

And thanks, Republicans! Thanks again. So much. That's quite the guy you've foisted on us all, on the nation.

Link:

Wake Up To Politics

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