It’s a busy day, here in the CatBox, and this is my only article today. WWKiisten will be here soon to destink the thoroughly rancid TomCat, goop, and help with chores. WWWendy will be here again on Thursday. Tomorrow I may be running behind, as Diana, my palliative care nurse, will be coming to change my pain patch. Have a Republican-free Sunday!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:11 (average 5:23). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Trump* Virus Update:
US Cases: 3,835,430
US Deaths: 142,883
Short Takes:
From Common Dreams: Consumer and workers’ rights advocates are warning that new details of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s plan to shield businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits show just how far the Republican leader is willing to go to ensure corporations are not held accountable for endangering public health and safety.
“Congress must reject this dangerous proposal,” the National Employment Law Project said in response to a draft (pdf) of McConnell’s plan obtained by Politico and other outlets on Friday.
The draft, authored by McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.), proposes relieving businesses, schools, churches, and other institutions of legal responsibility for workers, customers, and others who contract Covid-19 except in cases of “gross negligence and intentional misconduct”—a difficult standard to prove in court.
As the Associated Press reported, the Republican plan “offers a broad shield by requiring heightened pleading standards, stiffening burden-of-proof standards, and capping damages on awards. Employers would also be shielded from investigations by federal agencies.”
Additionally, McConnell and Cornyn’s plan would empower companies to move coronavirus-related personal injury and medical liability cases to more business-friendly federal courts. “Defendants are liable,” the draft states, “only if they failed to make reasonable efforts to follow applicable public-health guidelines.”
You know it’s evil coming from Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch, and co-authorship by Cornhole Cornyn makes it even worse. The Republican Reich wants to give corporate criminals license to kill workers using Trump’s Republican plague. RESIST!!
From YouTube (Elizabeth Warren Channel): Elizabeth Warren: “Corruption is a Public Health Risk”
In the Republican Reich, what you know hadsno value. It’s all about who and how much you pay . That’s why Republican politicians love to suck Koch. RESIST!!
From YouTube (a blast from labor): Which Side Are You On — Pete Seeger
Except for unmuzzled Republican police unions, support labor! RESIST!!
Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!
12 Responses to “Open Thread–7/19/2020”
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Cartoon: Nope! as a Navy Veteran … my Oath never expires!
TVU: Look at those #’s….so sad.
CD: How sick can both of them be?? Really scary! I know that R’s stoop low, and dig holes for themselves…but this is really, really bad.
EWC: Good informational video. Glad that she got this out. Ms. Warren rocks!
BFTP: Great song!
Hi WWKristen! Hope that you get all your chores done, and then have a chance to rest. Take good, good care, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in:
“Thumbs UP! Orange grinning like he won a prize. 137,000 (or more) Americans dead and this is our self proclaimed wartime president’s answer to it. ~ Anderson Cooper ~
2. “If the roles were reversed, and dt was a Dem President, they (R’s) would have, for sure, either 25th’ed or impeached him. They would have not allowed him to continue.” ~ Bev H. ~
3. “Remember when Fox personalities lost their minds when Obama did this? Somehow, trump violating the Hatch Act AND being a complete failure at keeping us safe is still more tolerable to the GOP than a man with feet on the Resolute desk.” ~ Tonya A. ~
4. “trump and Republicans just announded that they will hold their Republican Convention in August OUTSIDE because it’s too dangerous to be inside. OH! and they also want yours and my kids to go back to school in August INSIDE!” ~R. B. ~
5.”dt won’t be able to hide the covid death reports. Texas already had to order freezer trucks in case the morgues fill up. Don’t shut your eyes, America. ~ Colleen A. ~
6. “It’s despicable that dt and WH have yet to make a statement on the passing of American Hero, John Lewis.”
~ Lincoln Project ~
TJI #2 – Democrats have made some mistakes, but we aren’t capable of putting in a President like Trump. Our voters would not stand for it.
TJI #6 – At least they didn’t make a statement using a picture of Frederick Douglass.
TJI #3 – When did Pres. Obama ever violate the Hatch Act – or even come close?
He didn’t. He did put his feet on a desk once.
‘Toon: that’s the message he’s putting out in Portland!
TVU: Yeah? Well, you can’t catch us, in DeSantisland! Putz and a quarter!
CD: Both of these bastards need to be un-electd!!!!!!!!!!!! And, the GOP sent to hell!
EWC: I continue to be amazed at how she can speak to the hideousness of a Trump, in such a cogent, and calm manner! I’d probably respond to that invite to comment by blowing a gasket!
BFL: Wonderful! I saw Pete perform in person a couple of times. “This machine (banjo) kills Fascism!” “This banjo surrounds hatred and forces it to surrender!” Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, respectively.
TJI- #4: Of course!
#6: Yeah, Trump will make n appropriate comment about Lewis, at the same time HE hangs real president Obama’s WH portrait!
Best to WWKristin and to you getting stuff done.
RVAT
Lincoln Project (no CC till the very end, but almost no sound – a few desert sounds, but deserts aren’t exactly loud.
Cartoon – I don’t recall ever having seen this one before. It’s very accurate.
Map – My birthday, my husband’s, my mother’s, and my father’s are all coming up, and I thought about starting a betting pool for which one would be closest to the day we hit 4 million cases. But, besides that being more callous than I want to be, it won’t be necessary. the first one is Thursday, and we’ll already be there.
CD – It also shows how “white” people are no more human to them than black or brown. But I doubt so much as one racist will pick up on that, even while being victimized. The Republicans still talk white supremacy convincingly and that’s enough.
Elizabeth – The words “keep honest” are anathema to the current regime. Corruption endangers a lot of things – justice, freedom, and others – and of course public health too, though it’s one of the last most people think of. The pandemic is certainly showing us.
Past – OMG, yes. In 2018 we said the only choice was democracy or fascism. It seems impossible, but it’s even more clear today. I would call it a choice between humanity and suicide, but I’ll bet there’s someone who can word it even better.
RESIST!
Meme is from a tweet by Robert Reich. I made it a jpg file so it would be easy to save.
Take a close look at Lincoln Project’s “Wall” video. It’s a little hard to make out, but those aren’t slats – they’re old-time wooden coffins.
And the numbers on them are also difficult to make out.
I think a more direct angle would have made it easier.
I think it’s easiest to see the shapes in their shadows.
But whether you are thinking of the coffins or just the bodies, I think it’s clear that’s the wall material they are referring to. “Just not the 9wall) he promised.”
Cartoon: Awful to see how these repugs preach.
TVU: Keeps growing everywhere. Today on CNN they were again showing tRump saying the same old words that it’s going to just simply disappear. Wish he would be on one to disappear from our planet.
CD: Truly despicable. Agree with both Pat and Joanne’s comments.
EWC: Great words by Elizabeth.
BFTP: Great tune by Pete.
Hope your day with Kristen went well. That you both got your chores completed. Good luck with your palliative care nurse. Hope she comes on time and takes care of your medical needs especially your patches.
Take care. Thanks TomCat
3:33 Don’t goop it, send Nemo home, please.
Cartoon: Just like Jesus, threatening people to have them follow. Not.
Update: I don’t believe for one minute that there are so many states with 0 cases. They probably only report to the White House.
CD: McConnell at al don’t come up with any legislation to get the pandemic under control and help the nation get on top of it, but come up with a draft to prevent corporations from being sued if they open up shop far earlier than healthcare experts say is conscionable. Now, why doesn’t that surprise me in the slightest?
EW: Spot on, as usual. Trump and his horde will not hear it but hopefully, Joe Biden and his team will take it to heart.
Thanks and OGIM Hugs to all!