To Inject or Not to Inject?

Posted by TomCat at 10:20 am Politics

Apr 242020

Criminal Fuhrer Trump* and the Republican Reich never cease to amaze me. Every time I think they have exceeded bounds of human credulity, they take another asymptotic step toward infinity.

After a presentation Thursday that touched on the disinfectants that can kill the novel coronavirus on surfaces and in the air, President Trump pondered whether those chemicals could be used to fight the virus inside the human body.

“I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute,” Trump said during Thursday’s coronavirus press briefing. “And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets inside the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”

The question, which Trump offered unprompted, immediately spurred doctors, lawmakers and the makers of Lysol to respond with incredulity and warnings against injecting or otherwise ingesting disinfectants, which are highly toxic.

“My concern is that people will die. People will think this is a good idea,” Craig Spencer, director of global health in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, told The Washington Post. “This is not willy-nilly, off-the-cuff, maybe-this-will-work advice. This is dangerous.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Photo credit: @PuestoLoco

Lysol Manufacturer Warns Against Internal Use After Trump Comments

Actually, I trust that virtually no Democrats or sane Independents are stupid enough to go along with such a lame idea. Criminal Fuhrer Trump* and the MAGA Maniacs of the Republican Reich should try it themselves!

RESIST!!

The Fuhrer’s Vengeance

Posted by TomCat at 11:11 am Politics

Apr 042020

Government employees need to beware, and the more they care about doing their jobs, the more they need to watch out. That’s because anyone that says or does anything that criminal Fuhrer Trump* doesn’t like is a sure target for the Fuhrer’s vengeance. Here are two examples.

Sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier cheered for Capt. Brett Crozier as he disembarked the ship for the last time, an overwhelming show of support for their leader who was relieved of his command after issuing a stark warning about a coronavirus outbreak onboard.

New video obtained by CNN shows a large crowd gathered to give Crozier a warm and loud send off, clapping and chanting his name as he left the ship. It was a clear expression of appreciation for their former commander who was removed for what the acting Navy Secretary called “poor judgment.”

“Today at my direction the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Captain Brett Crozier, was relieved of command by carrier strike group commander Rear Admiral Stewart Baker,” acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly announced on Thursday.

The decision came days after Crozier wrote a memo warning Navy leadership that decisive action was needed to save the lives of the ship’s crew. “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our Sailors,” it read, three US defense officials confirmed to CNN…

Inserted from <CNN>

Sailors cheer Navy captain relieved of duty over coronavirus warning

Kudos to Brett Crozier for his extraordinary good judgement in saving his crew. He embarrassed criminal Fuhrer Trump*. Vengeances is Republican SOP.

Donald Trump has fired the inspector general for the intelligence community who handled the whistleblower complaint that led to his impeachment, prompting fierce criticism from Democrats.

The US president chose a Friday night, with America consumed by the coronavirus pandemic, to tell the House of Representatives and Senate intelligence committees of his decision to dismiss Michael Atkinson.

In a letter, Trump claimed it was “vital” that he had confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general, and “that is no longer the case with regard to this inspector general”.

The president would nominate an individual who has his full confidence at a later date, he added.

There was swift condemnation from Democrats. Chuck Schumer, the minority leader in the Senate, said: “President Trump fires people for telling the truth… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Guardian>

Trump Fires IG Who Flagged Ukraine Whistleblower Complaint

Kudos to Michael Atkinson for doing his job. Vengeance is mine, sayeth criminal Fuhrer Trump*.

RESIST!!

Even some Republicans are Trashing their Fuhrer!

Posted by TomCat at 11:30 am Politics

Apr 032020

Democrats and Independents trash criminal Fuhrer Trump* on a regular basis. It’s a completely natural thing to do. Trashing Trump is as obvious as peeing in a toilet. Republicans, on the other hand tend to fall between brainwashed and braindead, so they tend to love their criminal Fuhrer Trump* to the point of their own destruction. So I was very surprised to discover that even some Republicans are trashing their Fuhrer.

Republicans for the Rule of Law, a group of anti-Trump conservatives who backed the president’s impeachment, has released a brutal new ad that features longtime Republican voters hammering Trump’s leadership on the coronavirus pandemic.

The ad features Republican voters from all across the United States taking turns reading from a script describing their disillusionment with the president’s actions during the pandemic… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Raw Story>

Graphic credit: Decaffeinated Politics

Crisis of Leadership: Republican Voters Denounce Trump’s Coronavirus Failure

To be sure, since these folks are conservative Republicans I will agree with them on very little indeed, but I can agree with them on impeachment and on his lethal Trump* virus response. I can also respect them for having more integrity than over 99.44% of their fellow Republicans. Finally, I can thank them for their courage.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–4/3/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:30 am Open Thread, Personal, Plus, Politics

Apr 032020

It’s a barfy day here in the CatBox. I’ve been throwing up most of last night and this morning. I think something got caught in my tumor. I feel VERY tired. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:09 (average 4:46). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0403TrumpVirusMap

Cases: 245,442
Deaths: 6,098
Recovered: 10,411

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: Welcome to the COVID-19 Games, where the tributes are governors fighting for the scraps of critical protective gear still available, and where success still depends on kissing Trump’s ass.

Last week Trump was playing quid pro quo with Americans lives, telling governors “it’s a two-way street. They have to treat us well.” The result of not doing so is not getting help. Take New York, which requested 30,000 ventilators and got 4,400. And is being outbid by FEMA on the private market, where the state has been trying to procure more. “What sense does this make?” Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters Tuesday. “The federal government, FEMA, should have been the purchasing agent. Buy everything, and then allocate it by need to the states.” Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers asked for 190,000 nonsurgical masks from FEMA last week, and has struggled to find ventilators. He has no idea where the masks are.

On the other hand, Oklahoma asked for 16,000 face shields and got 120,000. It had received about 84,000 N95 masks by the end of last week, “more than twice its original request.” Then there’s Florida, which is expecting its third shipment from the feds. It got 100% of what Trump’s good buddy Gov. Ron DeSantis asked for in the first two shipments. Kentucky has gotten more than it requested. Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maine have only gotten part of what they’ve requested. (There you go, Sen. Susan Collins, more lessons learned for you.)

For governors to save their people, being just sycophants isn’t enough. They have to become suckophants too! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Sen. Harris On Trump’s Virus Response: ‘This Guy Doesn’t Understand His Job’

Unfortunately, I must disagree. Criminal Fuhrer Trump* does understand his job , and it has two foci: 1. Take the wealth of lower and middle class Americans and use it to provide welfare for billionaires and corporate criminals. 2. Establish a permanent, National Socialist, plutocratic Republican Reich in which elections have predetermined outcomes and exist for show only. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Neil Young – Heart of Gold/Lyrics (Full HD)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–4/1/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:12 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 012020

It’s another tired day here in the CatBox. I’ve been very busy researching my medical way forward. I did order one thing from Amazon that should help with both Trump* and cancer: 100 barf bags. I just learned I get my port in next Monday and have my first infusion the following Monday. This is getting too real! WWWendy comes this evening to de-stink the TomCat and help with chores. I’m ready for a nap, and it’s only 8:30. Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:46 (average 5:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Jen Sorensen Cartoon:

Embedded with permission from Jen Sorensen.

Trump* Virus Update:

0401TrumpVirusMap

Cases: 188,881
Deaths: 4,066
Recovered: 7,251

0401HospitalBeds

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Donald J. Trump should use this time when he is staying at home to repeat first grade, the nation’s teachers are urging.

Carol Foyler, the executive director of the National Alliance of Elementary Educators, said that the homebound Trump has a “golden opportunity” to use remote learning to repeat the first-grade curriculum.

“At a time when many of our nation’s children are being homeschooled, this seems like the perfect time for President Trump to learn the basics of reading, writing, and math,” she said. “By June, he could be reading ‘Hop on Pop’ and ‘Go, Dog, Go!’ ”

Sorry, Andy. I just can’t believe this one. All elementary educators are bright enough to be certain that criminal Fuhrer Trump* would flunk first grade. RESIST!!

From Alternet: Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s financial disclosures from late February and early March are simply fascinating. We already knew that Loeffler sold off a lot of stock in early February, while buying stock in a company positioned to do well during coronavirus shutdowns because it provides online meetings. But the hugely wealthy senator’s money moves didn’t stop there.

Loeffler sold off $18.7 million in shares of Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. Loeffler’s husband, Jeff Sprecher, is the CEO of the company and she used to be an executive there. Loeffler and Sprecher also sold shares of retail stores including Lululemon and T.J. Maxx, while making another really interesting investment. This time, they bought shares of a company that makes protective gear being used in hospitals fighting COVID-19.

She did not even warn her own constituents, let alone the rest of us, that she knew the Trump* virus pandemic was about to strike. How many thousands did she and Republicans like her murder by choosing to line their own pockets, instead of doing their job? RESIST!!

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): How to Prepare for the Trump Recession with Robert Reich

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. The Reich on the Right, the Republican Reich, cares only for grabbing power and providing welfare for billionaires. All of Robert’s proposals are spot-on, but only as a start. I will not survive the Republican Recession. I hope and pray you do! RESIST!!

From YouTube: Canned Heat – On The Road Again [HQ]

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Indefinite Detention for Republicans’ Enemies

Posted by TomCat at 10:54 am Politics

Mar 312020

On September 11, 2001, I was standing in the lunchroom of my company, watching the TV. Knowing that I was a political blogger, a group of coworkers asked me how I thought our government would react. Knowing that GW Bush, aka Crawford Caligula, had criticized his father for “’not finishing the job in Iraq’, I predicted that he would use 9/11, a terrorist act perpetuated by Saudis, as an excuse to attack Iraq. Also, knowing that Bush was trying to establish the Fourth Reich, I predicted that he would use 9/11 as an excuse to crack down on US civil liberties. The un-PATRIOT Act was a down payment for that. The failure of the Fourth Reich (Katrina and Republican Recession of 2008) killed that attempt. Therefore, I’m not surprised that, since criminal Fuhrer Trump* is now trying to establish the Fifth Reich, he has directed Barrf to set up indefinite detention for Republicans’ enemies.

As the US continues its scrambling response to the coronavirus outbreak, it has closed borders, quarantined some neighborhoods, and shut down businesses in a number of the most populous states.

Behind the scenes, federal and state governments have also been pushing for a series of draconian measures to respond to the virus, which would disproportionately affect asylum seekers, people embroiled in the justice system and even those seeking an abortion.

The efforts have already had a striking impact on civil liberties, and bear hints of a 2020 version of the US government response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001, which ultimately led to the Patriot Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that allowed, among other things, the government to collect citizens’ phone data, in an unprecedented encroachment on personal rights.

Amid the indisputable need to contain the coronavirus outbreak, many of the measures have civil rights advocates concerned. With the Trump administration’s poor record on openness and on freedom – seen especially in its treatment of undocumented workers – there is a real risk of Covid-19 having a permanent impact on society.

One of the most troubling efforts is a government proposal that would allow it to detain people indefinitely without trial during national emergencies. The justice department sent a request for the move to Congress around 20 March, in response to the coronavirus outbreak… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Guardian>

Virus power-grab? Trump admin seeks ‘sweeping’ powers to detain without trial during pandemic

In short, as is their history, Republicans are trying to use public fear to get extraordinary power, and when they have succeeded, they have invariably abused that power. There is a special word for anyone who concedes acceding to Barrf’s demand for his criminal Fuhrer Trump*: fool!

RESIST!!

Open Thread–3/28/2020

Posted by TomCat at 12:47 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 282020

This is my only article today, because I’m running so late. Three software items needed to update. My research took much longer than usual. There was a SNAFU converting my meds to liquid, and I spent two hours on the phone cleaning up the mess, and then, my computer ate this entire article, so you’re reading a rewrite from scratch. Please expect no more than Open Threads or Personal Updates tomorrow and Monday. Tomorrow, WWWendy plans to lower my ears, before de-stinking the rancid TomCat. We also have a lot of gooping to do, so it will be a very busy day. Monday I have a consultation with Evelyn and pick up a big bottle of pain meds. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:07 (average 4:18). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

It’s that GOP glow!

Trump* Virus Update:

0328TrumpVirus

Cases: 104,429
Deaths: 1,708
Recovered: 2,530

I hove no doubt that US cases/capita are artificially very low, because criminal Fuhrer Trump* has made getting a test virtually impossible.

Short Takes:

From Vox: President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will not adhere to a portion of the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill that would authorize an inspector general to oversee how $500 billion in business loans will be spent.

In a statement released early Friday evening, Trump announced that he had signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act, a relief package aimed at mitigating some of the economic fallout caused by efforts to allay the spread of Covid-19.

That bill also establishes a Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) within the Treasury Department to audit and investigate half a trillion dollars in loans for large businesses. In his signing statement, Trump said that this provision raises “constitutional concerns,” adding that his administration would not comply with such an official’s request for documents.

Congress also has oversight, and if criminal Fuhrer Trump* stonewalls again, it’s time for Congress to make him criminal Fuhrer Trump**. Nobody else will have ever been impeached twice. RESIST!!

From TPM: President Donald Trump reportedly wants his own personal touch on the assistance checks from the $2.2 trillion relief package.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump is pushing for his signature on the $1,200 checks that many individual Americans will soon receive now that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been signed into law.

Don Hammond, a former official at the Treasury Department, told the Wall Street Journal that a disbursing officer’s signature would ordinarily be on the checks.

Under the new law, single American adults making $75,000 or less will receive $1,200, while married couples will receive $2,400 if they earn a combined total of $150,000 or less. The amount gradually decreases for those making over those two income figures.

There is no way that criminal Fuhrer Trump* should be allowed to take credit for the aid to common people, that he fought tooth and nail against, as an election SCAM. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Blues Magoos- ‘We Ain’t Got Nothing Yet’

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Trump* Has His World Record

Posted by TomCat at 10:50 am Politics

Mar 272020

Criminal Fuhrer Trump* is always claiming that the he has made the US is first at something. Almost invariably, he is lying. But now, he deserves and can take complete credit for this. Trump* has his world record.

On Thursday, we hit a grim watershed. The US overtook Italy and China as the country with the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases. This is a dire crisis and an extraordinary failure of President Donald Trump. Americans are suffering and dying because the Trump administration failed to act quickly and decisively to prevent the virus’ spread. The US has now seen about 1,195 deaths and the number is rising rapidly.

On Thursday, the US saw an increase of more than 15,000 cases in one day — a shocking surge that can be explained by both the spread of the virus and increased testing after weeks of shortages — pushing the total number of confirmed cases over 82,000. China, in comparison, has reported 81,285 cases.

There is a fundamental difference between China and the US. China has broken the spread of the virus with a lockdown that first started in Wuhan on January 23 and is now being lifted in stages; only a few dozen new cases are allegedly confirmed each day, and most of these are apparently introduced from abroad. The US has not broken the epidemic. And if Trump has his way, easing guidelines to stay at home by Easter, we will fail to stop the epidemic and millions more will be infected. Even with active control, we might be facing around 81,000 deaths by July according to a new detailed analysis from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle…

…Trump bears direct responsibility for America’s unpreparedness and failed response to the epidemic. Since Trump came into office, he has systematically taken apart our protective public health system. The pandemic unit at the National Security Council was dismantled in 2018 under his watch. Trump slashed the CDC’s epidemic control teams in 39 countries, including China. And when the epidemic hit, Trump ignored it, downplayed it, and made repeated false claims. Even now, he spouts vulgar nonsense about restarting the economy by Easter when public health experts say the threat is going to persist for far longer.

Trump is profoundly culpable, but he is not the only reason for America’s dismal situation in the face of this epidemic. Our for-profit health care system rakes in money on disease, not on health. Instead, we have a system that works for the rich, instead of a public health system for all Americans that readily anticipates and controls new pathogens through testing, contact tracing, and quarantine… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <CNN>

The article could not be correct to point out the need for universal fee for health based medical care, like Medicare for all, instead of the private medical care we have now.

First, here’s criminal Fuhrer Trump* on his virus.

Resident Trump’s*10 most outrageous lines on coronavirus

Barf Bag Alert!!

On a bullshit scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high), criminal Fuhrer Trump* rates 50+ for these.

And now, on Trump* Virus…

U.S. Now Has More Coronavirus Cases Than Anywhere In The World. How Did This Happen?

The experts said that it’s Trump’s* fault. Why would they say that? Because it is!

As US Tops Global Tally Of Coronavirus Cases, Trump* Is At Odds With Reality

Trump* is still talking about opening the country for business. Governors who are criticizing Trump* are heroes for telling the truth. Trump* has now put 3.3 million Americans out of work. At the same time, he’s talking about taking control of rationing equipment. I bet he’s hoarding PPE for future distribution to billionaires, while health care workers die in need of it. That’s just how Republicans operate.

RESIST!!

Older Entries Newer Entries