Open Thread–3/24/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:43 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 242020

It’s a crazy day, here in the CatBox. Evelyn called last night to cancel our appointment, because she has not received my lab work to determine the suitability of immunity therapy yet. As soon as she was off the phone, I remembered that I was also supposed to get my pain meds refilled. I tried to call back, but the office was closed. I called today, and requested an emergency refill by mail, so WWWendy can get it from my mail tomorrow night. They said they’d “try”. I have a feeling I have a few painful days coming on. ARGH! Tuesday is eat beans and ride elevators with Republicans day. 3 – 2 – 1 blast off!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:43 (average 5:02). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0324TrumpVirus

Cases: 46,274

Deaths: 588

Recovered: 295

0324TrumpVirusTests

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: The $500 billion corporate bailout slush fund bill from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and buddies that Democrats rejected Sunday has many, many shortcomings. Not just what it does do (unfettered giveaways to corporate America with no strings attached) but what it doesn’t do, like provide funding to state and local governments, or food assistance, or health care, or worker protections, or expanded emergency leave, or adequate assistance to, you know, people. Lurking among all those provisions that aren’t helping people is one from our old favorite, Maine Sen. Susan Collins. She and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio were responsible for the small business stimulus part of the bill, and included a provision that inexplicably and very specifically excludes nonprofits that get Medicaid funding from receiving any assistance.

The obvious exclusion is Planned Parenthood, Collins’ longtime (though no longer) defender. But as Greg Sargent explains, Senate Democrats and aides “think the language means a lot more than” just excluding Planned Parenthood. They pointed out that it “would exclude from eligibility for this funding a big range of other nonprofits that get Medicaid funding, such as home and community-based disability providers; community-based nursing homes, mental health providers and health centers; group homes for the disabled; and even rape crisis centers.”

In other words, groups that are going to be stretched to the limit to provide assistance to some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Many of them are largely funded through their clients’ Medicaid, and are historically underpaid for the services they provide. Coronavirus is going to create a surge in demand for these services and potentially put those providers at risk, particularly if they’re competing with hospitals and first responders for protective gear.

This provision would “prevent many small Medicaid-funded providers from accessing small business loans,” Mara Youdelman, the managing attorney of the National Health Law Program’s D.C. office, told Sargent, noting that rural providers would also be cut out. “We should be doing everything possible to keep them in businesses, both to help manage the pandemic and to keep people needing routine care healthy and out of overwhelmed hospitals,” Youdelman said. One such provider is The Arc, an advocacy organization for the disabled. Nicole Jorwic, senior director of public policy for The Arc, told Sargent that “It’s a huge problem. […] Our chapters who provide services would all be impacted [making it harder to] provide home and community-based services all over the country.”

If this stinking fascist is the most “liberal” that the Republican Reich has to offer, do we really need to see the most conservative? RESIST!!

From NY Times: Facing a growing storm of criticism about his laissez-faire response to the fast-spreading coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that he would place Britain under a virtual lockdown, closing all nonessential shops, banning meetings of more than two people, and requiring people to stay in their homes, except for trips for food or medicine.

People who flout the new restrictions, the prime minister said, will be fined by the police.

The steps, which Mr. Johnson outlined in a televised address to the nation, bring him into alignment with European leaders like President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who have all but quarantined their countries in a desperate bid to slow the outbreak.

“No prime minister wants to enact measures like this,” a grave Mr. Johnson said. “I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people’s lives, to their businesses and to their jobs.”

As big an asshole as Brexit Bridiot Boris is, I’d rather have him as Fuhrer than Trump*! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Johnny Rivers – Poor Side Of Town

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Bought Bitch Mitch Fails to Pass Bailout Scam

Posted by TomCat at 11:09 am Politics

Mar 232020

It looked like Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Democratic leaders were well on the way to working out a more extensive relief bill to provide much needed benefits for the American people, when Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch stepped in to convert the Bipartisan Relief Bill to a Republican Bailout Scam. Acting in the interests of the American people, Senate Democrats shot it down yesterday.

Senate Republicans late Sunday failed to force through a $1.8 trillion coronavirus stimulus package that Democratic lawmakers, union leaders, and progressive advocacy groups condemned as a massive bailout for corporate America that would have done little to address the urgent economic and medical needs of ordinary people.

A procedural motion to advance the Republican bill, formally known as the CARES Act, received just 47 votes Sunday, well short of the 60 needed for passage. Every Senate Democrat present voted no.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) scheduled another procedural vote on the legislation for Monday morning at 9:45 am ET as talks over the bill continued through the evening Sunday.

One of the most contentious sticking points in rapidly moving negotiations over the Republican measure was its call for the creation of a $500 billion business relief program that would be controlled by the Trump Treasury Department, headed by former Goldman Sachs banker Steve Mnuchin. The fund would set aside around $58 billion for the airline industry and $17 billion for “sectors considered critical to national security,” Roll Call reported.

Democrats and progressive critics condemned the program as a corporate “slush fund” and demanded that any bailout money for businesses come with strict oversight and conditions, such as strong worker protections against layoffs and a permanent ban on stock buybacks.

“In the midst of an unprecedented national crisis, Republicans can’t seriously expect us to tell people in our communities who are suffering that we shortchanged hospitals, students, workers, and small businesses but gave big corporations hundreds of billions of dollars in a secretive slush fund,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said in a statement announcing her opposition to the GOP legislation.

Progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are also demanding $2,000 in monthly cash payments to every person in the United States instead of the means-tested, one-time payments proposed by the Republican legislation.

“The job of Congress right now is to do everything we possibly can to protect Americans’ lives and wellbeing—not hand out welfare checks to huge corporations,” Sanders tweeted.

During a press conference Sunday, President Donald Trump refused to vow that none of the bailout money in the Republican stimulus package would go to his own properties… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Alternet>

Here’s a video report from NBC News.

Senate Fails To Advance Coronavirus Stimulus Package, Devastating For Businesses

Personally, I found the reporter quite biased, but the reporter from Bloomberg, who interviewed Liz Warren earlier in the day, wasn’t just biased. He was patronizing and dismissive!

Elizabeth Warren explains what Democrats want in virus relief bill

This is what Democrats are fighting for. But criminal Fuhrer Trump* and Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch want to give all the money to corporate criminals with no strings attached, including a giant bail-outs for Mar-a-Lago and Trump* Towers.

The Republican Plan would give criminal Fuhrer Trump* and his apostles of greed complete control of almost $1 trillion dollars in relief funds. The Republican Reich would have no obligation to even tell Congress, the press, or the American people who got money, how much they got, or how they used it.

This was a perfect example of Republican bipartisanship.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–3/22/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:19 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 222020

It’s a bush day here in the CatBox. I got a late start, because I overslept. WWWendy is in the way. I will probably have to finish this after my shower. This is my only article today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:09 (average e4:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0322TrumpVirus

Trump* virus Cases: 26,959

Deaths: 349

Recovered: 178

0321TrumpVirusTests

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Hat-Tip Alternet): Shocking video captures Trump supporter buying Dollar Tree store out of toilet paper

Is this greedy bitch typical of the Republican Reich or what? RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: In a new controversy ensnaring the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, forty per cent of the nation’s toilet-paper supply has been found in Senator Richard Burr’s garage.

The discovery of the coveted paper products occurred on Saturday morning, when Burr, who had been checking stock quotes on his phone, accidentally leaned against his garage-door opener.

The garage immediately disgorged the priceless cache of toilet paper, which tumbled into the street and snarled traffic for three blocks.

Picking through the mess, a sharp-eyed neighbor of Burr’s found a Costco receipt indicating that the senator had purchased the toilet paper in early January, shortly after he received classified information about the potential scope of the covid-19 pandemic.

Andy, Burr has a reasonable excuse. Most of us have small assholes, but Republicans’ assholes extend from the crowns of their heads to the soles of their feet and are both internal and external. That’s a lot to wipe! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Ex-Labor secretary: Bail out families, not corporations

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich is right. The Reich on the right, the evil Republican Reich, wants to bail out criminal corporations. Bail out people. Corporations are NOT people! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): THE WHO – I Can See For Miles (1969)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–3/21/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:03 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 212020

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox. I had trouble keeping breakfast down. I had to wait a couple hours to finish it. Tomorrow please expect no more that an Open Thread or a Personal Update, as WWWendy will be here to de-stink the vile TomCat, help with chores and parade in her Wonder Woman Wendy romper! Have a great weekend!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:32 (average 7:24). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0321TrumpVirus

19,823 cases

276 deaths

147 recovered

0321TrumpVirusTests

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Virus Scandal: Senators Accused Of Profiting Off Coronavirus Info

MSNBC was wrong not to include Diane Feinstein [DINO – CA]. It opens the network to charges of bias. More important, as a Democrat, I want to know when one of ours acts like a Republican. Di-Fi is a stinking DINO piece of shit and deserves the same treatment that Republicans get. If anything, we should be harder on her. Democrats to not applaud and encourage corruption, greed and hypocrisy from our representatives the way Republicans do. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Amid speculation that United States senators might soon be working remotely, Senator Richard Burr on Friday demanded guarantees that senators working from home will still have access to insider-trading tips.

Speaking from the well of the Senate, an impassioned Burr, a Republican from North Carolina, said that a “system needs to be put in place—not tomorrow, not next week, but today—to insure that senators receive the insider-trading information that is both our lifeblood and our birthright.”

Burr blasted the Obama Administration for not establishing contingency plans to safeguard the steady flow of stock tips to U.S. senators in the event of a pandemic, nuclear war, or asteroid strike.

Why am I not surprised, Andy? This is straight news, isn’t it? RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Trump rants at reporter asking about scared Americans

Of course it’s normal for people to be scared. A real President would offer comfort and support. Criminal Fuhrer Trump* is NOT a real President! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Righteous Brothers – Soul and Inspiration

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Republicans on Parade–3/20/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:31 am Politics

Mar 202020

Here is the one hundred seventy-third article in our Republicans on Parade series, featuring individuals who personify what the Republican Party has become. Today’s winner is Republican Senator Richard Burr [R-NC]. He is so honored for cashing out of the stock market and warning rich Republicans to do likewise, explaining to them just how dangerous Trump* virus really is, while lying to the American people, telling us that we were completely safe.

On Feb. 27, the United States had just 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Donald Trump was telling Americans the coronavirus was “going to disappear” one day, “like a miracle.” But Republican Sen. Richard Burr, in a private meeting with members of an exclusive group, was issuing dire warnings about the emerging pandemic.

“There’s one thing that I can tell you about this: It is much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history,” Burr, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told members of Tar Heel Circle in a secret recording obtained by NPR reporter Tim Mak. “It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic,” Burr added.

The luncheon, held at the Capitol Hill Club, included a nonpartisan group of dozens of Burr’s constituents who pay between $500 and $10,000 to be part of the elite Tar Heel group, which promises them access to powerful leaders in Congress, the executive branch, and the private sector. NPR reports that the companies represented at the luncheon and their political committees “donated more than $100,000 to Burr’s election campaign in 2015 and 2016.”…

…Burr’s stark assessment of major disruptions also predated school closures in his state by 16 days. “There will be, I’m sure, times that communities, probably some in North Carolina, have a transmission rate where they say, let’s close schools for two weeks, everybody stay home,” he said. Burr also mentioned the potential need to mobilize the U.S. military in order to resource the effort to battle the coronavirus… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Daily Kos>

Here are the excerpts from that meeting that have been released. Not only did he tell the truth to this select group, but also, he used that insider information to bail out of the stock market and escape the effects of the Republican Recession of 2020, while thousands of Americans lost their IRAs and 401(k)s, because Republicans hid the truth from them.

Recording: NC Sen. Burr warned crowd about coronavirus during late-February event

I sure the rich Republicans at that meeting bailed out too. Burr was not the only Senator to save their own investments, while screwing their constituents. There were two more Republicans and, unfortunately, one good for nothing, mother stinking piece of DINO shit.

Four senators reportedly sold stock before markets’ coronavirus spiral

The other three are Kelly Loeffler [R-GA], Diane Feinstein [DINO-CA], and Jim Imhoff [R-OK]

In my opinion, Di-Fi is the most culpable of the four. Greedy, illegal behavior is SOP for members of the Republican Reich, but when Democrats start acting like Republicans, as Feinstein did (and so often does), how are voters to tell the difference? All four should resign. Those who don’t (all of them), should be brought up on ethics charges. Unfortunately, Senate ethics will matter only if Democrats win the chamber.

In the meantime, all four deserve a parade. If DINO Feinstein insists on acting like a Republican, let her be paraded liked a Republican.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–3/20/2020

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

Mar 202020

It’s a tired day, here in the CatBox. Store to Door came late yesterday, and Andy was not allowed to enter the CatBox, due to Trump* virus precautions, so I had to take the order to my bed from the hallway a bag at a time. Then I unloaded the bags and stowed the items. I loved the Quaker Instant Oatmeal with Maple and Brown Sugar I had for breakfast. I spiked it with Maple Syrup. For lunch I’m having cashew butter and crackers. My computer crashed, when I was in the middle of research this morning, so I’m running late. It’s my fault. I overloaded it. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:40 (average 5:21). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0320TrumpVirus

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Trump* virus Updates, Corporate Bailouts and the Stimulus Package

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich is right. The Families First Bill, mostly from Democrats, does good things. It’s a good first step, but it’s just a drop in the bucket. The Reich on the Right. The deplorable Reich on the right, the Republican Reich, wants to feign beneficence by giving citizens $1,200 each, but $1,200 won’t cover a month’s expenses in a multi-month crisis. Worse yet, the Republican plan gives only $600 to poor families. Republicans also want to give a $multi-billion bailout in corporate welfare. But greedy corporations just got one in the Republican Tax Scam of 2017. Not one penny more! The best thing we can do for the Republican Reich is to flush them all! RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Determined to address the “No. 1 concern of the American people during the coronavirus crisis,” Fox News Channel announced on Thursday that it would air a three-part prime-time series on Hunter Biden.

The series, to be he co-hosted by Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and Rudy Giuliani, will attempt to soothe the anxieties of Fox viewers who have suddenly been plunged into uncertainty about the activities of Joe Biden’s son.

“People are trapped inside their homes, they’re worried, they’re scared, and they don’t know where to turn for accurate information about Hunter Biden,” Hannity said. “We’re here to fill that need.”

Giuliani said that the three-part series was necessary because “the deep state” had limited Americans’ access to essential Hunter Biden facts during the pandemic crisis.

“If you go on the C.D.C. Web site, you won’t find a single mention of Hunter Biden, Burisma, or CrowdStrike,” Giuliani said. “It’s a disgrace.”

Dang, Andy! Isn’t that exactly what we should expect from the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise? RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Traces of love

Ah… The Memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–3/18/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:28 am Open Thread, Politics

Mar 182020

It’s a hectic day here in the CatBox, as I try to get my head around the notion that my cancer is stage IV and metastatic, and that I’m very likely to die, before a year is up. I see Evelyn (my Oncologist) again next Tuesday. If my cancer tests amenable to immunotherapy, I’ll go that route. Evelyn wonders whether I can handle chemo. It causes severe Republicosis, and if it hits after I’m in bed, the time it takes to get my leg on and get to the throne is likely to be too long to hold it. I’ll need to do a pain/problem/benefit analysis and decide if the time is worth the decreased quality of life. I will be getting radiation for my spine. She also gave me liquid Oxycodone. Tonight is a WWWendy night. She was very upset to learn of this. Happy Hump Day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:27 (average 4:59). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0318TrumpVirus

0318TrumpVirusTesting

Short Takes:

From Alternet: As nations around the world buckle down amid coronavirus outbreaks, approaches to isolation and social distancing are inconsistent, at best, in the United States. While some cities and states are implementing bans on restaurants and bars staying open and capping the number of people in a space, some groups are moving forward with, ahem, business as usual. One example from last Sunday morning? Pastor Guillermo Maldonado, of King Jesus International Ministry, a megachurch in Kendall, Florida, encouraged his congregation to keep coming to service, downplaying concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, as reported by the Miami Herald.

“Do you believe God would bring his people to his house to be contagious with the virus? Of course not,” Maldonado, a Trump supporter, said to his congregation, as reported by the outlet.

“This service is usually packed. So now they’re home in a cave afraid of the virus, that you want to transmit the virus,” Maldonado continued. The Herald noted the venue “appeared half empty…

…“If we die, we die for Christ,” Maldonado told parishioners. “If we live, we live for Christ, so what do you lose?”

The Jesus that I worship does not call us to be this stupid. I hate to say it, but this is an appropriate strategy for Republicans only! RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Donald J. Trump has tested negative for empathy, the White House doctor confirmed on Monday.

In an official statement, Dr. Sean Conley said that Trump submitted to the empathy test even though, in the physician’s opinion, “it was not really necessary.”

“I expected him to test negative,” Conley said. “Empathy-wise, he has been entirely asymptomatic.”

The White House doctor attributed Trump’s empathy-free status to his established practice of social distancing from anyone showing even the faintest sign of compassion, kindness, or humanity.

Dang, Andy! I have zero trouble believing that! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Association – Windy (1967 Ravinia Festival – Highland Park IL )

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–3/16/2017

Posted by TomCat at 11:17 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 162020

It’s a hectic day, here in the CatBox. First, I overslept and got up 90 minutes late. Then I spent 90 minutes on breakfast. It’s a pain, but it’s been several days, since I last lost a meal. Then my oncologist sent me an extensive online questionnaire, and I spent 30 minutes on that. Needless to say, I’m behind schedule. Tomorrow, I have my initial visit to Evelyn Brosnan, my oncologist. I have to be in the lobby before the birds wake up, so please expect no more than a Personal Update from me, most of which I will do tonight to give me a fast escape in the morning. Oh God, it’s Monday Hugs!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:00 (average 4:37). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0316TrumpVirus

0316TrumpVirusTesting

Short Takes:

From Willamette Week: As Oregon Gov. Kate Brown weighs whether to close down bars and restaurants or institute a curfew, at least 360 medical professionals are asking U.S. Vice President Mike Pence for more dramatic action to keep people apart—or, in the parlance of the pandemic, to engage in more social distancing.

Those medical professionals signed an open letter tonight calling for federal action on the new coronavirus outbreak.

“No one should leave their homes in impacted regions except for medical care, essential supplies, essential work services and compelling other reasons that are clearly defined,” they write. “Virtual work options should be encouraged for all businesses, whenever possible.”

I fully agree with these Oregon medical professionals, but because Oregon leads the way, Kate should have been first to close down bars and restaurants. RESIST!!

From Alternet: The Kushner family is trying to cash in on the pandemic that could kill millions of us.

Oscar Health, the health insurance company co-founded by Jared Kushner’s younger brother, announced Friday it has launched a testing center locator for COVID-19. It shows where more than 100 centers are in the United States. The company is also offering a risk assessment survey and means to talk to a doctor online.

The coronavirus is predicted to kill anywhere from almost 500,000 Americans in the next year to more than 5 million. At least 62 people in the United States had died by Sunday; 3,130 have tested positive.

Do you remember when Kushner said he was delaying a response to “study” the situation? Now we know that sleazy son of a bitch was delaying a response to maximize personal profit from the suffering of others, without caring for the additional Americans, who will die because of the delay! Well, what the hell should we expect from someone, who would marry a Trump*? RESIST!!

From The Guardian: The Trump administration has offered a German medical company “large sums of money” for exclusive access to a Covid-19 vaccine, German media have reported.

The German government is trying to fight off what it sees as an aggressive takeover bid by the US, the broadsheet Die Welt reports, citing German government circles.

The US president had offered the Tübingen-based biopharmaceutical company CureVac “large sums of money” to gain exclusive access to their work, wrote Die Welt.

According to an anonymous source quoted in the newspaper, Trump was doing everything to secure a vaccine against the coronavirus for the US, “but for the US only”. [emphasis added]

That’s is just about as vile as a dirty bastard can get! Trump* virus is a worldwide problem. Solutions need to se shared freely with all patients, who need them, and all governments need to share in reimbursing the companies, who develop those solutions, for their work. Trump* and the Republican Reich would put the solution under their RepubliCare plan: If you can pay, you live. If not, Republican let you die for no extra charge. See below! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Association Cherish 1966

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

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