I was giving thanks at dinner tonight and praying for our nation, for wisdom with our nation’s leaders, and especially praying for the people on the “front lines” like the doctors and nurses who are attempting to “flatten the curve” – well, actually, they are the ones dealing with our inability to “flatten the curve” of this pandemic, and then I said, “especially for my daughter (I, of course, said her name, she’s an RN) and, almost immediately, my eyes filled with tears and I was unable to finish. Every time I think about why it is my daughter and so many others who are willing to FIGHT for their patients in almost unbelievable circumstances are working without the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) they need I start getting angry. If you’ve been around this site you know I’m writing more than ever!

Yes, I know it makes virtually NO difference as to what I think and, likely, most of the “visitors” to this site are “bots” – which I don’t know what they are, really – but it’s the only way I know how to vent. My daughter is one of the many Nurses in this nation who are letting us know they are working without, in some instances, even face masks! Every day I watch individual 1, as he seems to have the need to be giving advice when he clearly has NO idea what he’s doing. standing in front of the cameras and LYING. I want to say embarrassing himself, but the reality is he’s working for the next election and SHOCKINGLY I read today, it’s working. Apparently, according to ABC 55% of Americans polled thinks he’s doing a good job.

The reality is his LYING is almost getting worse, if that’s possible. He’s making this all worse and he’s NOT doing his part to take this as serious as he should. I keep thinking of all the people in Kansas and Oklahoma and other Midwest, so-called “red” states which have people all over their states who are listening to individual 1 and taking this as “business as usual.” They are, along with THEIR president making this worse for every one else – and prolonging the “social distancing” practices. This is STUPID and selfish!

I’ve been watching this since the first days, when Don Jr. said, “democrats are hoping millions of Americans die from this coronavirus in order to stop all the winning.” First, that comment pissed me off (sorry, I’m reverting back to my younger years, I guess) because I don’t know a single “democrat” wishing that and secondly because it’s so incredibly STUPID. I remember thinking, as I’ve said here before, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Individual 1, in my view, in the early stages of this pandemic, was worried more about his precious “stock market bragging rights” than he was worried about “we the people.” How did that work for him?

Now, MILLIONS are in jeopardy of contracting this virus, which may or may not have been inevitable, but the reality our medical workers are facing is UNTHINKABLE! And, even though he’s already said, “I take no responsibility for this,” his FAILURES have created life threatening circumstances for untold numbers of Americans. Not only are the medical professionals in danger the hospitals in several areas facing what will soon be an overwhelming number of critically ill patients. And, they’ll, in many instances doing this without the number of beds, the PPE needed by the doctors and nurses, and potentially, like in Italy, being forced to make choices on who lives or dies.

Just like we will never be able to quantify the actual impact of the Russians working to help him “win” the 2016 election, I don’t believe we’ll be able to quantify how many people would have been saved had individual 1 listened to experts back in January when we knew the possibility this was coming. We are still lacking the ability to test in a way to actually know where this virus is in America and, of course, if there had been someone in individual 1’s administration listening to those “in the know” this would NOT be a problem as I’m writing this. There are so many things which COULD have (and still could) be done if we had a president who wasn’t more concerned with himself than the people of this nation.

Individual 1 was warned about what was coming back in February by our intelligence community and he chose to publicly call this a “democrat hoax” at his rallies. Others of his supporters were saying this is another media frenzy trying to “IMPEACH” the president once again. And, of course, there are already a bunch of video productions of all the contrary comments coming from our (already) IMPEACHED so-called president. (Democrats didn’t need this to IMPEACH him, he managed to pull that off himself by EXTORTING the president of Ukraine for “dirt” on Joe Biden).

I have a (wonderful) neighbor who obviously is someone who watches Fox “news” on TV. She understands this is a serious problem at this point in time and, I think, is practicing “social distancing.” Of course, we live in a semi-rural location where the homes are on 2 1/2 acre to 5 acre parcels so social distancing is easier. However, I talked to her on the phone yesterday and she believes individual 1 (she, of course, refers to him by his surname) is doing a good job during this pandemic. She believes he is the “brains” behind the impending stimulus bill being negotiated in the Senate as I’m writing this. I said, “well, it’s the democrats who are making sure workers are the focus of any legislation,” and she relied, “no, no, no.” To me, just another (very nice) person who is ill-informed by individual 1’s LYING and the willingness of Fox to perpetuate the LIES. As I’ve said MANY times here, they use the “Big Lie Theory” because it works! But, as usual, I digress.

Speaking of Joe Biden, it is becoming more critical EVERY day going forward that “we the people” prepare to vote him into office and then hope that the DAMAGE to this nation caused by individual 1 will be fixable in less than a generation starting in January 20, 2021. That DAMAGE is likely to be much worse than what Obama/Biden faced in 2008 – which was the worse crisis since FDR took office in 1932. Do you get the similarities? It seems it’s always a democrat coming in to fix the MESS created by the previous REPUBLICAN (in this case IMPEACHED so-called) president. I only hope Mr. Biden has learned that “looking forward instead of back” in regard to the illegal activity of the predecessor is a BAD idea! Doing that, only makes it worse the next time Americans (somehow) decide to elect another republican to the “White House.” (And, trust me, republicans will be complaining about the national debt the day Biden takes the oath of office)

When I think of all individual 1’s LIES as this pandemic has evolved possibly the most egregious was the one where he said, “I knew this was a pandemic well before most others” or words to that effect. Well, I have to say, I hope that’s a LIE because otherwise he’s a worse IMPEACHED so-called president than I had thought. Think about this, if he actually knew the potential of this pandemic and, still, was saying the garbage which is on the videos which will be showing over and over again in the next election where he was LYING virtually every day and causing the pathetic federal response to this crisis it would make him look MUCH worse than INCOMPETENT which is what he appears at this point in time. As I’ve said, every time he opens his mouth he makes another campaign add for Biden in the upcoming election. And, I know people like Elizabeth Warren, who I really appreciate, have complained about “billionaires,” but I have to say I’m very glad Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer are going to be on Biden’s “side.” There’s going to be a lot of adds showing exactly what I’ve been writing about prior to November 4, 2020!

And, tonight, it’s being reported individual 1 was informed by his intelligence community about what was coming. Republicans had the opportunity to remove him from office before all this started and the only one with the courage to do the right thing was Mitt Romney. This will be a weight on all of their “shoulders” from here until, well……………… Just think about this as the death toll rises in America, individual 1 had a warning well before the first case hit our shores and he ignored it. This will likely be a more significant FAILURE than Bush/Cheney ignoring the warning about the terrorist attack of 9/11 shortly after taking the oath of office.

I’ve said for years now it appears to me individual 1 can’t see past the day he’s experiencing. I really do believe he thought he could stop the tanking of the Stock Market by LYING about what he called “the flu.” (lately, true to form, he’s turned it into a racist meme, calling it the “Chineseflu” or “Kungflu” as he’s looking for ways to deflect BLAME) Well, he’s made matters worse as he’s done over and over in his 3+ years in office (unless you’re part of the corporate empire) and his precious stock market is now down below where it was when he “inherited” it from President Obama. While it’s likely the market would have “crashed” no matter what he did, he’s made this so much worse than it should have been. I’ve said this before, I won’t be surprised if the DOW falls to around 10,000. Nobody wants that to happen, but we’re looking at a depression right “in the eye.”

Right now, people are waiting to see what kind of federal response is going to emerge from Congress as MILLIONS of Americans will not be allowed to go back to work for, well, who knows how long. Of course, if people continue to ignore the warnings and continue to congregate in large groups, the timeline will increase. I see it on TV, I see it in person, large groups of people close together as if this isn’t happening. I’ve heard the government “response” is going to be in the neighborhood of 2 TRILLION dollars – that’s a lot of money! Let’s see $2,000,000,000,000. I think that’s the correct number of zero’s. All Americans should be thankful for this and, in response, “shelter in place” (except for needed trips to the grocery store, pharmacy, doctor’s office) To me, that’s the respectful and responsible thing to do.

This pandemic has FORCED republicans in the Senate to work with democrats because a response to this pandemic is required. Everyone knows where the stock market is and major corporations are calling for major bailouts because they have no business. That’s the formula to get the attention of people like Moscow Mitch and, in the case, they can’t get the money to their corporate friends without the “help” of democrats. Nancy Pelosi’s response to the original proposition put forth by Senate republicans was “It’s dead on arrival.” Democrats will use their leverage to ensure as much of this “stimulus” money goes to the people who will provide the actual stimulus to the economy – and, that’s the workers who are living “paycheck to paycheck.” Trust me, individual 1 is already planning on how he can take credit for the bill when his ONLY role in this will be to sign it.

Of course, the one part of this HUGE bill individual 1 will be looking to take part in will be the bailout of the Hotel industry. Clearly, he’s got properties which are not producing the income he’s accustomed to – but, to me, any “bailout” of the Hotel industry or any other industry should be aimed at keeping workers being paid and making sure the hotels can stay afloat until this pandemic is history (which, of course, will be longer from now than it could have been with a competent president). Anything beyond that SHOULD be in the form of a loan which will eventually need to be repaid – with interest. And, for the public corporations, there should be restrictions on the money so there isn’t a repeat of the TARP bailout of 2008 where the banks which caused the problems were handing out million dollar bonuses to the people who caused the problem in the first place. I don’t think that will happen, thanks to democrats who I’ve listened to – they understand the public backlash which would ensue.

While my anger directed toward individual 1 and his sycophants just doesn’t seem to be able to subside, I have to say the number of health care providers in this nation who are “running toward” this issue is an example of what is really great about this nation. Of course, it’s happening elsewhere around the globe – these health care providers take their Hippocratic oath seriously, unlike individual 1’s response to the oath he took on January 20, 2017. We should all be thankful for these wonderful professionals, we should be praying for them – however you do that, and we should be doing whatever we can to make their jobs right now even a little bit more achievable – by sheltering in place until this pandemic has taken its toll.

The reality is thousands of Americans are going to die from this disease and it’s incumbent on all of us to try to keep that number from reaching the tens of thousands or who knows where it could go. I’ve seen reports that based on the way we are responding to this pandemic as many as 150 MILLION Americans could get it. I watched governor Cuomo give a press briefing today and New York has over 15,000 confirmed cases as of today (Sunday 3/22) and one of his slides showed large groups congregating somewhere in New York City. His response was “This is unacceptable” and he said he’s giving the leaders of New York City 24 hours to come up with a plan to stop these congregations of people to happen.

I live in Washington state and our Governor, Jay Inslee, who’s also doing a great job has very matter of fact told the people of Washington to follow the guidelines – that means stay in your home unless your at the grocery store, the pharmacy – which here is often in the grocery store, or at the doctors office or necessary workplaces – which should practice “social distancing.” Governor Inslee said he will make the “guidelines” more strict if necessary. Just as in New York City, the city of Seattle, Washington is bracing for the number of critically ill patients to overwhelm the capacity of the hospitals. And, I can tell you, there are some world class hospitals in Seattle – but, they don’t have the protective equipment for their staff’s and they don’t have the ICU capacity for what they know is coming.

Washington state has something like 1700 confirmed cases of covid-19, but that’s because we don’t have the capacity to test. I’ve heard estimates that in the Seattle area there may be as many as 10 times the number of cases which are known with people who haven’t been able to get a test. I know that where I live should I feel the symptoms coming on, unless those symptoms advance to where hospitalization is on the horizon, it’s better to just stay home and hope for the best case scenario. They just don’t have enough tests and they don’t have the protective equipment for the people who would administer the tests. It’s a sad situation!

That all being said, I’m very thankful for all the tough, courageous medical personnel who are willing to be on the front lines in this BATTLE. I talked to my daughter the other day who is an RN and she said, where she works, there are 10 masks left. I have no idea how they’re going to solve this problem. I listened to Mike Pense the other day in maybe the last press briefing I’ll expose my brain to as he assured “we the people” they’ve ordered many millions of masks (I can’t remember the number) but, apparently, like everything else they claim, the masks aren’t getting to the professionals who need them. It embarrasses me to watch Pense as he’s at the podium, but it always appears he’s talking to individual 1. It’s like every sentence begins with “Mr. President” or thanks to the President – OMG that is beyond frustration. Stay tuned…..

Final Thought: Well, the only final thought I have today is my daughter going to work without the protective equipment she SHOULD have under any circumstance and a federal administration which, apparently, doesn’t see this as a national emergency. The Defense Production Act could have alleviated this problem weeks (or months ago – based on individual 1 admitting he “knew this was a pandemic before the rest of us”) and should be enacted nation wide IMMEDIATELY! Individual 1 is making his legacy darker by the day. My advice to him is get away from that podium and let the scientists do the talking! STOP all the LYING!

I’m old, my eyes are tired, and I apologize for publishing this without editing. After all it’s just my diary – my way to vent my frustrations that “we the people” allow such a DEPLORABLE person to be living in the “White House.” If my friend in California who sold me my absolutely amazing classical guitar reads this, I hope you are well – I think of you often!

I live in the state of Washington and our governor, Jay Inslee, is doing an awesome job in trying to fight off this novel coronavirus (Covid-19) not waiting for the federal government to figure out how serious this pandemic is. (And, NO individual 1 didn’t recognize it as a pandemic before most other people – unless, maybe if they get their “news” from Fox or Listen to medal winner Rush Limbaugh) Individual 1 referred to our governor as a “snake” while standing in the presence of the doctors at the CDC who likely fully understood his EXTREME level of LYING as he pointed out “anyone who wants a test can get one.” That was absurd!

Inslee has been a national leader along with governor Cuomo of New York as their two states, so far, are bearing the major “brunt” of this pandemic. New York has many more affirmed cases of Covid-19 than Washington right now, but, that may be because they have more testing capability. I remember when Washington had a couple hundred cases confirmed (we now have well over 1000) the estimate of the actual number was 10 to 20 times higher because there weren’t enough tests to actually have an idea of the true reality. Calling my governor a “snake” was just another STUPID choice of words coming out of the mouth of our STUPID IMPEACHED so-called president. Every day he seems to be obsessed with being the center of attention (just like a naughty sixth grader) and he just can’t stop all the LIES! That’s how it works with pathological LIARS.

Governor Inslee is getting very creative in his anticipation of what lies ahead. Today, workers were building a makeshift hospital with, potentially, 200 beds on a soccer field near Seattle. King County (Where most of Seattle is located) purchased an old hotel with 85 rooms with the idea of putting non critical patients in these rooms. Then they went out and leased another hotel, I’m not sure how many rooms, for the same purpose. I haven’t heard a single “peep” out of Inslee in response to individual 1’s despicable comment because, first, I don’t think he stoops to that level and, secondly, he’s too busy trying to save as many lives of Washington citizens as he can. I’m happy he’s my governor (he actually ran for president) and, I hope the federal government will soon begin giving him and our medical professionals more HELP!

I still believe individual 1 is more interested in the Stock Market than he is “we the people.” Even the “bailouts” he’s proposing, I’m guessing, will be aimed more at large corporations (ie HOTELS) than to helping those at the very bottom who need the help more than anyone else. They need money, they need FREE health care, and they need shelter. I have doubts republicans have any idea how to get money to the true “grassroots,” and will be required to work with democrats in order to do so. As much as I’d like a $1000 “windfall” I’m not the one who they should be focused on. Yes, I am retired and living off Social Security and don’t have a lot of money, but my family won’t allow me to go anywhere so I’m not spending money. The money SHOULD go to those who will most likely SPEND it!

Today, individual 1 said “nobody in their wildest dreams had any idea we would need all these items,” referring to all the medical supplies which our doctors and nurses are desperately in need. (Including my daughter, an RN) That statement, of course, was absurd! Rex Tillerson and John Kelley both referred to individual 1 as a f*@king MORON! They absolutely knew what they were talking about. They spent MONTHS working with him. Sadly, as I’m sure individual 1 is aware, his most fervent supporters have EXTREMELY short memories so he’s coming up with some really WHOPPERS in the LYING category, and from what I can tell, his supporters continue to believe he’s telling them the truth.

I’ve been doing a LOT of reading lately and there are WAY too many Americans who still believe this coronavirus is a “hoax,” or it’s the result of the “liberal media,” or it’s democrats in the latest version of their IMPEACHMENT strategy. What many don’t seem to understand, he’s ALREADY been IMPEACHED! He will go down in history as the third IMPEACHED American president, and when the history books write this era’s “history” he’s going to be right next to Benedict Arnold and the democrats are going to look good. Whether it happens this fall, individual 1 will be the reason the republican party is going to be headed toward being a “recent memory.”

Many “experts” are realizing this crisis is likely to last longer in America than in other places around the world – including China which individual 1 has now decided will be his new “bogeyman” helping him to deflect BLAME from his own incompetence. We’re now listening to a bunch of “free market” – “conservatives” – agreeing the solution is for the government to “throw” money against the wall and hope it “sticks.” Here’s the major problem from where I’m sitting; all these people in places like Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, and other places around the country where people get their “news” from Fox and aren’t taking this seriously, they’re making it worse for all of us.

From what I’m learning, this virus is not “partisan” and it’s spreading across the country. Seattle is the home of companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe, and there are, I’m sure, many of their employees were traveling all over the world – so, it doesn’t surprise me the first case of Covid-19 showed up in Seattle. Sadly, it showed up in a nursing home which resulted in many elderly Americans dying. But the present reality is it’s quickly spreading across the country, our IMPEACHED so-called president has no idea what he’s doing, and way too many Americans aren’t taking it seriously. In my mind, these are the same people who won’t believe in the Climate Crisis even when Miami and Los Angeles are under water. It’s making it worse for the rest of us!

In the last day the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. went from 10,000 to over 15,000 – that’s in one day. I just read in the Chicago Tribune where hospitals there don’t have the capability to test people with mild symptoms because, well, all those tests individual 1 said “anyone can get” aren’t available. Their testing the most severe patients. Here’s the problem with that. All those people who have this virus and either have no symptoms or have mild symptoms are capable of spreading the disease – and, in many cases are doing just that. Picture in your mind the HUGE lines at the airports when people were given a two day warning to return to the country from Europe or ???? How many of them were infected and where did they go and the people crammed into the waiting lines with them go?

And, then you have all the students on the beaches of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and ???? then crowding into the bars at night all getting drunk together celebrating an EXTENDED spring break – then, likely going home in places around the country – many taking this virus with them! Yikes!!! I’ve heard interviews with many of these students, I’ve heard interviews with many people in Midwest states, and they all sound like individual 1 when he gave his last “rally” where he called the coronavirus “the latest democratic hoax.” These people believe this crap. And, for the students – well, it’s a bad advertisement for our higher education system! I taught my sixth graders to be more inquisitive in processing information than what I’m seeing from some of these college students. (Your life is not ruined if you can’t get drunk during spring break of your college years!)

I’ve been saying since the 1980’s that Ronald Reagan succeeded in turning America into a “me” society from a “we” society. It hasn’t been more clear to me than right now looking at the number of Americans who are just not going to “get” what is happening until it’s right on top of them. This is why many experts are suggesting it will take up to 18 months to eradicate this virus from our “shores.” They’re saying we will be facing “waves” of the virus – I’m inferring because there are so many people who aren’t taking this seriously – so when it appears we’ve weathered the storm, well, we haven’t really – and the cases will start growing again. If I understand things correctly, that is why experts are saying something on the line of 40% of Americans are going to contract this disease.

Almost universally, the students I listened to being interviewed were “so what” it doesn’t really affect young people more than like getting the flu – “I’m not going to let getting the flu stop me from getting drunk on spring break.” Here’s the problem with that. First, there are young people getting sever to fatal cases of this virus. But, what they’re really saying is I don’t care about grandma and grandpa. Or, I don’t care about people with immune disorders, etc. That’s what you would expect in a country which has been a “me” country for the last 40 years. This is why Bernie Sanders is so passionate – he’s trying to change that mindset. I still remember when America was a “we” society, and I, for one, much preferred it. (And, don’t tell me to move to another country, because, in most cases, I’ve been here much longer than you!)

Right now I’m listening to Yahoo.finance having a discussion about the “stimulus” plan proposed by Moscow Mitch and it just confirms to me there are so many Americans who just live in the “moment.” I can tell you, when ANYONE brings up halting the payroll tax as a way to help pay for this economic downturn I just have to shake my head. The payroll tax goes directly to the funding now – and in the future – of Social Security. The government has been going after that trust fund for as long as I can remember (I started paying into this fund in 1963) and I will be very disappointed in democrats if they allow ONE CENT of that fund to be pilfered.

The “Yahoo” conversation has “swung” to the issue with Senator Burr selling about $1.5 MILLION of his stock “portfolio” just days before the market began its historic drop – likely saving him about half a MILLION dollars. It sounds like the commentators on “Yahoo” are agreeing with me this doesn’t have a “good look.” Of course there were other Senators doing the same thing, including Diane Feinstein (who claims she had no idea these shares, which are in a blind trust, had been traded), and that should be an interesting side note of this crisis! Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R Georgia, (who was just appointed) sold several MILLION dollars of her stock after a meeting where she was warned about the upcoming crisis. I don’t know if these trades would qualify as “insider trading” but I can tell you this is just more republican crap that, as I said, is a bad look!

Final Thought: The republican party is looking very Keynesian as they are busy throwing money everywhere they can. The Fed has already infused MORE than $2 TRILLION into the Stock Market and REPUBLICANS are proposing a $1 TRILLION stimulus package – which I can almost guarantee you democrats will not support – there’s going to be a lot of negotiation – but their concern for deficits – well we knew this anyway – is completely gone. (I guarantee you, the second Joe Biden takes the oath of office that concern will return – in a big way – again, they TRUST their followers to have short memories)

What you can count on is MOST of the concern coming from republicans will be the health of their corporate benefactors and they’ll be suggesting throwing some money at “we the people” to make us all feel a bit better (they should strengthen unemployment benefits, make it easier to apply, and increase the amount available plus lengthen the time – because of what I said above – this is going to be lasting a long time, very possibly. Yes, I hope the “experts” and, therefore, me, are wrong – I’m already tired of sitting in my house listening to how I’m one of the vulnerable ones! It’s the working class Americans who need help, it’s the people on the streets who need help now, more than usual – for example, that’s why health care absolutely, right now, must be FREE!

By their nature republicans work from the “top down” in their philosophy of government – “supply side.” Well, this pandemic should make it crystal clear, you can produce ALL the supply you want and if there is no “demand” your supply just sits there. The common sense approach to governing is to work from the bottom up! I’ve explained this many times here on this site. The “Reaganomics” was scam which republicans have used for the 40 years I mentioned above to pilfer taxpayer dollars into the bank accounts of their donors – you, know, the people even republican members of the cult complain about – the elite “swamp.” I don’t know if it’s the fault of our “liberal media” why Americans are so uneducated or ???? (I do know, when I was young you could drop out of high school in 10th grade and get a job which would support a family – which would explain why so many “baby boomers” are “uneducated”)

My point right now is, if republican succeed in sending you $1200 you don’t need that’s not a good reason to think they’re doing a good job right now. The fact the hospitals can’t test people for Covid-19 in Chicago should tell you all you need to know. That’s a massive government FAILURE which emanates right from the top. Yes, individual 1, the “buck” stops at your desk! And, don’t expect them to be able to prevent this stock market from continuing to tank. I don’t think there’s a big enough printing press at the Fed to stop that from happening. We’re looking straight into the “eyes” of a depression and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the DOW at 10,000 within a couple of months. Maybe the people on the beaches and elsewhere who aren’t taking this serious will understand their selfishness and we’ll solve this crisis more quickly, but, so far, I’m a bit skeptical.

One last thing: Once all the hoarders stop buying up all the toilet paper, again selfishness to buy more than you need, the rest of us can again throw our magazines into the recycle bin. When I see people on Ebay selling “Kirkland bath tissue,” which you can buy 30 rolls for $20, got 6 rolls for $40 I just want to put some kind of “scarlet letter” on their “Ebay store.” To me, that’s a perfect example of what is tearing this country apart – GREED! Enough said, stay tuned……

As I’ve predicted individual 1 will be busy with a new wave of LIES in his attempt to shirk his responsibility for his TERRIBLE response of our government, which he’s in charge of, to the “invasion” of the covid-19 virus. Today, the actual “plan” was instigated – we now have a “war president.” (I’m guessing he’s listening to Joe Biden press conferences) Of course, they (republicans) believe Americans won’t change administrations in a “war.” Of course, in a “war” where the IMPEACHED so-called president has made our ability to defend ourselves so much worse will “we the people” FALL for the scheme? Being the eternal optimist, I don’t believe there are enough Americans STUPID enough to push this cult leader into another “win” (albeit with likely MILLIONS less votes than Joe Biden) next November.

Today, there was a report this “war” is going to be ongoing for 18 months. I’m certainly not smart enough to have any idea if that’s true, but it’s not going to change my view if individual 1 somehow manages to get re-elected “we the people” deserve what we get. We still have enough access to the voting booth to be ashamed of ourselves if we allow this nightmare to continue. We COULD be looking at depression like conditions depending on how this evolves, but, at least, there’s a bunch of “free market” republicans who are suddenly realizing there’s a place for government in our lives. (Aside from funneling taxpayer dollars to donors) And, by the way, I’m saying it right here right now, expect individual 1 to try (at least) postponing November’s election!

I’m so proud of my daughter who is an RN and I’m praying for her and her co-workers several times a day. (I don’t have much else to do other than sit here and rant about individual 1) These health care workers have been among the HEROES of this nation for as long as I can remember, but not ever more than right now. They don’t seem to even hesitate as they take on this mammoth challenge even though, as my daughter told me and I’ve heard from many other sources, the protective “gear” is woefully not available. Our doctors and nurses are working to mitigate this crisis – trying to save as many lives as possible – all while many are not sufficiently protected. If we get to the point where they are getting infected things will be that much more worse! That’s why individual 1 pissed me off (sorry for the language) when he said something on the line of “we’re not shipping clerks” when questioned about helping to get this equipment to the people on the front lines!

In the last couple of days individual 1 has (sorta) changed his “tune,” but the damage of his inaction coupled with incompetence has created lasting DAMAGE! (The DAMAGE he’s done to this nation may take a generation to “fix”) Sadly, there are millions of Americans who still believe he’s telling the truth when words are coming from his mouth. (I can barely force myself to listen) Like many other Americans I’ve seen the pictures of all the people on the beaches of Florida blowing off the danger of their “partying” during this crisis. Sadly, while people like me are in “detention” – my son is telling me I have to stay home – these people are making it worse for everyone else.

Undoubtedly, there will be (apparently mostly students) many coming from these beaches to other places around the country and causing this pandemic to expand even more. While individual 1 is mocking the Chinese, calling this the “Chinese flu” or the “Kung flu” – brazenly RACIST comments – the Chinese may end up being the one country which figured out how to stop this virus in its tracks. And, to use their “model” (which is likely not possible in America at this point) it still took around 4 months to get to the point where there are fewer cases every day being reported. (I believe, today, there were none)

When you think about all these people “partying” on the beaches they could be helping to cause this crisis to be around in America for at least a year. Many who think like me have been using the word “STUPID” to characterize the people who have “bought in” to Fox “news” or Rush Limbaugh and the other right wing “talkers” – plus, Sinclair Broadcasting is a more surreptitious participant in “The Big Lie Theory” which is the propaganda scheme of the “conservative” movement in the U.S. (As I’ve said here many times, it was originated with the Nazi head of propaganda Joseph Goebbels) At this point, when I think about all the Americans who are still “partying” the word that comes to mind is SELFISH.

And, I’m sure the word which comes to mind to people like my daughter the RN is ANGRY. They are putting forth an incredible amount of courage and energy including, it seems to me, almost the likelihood of contracting this virus because they don’t have the protective gear they should have. I saw a picture of the governor of Oklahoma at a busy restaurant with his children almost mocking the idea we should all be staying home except for essential necessities (like going to get groceries or going to the pharmacy). From what I’ve read this is going to affect everyone and, sadly, there is a significant segment of our population who are almost acting like oppositional children. And, individual 1 continues to make matters worse.

Individual 1 just can’t help himself, he has to continue to complement himself because, apparently, he’s not seeing enough (dishonest) compliments even on his “fixed” TV network. As I’ve said, the LYING wasn’t going to subside during this crisis, so now our IMPEACHED so-called president is trying to LIE himself into a campaign mode during this crisis. Selfish, but not surprising. Today, he was attacking the media again suggesting if the media was “honest” we’d have a much better country. This, of course, coming from an IMPEACHED so-called president who’s LIED likely MORE than 20,000 times since taking office. That’s their (conservatives) plan. I really wish our so-called “liberal media” would point out our IMPEACHED so-called president is using the propaganda strategy of the Nazis!

This is a critical time in the history of this nation. If the bungling of this crisis by individual 1 is not sufficient to get this mob boss-like IMPEACHED so-called president out of office, then “we the people” deserve what we get. This year there’s NO third party candidate to take votes away from Joe Biden and we know to be on the lookout for the Russians (and maybe others) attacking social media plus people like me are calling on the 55% of Americans who are committed to defeating individual 1 to massively vote this coming November. As I said above, I have a bad feeling that individual 1 will try to block the election if this pandemic continues through the summer. But, “we the people” have to make it clear that is UNACCEPTABLE!

It’s clear it will be difficult to get through to those who make up individual 1’s base. I’m not sure there’s much hope for all the white nationalists, but there’s got to be a segment of his cult who are susceptible to the reality of this situation and the intellectual capacity to understand individual 1’s incompetence is making their lives worse. I am picturing in my mind where all those who are partying on Florida’s beaches are going – likely infecting many more people whenever they get there. We’ve allowed the right wing media in this nation to partially destroy our connection to the values which made America Great. When individual 1 is finally out of office it will, THEN, be time to “make America great again!” And, it’s going to take years!

Final Thought: Today our “war time” IMPEACHED so-called president made sure the governors understand the government “is not a shipping department.” Someone pointed out to him he has wartime powers which he (sort of) enacted – and, today he suggested he’ll use it “when it’s needed.” My first thought: “Are you kidding me?” These powers would allow, for example, ventilators could be getting produced in large numbers in some of the manufacturing facilities which are now sitting idle. Individual 1 wants to convince “we the people” he’s doing a good job, but he continues to demonstrate his INCOMPETENCE!

When he announced the enactment of the war powers he said something like, “I’m sure you know what that means” to the journalists sitting there. What was clear to me was HE didn’t understand what that means. I’m guessing he heard about the powers on some TV show and decided it MUST be a good idea. It’s just becoming more clear he has NO idea what he’s doing. Apparently, until the states in the center of the nation which, at this time, are lagging in the number of cases – maybe he’s thinking these are the “red” states – so what’s the hurry? Yikes!!!

One more thing: I’m not giving individual 1 a “Ten” on his handling of this crisis. As the saying goes, “I might be dumb, but I’m not stupid.” And, of course, there’s Mike Pense who occasionally is asked to speak. He looks into the camera, but it sounds as if he’s actually talking to individual 1. He embarrasses all of us virtually everytime he speaks!

Oh yes, last night I purchased a digital thermometer which is connected to an app on your phone. The company can target where abnormal temperatures are appearing before the CDC understands there’s a problem. As of this evening, Florida appears to be the center of the elevated temperatures in the U.S. Makes me think of all those people on the beaches. Stay tuned………….. The next week or two may be telling us something interesting!

These days nothing should surprise us, so I just took it with “a grain of salt” when I heard it reported Moscow Mitch McConnell is encouraging older “conservative” judges to retire ASAP so he and the rest of the republican Senate can continue their right wing assault on our courts before they’re all voted out of office this November. What was Moscow Mitch doing this past weekend instead of keeping the Senate in session so they could pass the bill which came out of the House Saturday morning? Yup, he was in Kentucky with (the accused sexual assaulter) Brett Kavanaugh “christening” one more YOUNG right wing judge into the judiciary. We’re talking about the word YOUNG being more important to these republicans than “qualified” because these are all LIFETIME appointments.

While McConnell is focused on judges and everyone else is stuck at home (or in the hospital) because of covid-19 it’s not a surprise to me republicans are getting more bad publicity because many of them still believe covid-19 is a “hoax” – in the words of individual 1. I can still guarantee you there are likely MOST republicans who are seeing “rescue packages” right now as money which should go to the HUGE corporate interests who have been funding them for years. Well, that’s just not going to work, first of all, and secondly, I think even republicans are realizing this disaster is something they’ve never seen before. Yesterday, in America, there were around 4400 cases of covid-19 and today the number went past 6000 before my wife said, “dinner’s ready.” (OK, that’s correct, I don’t cook)

There are MILLIONS of low income workers who spend virtually EVERY penny they earn who aren’t earning ANYTHING right now. For those of them living in an apartment they don’t have an extra week waiting for Congress to pass a bill strengthening unemployment insurance so they will be paid while waiting to go back to work. My son is a server in a restaurant and he’s basically without work until this pandemic has passed by. Yes, there are openings in other areas for jobs in other businesses (ie stocking shelves overnight at local grocery stores) but the reality for so many people is they are screwed unless “we the people” DEMAND our “leaders” in Washington take care of OUR people FIRST! (I did hear Mitt Romney suggest every adult should receive a stipend to help stimulate the economy. That may or may not be a good idea, but those without work need to continue being paid)

We’ve witnessed one example of INCOMPETENCE after another coming from our IMPEACHED so-called president since day one of his administration. I’ve (along with many others) been saying for over three years that when individual 1 is finally facing a true “crisis” “we the people” are, likely, in a “heap” of trouble. Well, at this point, unless you’re still listening to Rush Limbaugh or watching Fox “news,” (Limbaugh’s still calling this a “hoax” apparently even blaming it on George Soros – yikes! – he should have to give his “medal” back) you know the actions of our IMPEACHED so-called president has made this much worse. In fact, it continues to make it worse because with so many republicans believing this is a “hoax” they’re still operating as usual and, likely, helping to spread this disease.

Tonight there are reports of three primaries which were all won by Joe Biden who is now presumably the democratic nominee. So, the November election is (at least unofficially) on and we’ll likely see an ever larger MOUNTAIN of LIES coming from individual 1. He is UNABLE to admit making any mistake let alone the TERRIBLE series of MISTAKES which have made this covid-19 likely much worse than it could be had they taken this seriously back in January when all the “clues” were clear as to what we were facing. The “graphs” which are representing the spread of the pandemic are looking almost identical to Italy – which SHOULD give EVERYONE (including republicans) pause. Two weeks from now it is appearing the “you know what” is going to be “hitting the fan.”

It wouldn’t surprise me if we started hearing about Hunter Biden again. Today, individual 1 tried to convince “we the people” to believe him when he says something like “I always knew this was going to be a pandemic before most people understood this.” It just keeps getting more offensive in my opinion. As much as I loathe our IMPEACHED so-called president and look forward to the day he’s VOTED out of office I would love to see him actually take responsibility for his blunders and move forward in a way which doesn’t just continue turning off those Americans who actually have the capability to think for themselves. (And, that doesn’t make them “elitist” it just means they’re smart enough to realize when they’re the victims of pure propaganda) We need individual 1 to actually lead!

Covid-19 is getting worse rapidly and it’s true around 80% of people who contract the virus will get minimal symptoms if they have any symptoms at all, but what our leaders who have been taking this seriously from the outset are attempting to do is to minimize those who are the other 20% which have the possibility (at this point, now, the likelihood) of over running our hospital system with critically ill patients. I have a friend who contracted a severe version of H1N1 about 10 years ago and the doctors still don’t understand how he survived (he was in intensive care for a couple weeks – I still believe it was all the prayer from our church – just sayin….) as his case evolved to “SARS” (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) where it appeared to be a severe case of pneumonia. If covid-19 continues following the “Italy graph” this crisis will make the reality of having individual 1 as our IMPEACHED so-called president even more of a serious issue. It appears he’s beginning to realize what is actually happening, but……..

I’ve heard reports individual 1 has been relying on Jared Kushner and Steven Miller for advice as this crisis has emerged as a freight train coming with people chained to the tracks and him not knowing how to operate bolt cutters and getting advice from people who don’t know what a bolt cutter is. The refusal to accept what seemed obvious to so many back in January and remaining in denial until – well, hopefully, he’s figured out by now this is a problem – and, not simply with the issue with the stock market and the “numbers” which “make me look bad.” His son, back sometime in January was on Fox “news” claiming “democrats are wishing for this virus to kill millions of Americans in order to stop all the winning.” I remember hearing that and thinking “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Well, all these people Don Jr. was referring to were actually trying to get “through” to his father and those around him in order for them to see the danger which was coming in order to actually give individual 1 the opportunity to act like an actual president. Today, on a day when the number of identified cases of covid-19, when individual 1 said “I knew this was a pandemic well before others realized it was a pandemic” – or words to that effect. People are actually getting even more ANGRY at what they’re seeing coming from the “White House” and our IMPEACHED so-called president worrying more about his own situation than that of the MILLIONS of Americans who are bracing for dealing with this virus – and almost ALL of us dealing with it at least indirectly.

I haven’t been one to be giving individual 1 direct advice, but here’s the reality of his situation. There was a MAJORITY of Americans committed to voting AGAINST him in the November election based on his first three years in office. This crisis was actually an opportunity for him to show he has the ability to act “presidential” and, as usual, he’s failed miserably. And, the continuation of all the LYING is simply going to make matters worse for him. He should have understood the need for transparency. listening to the scientists, and the importance of making reasoned decisions with the benefit of “we the people” as the focus. He has FAILED miserably on all accounts. That being said, he’s going to be our IMPEACHED so-called president at least until next January so “we the people” need to hope he can figure out he’d better start listening to the experts soon. And, as many people have been encouraging him “shut up” and “stop tweeting.”

Not only should he listen to the scientists going forward but also to – well, the “progressives” (OK, liberals) among us who are saying the money the government invests in saving this economy SHOULD work from the bottom up. Essentially, the ONLY legislative act of significance since individual 1 took the oath of office was a tax cut (scam) which funneled TRILLIONS into the “coffers” of major corporations (who are now asking for immediate “bailouts”) and the top “1%” who were already flush with money. The result of that SCAM was corporations and wealthy Americans investing even more in the stock market. It was reported today the airline industry invested 96% of their profits in stock buy backs – and, now, of course, they want government grants and ZERO percent loans to get them through this crisis.

Well, the financial crisis of 2008 is still fresh in my mind and, personally, I’m not opposed to our government INVESTING in corporations who may be in trouble during this time but if they’re going to “do the right thing” providing relief to people like my son who is a server in a restaurant is more likely to boost this economy. People in minimum wage jobs are likely to spend virtually every cent they receive and, beyond that, it’s the right thing to do to put our people FIRST. Maybe, if the republicans are intent on bailing out their donors, it should come in the form of buying stock – like a “public offering” which would allow the money to be recouped after this crisis abates. For sure, in my mind, any money going to the airline industry or other corporate interests should have “strings” attached to it.

It still bothers me thinking back to the major Wall Street banks giving out multi million dollar bonuses to the very people who created the financial crisis with their reckless behavior with taxpayer bailout money – coming from the “free market” republicans. If I remember correctly, when the Obama administration “bailed out” the auto industry (which, by the way, I supported because it saved several thousand jobs in the industry and its “pipeline”) there were strings attached and some of the executives lost their jobs. In other words, there were consequences for the poor decisions which got the industry to that point. I believe the same should be the “plan” going forward in this crisis.

Not surprisingly, to me, we still have around 40% of Americans continuing to support the most inept (IMPEACHED so-called) president, certainly, in my lifetime and, maybe, ever. I’m guessing the next few weeks as this virus continues to “peak” (it went from 4400 confirmed cases to over 6000 in the last 24 hours) there may be even some republicans who realize their party needs to change its priorities. (It’s the next morning and the total number of cases is well over 7000) For heaven’s sake, not only has individual 1 been downplaying this (and, of course, continuing his pathological LYING) but, the idea Moscow Mitch was gone for four days when he could have been showing some serious leadership is not surprising, sadly. And, now it’s reported that one of the U.S. Senators who is always causing me to wonder what is happening in Kentucky (I know they have great basketball teams, but…….), Rand Paul, from reports I’ve heard, is blocking the Senate from passing the House bill which has the first phase of help for those negatively impacted by the pandemic. Yikes!!!

One more thing: It’s really interesting to me watching republicans in this situation when one of their own is in the “White House.” If you remember, the Stimulus bill passed by democrats (with, I believe, a couple republicans with one of them “run out” of the party for his support of the package) amid the 2008 financial crisis which was on the “table” the day Barack Obama took office was at least $400 BILLION less than they wanted and included unnecessary tax cuts to get the 2 or 3 republicans to support it and now, listening to what republicans are saying is, well, how do you spell hypocrisy? (Well, there’s spell check) Individual 1 and his republican sycophants are going to be throwing money everywhere and hoping it “sticks.”

The Fed has already “infused” almost $2 TRILLION into Wall Street, which did almost NOTHING to stop the “tanking,” and they’re chomping at the bit to give almost “free money” to the Wall Street entities which pretty much “own” the republican party. Individual 1 has finally realized his “you know what” is “on the line” here and he’s guessing we’ll all forget his incompetence once this is over if he can figure out how to give out a bunch of money. Personally, I simply believe “paid leave” for workers who are sick and full unemployment benefits for ALL workers who have been furloughed in any way (with a cap of maybe $60,000 per year salary) is where they should start. The idea of the payroll tax “holiday” (which, simply put, is an underhanded way to further the right wing attack on Social Security) made no sense and I’m thankful democrats nixed that idea almost immediately. (That was likely Jared Kushner advice to his father-in-law)

Final Thought: It appears to me Nancy Pelosi is the “adult in the room” during this crisis – up to this point in time. I just hope democrats stick to their values as this all is played out. As I said above, Mitt Romney, again was the republican who stood out – he was the first republican to suggest sending money to every adult American. Now, the question is what will the size of the stimulus be. I’m not sure individual 1 still realizes what we’re all looking at in the next couple of months (at least). His LYING, the LYING coming from outlets like Fox “news” and the other right wing media outlets (which, sadly means MOST of them) along with “talkers” like Limbaugh calling it a democratic or George Soros “hoax” has made this pandemic far worse than it should have been.

“Conservatives” are bumping into each other as they’re trying to figure out how much MONEY to “throw” at this problem. Suddenly the government has become important to them. Well, come to think of it, they’ve always viewed government as a mechanism to pilfer taxpayer dollars and, without a democratically controlled House I don’t think this would be any different. I just listened to Anthony Scaramucci (former “White House” communications director for 10 days until he had an F bomb laced interview on the radio) suggest the government stimulus plan should be about $3 TRILLION. I still can’t forget 2009 when republicans tried to block the stimulus plan of President Obama!

I have to add this: I don’t do “Twitter” but I just saw some “Tweets” individual 1 published today March 18 – right in the middle of this pandemic. He referred to the pandemic as the “Chinese flu” in three different “Tweets.” I’ve also heard him call it the “Kung flu.” Additionally, as he’s been LYING he suggested he reacted early to this and, therefore, “saved many lives.” Well, while I understand the importance of people “coming together” I, for one, am not going to allow individual 1 to get away with his constant LYING and overt RACISM! As I said above, I’m holding out hope he can somehow become honest and transparent but, the reality is, people who are as delusional as he is almost have no hope of changing. Sadly, he’s a racist and pathological LIAR and, apparently, he will never “get” that. (I had pathological LIARS as students and this doesn’t surprise me) The bottom line, for me, is when I read stuff like these “Tweets” I, again, get ANGRY! To me this is unacceptable under any circumstance! I’ve been saying this for 3 years now – November 2020 can’t come soon enough for me!

OMG: The new “plan” is for individual 1 to portray himself as a “wartime” president! Thank God this isn’t a real war!

OK, I keep saying this, “I’m not an expert,” but I just finished watching the democratic debate for the honor of replacing individual 1 likely amid another economic disaster and I’m listening to the CNN doctor talking about the efforts of the CDC, about three or four weeks too late, to mitigate the covid-19 crisis. The cases in the U.S. are expanding toward the worst fears while our IMPEACHED so-called president is cheering on ZERO percent interest rates for Wall Street. It’s likely too late to stop this thing and the effects remain to be seen. The problem with the lack of testing which will persist for at least the next month makes it impossible to know the actual amounts of people with the virus. It’s likely 10 to 20 times what has been reported (today, it’s reported the number is 3500 from 2800 yesterday)

My guess is, despite all the money I’ve talked about which the Fed is “throwing” at Wall Street, the market will continue to “tank.” I don’t see how it doesn’t with business closing all over the country and workers losing their jobs. Yes, the toilet paper industry is strong right now – as freaked out Americans appear to be in panic buying mode – and, “we the people” will need to keep going to the super market to buy food as we’re likely to be having cabin fever.

Well, it’s now morning (I wrote the first couple of paragraphs last night) and the market “triggered” another “circuit breaker” within seconds of the opening as it was heading due south – I believe the “circuit breaker” kicks in when there is a loss of 7%. By the time I got up this morning it was “UP” a bit to -1700 on the DOW soon to be back below 2000 on the day. I’m learning about the “VIX” which is the measure of volatility and, according to what I’ve seen it’s nearing record highs – which would suggest even more stock market trouble. I keep listening to the “experts” on Yahoo.com/finance and many of them don’t make sense to me. To use a term from my friend I often mention here who is a diehard individual 1 supporter, they’re in “dreamland.” This looks really bad to me!

Personally, I have no idea how this crisis will ultimately end up, but where I live virtually everything except grocery stores and gas stations are closed. (Oh yes, doctor’s offices and hospitals) My family has put me in “detention” because they’re worried I’m one of the most vulnerable. Personally, if the weather gets better I’m going to try to make it to the golf course. But, seriously, my youngest daughter is a hospice nurse and things are starting to look a lot worse, from what I understand listening to her. I can tell you, “we the people” need to be thankful for the doctors and nurses in our society, even though our IMPEACHED so-called president is in court while this all is going on attempting to obliterate what is left of the Affordable Care Act.

In a word, my daughter is TOUGH! You have to be to do what she does – before she started working in hospice care she was an oncology nurse – the first time she told me about putting someone who had died into a body bag so she could take them to the morgue I was like – YIKES! That’s my little girl!! Well, now she is going to be right in the middle of this pandemic and I feel all I can do is pray for her and all the others who are on the “front lines.” When I talked to her yesterday she shared with me the health care organization she works for does NOT have the protective items the doctors and nurses need while helping those who are sick.

In regard to all the equipment the frontline workers need, this morning, I listened to a report on individual 1 suggesting it’s up to each facility to “order” the materials they need. I’ve heard nationwide we are likely short of something like 200,000 ventilators and my daughter says they don’t even have proper masks and gloves. All I can think every time I hear our IMPEACHED so-called president say something is the advice he constantly ignores – he should SHUT UP! I watched the debate last night between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders and it’s clear to me Biden is likely the democratic nominee for president this fall. Someone needs to tell individual 1 every time he opens his mouth on this crisis he’s creating another commercial for Biden.

Most Americans don’t know individual 1 and a group of republican governors are attempting, while this crisis is ongoing, to take insurance away from something like 30 MILLION Americans in their attempt to overturn the Affordable Care Act. How do you spell STUPID? (Well, I was a sixth grade teacher and I know how to spell STUPID although I’m thankful for “spell check.”) On the bright side I believe after we get beyond this it appears to me the argument for universal health care will have a much better chance of overcoming the OBSTRUCTION of Moscow Mitch, individual 1, and the rest of the republican party.

I live in Washington State and our governor, Jay Inslee, (AKA a “snake” according to individual 1) has been at the front of those leaders who are making decisions which will hopefully minimize the damage caused by this pandemic. In reality it’s the governors around the nation who are leading in the fight to mitigate the damage of the virus. Right now I’m listening to individual 1 and those who are part of the CDC “task force.” Here’s the saddest part of all this – I know the health care professionals are doing all they can – but, when one of them speaks it’s as if they have to make some kind of statement (LIE) aimed at our IMPEACHED so-called president who is standing next to them attempting to make him look good. Here’s the reality, our federal government was NOT prepared and “closing the borders” didn’t minimize the epidemic – the actions of individual 1 undoubtedly made this far worse than it should have been.

Just this past weekend, when you look at the photos of the airports where the people who were in Europe were going through customs it’s as if no one who came up with the “plan” was thinking straight. (Apparently this was Jared Kushner) There were people CROWDED together for up to 7 hours, in some instances, waiting to go through customs, essentially, getting (possibly) infected. Who knows how many in these large crowds have become infected because of being forced to go through this disastrous circumstance. Right now, I’m listening to our IMPEACHED so-called president who is still suggesting he’s been doing a “great job.” Yikes!!! He gave himself a 10 out of 10 today. And, yesterday or the day before he said he “takes no responsibility” for the government’s terrible response to this pandemic. Pathological LIARS evolve to the point where when a word comes out of their mouth they actually believe it’s true. Another word for this is delusional!

I watched the stock market while individual 1 was speaking and it dropped almost another 1000 points from where it was when he started, closing around – 3000 on the DOW or almost 13% in ONE day! Yikes!!! After the first $1.5 TRILLION the Fed infused into the market, the DOW dropped a couple thousand points. The Oval Office address dropped it another 2000 points. Of course, the Friday press conference pumped it up a couple thousand points and, then the Fed announced it was dropping rates to ZERO and pumping another nearly TRILLION into the market which caused the market to drop over 2000 points at the open today, triggering another “circuit breaker” and then individual 1 spoke again this afternoon and suggested this will go on until August and the market dropped another 1000 to close at 3000.

It’s Tuesday (the next day) and the stock market is trying to go up again – I guess this is the true definition of volatility. I’m guessing MOST of the republicans will continue focusing on trying to prop up Wall Street although I have to say, yesterday, I saw Mitt Romney suggest every adult American should receive $1000 (per month? for the next few months?) which would be sending money to “we the people” (I want to say so we can continue hoarding toilet paper – but this probably isn’t the time for bad humor) which would likely be money spent. I’ve said (and understood since I was in high school in the 1960’s) government SHOULD work from the bottom up.

This all changed when Ronald Reagan became president and instigated the “trickle down” (trickle up from my vantage point) philosophy of economics. This has proved to create HUGE multi national corporations which seem to be the back bone of our economy and are the focus of republican initiatives under emergency situations. We saw Bush/Cheney pull together a $700 – $800 BILLION to bail out the banks – who, by the way, were incredibly reckless. I just finished reading “Dark Towers” which is a book about Deutche Bank and it further reminded me of what happened in 2008 where America’s banks were the recipients of a BAILOUT with little to no consequence to their bad behavior. Well, of course, this crisis is different, but we’ve already seen “conservatives” pouring TRILLIONS into “Wall Street” and, that’s likely to be their “plan” going forward. That’s all they know how to do!

At some point “we the people” will understand that the “trickle down” philosophy doesn’t work for us. OUR national debt is well over 20 TRILLION now and likely to be rising quickly and our Middle Class has been stagnant since the day Reagan took the oath of office. The bottom line is the way to mitigate this crisis is to pour money into the hands of “we the people” who will likely spend it. The money is actually infused into our economy for the people who most need it. It’s true we can’t blame the banks for this crisis, but the reality is pouring money into Wall Street is just another example of short term thinking.

I just listened to Elizabeth Warren talking about what she believes needs to be done to protect our economy while we’re dealing with this crisis and it reminds me of why I wanted to vote for her. Unfortunately, she was out of the nominating process by the time we in Washington State were voting, but I still say she’s the smartest politician I’ve seen for some time. Joe Biden has pledged to pick a woman to be his “running mate” but I doubt it will be Senator Warren. Just the reality she comes from Massachusetts makes it unlikely as the VP usually needs to be able to help with a “purple” state. I’m thinking it may be Stacy Abrams of Georgia. I would also be excited if she were the choice. That being said, Elizabeth Warren was proposing a $750 BILLION stimulus aimed at the “grass roots.” She “gets it.”

I’ll end this rant by saying, once again, the “republican way” has already PUMPED a couple TRILLION into Wall Street and the market continues to TANK. Clearly those who are involved with trading on Wall Street are inflicted with what I call the “herd mentality.” Each day it’s either significantly up or significantly DOWN. The “downs” are “winning” at the moment. Again, I don’t understand how it works, but I’m guessing there are “short sellers” who are getting very rich off of the misery of everyone else. I would love to see the stock market stabilized and I agree with Elizabeth Warren the way to do this is from the bottom up!

Final Thought: Today the market has been fluctuating between +2% and +4% based on the expectation there’s another government relief bill on the horizon. (Although, apparently, Moscow Mitch is balking at part of the bill) As I’ve said in recent posts my son’s restaurant (and virtually every restaurant in America) has closed temporarily (some possibly permanently) and the bill should provide relief to all these workers who are no longer working and can’t find work in their profession. Lets hope our “leaders” in Washington can focus on our people on “Main Street” for the next few months!

One last thing: My son has a friend who’s a barber and he’s three weeks from opening his first barber shop. He’s in serious financial danger. People like him should have access to some of this low interest money to keep them “afloat” until this crisis is over. Again, from the bottom up!

I wrote this over the past few days and didn’t publish it because I got so worked up I was already on to the next one which is always published. My hope is “we the people” don’t allow individual 1 to LIE himself out of the responsibility he holds for the poor response to this pandemic. (For heaven’s sake, he abolished the Pandemic team in the National Security office a couple years ago) He couldn’t have stopped this, but he’s made it worse and he’s now trying to LIE himself out of the responsibility he holds. Whether he can accept this or not, “The ‘buck’ stops at the Oval Office!”

Talk about your second chances: The DOW is now down to where it was on individual 1’s FIRST day in office! Just try to picture in your mind what our IMPEACHED so-called president could have done (to us) in the Ebola crisis! Just sayin………..

Here’s the definition of the word “sugarcoat”: “make superficially attractive or acceptable.” I tried to listen to individual 1 as he FINALLY announced the covid-19 crisis is now a “national emergency” which opens up something like $50 BILLION ($150 per person) available to states who are fighting the virus – like Washington state where I live and where the virus is likely “centered” – we’ll know once they are able to test the people who may or may not have the virus. He just can’t resist giving himself credit, even in the face of universal condemnation as to his response to this crisis. Personally, I don’t think individual 1, even today, knows how serious the issues this pandemic may be causing “we the people” to face.

In Italy, which is the country many are suggesting the U.S. will be “following,” there are not enough hospital beds to care for the number of patients who need them. Being weeks “behind” in the testing process can allow a virus like this, according to the experts I’ve listened to, which is already well beyond what is known due to the lack of testing capability, to grow at a rate which can be exponential. Up until today, the “leaders” have been governors around the country, and it appears individual 1 has FINALLY figured out there’s a problem. I’m guessing it took the stock market to “tank” to get his attention. Listening to his “press conference” today, it’s apparent individual 1 “gets” the lack of testing capability is a problem – and, there appears to be many companies “gearing up” to try to catch up. The question remains: once many more people are tested what is the total of the problem. (To some degree I believe the reason our IMPEACHED so-called president doesn’t want the testing ramped up is because he thinks it will make him look bad.)

Now, Mike Pense is speaking and he’s lavishing praise on individual 1 for his great leadership in this crisis. (That’s me live reporting) This guy is worse than a lapdog! I’ve got to turn this off! Listening to Pense makes me hope individual 1 proves negative to the virus, despite NOT following the “social distancing” we’re all being encouraged to follow, because Pense turns me off even more – although, as I think about that, it almost seems impossible. I’m guessing Pense is ordered to pour compliments over our IMPEACHED so-called president before he’s given permission to speak in public, and, apparently, he willingly accedes.

It should be a surprise to no one our IMPEACHED so-called president thinks in terms of the “short term.” This was clear this past week as he repeatedly has been bashing Jerome Powell of the Federal Reserve for “not doing enough” to protect the stock market. This led to the Fed pumping $1.5 TRILLION into the market this past week, which only temporarily stopped the tanking market. (Did they just print it – they can’t come up with that kind of “cash” for “we the people”) Individual 1’s Oval Office speech last Wednesday caused the market to drop record amounts within the next 24 hours, causing him to give a press conference on Friday which spurred the market on a temporary upsurge. (He FINALLY declared this is an “emergency”) Of course, our IMPEACHED so-called president couldn’t leave “well enough alone” so he “tweeted” Friday’s upsurge as if the problem has been solved.

And, as I’ve stated in my previous few posts I’m learning how to follow the DOW “futures” – which are suggesting more upward pressure on Monday, but I’ve got news for our IMPEACHED so-called president; his short term “itis” isn’t going to solve this problem – meaning covid-19. Let me just give you a few examples of what I’m seeing just around where I live. My son works at one of the busiest restaurants in the city where we live and, today, he was sent home after – get this – 40 MINUTES! In Washington we have a $13 minimum wage (at least where we live) so I said to my son, at least you made gas money. I’m not sure how good that made him feel, but he understand what lies ahead – either hardly any work or, more likely, they’re going to temporarily close the restaurant – and, no work.

When you think about ALL sports leagues SHUT DOWN, people are not traveling – Delta reported today, I think I heard, laying off 40% of their workforce because people aren’t flying, people aren’t traveling, vacationing, movie theaters are closed, Disneyland is CLOSED!, and I could go on and on. “We the people” live in a consumer based economy and this is going to be really bad – as I said, short term moves will only, in the long run, make things worse. The stock market has a lot more losing to do and, it’s likely going to be much worse because of our IMPEACHED so-called president desperately trying to make himself look better than he deserves – and, what he deserves gets worse by the day.

At this point in time “we the people” shouldn’t be focused on the market, but on what we can do to try to keep the “curve” of this pandemic to be as “flat” as possible. (So far that doesn’t like likely, but thank God for the many governors around the country taking action) Of course, at this point in time we have no idea how many Americans have the virus – and, it is true reports suggest 80% of cases will be relatively mild – it’s the other 20% people are worried about – especially older people like me who have underlying medical issues who are the most vulnerable. My daughter’s a nurse and she’s really worried about me. I called her up and said, “I’m worried about you” – she’s on the front-line of the pandemic. She’s a hospice nurse and she’s dealing with many patients in nursing homes. I’m proud of her (she’s working really hard right now) and I’m praying she stays safe.

I listened to an economist from Harvard the other night and he suggested we are on the cusp of another depression, but almost certainly another “great recession.” I’ve been saying since day one of individual 1’s administration I have ZERO confidence he is capable of dealing with a crisis. Many beside myself have referred to him as UNFIT for office. Of course, he’s got a CULT following and it will take this to get worse than I want it to get in order for them to maybe rethink their loyalties – especially with outlets like Fox “news” still suggesting this pandemic is the result of the “liberal media” that wants to take down their IMPEACHED so-called president.

In individual 1’s press conference on Friday he claimed he saved “thousands of lives” by his actions to close the borders and then LIED about the FACT he closed the pandemic operation in the National Security Council which was started by President Obama after dealing with the Ebola crisis – which, by the way, was EXPERTLY dealt with. (His supporters actually believe him) He actually called the reporter (an African American woman) who asked the question “nasty” as he looked at Tony Fausti and tried to “pass the buck” to him for the BLUNDER he admitted to many months ago – because “I don’t like spending money on things that aren’t needed, we can get them back when we need them.” (Of course, then they turned that reporters mike off so she couldn’t ask a follow up question)

Actually, while I was writing the above words I had a news program on my computer and, sure enough, along came a person who seemed to verify the reason America has been so slow in providing testing (it’s still a MAJOR problem) is because individual 1 didn’t want the public to know how many people had the virus because he felt that made him look bad. Of course, like everything else with our IMPEACHED so-called president this short term thinking is leading to long term consequences – for, example, many business leaders are wondering how long it will take for our economy to recover once this epidemic is “on the other side?” We will undoubtedly, at a minimum, be in economic recession (we likely already are) for the rest of this year and, of course, there’s an election coming, so brace yourself for the barrage of incoming LIES coming from individual 1 and his sycophants.

Here’s the bottom line here, you can’t wish away a pandemic like this and if you attempt to do so, well, you only make it worse – as we are seeing “up close and personal.” I keep thinking, a few weeks ago republicans in the Senate, facing incontrovertible evidence that our IMPEACHED so-called president was continually putting his own self interest above that of the nation, had the opportunity to end this nightmare and chose to take the “chicken’s” way out. (Except, of course, for Mitt Romney) Of course, convicting individual 1 wouldn’t have stopped this pandemic, but maybe Pense would have done a better job – although, I’m not confident in that either – but, just sayin……… As they say, “He couldn’t do it any worse.”

To me, individual 1’s actions are making it crystal clear “we the people” should be taking a second look at Bernie Sanders before the democratic nominating process is over. If there was ever a better “advertisement” for the need for a universal health care system this should be it. And, I’ll say this again, I believe “Medicare for All” would be around HALF as expensive as the system we have with much better outcomes. To all those out there who think it would be “more expensive” – well, today, while driving home from Costco (without TP AGAIN :o) I had my xm radio on (as usual) and on came individual 1 – very happy because the Fed just announced they’re dropping rates AGAIN, now down to, well, ZERO. And, that’s not all!

Just last week they pumped $1.5 TRILLION into Wall Street to “prop the market up” and today they announced they have nearly ANOTHER trillion to pump in “the coming weeks” to buy up bad debt, essentially. This is the “American way” since the “Free market” economists in the mold of Milton Friedman gained a foothold several decades ago – and, that’s pile up more debt. And, apparently, if you’re one of those two big to fail banks you’re “good” no matter what. I believe I read today they are simply negating the “Dodd-Frank” legislation which was aimed at preventing another financial meltdown. I have to wonder, where is the 2.5 TRILLION coming from?

We have “free markets” until Wall Street needs the GOVERNMENT to “bail” them out. I have to assume we’re going to be piling up much more debt. And, of course I don’t know this for certain, but I’m guessing the House bill aimed at “Main Street” won’t have anywhere near two and a half TRILLION dollars in the bill. (Individual 1 wants to ROB the Social Security trust fund – which has already been borrowed – of nearly a TRILLION dollars and, hopefully, democrats won’t fall for it) The bottom line here is there’s going to be “hard sledding” ahead and piling on more debt and wishful thinking will likely just make it worse, in the long term.

The appropriate solution passed us by a few weeks ago – and, in my mind, every-time individual 1 gets in front of a microphone he’s just making another commercial for whoever ends up being the democratic nominee for November’s election. This upcoming recession is going to be severe at best and, as one economist I’ve already talked about said the other night, it could end up being a world wide DEPRESSION. I’ve seen reports the American economy is already in recession and it will be interesting to see how much DEBT individual 1 “throws” at this pandemic.

Early on, when “we the people” realized what a bumbling IDIOT he is – and, now I’m focusing on his response to this impending crisis – to brace yourself for a MOUNTAIN of lies – blaming EVERYONE but himself. Just the other day I heard him say with his own mouth he takes no responsibility for the HORRIBLE response by the federal government to this impending pandemic – despite months of warning. He even stood before the American people and LIED about dissolving the PANDEMIC team from the CDC – the team put in place by President Obama for just this type of occasion. And, he LIED about the response to the H1N1 flu by “Joe Biden” which tells you he knows what is lying ahead politically. (I guess we can be thankful he didn’t blame it on Hunter Biden!)

I’ll end with: Individual 1 is still going after Hillary Clinton as if he wants to put her in jail. The first thought which came to my mind when I read that this morning (I believe in the NY Times) “Be careful what you wish for.” Why? Well, there’s an old saying which I find to be a “truism,” and it says “What goes around comes around.” I’ve read Comey’s book, I’ve read McCabe’s book, I’ve read every book I can get my hands on which deals with the FBI’s “intervention” into the 2016 election (I believe Comey is why we’re talking about all of this – he’s the reason individual 1 is in office), not only regarding Mrs. Clinton but also regarding individual 1.

I’ve read Mueller’s report TWICE and, believe me, it’s a challenging read – but also very informative and, also, a bit scary – because it clearly exposes William Barr to be individual 1’s “Roy Cohn” (who, if you don’t know, was a DIRTY mob lawyer who died in disgrace of AIDS after being disbarred for unethical practices – he was Joseph McCarthy’s lawyer and that should say all you need to know – Oh yes, I’ve seen reports he was affiliated with Roger Stone as well). Now, I’m reading “DEEP STATE Trump, the FBI, and the Rule of Law” by James Stewart and I just finished “DARK TOWERS Deutche Bank, Donald Trump (that word was hard to write), and an epic trail of destruction” by David Enrich. Trust me, individual 1 will be facing WAY more than he can “throw” at Hillary Clinton once he’s out of office next year.

I’m not trying to be arrogant suggesting it’s going to happen for sure by next year, but I have to say he’s done such a TERRIBLE job regarding the covid-19 crisis that, to me, would be enough – although, as I said, his followers (the CULT) don’t believe he LIES to them so he’ll be LYING at an even more frequent pace (if that’s possible) – but, he’s going to be “leading” America into an economic disaster “area” in the coming months. And, so far, his solution is to try propping up Wall Street with more “liquidity.” That means, as I said, MOUNTAINS of debt. And, that’s NOT going to solve the problem – just make it worse for the “long term” for sure. But, as usual, I digress.

Getting back to individual 1’s legal liabilities once he’s out of office, well, you should read some of these books. First, I have to add, that in EVERY one of them – relating to the investigation of Mrs. Clinton – they point out the EVIDENCE is overwhelming that, while Mrs. Clinton was careless and made a mistake by having her own email server (just as the previous Sec. of State Colin Powell had – of course, as far as I know there’s never been an investigation of General Powell), there was nothing even suggesting there could be anything more than some kind of misdemeanor charge against her. Nothing which had much of a chance of “winning” in court based on years of previous rulings in areas relating to “negligence” with classified information – which didn’t appear to be what happened anyway to any extent suggesting an indictment.

On the other hand, individual 1 is ALREADY, well, individual 1 in the case against Michael Cohen for the campaign finance violations resulting from individual 1’s paying off two former mistresses to keep “we the people” from knowing about his illicit affairs (while his THIRD wife was delivering him his final – we all hope – child) prior to the 2016 election. Maybe, had we known about Stormy Daniels prior to the election Comey’s ill timed (and unwarranted) remarks 11 days before the election – which, by my observations changed the Five Thirty Eight polling averages by about 4 to 5 points in individual 1’s favor over the last two weeks prior to the election – especially in the “rust belt” states which unexpectedly gave him the electoral college “victory.” (With, of course, three MILLION less votes than Mrs. Clinton)

And, when you read all these books you realize there’s plenty more where those Southern District of New York FELONY charges against Cohen AND individual 1 came from. The state of New York is investigating his organization – some suggesting there could be a RICO charge (look it up) once he’s out of office – Mueller made it clear he was “memorializing” the evidence of OBSTRUCTION in his report in case “down the road” once individual 1 is no longer protected by the so-called “Office of Legal Counsel” memo which says a sitting president can’t be indicted should a prosecutor wish to “follow up.” (10 instances) Plus, there’s so much more. In “Dark Towers” – while, so far, individual 1 has prevented investigators from gaining records from Deutche bank, on the surface it appears to me, there’s a very good reason he’s trying to block this from happening.

It also appears there’s good reason for Deutche bank to fight along side individual 1 to prevent the investigators from gaining information on their “lending practices” with not only our IMPEACHED so-called president, but his son-in-law Jared Kushner – and, by extension his daughter Ivanka. In fact, there’s even evidence suggesting Don Jr. has some potential “sticky” issues with Deutche bank – apparently the ONLY bank willing to loan money to our – well, you know who I mean. The Russian money laundering schemes of Deutche bank (for which the fines nearly took the bank into default) seem to be very close to our IMPEACHED so-called president. The financing of his golf courses, for example, are, or should be, under scrutiny – especially after Eric, his 2nd son, admitted they were getting all the money they needed from Russia. There’s is speculation the Russians “guaranteed” at least some of the money individual 1 squeezed (and, I mean, squeezed) out of the bank.

You’ll remember, Vladimir Putin is and has been one of individual 1’s biggest “cheerleaders” and it should be interesting if one or more of individual 1’s Hotels “heads south” during this impending crisis. There seem to be plenty of moneyed interests willing to spend large amounts of money to stay in his properties – apparently seeking favor – but, even that could face a “downturn” over this covid-19 crisis. People aren’t eager to travel. For example, individual 1 has a loan of around $170 MILLION on the Old Post Office renovation in D.C. which, I believe is due in a couple years (or less) and he needs a LOT of business to make that place profitable – I read an average of $700 a night in the rooms. So, brace yourself for more than the lies. There’s likely to be some kind of bailout for the hotel industry in the not too distant future. Maybe he’s simply able to get his hands on that ZERO percent money being dished out by the Fed. Stay tuned!

Final Thought: My son is a “gamer” (and, he’s very good – beyond my ability to comprehend) and he plays online video games with people all around the world. He is always telling me about how people in other countries are suggesting “we the people” are – well, STUPID. Not only because so many believe the OBVIOUS lying coming from our IMPEACHED so-called president (are you getting my disgust?) but, today he told me of a conversation he had with a young man in Sweden who was getting images of the run on the store shelves in the U.S. This young man was telling my son his parents would NEVER allow him to eat the kind of food he was seeing on the store shelves – what was left there anyway. Like all the stuff with too much sugar in it.

Today, when my son got to work at the restaurant there were four people eating. They had already sent home virtually the entire staff – he didn’t even clock in (not even gas money today). This really is going to be bad. I don’t think you can turn off a consumer based economy for a couple months and not “feel the pain.” – even by BORROWING frantically. I do hope the House bill which will be in the Senate once they all return – hopefully, this coming week – will quickly help these workers, including my son. He says MOST of them are “paycheck to paycheck” and already are in “trouble” financially, because they’re all getting the hours cut – significantly. I’ll be interested to actually see the bill which is produced – I know there was republican input so I’m guessing the bill is not as strong as it could or should be – there will likely be limits on the unemployment benefits which leave some workers in the lurch – I hope not – I hope I’m wrong!

I logged into Yahoo Finance.com as I often do to get an idea of how the stock market is doing and there was an article which suggested individual 1 was “failing” – right under that link was a link to another article which was titled “Markets are giving Individual 1 (of course, they used his actual surname) an “F” – and I decided to read a few of the “comments” in the section following the article. The first thing I noticed was the members of the CULT which continues to support this IMPEACHED so-called president were regurgitating the propaganda coming from the “White House” which has made the covid-19 crisis potentially much much worse. That is, it’s the media’s fault for the stock market’s plunge, or it’s just another form of the flu, or……… Well, I stopped reading.

The coronavirus (covid-19) is NOT the fault of individual 1. The misinformation coming from our IMPEACHED so-called president IS, obviously, his fault. It’s making this crisis worse, and, in my view, it should surprise no one. Many Americans, not just me but MILLIONS of others, have been pointing out our IMPEACHED so-called president is UNFIT for the job he holds for over three years now. It was a couple months ago when individual 1’s score card of documented LIES exceeded 16,000 and his lack of credibility becomes a serious problem at a time like this.

I listened today to a health provider who is in a position to understand what is happening who suggested there is the potential for upwards of 200,000 people who could need treatment in ICU beds in a hospital and there are, right now, 90,000 of those beds available nation wide, but MOST of them are regularly full. He suggested Italy is facing this reality and it’s almost as if those who are availed of the ICU treatment are the lucky ones as if the beds are distributed by “lottery.” Of course, what happens to the others, the ones who don’t get the needed treatment? Despite what our IMPEACHED so-called president has said, this is not “the flu.”

So, now that even members of the right wing in America are beginning to realize government has a role to play in our society, what is our government likely to do? Well, I surely don’t know, but I was not surprised to hear our IMPEACHED so-called president propose canceling all “payroll taxes” for the rest of the year. Of course, that might sound good to a few people, but, to me, it’s nothing more than one more right wing attack on Social Security and Medicare. It’s like taking hundreds of BILLIONS out of the Social Security trust fund, which the government has already borrowed. If you’ve been paying any attention at all, you already know individual 1’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year includes massive cuts to what republicans refer to as “entitlements.”

Here’s the dictionary’s definition of “entitlement” – “the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.” Well, I’m collecting Social Security BENEFITS and, the reality is, I started paying into Social Security back when I was in high school in 1963. I worked for 50 years before I finally retired. To me, Social Security is not an “entitlement” it’s an “earned benefit” – just like a retirement policy in the work place. For most people their Social Security BENEFIT is not enough to retire on over and above basic necessities, but I know a lot of people who are very thankful for their Social Security benefit. (I believe you have to pay into the system for something like 10 years to be eligible. The more you pay in, the more you get back out.) And, republicans really don’t like Social Security DISABILITY benefits because, well, they apparently believe they are an “entitlement.”

Well, all I know about that is my niece receives Social Security disability and it’s a good thing it was available for her. She was in the Air Force for several years (I believe about 10 years) as an air traffic controller and was discharged because she developed an inner ear issue (it’s called meniere’s disease) where it was dangerous for her even to carry her babies around the house as she would fall. The Air Force refused to call this issue (which resulted from the head sets they wear doing their jobs and the effect whatever goes through those head phones has on the ear) the result of her job and refused to provide her any disability despite the FACT she’s 100% disabled. The process of gaining disability via Social Security took, I believe, close to two years, and required significant proof of the disability. My point: Social Security disability isn’t something which is randomly approved for Americans. My niece, in my view, SHOULD have disability from her service in the Air Force, but, well…………………

So, today, with the “right hand” our government was funding Wall Street with $1.5 TRILLION in relief for companies who have been affected by this sudden downturn (the most sudden downturn in history from what I understand) and, with the “left hand” are attempting to FOOL “we the people” into financing relief for those on “Main Street” by attacking the Social Security trust fund. I believe the “Fed” simply “printed” the money it rushed to the Wall Street gamblers and, apparently, is unable to do the same thing for “we the people.” I certainly hope democrats in Congress see through this charade. It will be a major disappointment to people like me if they allow this TERRIBLE idea, coming from individual 1, to gain any traction. In fact, in my view, he should be further publicly exposed for his INCOMPETENCE by even suggesting it! (This reminds me of those who claim republican “capitalize” their gains and “socialize” their losses)

I took a trip to the store today and it was very busy, much more so than usual, with people clearly stocking up on supplies. The lady at the check-stand said people were buying virtually ALL the TOILET paper they had in stock. There was no hand sanitizer on the shelves, and basic staples seemed to be “getting thin.” I saw pictures of the streets in Italy and they are barren. I heard one report of a cook at a fancy restaurant which had been closed down distributing the food they had in stock to himself and the other employees in light of the reality it would spoil before they were back to work and, on the way home, he chose to walk around on one of the deserted streets and he was fined 60 euros. People are realizing, it could happen here.

This virus apparently spreads exponentially and can be quite deadly to people like me who are above 70 and have other issues. (I’ve been battling arthritis for 40+ years and know many of the medications reduce your immunity system which can allow you to be one of the really sick ones if you get the virus) Well, there’s a shortage of test kits so when you go out in public you really don’t know if you’ve been exposed. For example, today as I was walking into the store there was an elderly woman pushing her cart toward the parking lot who started coughing repeatedly (right onto the handle of her cart without covering her mouth) and then stopping to kind of rest herself on the cart as if being short of breath. No one, including me, wanted to get close to her.

I wasn’t the only person who noticed. I said a quick prayer for her (not knowing her name – and, in all honesty, not wanting to know her name) and went into the store. Unusual for me, I grabbed one of the sanitary wipes at the entrance and wiped off the handle of my cart – not knowing if that would make any difference if someone affected by the virus had it prior to me. (I believe the virus only survives on a hard surface for a couple of hours) From what I’ve heard over the past couple of days, it’s incumbent on ALL of “we the people” to follow the steps necessary to minimize the spread of this virus. I told my wife today I’m expecting our son, who works at a normally very busy restaurant, to be laid off within the next few days. They don’t have much business (as of yesterday).

Last night I watched as much of individual 1’s address from the Oval Office as I could stomach – the more he tries to BLAME others for issues he believes makes HIM look bad, or give himself FALSE “credit,” the more I just can’t bring myself to give him ANY semblance of respect – and, then, today I watched Bernie Sanders give a speech as to what he believes needs to happen to address this issue going forward. Watching Bernie all I could think of was I was watching someone who was acting “presidential” and, I hoped more people were watching him. If there was any reason to understand the importance of what he’s been “pushing” for years, it SHOULD be this “crisis.”

The sad reality there are, as he said, 87 MILLION Americans who are not insured or under-insured very well could make this crisis much bigger. Sanders clearly believes government works best from the “bottom up.” He is proposing NO ONE be burdened with the medical costs of the testing or treatment from this disease, should the get it. He’s proposing people like my son don’t lose their income because the business they work for has been shut down or impacted. He even referenced people who depend on tips for their livelihood should receive unemployment benefits the equal of their pay with a maximum of something like $1100 per week or $60,000 per year. To me, these are the people government should be intervening on their behalf in a situation like this.

Actually, because I’ve admitted many times here I don’t understand the workings of the stock market (although, I predicted a significant “fall” over two months ago. Just sayin……) I have no problem with the “Fed” finding $1.5 TRILLION for Wall Street (although, I have to admit, that’s a lot of money to just have sitting around for when our IMPEACHED so-called president starts yelling at you to “do something”) it will just really BUG me (I could think of other words to use here) if the Congress agrees they need to get the money to bail out those at the bottom from the Social Security trust fund. And, make no mistake, by stopping the collection of the payroll taxes for the rest of the year, that is a significant “hit” to that fund and will simply accelerate the republicans in their effort to undermine Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

I’ve come to the point where I don’t trust republicans when things are going well, but when times are like this I REALLY don’t trust them. Only ONE of them had the courage to do what they ALL knew was “what’s right” in the IMPEACHMENT trial of individual 1. (And, if you don’t know, he got the moniker “individual 1” by committing two FELONIES with his lawyer Michael Cohen who’s sitting in prison as I write this partially for those FELONIES – individual 1 can’t be charged because, well, he’s a our IMPEACHED so-called president) So, why would “we the people” expect them to do “what’s right” during this crisis. Let’s “hold on to our seats” and just see if they try to plunder that Social Security trust fund. If the democrats want to win in November, for sure, they won’t allow it and they’ll make sure EVERYONE understands what it would mean to drop those payroll taxes for the rest of the year!

Final Thought: OK, I think it should be clear to ANYONE it’s not helpful to have a narcissistic pathological LIAR in the “White House” in the midst of a serious crisis. And, it CAN be said, this crisis did originate in China, it’s just that the response by individual 1 actually made the situation worse to a level which is not quantifiable. Tonight, as I was pondering some of the BLUNDERS of this IMPEACHED so-called president I was reminded he actually suggested building his STUPID wall would help protect “we the people” from the covid-19 crisis. The more I think about that comment I just want to suggest “That says it all.”

One more thing: It would cost less to the Federal Government to simply refund a couple thousand dollars to EVERY taxpayer than the $1.5 TRILLION they managed to come up with almost instantaneously for Wall Street the other day. I’m, in all honesty, concerned about the amount of DEBT we’d be incurring – but, the reality is, if “we the people” are heading toward a severe recession/depression as many economists are now predicting – the national debt is going to be taking a “hit.” This, to me, is why giving away a couple TRILLION dollars two years ago to people who didn’t need it was a colossal blunder – despite the demands of the republican donors. But, at this point in time, as “they” say, “it is what it is.” We have an opportunity to begin the needed corrections to all this in November.

I’ve pointed this out many times here: “I’m not an economist.” That always is what I’m thinking when one or more of my predictions comes true. Of course, I’m talking about the stock market and it’s recent downturn which I (kind of) predicted. I mentioned, in my experience as an observer, (I haven’t owned a stock for well over 10 years) when the market starts experiencing significant “ups and downs” (not like what’s been happening in the past two weeks) “hold on to your hats.” Meaning, when the strong moves are happening, from my experience, they will eventually head “south.” This is when national leadership is critical!

I also postulated my personal opinion the stock market appeared to me to be a “house built on sand.” Without actually knowing for sure I suggested much of what was pushing the market to record highs was the availability of money at near ZERO interest rates. I had recently read a book by Rachel Maddow titled “Blow Out” focused on the oil industry and much of the book looked at the history of a couple shale oil companies operating out of Oklahoma City which were operating on massive amounts of debt – one of them, Chesapeake Oil. Today, as the market is down over 1000 points on the DOW once again, I checked on Chesapeake Oil and its stock price was about 14 CENTS per share. Soon, likely to be “no more.”

I looked at a couple of other oil companies and their stock prices were heading “south” at significant rates, likely the result of what appears to me the Saudi’s purposefully attempting to destroy the American shale oil business by flooding the world oil market pushing the prices below what it costs to produce this shale oil. On the surface, the Saudi’s actions were the result of a dispute with the Russians over the shrinking demand for oil around the world – apparently due to the covid-19 “crisis” – but, to me, it shows the frailty of American businesses operating with too much “leverage.” For us dummies that means too much debt.

I’ve also suggested many of the traders on Wall Street are financing their trading with this almost “free” money. My guess is their thinking is they can make well more than 1.5% on their stock trades so “why not?” Well, maybe the recent tanking of the market is a good reason to answer that question “why not?” Again, I’m just guessing, but if you’re making large trades using borrowed money this drop of over 6000 points must at least make you nervous. I listen to “experts” suggest (as they have for as long as I can remember) if you’re “long” in the market you have nothing to worry about. (People like Warren Buffet are probably buying right now)

The only thing that makes sense to me is there are many people who AREN’T “long” in the market. They’re the “gamblers” who are buying and selling huge amounts of stocks on a daily basis – looking for the slightest gains to make money – sometimes MOUNTAINS of money. But, as the saying goes, “what goes up, must come down.” (Of course, I also read “The Big Short” many years ago – about the 2008 crisis – and, I’m sure there are “short sellers” out there who are very happy right now) This all is why I refer to Wall Street as nothing more than a glorified gambling casino. Yes, I know that’s the view of someone who knows virtually nothing about how the market works – but, it just appears to me, too many of the traders are not “long” in the market.

The reason I’m pointing this out is because I’ve NEVER considered Wall Street to be what should be the gauge of the health of our economy. For example, I don’t see where Wall Street is more important than Main Street. However, since the first day he was in office individual 1 has been bragging that he’s “created” the “greatest economy in the history of this country.” Well, from the standpoint of the people on “Main Street” I don’t know they think this is the “greatest economy ever.” For example, Americans are FINALLY wising up to the republican habit of giving HUGE ($ TRILLIONS) tax cuts to their donors – the so-called “top %1. Of course, that helps Wall Street, but Main Street “not so much.” (And, by the way, he didn’t create this strong economy)

I listened to Bernie Sanders today, the likely “loser” in the battle for the democratic nomination for president with Joe Biden, as he pointed out the list of questions he’s going to ask Biden in their debate this coming weekend. (With no audience because of the covid-19 scare) Sanders reminded me of why I voted for him (he’s got a good chance to win my state – Washington – once all the votes are counted) as he brought up the issues with health care, minimum wage, college and trade school debt, affordability, and accessibility, Climate Change, mass incarceration, racism, and other key issues that are important to me and many others.

Sanders correctly pointed out there’s a large segment of democratic voters whose MAIN issue is simply getting individual 1 out of office. And, as usual, they’re willing to give up on their fundamental beliefs (and, Sanders represents the closest to “New Deal” beliefs in my view), out of the FEAR of losing to individual 1. Operating in an atmosphere of FEAR, to me, very well could actually backfire. It’s certainly what has allowed America to become a country whose government is so corrupt that people from all “walks” are angry and turned off. The problem is, from my viewpoint, it’s the very FEAR which is permeating our society as I’m writing this which has resulted in this DEPLORABLE situation.

People like Vladimir Putin and the republicans who are working in concert with him (surreptitiously) are expert at fomenting misinformation in order to further the divide which is causing Americans to question their own values. However, if Mr. Sanders can get Biden to create an atmosphere of unity and come up with a plan to consider ALL the issues which are important to Senator Sanders AND his MILLIONS of supporters after defeating individual 1 I believe Biden can create a strong campaign which could include ALL of the voters who are setting records as far as turnout during the primaries and could put individual 1 out to pasture and, with him, Moscow Mitch. (There’s even a decent chance for Lindsey Graham to be defeated)

Many democrats have been saying for some time now individual 1 is a pathological LIAR and, tonight, our IMPEACHED so-called president gave an Oval Office address to the nation which was apparently supposed to calm the FEARS he’s helped create regarding covid-19. Well, as many have been reminded, while listening to individual 1, of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” – our IMPEACHED so-called president has a serious credibility problem. I checked the “futures” market today right before I left to pick up my grandson from school and take him to his Little League practice and individual 1’s address took place on my way home. Soon after I arrived home I checked the “futures” market again (It suggests where the market will open in the AM) and it was DOWN nearly 1000 MORE points.

Even individual 1’s Wall Street supporters understand our IMPEACHED so-called president is a LIAR and he has no security. Today, I watched the head doctor of the CDC in an abbreviated appearance before the House (it got called off suddenly, maybe because of what Dr. Fausti was saying) and he suggested, due to the way this has been handled (he was very diplomatic), there could be “MILLIONS” of cases in the United States before this is over. Not only do even the people of Wall Street understand individual 1 has NO credibility they’re also coming to grips with the effect of his LYING. Today, I checked Boeing shares and they had dropped over 40% at the point I checked – because airlines around the world are canceling orders by the droves.

My son works in a restaurant and, tonight, they were not busy at all. From what I’ve understood, people like my son very well could be facing layoffs because people aren’t going to be going out for dinner or lunch. Hotels are going to be losing vast amounts of money – and, remember, individual did NOT put his hotels into a trust when he took his “oath” of office and, I’m guessing he’s going to try to come up with some kind of financial relief for hotel owners – which, of course, would simply be MORE self dealing.

I keep thinking of all my Christian friends who claim individual 1 is in office by the grace of God and, I have to wonder, how are they explaining this coronavirus which, undoubtedly, is going to be the force which turns our economy into recession. I think there’s little doubt at this point in time America (and, likely, the world) will be in recession by the November election. It wouldn’t surprise me to see individual 1 start talking about putting off the election. I can only imagine what kind of reaction that will cause among “we the people” as more and more of us learn our IMPEACHED so-called president is incompetent – and, like everything else he does, he’s putting his own interests above the interests of “we the people.” From my standpoint, he can’t be gone soon enough!

I wrote recently of wanting to be a “fly on the wall” in the White House as it’s been reported individual 1 has great fears of catching covid-19 and, also, is having a personal meltdown in regard to the tanking of the stock market. Today, it was reported he was yelling insults aimed at the head of the Federal Reserve as if the Fed is the reason the market is tanking. He doesn’t seem to understand virtually EVERYTHING he does makes matters worse on Wall Street. It appears to me our IMPEACHED so-called president will be campaigning as having FINALLY done to the inheritance he got from President Obama what he did to the inheritance he got from his father. And, still his CULT will vote for him!

Final thought: Last night our IMPEACHED so-called president just confirmed what many beside myself have been concerned about should an actual crisis happen on his “watch.” I listened to the head of the World Health Organization, yesterday, as he declared the covid-19 virus to be a worldwide pandemic and he was lamenting the poor response coming from certain nations – I took it to mean, at least, the U.S. Of course, individual 1 has been making comments which contradict people involved in the battle to contain this virus from “day 1.” And, his address last night was a mitigated disaster. This morning, I was wondering how many republicans were second guessing their votes in the IMPEACHMENT trial a few weeks ago.

I don’t think very many people will be surprised to see individual 1 attempt to implement a plan aimed at his own properties (some are suggesting the reason flights from the UK and Ireland were not part of his “ban” announced last night to be because of his golf courses in those countries) as he’s proven to be all about himself FIRST and America next. I pointed out what the stock futures suggested as his address was happening and, sure enough, the markets opened to another “circuit breaker” this AM. Shortly thereafter the “Fed” inserted (from one account) over $1 TRILLION into the market in an attempt to mitigate the downward pressure (remember, individual 1 is BLAMING the head of the “Fed” for the downturn) and the DOW temporarily jumped about a 1000 points – only, to, by the time I’m writing this (around 3 EST) it’s back down around -2000 points for the day. The confidence factor appears to be low.

And, I’ll finish by pointing out what I’ve heard about attempts by the House to support those who may be losing their jobs or may not have access to affordable health care. I heard Nancy Pelosi (and other democrats) are negotiating with a team of republicans including the Treasury Secretary a “stimulus” plan which, from what I’ve heard, the Treasury Secretary is balking at because he believes it is an “entitlement.” This is typical republican response in any situation which involves helping those at the “bottom.” Of course, these objections are coming on the same day the Fed, as I just pointed out, has pumped over a TRILLION dollars into Wall Street. To me, this says it all and SHOULD get the attention of even members of individual 1’s CULT.

I have to say, this coronavirus crisis has made the issues important to Bernie Sanders and his supporters “as clear as a bell.” Our young people understand the issues with access to affordable health care, student loan debt, the expense of college education or trade schools, the Climate Crisis (probably should be #1 on this list), etc. better than most – because it affects them MORE than the rest of us. This present crisis just affirms what many of us have been saying for some time about how CORRUPT our government has become and how its focus is in the wrong direction. If this crisis doesn’t make these things clear I’m not sure what will! (Well, with the climate crisis maybe we need a city like Miami or Los Angeles under water to get people’s attention)

Well, it’s the night before the “NEXT” interesting week as the “coved-19” virus is expanding rapidly through one state after another. I happen to live in the “center” of the attack (Washington state) and, I believe, the number of CONFIRMED cases exceeded 500 as of today in America while our IMPEACHED so-called president is STILL claiming his administration’s actions dealing with this crisis is “perfect” and then, of course, he added “Just like my phone call with Ukraine was perfect.” Well, that says it all.

I just took a peek at the “DOW” futures which are suggesting the market is going to open around 1000 points down further from where it ended on Friday. The oil market is “tanking” and the price is going down to the point where America’s shale oil producers are going to be looking at prices below their cost of production. And, my understanding is many of the shale oil outfits are operating via low interest capital they’ve borrowed causing some of them to possibly be facing economic disaster. I’m guessing our IMPEACHED so-called president who denies Climate change and believes in fossil fuels will attempt to bail these operators out but the downward pressure on the stock market may very well continue – or increase!

Before all this started – meaning the stock market heading south – I had been “speculating” the market was like a house built on sand. With interest rates hovering between 0 and 1.5% over the past few years, I’ve surmised (again, I’m not an economist) the “big boys” have been borrowing money to invest because of these incredibly low rates. However, even when the rates are low, you have to pay the money back. (Unless, apparently, you’re our IMPEACHED so-called president – I’m presently reading “Dark Towers” by David Enrich which is about Deutche Bank and its relationship with individual 1 and all the loans he’s stiffed them on) Based on my observations over the years, I believe when the market starts to tank people who’ve borrowed too much will be forced to sell and, I think, this is how the downward pressure can “mushroom.”

I’ve been reading as much as I can about what is really happening in our government and our economy and, by many accounts, the “manufacturing sector” of America’s economy has been in a recession for months. (This was the sector individual 1 was going to “boost” with his “perfect” trade deals) Along has come the coved-19 virus which is making a world wide recession look possible if not probable and add to that a price war among the major oil producers around the world and you have the possibility of the exact situation I’ve been saying I hope “we the people” don’t have to deal with as long as individual 1 is at the “helm.”

I don’t believe I’m the only American who has NO confidence in the ability of our IMPEACHED so-called president to be able to manage a MAJOR economic crisis – which, it appears, may be on the horizon. Just in the time it’s taken me to write these first few paragraphs the “DOW” futures has dropped another 300 points suggesting it’s going to open somewhere around 5% lower Monday morning than it closed Friday afternoon. Who knows where it goes from there – again, I just observe and postulate – but, my instincts tell me this: “If I had borrowed a bunch of money on short term credit to buy stocks I’d be very nervous.”

What I’m concerned about is the possibility we could be going into another major financial crisis – it seems these things follow republican (so-called) presidents around. I would love to be a “fly on the wall” in the “White House” tonight (provided they don’t have a good fly swatter :o) based on all the books I’ve read which have documented the behavior of our IMPEACHED so-called president “when the going gets tough.” I’m guessing he’s having quite the fit and, tomorrow, (or this early morning) he’ll be lashing out and throwing BLAME around like baseball players throwing balls to warm up for the next game. Somehow, individual 1 will find a way to blame President Obama, Hillary Clinton, CNN, MSNBC, and maybe even James Comey for the sudden downturn in the economy. Most certainly, he’ll be upping the assault on Hunter Biden and his papa!

I’m going to turn in – I’ll finish this post later. If you’re reading this, please forgive my own narcissism (I’m not in the league of our IMPEACHED so-called president) because, in essence, I’m simply writing a personal diary. Getting my thoughts down on paper. It’s fun for me to go back and look at the times when I guessed right about things like the market or things relating to our IMPEACHED so-called president. I’m guessing this next week is going to be, as they say, a doozy. Individual 1’s complexion very possibly is going to be more ORANGE than normal. I’m beginning to feel this economic “slowdown” could be significant and we all need to “brace ourselves.”

I don’t ever remember trying to figure out what the DOW futures were saying, so it will be interesting how it plays out tomorrow. I’ve seen days where the market opened way down and then worked itself back up over the course of the day, I’m just feeling a bit uneasy that the “headwinds” maybe too strong at this point in time. We’ll see…………….

OK, it’s Monday evening after the 2000+ point sell off of the DOW today which was “hinted” by the futures I quoted last night. I’ve referred to what is going on with the stock market as a “roller coaster” so, we should be able to expect a jump upward tomorrow – and, as best as I can tell that’s what the “futures” are telling us – although the effect on the economy of the “oil war” emanating from Saudi Arabia’s flooding the market with oil resulting from a failure of negotiations with Russia to control the world’s oil supplies could potentially result in further downward pressure. Oh yes, there’s still the coved-19 virus! Just sayin……………..

Today I listened to a bit of individual 1 and it just reminded me we are being “led” by someone who is so INCOMPETENT it’s just baffling to understand how he could have”won” the last election – even though we all know he had 3 MILLION less votes than the girl he was running against. For three + years I’ve been wondering why so many Americans are failing to understand they have a mob boss as their IMPEACHED so-called president who has no idea how to run anything close to this government. He’s bankrupted 6 businesses over the previous three decades and, I’m guessing, once he’s out of office, his present business could be in a bit of trouble – as I’m learning about his debt to Deutche Bank in the latest book I’m reading, “Dark Towers,” which I mentioned above.

On many occasions I’ve pointed out the economy individual 1 inherited from President Obama is one “gift” he, as yet, has failed to destroy. He would have you believe the economy is still “strong” and the result of his “genius” – I believe he’s still using the term “perfect” while speaking from one side of his mouth and then, out of the other side of his mouth, saying the government is considering a payroll tax cut in order to “stimulate” that “perfect” economy – which, of course, wouldn’t need any “stimulus” if it really was perfect. Well, it doesn’t take an expert to realize the stock market doesn’t drop nearly 20% in less than two weeks in a “perfect” economy. (I’m reminded of John McCain suggesting “The economy is strong” as the bottom was falling out in 2008) We all know how that played out.

It seems as if individual 1 is constantly trying to outdo his nemesis, the aforementioned Barack Obama, either by writing executive orders to overturn any “success” of our previous president (the popular one) or but by simply making derisive comments about him and/or other of his so-called “enemies.” (really does remind me of Nixon) He (and his republican brethren) berated President Obama for the “stimulus” which saved us from the “Great Recession” and now our IMPEACHED so-called president is talking “stimulus.” He’s LIED from day one about the economy – taking credit for what President Obama bequeathed to him – and, I’m guessing, as it tanks – if it does – he’ll find a way to BLAME our former president for the downturn.

Well, it’s also been reported individual 1 is terrified of catching the coronavirus and I’m wondering which scenario worries him most – the possibility of a recession or catching the virus – when 80% of those who get it are only “mildly” affected – but BOTH of these issues, it seems to me, are (or should be) causing even some of individual 1’s CULT to realize his incompetence. The coronavirus (coved-19) is already showcasing this INCOMPETENCE and the duality of this virus and the oil “war” could send the world economy into a recession which will further showcase the incompetence of our IMPEACHED so-called president.

I still remember all the “free market” republicans – yes, the very people who would call Bernie Sanders a “Socialist” derisively – solving the financial crisis in 2008 with a very SOCIALIST solution – a government BAILOUT. We’re likely to see the same thing in this present instance – in fact, we’re already seeing signs of this by the pressure on the Fed to get interest rates down to ZERO once again and the government to “give money” (they emphasize it’s not a “bailout”) to the ailing industries, like the airlines – which will leave no more room to “stimulate” the economy via that route once we actually know the extent of the problem. Additionally, we’re hearing suggestions of “quantitative easing” – which, I interpret as flooding the markets with “easy money” – (again, I’m no economist, so I’m just postulating) and various forms of tax cuts. Inflation on the horizon???

Of course, NONE of these ideas will have much affect if Americans feel they have to stay in their homes except for emergencies (like basic shopping duties), stopping travel, and, in many cases, people losing their jobs – hopefully via temporary layoffs. I think individual 1 understands he WONT be able to campaign on the economy if the market doesn’t rebound and, if he can’t claim the economy is strong, his debate performances could be embarrassing. For example, it was reported the other day “manufacturing” has been in recession for several months and the airline industry is in a similar disastrous situation as they were following 9/11. Would he be campaigning on providing a HUGE tax scam to industries which now need more money?

I read Rachel Maddow’s book “Blow Out” a couple months ago and I’ve loaned it out (and, by the way, I thought it was one of the best books I’ve read in the past several years) so I don’t remember much of it, but what I do remember is her documenting the oil shale industry in America and how these businesses seem to be operating – which is on borrowed money. So, this big drop in oil prices very likely puts the price of oil well below these shale operators cost of producing it. It won’t take long, based on what I remember reading, for many of these “oilmen” to be in serious financial jeopardy – because, they’ve to repay the loans they use to operate on. This could be a serious “hit” to America’s economy.

I took an online class from Paul Krugman and discovered I’m in the category of many people who like to write – well, similar to some of the people Mr. Krugman reads and his critique of them sent a message to me. Often times when I write I don’t have a clear purpose or objective or argument. For example, I’m sitting here thinking “Is my argument we’re heading into a recession?” or “Is my argument that individual 1 is incompetent in dealing with both the coved-19 crisis and the economy?” Or “is it both?”

It’s late, I’ll be back! I’m guessing the market jumps up tomorrow and the wild swings will continue for the next (possibly) several months. The question will be on the forefront at all times will be how much further DAMAGE can individual 1’s administration inflict on “we the people?” I’ve been asking that question for almost three years now and trying to speculate – and wondering what would happen if there arose an actual crisis? Well, it appears we’ll find out. I’m going to edit this post tomorrow and, hopefully, publish it. And, the beat goes on!!!

Final Thought: When you’re watching individual 1 standing in the Centers for Disease Control in front of the Scientists who are actually on the front lines of fighting this coved-19 virus and LYING; the look on the faces of the Doctors he’s standing with kind of says it all. If you haven’t seen the video of our IMPEACHED so-called president calling the testing perfect, “like the phone call was perfect,” while these doctors are rolling their eyes you should see it. It’s ANOTHER embarrassing example of this IMPEACHED so-called president.

If you remember, when Steve Bannon was individual 1’s top adviser (and, by the way, the smartest, in my view – I say that despite my disgust for Bannon), he pointed out the goal of their administration was the “deconstructing of the administrative state.” Well, while “we the people” have been “chasing out tails” trying to keep up with one scandal after another coming from individual 1 – him brazenly TAUNTING the republicans in Congress to draw the line – which they’re afraid to do – his administration has been succeeding at this “deconstruction.”

These people HATE government (other than their ability to STEAL as much taxpayer money as possible before “we the people” figure out what they’re “up to”) and one part of the government they’ve succeeded in “deconstructing” is the HHS (Human Health Services) – which would include the CDC and, therefore, the section of HHS which deals with potential pandemics. It’s as if EVERYTHING they’re doing is absolutely the WRONG thing for our federal government to be doing in the face of this type of crisis. Individual 1 and his sycophants have NO ability to anticipate the issues which are possible and when crises arise, their incompetence just gets further exposed! Yikes!!!

As many women (and, also me) were lamenting, today, Elizabeth Warren dropping out of the democratic presidential nominating process and what it means for a woman becoming president. I was watching Joy Ann Reid on “The Last Word” on MSNBC and she made an historically prescient comment on the history of women in politics over the history of this nation – comparing it, in a way, to slavery and racism. As I was listening to her, it caused me to think of one part of America I’ve always appreciated plus it’s also often the part of my frustration, and that is what’s called “the melting pot.”

While there’s no dispute as to how our “founders” considered African Americans as 3/5 of a human being when the constitution was written it was until a couple decades into the 20th century until women had the right to vote. I still remember growing up living in a family with four kids and a Mom who didn’t work, UNTIL my parents were divorced and then the only work my Mom could find was minimum wage jobs despite the FACT she was brilliantly smart. She had not worked from the day of her marriage until the day of her divorce and the jobs she was able to find, I now understand, were demeaning to her. This was when I started to understand the obstacles women in our society face on many fronts.

Of course, my father knew the judge and got a very favorable child support “package” and my siblings and I then grew up in what was clearly semi poverty – although we didn’t understand that. I got a paper route, my brother picked berries and we worked during high school because, well, that’s just what we had to do if we wanted any spending money, if we wanted to be able to drive a car (I bought a 1950 Ford for $50), and if we wanted our family to be able to eat and pay our bills. (I played sports and worked around 30 hours a week during my last two years of high school)

One of the reasons I’ve become so ANTI republican – despite always considering myself an “independent” – is because of how I’ve interpreted their treatment of women. While I was not a Bill Clinton supporter when he originally got elected, it really bothered me watching republicans going after his wife Hillary – almost from the day he took the oath of office. I became a (somewhat) Clinton supporter when he (along with Al Gore) proposed a budget which was designed to reduce the HUGE deficits he “inherited” as he took the “reins” of the government.

Additionally, I was encouraged when I saw the Clinton’s attempting to pass a “national health care” plan – which, OF COURSE, was all the republicans needed to put their DIRTY tricks (aka Roger Stone, Rick Wilson, et al) in motion – the 25 year attacks on Mrs. Clinton began at that point in time and, of course, there was no national health care plan. However, Clinton (and Gore) did succeed in turning the HUGE deficits they “inherited” from Reagan and HW Bush into SURPLUSES which they passed on to GW Bush and Dick Cheney. (Thanks to the Supreme Court) Sadly, Clinton’s human weakness led to his IMPEACHMENT and, for people like me, a sense of disgust based on his personal behavior. When Clinton left office I had learned to appreciate Mrs. Clinton intellectually and I really liked that the national debt was being reduced despite my disgust toward her husband’s behavior with women.

Well, as Bush/Cheney turned that surplus into the HUGE deficits which have been common place in the republican party since the days of Richard Nixon and had been progressively put on “steroids” through, first, the Reagan administration, then HW Bush, and, of course, Bush/Cheney who were the first to jack the deficit above a TRILLION dollars per year only to be potentially outdone by individual 1 as he’s already DOUBLED what he “inherited” from President Obama – there was (and continues to be) a republican assault on Hillary Clinton even though she’s now out of politics. I now believed they realized she had the potential to “break the glass ceiling” from the first days of the Clinton administration and their attacks were and are ruthless. Are they still suggesting “A women’s place is in the home?”

I still remember a leading member of the republican party – part of the so-called “Freedom Caucus” – pointing out, in a rare republican moment of honesty, that the Benghazi hearings were simply designed to damage Mrs. Clinton’s approval ratings – and, as he said, they were very successful in doing so. He said this as if to be bragging while the TV cameras were on. Of course, I have no doubt that member of Congress (If I remember correctly his last name was McCarthy) was reprimanded by the “leaders” who NEVER want their members to actually tell the TRUTH when in front of the cameras!

Well, 25 years of constant attacks coming from the republican party (with considerable help from the Russians in 2015 and 2016) had succeeded in turning Hillary Clinton’s “favorables” upside down to the point where she was every bit as “unpopular” by the time of the 2016 election as the MOST unpopular IMPEACHED so-called president in history, individual 1. Of course, with the help of the Russians, James Comey, and, of course, poor planning on the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton failed to become the first woman president despite gaining nearly THREE MILLION more votes than individual 1 (who had also succeeded in hiding disclosure of TWO affairs he had while his present wife was having and then raising his latest son, Barren – hiding them ILLEGALLY right before the election).

So, today as Senator Warren was dropping out of the nominating process for the democratic nomination for president there are women all across the nation (I have two very proficient daughters and two grand daughters) who are disappointed and feeling like “another four years” until there’s another chance. I’m one who has said, from the start, whoever the democrats nominate for president is the person I’ll be voting for. However, as someone who supported Bernie Sanders back in 2016, I have to say in any other year with any other “opponent” in the election, I’d be terribly disappointed to have the nominating process pared down to two “old white guys” in their late 70’s. I’m almost 73 and there are days when I can’t remember if I washed my hair as I get out of the shower.

I’ve been saying since this process started I believe Elizabeth Warren was the smartest candidate in the field. She actually made proposals for solving the issues she believes in. First, and foremost, of course is “medicare for all” – which, in essence is the “single payer” health care system MOST people have wanted for as long as I can remember. Republicans have ALWAYS succeeded in blocking any attempt at pulling this off – starting all the way back with FDR. Senator Warren lost “steam” in the nominating process when she failed to do a good job of explaining how she would pay for her health care plan. I wish I could have been her adviser at that point in time, because, to me, this idea is a “no brainer” – which is becoming more apparent as America shows the weakness in our health care industry as the coronavirus spreads.

To me, and I don’t have all the data to back this up, it just makes sense – “Medicare for all” would be something like HALF the cost of what we have for health care in America with much better outcomes. And, for all those “union bargained health plans” so many people, including Joe Biden, want to protect, Medicare would be much less expensive and would save these workers hundreds of dollars each month! Would there be an increase in taxes? Yes, of course there would – no one’s suggesting this would be FREE health care. It’s just the “taxes” people who HAVE a health care plan would be far less than the premiums they now pay which are NOT considered as “taxes.” Well, why not do you ask?

The health insurance for profit industry in America – which, on its face does NOT make sense, health care for profit, but I digress – has BILLIONS to spend in order to keep the American public believing “Medicare for all” is too expensive – because, if “we the people” finally come to our senses that industry is going to be hanging by a (supplemental) thread – depending on how the system would be “built.” One of my daughters has a significant small business with over 100 employees which receive health care as a benefit. This “benefit” costs the business $1200 EACH month for EACH employee. If “we the people” chose to change the system to a single payer “Medicare for all” system that cost to the business would be about half what they’re paying. The company and the employees could bargain on the difference.

For example, if the employees taxes were increased by, say, $600 or $700 per month to pay for their insurance benefits – which would be BETTER than what they have – but their compensation could be increased by OVER the amount of the increase in their “tax increase” – which, in my view should look better to both the employees and to my daughter’s business. I can see a scenario where they both come out ahead. So, yes there would be a “tax increase” to pay for a “Medicare for all” – it’s just the only people who would REALLY have a tax increase would be the people who don’t have any health insurance. Of course, the taxes to pay for this would be progressive – so minimum wage workers would pay much less in taxes for this than those making Middle Class and above wages – something like how Social Security and Medicare taxes now work. This wouldn’t be that hard for the experts in the field to figure out.

It’s just that for years the American political system has operated via fear mongering. I remember listening to Senator Warren pointing this out and basing her campaign on the idea it’s time for “we the people” to stop FEARING what we know is the best course of action going forward. It’s not “healthy” for America to have almost 100 MILLION people being either uninsured our under insured. In a situation like the impending crisis (it’s a crisis in my state already – I live in Washington state) the HUGE number of people who can’t afford to go to the doctor when they get sick is likely to make this crisis far worse than it would otherwise be. And, there’s many other reasons we should stop allowing FEAR to guide our decision making as we choose our leaders.

The richest country in the history of the world SHOULD be able to invest in her youth, SHOULD be able to invest in her people who need retraining, and SHOULD be able to INVEST in the infrastructure which is what made this the richest country in the first place. Clearly, in that regard “we the people” are falling behind the rest of the world and it was Elizabeth Warren making the BEST ideas which were actually potential solutions to the problems which are dragging this nation downward toward third world status. Obviously, at this point in time, the 2020 election will be one mid 70’s white man vs. a mid 70’s white man with the democrats so focused on DEFEATING individual 1 it’s obvious FEAR is a major part of the nominating process.

And, of course, I fully understand how this is playing out, because my number one goal in this election also is that individual 1 would LOSE! I believe there are MILLIONS of Americans who want to see a woman FINALLY become president, but in this election defeating individual 1 “trumps” all! (That’s the only circumstance where I can bring myself to write that word) I believe whoever the democrat ends up being once he is in office – assuming democrats can win back control of the Senate (and, by the way, Moscow Mitch is vulnerable in his own race in Kentucky – more about that on another day) – the direction of the country will swing more toward government working from the “bottom up.” The solutions suggested by Senator Warren can certainly be introduced no matter who is the president. So, we’ll see………… Again, job #1 is BEAT individual 1!

At the beginning of this rant I mentioned America’s “melting pot” as something I’ve always appreciated and lamented at the same time. While in many ways I consider this a strength – the diversity of our nation – it also seems to be the source of much of the racism, sexism, and other “isms” which are causing such a divide across the country. We need a leader who is going to try to draw this diversity together as a strength and to condemn the portion of this diversity which is contributing to all the HATE we see not only “online” but also on “Main Street.” Sadly, from my observations, much of the HATE turning Americans against each other is coming from the “white” segment of that “melting pot.” (Of course, HATE can be “bipartisan”) People who seem to think this is “their country” because they are white seem to be disproportionately part of the “HATE” scene. I could provide a history lesson here, but my point is we need to get back to the point where we DEMAND this diversity be the strength it should be. And, personally, I’ve come to the conclusion we need MORE women in leadership positions in Washington DC to make that happen.

The 2018 “class” of “rookies” in the House of Representatives was full of an incredible group of women who, every time I hear one of them speak, makes me feel better about the future of our country. My hope is that whoever wins between Sanders and Biden for the job of replacing individual 1 as president chooses someone like Stacy Abrams of Georgia as a running mate. I will be shocked if a younger, brilliant woman is NOT on the “ticket” with whoever gains the nomination. I, personally, believe a Biden/Abrams “ticket” would be hard to beat. I’m a 73 year old white American who’s ready for MORE women at the highest levels of our government! Just sayin………

Final Thought: I’ve written about the republicans and their sycophants – ie people like Rush Limbaugh on the radio airwaves and Sean Hannity on Fox “news” – plus the outlets like Fox, Breitbart, and Sinclair Broadcasting – adopting “The Big Lie Theory” of the Third Reich back in 1930’s Germany. That is – if you tell a LIE over and over to people, eventually they will start believing it’s true. The republicans send their pundits out with “talking points” which include the exact same “key words” so that their audience hears the LIE repeatedly coming from differing sources – so, “It must be true.”

Well, fortunately, their have been scorekeepers on the MOUNTAIN of LIES coming from the mouth of individual 1 to the point where virtually EVERYONE knows he’s a LIAR (Of course, I believe his LYING is pathological – but, that’s just my “instinct” to borrow one of his words). In the past couple of weeks this all has reminded me of “The boy who cried wolf.” Eventually, people stop listening. Individual 1 is NOW in the midst of a crisis which could topple his re-election chances and more and more people are simply shaking their heads as he LIES about the coronavirus and it’s potential devastation to our people and our economy. Only the most gullible believe a word that comes from his mouth.

Republicans are busy trying to convince their followers this virus is some kind of scheme concocted by democrats to, in the words of individual 1 Jr., “Stop all the winning.” I’m not sure what he means about all the winning, unless he’s talking about getting judges confirmed, but, well, “whatever.” I think most thinking Americans aren’t buying the republican conspiracy theories. They’ve (republicans) been busy trying to spin the “Russia thing” using talking points right out of the Kremlin and, no doubt, if Biden gets the nomination Hunter Biden will take the place of Hillary Clinton in the republican attack machine. But, they aren’t going to be able to LIE the coronavirus into something it’s not.

Of course, it may calm down soon – of course, I hope it does because I’m located very close to what is being called “ground zero” in regard to the virus “attack” on America (I think the death toll in Washington is 13 as I’m writing this) – but, individual 1’s INCOMPETENCE has been on full display as this “crisis” has been unfolding. His refusal to listen to scientists should concern every American because the Climate Crisis SHOULD be a focus of America’s government and, under this IMPEACHED so-called president it’s just on his list of “hoax’s” – along with this virus.

As all of this continues to unfold, I would be very pleased to see our “liberal media” actually expose these republicans for using the propaganda strategy of the Nazi’s of the 1930’s. Yes, it works, but, at the same time it’s DEPLORABLE. We’ve come to the point in America where there are two “sides” and people on one side don’t believe what the people on the other side are saying. In one instance because the people on one side have a foundation of beliefs based on LIES and, those people have been “programmed” to not believe what they are seeing and hearing “from the other side.” I’m not suggesting EVERYTHING you hear from “progressives” is true – fact checking should be routine for all of us – but, what I am suggesting is “The Big Lie Theory” is the strategy of ONLY one side of this divide!