Biden Asks Americans, "Do You Really Feel Safe Under Donald Trump?"

When Vice-President Mike Pence spoke on the third night of the RNC last week and proclaimed that we won't be safe in Joe Biden's America, my reaction was "we aren't safe in Donald Trump's America."

Biden's speech this afternoon in Pittsburgh asked Americans, "Do you really feel safe under Donald Trump?"

I'm certainly not going to take any credit for the content of Biden's speech because I'm sure he and his campaign team have heard the same variation of "we aren't safe in Donald Trump's America" in conversations with voters, supporters and elected officials both in person and online during and following the RNC. I'm just grateful that Biden listened and provided some measure of calm and reassurance in his rebuke of Trump today:

Do you really feel safe under Donald Trump? Mr. Trump, you want to talk about fear? Do you know what people are afraid of in America? Afraid they’re going to get COVID. They’re afraid they’re going to get sick and die. And that is in no small part because of you. We’re now on track to more than 200,000 deaths in this country due to COVID. More than 100,000 seniors have lost their lives to the virus.

More cops have died from COVID this year than have been killed on patrol. Nearly one in six small businesses have closed in this country today. Do you really feel safer under Trump? What about Trump’s plan to destroy the Affordable Care Act, and with it, the protections for preexisting conditions that impacts more than 100 million Americans? Does that make you feel safer?

Or how about Trump’s plan to defund social security? The social security administration’s chief actuary just released a report saying that if a plan like the one Trump is proposing goes into effect, the social security trust fund would be, and I quote, “Permanently depleted by the middle of calendar year 2023, with no ability to pay benefits thereafter.” To put it plainly, Trump’s plan with wipe out social security period. Do you feel safer and more secure now?

The fear that reigns under this president doesn’t stop at our shores. The Kremlin has put bounties on the heads of American soldiers. And instead of telling Vladimir Putin that there’d be no putting up with this, that there’d be a heavy price to pay if they dare touch an American soldier, this president doesn’t even bring up the subject in his multiple phone calls with Putin. It’s been reported that Russian forces just attacked American troops in Syria, injuring our service members. Did you hear the president say a single word? Did he lift one finger? Never before has an American president played such a subservient role to a Russian leader. It’s not only dangerous, it’s humiliating and embarrassing for the rest of the world to see, it weakens us. Not even American troops can feel safer under Trump.

As long as President Trump insists that he is the candidate of law and order then Joe Biden must ask Americans, "Do you really feel safe under Donald Trump?" As long as President Trump defends or makes excuses for murder and other acts of violence committed by his supporters then Joe Biden must ask Americans, "Do you really feel safe under Donald Trump?" As long as President Trump promotes phony cures, undermines testing or attempts a herd immunity strategy then Joe Biden must ask, "Do you really feel safe under Donald Trump?"

"Do you really feel safe under Donald Trump?" might be the best question posed by a presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan asked Americans 40 years ago, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

Trump Defends The Kenosha Killer

 

Only hours after White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that President Trump would not weigh in on last week's killings in Kenosha, Wisconsin,  Trump not only weighed in but defended the Kenosha Killer:

That was an interesting situation. You saw the same tape as I saw. He was trying to get away from them, I guess, looks like. And he fell and then they very violently attacked him. And it was something that we're looking at right now, and it's under investigation, but I guess he was in very big trouble. He probably would have been killed. It's under investigation.

All Trump need have said was that the matter was under investigation and that he could not comment on a matter pending before the courts other than to lament the loss of life. But Trump was speaking of a youngster who sat in the front row of one of his rallies in Des Moines this past January. So naturally Trump instead went beyond stating the matter was under investigation and defended the Kenosha Killer instead. Indeed, I'm sure those are the sort of statements that will be advanced by his legal defense team. 

Never mind that the Kenosha Killer went over state lines with an illegal weapon, used that weapon to kill two people and maim another before crossing back over state lines with the apparent blessing of local authorities. Today, further blessings of the Kenosha Killer's actions were given by a sitting President of the United States. What I saw was very different from what President Trump saw.

A few hours before Trump's press conference, Joe Biden spoke in Pittsburgh and condemned Trump's rhetoric:

Fires are burning and we have a president who fans the flames rather than fighting the flames. But we must not burn, we have to build. This president, long ago, forfeited any moral leadership in this country. He can’t stop the violence because for years he’s fomented it. He may believe mouthing the words law and order makes him strong. But his failure to call on his own supporters to stop acting as an armed militia in this country shows how weak he is. Does anyone believe there’ll be less violence in America if Donald Trump is reelected?

President Trump not only proved Joe Biden right, but has he now encouraged more Kenosha Killers to cross state lines with deadly weapons for the purpose to cause murder and mayhem in the name of Donald Trump. Only next time this murder and mayhem could take place at the ballot box be it in Milwaukee, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Des Moines, Phoenix, Orlando, Atlanta, Austin or anywhere else in between and beyond.

President Trump is going to Kenosha tomorrow. Would it surprise anyone if Trump were to call the Kenosha Killer a patriot and possibly a hero?

Whatever President Trump says in Kenosha it will make Americans less safe and secure.

August Closes With U.S. Topping 6 Million COVID-19 Cases

Today, the last day of August, the United States recorded the six millionth case of COVID-19. As of this writing, there are 6,014,013 cases in the United States which have resulted in 183,312 deaths. 

It did take a few days longer to get from 5 million to 6 million cases than it did to get from 4 million to 5 million cases. But the pace of testing has slowed down particularly in hot spots like Florida while some people wait weeks for test results thus undermining contact tracing and impeding prevention of community transmission. 

With states like Iowa insisting upon in person schooling these numbers are going to get worse as we head into autumn. All of which means we are not safe in Donald Trump's America. 

Mike Clevinger Shouldn't Pitch For The Indians, Padres or Any Other Team in 2020

Earlier this month, I expressed the opinion that pitcher Mike Clevinger should be punished more harshly than Zach Plesac for breaching COVID protocols. While Plesac owned up to his transgression, Clevinger did not disclose that he had been out with Plesac in Chicago and flew with his teammates thereby putting them at risk. Needless to say, the remainder of the Cleveland Indians' roster was none too happy with Clevinger.

However, last week, the Tribe brought Clevinger back to the roster while Plesac remains in limbo. Clevinger started last Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins. It was argued that the Indians were showcasing Clevinger with the intent to trade him.

This morning the Tribe traded Clevinger, outfielder Greg Allen and a player to be named later to the San Diego Padres for outfielder/first baseman Josh Naylor, catcher Austin Hedges, right handed pitcher Cal Quantrill along with minor league infielders Gabriel Arias and Owen Miller and minor league southpaw Joey Castillo. 

I realize that Clevinger's tenure with Cleveland was untenable. But the Indians ought to have kept Clevinger in purgatory along with Plesac. I understand the Indians wanted to get value for Clevinger but they could have traded him in the off-season and still received quality players in exchange for him. By permitting Clevinger to pitch and trading him to San Diego, the Indians have effectively rewarded his behavior.

The Padres will probably reach the post-season for the first time since 2006. What if Clevinger breaches COVID protocols again? What are the odds the Padres look the other way in the pursuit of a pennant?

As it stands President Trump, a majority of the Republican Party and a third of independent voters have no qualms about the deaths of 183,000 Americans. By permitting Mike Clevinger to pitch this season, the Indians, Padres and indeed the rest of MLB are basically telling us they don't have any qualms either.

Trump Supporters in NH Jeer Announcement Asking Them to Wear Masks

While awaiting to hear President Trump speak at a rally in Londonderry, New Hampshire, an estimated 1,400 Trump supporters booed loudly when instructed to wear masks in accordance with state law. Most disregarded the instructions as R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" blared over the loudspeakers.

This was Trump's first rally following last night's RNC address on the South Lawn of the White House. Last night, tonight and every remaining rally from now until election day has the potential to be a superspreader event. I would not be surprised if this rally causes a spike in cases not only in New Hampshire but in neighboring states like Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts. Trump narrowly lost the Granite state to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and is seeking a foothold in New England. In reality, we shall see the further politicization of masks. The result of which will be that the President will be far more likely to spread COVID in New England than he will Trumpism. As Rick Wilson says, "Everything that Trump touches dies."

If scenes like this are repeated across the country then I think the case could be made that the recent CBS poll which revealed 57% of Republicans believe 180,000 plus COVID deaths is acceptable might very well be a conservative estimate. If this isn't motivation for those of us who do not think 180,000 plus COVID deaths is acceptable to vote for Biden then I don't know what would be.

Chadwick Boseman, R.I.P.

I am sure I am from far alone in being stunned in learning about the death of actor Chadwick Boseman who succumbed to colon cancer today. He was diagnosed with the disease four years ago, but kept his illness private. He was 43. 

Boseman is best known for his portrayal of The Black Panther in two Avengers films, Captain America: Civil War as well as starring in The Black Panther. He also starred in several biopics portraying Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall. 

When I think of Boseman I always think of his portrayal of Robinson in 42. Boseman portrayed Robinson with grace, power and resolve. It was also his first starring role and was a harbinger of things to come. Superstardom would come Boseman's way and I thought this stardom would last for decades to come. Sadly this will not to come to pass.

What makes Boseman's death so eerie under than its sheer unexpectedness is the fact that it took place on Jackie Robinson Day in MLB where all players wear 42 in Robinson's honor. Now that honor will suddenly be shared with Boseman. R.I.P.

RNC Night #4: How Many Trump Acceptance Speech Attendees Will Die of COVID-19?

President Trump spoke for 70 minutes on the final night of the Republican National Convention. It was the longest hour and change of our longest year. 

I wonder how many of the estimated 1500 people who were crammed on the South Lawn of the White House for Trump's diatribe not wearing masks will test positive for COVID-19.

I also wonder who among them will become the next Herman Cain to die at the altar of Trump amid promises of a vaccine by the end of the year, the promotion of unproven treatments (re: convalescent plasma) and false claims about the dissemination of PPE for which there remains a chronic shortage.

President Trump can boast about COVID testing all he wants, but nearly half of all tests take more than four days to obtain results wasting precious time in attaining proper care and undermining contact tracing efforts.

President Trump can make claims about a lower fatality rate all he wants, but it doesn't change the fact that this country comprises more than a fifth of the world's COVID fatalities (180,824 deaths out of 831,586 globally as of this writing). The only thing he got right was when he inadvertently misread his teleprompter to proclaim we "pioneered the fatality rate".

President Trump can brag about banning travel from China, but this applied only to foreign nationals save for residents of Hong Kong and Macao.

But what we can expect of a President who relies on UFC President Dana White to dispense medical advice. Was the MyPillow guy unavailable?

If one had the stomach to listen to Trump's entire speech you would have thought Joe Biden had been living in the White House for the past four years instead of his so-called bunker for the past four months. Trump can we argue we won't be safe in Joe Biden's America from now until November when in point of fact we aren't safe in Donald Trump's America right now.

President Trump cannot crush the virus if he is not prepared to stop its spread at his current address.

Biden Must Ignore Pelosi & Debate Trump

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling upon Joe Biden not to debate President Trump.

Pelosi claims she isn't casting aspersions on Biden's debating ability, but Trump's distant relationship with the truth. Yet she has not called upon Kamala Harris to refrain from debating Mike Pence.

She further argues that Biden shouldn't "legitimize a conversation" with Trump. Like it or not, Trump is President of the United States and to defeat him Biden must stand up to him. Lies must be confronted with the truth instead of being left unanswered.

Pelosi's intervention is unhelpful because it gives Trump ammunition that Democrats don't have confidence in Biden as has been demonstrated by supporters like Andrew Pollack, Sean Hannity and Dinesh D'Souza.

Joe Biden would be wise to ignore Pelosi and prepare for his first debate with Trump a little over a month from now. He must do this for his own sake and the sake of the country.

Will New Conservative Party Leader Erin O'Toole Be Canada's Next Prime Minister?

Earlier this week, Canada's Conservative Party selected Erin O'Toole its new leader. The outcome was something of a surprise as he bested the better known Peter MacKay on the third ballot. MacKay had previously led the now defunct Progressive Conservative Party of Canada before its merger with the Reform Party to become the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003.

O'Toole, a 47-year old MP from Durham (a constituency about two hours northwest of Toronto) campaigned to MacKay's right touting himself to be "True Blue". Unlike the U.S., in Canada the Liberals are red and the Tories are blue (while the NDP is orange) although as nearly as right-wing as other leadership rivals Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan. But their supporters would gravitate to O'Toole giving him a decisive 57% to 43% third ballot victory. 

This was O'Toole's second attempt at the Tory party leadership having run in 2017 finishing third behind Andrew Scheer and Maxime Bernier. Scheer resigned back in December after falling short in last October's election while Bernier left the Tories to establish the People's Party of Canada. Three years ago, O'Toole positioned himself as a centrist. This time he read the tea leaves better. The question remains if he can do the same with the Canadian electorate.

O'Toole might get his chance sooner rather than later. As I wrote earlier this month, the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has been embroiled in a scandal in which a large government contract was rewarded to WE Canada which had previously compensated members of Trudeau's family for speaking engagements, a fact Trudeau failed to disclose. The same was the case with Finance Minister Bill Morneau whose daughter worked for WE forcing his subsequent resignation although the cover story was that he and Trudeau had differences over COVID policy.

Following Morneau's resignation, Trudeau prorogued Parliament. This effectively ended any further investigation of Trudeau's conduct in the WE Canada affair by House of Commons parliamentary committees. Prorogation is a tactic that was frequently deployed by the previous Conservative government led by Stephen Harper (during which O'Toole briefly served as Minister of Veterans Affairs). So the Tories are on weak ground if they protest too much.

The House of Commons is scheduled to reconvene on September 23rd at which time the Trudeau government will present a throne speech outlining its agenda. This is subject to a vote of confidence and since the Liberals have a minority parliament a defeat could result in early elections. While there's no doubt the Conservatives will be chomping at the bit with O'Toole as will the Bloc Quebecois, the Liberals' fate will be up to the NDP which has been propping them up since last year's election.

If the NDP joins the Conservatives and the Bloc in forcing early elections, O'Toole will have to hit the ground running and give Canadians confidence he can head an honest, competent government. Despite the scandal, the Liberals have an 8 point edge over the Conservatives in the most recent Leger poll. The question remains if O'Toole can define Trudeau as a leader Canadians can no longer trust or if Trudeau can make O'Toole look like a tool of President Trump. Yet even if Trudeau manages to frame O'Toole in that manner he still must contend with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. 

On the other hand if Singh props up Trudeau then O'Toole can bide his time and paint Singh as a leader who perpetuated Trudeau's corruption when Canada is currently scheduled to vote in October 2023. Whether its a short game or a long game, O'Toole will have to prove himself to Canadian voters.

While I believe Canada would probably be better off with O'Toole than Trudeau in the long run it is still a country that doesn't have to worry about any political party politicizing a pandemic. Whoever the Prime Minister is Canada is a normal, stable country. The same cannot be said of the United States at the present time.

Republicans Boast Law & Order While Breaking The Law & Condoning Disorder

Following the third night of the RNC, I made the case against Vice President Pence's claim that we won't be safe in Joe Biden's America by arguing that we aren't safe in Donald Trump's America right now.

Pence also said that law and order is on the ballot and that we will have law and order in the streets of America.

Let's keep in mind that Pence said all this while Republicans have been breaking the law for the duration of this entire "convention" by using federal property and federal officials for political purposes - Mellon Auditorium, Fort McHenry and both inside and outside of the White House.

Let's keep in mind that Pence said all this the same day White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said the Hatch Act didn't matter because people outside the Beltway didn't care about it. Not surprisingly, Meadows was for the Hatch Act before he was against it.

Let's keep in mind that Pence said all this while members of his administration keep getting indicted and convicted. 

Let's keep in mind that Pence said all this while President Trump utilizes the Attorney General as his private attorney. 

Let's keep in mind that Pence said all this while allies of the Trump Administration such as Tucker Carlson and Ann Coulter defended the teenager who killed two people and maimed another thereby condoning and encouraging disorder.

Republicans do not practice what they preach. They demand of others what they will not demand of themselves. 

President Trump, Mike Pence nor any other member of their administration or its apologists are in any position to lecture Joe Biden or anyone else on law and order.

RNC Night #3: We Aren't Safe in Donald Trump's America

Vice-President Pence, standing in Fort McHenry where American forces withstood an attack from British forces during the War of 1812, proclaimed, "The hard truth is you won't be safe in Joe Biden's America."

The truth of the matter is we aren't safe in Donald Trump's America. 

We aren't safe in Donald Trump's America where more than 5.8 million have been afflicted with COVID-19 including more than 38,000 people today along with nearly 180,000 deaths making Pence's claims about Trump being "the most pro-life President in American history" ring hollow. Pence repeatedly said the country was going through "a time of testing" at the very time when Trump is ordering the CDC to slow the testing down. 

We aren't safe in Donald Trump's America when those who assembled to listen Pence's speech weren't wearing masks much less engaging in social distancing.

We aren't safe in Donald Trump's America where masked federal agents kidnap Americans off the streets of Portland and detain them in unmarked cars. 

We aren't safe in Donald Trump's America when peaceful protesters are shot and killed in Kenosha by self-appointed white supremacist militias while the police look the other way. 

We aren't safe in Donald Trump's America when he encourages police officers to rough people up. There are many good police officers but they do not represent the best of us when they place a knee on a black man's neck in Minneapolis or repeatedly shoot a black man in the back. So long as this behavior persists we will not have law and order in Trump's America no matter how many African-American Republicans they trot out on the convention stage. Nor will law and order be restored with fallacious claims about Biden defunding the police, a cheerleader for Communist China or is a Catholic in name only (via Lou Holtz).

We aren't safe in Donald Trump's America so long as we are mired in double digit unemployment while Republicans oppose enhanced unemployment benefits, protections for Americans unable to pay their rent and mortgages along with a deliberate slow down the USPS and with it a slow down the delivery of life saving prescription drugs.

We aren't safe in Donald Trump's America now and we will be even less safe if we grant him another four years. If that comes to pass then I am prepared to return to greener pastures in Canada. Alas not every American has that choice available to them.

Mike Pence can have Donald Trump's America if he wants. I'll take Joe Biden's America right now.

The Kenosha PD Should Be Disbanded & Rebuilt

For starters, I don't think defunding or abolishing police departments is a workable public policy. No community can exist without a body dedicated to protecting the public and enforcing the law.

However, it is clear to me that the Kenosha Police Department is neither dedicated to protecting the public nor enforcing the law.

Any police force which shoots an unarmed black man in the back seven times resulting in his paralysis from the waist down for having the temerity to break up a fight is not dedicated to protecting the public.

Any police force which permits an armed teenager with white supremacist views to shoot and kill two people and maim a third person and declines to arrest him after he sees fit to surrender leaving it to a law enforcement agency in a neighboring state to take him into custody is not dedicated to enforcing the law.

In view of these facts, I believe the Kenosha Police Department should be disbanded and rebuilt with a new value system in which police will not utilize deadly force against unarmed citizens nor permit homicides to take place under its watch. In its present form, the Kenosha Police Department will have neither the confidence nor trust of its populace as they have damaged their reputation beyond repair.

It won't be an easy, quick fix. Building confidence and trust is a slow day to day process. But unless these painful measures are taken the pain and suffering of Jacob Blake and his family as well as the pain and suffering of the families of those killed at the hands of a white supremacist whose escape was aided and abetted by Kenosha PD will never be healed.

Trump Really Does Want to Slow COVID Testing Down

Here’s the bad part. When you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people, you’re going to find more cases. So I said to my people slow the testing down, please.

President Donald Trump

Rally in Tulsa, OK - June 20, 2020

It would appear that this is exactly what President Trump wants because the CDC has now abruptly changed its guidelines with respect to testing. The CDC now states that asymptomatic people should not get tested even if they know they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. 

Such an edict can only serve one purpose - to artificially keep the number of COVID-19 cases down and give the impression that it is in the rear view mirror. Mind you, the U.S. has just topped 5.8 million cases. That's plenty of American carnage. But doing less testing won't stop the spread of community infection. It will just keep it hidden until it is too late.

The Trump Administration directing the CDC to change its testing guidelines undermines contact tracing which seeks to inform members of the public if they have been exposed to COVID-19 and strongly encourages those individuals who have been exposed to get tested.

While New York Governor Andrew Cuomo won't follow the revised guidelines I suspect that Trump's gubernatorial allies like Florida's Ron DeSantis, Georgia's Brian Kemp, Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona probably will. In which case, we should heed the words of Dr. Alison Galvani, Director for the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis at Yale School of Medicine who tweeted, “This change in policy will kill.”

All of which renders Melania Trump's attempt at empathy last night meaningless.

Chisox Pitcher Giolito Hurls No-Hitter

Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito became the first pitcher to toss a no-hitter during the abbreviated 2020 MLB season. Giolito, 26, did not allow a hit against the Pittsburgh Pirates striking out 13 in the Chisox' 4-0 victory in an empty Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

This marks the first time a White Sox pitcher has thrown a no-hitter since Phillip Humber tossed a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners in April 2012. The last no-hitter thrown on the South Side of Chicago was Mark Buehrle's perfect game in July 2009. Giolito would have thrown a perfect game if not for a fourth inning walk to Erik Gonzalez. 

While I remain skeptical about the wisdom of playing baseball in the midst of the pandemic, a no-hitter is always a magnificent accomplishment. 

RNC Night #2: Melania Trump Acknowledges COVID-19 Before a Nearly Maskless Rose Garden Audience

First Lady Melania Trump became the first speaker at the RNC to acknowledge the suffering wrought by COVID-19 and actually referred to it as COVID instead of the "China virus". The problem is that few in the large crowd assembled in the Rose Garden weren't wearing masks. 

The First Lady's modest measure of compassion was also undermined by her claim that her husband conducted himself with "total honesty". This would be the President who claims that COVID-19 is 99% totally harmless and will disappear like a miracle while scarcely an hour earlier White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow spoke of COVID-19 in the past tense. All that was missing was a "Mission Accomplished" banner.

The First Lady's Rose Garden remarks were the culmination of a night long defiling of the Hatch Act which began with President Trump issuing a pardon in the White House and later presiding over a naturalization ceremony (with Acting DHS chief Chad Wolf fresh from Portland in tow) at a time when the Trump Administration refuses to naturalize immigrants online. Trump would have given out a Presidential Medal of Freedom, but he already did that with Rush Limbaugh during the SOTU address in what seems like a lifetime ago. 

Then there was Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's address atop the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, a breach of State Department policy. This certainly puts Israel in an awkward position as Pompeo touted the Trump Administration's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. Mind you, earlier in the evening, the RNC abruptly pulled Mary Ann Mendoza from the speaking roster due to her retweeting of an anti-Semitic QAnon theory claiming Jews plan to enslave Christians. But as long as QAnon says nice things about Trump don't expect any kind of disavowal.

But the most egregious things Pompeo said concerned the Far East rather than the Middle East. First was his claim that Trump stood up to China over COVID-19 when he spent months touting Beijing's talking points. Equally egregious was Pompeo's claim with regard to North Korea:

No nuclear tests, no long range missile tests, and Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families, as did the precious remains of scores of heroes who fought in Korea.

Last I checked, North Korea launched missiles in April. As for Americans held in captivity, Pompeo's words are of old comfort to the family of Otto Warmbier. 

But when it comes to chutzpah no one topped Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi who spent her five minutes accusing Joe Biden of nepotism. Bondi praised Trump for giving his salary to charity, but the Trump Foundation gave Bondi a $25,000 campaign contribution to make her investigation against Trump University go away. Give me Hunter Biden and I'll raise you Ivanka Trump's Chinese trademarks and Eric Trump's subpoena from the New York Attorney General regarding allegations concerning the inflation of the Trump Organization's assets. 

Speaking of Eric Trump, he flagrantly lied when he claimed, "Biden has pledged to defund the police and take away your cherished second amendment." I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It's hard to take the younger Trump son seriously when he claims Biden will stop funding the wall when the Trump Administration hasn't even started while Steve Bannon gets rich off suckers who are prepared to pay for the wall instead of Mexico. 

Melania Trump may have shown a small measure of compassion to a country that has brought to its knees by COVID-19, but by this time tomorrow her husband will yet again call it the "China virus" and minimize its devastation while promoting unproven treatments. How long will it be before Trump praises the maskless protesters who stormed the Idaho legislature? 

Chances are The First Lady will probably be the last member of the Trump family to acknowledge the human toll of COVID-19 not only during the RNC, but up to and including election day.

FDA Chief Hahn Should Resign For Overstating Value of Convalescent Plasma on COVID-19 Patients

FDA chief Dr. Stephen Hahn apologized today for overstating the effects of convalescent plasma in the treatment of COVID-19.

The apology came less than 48 hours after Hahn appeared with President Trump to announce the FDA had made an emergency authorization of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients. Trump hailed the announcement as "a very historic breakthrough" on the eve of the opening of the Republican National Convention claiming the treatment "to be safe and very effective." The President along with HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Dr. Hahn also claimed 35 out of every 100 COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma would survive drawing ire from the medical community. Hahn now states:

I have been criticized for remarks I made Sunday night about the benefits of convalescent plasma. The criticism is entirely justified. What I should have said better is that the data show a relative risk reduction not an absolute risk reduction.

The emergency authorization was based on a study by the Mayo Clinic which monitored the use of convalescent plasma in hospitals throughout the country. But the Mayo Clinic emphasized the study was not a clinical trial conducted under controlled conditions:

It is important to note that the EAP (Expanded Access Program) is not and was not intended to be a clinical trial to determine the efficacy of convalescent plasma. It was established by the FDA as a program to increase access to plasma to help severely ill patients at the height of the pandemic and to determine the safety of plasma transfusions. The current observations might indicate factors that may impact effect of treatment and help direct the randomized clinical trials that are needed to establish efficacy. The intent was to offer a procedure that had a history of use at a time when there was no known treatment for this deadly condition.

No data existed as to what dose might be appropriate. Inclusionary criteria were broad; exclusionary minimal. There was no standardized treatment protocol. Enrollment sites were very diverse, from university hospitals to community hospitals. Personnel training was minimal as was the fine detail of data reported.

So Trump's announcement was anything but a historical breakthrough and Hahn knew it yet went along with the charade. Of course, Trump has put the FDA under enormous pressure. But Hahn should have stood his ground and refused to become a political prop much less reiterate Trump's misleading statements thereby further endangering public health beyond the nearly 180,000 deaths in this country which have resulted from COVID-19. 

Notwithstanding his apology, Hahn's statements damage his credibility in such a way to undermine public confidence in future statements he might make at the behest of President Trump with regard to COVID-19. As such I believe Hahn should resign.

RNC Night #1: Trump Portrayed as COVID Hero While Biden Called The Loch Ness Monster

On Friday, I pondered how the RNC would spin 176,000 plus COVID-19 deaths in the United States:

How are they going to spin the deaths of more than 175,000 Americans in six months under President Trump's watch?

Will Republicans take a page from World Wrestling Entertainment and not acknowledge its existence?

If Republicans do acknowledge COVID-19 will they refer to it as the "China virus" as Trump frequently does?

Will the RNC claim President Trump has saved millions of lives? Or will the RNC become an infomercial for hydroxycholoroquine, oleandrin or other snake oil concoction? Will masks and social distancing not only be disregarded but disparaged? What other conspiracy theories, QAnon and otherwise, will be peddled?

Well, Republicans did acknowledge the pandemic they did not lament the loss of nearly 180,000 Americans to it. To the extent it was mentioned, the GOP would have you believe that President Trump was ahead of the curve on testing, ventilators and PPE while state Governors, the media and the medical establishment had their heads in the sand. For his part, President Trump referred to COVID-19 as the "China virus" and touted the use of hydroxychloroquine, zinc and Zithromax in the White House in front of a group of handpicked front line workers (a couple of whom had COVID) not wearing masks.

While more than 5.7 million plus Americans have been afflicted with COVID-19, Republicans spent the evening trying to convince the country that Joe Biden wants MS-13 to live next door to you (Matt Gaetz), that he would eliminate the suburbs (the gun toting McCloskeys), that he would be good for Iran, ISIS and China (Nikki Haley) and that he and Kamala Harris would bring about misery with a socialist utopia (Tim Scott). If nearly 180,000 deaths and more than 40 million unemployed isn't misery then what is?

Not to be outdone, Donald Trump, Jr. saw fit to call his father's opponent "Beijing Biden" before referring to him as "The Loch Ness Monster of the swamp."

In a way, it is a fitting label because the Loch Ness Monster does not exist. It is a myth. It is fake news. Indeed, Joe Biden is no more the Loch Ness Monster than he is a socialist much less have any intention to bring in MS-13, eliminate suburbs or defund the police. 

The Loch Ness Monster might not exist, but that won't stop Trump from trying to convince voters that it swims in a basement in Delaware.

57% of Republican Voters Believe 176,000 COVID-19 Deaths (And Counting) is Acceptable

According to a CBS News poll, 57% of Republican voters think the deaths of 176,000 Americans (and counting) due to COVID-19 is "acceptable" compared with 43% of GOP voters who do not. 

By contrast 90% of Democratic voters believe this number is unacceptable as do 67% of independent voters.

I cannot say the results of this poll surprises me. Back in April, after Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick declared "there are more important things than living", I argued that conservatives aren't really pro-life. 

In the grand scheme of things the views expressed by Texas Lt. Gov Patrick and by the Wisconsin protester more then 1200 miles away are antithetical to conservatism. But most conservatives aren't really conservative. At least not anymore. They gave up their conservative stand to bow down and worship at the altar of Trump. And with it they also gave up any illusion that they give a damn about the sanctity of life evidently including their own lives. I'm sure many of these people would still identify themselves as conservative. But they sure as hell aren't pro-life.

So when Republicans speak of the sanctity of life at the RNC Convention this week let us throw these facts back in their faces.

As abhorrent as these views may be they are the views of nearly half of all Republican voters and a third of independent voters. Under these conditions, President Trump could prevail in November without his shenanigans with the USPS. 

In which case, it would be as if nothing had happened this year. Should this come to pass I don't think I could remain in this country. There is time. It doesn't have to be this way. But our work will be cut out for us.

How Will The RNC Spin 175,000 Plus COVID-19 Deaths?

The United States has now surpassed 175,000 deaths from COVID-19. According to Johns Hopkins University, 175,350 Americans have succumbed during this global pandemic.

The Republican National Convention convenes in less than 72 hours from now.

How are they going to spin the deaths of more than 175,000 Americans in six months under President Trump's watch?

Will Republicans take a page from World Wrestling Entertainment and not acknowledge its existence?

If Republicans do acknowledge COVID-19 will they refer to it as the "China virus" as Trump frequently does?

Will the RNC claim President Trump has saved millions of lives? Or will the RNC become an infomercial for hydroxycholoroquine, oleandrin or other snake oil concoction? Will masks and social distancing not only be disregarded but disparaged? What other conspiracy theories, QAnon and otherwise, will be peddled?

However President Trump and the GOP spin the deaths of 175,000 Americans (and counting) the question remains if we will buy what they are selling? If we do buy what they sell next week then we shall pay for many years to come.

DNC Night #4: From Brayden to Biden

The final night of the DNC featured sharp humor from moderator Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, a Survivor style reunion among several of the Democrats who unsuccessfully ran for the nomination, Senator Tammy Duckworth referring to President Trump as "the coward-in-chief", a cameo from Sarah Cooper and a tribute to the late John Lewis.

But tonight was about two people - 13-year old Brayden Harrington and Joe Biden.

Although there are 64 years between them they share one thing in common - they both stutter. Harrington recalled meeting Biden in New Hampshire during the Democratic primaries and declared, "Without Joe Biden, I wouldn't be talking to you today." Young Brayden struggled to speak, but his point came across clearly.

It was really amazing to hear that someone like me became vice president. He told me about a book of poems by Yates he would read out loud to practice. He showed me how he marks his addresses to make them easier to say out loud. So I did the same thing today.

And now I'm here talking to you today about the future about the future — about our future. ... We all want the world to feel better. We need the world to feel better. I'm just a regular kid. In a short amount of time, Joe Biden made me feel better about something that's bothered me my whole life.

Joe Biden cared. Imagine what he could do for all of us. Kids like me are counting on you to elect someone we can all look up to. Someone who cares. Someone who will make our country and the world feel better. We're counting on you to elect Joe Biden.

Later in the evening, just before Biden gave his acceptance speech, there was a video of his life story which addressed his stuttering. Biden recounted an incident when he ran home from school after his teacher mocked his stutter. His mother drove him back to school and confronted the cruel nun:

"Did you say to my son, M-M-M-Mr. Biden?"

The nun said, "I was just trying to make a point."

My mother stood up, all 5,2 of her, "If you ever talk to my son like that ever again, I'll come back and rip that damn bonnet off your head. Do you understand me? Joey, go back to class."

Biden added, "From having to deal with stuttering it gave me insight into other people's pain, other people's suffering."

President Trump possesses no such insight. He has no capacity to feel any pain and suffering other than his own, real or imagined. With the pain and suffering which comes with nearly 175,000 deaths from a pandemic, it is compounded by having a leader who cares nothing about the pain and suffering of others.

Would Trump ever take the time to talk to Brayden Harrington about his ordeal much less try to help him overcome it? At best, he would ignore him. At worst, he would mock him or his family. 

Joe Biden knows what it is to have pain. Joe Biden knows what it is to suffer. Joe Biden also knows that wounds must be healed. America has been wounded and we have a President who rubs salt in the wound. If we re-elect Trump then those wounds will never heal. If we elect Biden then we can heal, get back on our feet and become stronger than before.

Henry David Thoreau was wrong. Governments that govern best aren't the ones which govern least, but the ones which care the most. As young Brayden put it we need someone who cares. Come November 3rd, we can choose between a President who cares and a President who doesn't.

How Many Donors Who Gave Money to "We Build the Wall" Also Gave to the NRA & Swallowed Hydroxychloroquine?

When I learned that former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon and three others had been arrested and charged in federal court of conspiracy of money laundering and wire fraud in connection with the We Build the Wall organization, I wondered how many other times their donors had been conned and suckered.

How many of those who donated to We Build the Wall also donated to the NRA? Earlier this month, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed suit to dissolve the NRA amid allegations its executives used donations for their personal use not unlike the accusations Bannon and his accomplices now face. You know you've got trouble when Oliver North was the most honest man in your organization.

How many of those who donated to We Build the Wall also swallowed hydroxychloroquine tablets? Or have they now moved onto oleandrin? For that matter, how many of those who donated to We Build the Wall also donated to the Trump campaign to help pay for former campaign chair Brad Parscale's Ferrari? Or paid tuition to Trump University?

Naturally, one feels sympathy towards those who are cheated out of their money. But there are those who never learn and, despite all evidence, refuse to believe they have swindled. These are "some of the people" who Abraham Lincoln said can be fooled all of the time. These people can also be counted on to vote for Trump even if they lose their shirt in the process. 

Why Did Pelosi Endorse Kennedy Over Markey in MA Senate Race?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised eyebrows today by endorsing Congressman Joe Kennedy's challenge to incumbent Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey.

Pelosi said that Kennedy “knows that to achieve progressive change, you must be on the front lines, leading movements of people.” She also cited Kennedy's work campaigning for Democrats during the 2018 mid-terms although it is worth noting Kennedy wasn't so enthusiastic about doing such things in 2016. 

One way to look at Pelosi's endorsement of Kennedy is that she is looking to the long term. Should Markey prevail he will be 80 at the end of his term and likely retire whereas Kennedy is just entering his prime. In endorsing Kennedy she not just endorsing a new Senator but a possible presidential candidate with a familiar name. Or it could be that Pelosi doesn't care much for Markey or at the very least his co-sponsorship of the Green New Deal. Pelosi has been lukewarm at best with regard to the legislative proposal.

This would be the same Green New Deal is also co-sponsored by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who was not pleased with Pelosi's endorsement. AOC proclaimed, "No one gets to complain about primary challenges again." As usual AOC is being silly as Pelosi was more than happy to endorse Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib against their respective primary challengers and, for that matter, AOC. She doth protest too much. 

Yet I suspect that having Kennedy in the Senate could pose a problem for her own presidential ambitions in 2024 or 2028. It could explain why Markey was considerably calmer in his reaction to Pelosi's endorsement. If Markey does lose to Kennedy, I'm sure he will have a place in the Biden Administration. If Trump were to be re-elected, I'm sure Markey would end up as a university chancellor perhaps at Boston College, his alma mater. 

Besides this assumes Pelosi's endorsement of Kennedy will carry more weight with Massachusetts voters than Elizabeth Warren's endorsement of Markey. While the cumulative polling has them tied, the most recent poll earlier this month had Markey leading Kennedy by 15 points. 

So what if I were still living in Massachusetts? While Kennedy is probably closer to my political inclinations, Markey hasn't done anything truly egregious and is more personable of the two. If the Bay State were my home I'd be fine with either of them as my Senator. Then again unless I move back to Massachusetts between now and November 3rd, it's a choice I won't have to make.

DNC Night #3: Obama Triggers Trump

The third night of the DNC was in part devoted to policy with lengthy discussions about gun control, climate change, immigration and the economy. 

While I don't necessarily agree with everything Democrats have to say on these subjects one cannot help but be moved by the letter of an 11-year old girl whose mother was deported to Mexico separated from her and her father who served this country as a U.S. Marine in Iraq and had supported Trump because of his pledge to support military families. 

One also cannot help be moved by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' bravery and progress nearly a decade after being seriously wounded by assassin who claimed the lives of six other people. Giffords said, "Words once came easily, today I struggle to speak. But I have not lost my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words."

It could be said the third night of the DNC was Ladies' Night. Aside from Giffords, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham spoke as well as Kamala Harris who formally accepted the VP nomination.

But this night belonged to former President Obama. As with Michelle Obama on Monday night, the former President did not pull punches on Trump:

I have sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.

But he never did. For close to four years now, he's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.

Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't. And the consequences of that failure are severe. 170,000 Americans dead. Millions of jobs gone while those at the top take in more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before.

Somewhere in the midst of these three paragraphs, President Trump tweeted in all caps, "HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!" Neither of these things are true. What is true is that Obama triggered Trump.

Mind you I'm still not fond of President Obama. He emboldened Iran, miscalculated on Russia, underestimated ISIS and repeatedly promised that anyone who wanted their health insurance could keep their health insurance knowing full well that wasn't possible. But Obama did take public health seriously as was the case with both the H1N1 pandemic during his first year in office and the Ebola crisis in 2014 as did Joe Biden. The same cannot be said for Trump where it concerns COVID-19. For all of my disagreements with Obama (and for that matter Hillary Clinton) I cannot imagine them allowing 170,000 plus Americans to die needlessly under their watch and proclaim, "It is what it is."

Let me put it another way. Trump is so incompetent and malevolent that he makes Obama's presidency look better by comparison. In a sense, Donald Trump is the best thing that could have ever happened to Barack Obama even if he is the worst thing that could have happened to this country.

Reds Broadcaster Thom Brennaman Makes Homophobic Remark, Apologizes & Leaves The Air UPDATE

 

Prior to Wednesday night's doubleheader between the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals, Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman made a homophobic slur on a hot mic describing an unnamed city as "one of the fag capitals of the world." 

Brennaman, who has been calling Reds games on TV and radio since 2010 and previously covered both MLB and NFL games on FOX, apologized on air during the fifth inning of the second game of the doubleheader and then left Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium. As he was apologizing, Reds outfielder Nicholas Castellanos homered and Brennaman took a moment to call the shot before resuming his apology. (UPDATE: After the game, the Reds announced that Brennaman was suspended indefinitely.)

Brennaman said he was sorry, deeply ashamed and said those comments are not who he is. Yet given the enthusiasm with which he made his comment I cannot help but think that this is exactly who Brennaman is and is only sorry for being caught in the act. Indeed, there were those on Twitter who declared Brennaman had clinched a spot as a speaker at next week's Republican National Convention.

However, I do hold out hope his contrition is genuine. If Brennaman is a man of faith as he claims to be then he will find a road to redemption.

U.S. Tops 5.5 Million COVID-19 Cases

Today, the United States surpassed 5.5 million COVID-19 cases. According to Johns Hopkins University, as of this writing there are 5,523,286 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. along with 172,945 deaths for a fatality rate of 3.1%. The U.S. accounts for nearly 25% (24.8%) of the world's COVID-19 cases and 22% of the COVID-19 deaths although we only account for 4% of the global population. 

It took only 10 days for the case number to increase from 5 million to 5.5. million. At this pace, despite a slower pace of testing in some states, the United States will surpass 6 million COVID-19 cases before the end of August. 

So long as the Trump Administration has more faith in the MyPillow Guy than Dr. Fauci then things are going to get much, much worse. November 3rd cannot come soon enough.

DNC Night #2: An Elevator Pitch & A Roll Call with Calamari

Night two of the Democratic National Convention was a smorgasbord of solidarity for Joe Biden.

There were speeches from former President Clinton, former President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn (who turned 93 today) as well as 2004 Democratic presidential standard bearer John Kerry.

There were speeches from rising Democratic politicians at the state and local level.

There were remarks from the formerly nonpartisan (Sally Yates) and former Republicans (Colin Powell) along with a video showcasing Biden's friendship with the late John McCain and his family.

There was also Dr. Jill Biden speaking from the classroom and speaking from the heart. I will only say that Joe Biden is a lucky man.

But the highlight of the night was a roll call with an elevator pitch.

Initially, I thought this wouldn't be good as both Biden and Bernie Sanders were nominated. I found it telling that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seconded Bernie's nomination. She still can't bring herself to support Biden. All things considered Biden is probably better off without her help.

Alas AOC's speech was but a footnote. Security guard Jacquelyn Brittany, who encountered Biden in an elevator last December, began the roll call with the ultimate elevator pitch for the former Vice-President. As we went from state to state, we zoomed in on America's diversity in demography, geography and personality. Some states like Indiana and New Jersey had politicians moving the nomination (Pete Buttigieg and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy) while Bernie Sanders stood in the background in Vermont. New York had a ER nurse, Kansas had a farmer and Arizona had a teacher. There were somber moments from Khizr Khan of Virginia, Fred Gutterman in Florida and Matthew Shepard's parents in Wyoming. Tennessee had an aspiring beauty queen celebrating a century of womens' suffrage while Rhode Island offered us calamari. 

Some food for thought. Calamari or no calamari, anyone who watched tonight's edition of the DNC will not only come away finding Biden more appetizing, palatable and wanting more.

Ben Cross, R.I.P.

Actor, director, musician and screenwriter Ben Cross, best known for his appearance in the 1981 Academy Award winning film Chariots of Fire, has passed away at the age of 72. A cause of death has not been made public.

Cross was a largely unknown actor when he was cast in Chariots of Fire to portray Harold Abrahams, a runner who overcame anti-Semitic prejudice to win a Gold medal for Britain in the 100 meter dash in the 1924 Olympics in Paris along with the silver medal in the 4 x 100 relay. Co-starring in Chariots of Fire was Ian Charleson who played Eric Liddell, a devout Christian who would not run on the Sabbath. 

As I was all of 9-years old when the film came out, I remember not so much the plot but the images of Cross and Charleson running along the beach wearing white accompanied by the Oscar winning score composed by Vangelis. They looked like the vibrant young men they played. And then art imitated life.

Liddell died of a brain tumor in 1945 at the age of 43 while engaging in missionary work in China while Charleson died of AIDS at the age of 40. Abrahams would live a long life occupied by the law, journalism and amateur sport before passing away in 1978 at the age of 78. So too would Cross have a busy life in film, TV and stage before meeting his end.

Although prolific, Cross himself stated of his career following Chariots of Fire, “Suddenly, you get offered lots of work, which is lovely. But since then I have done 80 or 90 projects, none of which have been in any way as successful.” I wonder if Cold Sweat, the 1993 direct to video movie he co-starred with Adam Baldwin and Shannon Tweed is what he had in mind or perhaps the short-lived revival of the TV series Dark Shadows with Roy Thinnes and Joanna Going. 

Aside from Chariots of Fire, I remember Cross from the 1983 BBC miniseries The Citadel which would air in North America on Masterpiece Theatre. Perhaps Cross' most notable role after Chariots of Fire was his portrayal of Sarek in the J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot of Star Trek. 

But I shall always remember Ben Cross running across the beach as a young man in a hurry. Now that his race is run may someone else carry his torch. R.I.P.

Trump Blasts New Zealand's COVID "Surge" of 9 Cases as U.S. Records More Than 40,000 Yesterday

President Trump must be a terrible card player because he always plays a weak hand.

During a campaign stop yesterday in Minnesota, Trump blasted New Zealand's "surge" of COVID cases:

“The places they were using to hold up now they’re having a big surge … they were holding up names of countries and now they’re saying ‘whoops!.

“Do you see what’s happening in New Zealand? They beat it, they beat it, it was like front-page news because they wanted to show me something,”

“Big surge in New Zealand, you know it’s terrible, we don’t want that, but this is an invisible enemy that should never have been let to come to Europe and the rest of the world by China.” 

The "big surge" in New Zealand was a grand total of 9 cases yesterday. After going 102 days without recording a single new case, there have been 90 new cases over the past week which has prompted a resumption of lockdown measures the most stringent of which are in Auckland where the cluster has occurred. This has resulted in a four week delay of national elections which were to be held next month. Meanwhile, the United States had more than 40,000 new COVID-19 cases yesterday as we will soon reach 5.5 million cases overall. 

For her part, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern called Trump's comments "patently wrong" while Deputy PM Winston Peters noted, “The American people can work out that what we have for a whole day, they have every 22 seconds of the day. That speaks for itself.” 

As of this writing, New Zealand has 1,643 COVID-19 cases with 22 deaths. Meanwhile, the United States has now surpassed 170,000 COVID-19 deaths. With slightly more than 5 million people, New Zealand's population is roughly that of both Alabama and South Carolina. Yet Alabama has recorded more than 105,000 COVID-19 cases with 1,867 deaths while South Carolina also has more than 105,000 cases with 2,185 deaths. Not only do Alabama and South Carolina have more than six times as many cases as New Zealand, but have more deaths than New Zealand has cases.

But by all means, let President Trump continue to bring up New Zealand. Let him keep playing a weak hand. The more he speaks about New Zealand the more Americans will wish we were there. Since that option isn't available to us for the foreseeable future, I think we'll settle for electing Joe Biden our next President.

DNC Night #1: Daughter Who Lost Dad to COVID-19 Says "Only Preexisting Condition Was Trusting Trump"

The most powerful moment of the first night of the Democratic National Convention came not from a Democratic politician, but by an everyday American. Kristin Urquiza, whose father Mark died of COVID-19 in June, spoke for less than a minute but she spoke volumes.

Urquiza's father was a Trump supporter and skeptical of wearing masks and social distancing. He would contract COVID-19 after visiting a karaoke bar in Arizona. Later he would be hospitalized and died five days after being placed on a ventilator. Here is the most gut wrenching part of her remarks:

"My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life."

As of now more than 170,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. After listening to Urquiza, I cannot help but wonder how many other Americans only preexisting condition was trusting Trump when he said COVID-19 would disappear like a miracle, wearing masks was politically correct while promoting snake oil cures like hydroxychloroquine and injecting ourselves with Clorox have gone to their graves just like her father. Now that Trump is promoting Oleandrin as the new hydroxychloroquine I wonder how many Americans still trust what Trump says about COVID-19 and how many more of them will die between now and November 3rd.

President Trump's response to COVID-19 has been both incompetent and malevolent. This response is not only unworthy of a second term in office it is also an anathema to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If voters have reservations about listening to Democratic politicians perhaps they will listen to the words of Kristin Urquiza.

Thoughts on Reopening of Bowling Alleys in New York State

Yesterday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that bowling alleys in New York state will be permitted to reopen at 50% capacity beginning on Monday, August 17th.

Alas the announcement has come too late for some establishments but will be a welcome relief to others that remain. Bowling alley owners had been bringing pressure to bear upon Cuomo to reopen as lanes had been reopened in neighboring Connecticut in mid-June and in New Jersey at the beginning of July. 

When Cuomo made the announcement it had been exactly four months since I had last gone bowling. At this point, I'm not sure when I'm going back. First of all, while alleys can reopen Monday not all of them will be ready to open. The nearest alley to me is Bowlmor in Times Square and unless they are planning to sell discount memberships it would be too expensive proposition although perhaps I could bowl there on my birthday next month (as I did a year ago). Prior to the beginning of the pandemic, I did sign up for a bowling league at Lucky Strike a few blocks west of Times Square. I'm not sure what the status of that situation is but perhaps this will remain an option.

More likely than not if I am to bowl it will probably be in Queens where I had been doing most of my bowling anyway particularly at Bowlero Queens where I had been involved in the Lousy Bowlers Club on Wednesday evenings from mid-January until all hell broke loose in mid-March. But I'm not sure what the status of the league is at this point and since it is part of the Bowlmor chain it would not be cheap unless I'm in a league. 

There are other options in Queens (i.e. Astoria Bowl, Bowl 360 in Ozone Park and Whitestone Lanes in Flushing). However, most of those involve a long subway/bus ride. Despite all measures put forward by the MTA, I'm not sure if I'm prepared to use public transportation at this point unless it is for a job interview. Indeed, the only time I've used public transportation since March was when I took the F train for a job interview in the Jamaica section of Queens nearly a month ago.

Alas I don't think I will be bowling in Brooklyn anytime soon. Although Shell Lanes was a long journey on the F train, it was just down the street from the Avenue X stop and was the least expensive bowling in the city. Sadly, it has closed due to reasons entirely unrelated to COVID-19. One of my former colleagues texted me a picture of Melody Lanes. I haven't bowled there, but that's because it costs $45-55 an hour to bowl to do so. The Gutter is less expensive, but I'd just as soon not bowl in a biker bar again. 

I have bowled at Van Nest Lanes in The Bronx on a couple of occasions and enjoyed my time in the retro establishment. But once again I'm not sure if I'm ready to spend an extended amount of time on the subway and a bus just yet. I've never set foot on Staten Island and do not plan to save for a job interview.

While I am delighted to hear that bowling alleys in New York will be reopening and reopen responsibly, I don't think I will take advantage of this just yet. Good things come to those who wait and I can wait a little bit longer. I can roll with it. 

Trump Treats USPS Like It's One of His Properties

When President Trump tells us that he opposes additional funding for the United States Postal Service because he wants to prevent mail in voting he is telling us that USPS is just another one of his properties instead of something which belongs to all Americans.

The mail boxes being removed from the streets and sorting machines being removed from USPS facilities while nearly tripling the cost of delivering mail in ballots is being done for no other reason than the personal self interest of Donald J. Trump - namely to prevent his deserved defeat at the polls in November. If it means people don't get their medications during a pandemic then, as Trump says, "it is what it is." If the deaths of 165,000 plus Americans in the past six months hasn't moved Trump now the deaths of a few more people aren't going to move him either. 

Where does the Trump Organization end and the White House begin? Whether it was making Vice-President Pence stay at a Trump property in Ireland nearly 200 miles away from his stated business, getting trademarks for himself and daughter Ivanka from China or demanding the Department of Energy change its regulations on shower heads to produce more gallons per water per minute so he can have perfect hair, the office of President of the United States is nothing more than a tool for Trump's own enrichment. Why should USPS be any different?

Well, most of us will never visit a Trump property, obtain a trademark from the Chinese government or demand a government regulation be changed for light and transient causes. But all of us use USPS. In which case Trump is trespassing on our property, preventing us from sending and receiving good and services and depriving us of a secure method of exercising our right to vote in the middle of the worst pandemic in over a century. 

Donald Trump is taking something that does not belong to him. He is treading on us. If Trump persists in damaging the United States Postal Service for his own personal ends then he shall receive a receive a letter from American voters - a scarlet letter for which he will pay postage due.

The Israel-UAE Peace Deal Won't Help Trump Anymore Than Camp David Helped Carter

The U.S. brokered peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is significant. It marks the first time a Gulf Arab state has entered into such an agreement with the Jewish state. In so doing, the Trump Administration did get Israel to agree to cease plans to annex the West Bank. 

Of course, the devil is in the details. Anwar Gargash, the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs, states the Gulf nation will not open an embassy in Jerusalem until there is a final peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Though it will be intriguing if it results in getting the two parties back to the negotiating table. 

This deal is probably President Trump's most significant foreign policy achievement. Then again the Camp David Accords was President Carter's most significant foreign policy achievement and look where it got him. Our current state of affairs under Trump makes the Iranian hostage crisis look like a Sunday school picnic. 

Today's announcement doesn't change the fact that more than 5 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 claiming more than 160,000 lives while displacing more than 40 million American workers. 

Today's announcement doesn't change the fact the unemployed have lost our $600 a week lifeline nor does it change the fact Trump's executive orders aren't worth the paper on which they are printed. 

Today's announcement doesn't change the fact that President Trump is actively undermining the United States Post Office in an effort to prevent people from exercising our constitutional right to vote. 

If people do exercise their right to vote the agreement between Israel and the UAE will be the furthest thing from our minds when we cast our ballots.