You might recall that in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the United States back in March, President Trump objected to allowing the 21 passengers and crew aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship back onto American soil.
At the time, Trump stated, "I like the numbers being where they are. I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault."
Just over two months later we are now nearing 1.5 million COVID-19 cases in the United States and have eclipsed 85,000 deaths.
Nobody likes those numbers being where they are. Neither does President Trump. But in Trump's case it is because he thinks the numbers are artificially high and now he is bringing pressure upon the CDC to revise how they tally COVID-19 deaths.
Trump's motivation is clear. He wants to manipulate the numbers to justify reopening the economy and thus maximize his chances for re-election. This act is consistent with the behavior of a man who brags about having total authority but refuses to take any responsibility.
The question is whether Americans will accept Trump's manipulations and obfuscations to downplay the impact of COVID-19. I suspect that more Americans think the COVID-19 numbers are very bad and could possibly be worse than the number of Americans who think the COVID-19 numbers are inflated.
But how many of those of people in the latter group live in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida and other swing states? Can Trump fool enough of those people in these states to grant him a second term? Or will enough of these people have family and friends who have been afflicted with or have succumbed to COVID-19 to tell Trump to peddle his lies somewhere outside of the White House? I guess that will depend on how much Trump likes the numbers being where they are.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
The Recklessness of The Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned Governor Tony Evers COVID-19 stay at home order by a 4-3 vote effective immediately.
Mind you the justices made this decision while social distancing in the virtual safety of Zoom.
The Badger State has more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases with a death toll of more than 400. Look for the infection and death rate in Wisconsin to skyrocket.
It's true that some counties such as Dane (which includes the state capitol of Madison) will enact a stay at home order of their own. Ditto for Brown County where Green Bay is situated. This might mitigate any increase in the infection and fatality rates, but what about Wisconsin's 70 other counties?
The conduct of the conservative majority on the court has been appalling. As this case was being argued last week, Chief Justice Patience Roggensack was less than virtuous when she characterized meat packing workers in Brown County who have seen a spike in COVID-19 infections weren't "regular folks". Given that the county's NFL team is the Packers you don't get more "regular folks" than meat packing workers. Roggensack's remark has been viewed as racist as many of the meat packing workers are African American and Latino. At the very least, Roggensack has expressed a contempt for essential workers who are risking their lives to put food on their table and ours.
If this wasn't bad enough another conservative justice Rebecca Bradley likened Governor Evers stay at home order to the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II. Where does one begin? Japanese Americans who were interned were stripped of the property. There was no home they could call their own. And Japanese Americans weren't exactly free to go outside for a walk or shop at the Piggly Wiggly. As with Stephen Moore's atrocious Rosa Parks analogy Justice Bradley is likening an order to which the entire population was subject to a policy directed towards a specific group of people in this case Japanese Americans. Bradley's argument is a classic case of apples and oranges. Or as Star Trek alumni George Takei tweeted, "I didn't spend my childhood in barbed wire enclosed internment camps so I could listen to grown adults today cry oppression because they have to wear a mask at Costco."
In making these specious arguments the Wisconsin Supreme Court has displayed a reckless disregard for human life resulting in an order which will result in the spread of disease and death. As much disease and death as there has been here in New York I am glad that I am not living in Wisconsin.
Mind you the justices made this decision while social distancing in the virtual safety of Zoom.
The Badger State has more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases with a death toll of more than 400. Look for the infection and death rate in Wisconsin to skyrocket.
It's true that some counties such as Dane (which includes the state capitol of Madison) will enact a stay at home order of their own. Ditto for Brown County where Green Bay is situated. This might mitigate any increase in the infection and fatality rates, but what about Wisconsin's 70 other counties?
The conduct of the conservative majority on the court has been appalling. As this case was being argued last week, Chief Justice Patience Roggensack was less than virtuous when she characterized meat packing workers in Brown County who have seen a spike in COVID-19 infections weren't "regular folks". Given that the county's NFL team is the Packers you don't get more "regular folks" than meat packing workers. Roggensack's remark has been viewed as racist as many of the meat packing workers are African American and Latino. At the very least, Roggensack has expressed a contempt for essential workers who are risking their lives to put food on their table and ours.
If this wasn't bad enough another conservative justice Rebecca Bradley likened Governor Evers stay at home order to the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II. Where does one begin? Japanese Americans who were interned were stripped of the property. There was no home they could call their own. And Japanese Americans weren't exactly free to go outside for a walk or shop at the Piggly Wiggly. As with Stephen Moore's atrocious Rosa Parks analogy Justice Bradley is likening an order to which the entire population was subject to a policy directed towards a specific group of people in this case Japanese Americans. Bradley's argument is a classic case of apples and oranges. Or as Star Trek alumni George Takei tweeted, "I didn't spend my childhood in barbed wire enclosed internment camps so I could listen to grown adults today cry oppression because they have to wear a mask at Costco."
In making these specious arguments the Wisconsin Supreme Court has displayed a reckless disregard for human life resulting in an order which will result in the spread of disease and death. As much disease and death as there has been here in New York I am glad that I am not living in Wisconsin.
My 7 Favorite Stevie Wonder Songs For His 70th Birthday
Let's face it. There hasn't been a lot of good things to write about over the past two months or so.
I'll try to break that pattern by writing in praise of Stevie Wonder on his 70th birthday. Here is a child prodigy who wrote songs, played instruments and recorded music beyond his years and perhaps beyond time itself. The following are my 7 favorite Stevie Wonder songs in reverse order.
7. Fingertips (Part 2)
This song introduced Stevie Wonder to the world. Released just over a week after his 13th birthday in those days he was known as "Little" Stevie Wonder. But there is nothing little about "Fingertips". The song has a tremendous intensity driven by Wonder's harmonica playing. Listening to it you would have thought it was a grown man who had spent years on the road. Of course, at that time, his voice was that of a child but would soon mature. Let's put it this way. "Fingertips" could have been one hit wonder for anyone twice his age. But for Stevie the best was still to come.
6. I Was Made to Love Her
Co-written by Wonder's mother Lula Mae Hardaway, the song begins with an electric sitar by Eddie Willis of The Funk Brothers followed by a harmonica solo from Wonder. That intro would be often used as bumper music between innings of Detroit Tigers game that aired on WDIV in the 1980's and 1990's. It motivated me to buy a greatest hits collection of Wonder on cassette.
5. Living for the City
Although Wonder's 1973 album Innervisions is probably best remembered for "Higher Ground" which became a hit for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the late 1980's, the standout track for me is "Living for the City". I am drawn to its dark, foreboding mood of a man trying to escape racism in the South only to find it in New York City. Wonder plays all the instruments and supplies the ambient noises on this seven minute plus track.
4. You Are The Sunshine of My Life
This song is unique for having two backup singers (Jim Gilstrap and Lani Groves) sing the first two verses before Wonder takes the reigns. I first remember this song from an episode of the sitcom Taxi during which the estranged father of Reverend Jim Ignatowski (played by Christopher Lloyd) dies and leaves him a recording of "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" which ends the episode. I wish I could find a clip of it, but if you ever see it you won't forget it.
3. My Cherie Amour
This was the opening song and title track of his 1969 album although the song was first recorded in late 1967. Did you know Wonder also recorded versions of this song in both Italian and Spanish? Wonder's "la la la la la la la" can be appreciated in any language.
2. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
What happened to the world we knew? Wonder poses this question at the very beginning of the song and I'm sure he and the rest of humanity is asking this very question now. The string arrangements are exquisite. "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" was co-written by the tandem of Ron Miller and Bryan Wells who also co-wrote "A Place in The Sun" and "Someday at Christmas" while Miller wrote "Heaven Help Us All" and co-wrote "For Once in My Life" with Orlando Murden. Miller had the distinction of being Motown's only Jewish songwriter and did his best work with Wonder.
1. Village Ghetto Land/Contusion/Sir Duke
OK, these are three songs. But I've always associated them as a group as they close out side one of Wonder's landmark 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. "Village Ghetto Land" with Wonder on synthesizer represents a lament for the American inner city while the instrumental "Contusion" represents its chaos with "Sir Duke", Wonder's tribute to Duke Ellington, represents the joy of life in spite of it's surroundings of lament and chaos. This could be described as the wonder of music.
Let me know what you think. If there are other Stevie Wonder songs you like please pass them along. We need all the joy that can be found.
I'll try to break that pattern by writing in praise of Stevie Wonder on his 70th birthday. Here is a child prodigy who wrote songs, played instruments and recorded music beyond his years and perhaps beyond time itself. The following are my 7 favorite Stevie Wonder songs in reverse order.
7. Fingertips (Part 2)
This song introduced Stevie Wonder to the world. Released just over a week after his 13th birthday in those days he was known as "Little" Stevie Wonder. But there is nothing little about "Fingertips". The song has a tremendous intensity driven by Wonder's harmonica playing. Listening to it you would have thought it was a grown man who had spent years on the road. Of course, at that time, his voice was that of a child but would soon mature. Let's put it this way. "Fingertips" could have been one hit wonder for anyone twice his age. But for Stevie the best was still to come.
6. I Was Made to Love Her
Co-written by Wonder's mother Lula Mae Hardaway, the song begins with an electric sitar by Eddie Willis of The Funk Brothers followed by a harmonica solo from Wonder. That intro would be often used as bumper music between innings of Detroit Tigers game that aired on WDIV in the 1980's and 1990's. It motivated me to buy a greatest hits collection of Wonder on cassette.
5. Living for the City
Although Wonder's 1973 album Innervisions is probably best remembered for "Higher Ground" which became a hit for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the late 1980's, the standout track for me is "Living for the City". I am drawn to its dark, foreboding mood of a man trying to escape racism in the South only to find it in New York City. Wonder plays all the instruments and supplies the ambient noises on this seven minute plus track.
4. You Are The Sunshine of My Life
This song is unique for having two backup singers (Jim Gilstrap and Lani Groves) sing the first two verses before Wonder takes the reigns. I first remember this song from an episode of the sitcom Taxi during which the estranged father of Reverend Jim Ignatowski (played by Christopher Lloyd) dies and leaves him a recording of "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" which ends the episode. I wish I could find a clip of it, but if you ever see it you won't forget it.
3. My Cherie Amour
This was the opening song and title track of his 1969 album although the song was first recorded in late 1967. Did you know Wonder also recorded versions of this song in both Italian and Spanish? Wonder's "la la la la la la la" can be appreciated in any language.
2. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
What happened to the world we knew? Wonder poses this question at the very beginning of the song and I'm sure he and the rest of humanity is asking this very question now. The string arrangements are exquisite. "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" was co-written by the tandem of Ron Miller and Bryan Wells who also co-wrote "A Place in The Sun" and "Someday at Christmas" while Miller wrote "Heaven Help Us All" and co-wrote "For Once in My Life" with Orlando Murden. Miller had the distinction of being Motown's only Jewish songwriter and did his best work with Wonder.
1. Village Ghetto Land/Contusion/Sir Duke
OK, these are three songs. But I've always associated them as a group as they close out side one of Wonder's landmark 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. "Village Ghetto Land" with Wonder on synthesizer represents a lament for the American inner city while the instrumental "Contusion" represents its chaos with "Sir Duke", Wonder's tribute to Duke Ellington, represents the joy of life in spite of it's surroundings of lament and chaos. This could be described as the wonder of music.
Let me know what you think. If there are other Stevie Wonder songs you like please pass them along. We need all the joy that can be found.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Let's Ask Trump Why America Leads The World in COVID-19 Cases & Deaths
President Trump held his first conference in two weeks on Monday and it served as a reminder of why he stopped holding them in the first place.
Trump's spin was that America is leading the world in COVID-19 testing. Not on a per capita basis, it isn't. That distinction belongs to Spain.
When CBS reporter Weija Jiang asked, “Why is this a global competition to you if every day Americans are still losing their lives and we are still seeing more cases every day?”, Trump replied, “Well, they are losing their lives everywhere in the world. Maybe that is a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me. Ask China that question. When you ask China that question you may get a very unusual answer.”
Jiang, who was born in China, asked, “Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically?” Trump replied, “I am not saying it specifically to anybody. I am saying it to anybody who would ask a nasty question like that.” Jiang retorted, "This is not a nasty question."
CNN's Kaitlan Collins, who Trump had called upon, attempted to ask the President a question, but was cut off by Trump who attempted to call upon someone else. When Collins pointed out that Trump had called upon her he bid a hasty retreat and abruptly ended the press conference.
Now I'm sure Trump supporters will boast that he owned the libs. But this is a matter of life and death. If Trump wants to boast that America leads the world in testing and that we have "prevailed" in this area then he opens the door to questions as to why America leads the world in both COVID-19 cases (nearly 1.35 million Americans) and deaths (more than 80,000). There was nothing nasty about Jiang's question, but his reply most certainly was.
If the Trump Administration can't handle COVID-19 within the White House then how can it handle COVID-19 in the rest of the country? This isn't to say the Chinese government doesn't have plenty for which to answer. It certainly does. But President Trump chose to call this press conference so the questions are going to be directed to him, not to Xi Jinping. Trump walking out of a press conference that he called does not inspire confidence much less the reassurance that we all so badly need.
Trump's spin was that America is leading the world in COVID-19 testing. Not on a per capita basis, it isn't. That distinction belongs to Spain.
When CBS reporter Weija Jiang asked, “Why is this a global competition to you if every day Americans are still losing their lives and we are still seeing more cases every day?”, Trump replied, “Well, they are losing their lives everywhere in the world. Maybe that is a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me. Ask China that question. When you ask China that question you may get a very unusual answer.”
Jiang, who was born in China, asked, “Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically?” Trump replied, “I am not saying it specifically to anybody. I am saying it to anybody who would ask a nasty question like that.” Jiang retorted, "This is not a nasty question."
CNN's Kaitlan Collins, who Trump had called upon, attempted to ask the President a question, but was cut off by Trump who attempted to call upon someone else. When Collins pointed out that Trump had called upon her he bid a hasty retreat and abruptly ended the press conference.
Now I'm sure Trump supporters will boast that he owned the libs. But this is a matter of life and death. If Trump wants to boast that America leads the world in testing and that we have "prevailed" in this area then he opens the door to questions as to why America leads the world in both COVID-19 cases (nearly 1.35 million Americans) and deaths (more than 80,000). There was nothing nasty about Jiang's question, but his reply most certainly was.
If the Trump Administration can't handle COVID-19 within the White House then how can it handle COVID-19 in the rest of the country? This isn't to say the Chinese government doesn't have plenty for which to answer. It certainly does. But President Trump chose to call this press conference so the questions are going to be directed to him, not to Xi Jinping. Trump walking out of a press conference that he called does not inspire confidence much less the reassurance that we all so badly need.
Pence's Reckless Disregard for Human Life Stems From Trump
It was bad enough when Vice-President Mike Pence was the only one not wearing a mask at the Mayo Clinic late last month.
But for Pence to go to Iowa on Friday unmasked and send someone to ask the people with whom he was meeting to remove their masks demonstrates a reckless disregard for human life especially in view of the fact that his Press Secretary Katie Miller tested positive for COVID-19 that very day and Pence's subsequent decision to self-quarantine.
If any of those business leaders who were asked (possibly ordered) to remove their masks get sick and possibly die because of it then how can Pence continue to lead the White House's response on COVID-19? Perhaps this and the Mayo Clinic fiasco will be all President Trump needs to replace Pence on the ticket.
Of course, this all begins and ends with Trump who is the worst of them all. He refuses to wear a mask as demonstrated when he toured the Honeywell facility in Arizona last week. Trump is effectively making a statement to those protesting stay at home restrictions that he stands behind them even though his Secret Service agents must now wear one and one of his valets who serves him his food has contracted COVID-19.
Trump and Pence are going to have a hard time convincing Americans their response to COVID-19 has been a success when they cannot keep it out of the White House.
But for Pence to go to Iowa on Friday unmasked and send someone to ask the people with whom he was meeting to remove their masks demonstrates a reckless disregard for human life especially in view of the fact that his Press Secretary Katie Miller tested positive for COVID-19 that very day and Pence's subsequent decision to self-quarantine.
If any of those business leaders who were asked (possibly ordered) to remove their masks get sick and possibly die because of it then how can Pence continue to lead the White House's response on COVID-19? Perhaps this and the Mayo Clinic fiasco will be all President Trump needs to replace Pence on the ticket.
Of course, this all begins and ends with Trump who is the worst of them all. He refuses to wear a mask as demonstrated when he toured the Honeywell facility in Arizona last week. Trump is effectively making a statement to those protesting stay at home restrictions that he stands behind them even though his Secret Service agents must now wear one and one of his valets who serves him his food has contracted COVID-19.
Trump and Pence are going to have a hard time convincing Americans their response to COVID-19 has been a success when they cannot keep it out of the White House.
Jerry Stiller, R.I.P.
Actor/comedian Jerry Stiller passed away this morning of natural causes at the age of 92. His passing was announced by his son actor/comedian Ben Stiller on Twitter.
The elder Stiller gained prominence during the 1960's as one half of the husband-wife comedic duo Stiller & Meara with frequent appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. However, when Sullivan retired in 1971, the duo largely faded into obscurity save for sporadic appearances on TV sitcoms and commercials.
Amazingly, Stiller would earn his greatest fame after the age of 65 in the role of Frank Constanza (father of George Constanza played by Jason Alexander) on Seinfeld. Frank Constanza is perhaps best remembered for his observation of Festivus (as in Festivus for the rest of us) and its airing of grievances. After Seinfeld ended in 1997, Stiller would be cast the Kevin James sitcom The King of Queens in the role of Arthur Spooner. Both Frank Constanza and Arthur Spooner were grumpy, irascible yet endearing old Jewish New Yorkers.
Stiller would also co-star with son Ben in several films including the two Zoolander movies. After more than two decades in the spotlight, Stiller retreated following the death of Anne Meara in 2015 after more than 60 years of marriage.
I leave you with Stiller introducing Rush during their 30th anniversary tour in 2004. Yes, Jerry Stiller and Rush together. R.I.P.
The elder Stiller gained prominence during the 1960's as one half of the husband-wife comedic duo Stiller & Meara with frequent appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. However, when Sullivan retired in 1971, the duo largely faded into obscurity save for sporadic appearances on TV sitcoms and commercials.
Amazingly, Stiller would earn his greatest fame after the age of 65 in the role of Frank Constanza (father of George Constanza played by Jason Alexander) on Seinfeld. Frank Constanza is perhaps best remembered for his observation of Festivus (as in Festivus for the rest of us) and its airing of grievances. After Seinfeld ended in 1997, Stiller would be cast the Kevin James sitcom The King of Queens in the role of Arthur Spooner. Both Frank Constanza and Arthur Spooner were grumpy, irascible yet endearing old Jewish New Yorkers.
Stiller would also co-star with son Ben in several films including the two Zoolander movies. After more than two decades in the spotlight, Stiller retreated following the death of Anne Meara in 2015 after more than 60 years of marriage.
I leave you with Stiller introducing Rush during their 30th anniversary tour in 2004. Yes, Jerry Stiller and Rush together. R.I.P.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Trump: 12,000 H1N1 Deaths Worse Than 80,000 COVID-19 Deaths (And Counting)
President Trump is trying to tell us 2+2=5 when he tweeted about the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic: this morning:
We are getting great marks for the handling of the CoronaVirus pandemic, especially the very early BAN of people from China, the infectious source, entering the USA. Compare that to the Obama/Sleepy Joe disaster known as H1N1 Swine Flu. Poor marks, bad polls - didn’t have a clue!
Perhaps Trump is getting great reviews from the Alex Joneses of the world or from his imaginary friends. His China travel ban applied only to foreign nationals and didn't stop the entry of 40,000 Americans and others authorized to enter the United States. Fat lot of good that did.
But since Trump insists we compare his response to COVID-19 to the Obama Administration's response to the H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic of 2009-2010, a response he considers a disaster, let us grant him his wish.
The H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic of 2009-2010 resulted in the deaths of 12,469 Americans.
As of this writing, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the deaths of 80,308 Americans (and counting).
Here is the key thing to remember when comparing H1N1 Swine Flu deaths and COVID-19 deaths in the United States. Those 12,469 deaths occurred within a year. These 80,308 deaths have occurred within three months.
Let me put it another way. COVID-19 has killed nearly 7 times as many Americans as the H1N1 Swine Flu did and did so in a quarter of the time.
Mind you I was not a fan of the Obama Administration (and still am not) and I was in my early days as a contributor to The American Spectator at the time of the H1N1 Swine Flu. There were plenty of complaints circa about the Obama Administration circa 2009-2010 where it regarded the Stimulus Bill, Obamacare and his Middle East apology tour and not without justification. But I can also tell you there was little, if any complaint regarding the Obama Administration's response to the H1N1 pandemic from The American Spectator or conservative media outlets at large. As for Donald Trump, he was more concerned about Obama's birth certificate than what he and Joe Biden were doing about Swine Flu nor do I recall Trump lifting a finger to help those affected by Swine Flu. That and the Obama Administration left Trump and company with a pandemic playbook which gathered dust on the proverbial shelf.
The bottom line is if President Trump wants to compare his response to COVID-19 to Obama and Biden's response to H1N1 Swine Flu then he is playing a losing hand. In which case, Trump would be wise to fold. But wisdom is not a quality with which I associate with President Trump. So by all means let him continue to compare his response with Obama and Biden's as the COVID-19 death toll in America will soon reach six figures.
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