So, the Fake King gloats that he banned travelers from China on 31 January and then he shuts down the economy on 1 March. Inquiring minds want to know, though, what he did during the 29 days of February.
So, the Fake King gloats that he banned travelers from China on 31 January . . .
Depends on how you define "banned travelers from China". U.S. citizens and certain foreign nationals were still permitted to travel to China and return to the U.S. under Trump's "ban", which only makes sense if you think SARS-CoV-2 can be repelled by a valid U.S. passport.
Looking at the terrible situation in New York State, I think the tracers have discovered that those who brought the virus into New York came from Europe. Not sure about the timing but it may well have been before the partial ban on travellers from Europe.
The China ban is a fig leaf Trump uses to try and cover his nakedness - and it fails to do that. Sorry if you require brain bleach after the metaphor.
Looking at the terrible situation in New York State, I think the tracers have discovered that those who brought the virus into New York came from Europe.
Given the number of New Yorkers with Italian heritage and ongoing ties to their ancestral land this is unsurprising. Italy was Europe's COVID-19 hotspot at the time.
Not sure about the timing but it may well have been before the partial ban on travellers from Europe.
Trump announced the European partial travel ban on March 11. At that point there were already 216 known COVID-19 cases in New York state, meaning that there were probably 5-10 times that number of undetected infections given the paucity of U.S. testing at that point. I think the metaphor about horses and barn doors applies.
Looking at the terrible situation in New York State, I think the tracers have discovered that those who brought the virus into New York came from Europe.
Given the number of New Yorkers with Italian heritage and ongoing ties to their ancestral land this is unsurprising. Italy was Europe's COVID-19 hotspot at the time.
Not sure about the timing but it may well have been before the partial ban on travellers from Europe.
Trump announced the European partial travel ban on March 11. At that point there were already 216 known COVID-19 cases in New York state, meaning that there were probably 5-10 times that number of undetected infections given the paucity of U.S. testing at that point. I think the metaphor about horses and barn doors applies.
And when he announced the ban against Europe, I asked my wife weren't the horses already out of that barn?
The Fake King continues to brag about shutting down travel from China. Yes, we know that did not happen.
Thanks again, Croesos. I guess his fig leaf got caught in the closing barn door.
But seriously, folks, I really don't understand how such lame excuses get accepted so uncritically by the loyalists. It's such obvious BS.
I'm old enough to remember Goldwater sawing off the Eastern Seaboard. Is there some residual animus in middle America towards New York which might lead to a kind of 'thats NY, we're different'?
By "middle America", do you mean folks in the middle of the country, middle class folks, or...
IME, Americans often have Ideas about places in America they've never been, and mixed feelings about them. E.g. California: Hollywood (good, bad, and salacious); Disneyland; LGBTQ; the rich and famous; cults; tech central; quakes and fires; "As California goes, so goes the nation", etc. And a long-running (fear, expectation, hope) that California will break off in an earthquake and fall into the sea.
New York--particularly New York City--gets its own dose of that.
I'd thought of the comparison, though mostly in the sense of "would it be too cruel to put him to sea in a wooden lifeboat". But it makes sense that he sees himself that way. Strongman leader, etc.
The level of political violence in the USA well justifies the steps it takes to protect its leaders. Lets not forget that it is not just sitting politicians who are murdered for political reasons. It is one of the tragedies of the place.
I think I'm right in saying only one MP has been murdered in the UK, and no PMs. Has anyone ever thought about changing the gun laws in the States?
Oh God can you people PLEASE stop asking this question? Like it never occurred to anybody over here, "Hey, let's just change our gun laws!" Just stuff it.
And the same re any more comments dissing the US, if you (gen.) don't dis your own country first. That rankles enough in regular circumstances...but when we're all trying to get through facets of the same problem, all over the *world*, it's inappropriate *at best* to chow down on a country for the sake of chowing down on it.
I just have the hunch that the odds are lengthening at last ... only a faint hope, but Wisconsin's dropkick of Karofsky into their Supreme Court surely suggests one or two are seeing past the Orange Git and his sycophantic GOP's corruptions?
He's the incumbent. And he's the incumbent in a crisis, and if anybody is capable of spinning any outcome as a personal victory in defiance of the evidence, it's him.
Re Mutiny: Dear God, can someone explain to Trump what a federation is?
It's bad enough he doesn't understand separation of powers and that Congress and judges don't work for him. Now we have to explain that State Governors don't work for him either.
I just have the hunch that the odds are lengthening at last ... only a faint hope, but Wisconsin's dropkick of Karofsky into their Supreme Court surely suggests one or two are seeing past the Orange Git and his sycophantic GOP's corruptions?
That's the concept I was working with. The late Alistair Cooke, whose keenly observed but affectionate Letters from America were much admired here in the UK, used the term as a part of one of his general themes. Which was that the United States should never be regarded as a monolith, but rather as a very diverse federation. So it seemed to me that the diversity might be very much in play at this time.
Perhaps worth adding that I share Alistair Cooke's affection and fascination? When it comes to the USA I am always a well-wisher.
Apologies to my American Shipmates. My comment about guns was meant to raise a smile. Clearly I got that wrong. I stuffed up.
We all make mistakes. It's just that those of us who would like to see a change don't think of it as something that merits a smile. Profuse crying is more like it.
That's the concept I was working with. The late Alistair Cooke, whose keenly observed but affectionate Letters from America were much admired here in the UK, used the term as a part of one of his general themes. Which was that the United States should never be regarded as a monolith, but rather as a very diverse federation. So it seemed to me that the diversity might be very much in play at this time.
Perhaps worth adding that I share Alistair Cooke's affection and fascination? When it comes to the USA I am always a well-wisher.
Me too, very much so.
I have visited many states in the US - my husband has visited them all!
I listened to Letter from America for years, from being a child - because my Dad used to tune in. All my criticism is for tRump, the NRA and their supporters. Never US bashing, we considered moving there a few years ago.
If anything, many of us on this side of the Pond have a deep sympathy for the suffering of Sensible Americans™ under the misrule of Trump, the right-wing 'Christian'* elements, the NRA, etc. etc.
(*I wonder if they should be referred to as 'Xian', as they don't seem to really relate to the 'Christ' of the Gospels... )
I used to like listening to Alistair Cooke. The only letter from America I can recall concerned someone demolishing a beautiful New York building (Art Deco?) in order to put up a ghastly tower with his name on it. I did not expect to hear much about the Philistine concerned again, but did wonder wht had happened to him occasionally. I wish I was still in that state.
They'll have to print super-sized cheques! Whenever I seem him signing something he makes his signature SO BIG. I always think of the self-satisfaction as though he's a toddler getting off the potty and saying "look, Donny did a BIG poo!"
I thought for a moment that the news meant he was going personally to sign all the checks implying they came from his own account - how generous of the USA's apparently bigliest billionaire!
It was a wonderful thought.... but the article implies that it's just his name that will appear on each check. Ah well...
It'll be something he can boast about come November.
In contrast, I'm fairly sure that Sir Stafford Cripps would not permit the second postwar election to be held close to the (highly popular) founding of the NHS, since that to him represented electoral bribery by the party - his party - in power.
I thought for a moment that the news meant he was going personally to sign all the checks implying they came from his own account - how generous of the USA's apparently bigliest billionaire!
That's what he wanted, but the President is not an authorized signatory for US treasury disbursements, so he's having to have his signature put in a special spot.
I thought for a moment that the news meant he was going personally to sign all the checks implying they came from his own account - how generous of the USA's apparently bigliest billionaire!
That's what he wanted, but the President is not an authorized signatory for US treasury disbursements, so he's having to have his signature put in a special spot.
It is on the memo line of the check. But I would much rather he had stuffed it in another special spot on his own person--just saying.
Because we are retired on Social Security our check will be direct deposit so I will not have to look at his name on a check. Graven Image who gets pleasure from the little things in life these days.
I am deeply and passionately in love with the United States as an outsider looking in. That probably means that I am in love with a collection of aspects of the country, its culture and those who live there. My personal and unconscious stress on those aspects allows me to hope that one day, in some way, it will live up to its in my view clear potential to be a force for moral good in the world. By moral good, I naturally mean MY version of moral goodness.
I am uncomfortably aware of the similarities between my vision and the American neo-conservative views on international affairs popular in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. But I can't/refuse to help that, because my feeling towards the United States really is deeply and passionately embedded. Every aspect of my life from boyhood prepared me to love the USA and to wish the very best for it and its people. But MY version of the very best, I hasten to add.
One thing I would really like to do is to get to know some African American people up close and personally. I would like to know all about their lives. I'd like to live with some for a few years and really understand those people, as a bridge to understanding people in more casual encounters. Too many of my interactions have been with white or latino people, proportionally speaking. I never got close to any black kid when I was there at high school.
Now that 45 has threatened to open up the country on his own authority (nowhere granted in the Constitution) and then backed down, to say nothing about adjourning the Congress (the Constitution does allow it but only if Congress is deadlocked) and has seemingly blinked on this, he comes out with a Opening up America Again document.
It is notable that nowhere in the document is there any provision for general testing. It seems to be written in such a way that it sets up the states for failure. If the provisions are followed and the virus has a resurgence in a state that is following the guidelines, 45 can come back and say, "You can't blame me."
That is his continued M.O. Blame China; blame Obama; blame W.H.O.; blame Congress; blame the states. Anyone but him.
It's a time honoured version of the three letter advice to an new head teacher from the one leaving office, in handling crisis.
First letter says - blame it on your predecessor
Second letter says - blame it on the governors
Third letter says - write three letters for your successor.
It's a time honoured version of the three letter advice to an new head teacher from the one leaving office, in handling crisis.
First letter says - blame it on your predecessor
Second letter says - blame it on the governors
Third letter says - write three letters for your successor.
It has been the custom for the outgoing president to leave a letter for the new incoming one. They are not usually shared with the public. I can not imagine what Trumps will be, that is if he would even write one. God willing he will be given the opportunity come November.
It's a time honoured version of the three letter advice to an new head teacher from the one leaving office, in handling crisis.
First letter says - blame it on your predecessor
Second letter says - blame it on the governors
Third letter says - write three letters for your successor.
It has been the custom for the outgoing president to leave a letter for the new incoming one. They are not usually shared with the public. I can not imagine what Trumps will be, that is if he would even write one. God willing he will be given the opportunity come November.
I SO much wish his successor would publish it. Bad Lamb, bad...
I thought that Clinton(?) has made some reference to the letter left him by GHWB - not publishing it, but referring to it, and in very positive terms... Or was it about their handover conversation.... Or am I hallucinating again?
--PG: I think there was something like that, but I'm not sure which presidents. Might have been who you said.
--LC: LOL, and yes, that would be great. Have you seen the "National Treasure" movies? One of them involves the "Book of the Presidents", in which each president writes to their successor. I've sometimes wondered if there's a real version, and what it might say.
I thought that Clinton(?) has made some reference to the letter left him by GHWB - not publishing it, but referring to it, and in very positive terms... Or was it about their handover conversation.... Or am I hallucinating again?
I think Trump said something like "He sent me a very nice letter."
Comments
Depends on how you define "banned travelers from China". U.S. citizens and certain foreign nationals were still permitted to travel to China and return to the U.S. under Trump's "ban", which only makes sense if you think SARS-CoV-2 can be repelled by a valid U.S. passport.
The China ban is a fig leaf Trump uses to try and cover his nakedness - and it fails to do that. Sorry if you require brain bleach after the metaphor.
Given the number of New Yorkers with Italian heritage and ongoing ties to their ancestral land this is unsurprising. Italy was Europe's COVID-19 hotspot at the time.
Trump announced the European partial travel ban on March 11. At that point there were already 216 known COVID-19 cases in New York state, meaning that there were probably 5-10 times that number of undetected infections given the paucity of U.S. testing at that point. I think the metaphor about horses and barn doors applies.
And when he announced the ban against Europe, I asked my wife weren't the horses already out of that barn?
The Fake King continues to brag about shutting down travel from China. Yes, we know that did not happen.
But seriously, folks, I really don't understand how such lame excuses get accepted so uncritically by the loyalists. It's such obvious BS.
I'm old enough to remember Goldwater sawing off the Eastern Seaboard. Is there some residual animus in middle America towards New York which might lead to a kind of 'thats NY, we're different'?
Re animus towards New York:
By "middle America", do you mean folks in the middle of the country, middle class folks, or...
IME, Americans often have Ideas about places in America they've never been, and mixed feelings about them. E.g. California: Hollywood (good, bad, and salacious); Disneyland; LGBTQ; the rich and famous; cults; tech central; quakes and fires; "As California goes, so goes the nation", etc. And a long-running (fear, expectation, hope) that California will break off in an earthquake and fall into the sea.
New York--particularly New York City--gets its own dose of that.
"Trump Compares Himself to ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ Movie Villain Captain Bligh: AFI placed character played by Charles Laughton and Trevor Howard as No. 19 movie villain, just behind the shark from 'Jaws'" (The Wrap).
I'd thought of the comparison, though mostly in the sense of "would it be too cruel to put him to sea in a wooden lifeboat". But it makes sense that he sees himself that way. Strongman leader, etc.
Oh God can you people PLEASE stop asking this question? Like it never occurred to anybody over here, "Hey, let's just change our gun laws!" Just stuff it.
What mt said.
And the same re any more comments dissing the US, if you (gen.) don't dis your own country first. That rankles enough in regular circumstances...but when we're all trying to get through facets of the same problem, all over the *world*, it's inappropriate *at best* to chow down on a country for the sake of chowing down on it.
I just have the hunch that the odds are lengthening at last ... only a faint hope, but Wisconsin's dropkick of Karofsky into their Supreme Court surely suggests one or two are seeing past the Orange Git and his sycophantic GOP's corruptions?
It's bad enough he doesn't understand separation of powers and that Congress and judges don't work for him. Now we have to explain that State Governors don't work for him either.
The man believes he's the CEO of USA, Inc.
As always, it’s the hope that springs eternal ...
Golden Key
That's the concept I was working with. The late Alistair Cooke, whose keenly observed but affectionate Letters from America were much admired here in the UK, used the term as a part of one of his general themes. Which was that the United States should never be regarded as a monolith, but rather as a very diverse federation. So it seemed to me that the diversity might be very much in play at this time.
Perhaps worth adding that I share Alistair Cooke's affection and fascination? When it comes to the USA I am always a well-wisher.
Satirist Andy Borowitz had the caption "Governors Ignore Trump’s Demand To Accept Him As Their Personal Savior".
We all make mistakes. It's just that those of us who would like to see a change don't think of it as something that merits a smile. Profuse crying is more like it.
Me too, very much so.
I have visited many states in the US - my husband has visited them all!
I listened to Letter from America for years, from being a child - because my Dad used to tune in. All my criticism is for tRump, the NRA and their supporters. Never US bashing, we considered moving there a few years ago.
(*I wonder if they should be referred to as 'Xian', as they don't seem to really relate to the 'Christ' of the Gospels...
They'll have to print super-sized cheques! Whenever I seem him signing something he makes his signature SO BIG. I always think of the self-satisfaction as though he's a toddler getting off the potty and saying "look, Donny did a BIG poo!"
I thought for a moment that the news meant he was going personally to sign all the checks implying they came from his own account - how generous of the USA's apparently bigliest billionaire!
It was a wonderful thought.... but the article implies that it's just his name that will appear on each check. Ah well...
It'll be something he can boast about come November.
If he lives that long, of course.
What a piece of shit.
In contrast, I'm fairly sure that Sir Stafford Cripps would not permit the second postwar election to be held close to the (highly popular) founding of the NHS, since that to him represented electoral bribery by the party - his party - in power.
Oh yes - Integrity...
That's what he wanted, but the President is not an authorized signatory for US treasury disbursements, so he's having to have his signature put in a special spot.
It is on the memo line of the check. But I would much rather he had stuffed it in another special spot on his own person--just saying.
I am uncomfortably aware of the similarities between my vision and the American neo-conservative views on international affairs popular in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. But I can't/refuse to help that, because my feeling towards the United States really is deeply and passionately embedded. Every aspect of my life from boyhood prepared me to love the USA and to wish the very best for it and its people. But MY version of the very best, I hasten to add.
One thing I would really like to do is to get to know some African American people up close and personally. I would like to know all about their lives. I'd like to live with some for a few years and really understand those people, as a bridge to understanding people in more casual encounters. Too many of my interactions have been with white or latino people, proportionally speaking. I never got close to any black kid when I was there at high school.
It is notable that nowhere in the document is there any provision for general testing. It seems to be written in such a way that it sets up the states for failure. If the provisions are followed and the virus has a resurgence in a state that is following the guidelines, 45 can come back and say, "You can't blame me."
That is his continued M.O. Blame China; blame Obama; blame W.H.O.; blame Congress; blame the states. Anyone but him.
First letter says - blame it on your predecessor
Second letter says - blame it on the governors
Third letter says - write three letters for your successor.
I SO much wish his successor would publish it. Bad Lamb, bad...
Still, I suppose one of his toadies or lickspittles would have to write the letter on his behalf.
And maybe he'll leave the order-out menus from McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken in the desk drawer.
From the Guardian
Whatever it is, someone does not have the governors' backs.
Though if someone were to put a sedative in Trump's Coca-Cola, it might help...
--PG: I think there was something like that, but I'm not sure which presidents. Might have been who you said.
--LC: LOL, and yes, that would be great. Have you seen the "National Treasure" movies? One of them involves the "Book of the Presidents", in which each president writes to their successor. I've sometimes wondered if there's a real version, and what it might say.
Adderall is the rumour. Please note that the Wall Street Rebel is not a website of record.
I think Trump said something like "He sent me a very nice letter."