DL Open Thread: Fri., March 27, 2020
Carney Caves To Gun Nuts. I mean, what’s more essential than hoarding guns during a pandemic? You can’t get a stockpile of books, but you can get a stockpile of weapons. Craven Carney caved, pure and simple. John, I’d like to be able to make an appointment to buy some books. (I would, actually). Can you do something about it? Guns yes, books no? I have a question. Every time there is any sort of perceived crisis, gun sales soar. At what point do the gun nuts have enough guns?
Everything Falls Apart, Ctd. The US blows past every other country in terms of coronavirus cases. 85,996 cases, 1300 deaths. I hate to say it, but the deaths are a lagging indicator. Trump says, I’m not making this up, that this reflects the great job they’re doing on testing, which is not true. Trump’s refusal to invoke Defense Production Act leads to ‘“a sort of an ad hoc mobilization based on volunteerism’. Very little help on ventilators as Feds totally screw up:
As the United States became the global epicenter of the pandemic, state and local leaders urged President Trump to take more aggressive steps to mobilize the production of critically needed supplies. Instead, the White House suddenly called off an announcement about a venture to produce as many as 80,000 ventilators, out of concern that the estimated $1 billion price tag would be prohibitive.
$1 billion. Kinda seems like chump change when contrasted with this bailout package.
To me, the overriding issue among a multitude of issues is the wilful failure of Trump to make the Federal government the QB of this crisis. Instead, we have all the states fighting with each other and the federal government for finite resources.
One Rethug Rep. Causes Rush Back To Washington For Stimulus Vote. His name? Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Which is likely the last time I will mention his name here.
Boris Johnson Tests Positive For Coronavirus. Many of the key world leaders are in self-quarantine. Biden is in some form of self-exile (am I the only one experiencing buyers’ remorse, I mean, seriously, what’s up with him?). Meaning we’re stuck with all Trump all the time. The rubes are buying it as his poll #’s rise with each TV appearance.
China Offers Help To Trump. Think Trump will call it the ‘Beijing Bailout’? Didn’t think so.
State Program To Provide Assistance For Rent, Living Expenses. At least it’s something. For now.
What do you want to talk about?
Come to think of it, let the gun nuts buy their ammo. They’ll die dirty while the rest of us can spend our money on TP and hand sanitizer.
Gun nuts, I know a few. They are all little guys. 5’2″ and hung like a pimple? AR-15’s to the rescue. Are they preparing for the final confrontation with the gub-mint? For the most part no. Can any force on earth take their precious guns, they always talk a mean fight and vow to fight unto the death, have yet to see it. (Bummer!) But I say let the fools waste their money on guns and ten thousand rounds of ammo, I could care less. The next gun slaughter is always coming in America, and damned if we don’t deserve it.
There was an asshole in Missouri who went down guns blazing yesterday.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/26/hospital-bomb-attack-man-killed-fbi-agents-missouri
Biden’s first job is to stay alive.
BTW, what happens if a president-elect becomes incapacitated? One might think the VP-elect would become President, but I don’t recall that in the Constitution.
Oh, shit. In that scenario, Trump says “I ain’t leavin’ until my Supreme Court figures it out.”
I checked – the Constitution says the VP-elect becomes president.
Agree wholeheartedly about the books vs. guns issue, but with all the Second Amendment screamers – and the lawsuits sure to ensue – it seems a reasonable compromise to make potential gun buyers make an appointment, as Gov. Wolf did in Pa. At least they have to think twice about it, and then go face-to-face with a clerk who’s going to push them into buying the most expensive option. (As Bamboozer says, let ’em waste their money.)
Besides, at least a couple of days ago the shops were out of ammo for the most common pistols and for AK-47s and AR 15s. A pistol without ammo makes an inefficient club and you’ll break your $750 AR 15 if you hit something with it. You could hurt somebody with the wooden stock of an AK-47, but you have to get in close, which isn’t what these Chuck Norris wannabes buy them for.
OK, so gunshops stay open as a sop to the Second Amendment Militiamen.
Wondering about liquor stores? Our gov provides the answer:
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/coronavirus-in-delaware/2020/03/27/why-liquor-stores-essential-gov-carney-provides-answer-delaware-coronavirus/2925657001/
If the concern here is about withdrawal symptoms, how about amending the exec order so sales are limited to alcoholics?
The fact that they passed the stimulus ,giving $600 dollars on top of state unemployment benefits, is absurd . That’s like $930 a week if you live in Delaware.
“Biden’s first job is to stay alive.”
Jeez. Talk about setting the bar low for Dem candidates.
Prince Charles AND BoJo have the virus. Let’s just call it sub-optimal to have your current, future, or potential head of state down with this virus. It weakens the government and slows the ability to respond to crisis.
Of course, #OrangeFace doesn’t need to be ill to make that happen. It’s the natural result of his incompetence.
WDEL On Life Support. Veteran staffers, including Allan Loudell, laid off:
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2020/03/27/wdel-lays-off-staff-advertising-dwindles-shops-closed-pandemic/2927387001/
That’s crazy. Is the business really that hand to mouth, of is this crisis a handy pretext?
A Delaware news scene w/o Allan Loudell is impossible to fathom. We have been so fortunate to have his unique presence in our lives. I hope he lands on his feet. There’s no one else like him.
Allen will no doubt land on his feet. Would be a great fit for public radio, either WDDE or WHYY, but both those operations are quite lean. Hate to see him leave Delaware … with all the other hits our print and broadcast media have taken, it’s chilling to see him being axed. And Robin Bryson, while not has high profile, has been a reliable voice for many years. I have a feeling that Forever Media will regret this move … forever!
Laying off Allan Loudell (one of the only true newscasters in Delaware) while keeping that Fox-focused, Hannity and Ingraham inspired conservative misinformation spewing over the airwaves has doomed WDEL to that garbage heap of propragandist grifters that are unlistenable.
I’m talking about the noon to four Jensen regurgitation of non-facts and conservative Trumpian trash that is served. Layoff Loudell and pollute the airways with that right wing hackery. No other options in Delaware for normal thinkers who don’t fall for the “orange peel” and his “moonie-like” followers. This president is directly responsible for sabotaging any chance this country has of slowing the virus. Everything this nut says and does is focused on his self-aggrandizing, greedy message of hate spewing blaming and if you can’t see that then Lord help you.
Apparently WDEL has chosen the path of dysfunctional reporting of rabid dogs baying at the moon and to hell with Delawareans right to know any truths.
Yeah, but they will still make $930 a week.
I don’t think you are seeing the clear picture here. The government is giving money to the “workers” so that the worker can give it to the monied class, ya know land lords and the other job creators. Its a con, slight of hand, whatever you want to call it. But a lot of peeps just don’t see it.
Now they could put a moratorium on loan payments and rents, evictions, etc. and such. Pass out alot more SNAP benefits for example, but that would do the opposite of above.
It really has nothing to do with paying a laid off book store worker $930/week…the rich gotta get paid.
I have somewhat of a “clear picture” of the action taken by the government or I wouldn’t have been pretty sure that they were going to take this action, before they even took it. I feel bad for the people who have to work through this whole thing ,and still collect way less than $930 per week.. but hey, what are you going to do.
RSE says:
March 16, 2020 at 3:53 pm
I’m guessing there will be some sort of limited temporary universal basic income plan associated with the pandemic, and once the crisis is over, I wonder if it will be difficult to end the program. Maybe they won’t even want to end it.
Let me see if I can explain this to you so you understand. Nobody would except a bailout of the Kushner family apartment business, right? But if we can give the paycheck to paycheck “worker” money that he can give to Kushener so Kushner’s family doesn’t suffer then all is well with the world. Kushner collects 100’s of thousands or more of the $930 checks. Makes sense, right? The guy getting the $930 week breaks even but the monied class well now there is where all the money is going.