DL Open Thread: Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Trump Hotel Seeks Breaks From Trump Administration. You gotta love this ‘just treat us like everybody else’ bleat from Eric Trump. The only reason that hotel was ever a cash cow is b/c Trump is President and expects everybody to stay there, or he’ll screw them. This article perfectly illustrates the hazards associated with deep-sixing the Emoluments Clause. It’s not just the Feds. It’s Trump’s favorite money-laundering financial institution Deutsche Bank as well from whom he’s seeking relief.
Yes, Russia Helped Trump In 2016. According to the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee. Approved unanimously by a committee that includes Tom Cotton and John Cornyn.
The Latest Trump Villain: Harvard. Never mind the facts, the meme is what’s important. The money, which is going to a shitload of schools, is to provide financial aid to needy students.
Everything Falls Apart, Ctd. Global. US. The latest carnage: 825,306 confirmed cases, and 45,075 deaths in the US.
Stoopid Rethuglican Coronavirus Tricks. Missouri AG sues, wait for it, China. Georgia governor faces withering criticism for ‘reopening’ state. The order is even more hazardous than you might think:
Kemp, in his remarks Monday, stressed that his directive overrides local orders, saying, “Local action cannot be taken that is more or less restrictive.”
Even noted Trump proctologist Lindsey Graham expresses ‘concern’ that Georgia is opening too soon. Of course, that’s b/c Georgia is South Carolina’s neighbor. Otherwise, he’d have no objections.
BTW, here’s one very plausible reason why Gov. Kemp is doing this:
If there’s no state order calling for businesses to be closed, the people who are unemployed can no longer claim that their unemployment is involuntary, even if it would be utter idiocy for them to return to work. A hairdresser or a massage therapist cannot maintain social distance. But they can certainly file for relief … unless the law says they can work.
“Gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians, their respective schools & massage therapists.”
Not banks. Not software firms. Not factories. Not schools.
It is no coincidence that the businesses on this list are staffed by relatively poor people. Because that’s who he wants off the unemployment rolls. And if they die … well, they’re mostly black people, or Asian, and poor, and an acceptable political loss for a Republican governor.
Senior Citizens No Longer Support Trump’s Handling Of Coronavirus Crisis. Among other things he oozes, Ol’ Joe oozes empathy. If he just breaks even with seniors, Trump gets crushed in a landslide.
The Rethug Deep-Pockets Donors Behind The ‘Spontaneous’ Anti-Lockdown Movement.
Sussex County Hot Spots Spark Concern. As you might suspect, poultry workers are especially at risk. You know, Latinos.
Claire Dematteis Opposes Greater Protections For Prisoners. Read her gobbledygook about prisoners drinking alcohol from hand sanitizer. This will not end well. What a shock-a bureaucrat with no empathy. Business as usual in Delaware.
What do you want to talk about?
Harvard has an endowment of $40 billion. Let them provide aid to needy students out of that.
I don’t disagree with you. However, this funding goes to a lot of schools with healthy endowments who presumably could do this on their own. For example, most other Ivies are getting similar funding.
But nothing defines anti-elitist more than going after Harvard.
My only point being that this is a meme masquerading as populism.
Geezers catching on to Trump? Shocking! Well, when you have assorted pundits and a few really stupid politicians saying we should sacrifice the old for “The greater good” it tends to get some attention. I was astounded that the fools actually said and published these statements. Hope it’s true and said geezers do not go gently into the cold dark night that is Trump, however will believe it when I see it.
I’ve sent the following inquiry to DHSS, DPH and Governor Carney and expect a reply shortly.
In dealing with the potential explosion of COVID19 cases in the rural Sussex County area I have some legitimate and serious concerns and questions to be considered and answered.
Are DHSS and other agencies currently mandating and providing explicit protective equipment and policies for all of the chicken processing workers? (Arguably no or at best inconsistently and haphazardly.)
Most of these workers are not literate in the English language.
Most of these families have little to no medical insurance
Most of these families live in fear of over exuberant immigration laws and authorities
Most of these workers and their families live in claustrophobic conditions.
Most of these jobs require close contact.
Some of these businesses have decided to conceal specifics of exposure and positive tests that would allow workers to self-protect.
Do we have sufficient ICU equipped hospital beds to handle a potential outbreak in Sussex, since at least one hospital has had to shift patients to other hospitals because of insufficient bed availability.
Are we tracking and notifying medical providers of possible positive exposures to themselves, their patients, co-workers or families?
These workers should have been issued masks as soon as the pandemic hit, same for prisoners in Delawares correctional system. How typical is it that they were not.
Monster Commissioner Claire may have blood on her hands yet as 20 new cases were reported today and also that she has reversed her cruel decision from a week ago to now allow masks for prisoners.
Delaware Department of Correction announce 20 new COVID-19 cases among inmates at 2 facilities
DOC expands COVID-19 precautions, including masks, after advocates criticize response