On Wednesday morning, Republicans are in the second day of a full-on blitz attempting to sell the idea that hydroxychloroquine is effective as a treatment against COVID-19. That effort comes in the form of not just statements from Donald Trump, but supporting tweets and emails from Republican candidates and a full-court press from Fox News. . . . [read on]
Gohmert Says He Will Take Hydroxychloroquine For COVID-19, Flouting FDA Warning
It's a crime
The president’s campaign has aired 63,000 ads about crime and zero ads about coronavirus this month.
Every recent administration has had a pandemic plan. Obama shared his with Trump. Now, when we need it, we have no plan
“Six months into the pandemic, the United States continues to suffer the worst outbreak of COVID-19 in the developed world. Considerable blame belongs to a federal response that offloaded responsibility for the crucial task of testing to the states. The irony is that, after assembling the team that came up with an aggressive and ambitious national testing plan, Kushner then appears to have decided, for reasons that remain murky, to scrap its proposal.” The plan, according to one participant, “just went poof into thin air.”
Dr. Fauci tried to warn Trump about a global outbreak before he took office
For safety, wear a mask, face shield . . . and ear plugs
Misinformation On COVID Is Proving To Be Highly Contagious
Maybe this will get some people's attention
Herman Cain dies from coronavirus
Herman Cain's last public appearance was appearing at Trump's Tulsa rally without a mask. He posted an anti-mask tweet the day before that has since been deleted. . . .
We are at war with Russia. And our president is on the wrong side
Disastrous economic news for Trump (and for all of us)
GDP Plunged In Second Quarter
Oregon's governor announces a deal to pull Federal forces out of Portland -- then Trump blows it all up because he isn't finished punishing Dems enough
Brown said in a statement on Wednesday that she reached an agreement for federal agents to begin a phased withdrawal on Thursday from Portland after discussions with Trump administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence. . . . “She must clear out, and in some cases arrest, the Anarchists & Agitators in Portland,” Trump tweeted of Brown. “If she can’t do it, the Federal Government will do it for her. We will not be leaving until there is safety!”
Trump's not-so-subtle appeal to suburban racial fears
In investigation news . . .
The full DC appeal court will rehear the case to drop the charges against Michael Flynn
In other news . . .
With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???
No, Trump can’t delay the election
“Those are the incoherent, conspiracy theory ramblings of a lost candidate who is out of touch with reality.”
— Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh, on ABC News on April 23, after Joe Biden warned that President Trump would try to delay the election.
Here's why he'd like to delay it
The best antidote to hot takes is hard data, and the latest Daily Kos/Civiqs poll is here with your cure. This survey of 1,513 adults was conducted online from July 26-29 and reveals that 53% of Americans not only oppose Donald Trump, but they see almost nothing that could change their minds. Of the 42% of Americans who support Trump, just 34% say there’s nothing that could shake their support, and 8% say they are still open to changing their minds. . . .
Battleground Polling Roundup
“The once rock-solid grip that the president had on his party seems to be slipping. Talking with pollsters and strategists from both sides this week, it’s clear that Trump is suffering not just with Democrats and independents but also with GOP voters. They tell us of polling that shows Trump underwater in districts he carried easily in 2016. . . . One GOP strategist told me that even in heavily Republican districts, Trump’s job approval rating among Republicans has dropped 10-20 points.”
"Are you better off?"
Donald Trump’s critics dismissed his idea of delaying the 2020 election as nothing more than a distraction ― and then pointed out what the president was likely trying to hide with the stunt. . .
How the Repubs respond -- a range of reactions
Vulnerable Senate Republicans up for reelection were quick to dodge questions about Donald Trump's Thursday morning suggestion that perhaps the country should "[d]elay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???" . . .
Top Republicans offered a rare rebuke of President Trump, condemning his suggestion that the Nov. 3 general election be delayed . . .
House Republicans strongly pushing back on the idea that Election Day could be delayed . . .
Senate Republicans, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of the White House, are dismissing President Trump’s suggestion Thursday to delay the November elections . . .
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) told CNN that President Trump’s tweet about delaying the election was a joke “so all you guys in the press, your heads will explode and you’ll write about it.” . . .
President Trump’s “delay the election” tweet is now pinned to the top of his account, which as Dave Weigel notes, “is typically what you do if you’re just joking to get a rise out of reporters and don’t mean it.”
Then there's Fox World
So how did Varney react on his show? Mostly by repeatedly noting the adverse effect he believed the tweet was having on the stock market while at the same time defending the idea and even pushing Republican officials and lawmakers to endorse it.
Fox News politics editor Chris Stirewalt lashed out at President Donald Trump floating the idea of delaying the election on Thursday, saying it is a “flagrant expression of his current weakness” and reveals the president’s “weak position” for re-election.
Co-founder of the ultra-conservative Federalist Society calls for Trump's impeachment over his call for delaying the election
Nancy does it again!
Pelosi responds to Trump floating election delay by quoting from Constitution
Delay The Election? Say Hi To President Nancy Pelosi
In the end, I think Trump's tweet isn't about really delaying the election -- it's about declaring an emergency that the election will be illegitimate. He didn't LOSE, the election was STOLEN from him
“Trump fears this election not simply because the general public seems to want him to lose but because a loss of the powers and asserted immunities associated with the presidency may ultimately cost him his freedom in the long run.” “A post-Trump era might indeed be rife with serious legal threats not just to Trump but to Barr and many close to them. Therefore, they will do whatever it takes to win.”
‘Rigged election’ goes from Trump complaint to campaign strategy
Trump defends his "delay" tweet. Notice that his argument has shifted from "mail-in voting is an opportunity for massive fraud" to "it will take too log to count the votes." But if the first were true, why would the second matter?
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-mail-in-voting-election-delay_n_5f234e05c5b6a34284b8869a
"Must know Election results on the night of the Election, not days, months, or even years later!"
[NB: So I take this as a promise from Trump not to sue or file for a recount of voting results. Thanks, Don!]
Obama gives two speeches, one on John Lewis, one on Trump
President Obama delivers both a touching eulogy and the most important political speech of the year
"You know, this country is a constant work in progress. We’re born with instructions: to form a more perfect union. Explicit in those words is the idea that we’re imperfect. That what gives each new generation purpose is to take up the unfinished work of the last and carry it further than any might have thought possible. John Lewis, first of the Freedom Riders; head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; youngest speaker at the March on Washington; leader of the march from Selma to Montgomery; member of Congress, representing the people of this state and this district for 33 years; mentor to young people—including me at the time—until his final day on this Earth, he not only embraced that responsibility, but he made it his life’s work. . . " [read on]
Barack Obama’s Eulogy for John Lewis Was Perfect . . .It will likely go down as one of Obama’s greatest speeches, and it is worth watching in full. [watch]
Obama calls out Trump for stoking "nativist, racist, sexist" fears. . . "What he has unleashed and what he continues to try to tap into is the fears and anger and resentment of people"
Three presidents showed up to give their respects to John Lewis, including George Bush. Trump not only didn't attend, he actually tried a little bit of counterprogramming
Before Biden announces his VP pick, here's one last review of the options
Republicans don't care about the massive deficit they're creating now -- but you can be sure they will hound the next Democratic administration to fix it
[NB: Without raising taxes!]
Go Joe!
"You won't have to worry about my tweets when I'm president."
Bonus item: Nobody Likes Trump
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