Friday Talking Points -- How Low Can Trump Go?
Another week, another stunning revelation about the dishonesty and shallowness of our president, it seems. Last week, you'll remember, it was the low regard Trump held ("suckers" and "losers") for American soldiers who died in wartime, American soldiers who were wounded ("nobody wants to see that"), and American soldiers and veterans in general. This week, Bob Woodward leaked a few key excerpts (backed up by audio recordings) from his upcoming book Rage, which showed that Trump understood how serious the coronavirus was going to be and then lied to the American public about it. There simply is no bottom, with Trump -- every time you think that he's reached the lowest of the low, he will once again prove that he can go even lower.
Here was the quote at the crux of the matter:
"You just breathe the air and that's how it's passed," Trump told Woodward. "And so that's a very tricky one. That's a very delicate one. It's also more deadly than even your strenuous flu."
In another conversation on March 19, the president told Woodward that he intentionally played down the threat of the virus so as not to panic Americans.
As we wrote earlier this week, this means that "Trump lied, people died" should now be the most prominent Democratic slogan in the 2020 election. It has been proven by Trump's own words on tape that he wanted to "play down" the whole pandemic, which equates to "lying to the American public about the severity of the threat we all faced."
Trump tried to talk his way out of this mess, with sometimes-laughable results. First he insisted that he was just being a cheerleader, and trying to calm everyone down. As we also wrote earlier, this contradicts pretty much everything he's ever said and done, including the entire focus of his re-election campaign, which is to spread as much fear and panic as humanly possible, on any subject under the sun, really.
Then he insisted that Bob Woodward was really the one to blame, since he didn't report Trump's word "to the authorities." Today, he's moved on to comparing himself (are you sitting down?) to Winston Churchill during the London Blitz.
All the while, Trump continues to still lie his face off to the public about the pandemic. At a news conference this week, he stated that the outbreaks across Europe were "much worse than the numbers here," which is just flat-out false. It's outright fantasy, really, to even try to claim this. Trump also insisted that the U.S. has "rounded the final turn" and that things would be peachy-keen real soon now.
This immediately led to Dr. Anthony Fauci refuting Trump's fantasy world:
"I'm sorry but I have to disagree with that," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, calling the United States' coronavirus levels seven months into the pandemic "disturbing."
"We are plateauing around 40,000 cases a day and the deaths are around 1,000," Fauci pointed out, adding that he hopes the country doesn't see another spike following Labor Day weekend like it did after Memorial Day and Fourth of July as flu season draws closer.
Here are some of the things Trump actually said to the public very early on in the crisis, when warning the American public would have saved thousands of lives (if not tens or even hundreds of thousands):
"We have it very much under control in this country." "It's going to be just fine." "It's one person coming in from China." "We're doing a great job with it." "It's going to have a very good ending for us." "We're in great shape." "We have 12 cases -- 11 cases, and many of them are in good shape now." "Just stay calm. It will go away." "And again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero." "It's going to disappear. One day it's like a miracle -- it will disappear."
He even predicted this miracle would probably occur in April, when the weather got warmer. This was far from what he told Woodward, in the earliest days of the crisis. And here's the Cloud Cuckooland idea Trump was pushing today:
"As the British government advised the British people in the face of World War II, keep calm and carry on. That's what I did," said Trump, calling Woodward -- who he spoke to multiple times for the book -- a "whack job."
"They wanted me to come out and scream, 'People are dying,' No. No. We did it just the right way. We have to be calm. We don't want to be crazed lunatics. We have to lead," claimed Trump, who has repeatedly sought to incite panic throughout his time in office.
"When Hitler was bombing London, Churchill, great leader, would oftentimes go to a roof in London and speak," Trump added. "And he always spoke with confidence. He said we have to show calmness. No, we did it the right way and we've done a job like nobody."
As many helpfully pointed out on Twitter, Churchill told the British people the unvarnished truth, including how bad things were going to get. Churchill's own words were tweeted to Trump, including his "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" quote, as well as one more that seems particularly apt: "The British people can face any misfortune with fortitude and buoyancy, as long as they are convinced that those in charge of their affairs are not deceiving them or are not dwelling in a fool's paradise."
Others were even more scathing:
Things Churchill didn't say:
-- the Blitz is a hoax
-- the Nazis will miraculously be gone by April
-- going to a fallout shelter is voluntary; I don't think I'll be doing it
-- I don't take responsibility at all
The Washington Post also pointed out how ludicrous the concept of "Trump as Mr. Calm" truly is:
"I don't want to jump up and down and start screaming 'Death! Death!' because that's not what it's all about. We have to lead a country," [President Donald] Trump said. He added, "There has to be a calmness."
Trump evidently did not feel the same presidential obligation to imbue serenity a few hours earlier, however, when he sounded the alarm on Twitter about a number of other topics.
"If I don't win, America's Suburbs will be OVERRUN with Low Income Projects, Anarchists, Agitators, Looters and, of course, 'Friendly Protesters,' " Trump tweeted Thursday morning.
In another morning tweet, he wrote, "Sending out 80 MILLION BALLOTS to people who aren't even asking for a Ballot is unfair and a total fraud in the making. Look at what's going on right now!"
Throughout his five years on the national political stage, Trump has used fear to acquire and keep power. Scare tactics are the hammer and screwdriver of his tool kit.
. . .
"His political campaign's branding strategy is panic. They should put 'PANIC' on a red hat," said Tim Miller, a longtime GOP strategist who advises Republican Voters Against Trump.
Miller said Trump's assertion that he played down the threat of the novel coronavirus because he did not want to panic the public was "an absurd defense."
"The person warning about the end of suburbia and migrant caravans looting and raping your daughters, the idea that he's somebody who wants to turn down the temperature and breathe calm is absurd," Miller said.
Team Trump released two new ads in this vein, both filled with apocalyptic warnings of what would happen if Trump isn't re-elected. There are no "protesters," the ads warn, there are only looters and rioters and arsonists rampaging through the streets of America. Critics compared the ads to a blockbuster action movie's preview:
In other words, the Trump campaign's effort to spur fear in the electorate is misleading in an impressively broad number of ways. The protests, far from being the "new normal," have waned. The heavy majority of those protests didn't involve violence anyway. And any incidents of violence are definitionally ones that are occurring under President Trump, making it hard to understand the argument that Americans must support Trump to prevent similar incidents.
As movie trailers, though, the new ads certainly are exciting.
Trump lies so often it has been a Herculean task to even keep up with him. Last week, for example, Trump was promoting no less than ten separate conspiracy theories. My favorite (from HuffPost's list of them all):
[President Donald Trump] also claimed that Portland, Oregon, where protests against racism and police violence have raged for three months, has been burning for decades.
Portland fire officials were quick to push back against this claim.
"We are not on fire. We have not been on fire," Lt. Rich Chatman, a spokesperson for Portland Fire & Rescue, said this week.
Note that this article was written before the wildfires in Oregon got so out of hand that over 10 percent of the entire states' population had to be evacuated. Ironically, though, now that large parts of the West Coast are actually on fire, Trump just refuses to talk about the subject.
Or how about this one, which is more recent:
President Donald Trump launched a bizarre attack against Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Thursday, suggesting that the former vice president opposes a coronavirus vaccine without explanation.
"Biden's launched a public campaign against the vaccine, which is so bad," Trump said from the White House, adding that "we have some vaccines coming that are incredible."
"You don't want to have anything having to do with the political purposes being [sic] an anti-vaxxer," he said. The term typically refers to early childhood vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella, which some have non-scientifically linked to autism.
Trump continued: "You don't want to be talking about the vaccines in a negative way, especially when you see the statistics that we're starting to see. They're incredible, actually. Biden's perfectly happy to endanger the lives of other people by doing something that he thinks is going to help him politically because his polls are getting very bad. They're getting very shaky."
None of which is true, of course. Neither Biden nor Kamala Harris is any sort of "anti-vaxxer," they have merely been pointing out how little trust the American people now have in what Trump says. The article also helpfully points out: "Recent polls have consistently shown Biden to have a strong lead over Trump."
Here is what Biden actually said:
Trump has said "so many things that aren't true," Biden stated Monday, "I'm worried if we do have a really good vaccine, people are going to be reluctant to take it. So he's undermining public confidence."
Asked if he would get the vaccine himself, Biden replied that he would follow scientific advice on taking any drug to prevent COVID-19.
"I would want to see what the scientists said," Biden asserted, echoing a comment made earlier by running mate Kamala Harris. The California senator told reporters she would not follow advice from Trump alone, saying that she trusted "the word of public health experts and scientists."
Biden also emphasized the importance of securing a vaccine as soon as possible.
"If I could get a vaccine tomorrow I'd do it," he said. "If it would cost me the election I'd do it. We need a vaccine and we need it now."
Trump also suggested Thursday that Biden was politicizing the coronavirus pandemic, which the president has consistently sought to downplay despite its crippling effects on the global economy.
"He keeps talking about the pandemic," Trump complained.
Lies, fear, panic, and conspiracy theories are the bread and butter of Trump's campaign, obviously. Need further proof? Mike Pence is going to attend a fundraiser hosted by a couple who have been promoting the baseless QAnon conspiracies.
Meanwhile, some real conspiracies are coming to light. No, no -- not all those other ones -- these are newly-uncovered Trump administration conspiracies.
The Department of Homeland Security, according to a new whistleblower, has been censoring and burying reports of Russian interference in the 2020 election. The complaint charges that the department and both Chad Wolf and Kirstjen Nielsen actively conducted: "a repeated pattern of abuse of authority, attempted censorship of intelligence analysis and improper administration of an intelligence program related to Russian efforts to influence and undermine United States interests."
This wasn't the only thing the complaint charged:
[D.H.S. official Brian] Murphy's complaint goes beyond issues related to Russia, however.
Among the concerns raised in the complaint: [D.H.S. senior official Ken] Cuccinelli ordered Murphy to downplay intelligence about white supremacy to make the threat appear "less severe" and play up evidence of "left-wing" violence. A required Homeland Threat Assessment that included sections on white supremacy and Russian influence in the United States was also blocked, Murphy alleged, because of how it might reflect on Trump. And he was asked to modify intelligence assessments "to ensure they matched up with the public comments by President Trump on the subject of ANTIFA and 'anarchist' groups," the complaint says.
Murphy also alleges that DHS leaders purposefully distorted information about the terror threat on the southern border to fit the president's narrative.
Politico had proof of that bit about white supremacists, even before the whistleblower's report was made public. They obtained leaked drafts of a D.H.S. document on terror threats to the homeland, which plainly showed the political influences:
White supremacists present the gravest terror threat to the United States, according to a draft report from the Department of Homeland Security.
Two later draft versions of the same document -- all of which were reviewed by Politico -- describe the threat from white supremacists in slightly different language. But all three drafts describe the threat from white supremacists as the deadliest domestic terror threat facing the U.S., listed above the immediate danger from foreign terrorist groups.
. . .
The earliest draft has the strongest language on the threat from white supremacists, in an introductory section labeled "Key Takeaways."
"Lone offenders and small cells of individuals motivated by a diverse array of social, ideological, and personal factors will pose the primary terrorist threat to the United States," the draft reads. "Among these groups, we assess that white supremacist extremists -- who increasingly are networking with likeminded persons abroad -- will pose the most persistent and lethal threat."
The "Key Takeaways" section of the next two drafts calls "Domestic Violent Extremists" the "most persistent and lethal threat," rather than specifically naming white supremacists.
. . .
The second two drafts, meanwhile, allude to violent agitators who have been present at nationwide protests against racism and police brutality.
"Violent extremists almost certainly will continue their efforts to exploit public fears associated with COVID-19 and social grievances driving lawful protests to incite violence, intimidate targets, and promote their violent extremist ideologies," the second and third drafts reviewed by Politico say.
Want more? How about what the Education Department is currently doing (because this is obviously more important than dealing with helping schools reopen during a pandemic)? The last few paragraphs of this could be accurately described as "Orwellian":
The Education Department plans to scrutinize a wide range of employee activities -- including internal book clubs -- in search of "Anti-American propaganda" and discussions about "white privilege" as it carries out the White House's demand that federal agencies halt certain types of race-related training.
In an internal email this week obtained by Politico, the department ordered a review of agency contracts for diversity training and "internal employee activities" to root out topics such as "critical race theory" or materials that suggest that the U.S. is an inherently racist country. The crackdown comes as the department implements a government-wide directive the White House issued Friday to stop what it called "un-American propaganda training sessions" about race.
. . .
The department's guidance largely echoes OMB's memo in describing the type of content that is now disfavored in government training sessions: any material "that teaches, trains or suggests the following: (1) virtually all White people contribute to racism or benefit from racism (2) critical race theory (3) white privilege (4) that the United States is an inherently racist or evil country (5) that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil (6) Anti-American propaganda."
. . .
The Education Department's move to restrict discussions among employees also comes as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos finalized a new policy this week aimed at promoting free speech in other venues.
DeVos' rule, which was finalized Wednesday, cuts off some Education Department funding to public universities that run afoul of the First Amendment or private universities that violate their own speech policies.
Speaking of propaganda, House Democrats will be investigating a $250 million contract handed to a GOP operative to "defeat despair and inspire hope" about the coronavirus pandemic. No, really, it repeats that line in several places: "By harnessing the power of traditional, digital and social media, the sports and entertainment industries, public health associations, and other creative partners to deliver important public health and economic information the administration can defeat despair, inspire hope and achieve national recovery."
A former Obama H.H.S. official reacted:
"Holy moly," said a former senior Obama HHS official when told the size of the contract. "In a normal administration, this would have been something coordinated through the White House, but it probably would have been launched back in March, as opposed to the eve of an election."
The House committee chairs did not mince words in announcing their new investigation: "We have grave concerns that, rather than focus on planning and executing a national strategy to contain the coronavirus, the Trump Administration is using a quarter of a billion dollars in taxpayer money to fund what appears to be a political propaganda campaign just two months before a presidential election," wrote Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), who all lead congressional oversight panels.
As for the Trump administration laughably standing up for "free speech," a New York Times reporter was just kicked out of a Trump rally for tweeting out how few people were wearing masks in the "crammed in" crowd waiting to see Trump.
And finally, something funny to close on. A federal hearing was just held in Georgia by a court looking into whether their voting machines could be hacked. Which led to somebody making a rather ironic point:
A federal hearing on a challenge to Georgia's voting machines was interrupted Friday when someone began posting video and symbols, including images from the Sept. 11 attacks, a swastika and pornography.
Before the interruption, there were roughly 100 people signed in as participants and observers to the high-profile hearing.
During testimony by a voting machine company executive, at least two people — one with the user name Osama — began posting rapidly changing videos and still images, some accompanied by music, by sharing their screens with the video conference. The court quickly ended the Zoom session.
Yep -- that's what kind of week it has been. One in which an online hearing about election hacking is hacked.
Before we get to the Democrats, once again we have to shoehorn in here a mention of some impressive Republicans. The Republican Voters Against Trump group released a new whopping 11-minute-long video this week with "113 damning reasons" GOP voters should not vote to re-elect Trump: "Their rationales range from the president's racist, sexist, Islamaphobic and divisive rhetoric to his alienation of U.S. allies, attacks on the military and cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump's catastrophic mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic is also a key explanation."
But since they're not eligible for an award, we'll move on to a man who is. Because Joe Biden had a pretty good week this week, all around.
Team Biden announced it had shattered fundraising records last month, pulling in a whopping $365 million. This beat Team Trump's haul by an impressive $155 million.
But this wasn't the only good news in the financial matchup between the campaigns. It seems that Trump has pulled a whole lot of television ads because they are low on money. How low? Well, so low that reporters are now asking Trump if he's going to have to pony up his own campaign funding -- which is unheard-of for an incumbent president, really. Seems Team Trump burned through over $800 million bucks already, with little to show for it (the polls have been the same all year, with Biden up anywhere from 7-10 points). And now GOP donors are worried about how dark Trump's gone on television. Here are the actual numbers, which are pretty startling:
The moves have resulted in an enormous short-term advertising benefit for [Joe] Biden, who maintains a polling lead in most of the battleground states. Between Aug. 10 and Sept. 7, Biden's campaign spent about $90 million on television ads, more than four times the $18 million spent by the [President Donald] Trump campaign, according to tracking by a Democratic firm.
Trump-aligned outside groups made up some of the difference, spending an additional $28 million, compared with about $16 million by groups backing Biden. But the outside spending did not eliminate the Democratic advantages in competitive states.
Even with the outside group spending, Democrats have been able to dominate the airwaves where the election will probably be decided. Between Aug. 10 and Sept. 7, pro-Biden efforts outspent pro-Trump efforts by a margin of $9.3 million to $560,000 in Michigan, $17.7 million to $6.1 million in Pennsylvania and $20.5 million to $7.8 million in Florida.
That Michigan number is the most noteworthy, to our eyes at least.
But breaking fundraising records wasn't the only impressive thing Biden did this week. He was incredibly quick to pounce on the Bob Woodward story, reacting an hour after the story broke, in as forceful terms as can be imagined:
"[President Donald Trump] knew how deadly it was. It was much more deadly than the flu," [Joe] Biden said during an event with autoworkers in the swing state of Michigan. "He knew and purposely played it down. Worse, he lied to the American people. He knowingly and willingly lied about the threat it posed to the country for months."
About an hour before Biden was set to speak, The Washington Post published excerpts of on-the-record conversations between Trump and veteran journalist Bob Woodward in which Trump conceded on Feb. 7 that the virus that had only just begun to spread in the U.S. was deadlier than the flu, and could be transmitted by particles in the air.
. . .
"He knew how dangerous it was. While this deadly disease ripped through our nation, he failed to do his job on purpose. It was a life-and-death betrayal of the American people," Biden said of the president, pointing to studies that estimate as many as 54,000 lives could have been saved had Trump moved to shut down swaths of the country two weeks earlier.
He added that Trump's "failure has not only cost lives -- it sent our economy into a tailspin," asserting that the economic recession that has put millions out of work had been "created by Donald Trump's negligence."
The Democratic nominee noted that news of Trump's comments came as the U.S. deaths from the virus are set to pass 190,000, and while schools and businesses across the country remain closed because of the threat.
"How many schools are not open right now? How many kids are starting a new school year the same way they ended the last one, at home?" Biden asked. "How many parents feel abandoned and overwhelmed? How many front-line workers are exhausted and pushed to their limits? And how many families are missing loved ones at their dinner table tonight because of his failures?"
He went on: "It's beyond despicable. It's a dereliction of duty. It's a disgrace."
Biden was even more scathing later, during an interview with Jake Tapper of CNN:
"He acknowledges you breathe it, it's in the air and he won't put on the mask. He's talking about it's ridiculous to put on masks, what do you need social distancing for, why have any of these rules?" Biden said, asserting that the mitigation measures Trump announced were "all about making sure the stock market didn't come down, that his wealthy friends didn't lose any money and that he could say that in fact anything that happened had nothing to do with him."
The former vice president then accused Trump of giving up.
"He waved the white flag," he added. "He didn't do a damn thing. Think about it. Think about what he did not do. And it's almost criminal."
This all bodes well for Biden. One worry many Democrats have had about Biden is how long it can take him to react to fast-moving media stories. During the primaries, Team Biden would often take hours (if not days) to comment on breaking news, so the fact that Biden can react so quickly -- and so viscerally -- to a breaking Trump scandal during the general election is nice to see.
Because, as anyone alive during the past four years knows full well, this certainly won't be the last Trump scandal to break in the next two months. Seeing Biden's fast response is also heartening to those looking forward to the presidential debates, as well.
From fundraising to campaigning, all around Joe Biden had such an impressive week that he's the clear choice for the Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week award.
[Joe Biden is actually a private citizen and our blanket policy is not to link to campaign pages, so you'll have to seek his contact information out yourself if you'd like to let him know you appreciate his efforts.]
Once again, we are happy to report that no prominent Democrat disappointed us this week at all. As always, if you feel we've missed an obvious candidate for the Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week, let us know in the comments below.
Volume 588 (9/11/20)
A mixed bag this week, that both begins and ends with the Trump campaign's essential inhumanity. We really have to wonder why the Biden campaign didn't make a huge stink about the last one, in fact, because it is so downright despicable it's hard to even imagine.
Reckless homicide
As we previously mentioned, this is the most obvious thing to hit Trump on this week.
"Trump's own words have now proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the campaign slogan 'Trump lied, people died' is an accurate indictment. Representative Ted Lieu summed up the rage many Americans were feeling when the news broke, when he tweeted: "I've concluded this is not just dereliction of duty.... Trump repeatedly lied to the American people and that resulted in preventable deaths. This is reckless homicide.' And now Trump's comparing himself to Winston Churchill. Puh-leeze! Neville Chamberlain is probably closer to the truth."
Instead, he died
The most personal response to Trump's lies came from Kristin Urquiza, the woman who spoke at the Democratic National Convention about the loss of her father to the coronavirus after he believed Trump's claim that people should resume their normal lives, very early on in the crisis. Team Biden put her on a press call this week, where she stated in no uncertain terms:
If Donald Trump had told the public what he had told Bob Woodward in private, thousands of lives could have been spared including my dad's.... Sure, my dad did not panic, but instead, he died. I'd much rather have dealt with a father who was a little scared versus one that was led to his death.
Mr. Businessman? Hardly
Trump also needs to get hit on the whole "I'm a successful businessman" thing, once again.
"Donald Trump made the case for becoming president partly on how astute a businessman he is. We're not supposed to pay attention to the six bankruptcies behind the curtain, but whatever.... So let's take a look at how his campaign is doing, shall we? He got outraised by Joe Biden to the tune of $150 million last month, his campaign has burned through a jaw-dropping $800 million already with little to show for it, and he's now gone almost completely dark on the airwaves while Biden is running plenty of ads. Things have gotten so bad Trump is even considering bankrolling his own campaign once again. Mister Astute Businessman? More like Mister Bankrupt, if you ask me."
Official presidential duties
Bill Barr just keeps sinking as low as Trump, day by day.
"The attorney general of the United States has now claimed in court that Donald Trump insulting and lying about women is one of his 'official duties.' No, really -- part of the job description for this president apparently reads: 'defame women and call them ugly.' A woman suing Trump for denying he raped her was at the point where the state courts were going to force Trump to give a deposition and provide D.N.A. (because she kept the dress -- sound familiar?) when Bill Barr came riding to Trump's rescue. Barr moved the case to federal court and now American taxpayers will be on the hook for funding Trump's defense -- and, even worse, any damages that are awarded. Nothing like making the case to all the women voters in the country that Donald Trump is unfit to be president, eh?"
Trump lies about jobs to workers' faces
This happened during the week of Labor Day, mind you.
"Donald Trump, speaking in Michigan this week for Labor Day, just flat-out lied about his record. He claimed that many auto plants were being built 'right now' in Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina. None of which is true. He's just makin' stuff up again. The Detroit Free Press -- the largest newspaper in Michigan -- ran the story under the headline: 'Trump Makes Wild Claims About Revitalizing Auto Industry At Michigan Rally,' which stated the real facts: 'President Donald Trump made wildly inaccurate claims at a rally outside Saginaw on Thursday night, suggesting he has revitalized auto manufacturing in the state when it actually lost jobs even before coronavirus hit in March.' Maybe Trump thinks the autoworkers are too stupid to notice?"
I ain't no millionaire's son
This is a common mistake. This song is used all the time (in truck ads, for patriotic holiday sales, etc.) because nobody listens to the actual lyrics.
"Donald Trump held a rally where he played the C.C.R. song Fortunate Son to energize the crowd. But apparently nobody noticed any of the lyrics after the first two lines. The song begins: 'Some folks are born, made to wave the flag / Ooh, they're red, white, and blue,' which sounds patriotic enough, but the song was actually written during the Vietnam era about how rich folks' kids avoided serving in the military while the poor kids got drafted. The next lines in the song are, in fact: 'And when the band plays "Hail to the Chief" / Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord.' The chorus later continues this thought: 'It ain't me / It ain't me / I ain't no millionaire's son, no no.' Maybe someone on the Cadet Bone Spurs campaign team might want to actually read the lyrics before using this particular song again? I'm just sayin'...."
Are you human?
Why this didn't get more media attention, we have no idea. So point it out!
"Last week, the Trump campaign reached a new low in the annals of American dirty-tricks campaigning. Joe Biden visited church on Sunday -- a totally foreign concept to Donald Trump, I might add -- and then after the service went for a walk in the graveyard to pay his respects for his dead first wife Neilia, his dead daughter Naomi, and his dead son Beau. The Trump campaign -- astonishingly -- tweeted out in mocking fashion:"
REPORTER: 'Mr. Vice President come talk to us.'
Joe Biden just keeps meandering along.
"This was mere days after it was reported that Trump refused to visit a historic World War I cemetery at Belleau Wood, and called dead soldiers "losers" and "suckers," mind you. While Biden was visiting the graves of his family, Trump was playing golf. The inhumanity behind that tweet is just breathtaking. Representative Eric Swalwell summed it up best with his tweeted response: 'It's a cemetery. Where his son is buried. Are you human?' At this point, I'd have to say the answer to that is: No."
-- Chris Weigant
All-time award winners leaderboard, by rank
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Cross-posted at: Democratic Underground
First off, been having intermittent issues logging in but, for now, it seems to be resolved, much to my great relief!
Remembering 9/11 means remembering how Americans can come together during times of crisis and take care of each other.
That feeling of togetherness and can-do spirit seems more distant than nineteen years given what is happening on this anniversary, in the midst of a deadly pandemic that has already taken 60 times the death toll of that horrible day in September.
But, it also gives hope that, someday, it will be possible to get back to that kind of unity in the US again.
I can't believe my own eyes when I see what is happening with the wild fires out west. My heart breaks for the people there and for our planet.
None of which is true, of course. Neither Biden nor Kamala Harris is any sort of "anti-vaxxer..."
Projection. I won't be fooled by projection.
Projection. You're trying to put something over me.
Trump's theme song. Thanks to Prism for the take on the lyrics. Sorry, couldn't find a video.
From fundraising to campaigning, all around Joe Biden had such an impressive week that he's the clear choice for the Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week award.
I think that may be the first time Biden has ever won an award for campaigning for president! Heh. Oh, I kid Biden about his presidential campaigning. I'm just glad he's finally the nominee and at the right time.
Once again, we are happy to report that no prominent Democrat disappointed us this week at all.
I propose that we forego the entire MDDOTW award until election night. I'm just sayin ...
As always, if you feel we've missed an obvious candidate for the Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week, let us know in the comments below.
Yeah, right. Well, don't anyone dare! :)
With regard to FTP #6, "Donald Trump held a rally where he played the C.C.R. song Fortunate Son to energize the crowd."
Trump actually did that? Irony really does know no bounds.
We really have to wonder why the Biden campaign didn't make a huge stink about the last one, in fact, because it is so downright despicable it's hard to even imagine.
It could be due to the fact that the head of the Biden campaign doesn't operate that way. Maybe he should but, then again, if he did he wouldn't be the Biden who we have come to know and love.
Now, let's watch Biden prove me wrong. Again. :)
Quote of the day, from Don Lemon on CNN ...
... "the calls are coming from inside the house."
Indeed, they are!
It has to be tough producing a column and breathing out there on Mars, I mean Cali.
The latest news on the October surprise is the resignation of Nora R. Dannehy from the Oranges of the Investigation investigation. She was feeling political pressure.
The song choices at Drumpf's Klan rallies are bizarre. I can only assume that Springsteen is too closely associated with Democrats for them to use Born In The USA. Maybe Little Pink Houses is next.
Heh.
GOP donors are worried about how dark Trump's gone on television.
Apparently, the orange one's campaign is mismanaging their Facebook spending as well. Most of it is going to fundraising.
I have to admit that I don't know a lot about Facebook, but I thought it was supposed to be a GOP advantage.
Well, I just recently revived my facebook account... but, that was just to allow me to chat with people I wouldn't have otherwise been able to chat with. Ahem.
The Donald and Melanomia didn't know the words to the Pledge of Allegiance this morning.
Person, woman, man, camera, TV
I couldn't have said it any better. He's a walking time bomb.
The obvious MDDOTW is 'Kevin Van Ausdal, the Democratic nominee, cited "personal and family reasons that prevent me from continuing on as a candidate." Van Ausdal said he would be leaving the state.'
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/11/republican-marjorie-taylor-greene-georgia-kevin-van-ausdal-412734
Granted, he didn't stand a snowball's chance in Hell of winning. But it is very suspicious that he announces his withdrawal AFTER the deadline for the Democratic Party to substitute someone else.
And this isn't the first time this has happened in 2020.
'In a statement posted to Facebook and Twitter, Democratic candidate Josh Mahony said an unspecified "family health concern" meant he could no longer devote the time needed to run a competitive campaign.'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/tom-cottons-only-democratic-rival-quits-race-in-arkansas/ar-BBWFp5p
I'd love to review the bank account of these candidates to see if a tidy sum was deposited after these announcements.
Chris, I am disappointed once again that the Talking Points make no mention of the failure of the Republican-controlled Senate to move forward with a COVID-19 funding bill. From the articles I've read, the Republicans have given up and don't plan to do ANYTHING before the November election.
I hope Democratic candidates in both the House and Senate, and for every state legislature, will hammer the message that the Democratically-controlled House of Representatives easily approved a $3 trillion package months ago.
We were without power for almost 2 days thanks to a freak wind storm on Monday that helped spread wild fires like crazy in this area of Western WA. Wild fires are supposed ya’lls thing, CW! It was crazy to watch the valley across from us burn to the ground. The Pacific NW is supposed to be humid and green... not dry and ashy!
Hey, you! Will we see you Sunday night?
JFC,
She didn't just resign from the investigation. She left the entire department of justice. People in the know think this means indictments are coming or, at the very least, a big ... decision. Hoping she is not the last to leave the building.
She left the entire department of justice.
Right.
People in the know think this means indictments are coming
What I heard yesterday was that Barr was pressuring them for a report before the election and, due to the pandemic, they aren't finished. I heard that there aren't going to be indictments, just a report that he can lie about.
Death Harris,
Just say NO to Killer Joe.
More Kremlin puke from the resident MAGAt.
Would that be enough to send her right out of the department? Well, I guess that would depend on how fantastical the report is.
Have you forgotten the Mueller report? It won't be released before the election. It will be "summarized".
She's apparently a professional person who doesn't want her name associated with shoddy, political garbage.
Have you forgotten the Mueller report? It won't be released before the election. It will be "summarized".
I think you may have that ass-backwards.
There won't be any reason to "summarize" this one. It's being overseen by Barr, after all. :)
I hope we hear from her soon ...
There won't be any reason to "summarize" this one. It's being overseen by Barr
That assumes that Durham is as corrupt as Barr and willing to produce something that contradicts the Senate Intelligence Committee's report and the IG's report. I'm not ready to go there just yet.
I hope we hear from her soon ...
I'm not counting on that. Unlike Tony Fauci, she no longer works for the government. She'd have to pay for her own security guards.
That assumes that Durham is as corrupt as Barr and willing to produce something that contradicts the Senate Intelligence Committee's report and the IG's report. I'm not ready to go there just yet.
Now, you're confusing me. A 'corrupt as Barr' report is why she left the building, no?
That's not what was reported. She left because he's pressuring for the report to be issued now and she is not finished.
I believe that Barr is planning to make a big deal about the FBI investigator who altered a CIA email cited in the fourth application to the FISA court - something we've known about for 8 months.
Of course, I don't have any inside info. We'll just have to wait and see!
She might leave the investigative team over being pressured to release the report before its finished. But, she left the entire government! That just can't be over the mere timing of releasing a report. Anyway, moving on ...
One final point before I go ... :)
I believe that Barr is planning to make a big deal about the FBI investigator who altered a CIA email cited in the fourth application to the FISA court - something we've known about for 8 months.
It would be fantasy to think she quit because of that!
... and, I think we'll hear from her before the election.
she left the entire government!
Maybe she was going to leave when she was done with this project anyway. People change jobs all the time.
Durham and Dannehy had to do the investigation. Their boss told them to. They don't have to do anything corrupt. He can't make them do that, but he can twist and lie about their report w/o releasing it.
Durham hasn't resigned, but neither did Comey. You seem to believe he was great. I'm giving Durham the benefit of the doubt for now. Maybe I shouldn't.
It would be fantasy to think she quit because of that!
Agreed. That's not what was reported.
That would make sense if pressure wasn't being applied to release the report, so ...
Big Orange wanted Ukraine to announce an investigation. They don't care about the results. They want innuendo.
Emails. Benghazi. Spying. They want bumper sticker talking points.
CNN and MSNBC are probably already trying to hire Dannehy as a contributor, so maybe we will hear from her.
Hey, JFC, check this out!
https://www.moderndrummer.com/2020/08/20th-annual-modern-drummer-festival-a-tribute-to-iconic-drummer-neil-peart/
... just got my ticket.
We're so fortunate that Liz M has taken over the role of 50 posts/day reader seemingly abandoned by our missing buddy, old what's-his-name.
You must be new here.
. . . not to mention exaggerating.
CRS,
What's the wild fire situation there?
Russ[20],
(not sure how I missed this one!)
And, I didn't realize you are in Washington state. I probably just forgot. What you describe would have scared me half to death. You don't sound worried??
Be careful and stay safe!!!
Liz,
Yeah, we live right under Mt. Rainer...just outside of Seattle. We seem to be in the clear, for now, so it’s easier to sound confident — at the time I wasn’t so confident! I dunno if it is because I have moved so much over the course of my lifetime or what, but I know that I will NOT risk our lives in some feeble attempt to delay our house from burning! It’s all just STUFF! It’s all replaceable. Devon and my dogs...not so replaceable! (Sure, I could trade him in for two hot 20 year olds...but it took me years to properly train him to be the perfect hubby and I just don’t know if I have it in me to do it again).
The sky here is crazy with all of the smoke in the air. It’s like the sun was replaced by one of the first environmentally friendly lightbulbs that never quite got the tint right. And with my asthma, it is like walking around with a large millstone pressing on my chest. Add to that the COVID threat and it looks like I’m gonna be doing my shopping this week in a full hazmat suit and respirator!
Russ-
It has been a good while for you guys. I remember when the big fires in Vancouver drifted down and turned Seattle into Mars during Seafair 4 or 5 years ago.
While I don't have asthma I do have bad allergies and with everything down in my neck of the woods covered in ash, they are off of the charts.
I suggest you drop the bucks on a nice Dyson air purifier. I have one that does 800 sq ft and also doubles as a cooler. It makes life in the part of the house that is my office and entertainment quite pleasant. My eyes don't feel like they have sand in them and my nose doesn't pack itself with cement like snot.
Dyson is pricey but so worth it.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dyson-tp04-pure-cool-tower-800-sq-ft-air-purifier-white-silver/6192408.p?skuId=6192408
Good luck up there...
Russ,
Love, love, love your fun sense of humour!
And, I can vouch for what GT says about those Dyson cool air purifiers. I don't have AC but, who needs it.
Take it easy!
I hope you all were able to get tickets and enjoyed the big show tonight - Modern Drummer Magazine's wonderful tribute to Rush's Neil Peart - it was a phenomenal show - three hours of great drumming and tributes. And, it was Neil's birthday today!
I shall be focusing on his iconic drumming and lyrics tomorrow night at the CW Sunday Night Music Festival and Dance Party so, don't miss it!
Question for anyone: If Trump were to declare marshal law and refuse to leave after losing the election as Rodger Stone is urging. Exactly who is there to stop him, assuming the R's go along with it?
[52]
If Trump doesn't win reelection the Constitution says his term ends at noon on January 20th, period.
I think that an attempt to declare martial law would,
(1) Likely NOT be honored and acted upon by our military. I was in the Army 35 years ago and I cannot imagine that the oath that all Service members swear "to defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic" is any less inculcated in our military's DNA now as was when I was active duty. Trump would be demonstrating that he is an enemy of the Constitution.
(2) This would give Repugs the excuse (read, "moral imperative") to invoke the 25th Amendment. It's their "out" to get Trump out of the GOP's hair.
@sfbear,
a great part of the american mythos is built on the rule of law and an apolitical military. that part isn't just aspirational, it's who we believe ourselves to be as a nation. while military people may support donald up to a point, they're not going to obey illegal orders. based on what's already happened with donald as president, the pattern is for military leaders to ignore unlawful orders and hope the president forgets he gave them, which he usually does.
Goode trickle & Liz
Thanks for the info on air purifiers! I always love to hear personal reviews of products and prefer them over reading Amazon’s reviews. I literally just purchased a Blue 211 air purifier two weeks ago, and it has been a life saver during these smoke-filled days! I have always liked Dyson products, but I will be honest that my snarky-consumer brain wondered if Dyson hadn’t just strapped an air purifier onto one of their bladeless fans as a way to charge more for one of their fans. Most air purifiers work well if they are using a HEPA filter, but I really liked Blue’s triple filtration system and am shocked at how quiet it is. But I will definitely remember to look closer at Dyson the next time we have to replace a purifier!
Dyson Hot/Cool air purifiers are the best!
I do hate their vacuum cleaners, though ... and all the bagless ones, for that matter.
I've actually done a couple of Amazon reviews. Heh.
Don't even ask.
After watching three hours of the best drumming on the planet, I'm finally ready to call it a night. :)
CW
In another conversation on March 19, the president told Woodward that he intentionally played down the threat of the virus so as not to panic Americans.
It was so nice of Donald Trump to tell Bob Woodward the facts about the novel coronavirus early in February. A few questions come to mind now that the facts are known:
* Do you think those useful idiots that actually believed the Orange Blowhole and spewed back his lies on cue like trained monkeys for months upon months will now admit they got suckered by their Orange Worship?
* How many times do y'all figure it will take for the mouthpieces and holsters of Donald Trump being thrown under the bus by him for them to finally figure out that he's a lying piece of shit that doesn't give a damn about their welfare?
Well, I have some answers to the above questions from a few of his recovered cult followers.
I do wish my uncle had survived COVID-19 and was now finding out that he was a fool to believe Donald Trump over the word of his sister's daughter, but I'm glad that my aunt and cousins in his household lived to learn the facts. I got a call and multiple apologies from them yesterday. They're mad as hell and feel like the pathologically lying POTUS killed their father and were asking me how they could sue Donald Trump for wrongful death. Interesting call.
For every one of those Americans that Donald Trump is responsible for killing due to his outright lying when he knew the facts, there are multiple Americans that have permanent damage to their lungs and organs whose lives will never be the same. Full stop.
I see Trump is still leading Biden on the economy.
Un-freakin'-believable.
When will Democrats put a stake in the Republican cult of economic failure?
Kick [60]
I'd like to find encouragement in your family anecdote, but I can't say that I do. Just look at how Herman Cain is still tweeting death cult propaganda from the grave.
Your story is about lack of empathy. Until it hits home, it's just The Other's problem. Republicans love to demonize gay people until they find out that their son is gay, and even then, some are unmoved. They demonize black people until their daughter marries a black man. Even then, they call their grandchildren "multi-racial" despite the fact that America's caste system defines them as black.
I can't say that I understand how the zombies could believe that this plague is a plot against Dear Leader as the dead bodies pile up around the world, but that's where we are. I'm afraid to even ask my sister (in a swing state) if she's deprogrammed because I fear the worst.
The Black Boxes in this particular FTP suggest to me a need for a new psychiatric term to describe Trump On the Stump:
Learned Cluelessness
definition:
A condition in which a person suffers from reasoning entirely within the moment, without regard to anything that has actually occurred in the past, or the consequences that might be logically inferred to occur in future from such reasoning. Anxiety, phobias, glibness and grandiosity are associated with this condition. See Twitterpated. Also see Sucker Born Every Minute.
CW
Then he insisted that Bob Woodward was really the one to blame, since he didn't report Trump's word "to the authorities."
Yes, Poor Donald playing that tired and worn out "but, but, but, I'm the victim here" card as he does so frequently. For somebody who claims he is so strong, Trump sure does whine all the time about how he is a victim, doesn't he? You'd think the useful idiots would catch onto this whining bullshit pattern of Trump's, but then that would require actually "thinking" on their part when it's much easier to just blame Bob Woodward or Lindsey Graham. I even heard Karl Rove whining about why Joe Biden didn't just tell everyone what he knew and questioning what Biden knew and when he knew it. *laughs* Why does Karl and the Trumpian cult of useful idiots think Donald Trump began referring to the virus as the "Democrat hoax"? Because many Democrats and scientists and people not politically affiliated were sounding the alarm about the seriousness of the disease while the misinformed and outright gullible cult followers and useful idiot mouthpieces of Donald Trump were downplaying it. Trump lied. People died as a direct result of Trump's lying.
Today, he's moved on to comparing himself (are you sitting down?) to Winston Churchill during the London Blitz.
One of the ways we learn from history is to pay attention to when we see it repeated and to question ourselves when it sounds familiar... so:
Question: When was the last time Trump did something stupid and then he and his mouthpieces and the useful idiots attempted frantically to compare it to Winston Churchill during the London Blitz?
Answer: That time Trump wanted a photo-op at St. John's Church of him holding a Bible.
I remember watching live as they walked, Ivanka -- sticking out like a sore thumb among the rest of them -- in high heels and mask (when almost no one else was) and carrying a huge white purse, and I also remember wondering why on Earth she would walk out of the White House with a huge designer purse like that in tow. Of course, I found out later that the prop had been removed from Ivanka's very necessary huge purse so that Daddy Don the Con didn't have to carry that Bible in his hands the whole way to St. John's Church. How convenient. A Bible just happened to be handy for that planned photo-op that was later attempted to be compared to Winston Churchill.
So they're trotting out the old "Donald Trump as Winston Churchill" nonsensical bullshit again in an attempt to spin Trump's repetitive lying to Americans about the severity of COVID-19 that took their lives? It would be comical if it wasn't such an obvious and pathetic attempt at political spin that they've already tried.
Donald Trump lied and people died as a direct result of the lies. We're nearing 50,000 Benghazis soon, and the people who were outraged and held hundreds of fundraisers over the four dead Americans seem perfectly fine with Trump's lying and resultant hundreds of thousands of deaths... and if that outright hypocrisy doesn't make you cringe, what could?
Wake up, America.
I've received three different mailers from the KY Republicon Party so far. All of the tell me not to vote for Amy McGrath and none of them tell me who to vote for. Do you think maybe Moscow Mitch is radioactive? Do you think the death cult will vote for him anyway?
Moscow Mitch criticized McGrath for comments from nearly three years ago comparing the feeling of seeing President Donald Trump elected in 2016 to how she felt on Sept. 11, 2001. In retrospect, she was underestimating how deadly he would be.
Here’s her new campaign ad.
Big Money Mike says he's going to drop $100 million on Florida to help Big Money Joe. I hope that includes paying the poll tax for those who need it.
[60]
Heya Kick,
I'm sorry that you lost your Uncle to Covid-19.
Last night in Nevada, the orange one said that Biden "doesn't know he's alive". It's hard to imagine saying anything quite as stupid as that in public and he's said some really stupid stuff. Donald doesn't know that he's the world's most ignorant orangutan.
Something fer Elizabeth,
Let's "Rush" to get the show on the road! Two of my favorites are Tom Sawyer and New World Man.
I wash Rush had written a song titles, "Relax Liz, it's Joe's election to lose."
I WISH Rush had written a song TITLED, "Relax Liz, it's Joe's election to lose."
(bleeping auto correct)
(bleeping failure to proofread)
I’ve never been a fan of Rush or their politics, but since deceased drummers are the subject du jour, my all-time favorite drummer was Richie Hayward.
Here’s A Apolitical Blues
. . . and here’s one for the orange one.
It's high time that you found
The same people you walk on
On your way up
You might meet up
On your way down
We Canadians are so very proud of RUSH and, while we miss Neil Peart terribly, they have left us a phenomenal catalogue of drumming and music and the written word.
I hope everyone got tickets (proceeds to support brain tumor research) to last night's special virtual LiveXLive event put on by Modern Drummer Magazine (Festival 2020) - three hours of some of the world's best drummers, all in a wonderful tribute to Neil, Rush's drummer and lyricist, on his birthday. It was AMAZING!
MDM announced two new awards to be handed out annually ... the Neil Peart Lifetime Achievement award and Neil's family accepted the first one in his honour. Secondly, the Neil Peart Spirit of Drumming award will go to a promising up and coming drummer beginning next year.
Thanks, MntCaddy for getting the CW Sunday Night Music Festival and Dance Party off to a great start!
And, here is the best drummer to ever walk the earth ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWRMOJQDiLU
JFC,
No one can your musical tastes are not eclectic! :)
say ... no one can say nor should they ever try
Here’s one for our geriatric presidential election:
Old Folks Boogie
. . . and one that you Rush fans may like a little better:
The Fan
Whenever Biden has run for president, Rush has supplied my very own them song for the duration ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oem46aJgUg
I don't mind Little Feat, don't mind them at all! I like Old Folks Boogie. Now I'll have to check out The Fan ..
Hey, JFC! You know what!? We're gonna have to figure out some kind of archivable Sunday Night Playlist ...
What's Little Feat up to, these days?
Okay, so, you guys MUST take a look at Rush's acceptance speeches when they were finally - FINALLY!! - "indicted" into the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame ... the last bit is hilarious!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isdS12H4Kuk
They've continued ala the Eagles.
See if this doesn't make you want to think about becoming a Rush fan ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XPrNGpzeGI&list=RD6XPrNGpzeGI&start_radio=1&t=21
Musicianship in its purest form.
Check out the Little Feat Wikipedia page. It's a good introduction. I just learned that Paul Barrere died last year from it.
Willin" is my favorite country song and it plays a big part in LF lore. I had forgotten that Linda Ronstadt had covered it.
Speaking of the Eagles, let's take a drive down Seven Bridges Road...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hufU6MIS2vw
I'm surprised that you didn't choose Subdivisions before it gets abolished by Big Money Joe.
HA!
And, did somebody say Linda Ronstadt?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd8R18MpFLU&list=RDDvbjXHSb7fA&index=2
Desperado
Here's more Linda ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvbjXHSb7fA&list=RDDvbjXHSb7fA&index=1
Neil Peart was one of the best drummers around and a credit to Canadia (couldn't resist!) But IMO the best rock drummer of all time is Carl Palmer of ELP.
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and Kieth Moon (The Whole are also on my short list. I also love Phil Collins work with Peter Gabriel era Genesis. Try Riding the Screen.
Kick,
Linda did wonders for Desperado ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myq0zxDHK1g&list=RDmyq0zxDHK1g&start_radio=1&t=5
MtnCaddy,
Carl Palmer was part of the 3-hour drumming tribute to Neil Saturday night ... don't tell me you missed it!
And, because the third time is often the charm ... Linda and Falling Star ... very nice accompanying video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VmXZQVo-6o&list=RDmyq0zxDHK1g&index=3
In my prep for the big UNZIPPED exhibition next year, I came across an interview with Keith from just the other day. He was telling the story about how the Satisfaction riff was born. This is such a great story.
So, it's late 1964 or early '65 - Keith's memory is a bit foggy. NO KIDDING?! Heh.
Anyway, he's in St. John's Wood and he's been having trouble sleeping for a few days; he's been foolin' around with this new thing called a cassette recorder and he's finally ready to fall asleep for the night, leaving the recorder bedside with his guitar also close by.
At some point he wakes up, sort of, sits on the edge of the bed and starts playing his guitar and singing and then went right back to sleep again.
When he woke up in the morning, he noticed that his cassette recorder had been on 'record' and had wound to the end of the tape. These recorders were pretty new and he didn't really know what he was doing. He had no idea that he had left it running on record when he crashed. When he plays it he hears himself strumming the guitar and singing, "I can't get no satisfaction ...". He didn't remember anything about it, otherwise... he was singing and playing the guitar in his sleep! - heard it for the first time when he played back the tape! He had no memory of it but, he recorded it!!!
And, the rest, as they say, is history ... :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ8GZ3PFVGM
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower
Very nice.
How about a little Black Magic Woman ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axbtig7w7a8&list=RDaxbtig7w7a8&start_radio=1&t=0
[94]
I'm afraid I missed it. You said I had to get a ticket to watch it and I didn't have any dinero on my debit card, so I passed on it. If it's free please give me the link.
Sorry, it ain't free. I'm a big believer in paying for my music.
Well, whenever I can, I pay for it. :) Should it ever become available in future, I will surely post it here.
Anyway, have a listen to Stairway to Heaven ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbhCPt6PZIU&list=RDaxbtig7w7a8&index=3
Has Elizabeth gone to sleep? That is, is it safe to post political stuff without reproach? Let's give it a try...
Efforts to remedy glaring racial inequality in the criminal-justice system, which whites have long denied but now acknowledge, tap into principles of equal treatment that have historically been easier to get whites on board for than the big structural changes that are needed to produce some semblance of actual equality,” the political scientist Michael Tesler told me recently. “Whites have historically had little appetite for implementing the policies needed to achieve equality of outcomes.
This is from a longish read from an Atlantic article The New Reconstruction
The United States has its best opportunity in 150 years to belatedly fulfill its promise as a multiracial democracy.
IAM a politics junkie and I LOVE in-depth down in the weeds of policy articles. Kinda like, as a Progressive Rocker, I like long, complicated songs. Such as Supper's Ready by Peter Gabriel era Genesis. Enjoy!
On the other hand, I like short, sweet songs as well, like Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club.
And... Black Betty
Okay Elizabeth, give me the "gotta pay for it" link. I'll be slinging pain pills at the local Junior High School tomorrow and thus will have funds to invest in musical edification.
I don't mind paying for music, either. If artists aren't compensated then they cannot keep producing music for us.
Aren't you up past your bedtime, Darling?
Did someone say something about dead drummers?
https://youtu.be/O5Up-qHTJdY
Day-yam! Now that's a helluva drum solo.
Shoulda known that nypoet22 would still be up! "City that never sleeps" and such.
BTW do you live in The Big Apple? And did you graduate 22nd in your class at, uh, poetry school? Inquiring mind wants to know!
Here's a mellower tune...
Creep from Korn (Unplugged.)
Another fun Sunday night, eh!?
Sorry, MntCaddy, only ticketholders can re-watch the Modern Drummer Festival 2020 w/ a tribute to Neil Peart.
You'll have to sneak a few funds into your music account, every now and again, so you'll be ready for the next big event. There's bound to be many more of these types of concerts before the end of the year ...
I'm still hoping the non-virtual actual STYX concert in Niagara Falls, CA next month is a go.
@caddy,
i live in the bronx, i write poetry and songs, and the number 22 just seems to show up in my life. e.g. my sister's birthday & my wife's birthday.
Here are the top 100 greatest drummers, according to Rolling Stone ...
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-drummers-of-all-time-77933/john-bonham-37887/
I have some advice for Biden ...
Stop saying you don't understand when it comes to anything outrageous that Trump says or does. Stop talking about him.
Start talking about how you will stop the chaos. Start acting presidential, NOW!
... and put a stake in the Republican cult of economic failure!!!! This should be so easy to do. Recruit Geithner if you have to ... he's one of the very few who know how to do it!
There is no way that Trump should be leading on the economy. But, alas, he is.
Get ready for a Republican ad that shows Biden saying he doesn't understand, six ways to Sunday. :(
Biden isn't known for his great campaigning. But, this time around, a great campaign shouldn't be necessary. Seriously. What he needs to do is demonstrate a great capacity for governing well.
If Biden can't do that, then ... I don't even want to tap it out.
LizM,
Guess who agrees with you? Bernie!
I saw an interview with him yesterday and he said that Joe is too focused on talking about the orange one and he needs to start talking about economic issues. I doubt that he agrees with you regarding Geithner, though.
Yeah, probably not. :)
[113]
Elizabeth Miller wrote:
... and put a stake in the Republican cult of economic failure!!!! This should be so easy to do. Recruit Geithner if you have to ... he's one of the very few who know how to do it!
There is no way that Trump should be leading on the economy. But, alas, he is.
Joe could take away Trump's polling lead on the economy in a New York second. All he'd have to say is,
"Starting with Reagan and continuing through Trump, the tax breaks for our wealthiest Citizens have only helped the people who least need it while hurting the rest of us. Once President I will restore the tax rates to pre Reagan levels and we'll use the money to rebuild an America that works for ALL Americans, not just the rich!"
Alas, I cannot imagine Joe saying this, hence my complete lack of enthusiasm for him and for Hillary before him. A return to the fucked up pre-Trump normalcy ain't gonna cut it.
I can imagine him saying that. He isn't a Reagan Democrat, you know.
You should be very, very enthusiastic about voting for him!
I mean that sincerely, I'm not trying to be facetious here.
Actually, there is another great communicator and he was the one who actually coined the phrase, Republican cult of economic failure.
Here is David Fiderer's seminal piece from back in 2010 and updated in 2017. Just replace Bush with Trump as nothing has changed.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-bush-tax-cuts-and-the_b_781419