Showing posts with label HEROES Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HEROES Act. Show all posts

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Trump Bets On 'Law & Order' And Swing Voters To Grab Another 4 Years? Beyond Unthinkable




"The president and his campaign are trying to project the sense of unease and violence taking place under his reign onto a hypothetical Biden administration—including by using footage of protests not in the U.S., but in Barcelona.   Is this the sign of a failing campaign deeply behind in the polls, responsible for an unprecedentedly disastrous response to a pandemic and a tone-deaf answer to protests against police violence? Yes, certainly. But there’s also a deeper subtext: Trump is implicitly promising a no-holds-barred authoritarianism if he wins a second term."   David Atkins, 'Trump's Message Isn't Confused. He's Promising A Dictatorship', Smirkingchimp.com

"The Republican party claims to be a party of law and order. But respect for law and order does not consist of what you can get away with.  The GOP's cynically illegal acts offend our core principles of democracy." -  Letter writer in Denver Post

Amidst the holocaust of erosion in national honor, unity, truth and decency that has been the Trump criminal cabal, it is unthinkable they could snare another 4 years based on "law and order".    And yet a WSJ article from today (p. A4) poses that as a potential reality, e.g.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-bets-on-law-and-order-message-to-sway-swing-voters-11598673661

Excerpt:

"With Mr. Trump trailing the former vice president in national polls, and by a smaller margin in many battleground states, his team is banking that the chaotic images from places such as Kenosha, Wis., and Portland, Ore., won’t just rally their base, but sway undecided voters and suburban voters who had been moving away from Mr. Trump. “The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who’s best on public safety and law and order,” Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News this week."


Law  and order?  Trump?  This is a guy who's paid hush money to porn stars, used his office to get dirt on political opponents (using other nations like the Ukraine) and openly conspired with the Russkies to toss the 2016 election his way, as a recently released Senate intel report confirms.  This is a dirtbag surpassing all historical dirtbags in degeneracy as well as pathology.  Well, okay, maybe with the exception of Adolf Hitler!

Even given that up to 60 percent of swing voters are known as "low information"  (i.e. get most of their news from Facebook or other social media) it is incomprehensible they would bite on the above Kellyanne Conway dreck and vote the most lawless white trash in U.S.  history back into office for another chaotic, hideous and LAWLESS term. 

A Biden presidency would usher in "more chaos, anarchy and vandalism"? Hello!  That is happening NOW under Trump!  Hence, as Chris Hayes put it on 'All In' Friday night, "the greatest  political Jedi mind trick ever would be to get enough people to believe the chaos we now see under Trump is somehow connected to Biden - or will be."   

To quote Janice: "It would take an especially low I.Q. to believe that!"  Yeah, but no one ever lost money - as H.L. Mencken once wrote - by underestimating the intellect of the American voter.   That includes believing that the social unrest widespread now is somehow the Democrats' fault when pro-Nazi and KKK  prez Trump has fanned the flames of bigotry to the point of encouraging right wing vigilantes to show up at peaceful protests and incite violence - by displaying long guns and even firing them. 

Are undecided voters truly dumb enough to put this infernal maggot back into office when they have to know deep down he will only make things worse? Especially the U.S. response to the pandemic - which I already predicted will see more fatalities than the Civil War deaths (675,000) if Trump gets in again. DO the 'swing' voters really want that, as well as the unending chaos, rage tweeting and FOX TV -watching that marks Trump's existing presidency, far less another term?   Can they really abide another ten million jobs lost and a total cratering of the economy into a Depression because Trump and his cabal still haven't dealt with the pandemic?

Clueless Peggy Noonan, vying for the journalist 'weasel of the year' award, scribbled in her latest WSJ column re: the RNC - (Aug. 29-30, p. A13):

"The Republicans confronted what the Democrats at their convention glossed over: rising crime, looting and rioting in city protests."

Conveniently omitting the vicious right wing elements who've descended on the peaceful 1st amendment protected protests, in order to wreak havoc,violence and even deaths - using the peaceful protests as shields.  The Denver Post drew attention to this in a piece (Aug. 28, p. 5A) noting how in the very minutes after the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, right wing sites were summoning  "militias" to  travel to Kenosha  - and use the ruse of "protecting businesses" to arm themselves and shoot protesters.   Well, Kyle Rittenhouse, a self -professed pro-Trump punk heeded the call to arms, traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois, and blew away two protesters (one of whom was attempting to stop him after he'd already fired off a few rounds). 

This deranged right wing imp actually paraded along an avenue in Kenosha with his long gun in the open with nary a cop trying to stop him - and certainly not firing seven rounds into his back like they did with Blake.  


Clearly demonstrating one set of laws for white punk right wingers, another for black men instantly marked as public enemy No.1 for allegedly holding a knife.  How many other KKK'ers, Aryan Nation creeps, Proud Boys, Boogie Bois et al were in Kenosha that night, we have no way of knowing. More than likely, as Janice opined, the others went into hiding or left after the Illinois terrorist (Rittenhouse) fired off his rounds killing two.  But does Peggy Noonan factor in any of this? Hell no.

She also has the nerve to write (ibid):

"Republicans hit on the one shared fear shared equally now by the rich, the poor and the middle: that when you call 911 you have to go to voicemail."

Again displaying a cluelessness unbecoming of a journalist.   If she'd done even limited research she might have been able to trace that defect to the lack of funding for public - state and local- emergency and other services.  That was earmarked in the HEROES act, but Mitch McConnell has sat on it, refusing to let it pass.  The lack of action has caused state and local economies - subject to Covid lockdowns - to crater leaving precious little in the 'pot'.  Yet Noonan mentions none of this.  However, I do give her props for at least writing:

"This country is full of law -abiding people of all colors who are appalled by Donald Trump.  It is political malpractice to push them toward him."

Indeed it is.   So that means when writing your op-ed columns to deliver the details of the truth, not the "post truth" Trumpie version of events!

As I wrote in a previous post, "no good thing can really be said of our nation until and unless the Trump interregnum is totally canceled, extirpated." Why is this? It's because Trump and his cabal have turned the state into a criminal enterprise and which promises to metastasize if he's given a 2nd term, out of voter ignorance, laziness (not voting) or indifference.     A core problem also, which resides mainly in the media, is that for decades Western legal thought had viewed the state as the ultimate guarantor of safety.   This is why Obama and other Dem critics of Trump have echoed the same refrain, "A president has one job to do, to protect the American people".  Well, not just the president but the whole infrastructure with which he governs (including agencies like DOJ, FDA, FBI, CIA, etc.)  as well as congress.   

 The problem is that the U.S.  media, as well as many legal theorists (and even some historians),  have problems when a developed state - like the U.S. - itself turns into a criminal entity.   This is beyond their imagination despite the fact it already happened when - under Adolf Hitler- the German state  became the agent of criminality as well as the principal perpetrator of crimes, e.g. the slaughter of 6 million Jews and many others.   Most distressing to read was the opening paragraph of a recent review on the book, 'Hitler- Downfall: 1939-1945', in The Denver Post, e.g.

"The impulsiveness and grandiosity, the bullying and vulgarity, were obvious from the beginning.  If anything, they accounted for Adolf Hitler's anti-establishment appeal for Germany's unpopular conservative elites.  Hitler's energy and theatrics made him an enticing partner when they appointed him Chancellor in 1933.  But anyone who thought Hitler and the Nazis would rise to the occasion were summarily purged from the system as an utter impossibility became indomitable reality: The Weimar Republic had become the Third Reich.

It would take another world war, a genocide and millions of dead before the dictatorship finally collapsed in 1945, a full 12 years after Hitler was invited into power.""

A kind of repeat of history is on the verge of happening again with Trump. if U.S. citizens become too besotted by fear to think clearly, or believe this criminal tyrant in waiting really has their interests - and safety - at heart.   Fortunately, the distinction is we have the chance for a do-over of the horrific mistake that brought Trump to power in 2016.  The Germans didn't once Hitler was appointed Chancellor.  But we cannot afford to fuck this up, not again!

 The fact of over 180,000 dead from the pandemic ought to convince any thinking - hell sentient person-  that Trump is not their friend.  Or their protector. He is their Alpha predator merely waiting for the chance to rip their throats out.

See also:
by David Atkins | August 30, 2020 - 6:30am | permalink


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Sunday, August 9, 2020

A Reality Check: Trump's Covid Relief Exec Orders Aren't Worth An Ounce of Doggie Lickspittle


"Come on in, suckers!  I got great news for ya! I'm gonna revive unemployment bonus insurance and extend the moratorium on evictions! Howzzat for a stable genius!"

"We begin with a foundational premise, a stone-bound axiom learned the hardest of hard ways after three long years: Donald Trump does not care about you, or me, or anyone on this planet. Donald Trump cares only about Donald Trump, full stop, end of file. Do not let the triumphant-sounding weekend headlines about his executive orders fool you; those orders are made of soap bubbles. Yes, friends, it’s yet another scam.'"   - William Rivers Pitt, smirkingchimp.com

On Saturday, frustrated on no headway made by congress passing the HEROES Act - to help over 35 million jobless American workers- Trump took (executive) action on his own.  He fired off executive orders claiming to extend unemployment insurance, as well as defer the payroll tax until year's end, and reinstate a moratorium on evictions.  The latter to prevent up to 22 million getting tossed onto the streets in the middle of a pandemic.

 Knowing at some level it is congress that controls the power of the purse, the Dotard said he would use unspent funds from the CARES act to continue unemployment payments to millions of newly unemployed Americans at a rate of $400 per week – a $200 drop from the earlier $600 payment, (Which will cause at least ten million to now have to choose between rent and utilities - or food.)  Further, in reality his order only supplies $300 more per week, expecting the Covid near- bankrupted states to provide the rest.  This is sheer lunacy given the budget morass of the states.

He also plans to defer payroll tax through the end of 2020, though that will not help the millions of 'gig' workers affected during the pandemic.

Typical of the consummate con man he is, Trump claimed:

“Congressional Democrats have stonewalled our efforts to extend  this relief,”

Actually, Trump and the Repukes have stonewalled in resisting spending the money needed to help over 30 million stay on their feet and not be sucked into a financial loss maelstrom.  Most of those millions are a cat's whisker from losing a home or domicile or not having enough food.  But the 'pukes keep insisting a  $600 bonus in unemployment insurance would incline too many to stay at home watching TV and chomping Twinkies-  instead of going back to work.  This despite several reports and research papers skewering that claptrap.

By contrast, the HEROES Act passed by House Democrats in May would have extended the enhanced $600 unemployment benefit through January, but the White House and Senate Republicans sought to change the formula for these benefits so that — in many cases — the weekly payment came to about $200 a week. Republicans eventually changed their offer and told Democrats they would agree to about $400 a week in benefits-  but only for 5-6 weeks - not to year's end.  The Dems had sense enough to grasp this was a joke, a non- starter, especially given the fact that by changing from $600 to less per week bonus, state job offices would take weeks - maybe months-  to have to reconfigure their systems.

Asked by a reporter why the benefits would be $400 instead of the previous $600, Trump responded: “This is the money they need, this is the money they want, this gives them a great incentive to go back to work.”

He added: “There was a difficulty with the 600 number because it really was a disincentive.”

But that's balderdash as I noted.  In fact, the money has nada to do with incentives to return to work. Americans already have that. What they don't have is enough money to meet all their financial obligations especially during renewed lockdowns in many areas as the virus returns.  Also, they need more jobs created to be able to FIND work, given there is currently an estimated 5 workers to each available  job.

Let's also note the Republican package failed to include an additional $1,200 direct payment to individuals, money for states to hold elections in November, or support for the beleagured US Postal Service, which  Nancy Pelosi said was “central to the life of our democracy” in an election year when many Americans will be voting by mail.

So the Dems had no choice but to hold out for a sane deal, which the Reepo atrocity was not.  Oh, and also it meant not allowing the Trust Act to go through - as part of the Repuke package, e.g.


When one looks beneath the 'hood' of these  Trump "exec orders"  (actually one real order and three 'memoranda')  one sees they are mostly shams.  How so?

Trump’s unilateral actions, if carried out, would provide only limited relief. The White House on Saturday authorized taking about $50 billion from the FEMA fund  (in the middle of hurricane season, mind you) to pay for unemployment benefits.  But that money will only last about five weeks before expiring,   Worse, it could well take 5-6 weeks to get the increase implemented .  This is given the states are expected to supply $100 of the $400, but they are running on financial fumes. Here in Colorado, for example, a $3 billion estimated budget shortfall exists because of the pandemic, As Gov. Jared Polis indicated  (Denver Post,  p. 8A) that means the state will only be able to provide the supplemental $100/week for 2-3 weeks at most.  Polis is hoping by the end of that temporary aid the White House will 'get real'  and  cooperate with Congress for real stimulus money.  Well, don't hold your breath, Guv.

Basically, Trump’s action on unemployment does not funnel additional money to the existing unemployment program, but instead creates a new program for “lost wages” that states will then have to set up from scratch (since they will  have to commit to the $100 additional support Trump does not). This could take up to two months, their monies are also running low for any added administrative purposes, and meanwhile people are without a pot to piss in.

Regarding the suspension of the payroll tax, another element in his orders, one Trump aide admitted (Denver Post, today, p. 12A):  "Yeah, it's really an interest -free loan that would have to be repaid, not a freebie."

As for the order to minimize evictions and foreclosures, it  does not reinstate the federal eviction moratorium that expired last month or fund the billions in assistance necessary to help people already behind on their rent.  Instead, it calls on the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to “consider” whether it is necessary to temporarily halt evictions.

All a Trump sleight of hand, or in more blunt language another of his cons, a classic one. As Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote on Twitter:

"This scheme is a classic Trump con: play-acting at leadership while robbing families of the support they need. This ‘plan’ fails to reinstate supercharged unemployment, and would throw already overburdened state programs into chaos, making it harder to get benefits out the door.”

More precisely, from the order lingo:

 The Treasury Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development “shall identify” federal funds to provide temporary assistance to renters and homeowners “who, as a result of the financial hardships caused by COVID-19, are struggling to meet their monthly rental or mortgage obligations,”.

Jack Smalligan, a former official at the Office of Management and Budget and now a senior policy fellow at the Urban Institute, put it this way:

"The President cannot create new money with an executive order. These EOs simply show the limitations of the President’s legal authority,”

Even senior members of Trump’s cabal cast doubt on the feasibility of these blatant PR maneuvers.   Most believe it a 'hail Mary' play for Dotard Donnie to try to recover lost ground against Biden. This  since nothing else seems to work and Trump himself  doesn't relish doing much real work to stop the virus.  He'd rather tweet and watch Fox News. (Mary L. Trump in her new expose book says that is all he really likes to do.  The thought of actual work is a buzzkill.)

The sad fact is most of the media and likely too many citizens have been played by this political posturing move of desperation.   To make matters worse, the Trump administration recently decided against extending a food stamps waiver that allowed needy families to bypass certification, such as providing pay stubs. The move will now reduce the number of eligible families in the coming months, even as other stimulus measures expire.

One hopes that on November 3rd the many millions of seniors who still fancy Trump won't be taken in again. Especially given he's promised to cut the payroll tax permanently if he gets re-elected. Meaning Social Security's Trust Fund will run out of money even earlier than now forecast (2035).

See Also:

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Thursday, July 16, 2020

A "Majority" Of Voters Approve Of Trump's Handling Of The Economy? What Alternate Planet Earth Are They On?


"Hey! I'm still doin' great with the economy according to dummy voters! What more could I want?"

As  far -fetched as it sounds - and it breaks all barriers for fiction -  Trump (despite falling approval across the board) "has maintained the backing of a majority of voters on the economy, with 54 percent approving of his handling of it - a record high in the poll" (WSJ, July 16, 'Poll Shows Biden's Lead Growing', p. A4).  Which begs the question: How could so many Americans' brains be eaten away  even in the midst of a pandemic?  One which, by the way, Trump has vastly rendered worse by his atrocious handling of it, leading to 134,000 + dead and 45 million unemployed.  See e.g.

 Trump Has Sabotaged America's Coronavirus Response


One must therefore ask: If American voters' brains are intact, what alternate Earth are they living on in which Trump is an economic star?  What do those 45 million people who are unemployed really think of this con man?   Do they really thank him for farting around for 2 weeks claiming a virus "hoax"?  And then as time ran out and ICUs filled up,  triggering lockdowns as a last resort blunt weapon against Covid that cost them their jobs.  Or do they naively blame the virus instead?  

Do they approve of his handling of the economy because they now happen to be flush with some cash after those $1200 stimulus checks arrived, and the $600 / week unemployment insurance bonus (which is due to end by July 27th)?  Oh yeah, and will they still be handing him boffo approval ratings when the moratorium on evictions expires July 23 and some 22 million are tossed onto the street?

Janice has the opinion that this majority of voters are approving of Trump's economy handling because they still have 401ks and the stock market is still going up. Ok, in burps and fits, but still going up - for now. Mainly because these loopy  momentum investors  driving the stocks, mutual funds (not the passive holders), are placing their bets on an optimistic future where the virus is conquered by January, and jobs proliferate, people are back at work etc.  (cf. WSJ, May 9-10, 'Investors Shrug Off Jobs Data') .   To wit:  "The reopenings have encouraged investors that the economy is poised for a rapid rebound by early 2021"'

But looking at the explosion of Covid cases and overwhelmed  hospitals  (WSJ, today, p. A1) that's more a pipe dream.   My bet now is that 30 - 45  states will have to renew lockdowns to prevent their ICUs and hospital workers being overrun, also because too many idiots refuse to wear masks. 

Let's assume Janice is correct that it's the 401 k holders giving Trump this economic boost.  What will their 401ks look like after the unemployment bonuses end, and the evictions (for non payments of rent) start back, and the only thing left between them and the dumpster fare is cashing out their 401ks?  Or, maybe they are looking for Mitch McConnell to come through again with the HEROES Act and more unemployment bonuses and stimulus checks. Well, they shouldn't hold their breath because Mitch has no intention of tossing more money into the ring and running up more deficits.  

The GOP lot has already made their stance clear to citizens who want to get through the pandemic lockdowns etc. and financially  survive. No more money, but "You can find something new to do!" (Ivanka two days ago) Or hey, you can cash out your 401(k) or  large part of it.  Or, you can ask the IRS for a loan!  

The one good aspect in all this unreality?  According to the same WSJ piece from today on the polling:

"By more than 2 to 1, voters said they're more likely to vote for a candidate who is more focused on stopping the spread of the virus than on reopening businesses."

And, of course, successful reopening of businesses is directly tied to the  real economy. Never mind the pop-eyed detachment of the stock market and the irrational exuberance of its minions. Ultimately, it is Main Street and its jobs economy - tens of millions now unemployed and likely more by November- which will be the noose that finally hangs Trump once and for all.

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