I told my wife the other day that if Trump really wanted to make himself useful during the pandemic, he’d donate the use of some of his properties to hospitals and medical staff who are overwhelmed trying to fight the virus. So, it really came as no surprise to read this article:https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-congratulates-businesses-for-helping-fight-coronavirus-but-his-own-company-has-been-absent
On the other hand, many people are saying that Trump’s properties are roach and rat infested shitholes, so it’s probably just as well.
ISTR posting three or four years ago that while Trump would be a disaster, if he actually did give us universal health care, then I would give the devil his due. I’d still revile him for everything he’s done to the country, but I’d praise him for UHC if he actually did it.
DesertDog:
An historian said that, in the US and UK at least, the 1918 pandemic was bad enough that everyone had a relative or friend who died. My father’s mother, for example, was a victim. Let us hope the current pandemic does not reach that point, no matter how stupidly people act.
I have family pictures from my grandparents, and on the back of many of them are the notations of the deaths of their siblings in the flu pandemic, in Scotland. That’s my grandparents–it’s really not that long ago. I still remember flipping the pictures over, and reading the notations, “Ian, d. 1918. Dermot, d. 1918”, and so on.
I had a great aunt die at 6 months old in 1918. I don’t know the cause of death, but that year has always seemed pretty glaring to me.
I just had this brought to my attention :
After Jared Kushner’s comment about how the Strategic National Stockpile is not supposed to be for states, lots of people pointed to the fact that its own website says it is.
The language on the website has now been changed.
My screenshot from last night vs. one from today:
Yes, the website has indeed been changed.
Yesterday, Little Jared said that the national stockpile was for the federal government and not for the states (I have no idea who was supposed to be using it). This contradicted the information on the Department of Health and Human Services website. So instead of taking back Jared’s comments, the website was changed to reflect them.
Ignorance really runs in that family, doesn’t it? What does Little Jared think the “United States of America” means? Don’t bother answering…
Monty
April 3, 2020, 7:41pm
42173
He’s probably only heard the abbreviation and read it as an acronym: US (as in the clown in the White House’s family).
ThelmaLou:
Don’t bother answering…
What fun would that have been?
Monty
April 3, 2020, 7:45pm
42174
By the way, are there any supporters on this board for the clown in the White House? Explain how and why you think he’s worth supporting, especially now, please.
Yes, Trump isn’t Adolf Hitler. He’s Boss Hogg.
The Associated Press has an in-depth look at what was changed on the Strategic National Stockpile website.
After saying that states should use their own stockpiles first, Kushner on Thursday said, “And the notion of the federal stockpile was it’s supposed to be our stockpile. It’s not supposed to be states’ stockpiles that they then use.”
Until Friday, the federal Health and Human Services website had reflected a markedly different approach to the stockpile. The “Strategic National Stockpile is the nation’s largest supply of life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out,” the website used to say, according to an archived search.
“When state, local, tribal, and territorial responders request federal assistance to support their response efforts, the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency,” the website had said.
But, according to data, the description changed Friday morning: “The Strategic National Stockpile’s role is to supplement state and local supplies during public health emergencies. Many states have products stockpiled, as well. The supplies, medicines, and devices for life-saving care contained in the stockpile can be used as a short-term stopgap buffer when the immediate supply of adequate amounts of these materials may not be immediately available.”
Then officials lied about the changes:
Officials at the agency said the change had been in the works for weeks, downplaying any connection to Kushner’s comments. Kushner made his claim during his first appearance at the daily White House coronavirus task force briefing, a moment meant to highlight his growing role in managing the federal response to the pandemic, particularly in delivering vital supplies.
Oh and there’s this too:
Let’s seal them inside plastic bags.
Skypist
April 3, 2020, 10:09pm
42178
After saying that states should use their own stockpiles first, Kushner on Thursday said, “And the notion of the federal stockpile was it’s supposed to be our stockpile. It’s not supposed to be states’ stockpiles that they then use.”
What does the weasel mean by “our” stockpile? It’s for trumps and kushners only? It’s not for the people living in this country? It’s for trump to hoard so he can say he has supplies?
What are they going to do? Require them to tell the truth?
First they put him in charge of the opioid crisis, and I did not speak out, because I didn’t have an opioid problem.
Then they put him in charge of criminal justice, and I did not speak out, because I am not a criminal.
Then they put him in charge of Middle East peace, and I did not speak out, because I don’t live in the Middle East.
Then they put him in charge of the coronavirus response, and when I could not get tested, there was no one left to speak for me.
D_Odds
April 3, 2020, 11:03pm
42181
Donnie Two-Scoops sends letter to Sen. Schumer .
Senator Charles E. Schumer
Dear Senator Schumer:
Thank you for your Democrat public relations letter and incorrect sound bites, which are wrong in every way.
As you are aware, Vice President Pence is in charge of the Task Force. By almost all accounts, he has done a spectacular job.
The Defense Production Act (DPA) has been consistently used by my team and me for the purchase of billions of dollars’ worth of equipment, medical supplies, ventilators, and other related items. It has been powerful leverage, so powerful that companies generally do whatever we are asking, without even a formal notice. They know something is coming, and that’s all they need to know.
A “senior military officer” is in charge of purchasing, distributing, etc. His name is Rear Admiral John Polowczyk. He is working 24 hours a day, and is highly respected by everyone. If you remember, my team gave you this information, but for public relations purposes, you choose to ignore it.
We have given New York many things, including hospitals, medical centers, medical supplies, record numbers of ventilators, and more. You should have had New York much better prepared than you did, and as Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx said yesterday, New York was very late in its fight against the virus. As you are aware, the Federal Government is merely a back-up for state governments. Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others.
If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax, which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere (except increasing my poll numbers), and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the “invisible enemy.” No wonder AOC and others are thinking about running against you in the primary. If they did, they would likely win.
Fortunately, we have been working with your state and city governments, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill DeBlasio, to get the job done. You have been missing in action, except when it comes to the “press.” While you have stated that you don’t like Andrew Cuomo, you ought to start working alongside him for the good of all New Yorkers.
I’ve known you for many years, but I never knew how bad a Senator you are for the state of New York, until I became President.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. Or, in the alternative, call Rear Admiral Polowczyk.
Sincerely yours,
Donald J. Trump
I still cannot fathom how anyone thinks this is the way any head of state should think and act. This is not right, but sadly, it is the new normal.
MODS: I reproduced the whole letter from the White House web site. It’s fully public information.
steronz
April 3, 2020, 11:26pm
42182
Jesus Christ, this nightmare can’t end soon enough.
D_Odds:
Donnie Two-Scoops sends letter to Sen. Schumer .
I still cannot fathom how anyone thinks this is the way any head of state should think and act. This is not right, but sadly, it is the new normal.
MODS: I reproduced the whole letter from the White House web site. It’s fully public information.
Why don’t the aides who translate his gibberish thoughts into readable English don’t tell him that this letter is a very bad idea? Oh, I forgot, they’re all sycophants…
Smapti
April 3, 2020, 11:39pm
42184
Rest assured that when he’s asked about it by a reporter, he’ll call it a “perfect letter” and suggest that they’re being “nasty” by questioning its perfection.
Boss Hogg had a more attractive figure.
