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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

This really is a full service blog.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Bark louder, little dog.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Come on, man.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

‘Museums aren’t America’s attic for its racist shit.’

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Republicans in disarray!

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

Bad news for Ron DeSantis is great news for America.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

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You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Area Clown Dabbles in Medical Cosplay

Area Clown Dabbles in Medical Cosplay

by John Cole|  March 24, 20204:03 pm| 195 Comments

This post is in: COVID-19 Coronavirus, Trumpery

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President Shit for Brains continues to be resistant to facts, evidence, reality, and sadly, the fucking virus itself:

President Trump said Tuesday that he wants the country “opened up” by Easter — April 12 — and continued to play down the dangers of the coronavirus pandemic even as experts warned of a worsening crisis.

A World Health Organization official said that the United States has the potential to become the new epicenter of the global crisis.

If, like me, you are wondering why Trump is apparently immune to the virus, the answer is that viruses CAN infect other viruses, it just isn’t that common. Regardless, opening up the country unless it is medically wise isn’t just insane, it’s fucking murderous. It’s gross negligence and more.

I’ve been investing in my retirement fund for thirty years, since I was 19. When I finished college, I lived in a shitty apartment that had fucking carpet on the walls from the 70’s because it was only $300 a month and every other apartment was $700+ and I drove a 1983 Chevy Celebrity until 2007 while my friends all drove new cars because I wanted to max out what I gave to my retirement and maybe be able to live when I could no longer earn. So I am invested in the stock market. It’s not much, but it is something. But if losing half of it or more saves the fucking life of just one kid’s mom or dad, it was worth every penny. This is not fucking rocket science.

And it doesn’t have to be an either/or. The way to avoid longterm economic effects are to endure the short term pain and get everybody healthy and not afraid to go out. You can open businesses all you want, no one but Darwin Award contestants are going to jam themselves in a fucking movie theater or stay for a week in a Trump Hotel if dying or killing grandma is a potential side effect, so the market is still going to be a hot mess.

Seriously, Larry Kudlow and those like him are going to kill us all, the Grima Wormtongue motherfuckers.

I’ll just end this little tirade with some sound reasoning from NFLTG Hillary:

Please do not take medical advice from a man who looked directly at a solar eclipse.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2020

Exactly.

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Reader Interactions

195Comments

  1. 1.

    dmsilev

    March 24, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    I’ve seen it suggested that he’s so desperate to re-open because Trump hotels are bleeding money and loans are coming due.

  2. 2.

    Gin & Tonic

    March 24, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    Boy, do I wish she were POTUS right about now.

  3. 3.

    Gin & Tonic

    March 24, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    @dmsilev: There isn’t a bank in the world that would foreclose on the President of the US.

  4. 4.

    Phylllis

    March 24, 2020 at 4:09 pm

    At least some Governors have good sense. Gov. Henry McMaster (known in these parts as Deputy Dawg) just announced South Carolina schools will remain closed through the end of April.

  5. 5.

    rikyrah

    March 24, 2020 at 4:09 pm

    @dmsilev:

    I don’t doubt it

  6. 6.

    Highway Rob

    March 24, 2020 at 4:10 pm

    I had a feeling his reopen-the-country idea had to do with reopening his evangelical supporters’ churches so they could get butts in seats for Easter. Gotta keep that collection plate full. And then…

    Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar
    Trump on why he picked Easter as the day he wants to end strict social distancing and reopen American businesses: “Easter is a very special day for me … Easter Sunday, and you’ll have packed churches all over our country.”

  7. 7.

    feebog

    March 24, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    Can I add that the idea that you can just shut old people into indefinite isolation to protect them while the general population goes back to work is insane. I’m in my 70s. I still work. I still travel all over the Western U.S. for that work. There are many seniors that do the same. We aren’t staying inside our homes while the rest of y’all resume normal lives.

  8. 8.

    Phylllis

    March 24, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Check out James Zirin’s Plaintiff in Chief. He lays out Trump’s byzantine relationships with Deutsche Bank very clearly.

  9. 9.

    rikyrah

    March 24, 2020 at 4:12 pm

    Cole,

     

    I saw you discuss what you were doing concerning your parents on your Twitter feed. Made me ??

     

    You are good people, Cole.

  10. 10.

    zhena gogolia

    March 24, 2020 at 4:12 pm

    @Highway Rob:

    WHY DOESN’T HE GET IT????? God, I hate him so much.

    Meanwhile, our little church has been meeting virtually for the last two weeks. The ministers make YouTubes, and we have a Zoom prayer meeting. It is incredibly nourishing spiritually.

  11. 11.

    rikyrah

    March 24, 2020 at 4:13 pm

    @Highway Rob:

    Absolute insanity ??

  12. 12.

    Nicole

    March 24, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    I am fascinated by the Right Wing attempting to sell, “The older generation will be glad to sacrifice themselves for the economy” to said older generation (seeing as how the median age of FOX News viewers is what, 65?).  These now senior citizen FOX News viewers are the same folk who, when much younger, mocked Jimmy Carter for suggesting they put on a sweater to save the planet.

  13. 13.

    Duane

    March 24, 2020 at 4:15 pm

    The Easter date is firmly aimed at the Christianists. They’ll bow down to him as their God. It’s beyond sick. Truly a death cult and they’re too blind to see. He doesn’t care if they die.

  14. 14.

    Another Scott

    March 24, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    Apparently Donnie was trying to sell his interest in the Old Post Office hotel in October. Any deal was supposed to close by January 23. I assume we would have heard if it did happen.

    Naturally, he was wanting far too much for it:

    […]

    Figures from STR, a Hendersonville, Tenn.-based provider of hospitality data, show that since 2005, sale prices for luxury hotels in D.C. have ranged from a high of $400 million (Grand Hyatt Washington) to a low of $274 million (Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill). On a per-key basis, sale prices have gone from a high of $450,450 (Grand Hyatt Washington) to a low of $224,215 (Washington Marriott Wardman Park), according to STR.

    The Wall Street Journal reported in October that the Trump Organization hoped to reap at least $500 million from the sale of its rights to the D.C. lease, which expires in 2103. That would amount to about $2 million per key.

    In early January, D.C. real estate developer Brian Friedman, who says he intends to bid on the hotel, told The Washington Post that the Trump Organization’s envisioned sale price is unrealistic.

    “There’s never been a hotel that’s sold even close to that price per [room] in D.C., and the ones that have sold for the highest prices had no ground lease,” Friedman said. “You would never get $500 million for a ground lease.”

    NREI couldn’t reach Friedman for comment.

    As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the Trump family put the hotel lease on the sale block partly in response to criticism that they were defying government ethics laws by profiting from the property.

    “People are objecting to us making so much money on the hotel, and therefore we may be willing to sell,” Eric Trump told the newspaper in October.

    Since they lie about everything, they were probably bleeding money back then, also too….

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  15. 15.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    March 24, 2020 at 4:19 pm

    Kevin M. Kruse@KevinMKruse
    My feed is filled with videos of Italian mayors cursing residents to get indoors, Brazilian cops chasing beachgoers away with a helicopter, an Iraqi man breaking up a gathering with a broom … and Americans saying some old folks just might need to die to keep the markets open.

  16. 16.

    Highway Rob

    March 24, 2020 at 4:19 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Ours is anticipating being closed / virtual liturgies thru May, although the [Denomination Withheld*] Diocese of Texas hasn’t made it official yet. But we know from Falwell’s Liberty U what the modern Pharisees will be doing.

    *-Withheld because this is a family blog, where sects talk is frowned upon.

  17. 17.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    Easter Sunday, and you’ll have packed churches all over our country.”

    Being an agnostic, this strikes me as very black comedy.

    It’s like Hannibal Lecter setting the stage.

  18. 18.

    scav

    March 24, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    @Highway Rob:

    Easter is a very special day for me … Easter Sunday, and you’ll have packed churches all over our country.”

    Truly, there will be a great fellowship of death.

  19. 19.

    WaterGirl

    March 24, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    I have been saying for 3 years now that eventually Trump’s supporters would turn on him, but that when that happens we will all be very surprised about what would trigger that to happen.

    Still hoping they will turn on him, and I have to say that in my wildest dreams, I never would have come up with “he will refuse to take action about a pandemic until 3 months in and then say let the older people die so we can save the economy”.

  20. 20.

    dmsilev

    March 24, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    @Highway Rob: Easter is just under 3 weeks from now. We’re still in the exponential-growth phase of this mess, and even if the social distancing works perfectly, it’s going to take another couple of weeks for that to show up in the new-case count and probably more like 3-4 before the number of deaths starts to level out. In other words, by Easter this could be roughly 100x as bad as it is now (not an exaggeration; at current rates, it takes about 8 or so days per each 10x growth). Hospitals everywhere, not just New York City, will be horror shows. Nobody beside Trump and his cultists will heed any sort of “all clear; everyone go back to work now”.

    Kevin Drum had an overview of the Senate bill and it provides income support for almost everyone and runs through June. That’s realistic. We may need longer, but we won’t really know one way or the other for another month or so.

  21. 21.

    dmsilev

    March 24, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    @scav: Yes, but then all the dead will resurrect, so we’re all good, right?

  22. 22.

    Nicole

    March 24, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    Playwright Terence McNally, 81, just died from coronavirus complications:

    https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-Tony-Winning-Playwright-Terrence-McNally-Dies-from-Coronavirus-Related-Complications-at-81-20200324

    :(

    (I saw Master Class on B’way, the night the lead Zoe Caldwell had food poisoning and passed out onstage, 15 minutes into the show. My boss at the time, a marvelous lady and a huge theater buff, was really, really envious I was there)

  23. 23.

    Emma from FL

    March 24, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: The only bank currently loaning to Trump is Deutsche Bank.

  24. 24.

    scav

    March 24, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    @dmsilev: ZZZZOOOOOMMMMMBBBBBIIIIEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!

  25. 25.

    Highway Rob

    March 24, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    @dmsilev:

    Nobody beside Trump and his cultists will heed any sort of “all clear; everyone go back to work now”.

    Don’t have to tell me. My guess is he’s hoping there’s a way he and his rubes can free-ride on everyone else’s precautions, and then he can take credit when the pandemic subsides without him actually having to do anything difficult. That kind of wishful thinking I could do without.

  26. 26.

    Duane

    March 24, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    @scav: Sound like something the Anti-Christ would say.

  27. 27.

    Betty Cracker

    March 24, 2020 at 4:26 pm

    @Highway Rob: Yep, and I’m thinking there’s no way on earth Bill Hemmer, that sniveling Fox News toady, ad-libbed the line about an Easter reopening (re-exposure) being a “resurrection for America.” They planned this shit, and they’ll be beating the drum about the Easter “resurrection” as a day of celebration between now and 4/12.

    Well, I hope they’re right, since they’re hell-bent on doing this. I hope everything reopens, and the rate of infection miraculously plummets. But I have a feeling when 4/12 rolls around, that clip will be played as evidence of how insane and feckless Trump was three weeks ago. We’ll see, I guess.

  28. 28.

    VOR

    March 24, 2020 at 4:26 pm

    @WaterGirl: I really wonder if it has dawned on the Fox News crew that their audience is most at risk. Could change the demographics for the election in the fall if 2M seniors die from COVID. One would hope even the dullards would see lower death rates in places like Korea and put two and two together.

  29. 29.

    gene108

    March 24, 2020 at 4:26 pm

    @Highway Rob:

    Someone should ask him, why Easter is such a special day?

    Dollars to donuts he shoots out a word salad about it being a “tremendous day”, and so on.

    **************

    I am watching cartoons, while “working” from home, and the commercials are so different than the news channels. It’s refreshing

  30. 30.

    Penny Dreadful

    March 24, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    Trump CAN’T force businesses to open and he certainly can’t force governors to lift stay at home orders.

    The press needs to stop covering his antics.

  31. 31.

    schrodingers_cat

    March 24, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    @Betty Cracker: We haven’t reached the peak of the pandemic yet. He will be singing a different tune next week.

  32. 32.

    Highway Rob

    March 24, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    @gene108:

    Someone should ask him, why Easter is such a special day? …  Dollars to donuts he shoots out a word salad about it being a “tremendous day”, and so on.

    Nero: “This guy Paul is an example of someone who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more.” {Picks up fiddle.}

  33. 33.

    Humdog

    March 24, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    My husband’s job is considered essential. A 65 year old coworker has a 77 year old wife with a fever and a cough. They are worth well over one million and own four homes. He insists on coming to work with my husband at a small shop and going out to see customers.  Out of town owner of company has asked him to wear a mask and he does but keeps it around his neck.

    I cannot decide if he hates being with his wife or simply wants to take his whole industry down with him. His wife is a Fox News watcher who knows this is all a hoax.  Gah!

  34. 34.

    janesays

    March 24, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    NFLTG? Means?

  35. 35.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    March 24, 2020 at 4:32 pm

    MSNBC: Phillip Rucker on trump just now: “He used to work in the hospitality industry”

     

    NO you stupid fucking hump: He owns a string of money-losing hotels and golf courses he wants to prop up with federal tax dollars. Jesus Christ

  36. 36.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 4:32 pm

    “America, get out there out and buy Peeps.”

    //

  37. 37.

    Dahlia

    March 24, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    @janesays: No Fucks Left to Give

  38. 38.

    dmsilev

    March 24, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: Easter is already a delay. Just yesterday, he was talking about “reopening” March 30th. I have a suspicion that “we’ll reopen in three weeks” is going to be the Friedman Unit of our time.

  39. 39.

    dmsilev

    March 24, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    @janesays:

    NFLTG? Means?

    No Fucks Left To Give.

  40. 40.

    WereBear

    March 24, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    Welp, I got furloughed today. Working in tourism, so I was bracing myself. Some of us got our jobs paused and some got an hours/pay cut. Of the two possibles, I’m okay with getting NY unemployment. We’d already pared the budget to afford the newer, safer, vehicle this summer, so there’s not a lot of fat left. Don’t know what kind of check I’ll be getting yet.

    On the other hand, I can use the time to finish my second cat book. People do have a lot of time to read :)

  41. 41.

    rk

    March 24, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    In the meantime our hospital decided at long last that we need to wear masks while working. We’ll be issued exactly one mask to be worn during the whole shift. Better than nothing though which was where we were all this time.

  42. 42.

    Cameron

    March 24, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    @Highway Rob: He sees Easter as a giant MAGA rally?  Words fail me.

  43. 43.

    Another Scott

    March 24, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: The latest data on the JH map shows the US having 10,600 new cases in the last daily reporting period.  This is going to get much, much worse before it gets better.

    :-(

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  44. 44.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Boy, do I wish she were POTUS right about now.

    Come sit 6 feet away from the other 65.8+ million of us.

  45. 45.

    Sister Golden Bear

    March 24, 2020 at 4:38 pm

    Here in the SF Bay Area, San Mateo County public health is predicting today that cases will peak in late April through mid-May. Looks like we’ll be hunkering down for quite awhile.

    Meanwhile, San Mateo County’s chief health officer, channels his inner Italian mayor:

    Our world has profoundly changed in an instant. It is now up to you all, the community, to decide what you want your future to be. If you decide you want to do your own thing and follow your own rules, you disrespect us all. You spit in our face, and you will contribute to the death toll that will follow. For those of you who say: ‘nobody tells me what to do,’ now is a time to make an exception. You can go back to being ornery in the future.

  46. 46.

    danielx

    March 24, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Certainly not Deutsche Bank, anyway.

  47. 47.

    geg6

    March 24, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    @Highway Rob:

    It drives me crazy that Nero is being compared to the Orange Piece of Shit.  Nero never actually played the violin while Rome burned and wasn’t the nut so many think he was.  In many ways, he was a pretty good emperor, as far such things went back then.  He just had a lot of enemies and murdered a bunch of them.  As happens when you are a Roman emperor.

  48. 48.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    @Highway Rob:

    “Easter is a very special day for me” 

    LOL Fuck off, you orange Soviet shitpile mobster conman demon spawn.

  49. 49.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 4:42 pm

    White House, next month:

    “He didn’t say Easter 2020!”

  50. 50.

    hueyplong

    March 24, 2020 at 4:42 pm

    I’ll give the Wall Street vampires this much– it’s true that the death of an old person might save the markets.  But it’s just one of them who has to go.

  51. 51.

    Hildebrand

    March 24, 2020 at 4:42 pm

    A close friend of the president of my congregation has died from the virus.  He was 50.  I cannot even begin to imagine his family’s grief.  Utterly heartbreaking.

    Trump and all the rest of them are ghouls.

  52. 52.

    danielx

    March 24, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    Sometime within the next week or two, he is going to DEMAND that governors lift statewide restrictions. Be interesting to see how many of them tell him to go pound sand.

  53. 53.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    @geg6

    Rome got Emperor Nero.

    We get Emperor Zero.

  54. 54.

    hueyplong

    March 24, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    @geg6: So it’s Nero libel?!?

  55. 55.

    Gin & Tonic

    March 24, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    “Easter is a very special day for me”

    I’m trying to figure out why this annoys me so much, among all the other bullshit that comes out of his pie-hole. Any person’s faith or lack thereof is purely their business, and not for me to judge, even if they are obvious Pharisees. But for someone who is so clearly areligious, who certainly could, unprompted, tell you exactly zero about Christian doctrine, to spout such a glaring falsehood just pisses me off more than it should.

    I need to force myself to relax.

  56. 56.

    The Thin Black Duke

    March 24, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    @danielx: All of them, Katie.

  57. 57.

    geg6

    March 24, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    @WereBear:

    My John got let go yesterday.  He’s getting two weeks pay and then he’ll apply for unemployment  It sucks for us financially, but at least he gets Social Security and, since he’s 73, I was worried about him anyway.  As for me, the University has committed to paying every single employee until end of April.  After that, they’ll be reassessing.  However, I don’t expect to lose my job as financial aid officer and VA school certifying official for my campus.  But you never know, so I’m crossing my fingers.

  58. 58.

    Another Scott

    March 24, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    @WereBear: :-(

    Per Dem aide familiar w/ negotiations:

    Dems have gotten universe of people who would qualify for UI expanded to furloughed, gig workers, freelancers

    Dems have increased UI benefit by $600 per week for 4 months

    Also tacked on 13 extra weeks of UI for people who run their course

    — Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) March 24, 2020

    Good luck to you, and to everyone else who Schumer and Pelosi fought to help with this bill. It’s not enough, but it’s a good start.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  59. 59.

    azlib

    March 24, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    @schrodingers_cat:

    @Betty Cracker: We haven’t reached the peak of the pandemic yet. He will be singing a different tune next week.

    My prediction is we will have exceeded the number of cases in China by the end of next week.

  60. 60.

    WereBear

    March 24, 2020 at 4:49 pm

    @Another Scott: I’m rooting for it!

  61. 61.

    Roger Moore

    March 24, 2020 at 4:50 pm

    The real insanity is the tacit assumption the economy can recover from millions of deaths more easily than being shut down for a while.  If we plan things well, it shouldn’t be too hard to give the economy a big kick start once we have the virus under control and the doctors say it’s safe to let everyone go back to work.  I’m worried that their real assumption is that the doctors are all lying and we’re shutting down the economy just to make things bad for Trump.

  62. 62.

    FlyingToaster

    March 24, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    @Another Scott: Now that we’re testing in Massachusetts, we got a huge jump in cases; 328 new in the past 24 hours.

    If we’re on NY’s doubling every 3 days path, I don’t see us peaking before Easter.  In fact, I expect that next Monday, at 2 weeks in, Governor Baker will start talking about how long we need to extend the school closures, at a bare minimum.

    WarriorGirl is cheesed because none of the neighbor kids (Watertown Public schools) are in virtual classes, yet.  I had to remind her that she’ll be out of school June 10th; they probably won’t be until June 30.

  63. 63.

    donnah

    March 24, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    First of all, Trump doesn’t care about the people who are sick and dying. He is dismissive of what the scientists and doctors are telling him, but he IS listening to his economic friends and Christian leaders.. Trump wants to keep his cult members motivated and also to push for his re-election, and he will simply say whatever he thinks they’ll approve of.

    His poll numbers are up, and there are plenty of people who believe he’s doing a good job. The stock market shot up today, and Mitch McConnell is claiming all of the glory for putting the security package together in the Senate. Republicans are going to rally and Trump will come through all of this unscathed. Just like the hooker scandal, just like Mueller Report, just like his tax returns, just like the impeachment. Only now, people are dying. It’s infuriating to see him destroying lives just so he can boost his voters, his hotels, and his ego.

    We have to take care of each other, because this administration won’t take care of us.

  64. 64.

    WereBear

    March 24, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    @geg6: Likewise we aren’t losing Mr WereBear’s disability check because of the virus. At least so far. Nothing would surprise me with this administration.

    I’m also mentally preparing to be let go should this thing drag on. Which is why I need to concentrate on this unexpected time for my projects: they are more important than ever.

    Good luck to all of us!

  65. 65.

    JPL

    March 24, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    @dmsilev: He might even say he never said that.

  66. 66.

    Duane

    March 24, 2020 at 4:54 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Trumpov ruins everything, even Easter.

  67. 67.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    Actually, dwelling on anything that comes from his mouth, other than countering the lies and distortions, is unproductive.

    Flatten the scourge.

  68. 68.

    Sister Golden Bear

    March 24, 2020 at 4:56 pm

    @dmsilev: Undoubtedly true about the hotels losing money and loans being due, but there’s a far simpler explanation: Trump’s toxic narcissism.

    Under the surface chaos of their behavior, narcissists’ actions are extremely simple and predictable:

    1. Gather adoration
    2. Avoid shame (to be clear narcissists are never ashamed of their own behavior, but are being seen as shameful by others is an existential threat to their psyche).

    A situation like this where there’s circumstances that they cannot control and which is making them look bad, is quite literally a fate worse than death for them.

    So Trump plans to declare victory on April 1, and the problem goes away then — especially thanks to his bestest, most beautiful leadership ever. Of course it’s untethered from any sort of reality but for narcissists the only reality is whatever they believe at this very moment. (Which can be 180-degrees from what they believed 30 seconds ago. If you’ve not encountered this, it’s hard to describe how gas lighting it is.)

  69. 69.

    Cameron

    March 24, 2020 at 4:56 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: What makes you think his reference to Easter had anything to do with Christianity?  More likely it’s bunnies and candy eggs.

  70. 70.

    Mary G

    March 24, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    I just clicked on Bill de Blasio’s news conference by accident and heard him say (apparently in response to a reporter on the phone) “I have no objection to you talking to the commissioner, but you should start with the person actually making the decision, which is me.” What an asshole. Very Trumpian.

  71. 71.

    Roger Moore

    March 24, 2020 at 4:58 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    They planned this shit, and they’ll be beating the drum about the Easter “resurrection” as a day of celebration between now and 4/12.

    If they end the closures prematurely, the only one getting resurrected will be the pandemic.

  72. 72.

    JPL

    March 24, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    @Cameron: and the family all dressed up at his fancy club in FL.   I still remember the clip from last year.

  73. 73.

    Brachiator

    March 24, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    We are two Americas.

    Not just greedy vs altruistic.

    I have listened to talk show hosts and callers say, “We should listen to Trump and hope he is doing the right thing.”

    They will defer to a leader that they “trust” no matter what. It does not matter what the science says. It does not matter what the experts say, even experts appointed by Trump.

    In this America, even though the buck does not stop anywhere near Trump,  these people marvel in awe and wonder at the heavy decisions that Trump must make. The people or the economy.

    The other America is sane.

  74. 74.

    Betty Cracker

    March 24, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: I think that’s true. We don’t have much in the way of real data from widespread testing, which was convenient for Trump’s earlier news cycles, but happy talk time is coming to an end. Trump can’t sweep a pandemic under the rug. A virus is impervious to bullshit spin.

    PS: I heard Modi put India on lock-down. Hope your family there is safe.

  75. 75.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    @NotMax: And chocolate eggs!

  76. 76.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 5:01 pm

    @Cameron

    Saint Ronaldus and the Jellybeans, the direct to remainder bin sequel.

  77. 77.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:02 pm

    @dmsilev:

    Friedman Unit 

    ?

  78. 78.

    WereBear

    March 24, 2020 at 5:02 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear: Cheryl Rofer makes the same point: we are all in an abusive relationship with him.

    He makes promises, he breaks them. He demands our praise and love, he makes jokes about killing us…

  79. 79.

    Ella in New Mexico

    March 24, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    He acts like we’ve got all the testing, PPE and equipment and treatments available everywhere to keep this virus under control. Ignoring every bit of info from the real world to the contrary.

    That’s not going to get significantly better in 2 weeks, particularly for the parts of the country–like New Mexico–who have not had their peak of disease yet and as such are still in line behind those hardest hit for supplies. We’re sending everything we have to the “Hot Zones” right now, and there are still shortages. Out of those areas, we don’t just have shortages we have places that literally can’t safely care for COVID patients because they’re still waiting in line for basics.

    New Mexico has 83 COVID positives as of yesterday (I’m sure it’ll be updated later today by at least 15 more). We have what could be considered a relatively manageable number of hospitalized patients across the state. But I can’t describe how freaked out my fellow nurses here are because their hospitals are asking them to care for patients without optimal PPE (having to share visors and eye shields, issuing one N95 mask for reuse or having to bring in your own, no full-coverage gowns or suits, non-COVID patients in same ICU with COVID patients) and at the same time hearing inconsistent daily updates rationalizing what the hospital is doing based on lack of resources. They’re terrified they’ll be exposed to someone pre-Positive diagnosis and carry it home. And likely they will.

    And this is why I can tell you right now we’re not gonna see the pews full in any churches on Easter that are not 100% Trump Evangelical Cult churches who think the Rapture is upon us.

  80. 80.

    Jeffro

    March 24, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    @Duane: which is funny because if a reporter asked him what Easter is all about, I can guarantee you trumpov doesn’t know.

    he’ll either say it’s Jesus’ birthday or the day Jesus died, both of which are (obvs) incorrect

  81. 81.

    Fair Economist

    March 24, 2020 at 5:05 pm

    @Hildebrand: So sorry to hear the virus is striking near you.

     

    @azlib: We will probably surpass China in cases by the end of *this* week. Less than 30,000 to go and recording > 10,000/day. Unless we slow down (unlikely) we will.

  82. 82.

    Another Scott

    March 24, 2020 at 5:05 pm

    @mrmoshpotato:

    The Lexicon knows all a lot.

    ;-)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  83. 83.

    Jeffro

    March 24, 2020 at 5:05 pm

    @gene108: whoops you got there first ?

  84. 84.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:05 pm

    @WereBear: ?WereBear’s second cat book doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo?

  85. 85.

    chopper

    March 24, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    @Highway Rob:

    Easter Sunday, and you’ll have packed churches all over our country.”

    jesus night-sweating christ, he wants everyone to die.

  86. 86.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    @Fair Economist

    “We’re #1! USA!! U-S-A!!!”

    //

  87. 87.

    Another Scott

    March 24, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    @Ella in New Mexico:

    ‘Billy, look, you just tell them and they believe it. That’s it: you just tell them and they believe. They just do.’

    One always has to keep that in mind.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  88. 88.

    SFBayAreaGal

    March 24, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear: Where I live with two of my sisters. Right now helping my other sister and brother-in-law in Elk Grove.

  89. 89.

    Fleeting Ex-istence

    March 24, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    Possibly really dumb question, but what if Congress were to actually pass a Declaration of War?  Against Pandemic?  Theoretically a war framework has everything built in, processes and accountability built in at every level, funding, all that.  Is that too weird?

    All that said, the last person on the planet who should be in charge is the one we’ve got.  I”m alarmed at the eagerness of smart people to confer yet more power to an insane power junkie, but my uninformed hope is that military institutions and people are committed to their oaths.

  90. 90.

    Shalimar

    March 24, 2020 at 5:09 pm

    @Another Scott:  Italy has reported their cases for today. US cases come in sporadically because every state reports their own. According to Worldometers.info we are roughly 2200 cases away from passing Italy for most active cases in the world. That should happen within the next 3-4 hours.

  91. 91.

    joel hanes

    March 24, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    @donnah:

    Trump wants to keep his cult members motivated

    Trump wants to go golfing, and he wants to escape the White House to Mar A Lago, and he wants this crisis to be over.

    He can’t have those fun rallies any more, and it’s making him cranky.   He’s tired of having to deal with “doctors” and “experts” who sometimes suggest things he doesn’t want to hear.   He’s thinking that this serious prezniting phase has gone on long enough.   He’s thinking he’ll declare victory and proclaim the virus banished.

    He really really wants to spend Easter in Florida, which will be a charnel house by then.

  92. 92.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    @hueyplong: When will Wilbur Ross offer himself up?

  93. 93.

    Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]

    March 24, 2020 at 5:14 pm

    @mrmoshpotato: 6 Months.  During the second Iraq war Tom Friedman kept saying the war in Iraq would be done in 6 months.  FOR THE ENTIRE WAR.

    edit: Tom, not Milton

  94. 94.

    Salty Sam

    March 24, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    @Elizabelle: It’s like Hannibal Lecter setting the stage.

    More like Hannibal Lecter setting the dinner table…

  95. 95.

    Brachiator

    March 24, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    @Another Scott:

    RE: Per Dem aide familiar w/ negotiations: Dems have gotten universe of people who would qualify for UI expanded to furloughed, gig workers, freelancers; Dems have increased UI benefit by $600 per week for 4 months

    Good luck to you, and to everyone else who Schumer and Pelosi fought to help with this bill. It’s not enough, but it’s a good start.

    I really hate the Democrats’ approach here. The emphasis should have been on keeping people employed and paid their wages, not to funnel money to them via the UI system.

    HOWEVER, the GOP Senate bill was total crap, and the House measure a vast improvement. I think I see some parts of the bill that the Democrats will readily sacrifice in order to keep more important protections.

    We will see what happens. I don’t think that McConnell is happy with this bill, and may do all he can to sink it, unless Trump is anxious to get something passed that he can take credit for.

  96. 96.

    Sister Golden Bear

    March 24, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    Went to the market and the good news is that they finally had paper products again — all the local grocery stores have been cleaned out for a week.

    The bad news, toilet paper was only being sold by the roll, limit one roll per customer. As well as only one box of tissue per customer.

  97. 97.

    joel hanes

    March 24, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    for narcissists the only reality is whatever they believe at this very moment. (Which can be 180-degrees from what they believed 30 seconds ago

    Only two days ago, Trump was presenting himself as a fighter who would never give in.

    Yesterday, he was proposing a date after which he would give in.

  98. 98.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    @danielx: Sometime within the next week or two, he is going to DEMAND that governors lift statewide restrictions. Be interesting to see how many of them tell him to go pound sand.

    So many governors that can tell Dump to stop being Putin’s bitch.

  99. 99.

    joel hanes

    March 24, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    @Cameron:

    More likely it’s bunnies and candy eggs.

    More likely it’s about golf and access to ladies of negotiable virtue.  Mar A Lago is his lair, and he misses it.

  100. 100.

    joel hanes

    March 24, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    I was at Safeway (union shop; employees have paid sick leave) fifteen minutes after the opening of the “seniors only” hour this morning.

    No TP or paper towels at all.

  101. 101.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Maybe because he’s a godless Soviet shitpile who bangs porn stars when his third (2nd mail order) wife is home with his 5th baby?

  102. 102.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    @joel hanes

    “Where else am I going to get advice from some random wealthy schmuck with chocolate cake crumbs on his tie? Huh? Answer me that!”

    //

  103. 103.

    JustRuss

    March 24, 2020 at 5:24 pm

    I’d love to get Trumps old calendars and see how he spent the 10 Easters prior to 2017.  I’ll bet at least half of them he played 18 holes.

  104. 104.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    @JustRuss

    18 holes
    “it’s patriotic. One for each of the articles in the Constitution.”

    (Is // really necessary?)

  105. 105.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    @Another Scott: Ah.  Thanks.

  106. 106.

    trollhattan

    March 24, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    In case anybody had their fingers crossed.

    Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) announced he tested negative for the coronavirus and will “remain in quarantine as the test does not rule out the onset of symptoms during the 14-day period.”

    We still have l’il Rand.

  107. 107.

    Ksmiami

    March 24, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    @Elizabelle: you mean the dinner table right?

  108. 108.

    Bluegirlfromwyo

    March 24, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    @danielx: It’ll be interesting to see if Andrew Cuomo doesn’t choke him at that point.

  109. 109.

    KSinMA

    March 24, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    @rk: That’s good. Friend of mine is a doc in a hospital where they don’t have any masks yet.

  110. 110.

    JaneE

    March 24, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    What Trump wants and what is going to happen may not be the same thing.  I expect my governor (Newsom) to keep the state on lock down until there is some evidence that the virus has been stopped.  Whether or not the Republicans comply is the only question.

    People around here are mainly Republican, but there are also a lot of three or more generation families in town, and no one wants grandma to die.

  111. 111.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    @JustRuss: Sucking the Kremlin’s asshole like he’s been doing since 1987?

  112. 112.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    WaPost: I regret that I have but one grandparent to give for my country
    Yes.  It is Alexandra Petri.

    Brave boomers, hardy millennials, Gen X, Gen Z, rise to the call! Will you make the ultimate sacrifice so that Donald Trump’s chain hotels will not have to remain closed for more than 14 days? Will you lay down your precious life, against expert medical advice, for literally no reason at all?

    No death is too unnecessary, no gain too small.

    Ask yourself whether your so-called reason for not volunteering your life in the hope that Donald Trump’s branded properties will not lose another day’s income is not instead a selfish excuse! Is your not getting to share the world with your grandchildren so great a prize that Donald Trump should be forced to be marginally worse off for a brief time? Think of all the money he has given up already to be president, which, he assured us, is LOTS — even when you remember what he gained back through emoluments!

    …. Think about what a good idea World War I was! Think of the stirring music and the posters! Is now any less the time for a senseless, massive loss of human life that will ultimately devastate the country far more than a failure to return to work for the months required? We cannot put a price on what will be lost — so how much could it possibly be worth?

    …. Here is your chance to serve! And there is still a place in the line for the people who did not ask to be volunteered — but you must help them! You can sacrifice them, too, by your decision, because this disease conveniently does not understand who is stepping up and who is not.

  113. 113.

    Ksmiami

    March 24, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    @Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]: The famous Friedman Unit- just keep the faith in Bush/Cheney

  114. 114.

    BobS

    March 24, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    @Highway Rob: How many Easters do you think Trump spent inside a church?

  115. 115.

    Suzanne

    March 24, 2020 at 5:41 pm

    @feebog: Not to mention…. SuzMom lives with me. So do I go back to work and bring it home? I should note that, prior to this, I was in hospitals all the time.

  116. 116.

    Roger Moore

    March 24, 2020 at 5:41 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    We cannot put a price on what will be lost — so how much could it possibly be worth?

    Modern conservatism in a nutshell.  They know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

  117. 117.

    Wolvesvalley

    March 24, 2020 at 5:42 pm

    Late to this thread, but it still seems alive.

    Here is a relevant Washington Post op-ed that ought to be read aloud on every TV news network every hour for the next few weeks.

  118. 118.

    Highway Rob

    March 24, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    @BobS: None of them, Katie.

  119. 119.

    Uncle Cosmo

    March 24, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    @NotMax:  A Mr. Mostel is holding on line 1. He does not sound amused.

  120. 120.

    Llelldorin

    March 24, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    @feebog: What’s amazing is that that’s the less crazy idea being touted. The crazier one is “we all just go back to work, and y’all can die if you’re gonna.”

  121. 121.

    Ksmiami

    March 24, 2020 at 5:44 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Please stay safe Ms. Cracker. As a former Miami resident, I am very worried for Florida right now

  122. 122.

    sdhays

    March 24, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    @dmsilev: He’s also just naturally stupid and impatient. He can’t ride anything out. He has the attention span of a gnat and the same level of patience. He can’t comprehend even the short term – he only comprehends “right now”.

    But I don’t doubt that this is an existential crisis for the Dump Organization, and since that’s an extension of himself, it’s adding to the pressure to “just move on”.

  123. 123.

    catclub

    March 24, 2020 at 5:47 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: “Easter is a very special day for me”

     

    it is usually when he watches the Masters and lies about how he could qualify.

  124. 124.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    @Uncle Cosmo: I read that as “Mr. Molest.”

  125. 125.

    trollhattan

    March 24, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    @catclub:

    “They said sir, please sir, enter this year. We need you! But I was busy.”

  126. 126.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    @Uncle Cosmo

    Y’know, actually mulled over that before posting but figured his innate sense of the absurd would take it in stride.

  127. 127.

    JPL

    March 24, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    @catclub: He could win this year.

  128. 128.

    Luciamia

    March 24, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    He’s the Peter Pan president. ” Just think happy thoughts and UP you’ll go! “

  129. 129.

    germy

    March 24, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    This one's a real head-scratcher. pic.twitter.com/f0mUAvCk1K— Juhana Leinonen (@JuhanaIF) March 24, 2020

  130. 130.

    Gammyjill

    March 24, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    Trump’s running scared of the November election. He’s afraid he’s going to lose if the economy is terrible, so he’s suggesting we get back to work. But he doesn’t know if it will cause lots of deaths so he’s talking like he know all the answers. He’s talking like he’s the only one that can fix it, but he’s too scared to actually do what the experts say need to be done to fix it.

     

    Poor Donald Trump. I bet he’s a lot of fun to play poker against because he scared so easy.

  131. 131.

    Duane

    March 24, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    @Brachiator: The Republican’s are desperate to cover-up their utter failure with the coronavirus, and the failure of their policies. They’re willing to let people die.To them the end justifies the means.

  132. 132.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 5:59 pm

    @trollhattan:

    “They said sir, please sir, enter this year. We need you! But I was busy.”

    And of course they were all big, burly golfers who were all blubbering like babies.

    So sick of this shit.  (Not you troll)

  133. 133.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    @Gammyjill

    “I win again. It’s a pair of twos. That’s 22! Beats the 11 from your pair of aces!”

    //

  134. 134.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 24, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    Deborah Birx sounds rather shaky.

  135. 135.

    trollhattan

    March 24, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    @mrmoshpotato:

    Union golfers, part of the Teamsters! Very rough guys, believe me.

  136. 136.

    pluky

    March 24, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    @janesays: No F**ks Left To Give.

  137. 137.

    germy

    March 24, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    CONSERVATIVES: the current generation doesn't understand sacrifice. they would never have survived the beaches of Normandy.

    EVERYONE: hey so there's a virus. you can't go on cruises, and the stock market will go down.

    CONSERVATIVES: i would prefer to die

    — Law Boy, Esq. (@The_Law_Boy) March 23, 2020

  138. 138.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    @germy:

    1. Stop trolley.
    2. Untie people from tracks.
    3. Let them go to town on dude who wasn’t tied down, because he definitely tied everyone to the tracks.
  139. 139.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    @trollhattan

    “Don’t make us go all mashie niblick on your ass.”

    :)

  140. 140.

    noncarborundum

    March 24, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    @chopper:

    jesus night-sweating christ, he wants everyone to die.

    Particularly his base, it would seem.

  141. 141.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    @trollhattan: ??

  142. 142.

    Duane

    March 24, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    @Jeffro: I’ll bet Trumpov has been real faithful about attending Easter services over the years. He’s the biggest hypocrite ever. Yes I’m being judgmental.  He deserve it.

  143. 143.

    germy

    March 24, 2020 at 6:11 pm

    @mrmoshpotato:  Good solution to the trolley problem.

  144. 144.

    Gravenstone

    March 24, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    @Highway Rob: And instead of the Lord rising 3 days after, we’ll have hordes of Trump supporters (and entirely too many in their periphery) dropping dead 3 weeks after. Not quite symmetry, but close enough for the Apocalypse.

  145. 145.

    sdhays

    March 24, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    @trollhattan: I wonder if any of the Senate Republicans’ attitudes would change if Rand Paul needs to get put on a ventilator or even dies. The odds are against it, but would that make shit finally get real for them? I know he’s not the most popular member of the caucus, but they all know him and work fairly closely with him.

  146. 146.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    @Gravenstone:

    close enough for the Apocalypse Great Wingnut Rapture of 2020.

    Fixed it for you.

  147. 147.

    Brachiator

    March 24, 2020 at 6:18 pm

    The latest news:

    A child has died of the coronavirus in California, authorities said Tuesday — the first apparent fatality of someone under age 18 in the country.

    “A devastating reminder that COVID-19 infects people of all ages,” Barbara Ferrer, head of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said in announcing three new deaths from the virus in the county, along with 128 more confirmed cases.

    The department added of the fatalities in a statement, “One individual was a youth under the age of 18, and two other individuals were between 50-70 years old.

    “The individual under the age of 18 resided in Lancaster.

    “One of the individuals between 50-70 years old had underlying health conditions and resided in West Adams, the other is from a location that is still under investigation.

  148. 148.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:   You got me to look in on C-Span.  Dang you.

    “Unbelievably” is a Trump favorite too, isn’t it?  Truth in labeling for him.

    He’s getting lots and lots of questions about the Easter timeline.  Fauci is backtracking and talking flexibility.

  149. 149.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 6:24 pm

    Trump is thinking of opening up large sections of the great wingnut heartland.  Texas.

    “They’re raring to go.”  He just said it again.

  150. 150.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    A reporter calls out to Trump’s back

    “It takes one person to [infect] a whole county.”  He exits to shouted questions about Easter.

  151. 151.

    Raven Onthill

    March 24, 2020 at 6:30 pm

    I’ve started calling Trump a genocidal maniac. This slighted edited remark of mine (sorry for the repeat) from nearly three years ago still rings true to me:

    This is a deliberate part of a program of culling the unfit and purifying the race. Someone, several someones, somewhere, has a vision of a purified American with women enslaved and without black or brown people, without weakness or illness.

  152. 152.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    Sad news about Chicago’s Lincoln Park pirates.

    PSA Chicago!!!!!Just called Lincoln Towing for a story and got a voicemail saying "unfortunately due to the coronavirus outbreak and the order to stay home we are temporarily closed." pic.twitter.com/aEzmwAmX5I— Maya Dukmasova (@mdoukmas) March 24, 2020

    Awwwww…….fuck ’em.

  153. 153.

    EmbraceYourInnerCrone

    March 24, 2020 at 6:38 pm

    @mrmoshpotato: can I sit with you? I work IT for a lab. We are being so careful with PPE. Do everything you have to for one lab before you have to dispose of your gloves. No going out to talk to people and save all your water breaks and bathroom breaks for one time if you can. We are getting all the admin and Client service people home to work but there are things you just can’t do outside a lab. It’s been nuts. My husband does IT for a University going to desktops to work. Also been nuts…

  154. 154.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    @Elizabelle

    Great horny toads, why do any of those slavish stenographers continue taking anything he says as being in the same universe as credible?

  155. 155.

    Roger Moore

    March 24, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    @germy:

    Yeah, the thing I always think about the trolley problem is that the person who is most morally culpable is whoever is in charge of safety at the trolley company.  As far as I can see, there have been four safety failures in three categories (failed brakes, people on two sets of tracks, no warning system) to set up the problem.  That speaks to a lack of appropriate safety culture at the trolley company, and the real blame lies on the people who failed to establish it.

  156. 156.

    joel hanes

    March 24, 2020 at 6:42 pm

    @NotMax:

    Why does anyone attend Trump’s pressers without at least wearing a mask?

    Why does anyone attend Trump’s pressers in person at all?

  157. 157.

    artem1s

    March 24, 2020 at 6:43 pm

    @sdhays:

    I know he’s not the most popular member of the caucus, but they all know him and work fairly closely with him.

    are any of them popular? Even with each other?  None of them seem to like each other at all.  It’s a confederacy of disagreeable people who can barely tolerate each other. Is it possible they are all rooting for everyone else to die and thinking if they are spared they finally get all the stuff to themselves?  Every time we have a tragedy or death at least one of these deplorables finds something unimaginably hostile or bitter to say about those in grief, need or trouble. So no, I’m not sure there is a single death among them that would bring the message home.

  158. 158.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    @NotMax: @joel hanes:

    I know.  And it is highly amusing to see the reporters social distancing — very few in the seats, which must be distressing to Trump — while Trump and his hostages are packed in behind the podium.

  159. 159.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    @joel hanes

    No direct evidence but Occam’s Razor says they aren’t permitted entry with a mask.

  160. 160.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    The FTF NYTimes article on the deplorable Dan Patrick is worth a click, and probably free since it’s corona-virus related.

    Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Suggests Seniors Willing to Die For U.S. Economy

    Gov. Greg Abbott has not issued a statewide stay-at-home order, preferring local control. But Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said as a senior citizen he’s “all in” on keeping the economy going.

    Mr. Patrick’s comments set off a backlash online, but were also met with some approval, with the reaction often splitting along Democratic and Republican lines. On social media, humorous GIFsabout whether the old should sacrifice themselves for the young spread like wildfire, and #NotDying4WallStreet began trending on Twitter.

    The embedded GIF is funny.

  161. 161.

    Just One More Canuck

    March 24, 2020 at 6:52 pm

    @gene108: Jesus is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more

  162. 162.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 6:52 pm

    @Elizabelle

    Yeah, and now the cable shows will spend half (or more) their allotted time reacting to this nonsense in lieu of dismissing it outright and using the time to provide informative and helpful information.

  163. 163.

    Ella in New Mexico

    March 24, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    @dmsilev:

    Easter is already a delay. Just yesterday, he was talking about “reopening” March 30th. I have a suspicion that “we’ll reopen in three weeks” is going to be the Friedman Unit of our time.

    You just gave me hope.

    Why did you do that

  164. 164.

    germy

    March 24, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live through the Great Depression and the Spanish Flu at the same time. With Andrew Johnson as president.

    — Jesse Eisinger (@eisingerj) March 20, 2020

  165. 165.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 6:58 pm

    @NotMax

    Silly redundant NotMax. No edit function, so –

    Make that informative and helpful reports.

  166. 166.

    artem1s

    March 24, 2020 at 7:02 pm

    https://twitter.com/sjgoody1/status/1242306376199802880?s=20

    Best response ever to Gov. Patrick.

  167. 167.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 7:07 pm

    David von Drehle of the WaPost apparently has a “mild to moderate” case of COVID19 and would not wish it on anyone.  He’s suffered a fever for nine days; is having vivid dreams.  He says some other patients have suffered blinding headaches, although he has missed those so far (just regular ones).

    WaPost: I probably have a ‘mild to moderate’ case of covid-19. I don’t think I could survive worse.
    This one is nothing to play around with. And his case is “apparent” because there was no testing available. Although a doctor listened to his lungs, told him he likely had it, and sent him home.

  168. 168.

    germy

    March 24, 2020 at 7:11 pm

    Sometimes an 1800-year-old papyrus can be so timely and touching:

    "Dear brother, please write me how you are, as I heard there is an #outbreak in your area, write and make me feel more cheerful about you" @BLMedieval Papyrus 2479 #WednesdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/qKIP6jXfb1

    — peter toth (@petetoth) March 11, 2020

  169. 169.

    germy

    March 24, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Several guests who attended a party at Trump’s Los Angeles golf course have contracted coronavirus

  170. 170.

    trollhattan

    March 24, 2020 at 7:19 pm

    @germy:

    “Legalith it, don’t critithith it.”

    –Peter Toth

  171. 171.

    WereBear

    March 24, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    @germy: Don’t forget CPAC

    Also, they are apparently proud about never washing their hands. Which could explain so much.

  172. 172.

    joel hanes

    March 24, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    @NotMax:

    Occam’s Razor says they aren’t permitted entry with a mask

    Yes, that’s what I think.

    And Fauci is no longer allowed to speak, lest he again show inadequate obeisance to Dear Leader

    No one should be attending these shitshows.

    No one should be broadcasting them.

  173. 173.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 7:28 pm

    @germy

    From the link:

    a disco-themed birthday party

    Trying not to snicker, shall resort to muffling with the elbow.

  174. 174.

    catclub

    March 24, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    @Elizabelle: Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick has said on Fox New that “lots of” grandparents would be willing to die in order in to save the economy for their grandchildren

     

    never mind if it is true,

    But would they be willing to die for OTHER people’s (possibly darker)

    grandchildren?

  175. 175.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    @joel hanes

    Not even press conferences, they’re Kool Aid conclaves. Heartening to see that break into regular programming live coverage is tapering off.

  176. 176.

    catclub

    March 24, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    David von Drehle of the WaPost apparently has a “mild to moderate” case of COVID19 and would not wish it on anyone. He’s suffered a fever for nine days; is having vivid dreams.

     

    Any spirits with chains warning about chains forged in life?

  177. 177.

    WereBear

    March 24, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    @catclub: Priceless :)

  178. 178.

    NotMax

    March 24, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    @catclub

    Dolt 45, as Scrooge, would dismiss it as fake boos.

    ;)

  179. 179.

    Ruckus

    March 24, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    @Shalimar:

    We are also 5 times the population size of Italy. CA has 2/3 the population of Italy.

  180. 180.

    Miss Bianca

    March 24, 2020 at 8:04 pm

    @Elizabelle: Oh my God, I laughed at that! Needed that after today!

  181. 181.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 8:17 pm

    @catclub:

    But would they be willing to die for OTHER people’s (possibly darker)

    grandchildren?

    LOL.  You have thought way further ahead than Dan Patrick on this one.

  182. 182.

    Elizabelle

    March 24, 2020 at 8:20 pm

    @catclub:   LOL.  Von Drehle probably deserves a visit from Marley, cuz he’s totally a conventional wisdom guy.

    But his dreams have been way more rugged.

    Seven days into the waves of fever, I was drifting half in and half out of sleep. I was wearing a down jacket with the hood cinched around my head. I was buried under the covers, teeth chattering. A week like that is a very long time. (Nine days, and counting, is still longer.)

    In my weird dream, I was on the high-winter prairie. I was on horseback. The ground was black mud, and where the animals stepped, the impressions of their shoes froze almost immediately. Meanwhile, a hard, freezing rain was falling, filling the ruts with ice water. I fell from the horse into the mud. The horse kept walking over me. I couldn’t stand up.

  183. 183.

    Bex

    March 24, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    @BobS: He went to some awful megachurch last year, but that was politics.

  184. 184.

    Another Scott

    March 24, 2020 at 8:29 pm

    @Shalimar: Thanks for the pointer to the Worldometers.info site. Lots of good information there. E.g.

    https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-symptoms/

    How long do symptoms last?

    Using available preliminary data, the Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission published on Feb. 28 by WHO, [5] which is based on 55,924 laboratory confirmed cases, observed the following median time from symptoms onset to clinical recovery:

    * mild cases: approximately 2 weeks
    * severe or critical disease: 3 – 6 weeks
    * time from onset to the development of severe disease (including hypoxia): 1 week
    * Among patients who have died, the time from symptom onset to outcome ranges from 2 – 8 weeks.

    :-(

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  185. 185.

    Bill Arnold

    March 24, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    @donnah:

    His poll numbers are up,

    Cite? The fivethiryeight moving average doesn’t show a jump.
    https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/
    If you’re talking about that IPSOS poll that had approval of his handling of coronavirus at 55%, it was a small sample (512 adults) and 5% error.
    (Journalistic malpractice (or deliberate propaganda) to report it without an explanation of polling error.)
    https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2020-03/topline-abc-news-coronavirus-032020.pdf

  186. 186.

    Bill Arnold

    March 24, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    If they end the closures prematurely, the only one getting resurrected will be the pandemic.

    Stealing that. It might have legs. (If it’s original.) (Others might want to try it out on twitter.)

  187. 187.

    brantl

    March 24, 2020 at 9:08 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: With the kind of things she says on twitter, that’s where she should have campaigned.

  188. 188.

    J R in WV

    March 24, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    My Kroger’s store today was also a limit one per customer, but it was a 6-pack package. We already have a 12-pack of my preferred brand… but I have IBS and sometimes need quite a bit to get even near to cleaned up. As others have remarked, I am only a few steps from the shower room, so not a huge deal…

    I also got a big pack of paper towels, and they had a ton of produce, so cilantro, italian parsley, red leaf lettuce, carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, asparagus (99 cents sale!) and limes for at least 3 weeks. To go with the select-a-booze and tonic. Hoping the tonic prevents tropical diseases! But don’t really care.

    Hang in there Sister, it might get better!

  189. 189.

    brantl

    March 24, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    @mrmoshpotato:

    Boy, do I wish she were POTUS right about now.

    Come sit 6 feet away from the other 65.8+ million of us.

     

    -THIS NEEDS TO BE A NEW ROTATING TAG LINE! – Cole, WaterGirl?

  190. 190.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    @EmbraceYourInnerCrone: I’m sorry.

    There’s an empty chair 6 feet away. :)

  191. 191.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 9:32 pm

    @NotMax: Great fucking frilled lizards!

  192. 192.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 9:38 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    1. Dan Patrick should sacrifice himself into a volcano.  (I’m not even going to look up his age.)
    2. ROFLMAO!  I was not expecting that from the GIF.
    3. ETA – Hey Mexico!  Come get some of your country back!
  193. 193.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 24, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    @brantl: You could nominate it, you amateur! :)

    (Nominates self, like an ass)

  194. 194.

    brantl

    March 24, 2020 at 10:16 pm

    @noncarborundum:

    jesus night-sweating christ, he wants everyone to die.

    Particularly his base, it would seem

    Sometimes, even solutions that sort of work, still don’t seem ideal.

  195. 195.

    SW

    March 24, 2020 at 11:34 pm

    I have come to the conclusion that the only thing that is going to end this bullshit is for this asshole to get the disease and be hit hard by it.  I wouldn’t like to see it kill him.  But I would like to see it put the fear of Allah into him.

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