Monthly Archives: April 2020

The Government They Deserve

Every  nation gets the government it deserves.

~Joseph de Maistre

King Emoji Emoticon | King emoji, Emoticon, King cartoonThose who are unfamiliar with the above quoted 19th century philosopher might surmise he was warning citizens in democracies to carefully consider their votes.  Quite the contrary.  Actually, he was defending the French monarchy against those who advocated a more representative  form of government.  If de Maistre were alive and well on social media today, his avatar would be a royal emoticon and Donald Trump’s occupancy of the Oval Office would be his “ITUS” moment (“I told you so” in Twitter lingo).

Except for one thing.  Nations do not vote.  People do.  And in 2016, three million more Americans said, “We do not deserve Donald Trump.”  Therefore, while all Americans are now feeling the brunt of this minority-driven, electoral coup d’etat, it is the 62.9 million voters who thought it was a good idea putting a reality show host in the White House who deserve what they got.

Not that they need reminding, but what did they get for their four plus years of blind loyalty?  As of this morning, 16,693 deaths attributed to COVID-19 and more than 16 million first-time unemployment claims over the past three weeks, surpassing the worse days of the Great Depression.  If not for the gravity of the current situation, the ITUS moment belongs to the 69 million voters who said, “Not on our watch.”

What I find more ironic this morning is my new appreciation for Trump’s claim that he understands “forgotten Americans,” those who live paycheck to paycheck.  It certainly is not due to a sense of empathy for those less fortunate than himself.  It is because he is one of them.  How do I know this?  By comparing Trump’s behavior, not as president, but as CEO of his family business and as the head of a household, to my own.

Our household is the epitome of the classic Henny Youngman joke about the man who is hit by a car crossing the street.  The EMT asks, “Are you comfortable?”  To which the man replies, “I make a nice living.”  In the midst of a global pandemic and economic shutdown, my wife and I, if asked the same question, would respond, “We make a nice living.”  We are both what you might call semi-retired senior citizens who are self-employed.  We do not depend on the revenues from our small businesses. We live off two pensions and Social Security.  Our home and two cars are debt free.  None of the promised benefits in the coronavirus relief bills will make a significant change in our financial situation.  The only discussion we have had about our anticipated $2,400 federal check is how best to spend it in our community to help those for whom the payment is not even a drop in the bucket.

At the other end of the continuum are those less fortunate.  In our home state of Florida we see them standing in long-lines at the unemployment office because governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis emasculated the unemployment programs in the Department of Economic Opportunity.  We read how local banks are swamped with requests for assistance under the small business loan and grant programs authorized in the $2.2 trillion CARES Act.  And what must be the single most outrageous travesty, 20 states have included payday lenders as “essential services” under their shelter-in-place orders.  (NOTE:  The Pew Foundation reports clients of payday lenders lose an average of one-third of their purchasing power as a result of these lenders’ fees and interest.)

So where does Donald Trump fit on this continuum?  Within days of shutdowns in several states where Trump properties are located, the Trump Organization was asking Deutsche Bank to renegotiate loans. As of April 3rd, the Trump Organization has laid off more than 1,500 workers in the United States and Canada.  And while other hotel owners are offering space to first responders and medical staff in COVID-19 hot spots, the Trump Organization has made no such gesture.  And finally, while REAL billionaires like Bill Gates, Mark Cuban and Jack Ma have reached into their own pockets to pay for testing, medical supplies and research, not a dollar from Donald, Junior, Eric or Ivanka.

Bottom line?  All those who voted for Trump in 2016  thought he was a rich guy who cared about Americans who live hand-to-mouth.  Sorry, that does not seem to be the case.  You got someone more like you than the image he projects.  Remember, net worth is not about assets alone.  You also have to take account of liabilities.

Many pundits refer to Trump as a “day-trader.”  His actions suggest such a description is far too generous.  He thinks and acts more like those who depend on the next check to make it through the month.  Yet, instead of empathy for his kindred spirits, he prefers to spend his time talking to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, many of whom are donors.  Maybe if you sign over your relief check to Trump’s re-election campaign you too will get a call.  But do not hold your breath.  Or what you have left of it after contracting the coronavirus from carriers who have not and never will be tested.

EPILOGUE: Bookends

This postscript to today’s post comes from the Deprogramming101 “Wish I’d Said That” Department.  This week, New Yorker magazine editor David Remnick wrote:

The Trump era began on July 21, 2016 with “I alone can fix it,” and ended on March 13, 2020 with, “I don’t take responsibility at all.”

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP

 

True Colors

 

If nothing else, we have learned that one’s reaction to a crisis exposes their inner character.  And yesterday was no different.  No, I am not talking about Donald Trump.  We did not need a pandemic to understand what makes him tick.  Yesterday, Bernie Sanders was the one who had to deal with an unpleasant reality.  He took the stage to thank his supporters for their hard work.  He restated the obvious; Donald Trump is an existential threat to democracy. And acknowledged Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee.  Following Sanders mid-day announcement, we got an unfiltered look at a wide range of reactions to the news.

Anthony Scaramucci, the 11-day wonder, an exile from the Trump administration, tweeted Biden’s 2020 campaign logo and then retweeted a link to The Atlantic article, “Americans Are Paying the Price for Trump’s Failures.”

The three co-founders of The Lincoln Project, all former Republicans, including KellyAnne Conway’s husband George, tweeted, “We are proud to endorse @JoeBiden for President. As America contends with unprecedented loss, we need a leader who can steady the ship, heal our common wounds, and lead us into our next national chapter. Joe Biden has the humanity, empathy and steadiness we need in a leader.”

Katie Porter, Democratic congresswoman from California, who endorsed and campaigned with Elizabeth Warren, tweeted, “Today I endorse @JoeBiden  for president. This trying time for our country has made crystal clear that elections matter and that we need a strong, honest, and compassionate leader in the White House. Donald Trump is not that person; we must defeat him in November.”

The Republican mayor of Sterling Heights, Michigan Michael Taylor had previously endorsed Biden.  “Biden is the candidate who can unify all of the Democrats, and … who can appeal to moderates and Republicans like me who don’t want to see four more years of President Trump.”

I guess all these folks were listening to Sanders when he said the prime directive is to defeat Donald Trump in November.  And now that Biden is the presumptive nominee, they were quick to unite behind him.  Too bad Bernie was too busy talking and not listening to himself.

In his mind, what was the best way to get down to the business of making the case against Trump?  During the remarks accompanying the suspension of his campaign, did Sanders ask his supporters to get behind Biden?  No.  Instead he implored them to continue “the revolution.”

While Vice President Joe Biden will be the nominee, we must continue to assemble as many delegates as possible where we will be able to exert significant influence over the party platform.

Do we really need a repeat of Sarah Silverman and Al Franken at the Democratic Convention begging Bernie supporters to get behind the nominee?  Does Bernie not realize when his fans shout down speakers at the convention, the only thing they are doing is starring in video clips which will soon appear in Trump campaign ads?

Only in America, in the middle of a pandemic, could we have three realities.  One defined by data and facts.  And not one, but two Bizarro Worlds, created by individuals who claim to represent the national interest from admittedly different perspectives, yet whose actions reveal just the opposite.

Yesterday, Sanders claimed he and his supporters had won the ideological battle.  In what world is 33 percent of the electorate a victory?  But, for argument sake, assume he is right.  Bernie, you realize what you just said.  I am the failed leader of a movement embraced by a majority of Americans.

Which exposes Sanders’ true colors.  He tells us the two things that matter most to him are defeating Donald Trump and advancing his progressive revolution.  If that were the case, here is what he should have said yesterday.

Today I am endorsing Joe Biden and urge every one who voted for me to do same.  But rejecting Trump is not enough.  We must reject Trumpism.  And that means voting “blue” up and down the ballot in November.  Everything we tried to do in this campaign goes down the drain if Trump is reelected, Mitch McConnell is still majority leader, Kevin McCarty is speaker of the house and there are more federal judges who support GOP efforts to suppress the vote.

But he chose not to do that.  Which tells you all you need to know.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP

 

The Hack Act

(a)  An employee may not engage in political activity—

(1)  while the employee is on duty;
(2)  in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by an individual employed or holding office in the Government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof;
(3)  while wearing a uniform or official insignia identifying the office or position of the employee; or
(4)  using any vehicle owned or leased by the Government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

(b)

(1)  An employee described in paragraph (2) of this subsection may engage in political activity otherwise prohibited by subsection (a) if the costs associated with that political activity are not paid for by money derived from the Treasury of the United States.

(2)  Paragraph (1) applies to an employee—

(A)  the duties and responsibilities of whose position continue outside normal duty hours and while away from the normal duty post; and

(B)  who is—

(i) an employee paid from an appropriation for the Executive Office of the President; or
(ii )an employee appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, whose position is located within the United States, who determines policies to be pursued by the United States in relations with foreign powers or in the nationwide administration of Federal laws.

~5 U.S. Code § 7324

Trump's Media Attacks Are Always Shameful. But in the Middle of ...Perhaps you are more familiar with the above citation as the Hatch Act of 1939 which restricts political activities by federal employees and state or local officials associated with programs paid with federal funds.  And if you read the text you have to ask, “How on earth could Donald Trump’s infamous March 6, 2020 field trip to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta (between golf outings at Mar-a-Lago) not violate the law?”  Let’s examine this occasion, provision by provision.

  • Trump was on duty. CHECK
  • He was at the CDC, an agency of the United States government.  CHECK
  • He was wearing a jacket with the presidential seal.  CHECK
  • He was transported in government vehicles.  CHECK

And yet he engaged in political activity by wearing a baseball cap embroidered with his 2020 presidential campaign slogan, “Keep America Great.”

For the record, federal officials covered under the act are allowed under subsection (B) to participate in political activities outside of their normal duties and responsibilities “if the costs associated with that political are not paid for by money derived from the Treasury of the United States.”  For example, both the Democratic and Republican National Committees provide space in their D.C. headquarters for members of Congress to make fundraising phone calls, since use of their Congressional offices would violate the prohibition on the use of public monies.  However, in the case of the visit to the CDC, Trump was within his normal duties and the costs were covered by Treasury.

What is the penalty for violations of the Hatch Act?  According to §7326 of the code, “An employee or individual who violates section 7323 or 7324 of this title shall be removed from his position, and funds appropriated for the position from which removed thereafter may not be used to pay the employee or individual.”  Of course, prosecutions of the law are the responsibility of the attorney general and his Department of Justice.  (You can stop laughing now.)

But for once, Bill Barr is blameless.  §7322. DEFINITIONS states, “For purposes of this subchapter–(1) ’employee’ means any individual, other than the President and Vice President.”  Remember all the senators and representations, during the impeachment process, who claimed no one, even the president of the United States, is above the law (though some actually meant it).  Well, if you REALLY want everyone, including the president to be treated equally, it just might help if you made them SUBJECT to the law.  Congress, are you listening?

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP

Cringe Watching

 

The guests at the last dinner gathering my wife and I attended before the “Great Isolation” included two of the three friends who share responsibility for the monthly “Cinema and Conversations” events we host at our local bookstore.  Naturally, our conversation turned to the topic of film, especially since the Academy Awards show had aired the previous Sunday.  When asked how I felt about Parasite taking home so many Oscars, I responded I thought it was deserving with the caveat I did not think much of the competition.

1940 Academy Awards - Actress VIVIEN LEIGH with her "Best Actress ...For most cinephiles, the gold standard remains 1939.  Imagine having to chose between Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Of Mice and Men and Stagecoach for Best Picture.  (HISTORICAL NOTE: The category was then called “Outstanding Production” which is why the Oscar for Best Picture is still handed to the producers who manage the business of film making rather than the creative talent.)  Each of the 2019 nominees had their moments, e.g. a shirtless Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood according to one female friend.  But I doubt, 50 years from now, many will break into the American Film Institute’s “100 Best Films of All Time.”

For movie lovers, being confined to one’s home is reminiscent of an episode of The Twilight Zone titled “Time Enough at Last.”  Burgess Meredith plays a bank clerk who loves to read.  When he becomes the sole survivor of a nuclear war, by virtue of being in the underground bank vault when the attack occurs, he sees it as the opportunity of a lifetime to spend every waking hour immersed in books.  I will not spoil the ending for those who may be binge watching a Rod Serling marathon on Hulu.

Which brings me to last night.  Imagine, all the time in the world to catch up on the films you had been too busy to take in during normal times.  I started with the HBO premiere movie Good Boys, a raunchy coming-of-age story which had received positive reviews (80/100 on Rotten Tomatoes).  Five minutes into the narrative, I was reaching for the remote control.  My next choice was a 2019 independent production The Party, not to be confused with the 1968 film of the same name starring Peter Sellers and Claudine Longet.  This selection was based largely on the fact the cast included Patricia Clarkson who is chiseled on my Mount Rushmore of female actors and it received an 81 rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  However, my attention lasted less than 15 minutes before the parade of dysfunctional house guests engaged in drugs and pending violence were dismissed.  A British anthology found the same fate.  I feared I was becoming a panelist on The Gong Show and finished the evening with a crossword puzzle and an episode of “The Whistler” on Sirius XM’s Radio Classics channel.

Having access to and the time to sample so many films that never made it to theaters is painful, yet enlightening.  Above all, I have a new-found appreciation for the scions of the movie industry who occasionally deliver a magical moment through visual story telling.  It is not unlike the fairy tale where the princess kisses many frogs before she finds her true love.  In the business world, it is akin to the venture capitalist who invests in ten business not knowing which one will become the next Skype or Apple.

Does anyone honestly think in 1987 the head of Columbia Pictures said, “I have an idea for a terrible movie.  Let’s hire Elaine May to direct.  And we’ll get Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty to star in it.”?  Ishtar seemed like a good idea on paper.  Sadly, that is where it should have stayed.  Yet, without taking the risk associated with a hundred Ishtars and Giglis, there would be no Casablanca or Midnight Cowboy.

So, the next time you ask yourself, “Who could have possibly thought this dreck was entertaining or worth watching?”, just remember you may only have to do this for the next 30 or 60 days.  Some poor soul does it for a living.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP

 

April Fools

 

With deference to David Letterman, I now present tonight’s TOP TEN list–April Fools when it comes to dealing with a global pandemic.

#10:  Every right-wing Trump sycophant who a la Sean Hannity said, “This program has always taken the coronavirus seriously and we’ve never called the virus a hoax,” nine days after saying, “They’re scaring the living hell out of people and I see it again as like, ‘Oh, let’s bludgeon Trump with this new hoax.’”

#9:  Georgia Governor Brian Kemp who claimed he did not know the coronavirus could be transmitted by asymptomatic carriers until March 31.  Either Kemp is an idiot, lying or, in contrast to most of us, turned off the television after Trump’s daily comments before Anthony Fauci and Deborah Brix took the podium to provide accurate and useful information about the pandemic.

Train derailment: Engineer said he was "suspicious" of nearby ...#8:  Eduardo Moreno, the railroad engineer who intentionally derailed a train in hopes of disrupting operations on the USNS Mercy, a hospital ship sent to Los Angeles to handle overflow from area hospitals.  Moreno told law enforcement officers he believed the vessel “had an alternate purpose related to COVID-19 or a government takeover.” Who says no one takes Alex Jones or Rush Limbaugh seriously?

#7: Texas-based Evangelical preacher Kenneth Copeland who urged believers to place their hands on their television screens to be cured of the coronavirus.  In what should have been a parody of Flip Wilson’s trademark “the Devil made me do it,” Copeland claimed, “I’m not the sick trying to get healed. I’m the healed and the devil is trying to give me the flu… or whatever else kind of thing he’s trying.”

#6:  Not willing to cede his standing in the Evangelical community, Liberty University president Jerry Fallwell, Jr. encouraged the school’s 5,000 students to return to  campus after spring break.  “I think we have a responsibility to our students — who paid to be here, who want to be here, who love it here — to give them the ability to be with their friends, to continue their studies, enjoy the room and board they’ve already paid for and to not interrupt their college life.”  Within three days, 12 students had symptoms of the virus and all students were asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.  Even agnostics have to admit, if there is a God, she does work in mysterious ways.

#5:  Jim Hoft, head of the conservative media outlet The Gateway Pundit, claimed the coronavirus is “a man-made biological weapon that was created by globalists and other nefarious actors in an attempt to depopulate the planet.”  Hoft is way beyond “gateway.”  He is clearly taking much more potent drugs.

#4:  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who ironically chose April 1 to announce a state lock-down.  However, he gave Floridians 36 hours to host one more Coronavirus Party at the nearest sand bar before the effective date of midnight Thursday, April 2.

#3: Governor DeSantis earned another Top Ten by making “Attending services at churches and synagogues” the first exemption listed under essential activities not subject to the shutdown.  One cannot help but appreciate the irony this action was taken on April 1, a day that, in 2003, was declared National Atheists Day by a federal judge in response to a suit filed by the ACLU to have the federal government declare a non-religious holiday for atheists and agnostics.

#2: Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick who said, “No one reached out to me and said, ‘as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?”  When asked if he was ready to set an example for other senior citizens in the Lone Star State, Patrick presented a letter from his doctor saying he could not serve as a model for others because he had bone spurs.

And the NUMBER ONE April Fool when it comes to dealing with a global pandemic is Donald J. Trump, who on April Fools Day said, “I think also in looking at the way that the contagion is so contagious, nobody’s ever seen anything like this where large groups of people all of a sudden have it just by being in the presence of somebody who has it.”

If only we had non-contagious contagions, as Louis Armstrong would say, “What a wonderful world this would be!”  Not to mention if we did not have to tolerate these and other April fools.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP