Supreme Court Rules Religious Groups in New York Takes Precedence Over Public Health

 

"Yet some groups protested, refusing to keep their distance, marching against travel restrictions — as if measures that governments must impose for the good of their people constitute some kind of political assault on autonomy or personal freedom! Looking to the common good is much more than the sum of what is good for individuals. It means having a regard for all citizens and seeking to respond effectively to the needs of the least fortunate." Pope Francis

I guess the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn did not get the Pope’s memo…

Update: The Diocese came out and claimed they were in agreement with the Pope's position. The facts clearly indicates they are not. 

The Supreme Court recently sided with two religious organizations in New York that are unabashed about placing their follower’s health in peril. Their decision not only impacts New Yorkers, but the rest of America as well. I’ve toned down this post considerably because I find the decision not only outrageous, but deadly. I’m leaving a lot out such as my own beliefs, because this post is not about any one individual, group, or religion. This post concerns all of us - it is about public health. 

Let me warn you, some may be offended by this post although that is not my intent. I am directing this blog post to every entity, group, organization or business that caters to a stationary crowd. However, the only two religious affiliations I know of that have filed lawsuits are from the Christian and Jewish faiths. At least that holds true in this particular Supreme Court case just ruled on November 26, which is at the center of this post.

The lawsuit in the Supreme Court was brought forward by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel of America. They claimed in their lawsuits Governor Andrew Cuomo was discriminating against them by implementing coronavirus restrictions for the churches and synagogues that fell under their jurisdiction. I personally believe after reading their complaint, they cited religious discrimination in an attempt to solely add validity to their claim.

In other words, their angle was to make it appear as if Cuomo was singling them out because of their religion to increase their probability of winning the lawsuit. Common sense dictates a group of people enclosed together have far more potential of spreading the coronavirus than any other variable out there. But in this case the plaintiffs prevailed. They asserted Cuomo targeted Catholics and Jews by his coronavirus restrictions, which in their hearts they know it is not true.

Andrew Cuomo is Catholic, so it is ludicrous to believe he would intentionally seek harm toward Catholic entities or organizations in New York. Cuomo did not deliberately single out Jewish religious organizations either; he actually met with those in the Jewish community about the high number of cases among their community. His coronavirus restrictions are solely based on specific metrics pertaining to medical and scientific data in a given area - period. 

Let me give you an analogy, although it’s not the best one. Predicting the weather involves analyzing a set of factors that leads to a conclusion, let’s say in this case a tornado watch is going to be issued. That conclusion may be based on a boundary between a cold front and a warm front, the moisture in the air, propensity for rotation, etc. Cuomo sees the data first, and then determines and analyze those things in a given area or community contributing to the increase in coronavirus numbers. His team of health experts are also involved analyzing the data.

Cuomo’s strategy is purely about the numbers; regardless if those numbers can be attributed to a business, a circus, or a church. By now it should be readily apparent his decisions are based on facts that consider the number of coronavirus cases in a given location. Being he is the governor of New York; he has a responsibility to the state – not just one group of people. He has the weight of all New Yorkers on his shoulders. 

Ironically, the governor is far more interested in keeping the members under the umbrella of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel of America safe than they themselves are. Their actions will impact others in the community. Covid-19 is not just about a group here, or a business there – it impacts everyone when there is community spread. In other words – it is not just about you, your business, or organization. Your actions impact other people, and with the coronavirus it can easily mean a matter of life or death.

The idea you have the right to make someone else sick or not take precautions is diabolical to the very heart of Jesus Christ. The hard truth of the matter is the coronavirus simply does not care who you are, what religion you embrace, or whether you are in a church, synagogue, or at a White House Rose Garden ceremony. When an opportunity presents itself, the coronavirus is more than happy to take you up on it.

It will find you wherever you are; especially if you are not using your head and doing your best to mitigate it. God gave you a brain for a reason - He expects you to use it. The God I know is everywhere. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Acts 17:24-25

You are doing God no favors by continuing to gather in groups and furthering the spread of Covid-19. I don’t know what god you believe in or whether you’re an atheist, but the God I know wants us to put the welfare of other people first. That means putting your own desires aside, and the needs ahead of others first. That is what love is. Love wants to protect others from harm, and is not resentful by doing such.

Justice Neil Gorsuch provided an example behind his ruling – a lame one at that. He stated, "So, at least according to the Governor, it may be unsafe to go to church, but it is always fine to pick up another bottle of wine" or "shop for a new bike." To compare a large, prolong stationary crowd to a number people inside of store is like comparing a steak to potted meat. A person going to a liquor store or market who stays over an hour or two, is more than likely casing the place. Crowds matter. Gorsuch seemed to have conveniently forgotten Cuomo is not encouraging people to get out and carry on business as if the coronavirus does not exist. 

Unfortunately, I took away several other conclusions after the Supreme Court‘s verdict. First, it demonstrates  Amy Coney Barrett's appointment is going to have on the court. Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stacked the court in their favor; no question about it. Brett Kavanaugh and Barrett are doing Trump proud, but not cause he cares about the issue behind this particular case. For Trump, everything, even this is about him. 

Barrett went through Covid-19 for the most part with no real repercussions, so it may further explain her indifference towards protecting others. Trump’s indifference by continuing to hold rallies after contracting the virus seems to suggest to me they have more in common than I thought. Religious freedom is fine and it is our right, but not if it involve certain physical manifestations or actions that put others and society at risk. 

Second, the ruling proves the Supreme Court discounted the scientific and medical data that epidemiologist and medical experts have been warning us. I find that to be particularly daunting given the battle America is facing now. Many lives will be loss from this Supreme Court decision; although I have a strong suspicion it won’t matter to the judges who voted against the restrictions. These five justices are pretty selective about which lives matters and the ones that don’t; so don’t expect them to lose any sleep over it. 

What I find truly incredulous is the core issue of the case: the plaintiffs complained the coronavirus restrictions were far more restrictive for them than for secular businesses. Of course places of worship are going to face more restrictions by the very nature of their design and how they operated. Secular businesses rarely have large stationary crowds in an enclosed area for an hour or more. The coronavirus is an airborne disease. Yet, the plaintiffs knowingly misrepresented the intent of Andrew Cuomo’s restrictions, as if he had something personal against them. 

Everyone now knows with the coronavirus, the size of the crowd and how long you are confined in a given space matters. New York has closed theaters, Broadway, schools, conventions, symphonies, and more. Professional sports cannot have fans in the crowd, or either they are extremely limited. When more Covid-19 cases break out in a given geographic location, there is a reason why. Don’t think the plaintiffs do not know this – by now everyone have far more knowledge about the cornavirus unlike back in March and April. 

But if these two religious organizations claim they are being targeted and want to be treated as secular businesses, which they asserted in their lawsuit; then perhaps secular businesses are being targeted by being forced to pay more taxes. The IRS deems religious institutions as businesses. Perhaps the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel of America need to start paying more in taxes? After all, they are now expressing a desire to be treated just like secular businesses. 

This Supreme Court ruling sets a dangerous precedent throughout the entire United States. Quite frankly the vast majority of religious organizations throughout the United States have shown they are not interested in doing the right thing. It’s one thing to claim you care about those who attend your place of worship; yet you are not willing to take the necessary steps to keep them safe from the coronavirus. One has to ask –why?

So many are proceeding as business as usual and in a pandemic like this it is unacceptable. There is no legitimate excuse; it is placing their organizational needs ahead over the health and welfare of their members – and the public. And they are not alone – many businesses, entities, and other organizations are jeopardizing their patrons and the public’s health by refusing to adhere to restrictions. The larger the crowd, the greater the chance of community spread.

This pandemic is completely out of control in the United States. Anytime you are encouraging people to put themselves into a crowd, you are placing lives at unnecessary risk. When it comes to matters of religion or one’s spiritual beliefs, I recognize it is an individual’s choice. Many religious leaders are worried about their members remaining loyal to them and their organizations in the midst of this deadly pandemic. Americans are feeling the economic impact on their finances also - it is a difficult spot to be in. It is an unfortunate consequence of the coronavirus, however, it is not worth someone’s life.

How many pastors and priests have died from Covid-19? How many Americans have died from attending religious services or ceremonies? There are thousands of individuals who have contracted the coronavirus by attending a church, and I am sure that is the case for other places of worship. There is a misconception out there among almost all religions that somehow places of worship holds a power that keeps those within safe. By now it should be more than abundantly clear this is not case. 

Bishop Gerald Glen of the “New Deliverance Evangelistic Church” in Virginia, unfortunately died of coronavirus after failing to abide by urgent warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consequently, four other in his family contracted the virus as well. This occurred in early March as Covid-19 was getting revved up in America. The coronavirus pales in comparison back then as to how bad it is now.

In Colorado, an organization called Andrew Wommack Ministries filed a lawsuit against Governor Gov. Jared Polis over limits on gatherings during the pandemic. The state had implemented an indoor gathering limit of 175 individuals in July, and the ministry ignored the law and hosted an event with a crowd between 800 and 1,000 people. It fueled a super spreader event, resulting in the death of one person, and 63 cases of the coronavirus among just those in attendance. Can you imagine how many additional cases resulted in the community from just the 63 people infected?

Do not think Covid-19 outbreaks are only limited to large places of worship, mind you. In rural Arkansas in March, 92 people attended a church service which resulted in 38% of those attending catching Covid-19. Three people died who attended the service, and the gathering led to 26 more people in the community contracting the coronavirus; including one additional death. 

The coronavirus case numbers are the highest it’s ever been, and yet we have a conservative Supreme Court that is highly selective about life and death issues. They are against abortion, but they are perfectly content with people dying slowly from lack of health care. They won’t stop religious organizations from encouraging their partisans out of their homes and into crowds that will invariably increase their risk for contracting Covid-19. And ultimately, that increases the risk for the general public.

I don’t believe religious freedom of expression should be at the expense at the public at large. Having a relationship with God is not the same or equal to having a relationship with a place of worship. No one is telling anyone they cannot worship or believe in the same God they always have. It would be an entirely different ball game if this was the case. These are not normal times that even the founders of our Constitution would have ever conceptualized. Sometimes in life there should not be absolutes – this is one of those times. 

For the first time in world history every person on this planet has a role in keeping each other safe. Does love risk putting people in unnecessary harm's way? I don’t think so or at least it shouldn’t. I believe God wants us to stop and think about what is happening to other people stricken in this pandemic.  I think He wants to see we are willing to give up some of our own desires to protect other people. These are not just numbers; these are real people dying and they mean something to their loved ones. 

This ruling by the Supreme Court is sobering at best, and I fear what lies ahead for our nation. To discount science and proven facts at the detriment of the American people should had never happened. This decision will result in more deaths that could had been avoid. I wish I could say the coronavirus brought out the best in people, but I can’t. 

The coronavirus impacts every single living being on earth, in one way or another.  Every business or organization has a moral obligation to keep their patrons safe and not subject them to unnecessary harm. They also should have a broader moral obligation to the public at large. If a business or organization subjects the public unto unnecessary peril, I think they should be held liable. No one should be exempt from that responsibility in this pandemic now, but thanks the Supreme Court they will be. Nobody really wins this one.

Why Skepticism Persists Over the Efficacy of a Coronavirus Vaccine

 

“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”  Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln was right - this is why it is hard to trust anything that comes out of the Trump Administration.

I find it daunting less than half of all Americans are willing to take the coronavirus vaccine once it finally comes out. There is a lot of skepticism regarding the efficacy of it, but in lieu of the past four years I can understand why. Now, I fully intend to take the vaccine, but I will look at the science and data backing it up before I proceed. In the end, it seems the only prudent thing to do is to take the vaccine if it has solid data backing it up and is safe. 

I know I will feel more assured once President Elect Joe Biden is in office. I think many Americans will have greater confidence in The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) once it is under Biden’s administration. Unlike Donald Trump and his “Operation Warp Speed” plan, one can’t help but worry over the fact he has presented a number of so-called “ideas” in haste, that were dangerous  unacceptable misnomers in treating the coronavirus.

There seems to be two camps of people who are not willing to take the vaccine. The first camp is more prevalent among Trump supporters who have bought into his constant baloney the coronavirus is no big deal. Even today there are far too many who still believe in this false mantra of his. Under this camp you also have those individuals who typically do not believe in getting a flu shot each year, either because they do not trust its’ efficacy or they are just lackadaisical about it.

The second camp consists of those who are suspicious of a vaccine with the Trump Administration stamp of approval of it. I fall into that camp. Like I said, I definitely plan on taking the vaccine, but I consider anything from the Trump Administration suspect. Why? Because how many agencies and people who have been appointed by Donald Trump that is either corrupt or grossly incompetent?  I will listen to the scientific and medical experts; not the political experts like Mike Pence.

Consider the head doctor Trump recently appointed over the Coronavirus Task Force, Scott Azar – a radioneurologist.  Yeah, I mean a radioneurolgist sounds like one who would have in depth knowledge of infectious diseases (I’m being facetious here). This guy is real character who urged the people of Michigan to rise up against Gretchen Whitmer for issuing mask mandates. I believe he also urged this stance to be taken in other states as well. 

Even his own alma mater, Stanford University publically passed a resolution against him for erroneously downplaying the coronavirus and providing false and misleading information that could result in harm. Stanford University also asserted Atlas used his position politically to promote falsehoods and dangerous behaviors among the American public. In their resolution they commented, “Atlas’s “disdain for established medical knowledge violates medical ethics defined by the American Medical Association,” and “Atlas's “behavior is anathema to our community, our values, and our belief that we should use knowledge for good.”

How can any person on this planet blame someone else for being skeptical of anything that spawns forth from the Trump Administration? When Trump leaves the Oval Office, he would take with him over 20,000 documented lies out the door with him. In my opinion, out of all the torrential flood of lies that came froth his mouth (oh, I meant forth); the lies about the coronavirus are the most serious. 

The lie I deem most detrimental to all of America was when he called the coronavirus a hoax.  Even to this very day with over 12+ million cases in the U.S., and over 260,000 deaths there are supporters of him claiming the coronavirus is a hoax. At one point Trump even retweeted a tweet posted by game show host Chuck Woolery, proclaiming the coronavirus was a hoax. Woolery later recanted his tweet after his son actually contracted Covid-19.

From the onset Donald Trump has downplayed the coronavirus, so I will always be suspicious of him, Mike Pence, Atlas, and his other cronies on the task force. I do believe in Dr. Anthony Fauci, however, at times I thought he could had came out a little harder against Trump’s stances. But I do realize he was facing extremely difficult circumstances, and I suspect he knew if left no one would ever get the truth. Anyone who is privy to whims and tirades of Donald Trump is likely to be in an untenable situation.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has faced unwarranted criticism for his decision to have an in state house review of the efficacy and safety of any vaccine that comes out before distributing it to New Yorkers. I don’t blame him – remember he is dealing with an administration that has repeatedly lied to the American people literally hundreds of times. Cuomo said “We’re going to put together our own group of doctors and medical experts to review the vaccine and the efficacy and the protocol and if they say it’s safe, then I’ll go to the people of New York and I’ll say it’s safe with that credibility.” 

Cuomo is not alone in his decision to have scientific and medical experts examine the data before any vaccine is distributed. Six other states desire independent examiners of the data as well; California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Michigan, Oregon and West Virginia. Montana and Wyoming said they will only distribute a vaccine that has an independent review and completed clinical trials. 

I can’t see how anyone can blame the governors of these states after the circus performances put out from the Trump administration on a daily basis. Governor Cuomo raised a valid point regarding the FDA authorizing an emergency use of hydroxychloroquine. This is the drug at one time Donald Trump was proclaiming from the roof tops was a miracle cure for Covid 19. Subsequently after a short time, the drug was not only found to be ineffective against the coronavirus, it was proven it could lead up to serious heart conditions.

Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson from the state of Michigan, expressed the intention of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services to have an independent evaluation of the data. Sutfin said, “Before making decisions on the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine in Michigan, we would need to evaluate the efficacy and safety data regarding any approved vaccine,” she said in an email. “We would hope there would be transparency at the federal level regarding that data so we can make an informed decision.” I believe that is completely reasonable as time and time again the agencies under the Trump Administration have proven themselves to be negligent and untrustworthy. 

A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stated the following; “Colorado will review data and information included with any potential vaccine identified for distribution. This will include reviewing an Emergency Use Authorization designation from the FDA and information gained from the clinical trials.” States are understandably leery over pathological liar Trump’s claim of a vaccine being produced at warp speed. 

When you consider the things that have come out of Donald Trump’s mouth regarding the coronavirus, it is difficult to accept anything he says. When he is talking, there is a 99.9% chance he is telling a lie. Below are some examples.

• He initially claimed the coronavirus was like the flu - false. 
• He claimed young people could not catch it - false.  
• At one time he touted hydroxychloroquine as a cure for the coronavirus – false. 
• He claimed 99% of all cases of the coronavirus were harmless - false. 
• At one time he suggested people ingest disinfectant to kill the coronavirus – false. 
• He suggested a high dose of light may kill the virus in the body – false.  

So when this administration comes out and says they have a vaccine – it is extremely hard to disregard all the lies they have told in the past.

It is unlikely the independent reviews within any state would resort in a long drawn out processes that would potentially delay the vaccine being administered. Dr. Anthony Fauci has expressed some concern over that, however, if the pharmaceutical companies deliver information in a timely manner ahead of distribution of the vaccine, this should not be an issue. I believe the states will analyze the data and reports quickly to see if it is sound and subsequently begin administering the vaccine.  

The FDA and CDC have proven themselves to have sold out to political pressure a number of times throughout the past 8 months. I lost all faith in the CDC when they came out and stated if you have been around an asymptomatic person with Coivd-19, you will not need to be tested unless you develop symptoms. Any given person should recognize the absurdity of such a position.

Eventually the truth came out, however, pressure was put on Robert Redfield by the Trump administration to make this false assertion and render it as part of the CDC’s guidelines. Dr. Anthony Fauci disagreed with their position as well, and ultimately the CDC reversed their stance. At one time the CDC claimed the coronavirus was not even airborne, but reversed that position as well. 

No, my trust in the CDC is quite is limited, and hopefully with the Biden administration they will in time repair the agency’s credibility. The coronavirus being a novel virus will inevitably result in changes in hypothesizes and misconceptions regarding the virus. The scientific and medical arena has changed course a good number of times about the nature of Covid-19. But for the CDC to come out and say an individual who is around an asymptomatic person need not be tested was ludicrous. 

The FDA likewise has proven itself as an agency willing to yield to political pressure. Dr. Stephen Hahn, US Food and Drug Commissioner refused to correct the lies Donald Trump told during a Fourth of July speech when questioned by CNN’s Dana Bash. For one thing, Trump declared that 99% or coronavirus cases were harmless. Trump downplayed the coronavirus as he always had, and encouraged Americans to go about their business. Hahn refused to counter any of the lies and dangerous assertions Trump made during that speech. 

This vaccine has been a race to the table among major pharmaceutical companies. Not just because of the sense of urgency involved, but let’s face it – they all want to be first. Billions are to be made, and although Trump is the sorest loser on planet earth, he would love to leave the Oval Office asserting a vaccine came on his watch. He will take full credit for the vaccine. I would not be surprised if he claims he offered input to the pharmaceutical scientists. 

Because of the expediency these vaccines have been created under the Trump administration, it should be expected state governments would desire an independent review by experts. Even as U.S. citizens, I cannot fault anyone wanting to examine the data put out by the pharmaceutical companies, and I certainly understand any state entity wanting to make sure it is safe and effective. After all, Donald Trump abandoned our governors right from the beginning, as his attention and efforts to the very end is to downplay the coronavirus.  

Rudolph Giuliani – Number One Court Jester in the World

I really do not understand how an individual can compromise his or her character to the extent Rudolph Giuliani has. Here is a man who once commanded the respect of millions; whereas today he seems more like a nefarious, bumbling cartoon character. Once a person loses his or her integrity, it is gone forever. It is one of the few things in life you can’t regain back. I liken Rudolph Giuliani to a modern day court jester.

In ancient history, jesters once entertained the pharaohs of Egypt, but they took on more significance in royal courts throughout England around the 17th century. During that time period, the jesters had a more all encompassing role, than say the role of Rudolph Giuliani. They would sing, play music, engage in storytelling, do physical comedy, and juggling. As a modern day jester, Giuliani primary role is storytelling and juggling (lies). In a recent news conference on November 19, however; he decided to try out physical comedy, but that did not go over so well.

I have to admit, I’m surprised Giuliani would stoop this low, even though I lost respect for him some years ago. I guess it’s like all things in life, you think you know someone, and then you find out you really didn’t after all. After the terrorist attacks of 2001, I once thought Giuliani might even run for president. Now I recoil at the idea; although he and Donald Trump would be an equitable trade. Giuliani was once a well respected mayor all over the nation, and now this is the legacy he will leave behind. 

I never dreamed Giuliani would be such a willing participant in an attempt to undermine our democracy. Even now, despite selling soul to Trump some years back, it is very disappointing to see this transpiring. He knows what he is doing; he is a grown man, who like many has let Donald Trump prostitute them for his own benefit. I suspect Giuliani may wind up facing criminal charges in the future, along with his pimp, Donald Trump.

Giuliani is a dazzling display of shamelessness and ignorance all rolled up into one. His lame lawsuits on Trump’s behalf over the election, is basically a desecration to the courts and the law. His buffoonery supersedes any remote intellectual argument, and as he stands before the judge, he is likely deemed the court jester. 

Here is just a very small sample of the blatant lies and falsifications which spewed (among other things) from Giuliani’s press conference on November 19. He told hundreds and hundreds of lies; far more than I could possibly cover. Trump has taught him well, and he is now more proficient in making up lies on the spot. 

Here is just a few of the lies, along with my response:

Lie #1: The president way ahead on election night, seven or 800,000 in Pennsylvania, somehow he lost Pennsylvania. We have statisticians willing to testify that that’s almost statistically impossible to have happened in the period of time that it happened.

You’re right, statistically that did not happen because he was never 800,000 votes ahead to begin with. When the votes around the Philadelphia area came in, it was downhill from there.

Lie #2: Almost exactly the same pattern, which to any experienced investigator, prosecutor would suggest that there was a plan from a centralized place to execute these various acts of voter fraud, specifically focused on big cities and specifically focused on, as you would imagine, big cities controlled by Democrats, and particularly focused on big cities that have a long history of corruption.

Ah, the evil blue states that house big democratic cities – you know, the ones Mitch McConnell said “Let them go bankrupt.” You, Donald Trump, and the Republican Senate has elevated the meaning of “corruption” on a whole new level.  

Lie #3: Each one of these cities are cities that are controlled by Democrats, which means they can get away with anything they want to do.

Coming from you, that’s a laugh. You say the most outlandish lies; like calling an election with a mountains of undisputed physical proof that Joe Biden won, and falsely assert there was fraud. You could hold an apple in your hand, and believe if you swear to the world it's an orange enough, people will buy it.

Lie #4: Mail ballots are particularly prone to fraud.

A lie even the FBI discounted. 

Lie #5: And even the New York Times wrote articles about how dangerous mail voting, mail-in voting was. 

More lies. New York Times never wrote an article about how dangerous mail in ballots are, because they are not.

Lie #6: To give you another example, we have 17,000 provisional ballots cast in Pittsburgh. Do you know what a provisional ballot is? Provisional ballot usually happens this way, and about 15 of the 17,000 happened this way, you walk in and you say, I’m here to vote today. Oh, Mr. Giuliani, you already voted. I did? I don’t remember voting. Oh, yes. Yes. You cast an absentee ballot. No, I didn’t. Yes, you did. No, I didn’t. Yes, you did.

Like your client, Donald Trump and his wife Melania did in Florida?

Lie #7: So, why does that happen 17,000 times in Pittsburgh? People walked in thinking… actually 15,000, to be precise. Why did it happen 15,000 times that people in Pittsburgh walked in to vote and they had already voted, according to the Democrat election machine? 

Again, that's what your client did - he voted by mail in vote for Florida, and then in person. Don't you think he should be arrested? What about the Republican election machine?

Lie #8:  We could do like a… Did you all watch My Cousin Vinny? You know the movie? It’s one of my favorite law movies because he comes from Brooklyn. And when, the nice lady who said she saw, and then he says to her, “How many fingers do I got up?” And she says a three. Well, she was too far away to see it was only two. These people were further away than My Cousin Vinny was from the witness. They couldn’t see a thing.

Speechless on this one.

Lie #9: Now, I don’t know. You’re going to tell me that 60 people are lying? They didn’t just tell me this. They swore under penalty of perjury, which is something no Democrat has ever done.

Come on, we all know penalty of perjury means absolutely nothing to you, as you lie in court, on television, and in your personal life every day. So there is not a single Democrat that has ever spoken the truth? 

Lie #10:  It happens all the time in Philly. It’s about as frequent as getting beaten up at a Philadelphia Eagle football game. Happens all the time, all the time.

Did not realize you have season tickets to the Philadelphia Eagles. Do you come to watch the game or to see people get beat up?

Lie #11: She also said, “I observed a large number of people who came to the satellite location to vote in person, but they had already applied for and submitted an absentee ballot.” So, she observed a lot of people voting twice.

Isn't that what our president and William Barr told us to do? The American people are smarter than Trump - they know voting twice is illegal. How about advising your client?

Lie #12:  Clearly, that’s the reason why Hillary Clinton said don’t concede even if you’re losing. That’s the reason, we had a Freudian slip by the candidate and he said he had the best voter fraud team in the country. That’s the reason why he probably didn’t have to go out and campaign.

Uh, he did campaign, but unlike you and Donald Trump, Biden realized there was a pandemic going on. You and Donald Trump were too busy trying to kill people off by downplaying the coronavirus, in an effort to secure the election.

Rudolph Giuliani will never be respected again; by the world, or by his peers. I suspect Trump believe when all else fails, he can blame Giuliani for not presenting an adequate legal case. The corrupt Republican Senate, Emily Murphy, and the Trump administration will cheer him on, because he will be their idiot on stage by himself. Oh, they have lost credibility too, but Giuliani is their sacrificial lamb. Didn't help for him to be in Borat 2 - you know...Each appearance made by him, sinks him in further and further into the role of a fool. That is why he is ranked the #1 Court Jester in the world. 

Great Article on Donald Trump’s Corrupt Efforts to Overturn Election

A recent article really nails Donald Trump illegal efforts to overturn the election and undermine our democracy. “Let's count the ways Donald Trump has tried to subvert this election, shall we?” written by Richard Wolffe, totally captures Trump and the Republican Senate. It is worth the read – here is the link below.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/21/all-the-ways-trump-tried-subvert-election

Don’t Let This Be a Thanksgiving to Die For

 

The coronavirus pandemic has brought out the best and worst in people. I hate to admit it, but I’m more inclined to believe the latter. And in a sort of convoluted way, that brings me to Thanksgiving. The principle of the holiday is to be thankful for the good things in life. It goes without saying our family and friends are important to us. Do you feel thankful and blessed by God for allowing them to be part of your life? So it begs the question - why are you not concerned about killing them off?

If you truly feel blessed and thankful for them, is it worth risking their life for food and drink? Can’t you go without one season of showcasing your culinary skills and your exceptional prowess for entertaining? Yes, in years forlorn, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations are very meaningful and fun. But is it worth risking the life of someone you care about?

People around the country have become obstinate over the idea of limiting the size of their gatherings on Thanksgiving Day. The backlash sounds like a group of teenagers becoming upset over a curfew. It behooves me these are grown adults who are just selfish.  They are willing to let others die just so they can have their way on Thanksgiving Day. Nothing says love like risking you family’s life so you can eat a huge meal. You can pretend these are normal times, but the coronavirus is not having any of it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked Americans not to travel this Thanksgiving. They are urging people to stay home and only celebrate it with their immediately family. How many times throughout the years have you had to cancel your Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations for the coronavirus? The answer is never. 

If this is the end of the world for you, please, I beseech ye, let me trade my life for yours. I can almost assure you by the time I tell you what I’ve have been through, you would gladly sacrifice a holiday feast. Your quality of life should not be contingent on a Thanksgiving gathering. Surely, or hopefully there are things you value far more than celebrating a holiday. 

I believe the most overlooked or underestimated fact about the coronavirus is how prolific it is. We hear epidemiologists and medical professionals asserting this, but it seems America has gone numb to the message. Covid-19 is far more contagious than a cold or the flu – and it has been proven to be far more deadly. I can guarantee you not one of the 250,000+ plus Americans who have died from the coronavirus ever thought they would succumb to it. 

People that were perfectly healthy have died from the coronavirus. Babies and children have died. And of course, the elderly and those with underlying health issues have perished. Can you imagine struggling for each and every breath, and not getting the air you need? Ultimately, your lungs give out and you are placed on a ventilator. It is a wretched condition to be in, and hospitals all across the nation are being overwhelmed.

Talk about not being with family or those you love – they cannot see you or be with you in your in the hospital. It is a lonely way to die – it brings me to tears just thinking about it. Do you know what that would do to someone you love – it will rip the heart out of their chest to know you died that way. Not only that, how would you feel if you were the instrument behind someone else’s death? Covid-19 is a terrible, agonizing way to die – do you want that for someone you love? Is it even worth the risk? 

The coronavirus is not just about you – it is about us. This year for the sake of humanity and those you love, think outside of yourself. Have a small group for Thanksgiving like your immediate family. Be thankful for the family and friends in your life. Do the right thing – protect your family and loved ones. Make sure you will have even more tomorrows with the people you love. Don’t let this be a Thanksgiving to die for – let it be a Thanksgiving to live for and celebrate those who are important to you. 

Trump’s Refusal to Allow Transition of Biden’s Team is Hurting America

 

                                                                The Real Deal

Being true to form, Donald Trump is still blocking Joe Biden’s team from transitioning into the White House. It is just further evidence Trump has never cared about this country since he first started campaigning in 2016.  Any president who has America’s best interest at heart, would insist on allowing the transition process to take place. This would be the case regardless whether one believes the election results should be contested or not. 

Trump being a true sociopath is going to stick it to Biden with all he got – even at the expense of the American people. Why would he do this might you ask? Well the answer is simple – he has never cared about America in the first place. He only cares about himself. Donald Trump will never change – there is no surprise here. The only satisfaction one might derive from such a predicament is the idea Trump is making a bigger fool out of himself by being such a poor loser. But it is hard to take satisfaction in his defiance because his actions are having a catastrophic impact on our nation.

During a speech at a news conference in Delaware, Biden stated the Trump administration’s unwillingness to allow a peaceful transition of power will thwart efforts to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine to Americans.  The General Services Administration, which is the division which legally commences the transition of power, has taken no action to get the ball rolling. It shows the depth of the maliciousness on part of the Trump Administration as over 12 million Americans have caught the coronavirus, and over a quarter of a million have died in the United States.

I was watching Lawrence O’Donnell a few nights ago, and was shocked to find out Trump has no authority over the General Services Administration; an agency ran by Emily Murphy. This GSA is responsible for starting transitions from one administration to the next. Murphy, who is a Trump appointee, is refusing to set things in motion so Biden’s team can begin preparing to assume the presidential office on January 20. So while more Americans die every day, you can thank Emily Murphy for not allowing the Biden administration to implement their strategy for countering the coronavirus crisis as soon as possible.  

In an attempt to save face, Emily Murphy is now telling others she is between a rock and a hard spot. No, not true in the least bit. She absolutely is not in difficult position; it is clear who won the election. Joe Biden won the presidential election – there is no doubt or room for conjecture. The lame supposition she is studying legal precedent is 100% bogus. There is not an ounce of ambiguity to the election anymore. 

States are certifying the results and courts are throwing out bogus claims filed by the Trump administration left and right. There is no reason for Emily Murphy's failure to initiate the transition process, which is otherwise known as ascertainment. Murphy knows this, and studying legal precedent is the only excuse she can come up? All of this while she knows she only has two months left in her position, as Americans continue to die from Covid.

The Trump Administration have no regard or concern as to how they are impacting this nation by refusing to cooperate with Biden’s transition team. This whole scenario is outrageous and is rooted in revenge. It shows just how rotten they and those in the Republican Senate really are. They have no conscience, and are willing to let Americans die to satisfy their vindictiveness.

Joe Biden being the decent, gracious man he is, said, “I am hopeful that the President will be mildly more enlightened before we get to January 20." But Biden is wrong on one account; Donald Trump is already enlightened about the coronavirus situation; he just does not care. He lost the election, and in his mind he’s thinking “Screw America. Trump’s morally bankrupt soul will be a constant that will remain with him until the day he dies.

Biden also called out Trump’s quack doctor Scott Atlas for spreading discord and animus towards governors who have mask mandates. The President Elect said, "What the hell's the matter with these guys? What is the matter with them? Resist? "Every major individual of any consequence in the health field is saying we can save" lives through mask mandates.” I don’t know what rock Trump find these wackadoodles under, but he sure knows how to sniff and lure them out into the open. 

Joe Biden is imploring Congress to act quickly to assist local and state governments who have suffered unimaginable harm resulting from the coronavirus. Of course, that requires Mitch McConnell to act by bringing a vote to the floor. McConnell in my opinion is just as depraved as Trump; actually more so because he does have his mental faculties. Donald Trump on the other hand is a buffoon, and lacks intellectual reasoning and thought processes. McConnell is only interested in helping red states, and have made statements clearly indicative he takes delight in demise of blue states.

Joe Biden will find a different McConnell than the one he once knew in the past. Moths have borrowed and eaten most of his heart out, and the hounds of hell have now taken residence in his brain. They whisper sweet nothings in his ear, no – I meant they tell him “nothing,” “Nothing, for the stimulus package.” “Nothing for the blue states – let them go bankrupt.”  Then the demons and he laugh in concert, as he gives out a ghoulish laugh. You know, similar to the one when he was debating Amy McGrath. If you have not seen the video, I suggest you do. It is chilling. 

Trump’s refusal to allow Biden and his team into the White House has resulted in a huge national security issue, in addition to the coronavirus. By now, Biden should be receiving security briefings on a daily basis. History has shown how even in a short duration of time, a president not receiving regular security briefings can have an impact detrimental to our nation. 

Back in the year 2000, Al Gore and George W. Bush ran for the presidency. Some may recall the infamous “chad” debacle in Florida, which cast doubt on the election results. It was not made up in thin air, like how Republicans and Trump are trying to propagate today. The election took place November 7, but because of the uncertainty of the results, it was not until December 18 when Bush was declared the winner, and the presidential transition began. It proved to be a costly mistake. 

Three years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the 911 Commission Report released in 2004 found the delay in transition of power from President Bill Clinton’s administration to Bush handicapped the U.S. position in handling the terrorist attack. For one thing, President Bush did not have the time to fill key roles in national security, which impacted intelligence significantly. It was neither Clinton or Bush’s doing.

The following recommendations listed below came directly from The 911 Commission Report:

Recommendations: 

• Since a catastrophic attack could occur with little or no notice, we should minimize as much as possible the disruption of national security policymaking during the change of administrations by accelerating the process for national security appointments. We think the process could be improved significantly so transitions can work more effectively and allow new officials to assume their new responsibilities as quickly as possible.
• A president-elect should submit lists of possible candidates for national security positions to begin obtaining security clearances immediately after the election, so that their background investigations can be complete before January 20.
• The outgoing administration should provide the president-elect, as soon as possible after election day, with a classified, compartmented list that catalogues specific, operational threats to national security; major military or covert operations; and pending decisions on the possible use of force- HOW TO DO IT? 423 . Such a document could provide both notice and a checklist, inviting a president-elect to inquire and learn more.

Do any of the above sound remotely like what the Trump administration is doing? The answer is no.

There is no excuse for the Trump Administration to delay the transition of power to Joe Biden. There was no widespread voter fraud, and the election was not close enough for it to be contested except for Georgia. However, the results there have now been certified. 

Christopher Krebs, the individual responsible for the integrity of the election on a federal level came out, and said it was the most secure election in history.Trump shortly thereafter fired him via Twitter. Trump’s actions are more than reprehensible; he continues to weak our national security and the Biden’s team plans to respond to the coronavirus. 

Each day that goes by we are more vulnerable to the coronavirus, and to foreign and domestic terrorism. As a matter of fact, experts in national security fields believe America is at a greater risk from domestic terrorism than we are over foreign entities. This of course, is the result of Donald Trump’s racist, hate rhetoric which has boosted hate crimes and white nationalist groups tremendously over the past four years. 

Donald Trump does not care about that – his ego is too bloated to accept defeat. I struggle to find words to describe him; nothing seems vile enough, rotten enough, and despicable enough to capture his true essence. Not only does he want to deny the results, but at the same time he wants to leave the White House in shambles for President Elect Joe Biden. Donald Trump is shameless to the core.

Lindsey Graham Seeks to Circumvent Voter Ballots in Georgia

 

                     Someone get this guy a block of cheese…

Update: A request has been submitted for an ethics investigation into Graham’s call to the Secretary of State of Georgia.

One thing that has been apparent for some time is Lindsey Graham sold his soul shortly after the death of John McCain. I imagine John McCain is turning over in his grave on a daily basis at the guy he once befriended. I have to say out of all the Republican senators that have changed the most dramatically under the Trump presidency, it would be Lindsey Graham. The likes of Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, Jim Jordan, etc., showed themselves for who they are long before Donald Trump arrived on the scene.

The Secretary of State in Georgia, Brad Raffensperger came out yesterday, and stated that Lindsey Graham implied to him he should discard election ballots that voted for Biden even with the tiniest nuances. In essence, Raffensperger said Graham wanted him to find and conjure up as many so-called trivial technicalities as possible, and throw them out. The nefarious premise of Graham’s plot centers on a law involving the matching of signatures by voters. The Secretary of State was adamant about the integrity of the vote count in Georgia. By the way, Raffensperger is a Trump supporter.

Graham is a senator from North Carolina, not Georgia. Why has he taken it upon himself to call Raffensperger? I tell you why; he is one of Donald Trump’s kept men and he is looking for any avenue to cast doubt on Geogia's election results. What’s even more pathetic, he is the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee. There is so much irony in the Trump camp. 

Lindsey Graham wanted Raffensperger to find the most far fetched, irrelevant things he could to discount votes. Perhaps an “i” that was not dotted quite the same by a given voter, whereas on another signature the “i” was more robust in stature. For example: April” compared to “April.” Perhaps the individual applied more pressure to the “i” when they signed their voter ballot, than when they applied for the absentee ballot.  

If a democratic senator approached the Secretary of State in Georgia with the same "suggestion," the Republican Senate would be calling on his or her resignation. Mitch McConnell and his cronies would be all over it. Graham’s attempt showcases the level of decay among republican public officials under Trump’s tenure. Even more tragic, it demonstrates the gradual desecration of our democracy within the past 4 years. It is unacceptable and outrageous behavior. What Lindsey Graham has done is tantamount to Obstruction of Justice. He should resign. 

By the Way: Petitions are now circulating online calling an investigation into Lindsey Graham. Click the link below to sign one them.

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/investigate-lindsey-graham-tried-to-toss-ga-ballots?link_id=0&can_id=199f71a3a4c52f673c6cfa397240f0f5&source=email-senator-lindsey-graham-2&email_referrer=email_997653&email_subject=investigate-sen-lindsey-graham

Trump & Fox News: A Redo of The Scorpion and the Frog

 

Donald Trump has now redirected his ire towards Fox News since losing the presidential election on November 3, 2020. This weekend in Washington D.C., thousands of his supporters marched over the erroneous principle that the election had been rigged. Of course, this is not true – it is only Trump’s rhetoric in an effort to save face from losing the election. Trump could care less whether this undermine the core principles of our democracy – and make no mistake, it does.

But something strange happened in Washington D.C. on November, 14, 2020. Off in the distance, although faint at first, one could hear voices. The voices gradually became louder and louder. It was coming from the marchers who had descended upon the city to protest the election results. The voices were saying “Fox News Sucks!” “Fox News Sucks!” How could this be? Time for a little redo of the fable "The Scorpion and the Frog."

                           The Donald and Fox News

One day, Donald Trump looked around Trump Tower in New York City and decided it was time for a change. So he set out on a journey throughout the country declaring his intent to become president of the United States. He went from East Coast to West Coast, state to state, and he was determined not to stop until he reached his planned destination - Washington D.C.

It would be a different world; Trump paused to reconsider the situation. At first he couldn't see an easy, clear way to become president. So he went back and forth in his mind, all the while thinking he might have to back out of his plans.

Suddenly, he saw Fox News on television; they were berating liberals, demonizing President Barack Obama, and coming up with outlandish stories known as “Fake News.” It sounded like just what he needed. He decided to ask Fox News for their help in getting him elected as president.

"Hellooo Fox News!" called Trump over the telephone."Would you be so kind as to give me free press coverage so I can be elected as president?"

"Well now, Mr. Trump! How do I know that if we try to help you, you won’t try to hurt our ratings?" asked Fox News.

"Because," Trump replied, "If I try to hurt you, then you can hurt me, but I will do whatever you want me to do! You can tell me how to run the country, or whatever you want because I'm unfit to be president. As long as I can enrich my businesses through the presidency, I will be content."

Now this seemed to make sense to Fox News. But they asked "What about if you get close to being nominated at the Republican National Convention? Once there, you may begin to feel like you do not really need us anymore."

"This is true," agreed Donald Trump, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to take advantage of your free press promoting my campaign and my hate rhetoric! Just ask Sean Hannity."

"Alright then...how do I know you won’t just wait till you get to the White House and turn your back on us?" said Fox News.

"Ahh...," crooned Trump, "Because you see, once you've taken me all the way to the White House, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to reward you by speaking out against you, now would it?!"

So Fox News agreed to take Donald Trump all the way to the White House. Trump went to Fox News headquarters and met with Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and Laura Ingraham. They discussed how they will help him with his political goals, as long as he will help them advance their cutthroat conservative agenda. They even offered to be Trump’s well oiled propaganda machine for free in return.

So Fox News made good on their promise and Trump won the election. Everything was quite peachy until Donald Trump ran again in 2020, and lost the election. In a fit of rage, he tweeted out and blamed Fox News for making him lose the election. "I was your golden goose," yelled Trump. "You forgot, I made you who you are. I was your golden goose. That’s why my supporters now are chanting "Fox News Sucks" in this march. There are over 5 million people here - that's a lot of people!"

"You fool!" retorted Fox News, "Now we both are finished! Why on earth did you lash out at us on Twitter?" Don’t you know we have competition now; Newsmax and One America News? We still needed each other."

Trump shrugged, and did a little jig on video and said.

"I could not help myself. It is my nature."

Then they both sank; Trump into the annuals of history as being the most corrupt, incompetent president ever, and Fox News in their ratings.  

                                       The End

The moral of the story is this: If you know Donald Trump, he will turn on you eventually.

My Public Awaits Me: Trump Continues to Fuel Election Skepticism

Yesterday, Donald Trump’s fragile ego was assuaged by the thousands of Trump supporters marching in Washington D.C. He was starting to atrophy without the accolades from his adoring fans, and once again life was breathed back into him. He felt invigorated and decided to drive by and wave at his supporters – he now could save face from the beating he took in the election. He knew the crowd would cheer just to catch a glimpse at him passing by. 

I have to admit, it was actually a pretty large crowd – more than what I would have ever thought. The rally was dubbed under various names; "Stop the Steal," "March for Trump" and "Million MAGA March." But the real tragedy is all of these people have been deceived by Donald Trump’s lies about the election. And the crowd size was indicative of a country deceived and well divided. What concerns me most of all, it clearly conveys the erosion of faith in our democracy and that is a very dangerous place for America to be in.

Republican officials in tightly contested races like Georgia and Pennsylvania declared there was absolutely no voter fraud. It is despicable at best for a president of the United States to deliberately undermine our election system solely to benefit himself. The consequences of Trump casting doubt on our democratic processes extend far beyond this particular election. Even election officials appointed by Trump have came out and verified the election was secure and there was no voter fraud found. 

Incidentally, I was not surprise to discover Roger Stone was behind the “Stop the Steal” campaign, which actually originated before the 2016 election. Its so-called erroneous premise was based on the idea if the election between Trump and Hilary Clinton was close, the Democrats would try to steal it away from him. Stone perpetrated the notion that a sort of Republican coup d'état, he called the “Bush-Cruz-Kasich-Romney-Ryan-McConnell faction" would try to prevent Donald Trump from being nominated. Sigh…seriously?

On November 5, a Facebook group called Stop the Steal garnered thousand upon thousand followers in just one day; the next day Facebook had to shut it down for its blatant falsehoods and inflammatory rhetoric. Steve Bannon started his own Facebook group called “Own the Vote” which contained torrents of lies and deception similar to the Stop the Steal account. Ultimately between both Bannon and Stone, they achieved over 2.5 million followers.

Trump’s claims about the election being fraudulent actually have brought to the front two new so-called media outlets; Newsmax and One America News. Both organizations are fake news organizations that claim Trump won the election. I’m sorry, but I take special satisfaction over the idea they may take some of the pie away from Fox News. Getting a little crowded - hey there Fox?  The name One America News invokes images of the anti-Christ and the Apocalypse…

Donald Trump “rigged election” mantra has brought out for a lack of better word, the crazies out in droves. And you have people who are just plain gullible to the vitriol that spews out of his mouth. It is amazing how one man can have an impact on one nation; either for the better or the worse. This whole thing is based out of white nationalism and in a distant way is reminiscent to the early rise of Hitler. Fortunately, Trump lost the election; but as he continues to gestate inside the White House, he continues to polarize this country.

Donald Trump has no qualms about destroying our democracy - he is quite content in punishing our entire nation all at once. I have no doubt from a psychological perspective he is thinking “I’m going show you America; you didn’t vote for me - screw you.” Never mind the fact the election was not a landslide by any means, however, Biden has exceeded 6 million votes in the popular vote. 

Trump does not care about screwing over those who voted for him - actually he has never cared about them period. He is just that vindictive. He has no problem painting America with a broad brush to exact his revenge, only to deem Trump loyalists as simply getting in the way.

As I predicted in an article I wrote last week, there were a few violent acts during the Washington march. There actually were fewer incidents than I would have thought, but what is disconcerting to me is I know there is more to follow. Actor John Voight claimed Trump losing the election was tantamount to the civil war. I think there is an element of truth to that, but not for the reason he states.

What Trump has done is polarized our nation, and now there are two clear opposing sides. The election was not rigged; Trump knows it, the Republican Senate knows it, and Trump appointees over governmental elections know it. But the damage has been done, and I fear it is more catastrophic than what we actually realize. Shame on the Republican Senate who are going along with Trump’s absurd claims at the expense of all Americans. 

Court after court has dismissed lawsuits by Trump’s attorneys. Now Trump has turned over all the cases over to Rudolph Giuliani. I would had thought Giuliani would be too busy with his “chr*m” to handle such a workload. He is not ashamed to show his face after his Borat movie debut, but then again, the Trump bar is quite low. I do not believe Giuliani would be an asset in Trump’s defense (even before he got caught with his hands in his pants), and I can’t help but wonder, it may be sign of resignation on Trump’s part.

A side note here: if you are a politician with ongoing political aspirations, you better be careful with who you have sexual interaction with – it can come back to haunt you. You may think no one will ever find out, but you never know who is watching - or who may spill the beans. 

And so, where was I? Oh, now it has been over a week and Trump has not conceded. In fact, Donald Trump will never concede. I do not know what is really going to happen in the end, because the Trump administration is so obstinate and at times unpredictable. Donald Trump is quite proficient as a liar, and he is good at plotting and masterminding schemes. He is quite adept in placing the right people into positions so they can do his dirty work. I give him that. 

Donald Trump’s contribution to America has been to divide this country in half – that will be his legacy. It is troubling to me so many people have bought into his lies; even to the extent of disregarding the proof or facts. I don’t know what is going to happen in the near future, but I don’t feel particularly good about it. I am thankful Joe Biden won the election, but I feel very uneasy regarding the road Trump and his supporters are going to take. Time will tell. 

Oklahoma is Doomed With Trump Prototype Governor Kevin Stitt

Update: 11-15-2020 Oklahoma 3,923 new cases.

Update: 11-18-2020 Oklahoma 26 new deaths.

Update: 11-21-2020 Oklahoma 3,663 new cases 21 deaths.

Update 11-28-2020 Oklahoma  6,257 new cases.

Update 12-2-2020 Oklahoma  54 new deaths. 

Update 12-4-2020 Oklahoma 4,827 new cases and 24 deaths.

Update 12-10-20 Oklahoma 2,460 new cases, 35 deaths.

Update 12-11-20 Oklahoma 3,900 new cases, 27 deaths. 

Update for the pass 7 days there has been 147 deaths. 

Update 12-12-20  Oklahoma 3,983 new cases 35 deaths

Update 12-13-20  Oklahoma 4,332 new cases 22 deaths

What is Governor Kevin Stitt doing? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Shame on Kevin Stitt

Update: Trump clone Kevin Stitt on NBC Nightly News yesterday, touted how he and his family and friends are going to carry on Thanksgiving like they always have. A message for Governor Stitt: Don’t forget to wash the blood off your hands before you commence eating. 

This is a slight departure from what I typically write about, but I think it is important because it exemplifies why the United States need a national strategy to combat the coronavirus. I have family in Oklahoma. The governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt has always reminded me quite frankly of Donald Trump. For one thing, his involvement in somewhat shady business deals in Georgia, among other states, came out during the course of his campaign efforts in 2018. 

Stitt reminds me of Donald Trump so much that I dare say if Trump could become pregnant, he would had given birth to this guy. Both are cutthroat business men, narcissist, and are devoid of compassion. Both refuse to do anything to mitigate the coronavirus, and like Trump, Kevin Stitt has made efforts to downplay its’ significance in Oklahoma. 

That it is until now. Oh, let me disabuse you of notion that Governor Stitt is doing anything to mitigate the coronavirus – it is just he can no longer hide the fact it is raging throughout Oklahoma like a grass fire. It is no longer possible to hide the poor numbers from the national media. Scientist on the White House Coronavirus Task Force declared yesterday, that Oklahoma needs to do something immediately to curtail the virus.

But what does Kevin Stitt do? In complete hypocrisy he comes out and said he expects Oklahomans to do the right thing. That’s it? How about Stitt doing the right thing instead for a change? It would be one thing if Stitt was proactive in addressing the coronavirus or made a mistake by at least taking an effort to combat it. He won't do anything - nothing. 

He refuses to issue a mask ordinance, but says all Oklahomans should wear a mask. He opened Oklahoma back up in April at the same time Brian Kemp reopened Georgia, and while the state numbers were increasing. There are not any mandates he has implemented to curtail the coronavirus in Oklahoma since then. There are no bans on gatherings or anything whatsoever.

On November 7, Joe Biden was elected president and that dominated the news and rightfully so. But did you know on that day, Oklahoma reported 4,507 new cases of Covid-19? One day – 4,507 cases. In the past week numbers have been in the 2,000’s there, a few times slightly under 2,000.  Today there are 2,357 new cases. Oklahomans are dying; 144 in the past 11 days. The state of Oklahoma has a population little less than 4 million people.

We will never be able to counter the coronavirus without a nationwide strategy. The coronavirus does not respect geographic regions; it thrives on neighboring states. Governors like Kevin Stitt, Ron DeSantis, Brian Kemp, will never do the right thing. What would make Stitt think people in Oklahoma will do the right thing now, when they have not before? How can he ask them to do the right thing, when his own lack of response has continuously conveyed the virus is not a big deal? His disposition is exactly the same as Donald Trump. 

This is the typical stance among most Republican governors across the United States. I can think of only two exceptions among them; Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland, and Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio. They have at least made efforts to mitigate the virus. Governors like DeSantis and Kemp, after having a better grasp of the nature of the coronavirus eight months in, still are not taking real action towards the virus. This is leading to unnecessary loss of lives. 

It has been eight months since Covid-19 reached America, and unfortunately, most people have shown they are not willing to do the right thing. I hate saying it, but it is the truth. Governor Andrew Cuomo exemplifies the right approach towards the coronavirus; a mix of scientific data, ordinances and appealing to the public to help mitigate the virus. 

Donald Trump and most Republican governors have made wearing masks and ordinances as if it is some kind of political affront to one’s rights. What gives any person the right to kill someone else? It is an asinine concept that has cost countless lives. It will also be part of Donald Trump’s legacy as president, and his protégé, Governor Kevin Stitt. 

Donald Trump Personifies the Definition of a Poor Loser

                         

                                       Click on picture to enlarge. 

Dear Donald Trump, 

You are making a fool out of yourself in the front of the whole world. You have redefine the definition of a "bad/poor loser" to an entirely new level. America has spoken - "We don't want you." Most Americans do not want you as our president; at least 5 million more of us, as oppose to those who voted for you. You have divided this country to its' very core. You are making a spectacle out of yourself, and it will be your legacy in the annuals of history.

For the first time in America following any presidential election, people actually came out and danced in the streets when they found out Joe Biden had won. It was reminiscent of celebrations when people rejoice over a fallen dictator in other countries. Well, it was no different here. Capisce? If that was not humiliating enough, people from all over the world took the streets and celebrated your defeat. 

The impotent Republican Senate and the impish William Barr will continue to encourage you, but they really don't give a rat's rump about you. They are cowards and fear you. You gave them a free ride the past four years, and enabled them to enrich themselves and their political power. That is their trade off.

They only wanted you in power, because they see you as being too ignorant to understand the mechanisms of government. It has been carte blanche for them for 4 years in accomplishing what they want done. For a law and order president, many people you appointed are facing or have faced federal charges. Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, and Steven Bannon to name a few. Rudolph Giuliani sprawled on the hotel bed like Humpty Dumpty needs to put down his "chr*m" and call it a day. 

All other nations across Earth can now see just how corrupt you, the Republican Senate, and William Barr really are. Stop your temper tantrum and grow up and be a man. Instead of cheating and trying to incite more division and violence among the American people, do some damage control as being the worse president in American history. Accept you defeat, instead of trying to ram yourself down America's throat. Grow up and move on. Okay, you're incapable of growing up, but please - for the sake of this nation, just move on. 

Donald Trump Refusal to Accept Defeat Will Eventually Incite Violence

 

What is the shared and favorite motto among the four morally bankrupt politicians in the picture above? It is “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven." You guys make John Milton and Satan so proud! 

Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Mitch McConnell are blatantly disregarding the election process, and the right for our votes to count. Americans have the right to elect any given person into a political office. Their poor loser stance is a degradation of our Constitutional process, and is endemic of the mutated life form that has emerged out of the Republican Senate. 

It is unconscionable. For all of the inevitable acts of violence that is going to result from their plans, they, like Donald Trump, should be charged as instigators and accessories to the crimes that will no doubt spawn from their actions.

Every one of the aforementioned are malicious and depraved without question. Enough is enough. This is insane and it is evil to drag the American people through this in the midst of a deadly pandemic with numbers that are now the highest they even been. But these four could care less about that; they will do whatever it takes for their dictator to remain in power. This is tyranny, America – this is what a dictatorship looks and sounds like. If you allow this happen, our democracy will become extinct. 

Donald Trump started claiming fraud about the 2020 election as soon as he saw his numbers dropping in the polls. Trump knew because of his failed coronavirus response (more like non-response), he was vulnerable, and became increasingly uneasy about winning the election.

Remember he claimed baseless fraud in 2016 until the day he won the election. He had the audacity to turn around and say, “I guess it was not fraud after all.” He had no evidence of fraud then, and he has none now. There is no indication whatsoever there has been fraud in this election, and the three malevolent senators named above and Donald Trump knows it. 

By their defiance and refusal to accept and respect the way America has voted; Cruz, Graham, and McConnell are clearly indicating they support an autocratic nation. They are throwing democracy out of the window, knowing full well there is absolutely no reason or evidence to suspect voter fraud. 

I personally feel all of them should be charged with obstruction of justice, because they are deliberately trying to stymie American votes. Of course, this won’t happen until Biden takes office, because William Barr will aid and abet Trump & Company schemes in the meantime. It is Trump, Cruz, Graham, and McConnell aiding and abetting fraud at the hands of Donald Trump.

I don’t think there is any other example that clearly conveys how little Donald Trump cares about this country. He never did and he never will – he only cares about himself. His pathetic, vile foot soldiers, Cruz, Graham, and McConnell are as morally bankrupt as he, and they will do anything to please their “boss.” 

They are spineless men; devoid of any backbone. Ted Cruz did not even defend his own wife when Donald Trump called her “ugly.” It would seem a man can’t be more castrated than that. As a matter of fact, they are not men – they are Donald Trump’s foot soldiers. They belong to him in whatever fashion he sees fit.

Donald Trump has already polarized our country to the point I believe it may be beyond repair. He has set race relations back to the pre Civil Rights Era as far as prejudice and hate goes. He has blood on his hands for over a quarter million people, and Americans will keep dying in droves until the day he leaves office. 

Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, and Mitch McConnell are fine with the deaths of so many Americans; their only concern is keeping their corrupt king in power. They know full well that Trump's contesting this election is going to enrage his base, and spur them towards violence. That is exactly what Trump wants, and he could care less who lives and dies. It has now become obvious that McConnell, Graham, and Cruz can care less too. Donald Trump would be nowhere without their help – they are his kept men.