Category: Uncategorized

Well. We Have Long Known Hinderaker Can’t Read… For Comprehension… But REALLY, John?!

~ condor ~ Leave a comment

This is amazing. Truly… amazing. After vapidly saying the virus is “relatively mild“ (at nearly a fifth of a million dead Americans alone, tonight!), John intentionally misreads a doctor’s quote to infer some dark Democratic conspiracy. What the doctor said:

“…When we look at the timing of everything, it seems to us a more realistic approach to this would be to think that we’re going to be where we are now until we are done with the election….”

To anyone with a working fore-brain, anyone aware that Trump told Woodward on tape, no less, that he was minimizing the lethality of the virus, that Trump had said it would magically disappear after 15,000 deaths… and on and on (just as John did mere moments ago… in this same post we are talking about) — the quote means we will be at great risk of over 300,000 dead by next summer, if we don’t soon elect a NEW president, someone in the White House who will take to heart, and follow the learning — from prior pandemic events, with renewed scientific rigor.

Until… in short, there are once again real adults… in “the room where it happens” (in Lin-Manuel’s immortal turn of phrase).

My, but if Hinderaker isn’t one dim, dim bulb… no? [And a deadly one, with pandemic dis-information, to boot].

Truly… deplorable. Out.

Wholly-Missing From Paul M.’s Discussion — The Case Most “On Point”: Re… Willaim Jefferson Clinton

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This morning, Paul M. would tell us… its all cool… cool — “like, um… totally normal“, that Trump (and the craven crook, Billy Barr) are conspiring to use the DoJ resources, as their own white shoe law firm, for clearly personal matters — ones going back a quarter century.

Why? Because the RNC and the Trump campaign are running low on cash — cannot fund the dis-information campaign at the required fever-pitch of agit-prop, with these vast number of private lawsuits Trump faces — alleging financial and sexual misconduct (I am aware of about 25, pending right now — in active litigation).

So, while Paul talks about what Cheney did (now… there’s a shining ethical beacon — if ever there one was! / snark) — he is silent as the grave about the last president to face these sorts of sexual misconduct allegations. Oh, and that president… allegedly did what he did… in the Oval.

And lied about it (allegedly).

But. He. Never.Used. DOJ. Lawyers. At. All.

Not in the Lewinsky matter — because even he knew it would be wrong.

And I write this, as a life-long pure Democrat. Voted for Bill both times; and for Hil — in ’16. But I also know right from wrong. Apparently Paul suffers from… no similar (truth-telling) affliction.

Seriously, though… C’mon Paul. Grow a pair. Admit that Trump has corrupted whatever was left of the DoJ, under Barr.

C’mon man — you completely ducked… the only on point precedent.

Out.

At Least 20 States Have Filed As Amici To Oppose Trump’s Asylum Fee Price Gouging, By DHS…

~ condor ~ 1 Comment

I am proud to say that my adopted home state is among the states signing on. Trump will lose here — but we won’t know that until after the election — and in any event, the 46th President will repeal these fees, on January 22, 2021. [My explainer / backgrounder, of two days past, here.]

Here is the excellent 26 pager, and a bit:

…The economic and societal benefits of citizenship are… pronounced. Naturalized citizens earn between 50% and 70% more than non-citizens, have higher employment rates, and are half as likely to live below the poverty line as non-citizens.

A study of 21 U.S. cities showed that when eligible residents naturalize, (1) individual earnings increase by an average of 8.9% or $3,200; (2) employment increases by 2.2%; and (3) homeownership increases by 6.3%. That study also projected that naturalizing all eligible residents in 21 U.S. cities would increase aggregate earnings by $5.7 billion, and tax revenues in these cities by $2.03 billion. Naturalization also benefits civil society by encouraging long-term social integration and empowering new Americans to participate in our democratic processes by voting, serving on juries, and running for elected office.

Immigrants also help power the nation’s economy, generating wealth and revenue for businesses, workers, and state and local governments. As of 2017, at least 43% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by first or second-generation immigrants. Immigrant-owned companies in the United States employ over 7.9 million workers across a variety of sectors. In California, one of every six business owners is an immigrant and California’s 937,000 immigrant business owners have generated $24.5 billion in revenue to the state’s economy….

Onward — clear-eyed, and now very deliberately… “bending the arc of history toward. . . progress“. Smiling widely, at Mr. Obama’s soaring turn of phrase, from that first night in November of 2008 — it seems so long ago, now. But even so,with Biden / Harris, we will build back, better. . . .

नमस्ते

Here You Go, Hinderaker — We’ve IMPROVED IT! — With A Dose Of… Reality.

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A small matter, perhaps… but I’ll mention it (since it inspired my freshly baked graphics muse).

Last night, while waxing decidedly… loony — on the “never gonna’ happen” supposed list of second term SCOTUS finalists, released by Herr Drumpf yesterday… John ran a very pixelated, ham-handed graphic of HRC behind bars, Trump as a cop and Sen. Tom Cotton in SCOTUS robes, with laser eyes… captioned… “SOON!”

Very, very (almost) charmingly… out of touch with the reality inside the nation, at the moment (that is the one John ran, at left). Ugh.

So — at above right — click to enlarge… I’ve improved it for them.

You’re welcome, John.

Y A W N.

Out.

Merck CEO Frazier: “You Cannot Rush… The Real Science” — On COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

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Of course, about three years ago, Mr. Frazier was the first of the Fortune 50 CEOs to stand up to Trump about his “very fine people” misogyny on the murderous white supremacists in Charlottesville.

Tonight, with him, we must stand… with the real scientists.

We must follow real science — and that takes… real time. [Throwing more people, or more tech, at it will not make the days roll into months any faster, on this real-time / elapsed clock and calendar.]

In sum, large, well-run clinical trials, with 30,000 or more participants… simply take time, to show statistically significant results.

There is no responsible way to “warp speed” the months of time it takes to correctly run these large trials.

And so, Trump will not be able to con his way into this one….

…CNBC’s Scott Wapner talks to Merck CEO Ken Frazier about how the company is manufacturing a coronavirus vaccine, and what may be next in the race to a vaccine….

Onward to November 3, 2020.

नमस्ते

Still Awaiting A Decision From The Supremes: Will They Step Into The “COVID-Time” Mifepristone Delivery Mechanics Case?

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More often than any prior president… in over a century, minimum — Trump has incessantly tried to leapfrog the federal judicial review of lower court decisions he doesn’t like — by going straight to the Supremes — arguing “emergencies” of various dubious sorts exist. This is one of those. [Prior backgrounder, here.]

Here is the college of family doctors’ fine brief — arguing that the Supremes should not step in at this point — still prior to a final appellate level order, and a bit:

…Defendants now ask this Court to step in while this case is before the court of appeals and strip the nation’s health care providers—including Plaintiffs American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (“ACOG”) and Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology (“CUCOG”), supported by amici including American Medical Association (“AMA”) — of the urgent relief they need to protect their own safety and that of their patients, staff, and families during the pandemic. Defendants have not met the “especially heavy burden” they bear on such an overriding stay petition. Edwards v. Hope Med. Grp. for Women, 512 U.S. 1301, 1302 (1994) (Scalia, J., in chambers) (quotation marks and citation omitted).

Recognizing the importance of avoiding travel and interpersonal contact during the PHE, Defendants have taken “extraordinary actions” to reduce viral transmission by suspending in-person requirements for drugs, including potentially lethal controlled substances like opioids, and urging the use of telemedicine “whenever possible.” App. 43a-44a. However, when it comes to medication abortion, the FDA forces patients to travel to a hospital, clinic, or medical office just to pick up the medication and sign a form (the “Requirements”) — even though the agency does not require any in-person examination, any in-person counseling, or that the patient swallow the pill while in the office. Of more than 20,000 FDA-approved drugs, mifepristone is the only one that patients must pick up in person in a clinical setting but are permitted to self-administer elsewhere, unsupervised….

The good news, in all of this is that Trump, and his political appointees (as a group) are so monumentally incompetent, they actually tend to slow their own “progress”, on his hate-agenda, as they so regularly miss the mark, on complying with existing federal civil procedural law. This, as I said at the head — is one of those. I predict the Supremes will decline to get involved at this point. Onward — smile.

नमस्ते

EmptyWheel, On Bill Barr’s Decision — To Have DoJ Enter A Defamation Suit — Against Trump…

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I suppose all that need be said (for most sentient beings to realize this is pure corruption) is that the claim here, by Barr, is that raping a woman is an integral part of the sworn duties of this commander in chief. Barr claims in entering here, that the defamation suit, which will prove the truth of the rape allegation — and thus prove Trump defamed the victim by calling her a liar — is part of Trump’s service as president, and thus he may use DoJ legal talent, for free. [Note that Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon never tried such a jaw-slackingly awful thing.]

But Ms. Wheeler, ever sharply incisive — in her dissections of Trump — says just enough more, to also devastate Bill Barr. Without additional ado then, here is that the fine opinion article, by EmptyWheel (do go read it all):

…As I contemplated Barr’s decision to claim that accusing a credible alleged rape victim was all part of Trump’s job as President, I thought briefly about what it says of Bill Barr’s faith, that he would make it official DOJ policy to condone attacks on claimed rape victims like this.

But then I remembered that Bill Barr is of the generation of Catholics where that is the job of the official bureaucracy, to throw all the institutional weight of the Church into protecting alleged rapists and suppressing credible accusations, even to the point of attacking the victims….

And so Bill Barr will further degrade an institution that’s supposed to guard the interests of the less powerful in society, and instead use the power of the institution to corruptly hide how depraved those leading the institution really are….

Who. Are. These. Sociopaths?

नमस्ते

More NEW Trumpian Lawlessness: “Price Gouging” Work Visa-, And Asylum Application-Fee Edition…

~ condor ~ 1 Comment

We regularly argue that without a steady flow of smart people seeking a better life for themselves and their families, the US is destined to lose its competitive edge in all the sciences, and in the development of all novel technology.

In a move designed solely to demonize people who don’t look like Trump, and to create yet another federal slush fund (under his nominal control), from which he may pay-off his cronies, for various unsavory “favors” (including, as my graphic suggests — to have private contractors likely build small sections of wall, at stupidly inflated price points)… Trump had DHS impose vastly overpiced new fees on various forms of immigration paperwork. While the $1,170 for a work visa may grab the headline, the more troubling one from a human rights perspective is a $50 non-waivable fee to apply for asylum.

It is quite often true that oppressed people, ones seeking to avoid torture or execution in their home nation(s)… arrive at our door, essentially penniless — having normally spent what life savings they might have, to travel to America. By imposing a non-waivable $50 fee (more than half of the annual income of the median human, globally-speaking!)… Trump effectively denies all asylum seekers, as they arrive — since almost 99 per cent of them cannot pay the fee. Meanwhile the over $1,000 per for work visas will be paid by US businesses, on behalf of desired non-US citizen workers, and will very quickly create yet another billion dollar slush fund, Trump will doubtless try to use to reward political contributors, with no-bid contracts.

So, we today begin following the Oakland federal case (which we will henceforth call “ILRS & East Bay Sanctuary, IV“) seeking to enjoin the fees — arguing in part that both Chad Wolf, and his predecessor, were never confirmed by Congress, so their actions are… void. The motion to enjoin also correctly argues that the APA prohibits rule-making and fee increases “under cover of secrecy” — in the way the Trumpians operated. Here’s the full 24 page PDF as filed, and a bit:

…This case challenges a final rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) that drastically increases fees to apply for essential immigration benefits, including naturalization and asylum. 85 Fed. Reg. 46,788 (Aug. 3, 2020) (“Final Rule”).

For the first time in U.S. history, the Final Rule imposes a non-waivable $50 fee to apply for asylum. Under the Final Rule, the fee for an asylum seeker to apply for status and initial work authorization with biometrics skyrockets from $0 to $630. Reversing past practice, the Final Rule eliminates fee waivers for nearly all applicants seeking to naturalize. For many of the lowest income applicants, the Final Rule increases the fee for naturalization from $0 to $1,170.

The Final Rule accomplishes this in a manner that is procedurally defective, contrary to law, and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”). Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits, or at least raise “serious questions” going to the merits, and they are irreparably harmed by the Final Rule. The balance of equities tips sharply in their favor and an injunction is in the public interest. See E. Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Barr, 964 F.3d 832, 845-46 (9th Cir. 2020) (“EBSC 2020”). For these reasons, the Court should enjoin the Final Rule or stay the effective date to maintain the status quo until final resolution of the case….

The tenures of both Mr. McAleenan and Mr. Wolf violated the FVRA. The DHS Secretary is a principal officer who must be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. 6 U.S.C. § 112(a)(1). The FVRA permits the Executive to fill the post with an Acting Official but for no “longer than 210 days beginning on the date the vacancy occurs,” absent a pending Senate nomination. 5 U.S.C. § 3346(a)(1). The last Senate-confirmed DHS Secretary resigned on April 7, 2019. Comp. ¶ 244. That means any Acting Official in the post after November 6, 2019 was serving in violation of the FVRA’s time limits. Because the Final Rule was proposed and issued by Acting Officials after that date, it “shall have no force or effect,” under the FVRA….

And so… we must vote. In a vast turnout / show of forceful repudiation of his hate — unlike any the Democratic Party has seen — in a generation. We must leave no doubt: his incompetence, and corruption… must end. Onward — grinning, ever… grinning.

नमस्ते

More — Of John’s “Haircut/Kaczynski Manifestos”

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Several times now, John has complained about the US House Speaker’s private salon visit. She got a wash and a blowout, as well as a cut.

John did all of these things with his hairdresser, in May… and he at least said they did it outside.

All because John only complains about Democrats who offend his supposed moral code.

[He’s remained alabaster marble statue silent about Trump demanding that a member of press take his mask off, to ask questions, at a press briefing yesterday. In that light, his complaints do have an air of a Unabomber’s grievance list.]

Ironic — that his knickers get so twisted up about these trivialities (when his boy is stealing hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds over the last three plus years). Yep — ironic; it’s the land in the Dakotas, where all John’s logical thinking skills have gone — to take a dirt nap.

Onward — grinning….

As Promised. Real Scientists Will Let… Real Science… “Call The Ball” — On COVID-19 Vaccines

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Here it is; Merck and Pfizer among others, put out their own statements/supplements (linked in their names).

Read up — oh you feckless would-be Tangerine Mussolini:

“…The biopharmaceutical industry is confident we can beat COVID-19 because science guides every aspect of our work. Our industry is committed to ensuring the highest of standards of research, clinical testing and manufacturing are upheld throughout the vaccine research and development process.

“As part of this commitment, this morning the leading biopharmaceutical companies working on vaccines for COVID-19 issued a pledge ‘to make the safety and well-being of vaccinated individuals the top priority in development of the first COVID-19 vaccines.’

“Because vaccines are given to healthy individuals, industry sponsors will be confident in the safety and efficacy of any new vaccine based on data from rigorous, large clinical trials including the expectation that diverse populations are included, before submitting the data to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other national regulatory agencies around the globe for review.

We furthermore believe in a transparent review process of vaccine candidates by the FDA, including by the Agency’s Advisory Committees….

Following guidance from expert regulatory authorities such as FDA regarding the development of COVID-19 vaccines, consistent with existing standards and practices, and in the interest of public health, we pledge to:

Always make the safety and well-being of vaccinated individuals our top priority.

Continue to adhere to high scientific and ethical standards regarding the conduct of clinical trials and the rigor of manufacturing processes.

Only submit for approval or emergency use authorization after demonstrating safety and efficacy through a Phase 3 clinical study that is designed and conducted to meet requirements of expert regulatory authorities such as FDA. . . .

Work to ensure a sufficient supply and range of vaccine options, including those suitable for global access.

We believe this pledge will help ensure public confidence in the rigorous scientific and regulatory process by which COVID-19 vaccines are evaluated and may ultimately be approved.

“Numerous approaches are being undertaken by our industry to research and develop vaccine candidates in collaboration with government agencies, academia and other entities. The decades-long investments biopharmaceutical companies have made in new technologies, research and previous vaccines have prepared our industry to act swiftly, without cutting corners, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and we’re confident science will win….”

It is unprecedented, and jaw-slacking that this statement was needed. Disturbing, that we have a Commander in Chief who is so plainly unable, and unwilling to accept basic scientific safety principles when he perceives a potential electoral advantage… not to do so. Onward, just the same.

नमस्ते