Nothing Is Ever Going To Be The Same - We're Just Going To Have To Move On

 

Pandemic Diary - Day 336

Dear Diary,

No home for the holidays this season. 

The pandemic that's surging through the country has no respect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hanukkah.

Family gatherings have become COVID-19 spreader events from coast-to-coast. Healthcare officials are pleading with families to scale down on their gatherings this fall.

Until there's a vaccine for the virus it's going to regulate how we live, like it, or not. Wearing face masks is not some passing fad, it's become the new normal in America in an effort to contain the virus.

Healthcare professionals are suggesting a vaccine won't be available to the majority of Americans until next fall. If then. When it does become available only half of Americans say they will get it.

The bottom line is everyone is going to have to adjust to a brave new world with restrictions on our most beloved activities. From live entertainment to sports stadiums with 40,000 fans (or more), human interaction on a large scale is a thing of the past.

Hugging and shaking hands with strangers in public is no longer proper etiquette - if you believe in science and the reality of what's happening around you.

There will always be people who will resist wearing face masks and not go along with public safety measures. I suspect their numbers will dwindle in the coming years.

As for the rest of us, we need to learn how to make the best of our new reality. There's always hope for better days if we're united in our efforts to survive.

Our traditions and celebrations will have to conform to these uncomfortable realities and make them more palatable. Adapting to our environment is also necessary if we want to be happy. That's one thing all Americans can do to improve their lives. 

We're a social species that will find workarounds to stay in touch with one another and to thrive once again some day.

Quote for the Day: "Adapt to your surrounding but remain flexible for growing." --Ashley Porter

You Know It's 2020 When Charles Koch Congratulates Biden and Says He Looks Forward to 'Working With Him"

 Pandemic Diary - Day 335

Dear Diary,

Historians will someday agree that 2020 was a unique year full of challenges without comparison.

The year started off with the whole West Coast on fire, and a deadly pandemic that swept through the country taking lives in record numbers.

In an effort to stop the spread the nation had to shut down causing economic hardships not seen since the Great Depression.

Despite knowing how deadly the coronavirus was in early January, Trump downplayed the "Kung Fu Virus" and mocked masks when healthcare professionals cautioned they were vital (along with other advise) in stopping the spread.   

Trump was impeached in February. Farmers were getting massive government bailouts because of Trump's war with China.

The centerpiece of this year was the presidential election.

Democracy was shaken to the core as an out-of-control Trump tried to steal the election by whatever means were available to him.

Trump appointed a minion to slow down the USPS as part of his effort to discredit mail-in voting. He hired a legion of lawyers to file frivolous lawsuits in every swing state he was losing in. All were rejected.

When Biden was declared the winner on November 7th, Trump locked himself in the White House bunker and refused to concede to reality.

As Trump was going through the first of five stages of grief - denial - GOP leaders put their blinders on and pretended he didn't lose. Some are still pretending. Some have chosen to recognize reality.

Amidst all the tribalism I've seen this year something stunned me yesterday. 

Charles Koch (and democratic boogeyman) not only congratulated Biden on his victory, but he said he looked forward to working with him (!) to restore protection for "Dreamers," enacting policing reform that addresses systemic racism, and rolling back Trump's tariffs.

I know, I shouldn't be surprised by anything. It's 2020 after all.

Quote for the Day: "No one is exempt from the surprises of life." -Mehmet Murat ildan

'Baby Trump' Is Going To Have To Recognize Reality Eventually

 

Pandemic Diary - Day 334

Dear Diary,

Our cry Baby-in-Charge is in deep denial.

He can't change reality regardless of his frivolous lawsuits. Some Republicans have begun to accept the inevitable and are trying to get Trump to stop whining by coddling the orange buffoon.

The royal ass wipes - you know who they are - are carefully coaching Donny to calm down. It's a herculean effort. 

He doesn't want to admit he's a loser and they have to figure out how to get his fat ass out of the White House before January 20th when he'll be dragged out kicking and crying if he's still squatting there.

I don't envy his minions task. Changing his dirty diapers daily is one thing, but getting their terrible infant to vacate the White House is quite another.

Somehow, without riling up his rabid base, they have to figure out a course of action in the next 68 days.

Right now that mission seems impossible. Donny is angry and pounding his rattle on the resolute desk calling for heads to fall.

Their only hope is he'll be placated enough by firing everyone he doesn't like in government, and giving pardons to his criminal friends - and himself (if he can pull it off) that he'll leave.

To be sure no one - including Donny - knows what he'll do with the remainder of his regime. 

Meanwhile, his enablers will also have to figure out how to keep him out of prison when he leaves office. They know the IRS has unfinished business with their baby Trump.

Quote for the Day; "It's human to be angry, but childish to be controlled by anger." --Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Trump Is Busy Misleading His Own Supporters For His Personal Benefit

 

Pandemic Diary - Day 233

Dear Diary,

I almost feel sorry for the fools giving Trump money to fight the election results. Almost...

When Trump's campaign figured out he was losing the election last week, they began blasting out a nonstop stream of emails and text messages that led to a website raising money for an "election defense fund" to contest the outcome.

But, if Trumpies were able read the fine print they'd realize most of the money collected is going towards paying down his campaign debt and going to the RNC; and a political action PAC Trump founded, off the ground.

In other words, he's ripping off his own supporters who think all of the money is going toward "the good fight" to retain his presidency.

Election watchdogs have been scrutinizing the way the Trump campaign is divvying up the contributions. In particular it looks like Trump and his family are poised to financially benefit from the arrangement for years to come.

Paul S. Ryan, a longtime campaign finance attorney with the good government group Common Cause told AP, "This is a slush fund for Trump."

Ryan suspects that Trump will try to string out the meritless litigation in order "to fleece his own supporters of their money and use it in the coming years to pad his lifestyle while teasing a 2024 candidacy."

A portion of the money collected will go to the RNC, and the rest into Trump's PAC, according to campaign finance attorneys who have reviewed the details of the arrangement.

Like I initially said, I almost feel sorry for the fools, but they should have known better than to trust or believe Trump's words.

It's just another example of how Trump uses and abuses people. He wouldn't hesitate to throw his best friend under the bus if he thought it would benefit him.

Quote for the Day; "There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true." --Soren Kierkegaard

You Want Pathetic? Just Check Out These Trump Minions Response to Reality

 Pandemic Diary - Day 232

Dear Diary,

The fact that Joe Biden is our next president has caused already addled Trump supporters to melt down further.

Here's some examples:

--Trump's stupid son Eric tweeted this yesterday to his followers, "Minnesota Get Out and Vote!" The backlash on Twitter was he found himself the butt of countless jokes.

The reason for the scorn was obvious, voting was over in Minnesota a week ago.

--Donald Trump Jr. was brutally mocked yesterday for pushing a COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theory. Junior claimed Pfizer's announcement of a vaccine after Biden was elected was part of a conspiracy to hurt his Dad's re-election.

Once again Twitter debunked that bullshit. It was pointed out that Pfizer's announcement fit it's timeline.

--Pompous ass Pompeo belittled voters when he announced there would be a "smooth transition" when Trump took office on Jan. 20th. His divorce from reality had world leaders puzzled and disgusted.

---Bill Barr pulled his head out of Trump's ass long enough to look into baseless claims of voting "irregularities."

--Trump's legal team was asked about a witness, Richard Hopkins who is a USPS employee who recanted his election fraud story. Nothing but silence. Busted again.

--MAGA nation is planning a reverse reality rally in Washington DC Saturday where MAGA tribes like the Proud Boys, and the Oath Keepers will attend. Their only aim is to create disruption and chaos.

--Dr. Scott Atlas, Trump's flunkie leading the Coronavirus Task Force, has been relentlessly attacking Dr. Fauci for telling the truth to the public.

--The Department of Homeland Security has been busy swatting down Trumpworld's viral conspiracies on the agencies "Rumor Control" website.

--Kayleigh McEnany was lying her ass off on FOX News and the Host Neil Cavuto had to cut her off (!) while explaining to viewers she has no evidence and is spreading falsehoods.

I could go on, but why bother? The lies are going to continue long after Biden is sworn in because Trumpies live in an alternate universe.

Quote for the Day; "Winners have no interest or association in the opinions, actions or affairs of losers." -Jeffrey Fry

Will the Supreme Court Take Away 20 Million Americans Health Insurance Today?

 

Pandemic Diary - Day 231

Dear Diary,

Today the Supreme Court will decide if 20 million Americans will lose their health insurance.

It's that simple

Will Trump's recent conservative appointees uphold the current law? I'm concerned they won't. Ideology has replaced equal justice for all under Trump's disastrous reign.

As these luminaries examine arcane laws that could somehow overturn Obamacare, they could care less about the effects of their decision on people's lives.

Thanks to the political creature that calls himself Mitch McConnell, the Supreme Court and numerous other federal court positions have been stacked with snakes from the Federalist Society.

Getting justice for all is going to be a constant battle against the forces that have infected our judiciary systems.

However, Joe Biden is now president giving Americans hope for a reversal of the damage that lawless GOP cronies have caused.

It's not going to be easy. But democracy has stood up to Trump, the biggest threat our republic has ever encountered. That's one giant step for the nation.

Wouldn't it be grand to see the Supreme Court stand up for all Americans? 

One way or another, we're going to get a taste of what's coming our way from a court that badly needs credibility.

We'll have a good idea of how likely justice will prevail in the future when the court hands down it's decision.

Quote for the Day: "If the judges, who misuse the law, and make the wrong verdict, who else will judge such judges to support the justice to all without any distinction?" -Ehsan Sehgal 

Post Election Aftermath: Denial and Hope

 

Pandemic Diary - Day 230

Dear Diary,

The best present I ever got for my birthday - on November 7th - was when Joe Biden was declared the next President of the United States.

The nation said YOU'RE FIRED!

To no one's surprise Trump is in deep abject denial and claims he's been cheated. He unleashed a pack of lawyers to challenge results in different states with no results.

That's because there was NO FRAUD

There's a few feeble cases (with no evidence) hanging on until the end of this week. Trump supporters and GOP lackeys in Congress have been afraid to say he lost the election, although most know he has.

In a pathetic effort to hang on to the dream of a Trump dynasty, they all claim to be waiting for the final count in Arizona later this week before admitting reality. 

To be sure, his core supporters will never admit to reality, but there's a chance some Republicans will move on and try to restore their party which Trump transformed into a populist cult.

In spite of all of this, America has hope now.

I enjoyed reading the international headlines congratulating Joe Biden and mocking Trump. More than one banner head ran "YOU'RE Fired!"

The next 72 days are going to be more chaotic than than ever as Trump continues to lash out like a wounded hyena, right up until the last moment when they have to drag him out of the Oval Office.

On January 20th, 2021, the majority of Americans will set about healing the country, and trying to unite the nation. 

Quote for the Day: "But the world moves on, even when you don't want it to, even when change feels like the end of everything. It never stops." -Ann Aguirre 

   

Democracy Wins! WAY TO GO JOE!

 

Dear Diary,

It's over! After waiting anxiously since Nov. 3rd we know that Joe Biden is our next presidency.

Joe won convincingly. More people voted for him than any other American president in history.

I can breath now. Millions of Americans feel the same way this morning. Today is my 70th birthday and Joe's win was the best gift I could have been given.

I'm not going to worry about what Trump does before Jan. 30th. I fully expect him to continue being hateful and spiteful. 

Today is a day of celebration!

Let's all celebrate the saving of our republic!

Election Day 2020 is Here: Will We Still Have a Democracy When the Results Are In?

Pandemic Diary - Day 229

Dear Diary,

It's never happened before in modern history.

Store owners have boarded up their windows across the country in anticipation of riots on election day. Riots. On. Election. Day.

It's like hearing about Banana Republics that routinely have riots during elections, as one strongman after another gets overthrown. But I'm talking about America.

I never thought it would come down to this. An election that is going to decide the fate of democracy in the United States of America. If Trump wins, the republic loses.

We can only hope Joe Biden wins in a landslide today. Anything close is going to be contested by Trump's army of lawyers. Trump will refuse to accept defeat unless it's a total blowout.

In defeat, we can expect the worst lame duck presidency in history. Donny doesn't play nice when he loses. He never has.

I went to bed last night and had trouble sleeping. So much depends upon who wins. I think Biden will pull it off however. 

When I tune in to the news this evening, I'll be watching from the edge of my rocking chair while white knuckling a glass of Tequila. I have a hunch I'll be joined by millions of Americans drinking their alcohol of choice...

and waiting to witness the fate of our nation.

Quote for the Day: "Talk is cheap, voting is free: take it to the polls..." -Nanette L. Avery

Election Day Skepticism, Denialism, and Intimidation

 Pandemic Diary - Day 228

Dear Diary,

I'm not surprised Trump supporters in pickups with flags in the back, surrounded a Biden campaign bus a couple of days ago almost bringing it to an entire stop prompting a 911 call.

Naked intimidation.

The FBI is supposedly investigating the scary incident.

 Meanwhile a Texas GOP chairman claimed the whole thing was "Fake News" and "propaganda."

It didn't matter that the entire episode was video-taped and that anyone watching it could see what was happening. Anyone, but the Trump campaign minions.

That's denialism. They have no good answer for showing up at polls with weapons, waving Trump flags, or why they're making it hard for people to vote. 

Trump's minions shamelessly tell falsehoods that they think will defy our lying eyes (reality) regardless of the evidence.

Skepticism is sweeping through the country like the Grim Reaper as overwhelmed and confused Americans try to slog through layers of daily lies.

Out of the chaos that Trump has created this election cycle, Americans must vote in record numbers... 

if we want to save our democracy and defeat this pandemic with science.

We must vote like our future and lives depend upon it on Nov. 3rd. 

Because they do.

Quote for the Day: "Confident and proficient people are virtually impossible for a bully to intimidate in any environment." -Kilroy J. Oldster