Science Denying Reactionaries Exposed to Coronavirus During CPAC Conference

Two weeks ago, reactionaries gathered at the annual Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) gathering to celebrate conservative causes, espouse fringe principles, and  happily salute the 2016 KKK Endorsed Candidate (Donald Trump.)

It was also an opportunity to attack Democrats and the media for overblowing the significance of the Coronavirus.

According to various pieces like Reason’s, attendees, including now-former Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, said the Democrats and media were “overhyping” the virus to “tank the economy” and damage the reelection chances of Donald Trump.

The Mad King President, as writers like AZ Blue Meanie has reported, has resorted to multiple disinformation fronts coupled with callous comments (like the one he made about keeping the ship out at sea so the number of official cases would not increase.)

Close to two weeks later, these same science-denying Reactionaries are reaping what they sowed after the revelations that one of the attendees at the CPAC Conference tested positive for the virus.

This person shook hands and interacted with various leading Republican figures. These figures have interacted with the President and Vice President.

One of these figures, Mark Meadows, the new White House Chief of Staff, is already on a two-week self-imposed quarantine and getting paid for it.

Arizona Representative Paul Gosar and some of his staff are as well. Gosar, who already has a reputation for outlandish tweets, has not slowed down in quartine, tweeting (and getting paid for it)  that he would prefer to die in battle than from the virus.

Georgia Representative (and Trump Anti Impeachment Ally) Doug Collins is on self-imposed quarantine as well.

So is Senator Ted Cruz.

Republican Blackshirt Mark Gaetz, the one who wore a mask in the well of the House mocking legislation to combat the virus (he did vote for it) found out he was exposed at CPAC while flying with Mr. Trump on Air Force One.

He is on quarantine now to and getting paid for it like the others.

As of this morning, Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence have not seen fit to be tested for the virus.

They need to do so for the peace of mind for people in the country.

We are all in This Together.

IT IS important to emphasize that everyone should want President Trump, Vice President Pence, and others not to get the virus.

The nation needs a functioning government and while the irony is priceless that science-denying people at a right-wing conference who spent the weekend calling the coronavirus a hoax to hurt Mr. Trump were exposed, no one should wish bad tidings on anyone because of the political views they hold. 

Hopefully, this will be a significant emotional event for the conference attendees and they will be more receptive to treating this seriously (Pence and the experts appear to recognize the true reality) and enact measures to help people during this crisis like the paid sick leave (like what Mr. Meadows and the Congressmen are getting,) food stamp increases, unemployment insurance increases, and health care measures the Democrats under Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are proposing along with the (wait for it) tax cuts Trump and some Republicans are considering.

Remember, this virus does not discriminate. It does not care what political party the person belongs to.

Everyone is in this together.

https://blogforarizona.net/science-denying-reactionaries-exposed-to-coronavirus-during-cpac-conference/

Is it Too Early to Start Veepstakes in the Democratic Party; May the best Woman Win

With the Democratic Presidential Contest down to two over 75-year-old white men, several political journalists and pundits have already started to speculate on who Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders would pick as their Vice President.

The Vice Presidency, since the time of Walter Mondale, has been an increasingly important position in the United States Government. Mondale, Bush, Gore, Cheney, Biden, and Pence have all had integral roles in the Administrations they were a part of.

The position, especially with two potential nominees approaching 80, also demands that a person be ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.

Given that consideration, one pattern seems to be emerging in these early stages of Veepstakes speculation.

In this Presidential election year, the first one after the first major-party woman nominee won the popular vote (but not the Presidency) and where the vote of women in all the parts of the country is crucial to the Democrat’s chances, no male public servant need apply to become the  2020 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee.

Lynn Yaeger of Vogue wrote a piece, listing six women candidates that should be considered for the second spot on the ticket.

Washington Post columnists like Fred Hiatt and Henry Olsen have also put forth the idea that the Vice Presidential pick should be a lady.

So has Lisa Lerer and Reid Epstein of the New York Times.

What are the names of the potential early favorites to become the 2020 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee and the factors that favor them and may disqualify them? More will undoubtedly be considered.

Stacey Abrams

Factors that favor her: A former 2020 Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate and Democratic State House Leader, Abrams, now a voting rights activist, is a popular regional (and national) leader whose popularity and reputation can conceivably put Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida in play.

Factors that may disqualify her: Is she ready to be President?

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

Factors that favor her:  In her current office since 2017 (after a stint as Nevada’s Attorney General) and a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Senator Cortez Masto would solidify Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and definitely put Arizona in play.

Factors that may disqualify her: She is not well known outside the Southwest.

Representative Val Demings

Factors that favor her:  A Florida African American Congressional Representative from the Tenth District since 2017, Ms. Demings is an experienced law enforcement officer who gained recognition when she was one of the House Trump Impeachment Managers. She has served on the House, Intelligence, Judiciary, and Homeland Security Committees.  She would definitely put Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas in play.

Factors that disqualify her: None that are apparent at this time.

Senator Kamala Harris

Factors that favor her: A former 2020 Presidential Candidate, she has also demonstrated that she could do well on the stump and in debates.

Factors that may disqualify her: The Democrats are going to win California anyway and it is unclear what other states (neighboring Arizona for example) she can bring into the Democratic column in November. Just because she is African American, does that mean (unlike Abrams) she would have the regional appeal in the Southeast or Midwest Michigan.

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Factors that may disqualify her: Does she help increase turnout among Democratic voter groups? Also, if Biden is the nominee, is she too moderate for Sanders and Warren voters.

Factors that favor her: She comes from the Midwest and could help bring back Wisconsin, Pennslyvania, Michigan, and Iowa into the Democratic fold. She could also appeal to voters in Colorado and Virginia and help bring states like Arizona into the blue column. She is the most experienced legislator of the current favorites. She did very well in the Democratic Presidential Debates, earning a substantial number of newspaper endorsements and a third-place finish in New Hampshire.

Senator Elizabeth Warren

Factors that favor her: If Biden is the nominee, she could help pull in voters from the Warren-Sanders wing of the party.

Factors that may disqualify her: If she is the Vice Presidential nominee, the Republican Governor of Massachusetts will appoint her replacement until a special election occurs. Furthermore, if Sanders is the nominee, she may be too liberal for the Pragmatic Progressive wing of the party.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Factors that favor her: A Pragmatic Progressive Governor from Michigan, she became a political star with the response to Mr. Trump’s 2020 State of the Union. Like Klobuchar, she could help bring back Wisconsin, Pennslyvania, Michigan, and Iowa into the Democratic camp. She could ensure that states like Colorado and Virginia stay blue and could also appeal to voters in states like Arizona. As a Chief Executive of a state, she has demonstrated she can run a government.

Factors that disqualify her: She may not be as known as the other candidates. 

With the exception of Abrams, all have the ability and experience to step in at a moment’s notice to assume the Presidency.

They would all bring increased voter enthusiasm to the ticket but there would be regional and demographic fluctuations.

Whoever Biden or Sanders picks from this or any other list, they need to pass their first test as a potential President: picking a Vice President that could be ready on a moment’s notice to become the country’s leader.

Bill Clinton and Barack Obama struck gold when they picked Al Gore and Joe Biden.

John McCain swung and missed on Sarah Palin.

George H.W. Bush had people praying for his health every day during his Administration because of worries of how Dan (how do you spell potato) Quayle could handle the Presidency.

If the Vice President is to be a lady, Biden and Sanders should make sure that she is ready to be President.

Nothing else matters and the Voters should appreciate that.

https://blogforarizona.net/is-it-too-early-to-start-veepstakes-in-the-democratic-party/

Long Awaited Video's from Social Good Now

https://www.facebook.com/sogoodnow/videos/200923277950432/

https://www.facebook.com/sogoodnow/videos/620691208501392/

Mitch McConnell’s Worst Nightmare Might Come True; Good

What do the states Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, and South Carolina have in common?

These are all states that will field competitive Democratic Senatorial Candidates in the 2020 elections.

Maine Speaker Sara Gideon is running against Susan Collins in Maine.

Colonel Amy McGrath is looking to vanquish Mitch McConnell in Kentucky.

Captain Mark Kelly is competing well against Martha McSally in Arizona.

Former Governor John Hickenlooper is running against Cory Gardner in Colorado.

Montana Governor Steve Bullock has decided to run against Steve Daines for the Senate seat he holds.

South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison is looking to defeat Lindsey Graham.

Democrats also have their preferred candidate in North Carolina (Cal Cunningham) and probably in Texas (MJ Hegar.)

Georgia has two seats that Democrats will be competing for.

Iowa still needs to hold its primary to determine who will be the Democratic Senate Candidate.

It is a pity the Democrats will not be fielding a candidate to go up against lunatic Todd Cotton in Arkansas.

If the above candidates and the three incumbent Democrat Senators on the bubble can hold on to their seats in Alabama (Doug Jones,) Michigan (Gary Peters,) and New Hampshire (Jeanne Shaheen) and defeat the fringe candidates the Republicans put up against them, the Democrats may win more than the three necessary contests to gain the Senate majority with the Democratic Presidential Nominee’s victory.

That is Enemy of the People-Political Prince of Darkness Mitch McConnell’s worst nightmare. If he is not defeated by McGrath in Kentucky, he would become the Minority Leader and his reign of obstructionism and reactionary judicial recruitment would undoubtedly end.

GOOD!

It is important for the people to take these races (and all the other contests) just as seriously as the Presidential one.

It is vital that the Democrats back the Presidential Candidate that they think has the longer coattails in bringing these Senate Democrats contestants across the finish line with them.

It is crucial that the citizens learn from the McConnell years and enact rules and procedures, if the Democrats prevail in November, to prevent that nightmare from ever occurring again.

https://blogforarizona.net/mitch-mcconnells-worst-nightmare-might-come-true/

Warren was not the Woman Candidate that could easily beat Trump; Klobuchar was

While many are, in the Washington Post columnist Stephen Stromberg’s words “mourning”the end of the Warren campaign, the female contender that should be receiving condolences for her stalled candidacy is Amy Klobuchar.

The Minnesota Senator was truly the Goldilocks Candidate.

She had the proposals that could pass Congress.

She had the experience in the Senate as a dealmaker.

She had the appeal to bring all the Midwest back into the Democratic camp.

She had the pragmatic temperament and positions that impressed observers in the Presidential Debates.

She had more newspaper endorsements than the Massachusetts Senator.

While Warren was coming in third in her home state on Super Tuesday, Klobuchar had effectively transferred her support to Joe Biden as he won Minnesota.

It is a shame, as Stromberg wrote, that Klobuchar had to contend with Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg for the pragmatic progressive lane.

To be fair, Warren had to share the liberal progressive one with Sanders.

It is also a shame Klobuchar was not given more time in the earlier debates to make a name for herself as she ceded time to candidates like Marianne Williamson, Tulsi Gabbard, and John Delaney should not have been on the stage.

She, not Warren, was the woman candidate that could have beaten Donald Trump in 2020 more easily.

She was the just right Presidential Candidate who, like the Democratic Governors who ran in this election cycle, never gained the proper traction she deserved.

Hopefully, whoever wins the Democratic Nomination, they will strongly consider Klobuchar for the Vice Presidency.

She has proven that she can be the President if the need arises.

https://blogforarizona.net/warren-was-not-the-woman-candidate-that-could-easily-beat-trump-klobuchar-was/

SNL Cold Open from 3/7/20

https://deadline.com/2020/03/saturday-night-live-brings-in-elizabeth-warren-as-kate-mckinnon-blames-coronavirus-on-insane-liberals-1202876925/

Democrats Introduce Paid Family and Sick Leave Bill; Health Care Coverage Needs to Follow

While specialists in government and healthcare are increasingly taking steps to medically combat the Coronavirus, enlightened public servants in Washington like Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut  and Senator Patty Murray of Washington have finally introduced legislation that “would mandate all employers to let workers accrue seven days of paid sick leave and immediately provide 14 additional days when there is a public health emergency.”

It is vitally important that Congress pass this law.

Currently, the National Family and Medical Leave Act do not require employers (of 50 or more people) to pay their employees for time off for family or medical emergencies.

Within the country, only Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont. Washington and Washington D.C have some form of paid sick leave.

Minnesota passed theirs this week (it was already in the legislative pipeline) as the Coronavirus spread in this nation.

Large, medium, and small private and public entities throughout the United States do offer some forms of paid family and medical leave but it is not universal as many organizations do not provide these benefits to their workers.

This is why legislation like what DeLauro and Murray are championing is needed. It provides a consistent standard across the country so no one can fall through the cracks.

If this measure or one like it is not considered and passed, the risk of the virus spreading increases because people who are worried about not getting paid so they can pay the mortgage or the electric bill or food shop. may chance to go to work if they start to exhibit the symptoms, not knowing what they have.

The same can be said for people who do not have health insurance. They may not go to the doctor because they can not afford the emergency room bill that will come after they go.

The United States is one of the FEW advanced nations that do not offer universal access to family and sick leave and quality/affordable health care.

Congress needs to pass a catastrophic health insurance as well as a paid family leave and sick bill measure for any large scale medical emergencies.

Unless Congress and the Trump Administration acts soon to plug that lack of access hole, the spread of the Coronavirus may accelerate because people can not afford to take the preventive steps necessary to stem the virus’s progress.

It could also throw this country into a major economic downtown that could take months or years to recover.

The time to act and take care of the people is now.

https://blogforarizona.net/democrats-in-congress-introduce-paid-family-and-sick-leave-bill-for-coronavirus-health-care-coverage-needs-to-follow/