Politico reported this information from the Wall Street Journal this a.m.:
SIDEBAR — WSJ: ” Mr. Trump has told people he wants his signature to appear on the direct payment checks that will go out to many Americans in the coming weeks, according to an administration official. The White House didn’t comment. Normally, a civil servant—the disbursing officer for the payment center—would sign federal checks, said Don Hammond, a former senior Treasury Department official.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Trump makes me SICK. Now he wants full credit for the measly ONE check that is supposed to fulfill all of our needs until this crisis has ends.
S shows the dedication of OUR president, we must show him respect and keep in mind this is his way of reaching out to the people to show them that he is going through the coronavirus with us, he is trying to make the best out of the worst.
Javier Irun: S shows the dedication of OUR president, we must show him respect and keep in mind this is his way of reaching out to the people to show them that he is going through the coronavirus with us, he is trying to make the best out of the worst.
Surely you jest.
Billions of tax dollars in the $2.2 trillion coronavirus response legislation that are going to hospitals and states will not alleviate the shortage of protective gowns, gloves and masks. NOT enough of those supplies can be purchased because none of the materials for these items are made in the United States.
State governments and hospitals are now finding their warehouses are empty.
Suppliers located in other parts of the world are being crippled by the coronavirus. For example in Malaysia, where 75% of the world’s medical gloves are made, factories were shut down and only allowed to reopen with half staff, who are now locked in hostels at their workplaces.
AP reported last week that US imports of critical medical supplies were going down because of factory closures in China. These factories have been required to sell all or part of their goods internally rather than export to other countries. No medical-grade N95 masks, made almost entirely in China, have arrived at U.S. ports this month. Many manufacturers have been ordered to shut down or limit production throughout Southeast Asia, Latin America, India and Mexico.
“The coronavirus is spreading at an unbelievable rate, so you can only expect the demand for personal protective equipment and other medical supplies to follow the same trajectory, which is scary given that there is already a massive shortage of such items at hospitals,” Kaitlin Wowak, an assistant professor at University of Notre Dame business school who specializes in analytics and operations said.
Delays in admitting there is a serious problem facing this country is something that more money cannot fix. Medical personnel and sick patients will suffer. Critical time for action has passed.
Who consistently denied that there is a problem in this country? Now, Trump says that only having 100,000 deaths shows we are doing a very good job.
No words. Hyperbole fails.
The art of the deal … put your name on everything.
I would like to see a sign that reads:
“Moron-in-chief. IMPEACH. Trump is a threat to America’s National Security.”
How is Donald Trump a threat to our nation? He has helped the poor get jobs, now he is trying to help those that really need the money, and you dare call him a national threat, who know what the people will do with the money and Donald trump knows the risks involved with the spreading of the money, but he also knows that it is a time of need for the people that desperately need help.
Is this the same Trump who said the coronavirus was under control in early March? The same Trump who said it was a Democratic hoax? The same guy who told his followers to crowd the churches on Easter Sunday?
Diane, I think we need to create a litany of “Is this the same Trump who…” statements. Is the Trump who dismantled the infectious disease defense team? Everyone?
speduktr: Is this the President who said the following?
Jan. 22
It’s going to be just fine. We have it under control.
March 9
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!
March 10th
“I’ve been briefed on every contingency you could possibly imagine. Many contingencies. A lot of positive. Different numbers, all different numbers, very large numbers, and some small numbers too.”
March 11
Vanity Fair Magazine, which will soon be out of business, and their third rate Fake reporters, who make up sources which don’t exist, wrote yet another phony & boring hit piece. The facts are just the opposite. Our team is doing a great job with CoronaVirus.
Other ‘great quotes’ from our leader with great vision:
We pretty much shut it down coming in from China. It’s going to be fine.
We’re going very substantially down, not up.
And this is their new hoax.
I don’t need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn’t our fault.
It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.
When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done.
You’re talking about 2.2 million deaths — 2.2 million people from this. And so, if we can hold that down, as we’re saying, to 100,000 — that’s a horrible number — maybe even less, but to 100,000, so we have between 100- and 200,000, we all together have done a very good job.
Just think of the list of “Is this the Trump who…” actions we could generate beyond his stumbling response to COVID-19. He has hit every topic we have ever considered of importance from immigration to climate change.
Let’s hear it for the millions of recipients with direct deposit.
YES!!
I could agree to that. Provided he signs them himself, in ink, no rubber stamp. Signing a hundred million or so checks should keep him out of trouble for a while at least….
An automated Sharpie.
It’s been at least 50 years since any president signed anything by hand except legislation and personal notes.
Then it’s time to bring back the fine art of penmanship.
🙂
Will those of us who might just get direct-deposit [since the IRS blips out refunds electronically] be able to avoid this cheezy vanity-scribble?
Np. But as soon as the money is deposited send it back to the IRS. Staying “you hate Trump and want nothing from his time in office!“ 😂
This will ensure that the checks will bounce. What a complete puke.
This is completely unsurprising coming from a DOLT who loves taking credit for the work of others and cares far more about marketing than about actual leadership.
Is there no end to his vacuous self-serving? Trump is like the abusive husband who beats his wife, and then brings her flowers while she’s recovering in the hospital–isn’t he wonderful?
But let us not forget the “bigger picture” . . . Trump is consolidating power–Trump-branding EVERYTHING except what might make him look bad to his thoughtless, still-propaganda-saturated, self-defeating base . . . crossing-over into legitimately differentiated departments and others’ responsibilities . . . Trump is quite literally smearing an entire democratic-republic, and what’s left of its institutions, with his spiritual decay and and his low-life fascist personality.
It’s not only psychological . . . my lip automatically curls now whenever I see or hear, or even hear-OF him. It’s also SEVERELY POLITICAL.
Let me say that I know the virus is real, and I fear it as much as anyone reading this post. However, the virus is also an apt metaphor for the effort to spread Trump and “Trumpism” into every corner of our existence. CBK
Makes it very tempting to donate the whole check to the Democratic Party.
BIG 🙂 here!!
That might actually get us some disaster relief …
He dragged the signing of the bill out for half an hour. Had all his flunkies line up behind them. Had each of them thank the president for his leadership and for taking care of American workers and small businesses by ensuring they would get the money the need.
And ofc clips from that will play over and over on Faux News.
…and gave out pens.
Very important! I have one of the pens from the signing of the largest piece of legislation ever! And it was personally touched by Donald Trump! Quite the item for sales on QVC! (Is that still around? I have no idea.)
He is a twisted despot. If he wants his name on the checks, he should back them with his own personal money. We the people are paying for the relief.checks not him.
retired “He is a twisted despot. If he wants his name on the checks, he should back them with his own personal money. We the people are paying for the relief.checks not him.”
That’s exactly the point–he is NOT responsible for America being in the hospital in the first place. But “here are your flowers! Be sure to read the card!” CBK
If he wants his name on the checks, he should back them with his own personal money.”
Yikes!
Who wants a check that is sure to bounce higher than the Trump Tower?
retired teacher: Then the checks would bounce.
Oy vey iss meir!!!
Meanwhile, here in Flor-uh-duh, the feds have told the state that it’s on its own with regard to setting up testing sites. There are at present only two drive-up testing sites in the entire state, neither of which is in Tampa.
And the governor just announced that he wants to open a third. In Palm Beach.
Because, you know, the rich people need to get tested.
Trump’s neighbors.
Forget about the major population centers. We need to concentrate on the wealth centers. Repugnican Governor Ron DeSantis’s priority, it seems.
We have a couple of testing sites through a hospital here in the FL Panhandle. This is a large red voting area. My family has not gone for testing because we have been isolating and are symptom free. I am near Eglin Air Force where the base has just declared a state of emergency from Covid-19.
I was reporting a news article I just read about drive-through testing sites in the state. We do have, I understand, some other sites that are being run by hospitals.
Glad to hear that you and your family are symptom-free, RT! Stay safe!
Slime. This man is slime. Ignorant, murderous. The only thing that matters to Trump is Trump.
About two days ago I received by mail a coronavirus advisory that features Donald Trump’s name in the title.
The oversized postcard, dated March 16, is headlined “PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES FOR AMERICA” in all capital letters and displays the logos of the CDCs and the White House. On the back are the CDC recommendations such as wash your hands… and so on.
He is nothing more than a perpetual marketer of himself as a brand.
for America
Because we might have made the mistake of thinking that this was for Senegal
He is not winning “hearts and minds” with his vainglorious narcissism. Trump is a juvenile with a fragile ego. Anyone with a brain can see the wheels of self promotion turning.
retired That’s an interesting qualification: “anyone with a brain. . . ” CBK
I got one too. Like he is the source of public health information. Don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
If you got TRUMP instructions, discard at once. It probably gives you bad advice about using malaria drugs.
Another step to total dictatorship.
&…speaking of North Korea…didn’t he, just a few days ago, tweet his pal, Kim, that America was offering to help N. Korea fight the coronavirus–?!
(While he’s just doing such a great job, Brownie.)
As petty and inappropriate as this us, let us not forget this is a logical extension of President Obama embracing the term Obamacare and actually having it used in official communications. Just curious, where was the outrage of the people above when he did this (it was made “acceptable” to use at the 2012 Dem convention)? An American public policy or official duty should never be attached to a person. The only exception is for posthumous naming of programs. It has rarely been superseded, usually because of the imminent death of someone, as was done with the USS McCain (which I believe also honored his father, an admiral). Imagine what a memory Social Security or Medicare would have become had they named after FDR and LBJ.
Term “Obamacare” was adopted by Republicans as a pejorative. Naively, Democrats embraced it, rather than positive, Affordable Care Act… a loss for all of us.
Arthur My guess is that Obama experienced so many push-backs–on everything he did or didn’t do–that he may have just thought he could let that one go, and even saw AT THE TIME some good in it. CBK
Obama probably figured he could take the implied sneer out of the term by using it. I believe education has experienced this phenomena where perfectly good words have been high jacked to the detriment of public education.
Well, partially highjacked and a good measure of embrace, e.g., choice, re: charter schools and “public-private partnerships” in education; or “choice” in medical care. By embracing the language and primacy of individual choice Democrats have undermined the principle and political power of the common good.
I purposely did NOT lay blame based on political party. There are plenty of so-called reformers from across the spectrum (and I don’t mean autism!).
Arthur Blaming the victim there? And isn’t there need of a dialectic between the individual and the group, rather than an issue of either/or which, in its concrete implementation, can only elicit an extreme and horrible kind of reality (as history has shown us)?
I have found that, sometimes what looks like hypocrisy to us is really our own inability to recognize nuance that, in some cases, is “obvious” to everyone else.
On the other hand, duplicity is no friend of community or group collaboration. It’s rather a tool of a manipulating and degenerate character. And learning to discern and then to make truly good choices is not equivalent to twisting the meaning of commonly-used words, like “choice,” to turn them into propaganda and to promote unwanted political causes.
But my guess is that you already know this. CBK
speduktr Good point. Personally, I don’t how he stood the barrage. The difference with Trump (in case anyone is thinking about it) Trump has proved time-and-again that he deserves it. I just think many are still in denial about just how bad Trump actually is. CBK
Hm. Hundreds of millions of checks signed. That shouldkeep him occupied for at least 10 years if he doesn’t sleep, doesn’t twitter. I say, let him do it! Let’s demand “We all want your personal signature, ah, glorious leader, the chosen one.”
The campaign of the Mad King is endless.
China is requesting healthcare workers to report asymptomatic cases of COVID-19. If this information is correct, China is WAY AHEAD of the United States. We don’t have any idea of who are asymptomatic. We don’t even know how many are sick because of lack of the chemicals used in test kits. We can’t test people.
This comes from South China Morning Post…news from Hong Kong.
Enough of the Trump is doing everything possible. His delays and denials, supported and encouraged by Fox, are killing people in this country.
…………………………….
China to include symptom-free coronavirus carriers in national figures*
The national health commission said it would start to include asymptomatic cases in its Covid-19 statistics in move to address public concern
**Classified government data has suggested that silent carriers could make up around a third of cases
China will include asymptomatic coronavirus carriers in its daily figures from Wednesday, its National Health Commission said on Tuesday.
Officials said the new measures would help to address growing public concerns about the risks of infection with Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, brought about by these silent carriers.
The commission added that it already requires local health workers to report these cases through the central communicable disease report system.
The National Health Commission said that as of Monday, there were 1,541 asymptomatic carriers under medical observation on mainland China, including 205 imported cases.
The announcement follows Monday’s meeting of the central government’s Covid-19 leading group chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, which instructed officials to be more proactive in investigating the extent of these silent carriers.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3077753/china-include-symptom-free-coronavirus-carriers-national-figures
I want to add that people in Malaysia CANNOT GO OUT unless they are wearing a mask. [A friend of mine emailed me that information.]
Medical experts here say that only the ill should wear masks. I don’t know which is the correct way to act.
However, we don’t even have enough masks for medical workers, some of use one mask all day. They, through no fault of their own, are spreading this disease.
I am angry at the ignorance and narcissism of Trump who is ALWAYS doing everything perfectly. The blame for this mess lies squarely on his shoulders. Deny, deny, deny and deny…and then declare that if we ONLY have 100,000 dead we are doing a very good job.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 1:00 am
Homeland Security: Gun shops ‘essential’
Gun control groups say ruling puts profits first
LISA MARIE PANE | Associated Press
The Trump administration has ruled that gun shops are considered “essential” businesses that should remain open as other businesses are closed to try to stop the spread of coronavirus. Gun control groups are balking, calling it a policy that puts profits over public health after intense lobbying by the firearms industry.
In the past several weeks, various states and municipalities have offered different interpretations of whether gun stores should be allowed to remain open as Americans stay at home to avoid spreading the virus. In Los Angeles, for example, County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has twice ordered gun shops in his territory to close, leading to legal challenges from gun rights advocates.
After days of lobbying by the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and other gun groups, the Department of Homeland Security last weekend issued an advisory declaring that firearms dealers should be considered essential services – just like grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals – and allowed to remain open. The agency said its ruling was not a mandate but merely guidance for cities, towns and states as they weigh how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Still, gun control groups called it a move to put profits over public health. The Brady group on Monday filed a Freedom of Information request with DHS seeking emails and documents that explain how the agency reached its decision to issue the advisory and to determine if it consulted with any public health experts.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
“The gun lobby is not willing to stand for a few days or a few weeks of less profit in order to protect public health, and it’s outrageous and definitely not required by the Second Amendment,” said Jonathan Lowy, chief counsel for Brady. He added later: “It’s a public health issue, not a Second Amendment issue. The fact is that guns, the nature of guns, require that they be sold with a lot of close interaction. They can’t be sold from vending machines, can’t be sold with curbside pickup.”
The gun lobby has been pushing back vigorously against places where some authorities have deemed federally licensed gun dealers are not essential and should close as part of stay-at-home directives. The gun lobby has said it’s critical these shops remain open so Americans, who are buying firearms in record numbers, have the ability to exercise their constitutional rights.
In recent weeks, firearm sales have skyrocketed. Background checks – the key barometer of gun sales – already were at record numbers in January and February, likely fueled by a presidential election year. Since the coronavirus outbreak, gun shops have reported long lines and runs on firearms and ammunition.
Background checks were up 300% on March 16, compared with the same date a year ago, according to federal data shared with the NSSF, which represents gunmakers. Since Feb. 23, each day has seen roughly double the volume over 2019, according to Mark Oliva, spokesman for the group.
How is a few weeks without access to guns a violation of second amendment rights? What do these people think? Are they going to war over toilet paper? Do they plan on shooting the corona viruses? Perhaps they are readying themselves to protect their stockpiles of really essential goods against the roaming hoards of people who are starving in the streets.
speduktr good points, . . . but it’s even worse: it’s access to gun SALES. . . . CBK
Yeah, I got that, but you need lots of guns to protect yourself from the zombie apocalypse. (You can tell I never got into the zombie craze since I have no idea how you “kill” them.) Bottom line is these people operate on the basis of fear. Someone is always out to get them, and they are going to make sure that no one can mess with them. They are tribalism at its worst because they do not respect the rights of any other “tribe” but their own.
speduktr Yes, but I think also that the SALES part is where the NRA comes in. God forbid that THAT funding stream should dry up. CBK
The Hill:
Access to COVID-19 test kits and lab processing continues to be a point of confusion and contention between the federal government and the states. Trump again touted the total volume of tests administered in the United States as superior to other countries, including South Korea (The Hill).
But public health experts argue the relevant indicator is how many people have been tested per capita. Using that metric, the United States trails other countries and immunologists and physicians would like to see asymptomatic Americans tested, as well as people so sick they are assumed to be infected but never tested.
The Washington Post updated its story after it published the misinformation that your checks were being withheld. with a statement from the IRS saying that, no, checks would be going out on schedule. But where did the lie originate? And why did the MSM + the owner of this blog contribute to its going viral, if the IRS said it’s not s. Shouldn’t someone have consulted the IRS instead of parroting the false info into the Twittersphere? https://tinyurl.com/y9jsygpr
This is a perfect example of why there’s such distrust of the mainstream media (MSM)
It’s not true.
WSJ: ” Mr. Trump has told people he wants his signature to appear on the direct payment checks that will go out to many Americans in the coming weeks, according to an administration official.
WSJ, WashingtonPost, New York Times, MSNBC, CBS Vanity Fair (Now a rag devoted to 100% anti-Trump fantasy), – and the first page of a google search returns the same lie: “Trump demands his signature be on stimulus and all checks.”
According to than administration official.
According to sources.
According to liars.
And these sources are repeated by anti-Trump politicians and groups that quote the MSM but, no actual names of sources.
This is just one example of one fake news story – but the results the same:
Some uneducated or biased people believe the lies –
Others ignore the MSM and realize the influence of players like George Soros,
Your comment is wrong. I did not say that checks were delayed. I said that the stimulus checks would have Trump’s signature, which is unprecedented. Checks are usually robosigned by the Secretary of the Treasury or the relevant Cabinet official, never the president.
You Trumpers must have all failed tests of reading comprehension.
And your sly reference to “George Soros,” whose name has never appeared on this blog, is a reference to your anti-Semitism.
Get a life.
dolce1oxo I don’t care whether the checks are late or not–the point is that Trump HAD to have his signature on them instead of staying with long-standing departmental differentiations. He might as well have written “Jabba the Trump” on them.
Also, it’s not TRUMP’s money it is from the American People (remember Congressional approval?) and our excellent credit line.
But you did a nice job missing the point . . . CBK
Geezus ….how have Americans come to be so weak and gullible? Some of you need to serve in the military to act like men, cause most of you have lost your man card!
Seriously, people are scared what he will do if he loses? 😂 there are checks and balances in this country.
And, for those morons who are fearful of who he will pardon, all applications for presidential pardons must be prepared and submitted to the president by the U.S. Pardon Attorney of the Department of Justice. It would be really helpful if you guys educated yourselves instead of smelling each other’s a*ss! Read: Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution! Lawd … have mercy on stupidity!
Do you doubt that Bill Barr would give Trump the power to pardon anyone he wishes?
Hello Melissa: I feel so much better now since I read your note. I’m manning up. . . . And I guess we can ask you now where the magic will come from that will assure that Trump’s appointments will follow the law, the Constitution, or their oaths to it?
Kidding aside, I for one have a good amount of confidence in the power of the Constitution and, more, in the generations of persons who respect and love it. On the other hand, fascism has become real before in places where good persons were totally unsuspecting of it. CBK