Trump is desperate to justify his threat to send the military to “dominate” America’s cities. He is also shaken by his declining poll numbers.
So he tweeted that the 75-year-old Buffalo man who was roughly shoved to the ground by police officers and got a bad head wound was actually part of an ANTIFA (“anti-fascist”) group of provocateurs, and he staged his own mishap, perhaps as a publicity stunt.
Unfortunately for Trump, the world saw the video of 40-50 armed men advancing past a frail-looking elderly white man who was pushed to the ground and lay bleeding. Did he have them surrounded? Hardly.
When Republican senators were asked about Trump’s latest conspiracy theory, no one would defend him. Romney said it was embarrassing and unworthy.
The reality is that the injured man, Martin Gugino is a longtime activist, advocating for peace, the environment, and social justice. But no one who knows him thinks he is part of Antifa, Trump’s nemesis.
The New York Times wrote of him:
It is true, his friends admitted: Martin Gugino is an activist, a seasoned peacenik who in a lifetime of protest has taken part in demonstrations against military drones, climate change, nuclear weapons and police brutality.
But Mr. Gugino is also a football fan, they said, a mild-mannered bachelor and a Buffalo native who returned to his hometown some years ago to care for his ailing mother.
The one thing he is not, however, those who knew him said, is what President Trump suggested he was on Twitter Tuesday morning: a wily Antifa provocateur.
Mr. Trump’s tweet — none of it backed by fact — raced across the internet all day even as Mr. Gugino, 75, still lay in the hospital, recovering from the serious head wound he sustained on Thursday night when two Buffalo police officers shoved him to the ground at a demonstration marking the police killing of George Floyd.
A cellphone video of the encounter has now been seen by millions of people and led to charges being filed against the officers on Saturday.
In the video, a tall and lanky Mr. Gugino can be seen in front of the police with what seems to be a cellphone in his hand. Two of the officers shove him and he falls backward, cracking his head against the ground. As blood seeps out of his right ear, several officers walk by him.
The president’s tweet on Tuesday, which appeared to accuse Mr. Gugino of having instigated or even faked the encounter, was not the first time Mr. Trump has sought to blame Antifa — a word that describes a loose collective of anti-fascist activists — for encouraging what has now become nearly two weeks of nationwide demonstrations…
But even by his own standards, Mr. Trump appeared to test the boundaries of credulity by trying to brand a retired septuagenarian computer programmer as a follower of Antifa, whose adherents are, for one thing, generally much younger.
Some Antifa activists, practicing a tactic called Black Bloc, have been known to dress like ninjas and wear masks or balaclavas during protests while shattering windows and scuffling with the police.
Near Buffalo, however, the idea that Mr. Gugino was one of them struck many as absurd.
“Antifa? Oh, heavens no,” said Judy Metzger, 85, a longtime friend who lives near Mr. Gugino in Amherst, a suburb of the city. “Martin is a very gentle, a very pleasant person.”
Born in Buffalo, Mr. Gugino spent most of his working life in Cleveland, where he specialized in creating computer databases, his friends and colleagues said.
He went back to his hometown to care for his mother, and after she died, he lived alone in her home, finding fellowship at the Western New York Peace Center and at other parts of the city’s close-knit left-wing activist community.
His friends describe him as earnest and gentle.
Trump is convinced he’s a terrorist.
Governor Cuomo demanded that Trump apologize for insulting a peaceful demonstrator.
“You think the blood coming out of his head was staged?” Mr. Cuomo asked, sounding incredulous. “How reckless, how irresponsible.”
Trump will never change. He watches rightwing television and consumes conspiracy theories.
I keep wondering: aren’t we all anti-fascists? Who supports fascism?
Absurdity distracts. Today I heard a story about the EPA ignoring industrial pollution during the Covid era.
You mean, of course, Trump’s Goofiest Lie, Until Tomorrow …
Alas, yes
Might have been better to call it Trump’s Vilest Lie.
Almost any negative adjective works here.
Stupid, mean, idiotic, insane, malicious.
So true
“a seasoned peacenik”…the NY Times always manages a slur, don’t they?
Indeed. Utterly disgusting, the casual dismissal in that phrase. A reminder to the Not Woke Times:
Siddhārtha Gautama, “seasoned peacenik”
Nataputta Mahavira, “seasoned peacenik”
Yeshua of Nazareth, “seasoned peacenik”
Hafiz, “seasoned peacenik”
St. Francis of Assisi, “seasoned peacenik”
Desiderius Erasmus, “seasoned peacenik”
William Penn, “seasoned peacnik”
Immanuel Kant, “seasoned peacenik”
William Lloyd Garrison, “seasoned peacenik”
Leo Tolstoy, “seasoned peacenik”
Jane Addams, “seasoned peacenik”
Mahatma Gandhi, “seasoned peacenik”
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “seasoned peacenik”
To name but a few
To someone who came of age during Vietnam protest era, “seasoned peacenik” doesn’t seem like a slur.
Indeed.
To some of us it’s a badge of honor. Just not to enough of us.
Watch: GOP senators refuse to respond to a conspiracy theory tweet from the president
https://www.msnbc.com/mtp-daily/watch/gop-senators-refuse-to-respond-to-a-conspiracy-theory-tweet-from-the-president-84791877715
In the middle of the last century, the United States fought a war to freaking stop fascism, at a horrendous cost in lives and injuries:
US Military Casualties in World War II
Army and Air Force: 318,27 killed, 565,861 wounded
Navy: 62,614 killed, 37,778 wounded
Marines: 24,511 killed, 68,207 wounded
Coast Guard: 1,917 killed, unknown number wounded
TOTAL: 407,316 killed, 671,278 wounded
But Private Bone Spurs wouldn’t know anything about this. He wouldn’t know the cost in blood and tears of our efforts to stop his fascist ilk in their tracks.
But then he doesn’t know much of anything about much of anything. He’s a disgrace to our country.
I prefer the term “Cadet Bone Spurs” to “Private”, since Private is a real military rank and they put their lives on the line. To be fair to Trump, “Cadet” does honor his hard work at a military academy playing soldier.
Good catch, NYC parent!!!
I have to credit Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who came up with that perfect terminology for Trump.
As always, I enjoy reading your spot on analyses.
On Twitter, there is a hashtag #CadetBoneSpurs
Which doctor wrote the letter to get him deferred from the draft?
An optometrist? I recall it was a tenant in a Trump property. Or a family friend.
I think graduates from West Point or Annapolis might agree that ‘cadet’ is too respectful. The boarding High School that Trump attended has ‘military academy’ in it’s name, but is a far cry from the real thing.
Bob,
All of those Americans—as you well know—died fighting fascism and now we have a “president” who criticizes people who are opposed to fascism.
President Schlump went further:
It wasn’t blood🩸, it was ketchup.
Fred Smith, please tell us you’re joking.
Joke… but believably something he could have spewed.
I feel as if this lie isn’t “goofy” but “unconscionable”.
Trump would lie and smear a senior citizen for no reason except he cannot stand not having his way. He is like a spoiled child and the GOP are the servants hired by his parents who are desperate for work and are under strict orders to give the spoiled child everything he asks for and kowtow to the spoiled child’s every whim.
I can understand why someone very poor and desperate for income would kowtow to the whims of spoiled child and do nothing all day but praise him and do his bidding. And even then I suspect almost all would quit.
But the GOP Senators have absolutely no excuse for their sycophancy. And I think the American public is starting to understand that the GOP will ALWAYS put the needs of Donald Trump over the needs of the American people and the needs of this country.
If the choice is Trump or democracy itself, the GOP will choose Trump.
“Sycophants.” Perfect word for the Republican senators who enable Trump even though his behavior in unconscionable.
Who supports fascism? Trump, his administration, and the deplorable voters that will vote for him in November.
What’s tragic for Martin Gugino, other than the head wound, is the fact that some of Trump’s deplorable, violent fascist supporters will believe what their chosen one says, and they will threaten Gugino’s life. This pattern has been repeated many times since 2016. For instance, AOC was a victim of Trump’s Twitter rage, bully tactics that led to death threats from some of Trump’s “very fine” (according to him) supporters.
Gugino may have to go into hiding for his own safety until Trump’s violent supporters forget. I’m sure they all have very short attention spans and even shorter memories. In a week or two, they will be angry at someone else Trump attacked with other tweets.
The people that manage Twitter have enabled Trump from the start. Twitter should have dumped him soon after he lied taking the Oath of Office.
Lloyd,
For a laugh, look at #LadyG on Twitter. It was trending last time I checked.
My son’s barber has gone to the dark side and she wants me to watch a youtube video called The Fall of Cabal (or Kabal?)….It’s a 5 part series! She hates all politicians but believes(b/c of the video) that Trump has a USB that holds a lot of information about the secret lives of some politicians….many involving children and Jeffrey Epstein’s escapades. It is such a crazy world right now….right seems wrong and wrong seems right, up is down and down is up, so many sides to so many stories, so many “facts” that just don’t jive with reality but could be true. I will stay hunkered down in my house for a while and keep my feelings/thoughts to myself.
Thanks, recent #LadyG tweets are jaw-dropping. Has it been confirmed that G is really gay and pays gay male escorts for dates?
I don’t know.
White House
President Trump is facing outrage after he tweeted a conspiracy theory about an elderly man pushed to the ground by police during a protest in Buffalo, New York. The President tweeted — without any evidence — that Martin Gugino, 75, a longtime activist and peaceful protester, may have been part of a setup staged by Antifa members. Video of the incident shows Gugino get pushed by officers, fall backward and hit his head. He is still hospitalized. Two officers have been suspended while an investigation is underway, and 57 more have resigned from the police unit. Many GOP leaders have dodged questions about the President’s claim, telling CNN they either didn’t see it or didn’t want to comment.
Last I heard, the 57 who resigned did so in support of the two who were suspended. They showed solidarity and support of police brutality, not shame for the brutal act. They resigned from that particular unit, not the police force.
In other words, they belong in jail with the other two for ‘aiding and abetting a felony assault’. Of course, that won’t happen because the ideal of ‘justice’ is a joke in the USA (I almost wrote, ‘in our country’, but is isn’t ours, anymore).
You are right, Daedalus. The 57 police who “resigned” did so to protest the suspension of the two who shoved the gentlemen. What is shocking about the video is not only that they shoved down the guy, but they walked right past him without anyone offering to help him, offering to pick him up.
Thank you so much for that last line…I keep reminding people in my suburban midwestern town that we once went to war against fascists…it was a little thing called WWII. It’s as though they all forgot and if the president is so against Anti Fascists..is he saying he’s a fascists? or for fascists? Hmmm something to think about….
Exactly right. Hitler and Mussolini were fascists. I am anti-fascist. Isn’t America anti-fascist? Who is pro-fascist?
He could order his Space Farce to tear-gas the planet (minus Russia of course…) and his supporters would still Sieg Heil the Putin-puppet. Their only political identity is now “anything against liberals” – doesn’t matter the issue. As Bruce Hornsby sang:
“That’s just the way it is… but don’t you believe them…”
“Trump will never change.” Channeling Trump, “Why should I change when Christ’s people in a Christian nation elect me?” A 3-13-2020 headline from Christianity Today, “White Christians: Trump may not be a good person but, he is a good president”.
From how many pulpits and state religious conferences (evangelical and Catholic) do people hear Trump’s leadership praised?
Here’s enough ‘news’ to make everyone throw up:
………………………………………………………..
No, Peaceful Protesters Were NOT Tear-Gassed So Trump Could Do a Photo-Op; Here’s What Really Happened
“It’s said that a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can get its pants on. This tear gas lie is proof of that. For nearly an entire day, the whole of the press corps frantically reported the ‘news’ of a tear gas attack on ‘peaceful’ protestors in Lafayette Park, with no evidence to support such claims. We now know through the US Park Police that neither they, nor any of their law enforcement partners, used tear gas to quell rising violence.” -Tim Murtaugh, Trump 2020 communications director
Not only was tear gas not used, but, according to the USPP, there were acts of violence by the protesters, which means they weren’t peaceful. Peaceful protests don’t result in destruction of property, vandalism, or USPP officers being injured.
Unfortunately, the media jumped on the false story, allowing it to spread before the facts came out. Photos should have made it clear that tear gas was not used because photos and video of law enforcement show most are simply wearing face guards, which would not protect them from tear gas.
Further, using tear gas, a powerful chemical irritant, in an area that the president of the United States would soon be walking through doesn’t make a lot of sense now, does it?
“It’s said that a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can get its pants on,” said Tim Murtaugh, the Trump 2020 communications director in response to the USPP statement. “This tear gas lie is proof of that. For nearly an entire day, the whole of the press corps frantically reported the ‘news’ of a tear gas attack on ‘peaceful’ protestors in Lafayette Park, with no evidence to support such claims. We now know through the US Park Police that neither they, nor any of their law enforcement partners, used tear gas to quell rising violence”…
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We’re taking a moment to pause and PRAY FOR our President Trump!
Please join with us in agreement.
Below are several prayers posted by “President Trump’s Prayer Team” and we’re reposting them here so we can all pray together, in unison, for the wisdom and strength of our President.
Please help us keep this going!
Please Pray With Together With Us:
Almighty God, THANK YOU for answering our prayers to confuse the enemy and destroy the works of darkness. We stand amazed as we witness You dismantling the weapons against righteousness. We pray Your will be done in and through President Trump, in America and throughout the world. We declare victory in the Name above all names – the mighty Name of Jesus! EVERYONE say AMEN!!
Almighty God, THANK YOU for answering our prayers to confuse the enemy and destroy the works of darkness. We stand amazed as we witness You dismantling the weapons against righteousness. We pray Your will be done in and through President Trump, in America and throughout the world. We declare victory in the Name above all names – the mighty Name of Jesus! EVERYONE say AMEN!!
#SHARE if you agree.
Almighty God, we pray against the spirit of lawlessness and anarchy that has permeated our government, judicial system and the media. We ask You to bring down the forces of evil and every spirit that wars against order, against peace, and against President Trump. We pray this in Jesus Name. Everyone say AMEN!!
#SHARE
Almighty God, we are reminded of how Goliath defied You and You empowered David to slay him and set the Israelites free. We pray that like David, You empower President Trump to slay the lion and the bear, and conquer everything standing in defiance to You. Give him unconventional and supernatural weapons to bring the enemies down and set America free. In the NAME OF JESUS!! Everyone say AMEN!!
#SHARE
Carol,
So glad you read this stuff so I don’t have to.
Thanks Carol for the post.
Mainstream media got the reports about the Trump shrine photo op seriously wrong. And, if the report had, instead, been about a shrine to Jerry Falwell Sr., I think they would have got it right. My read of the actual facts- Catholic Bishop Gregory, who is black, was making a plea that his church hierarchy stop promoting Trump.
The Episcopal church was ministering to the protestors, the property was commandeered and the church’s leadership condemned Trump. In contrast, the shrine video shows a person, presumably staff, opening the door to allow Trump access to the patio for the photo op. No protestors at the shrine, why? Why no statement of Trump condemnation from the USCCB? Why didn’t the K of C cancel the Trump visit which was a day after the first church incident? The head of the Knights of Columbus was formerly a legislative aide to Jesse Helms. The head of the USCCB, a few weeks ago praised Trump’s leadership. A couple of media reported that Trump’s campaign is expecting heavy lifting from the K of C.
How lucky for the Knights of Columbus that they got painted with the same brush as the conscience- acting Episcopalians. How sad that Bishop Gregory’s statement was used to imply broader church conscience in opposition to Trump. .
When democrats put forth pro abortion, anti-speech, anti first amendment, anti second amendment, race baiting candidates, it’s an easy choice. We are tired of the godless left. The left is largely atheistic, but like good little alinskyites they throw the Bible out there, and Demand that Christians vote their way. no thanks, we love our wonderful country. We are proud to be American. We want a president who loves our country, unlike the last one. We also want school choice nation wide, especially the inner city. Diane, I can’t believe that you are the one who wrote Left Back. Sad.
Trump doesn’t live our country. He loves money and himself.
Joe Biden is a good American and a man of faith.
Trump belongs to no church, never read the Bible. He is godless.
Don’t you know he is playing you for a fool? And successfully, from what silly things you wrote.
jacquilenhardt5598: “We want a president who loves our country…”
So do we. We also know that guns kill. Have you been reading “Breaking Christian News”. It is a far R rag that lies. The Far Right religious fanatics are working to make THEIR religion the one that we ALL have to follow. Nobody heard of ‘fake news’ or ‘alternative facts’ until this Orange Moron came into office. He worships dictators such as Kim Jong Un [love letters anyone?] and Mohammed bin Salam. He sold military equipment to the Saudi’s because they knew how to flatter and manipulate him.
What exactly do you have against Obama? He did manage to get ACA passed. It wasn’t perfect but the Democrats were unable to make the law better because of Republican pushback. Trump and the GOP want to dismantle ACA but has nothing for its replacement. Having millions with no healthcare is just fine according to the GOP.
He has misused the National Guard and the police so that he could have a 3 minute photo op. Peaceful demonstrators are allowed to protest and didn’t deserve the treatments that they got.
The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and also restricting an individual’s religious practices.. It guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely.
You drank the wrong colored Kool Aid! Turn off the TV Fox news empire and go live within the real world. Just remember that Fox News strives to give the people what they want to hear….not what is actually the truth.
Fox is for people who don’t want to think just like theocracy is.
Jacky,
Democrats are not ‘pro abortion’. They could care less whether you have one or don’t. They simply think that the government has no business regulating family reproductive behavior.
Democrats are not against ‘free speech’ or ‘freedom of the Press’. They are only against such activity that incites violence against other citizens.
Democrats are not against the ‘second amendment’. They, in fact, generally applaud the need of a ‘well regulated militia’ having the weaponry needed to defend our borders against hostile military action. They have nothing against farmers protecting their crops from vermin, or for sport hunting for meat or recreation. They do, however, think large-clip military style weapons ought to be reserved for military, not domestic, use.
And, as for your bit about atheism, don’t you believe in ‘freedom of religion’? How ‘American’ are you, really?
Carol, you need to go back and study the words and works of Jesus. WWJD? He would cast Trump out of the White House. Trump is the Anti-Christ.]
Gaslighting! He and fox news are the dictionary definition of gaslighting. His psychological target: America. He has lulled everyone into three camps.
We read about this outrageous obviously stupid statement and get riled up, as we should.
The majority of gop voters read this and say “Oh, he’s just being himself” “He’s just trying to rally his base.” “He doesn’t believe that – he’s just stirring it up.” Or as our NRA supported Senator has stated often to the effect, “I just ignore his antics – I focus on policy.”
His base actually believes him (along with the fox white boys).
Bottom line – he’s too stupid to realize it but these outrageous statements have NO EFFECT on votes.
The only thing that matters between now and November is showing the middle group that his lies, outrageous hateful comments, and itching trigger finger could affect them – then they might vote against him.
Trump will win in 2020, so get used to him being your president.
jacquilenhardt5598: Please list all the wondrous things that Trump has done. I don’t see anything because a president who has lied over 19,000 times isn’t one to be believed.
That great “Tax Cut for the middle class” didn’t work unless you like more money to go to the wealthy and corporations. Trump believes Putin over our intelligence agencies. How about his not listening to advice on the fact that COVID-19 was going to kill people? He was notified at least 12 times but did nothing.
He’d great at golfing and has wasted millions of taxpayer $$ to go to his resorts. Of course, he cheats at golf because he has to prove how great he is.
If Trump is re-elected, that will be the end of democracy and the end of our great nation. Prepared for fascism and armed troops in the streets.
Anti-fa is fascistic. I don’t care what they call themselves, I look at what they do. They are violent because their ideas suck, and they can’t defend them. Democrats wink at them, while they crack heads of people who think differently than them.
I am anti-fascist. I hated Hitler and Mussolini. I despise Putin and Kim.
Do you?
The MAGA cult is fascistic. I don’t care what they call themselves, I look at what they do. They are violent because their ideas suck, and they can’t defend them. Republicans wink at them, while they crack head of people who think differently than them.
Fixed it for you. Your welcome.
Shocking to read these posts of a Trump supporter who claims that Christianity means that you embrace those who shove a 70 year old man on the street and walk right by him as he is unconscious, bleeding from the head.
And shocking to read that this very same Christian claims that being Christian means you rabidly support the president who says that the bleeding man deserved it.
Fascist, indeed! Hitler claimed to be a Christian, too, but that doesn’t mean that he was.
Anyone who says Christian values are reflecting by presidents who say that 70 year old bleeding men deserved it is insulting Christianity.
Jacqui thinks George Floyd and his kind are distant from her value system and operate only as threats. She assumes her privilege will protect and advantage her which makes her vote GOP. In other words, she says she’s a Christian while not being one.
We got to avoid standardized testing this year, so here’s a make up question:
Why did the chicken cross the road?
A. To get to the other side.
B. To hold up a bible in front of a church.
C. An excuse to gas and shoot people.
D. Covfefe.
I read this post a few years ago and had forgotten about it until your test question sparked a memory: https://www.physics.harvard.edu/undergrad/humor
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I said goodbye to my class in Zoom just now, brought myself to tears, and very much needed all those smiles as I went down the list of scientists. Thank you. Now, I have to say goodbye from a distance to another class. I have such great students. They love discussing the lessons taught by authors of great literature. The future is bright.
My best and worst memories of the short time I taught were the last day of school. And as a coach, the last game of the season.
Why have Republican leaders abandoned their principles in support of an immoral and dangerous president?
…But in this case the clichés were wrong. It was Graham who made excuses for Trump’s abuse of power. It was Graham—a JAG Corps lawyer—who downplayed the evidence that the president had attempted to manipulate foreign courts and blackmail a foreign leader into launching a phony investigation into a political rival. It was Graham who abandoned his own stated support for bipartisanship and instead pushed for a hyperpartisan Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. It was Graham who played golf with Trump, who made excuses for him on television, who supported the president even as he slowly destroyed the American alliances—with Europeans, with the Kurds—that Graham had defended all his life. By contrast, it was Romney who, in February, became the only Republican senator to break ranks with his colleagues, voting to impeach the president. “Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office,” he said, is “perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.”
Read: How Mitt Romney decided Trump is guilty
One man proved willing to betray ideas and ideals that he had once stood for. The other refused. Why?
to the american reader, references to Vichy France, East Germany, fascists, and Communists may seem over-the-top, even ludicrous. But dig a little deeper, and the analogy makes sense. The point is not to compare Trump to Hitler or Stalin; the point is to compare the experiences of high-ranking members of the American Republican Party, especially those who work most closely with the White House, to the experiences of Frenchmen in 1940, or of East Germans in 1945, or of Czesław Miłosz in 1947. These are experiences of people who are forced to accept an alien ideology or a set of values that are in sharp conflict with their own…
Read More:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/07/trumps-collaborators/612250/?utm_source=atl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share
Trump isn’t the only one who lies. There is NO sign of flattening or going down of COVIC-19 in Indiana. Where does Gov. Holcomb [R-IN] get his statistics since this comes from the Indiana State Department of Health? He wants Indiana to go back to normal by July 4.
Coronavirus deaths in Indiana, Region
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
https://infogram.com/coronavirus-deaths-in-indiana-region-1hxr4zq0w5me4yo
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Indiana
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
https://infogram.com/confirmed-coronavirus-cases-in-indiana-1h7g6kdrv5kg4oy
As I said, “Where does Gov. Holcomb get his statistics when the Indiana State Department of Health charts show NO decrease in deaths or infections?
…………………………….
Read Gov. Holcomb’s Full Announcement on Plans to Reopen Indiana by July 4
Holcomb said the state has been in “stage one” of its coronavirus-fighting plan and over the next few weeks, will begin to move into stage two
By Tom Davies • Published May 1, 2020 • Updated on May 1, 2020 at 3:28 pm
…First – that the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide has decreased for 14 days. Our current data show that, as a state, COVID patient admissions have decreased over the past 2 weeks. Emergency room visits have also been trending downwards for at least 14 days….
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/read-gov-holcombs-full-announcement-on-plans-to-reopen-indiana-by-july-4/2265181/?_osource=db_npd_nbc_wmaq_eml_shr
They definitely have great imaginations. These people make up what they think and then pass it off as facts. Hogwash is not quite the term that I’d use to describe this wonder brought to us by Breaking Christian News.
…………………………
This story comes from breakingchristiannews.com
‘BORN AGAIN BY THE POWER OF JESUS’: DOZENS OF PEOPLE SAVED, HEALED AT INTERSECTION WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED
Andrea Morris : Jun 10, 2020 CBN News
“There are too many testimonies to recount!! They were able to preach to thousands and saw hundreds responding to the Gospel of Jesus!!” -Joel Bomberger, Circuit Riders
https://?ID=30515
CBN News] The world has witnessed violent protests and peaceful demonstrations for nearly two weeks following the death of George Floyd. (Image: via Facebook-Circuit Riders)
But we’ve also seen testimonies of faith and love among Christian brothers and sisters, revealing that there is no racial division in Christ.
Now the streets of Minneapolis where Floyd was killed have become the site of an outpouring God’s love and salvation as hundreds of people have gathered to glorify God through worship, evangelism, and baptism.
Videos and photos of this move of God have been posted across social media. Joel Bomberger, a preacher with Circuit Riders, shared an image of a baptism that occurred on the street while bystanders cheered during the joyous occasion.
“A team of our Circuit Riders went to Minneapolis to hold open-air preaching of Jesus and healing calls at the intersection where George Floyd was killed,” Bomberger reports. “There are too many testimonies to recount!! They were able to preach to thousands and saw hundreds responding to the Gospel of Jesus!!”
He also reports, “Dozens and dozens of people healed, filled with hope, changed, and born again by the power of Jesus this weekend in Minneapolis!”…
https://?ID=30515
Is Tear Gas Banned for Use in Warfare?
Tear gas is a chemical weapon banned in international law for use in warfare.
Across the United States, protests took place through May and June 2020 against the deaths of Black people at the hands of police, spurred by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis. Law enforcement agencies have increasingly reliedon the use of tear gas as a method of controlling protesters and crowds. Authorities, for instance, used tear gas in Washington, D.C., to clear protesters from the area of a church that U.S. President Donald Trump walked to for a photo opportunity.
Snopes readers have asked us whether tear gas is banned for use in warfare. Tear gas — deemed a “Riot Control Agent” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — is indeed banned by the 1997 international Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) for use by nation states in warfare. The CWC, to which the U.S. is a signatory, uses the phrase “Riot Control Agents” in its text. According to Article 1, “General Obligations,” the law states that, “Each State Party undertakes not to use riot control agents as a method of warfare.”
However, the law does not stop domestic law enforcement officers in individual nations from using tear gas as a method of riot control on streets and in other spaces in their respective countries. The law states:
“Purposes Not Prohibited Under this Convention” means:
…(d) Law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tear-gas-banned-warfare/
@ jacquilenhardt5598 – I notice there was no reply to Diane’s question about dictators….
Even democracy-hating dividers such as yourself will be unsuccessful in selling the sinking Putin-puppet to a lie-weary nation. The Republican Party are now just flies on a beached bloated whale carcass.
You have to read this propaganda BS from the WH to truly understand how great our president is. It is remarkable that people are really stupid enough to believe this horse shit.
We’ve had the largest monthly gain of jobs in history. Trump’s shut down efforts prevented 50 million additional COVID-19 cases and prevented over 3 million deaths. The Paycheck Protection Program brought back jobs!! The Trump economic growth cut down income inequality by spreading wealth broadly and dropped unemployment to its lowest in 50 years. [Obama only had weak growth.]
We should all bow to his HINENESS Trump.
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1600 Daily
The White House • June 10, 2020
JUST IN: More good news on the U.S. comeback
Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany just shared some terrific news about our nation’s fight to slow the spread of Coronavirus.
According to Dr. Birx, a new study suggests that the United States prevented more than 3 million Coronavirus deaths thanks to aggressive mitigation efforts by President Trump and other officials. Those efforts include early travel restrictions with China, national public health guidelines, rapid testing and ventilator production, and more.
Another study found that these national shutdown efforts prevented 50 million additional U.S. COVID-19 cases, as well.
Thanks to the selfless patriotism of workers all across our country who did their part, America’s economy is now reopening safely, strongly, and well ahead of schedule.
Pundits were stunned on Friday, for example, when they first saw the monthly jobs report for May. After “experts” projected that the United States would lose 7.5 million jobs last month, the economy added 2.5 million—the biggest monthly gain in history.
🎬 Larry Kudlow: America is coming back!
“It was, as economist Chris Rupkey emailed, the ‘biggest forecast miss of our life,’” The Washington Post reported. “What the heck happened? In short, give some credit to the government relief efforts, especially the Paycheck Protection Program, for bringing back jobs.”
The Paycheck Protection Program, signed into law by President Trump, provides forgivable loans to businesses that kept their employees on payroll during the pandemic.
In fairness to the media, they are used to the slow economic “recoveries” of the past, such as the weak growth seen under former President Obama. But the Trump Economy is different, bolstered by pro-growth, pro-worker policies that created wealth broadly, cut down income inequality, and dropped unemployment to its lowest rate in 50 years.
“Because the patient was strong in the beginning, because [of] the policies that [President Trump] put into place to cut taxes, roll back regulation, unleash American energy, fight for free and fair trade, we created more than 7 million jobs” before the Coronavirus struck, Vice President Mike Pence says. Now, we’re rebounding quickly.
🎬 VP Pence: Credit President Trump’s leadership during this pandemic
“The greatest comeback in American history,” President Trump called it on Friday, delivering remarks from the White House Rose Garden. “It’s not going to stop here.”
As America reopens, President Trump and the Coronavirus Task Force continue to lead a nationwide response to keep the virus under control.
“The best strategy to ensure the health of our people moving forward is to focus our resources on protecting high-risk populations—like the elderly and those in nursing homes—while allowing younger and healthy Americans to get back to work immediately and open up our schools,” the President said Friday.
Another economic milestone came today: For the third day in a row, the NASDAQ stock index closed at an all-time high. “Tremendous progress being made, way ahead of schedule,” President Trump tweeted this morning. “USA!”
“Trump Signs New Law Relaxing PPP Rules: What You Need to Know”
🎬 MORE: Press Secretary delivers statement on renaming military bases
This comes from Mcleans, news from Canada.
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How can the U.S. hold a free and fair election?
David Moscrop: The U.S. could lean into postal voting, which is far safer than its in-person variant. But of course President Trump opposes that.
Opinion By David Moscrop
June 10, 2020
…Trump’s attacks on postal balloting present at least three immediate problems, and they contribute to a fourth. If postal ballots are undermined and underused, fewer Americans will vote. The first problem, then, is voter suppression. Those who turnout in person because postal balloting isn’t available, or has been maligned by the president and his surrogates, will be put at further risk of contracting COVID-19, which makes voter safety the second problem. The third problem is Trump’s incorrect claims about the legitimacy of postal ballots and the threat of a “rigged” election. These lies pave the way for the president to reject the results of the election if he loses. Then what? We have our fourth problem.
Writing in the Washington Post, Brian Klaas, assistant professor of global politics at University College London, asks “What will happen if Trump loses and then takes to Twitter to say he actually won?” Think about that for a moment. It seems perfectly plausible he would. In fact, it seems likely, and dangerous.
Klaas continues: “It’s not hard to see how deadly that could become, particularly given that Fox News personalities are already absurdly throwing around the word ‘coup’ to describe lawful investigations and oversight of the president’s conduct. When people in positions of authority and influence invoke the language of political violence and then lose power, violence often ensues. It would be a mistake to assume the United States is somehow immune from that possibility.” Thinking back to armed protestors in the Michigan statehouse about a month ago, it would indeed be a mistake…
https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/how-can-the-u-s-hold-a-free-and-fair-election/
I do hope Trump hugs all the MAGAt’s and shakes all the hands of his worshipers. [Ohh. I’m not a bit nice.] Poor Trumpy needs an ego rally to boost his spirits.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN — Trump announced today that his reelection campaign would be holding a rally in Tulsa, Okla., on June 19 , ending a three-month pause. The president made the announcement at a roundtable with African American leaders at the White House. The Tulsa rally next week will be held on Juneteenth, a national commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. Tulsa is the site of a 1921 massacre, considered by many the worst incidence of racial violence in U.S. history.
Just wait for the GOP convention. All those thousands of people in close quarters. Few will wear face masks because Trump doesn’t wear one.
Trump is probably planning to hold the GOP convention at his MAGA LAGO in Florida.
Let Trump have his ego rally. His stupidity will do in his loyal people. Unfortunately, they will go home and spread it to others. Trump followers know the country has to open up. The news they get is superior to ‘fake news’ like WaPo.
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WaPo:
As restrictions are lifted around the world, the sense of urgency surrounding the novel coronavirus pandemic has weakened. Hundreds of millions of students have returned to school; restaurants, bars and other businesses are slowly reopening in many countries. In parts of Europe, vaccine researchers worry that they will not have enough sick people for testing.
But this historic pandemic is not ending. It is surging. There were 136,000 new infections reported on Sunday, the highest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic. There are more than 7 million confirmed cases so far. The number of deaths is nearing half a million, with little sign of tapering off, and global health experts are continuing to sound the alarm….
In the United States and elsewhere, the protests about injustice are partly fueled by the racial disparities seen in the outbreak. Protesters have attempted to maintain social distance and use masks and hand sanitizer — but that has not always proved possible.
Public health experts have expressed understanding about the protests. “It doesn’t help to say police violence doesn’t matter,” Gregg Gonsalves, a professor of epidemiology at Yale, told New York Magazine. “The health disparities that have killed tens of thousands of people over a half a century don’t matter. We are saying we understand it matters; they’re public-health issues too.”
But almost all experts acknowledge that mass protests are a risk — just as the reopening of the economy seen in many nations around the world, including the United States, carries risks. “The facts suggest that the U.S. is not going to beat the coronavirus,” the Atlantic’s Alexis Madrigal and Robinson Meyer write. “Collectively, we slowly seem to be giving up.”
That demoralized attitude is reflected at the top of American politics: It has been more than a month since the Trump administration held a daily coronavirus task force briefing.
What will it look like to finally beat the virus? We can see some glimpses of it, if we look hard enough: New Zealand declared itself coronavirus-free this week; Taiwan is close to that milestone too. Some smaller nations, like the Pacific island of Samoa, have avoided getting a single confirmed case.
Republican governors are following their Great Leader. Is there some reason that Holcomb [R-IN] now knows that there are increases in infections in Allen but is moving towards complete opening up of everything in the state…Stage 4? Hoosiers are ‘encouraged’ to wear masks. Indiana has never made it mandatory. I posted charts put out by the State of Indiana showing NO slowing of state increases in either infections nor deaths.
I think Holcomb wants to be the ‘new’ Pence. “We can’t let up. We can’t act like this virus isn’t continuing to spread,” Holcomb said.
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Even as infections continue to rise, Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday the state will move to Stage 4 of the pandemic recovery starting Friday.
Thursday, June 11, 2020 1:00 am
State set to shift to Stage 4
Masks, distancing urged amid rise in COVID-19 cases
NIKI KELLY | The Journal Gazette
INDIANAPOLIS – Even as infections continue to rise, Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday the state will move to Stage 4 of the pandemic recovery starting Friday.
The governor said the state made the right decision early on to hit pause.
“We hit this hard at the outset and we are in a better position today because of that,” Holcomb said.
But he continued to encourage Hoosiers to wear masks, wash their hands and practice social distancing.
“We can’t let up. We can’t act like this virus isn’t continuing to spread,” Holcomb said.
He pointed to LaGrange and Elkhart counties as a few cautionary yellow flags in the state.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Box said her data team is watching all of northeast Indiana closely and there was a meeting Wednesday with counties that have sizable Amish populations about targeted testing.
She said the northeast region as a whole is stable in terms of available hospital beds.
Box said statewide hospitalizations are down as well as hospital admissions per day.
“The data looks good for now,” she said.
Wednesday’s numbers show cases grew by 339 for a total of 38,337. There were 15 new deaths for a total of 2,173.
In Allen County, another resident died and 47 more tested positive bringing the total to 1,979 cases and 83 deaths.
Holcomb’s Stage 4 is the penultimate step to complete freedom for Hoosiers and includes allowing social gatherings of up to 250 people.
Other changes include opening up playgrounds, bars and night clubs at reduced capacity and movie theaters and bowling alleys as well.
Further details on community youth and adult recreational leagues will be posted today, he said.
When asked about many Hoosiers not wearing masks in public, Holcomb said when he is out he sees Hoosiers being vigilant.
Box pointed out that stores can mandate masks and so can local health officials.
When asked why the state didn’t mandate them, she said some people need to be able to read lips and some might be claustrophobic and have panic attacks.
“Rather than mandating that, that is something we put as a personal responsibility for individuals across the state to do what is best and right for those around them,” Box said.
Holcomb also strongly defended a state contract with OptumServe being renewed even though the company has struggled to provide COVID-19 testing results as required under that contract.
“They went from zero to 60 in about three minutes,” he said of the company quickly starting up 50 testing sites statewide.
The contract requires that 90% of the results be returned within 48 hours and Box said Friday the company is not meeting that metric.
Holcomb said the discrepancy is a matter of only hours and he doesn’t see it as a problem but just “growing pains maybe.”
Box also clarified that OptumServe initially struggled but last week did meet the metric.
And Holcomb said he has recommended the company to other governors.
Gov. Holcomb defies common sense, enabling the spread of the disease, but asking people to voluntarily comply.
Diane: Indiana is a Republican state, largely due to massive gerrymandering and voter suppression. Holcomb doesn’t want to offend Trump followers. He might not get re-elected if he follows common sense.
We can ALL go out and celebrate on July 4th. Whoopee!!
The problem is the numbers of infected and dying in Indiana AREN’T going down. I’m sure Holcomb [R-IN] gets up to date information.
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Big news! Governor Holcomb just announced that because of Hoosiers’ continued good work social distancing and practicing good hygiene – we’re moving into Stage 4 of Governor Holcomb’s Back on Track Plan two days early!
Stage 4 of this phased reopening officially begins on Friday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m.!
And what does this mean for Hoosiers?
Social gatherings can include up to 250 Hoosiers
Restaurants can operate at 75% capacity (with social distancing)
Bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, bowling alleys, amusement parks, water parks, and entertainment and tourism sites can open at 50% capacity
Retail stores and malls can operate at full capacity
Community recreational games, leagues and tournaments may resume
Racing venues may open at 50% capacity
Charity gaming and casinos may open on June 15
Playgrounds may reopen
State government buildings are open by appointment
Why is this possible?
We’re seeing a statewide decline in the Hoosiers hospitalized with COVID-19, we’re seeing ICU and ventilator capacity remain strong, we’ve got more than 200 testing sites available statewide, and we can effectively contact trace COVID-19 cases to contain the spread.
Now – in order to keep Indiana on track to reach Stage 5 in July, we’re going to need you to continue your great work as we go into Stage 4. That means continuing to social distance and wearing a facemask when you go out, and it means frequently washing your hands and using hand sanitizer.
Yesterday, Governor Holcomb made it clear that this major benchmark is a credit to you – ranging from our healthcare heroes to our everyday Hoosiers doing the right thing to protect our most vulnerable friends, family and neighbors.
Now let’s keep it up as we launch Phase 4 on Friday!
#BackonTrack,
-Your Holcomb Crew
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NO sign of flattening or going down. Where does Gov. Holcomb get his statistics since this comes from the Indiana State Department of Health? He wants Indiana to go back to normal by July 4.
Coronavirus deaths in Indiana, Region
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
https://infogram.com/coronavirus-deaths-in-indiana-region-1hxr4zq0w5me4yo
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Indiana
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
https://infogram.com/confirmed-coronavirus-cases-in-indiana-1h7g6kdrv5kg4oy
I’m hoping the lawsuits against Fox will shut it down.
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Robert Reich: The Deadly Fox News-Trump Syndicate
Jun 9, 2020
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich exposes Fox News’ endless circuit of lies. As the coronavirus crisis rages on and protests against police killings and centuries of Black oppression sweep the country, Fox News is contributing almost as much to the deaths, disease, and brutal treatment of protesters as is Trump’s White House.Trump spouts a shocking amount of misinformation from his bully pulpit, but it’s Fox News’ equally misleading coverage of the dual crises that closes the lethal circuit of lies.
Fox News called white protesters with AR-15s demanding haircuts “patriots”; they called Black protesters demanding an overhaul of our racist systems of oppression “thugs” and “looters”. And their biased coverage of the protests hasn’t stopped them from continuing to spew lie after lie about the coronavirus pandemic, even as the death toll surpasses 100,000.Trump’s propaganda machine is a clear and present danger to the United States. It’s up to us to shut it down.
The numbers of infected in Florida are increasing. This is a GREAT pick for a place to have 15,000 people gather, huddled up next to each other. Hope Trump personally shakes the hands of thousands of ignorant MAGA’s. Maybe after many become ill, they might rethink the Republican stance that COVID-19 numbers are being artificially inflated to make Trump look bad OR to make money for ‘fake’ media. Stupidity reigns.
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Trump to Give Republican Convention Speech in Jacksonville, Florida
JUNE 11, 2020
(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) — Jacksonville, Florida, has been selected to host the celebration marking President Donald Trump’s acceptance of his party’s nomination for reelection, the Republican National Committee chairwoman said Thursday.
Ronna McDaniel made the announcement a day after saying that Jacksonville was a front-runner to hold the event. The governor of North Carolina, the official host of this summer’s Republican National Convention, had balked at promising Trump a full-blown convention in Charlotte free from social distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville,” McDaniel said. “Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trump’s heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020. We look forward to bringing this great celebration and economic boon to the Sunshine State in just a few short months.”
McDaniel said the event would be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, which holds 15,000 people. She said more details would be released in the coming weeks…
https://time.com/5852659/trump-republican-convention-election-2020-jacksonville-florida/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share-article&utm-term=politics_2020-election
I would not be surprised if Trump is cramming all the leaders of the GOP from every state in one closed area to get rid of as many of them as possible so he could replace them with white supremacists as he turns the GOP into the MAGATH (Make America Great Again Through Hate Party). He will probably make them all sign agreements to wear no masks and stop washing their hands.