Retiring Guy's Digest: 2020-05-10

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Death of a Presidency (chapter 8)

Quoted in Trump's continually strange comments on possibly 'overrated' coronavirus testing. (Washington Post, 5/15/2020)

Worldometer

CDC

Chapter 7 begins here

Reported in “I felt no vulnerability whatsoever.” Trump downplays new White House virus cases as he pushes reopening. (USA Today, 5/11/2020)

A very good job?

#1 with a bullet in new cases.

Worldometer

Nunber of active cases still peaking.

Germany, on the other hand, is doing a very good job.

Chapter 6 starts here

Dear Donald Trump,

We made ourselves look bad on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

Best,

Retiring Guy

Donald Trump quoted in Trump Says More Testing Makes U.S. 'Look Bad,' But Its Availability Remains A Concern. (NPR, 5/11/2020)

The New York Times

Chapter 5 starts here

Pence aimed to project normalcy during his trip to Iowa, but coronavirus got in the way. (USA Today, 5/9/2020)

Worldometer

CDC

Veep recommended reading:
How to build community while worshipping online. (The Conversation, 4/16/2020)

Chapter 4 starts here

Text: Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure (5/5/2020)

The World is Taking Pity on Us. (The New York Times, 5/8/2020)

Related reading:
Fintan O’Toole: Donald Trump has destroyed the country he promised to make great again. (The Irish Times, 4/25/2020)

Chapter 3 begins here

Reported in Administration to Phase Out Coronavirus Task Force. (The New York Times, 5/5/2020)

Yes, Mike, TREMENDOUS progress!

Chapter 2 starts here.

Reported in ‘Very proud’ Trump says US coronavirus deaths per capita are ‘very strong’ – and that’s very bad. (Raw Story, 4/30/2020)

'Very strong' in that the USA ranks 14th among all the countries of the world in number of deaths per million population.

Worldometer (text box and highlights added)

Chapter 1 begins here

Reported in Trump Didn't See It Coming: Coronavirus Deaths Increased Tenfold This Month. (NPR, 4/23/2020)

Sources: Worldometers (above), Source: CDC (below)

Beating a dead horse (Wisconsin spring election/coronavirus edition, part 2)

5/15/2020 Wisconsin State Journal headline

Isn't it just as likely that....

Original 5/7/2020 post starts here

Star Tribune, 5/6/2020

Not until the 13th paragraph do reporters Scott Bauer and Todd Richmond acknowledge what we know for certain.

(emphasis added)

Friday, May 15, 2020

GET ME REWRITE: Far-right GOP Christian zealots howl at the moon (Military Religious Freedom Foundation edition)

You'll find some familiar faces.

Lamborn lashes out at Military Religious Freedom Foundation. (Colorado Springs Indy, 5/14/2020)

"Far too often, commanders react hastily to vocal anti-religion activists who attempt to obstruct our troops’ first amendment rights,” Lamborn said in a release. “These decisions are often overturned, but only after the intervention of Congress. These infringements on the constitutional rights of our service members must end."

At issue are several recent incidents in which military leaders advocated for Christianity to their troops from their military positions, which the MRFF contends violates the separation of church and state, and military instructions that one religion cannot be favored over another or suggested as a condition of serving in the military.

Original 5/6/2020 post, "GET ME REWRITE: Far-right GOP curs in the House howl at the moon (Russia probe edition)", starts here.

You won't find any people of color here.

House GOP says Schiff is 'blocking' release of Russia probe transcripts, demands access. (Fox News, 5/5/2020)

Ooooooooo! It's an EXCLUSIVE: Republicans on the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees are accusing House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of "blocking" Russia probe transcripts and are demanding access to the materials, Fox News has learned.

Only because Trump waterboy let Fox News look at his letter first.

Or not, just razed to create a vast empty space

December 2015 (no change since then)

Photos by Retiring Guy

Bisnow, 5/13/2020

July 2011

Related post:
Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The deadest of deal malls is gone, razed. (1/3/2016)

GET ME REWRITE: Robin Vos leaves the crowd in stitches with this big, bold display of GOP hypocrisy

Quoted in Top GOP Lawmakers now want to leave virus plan in the hands of local officials. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/14/2020)

What His Vosness holds so dear.

Source: Republican Party of Wisconsin

Watch what he does, not what he says.

2020
GET ME REWRITE: GOP lawmakers dust off long-ignored cartoon conservative principle. (5/15/2020)

2019
Wisconsin Republicans once again decide it's time to trash their sacred principle. (8/25/2019)
Wisconsin GOP legislators thwarted in effort to shit on their #1 principle. (7/3/2019)
Scott Walker's toxic legacy: "Power to the people" hypocrisy" (Taking away local control). (1/12/2019)

2018

In 2014, deep-red Richfield voters chose Walker by an 80-20 margin and this is the thanks they get. (8/14/2018ftop)
Clusterfuck Caucus UPDATE. The unintended consequences of intertwining GOP principles and hypocrisy. (3/20/2018)
Wisconsin GOP continues to treat its cherished conservative principle like a pinata. (2/23/2018)
Wisconsin GOP continues to tarnish its #1, most cherished governing principle. (1/13/2018)

2017
UPDATE. By now, you know that the GOP's favorite pastime is overruling its pesky principles. (11/28/2017)
UPDATE: Wondering why Duey Stroebel is a champion of property tax relief? Take a look at where he lives. (4/15/2017)
Wisconsin GOP: What they say and what they do are 2 different things. (2/9/2017)
Wisconsin legislature back in session and GOP hypocrisy is already in full flower. (1/27/2017)

2016
UPDATE: Scott Walker and the abandoned GOP principle. (12/21/2016)
Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo highlights GOP cartoon conservative principle. (5/20/2016)
Suburban Milwaukee GOP state legislators freak out over locally issued ID card.  (3/23/2016)
Business as usual: Wisconsin GOP legislators vote for special interests, against local control and tenants' rights. (3/9/2016)
The Wisconsin GOP Cartoon Conservative Principles Fest continues. (2/10/2016)
Cartoon conservative principles in nonstop action: Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo lists more than 100 state provisions that restrict local control. (2/10/2016)

2015
The Christmas edition: Rep. Kremer accuses fire officials of 'relieving themselves'.  (12/23/2015)
Cartoon conservative principles on full display this week at the Wisconsin State Capitol. (12/18/2015)
Once again, Wisconsin Republicans assert their cartoon conservative principle (2015 Assembly Bill 568). (12/16/2015)
Out of (local) control: When it comes to anything resembling a train, Republicans just can't help themselves. (12/1/2015)
Scott Walker pays lip service to local control as he continues to sign bills to limit it.  (10/26/2015)

Cartoon conservative principles in action: Taking away local control from school boards. (10/25/2015)

UPDATE: Let's follow the Shea money from Wingra Stone to Scott Walker. (10/20/2015)
UPDATE. Sorry, Tim Geoghegan, a total of $11,750 in donations is not a "bunch of bull". (10/20/2015)
Once again, Wisconsin Republicans violate their most precious principle. (7/4/2015)
Cartoon conservative principles. (5/6/2015)
The Usual Hypocrisy: What Scott Walker sez on his campaign website and what he does in the Governor's office are two different things. (5/2/2015)
The "hits" to local control just keep on coming. (2/28/2015)

2014
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board calls out Republican hypocrisy. (2/17/2014)
And the hypocrisy just kee ps on coming: Republicans can't even give lip service to their "Principles". (2/14/2014)
Yet another lesson in Republican hypocrisy. (2/13/2014)

2013
Your Wisconsin Republican Assembly hard at work promoting Governor Walker's jobs agenda (and GOP principles). (11/15/2013)

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Winner winner delusional dinner

Meet some of the carefree, reckless, uninformed residents of Grant County, Wisconsin

Risky business. Risky behavior. Grant County has a higher rate of COVID cases per 100,000 population than Dane County.

Richard Campbell (1933-2020) Warren High School class of 1951

Source: Warren Times Observer

1951 Dragon yearbook

1967 Warren City Directory

1983 Warren City Directory

Richard and Martha listed in county section as living in Russell

The popularity of Richard as a baby name is graphed here. Let's take a look at daughter Mandy.

Source: Social Security Administration

During the 20th century, Mandy developed a down-and-up, on-and-off reputation. Barry Manilow's "Mandy", which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1975, gave the name a huge boost. The song catapulted the name from #436 in 1974 to #106 in 1975. The impact was extremely brief. Mandy as a baby name peaked at #94 in 1976 and then made a quick descent.

Other members of the WHS class of 1951:
2020
Patricia Hamm Suppa. (4/27/2020)

2019
John Steele Sr. (9/9/2019)
Josephine Gregerson Baker. (6/1/2019)
Tilda Hildum Hulteburg. (2/7/2019)
George Gern (2/6/2019)

2017
Patricia Elaine Black Williams. (10/12/2017)
Marilyn Albaugh Frycklund. (9/23/2017)
Carol Amacher. (5/30/2017)
John Wood. (5/28/2017)
Catherine Collins Sheldon. (4/22/2017)
Ronald McCain. (4/13/2017)
Elaine Crecraft McDunn. (3/1/2017)
Albert Kondak. (2/28/2017)
Richard Cook. (2/16/2017)
Marilyn Pasquino Nyberg. (1/19/2017)

2016
Mark Bevevino. (8/26/2016)
Diedra Peterson Andersen. (6/8/2016)

Marilyn Lyke Bonace. (6/6/2016)
John Tingwell.  (6/5/2016)

2015
Donald Quiggle. (12/19/2015)
Genevieve Larson McKown.  (12/16/2015)
Franklin Reiff.  (7/14/2015)

Mary Ann Font Schafer. (6/29/2015)

GET ME REWRITE: Tom Kisken of USA Today does his homework, while Jennifer Medina at the New York Times does not

Reported in Republicans claim California seat vacated by Rep. Katie Hill. (USA Today, 5/13/2020)

Although I have to ask, Tom, how does a congressional district 'swing' when it remains in control by the same party for 25 years?

Source: Ballotpedia

Original 5/13/2020 post, "Awaiting a correction from David Leonhardt at the New York Times", starts here

No, David, the district does not normally lean Democratic.

California uses a 'top-two primary' system. Since no Democrat to run in 2014, the general election featured a match-up between Republicans Steve Knight (53.3%) and Tony Strickland (46.7%)

Related reading:
Mike Garcia, G.O.P. House Candidate, Is Ahead in California. (The New York Times, 5/12/2020)

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Greetings from Trump's America: San Jacinto County, Texas, where white people armed with semiautomatic weapons serve to defy coronavirus restrictions

Businesses Chafing Under Covid-19 Lockdowns Turn to Armed Defiance. (The New York Times, 5/13/2020)

Mr. Archibald established an armed perimeter in the parking lot outside Crash-N-Burn Tattoo, secured by five men with military-style rifles, tactical shotguns, camouflage vests and walkie-talkies. One of them already had a large tattoo of his own. “We the People,” it said.

“I think it should be a business’s right if they want to close or open,” said Mr. Archibald, a 29-year-old online fitness trainer from the Dallas area who lately has made it his personal mission to help Texas business owners challenge government orders to keep their doors shut during the coronavirus pandemic.