{"id":39340,"date":"2020-03-24T10:43:37","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T17:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=39340"},"modified":"2020-03-24T10:43:37","modified_gmt":"2020-03-24T17:43:37","slug":"open-thread-3-24-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2020\/03\/24\/open-thread-3-24-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–3\/24\/2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a crazy day, here in the CatBox.  Evelyn called last night to cancel our appointment, because she has not received my lab work to determine the suitability of immunity therapy yet.  As soon as she was off the phone, I remembered that I was also supposed to get my pain meds refilled.  I tried to call back, but the office was closed.  I called today, and requested an emergency refill by mail, so WWWendy can get it from my mail tomorrow night.  They said they\u2019d \u201ctry\u201d.  I have a feeling I have a few painful days coming on.  ARGH!  Tuesday is eat beans and ride elevators with Republicans day.  3 \u2013 2 \u2013 1 blast off!<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 2:43 (average 5:02).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Cartoon<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

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Trump* Virus Update<\/strong>:<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\"0324TrumpVirus\"<\/font><\/p>\n

Cases: 46,274<\/font><\/h6>\n
Deaths: 588<\/font><\/h6>\n
Recovered: 295<\/font><\/h6>\n

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\"0324TrumpVirusTests\"<\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From Daily Kos<\/a>: The $500 billion corporate bailout slush fund bill from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and buddies that Democrats rejected Sunday has many, many shortcomings. Not just <\/font>what it does do<\/a><\/font> (unfettered giveaways to corporate America with no strings attached) but what it doesn’t do, like provide funding to state and local governments, or food assistance, or health care, or worker protections, or expanded emergency leave, or adequate assistance to, you know, people. Lurking among all those provisions that aren’t helping people is one from our old favorite, Maine Sen. Susan Collins. She and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio were responsible for the small business stimulus part of the bill, and included a <\/font>provision<\/a><\/font> that inexplicably and very specifically excludes nonprofits that get Medicaid funding from receiving any assistance.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

The obvious exclusion is Planned Parenthood, Collins’ longtime (though no longer) defender. But as Greg Sargent explains<\/a>, Senate Democrats and aides “think the language means a lot more than” just excluding Planned Parenthood. They pointed out that it “would exclude from eligibility for this funding a big range of other nonprofits that get Medicaid funding, such as home and community-based disability providers; community-based nursing homes, mental health providers and health centers; group homes for the disabled; and even rape crisis centers.”<\/p>\n

In other words, groups that are going to be stretched to the limit to provide assistance to some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Many of them are largely funded through their clients’ Medicaid, and are historically underpaid for the services they provide. Coronavirus is going to create a surge in demand for these services and potentially put those providers at risk, particularly if they’re competing with hospitals and first responders for protective gear.<\/p>\n

This provision would “prevent many small Medicaid-funded providers from accessing small business loans,” Mara Youdelman, the managing attorney of the National Health Law Program\u2019s D.C. office, told Sargent, noting that rural providers would also be cut out. “We should be doing everything possible to keep them in businesses, both to help manage the pandemic and to keep people needing routine care healthy and out of overwhelmed hospitals,” Youdelman said. One such provider is The Arc, an advocacy organization for the disabled. Nicole Jorwic, senior director of public policy for The Arc, told Sargent that “It’s a huge problem. [\u2026] Our chapters who provide services would all be impacted [making it harder to] provide home and community-based services all over the country.”<\/p>\n

If this stinking fascist is the most “liberal” that the Republican Reich has to offer, do we really need to see the most conservative?  RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font><\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: Facing a growing storm of criticism about his laissez-faire response to the fast-spreading coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that he would place Britain under a virtual lockdown, closing all nonessential shops, banning meetings of more than two people, and requiring people to stay in their homes, except for trips for food or medicine.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

People who flout the new restrictions, the prime minister said, will be fined by the police.<\/p>\n

The steps, which Mr. Johnson outlined in a televised address to the nation, bring him into alignment with European leaders like President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who have all but quarantined their countries in a desperate bid to slow the outbreak.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo prime minister wants to enact measures like this,\u201d a grave Mr. Johnson said. \u201cI know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people\u2019s lives, to their businesses and to their jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

As big an asshole as Brexit Bridiot Boris is, I’d rather have him as Fuhrer than Trump*!  RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font><\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (a blast from the past): Johnny Rivers – Poor Side Of Town<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n