{"id":40472,"date":"2020-07-19T08:01:15","date_gmt":"2020-07-19T15:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=40472"},"modified":"2020-07-19T08:01:15","modified_gmt":"2020-07-19T15:01:15","slug":"open-thread-7-19-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2020\/07\/19\/open-thread-7-19-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–7\/19\/2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a busy day, here in the CatBox, and this is my only article today.  WWKiisten will be here soon to destink the thoroughly rancid TomCat, goop, and help with chores.  WWWendy will be here again on Thursday.  Tomorrow I may be running behind, as Diana, my palliative care nurse, will be coming to change my pain patch.  Have a Republican-free Sunday!<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today\u2019s took me 3:11 (average 5:23).  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><\/p>\n

\"0719TrumpVirusMap\"<\/a><\/font><\/p>\n

US Cases: 3,835,430
US Deaths: 142,883<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

From Common Dreams<\/a>: Consumer and workers’ rights advocates are warning that new details of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s plan to shield businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits show just how far the Republican leader is willing to go to ensure corporations are not held accountable for endangering public health and safety.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

“Congress must reject this dangerous proposal,” the National Employment Law Project said in response to a draft<\/a> (pdf) of McConnell’s plan obtained by Politico and other outlets on Friday.<\/p>\n

The draft, authored by McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.), proposes relieving businesses, schools, churches, and other institutions of legal responsibility for workers, customers, and others who contract Covid-19 except in cases of “gross negligence and intentional misconduct”\u2014a difficult standard to prove in court.<\/p>\n

As the Associated Press reported<\/a>, the Republican plan “offers a broad shield by requiring heightened pleading standards, stiffening burden-of-proof standards, and capping damages on awards. Employers would also be shielded from investigations by federal agencies.”<\/p>\n

Additionally, McConnell and Cornyn’s plan would empower<\/a> companies to move coronavirus-related personal injury and medical liability cases to more business-friendly federal courts. “Defendants are liable,” the draft states, “only if they failed to make reasonable efforts to follow applicable public-health guidelines.”<\/p>\n

You know it’s evil coming from Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch, and co-authorship by Cornhole Cornyn makes it even worse. The Republican Reich wants to give corporate criminals license to kill workers using Trump’s Republican plague.  RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font><\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (Elizabeth Warren Channel<\/a>): Elizabeth Warren: “Corruption is a Public Health Risk”<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n