May 4-6, 2020
May 04 04:21 Is the COVID tide shifting in MN? May 04 06:11 Fixing the real COVID crisis May 04 19:56 Why #DrainTheSwamp is a must May 05 05:41 Democrat-delivered frustration May 05 06:37 Will Brandon Van Grack become the DOJ's new target? He should. May 06 05:03 Is Tim Walz in over his head? May 06 06:32 Open letter to Sean Hannity, Harris Faulkner May 06 07:34 Reaching the wrong conclusion?
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Is the COVID tide shifting in MN?
It's still too early to tell but today's statistics give us reason to hope that we're putting COVID-19 behind us in Minnesota. The article starts by saying "Minnesota reported 435 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and 24 deaths, but also a sharp rise in the number of people who have recovered and no longer need to be isolated. The number in isolation declined by 618 people, including the 24 who died. Even after removing those, Sunday saw the largest single-day increase in the people released from self-isolation since the earliest days of the pandemic in Minnesota."
That's a cheerful statistic from a releasing people from self-isolation standpoint. Still, it's just one day. I'll feel better after we've strung 3-5 days in a row together like that. This is worth looking into:
In Winona County, residents of the Sauer Health Care facility for skilled nursing and hospice services accounted for at least 14 of the county's 15 deaths from COVID-19, Malcolm confirmed last week.
How do we know that those people didn't die because of the disease they were in hospice for? Knowing that people with life-threatening illnesses are prone to catching COVID-19 isn't news. If that's news, then so is finding out that the sun rising in the east is news, too.
Besides age and underlying health conditions, residing a in group-living facility can be a risk factor. Just over 80 % of the fatalities in Minnesota have been residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Twenty-one of the 24 deaths reported Sunday occurred in long term care facilities.
What has Gov. Walz, Commissioner Malcolm and the DFL done to fortify nursing homes and assisted-living facilities? The DFL has complained about testing virtually every day. Testing has its place but it isn't as important as protecting the elderly. Depending on the type of test, that tells you whether the person has the virus or whether the person has antibodies. What has the DFL done to protect vulnerable adults? If Gov. Walz wants to act like a monarch, then he'll take the blame for decisions he made or should've made.
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Republicans are willing to shoulder part of the responsibility for those decisions. Unfortunately, Gov. Walz, with protection from the DFL House, isn't willing to relinquish those special emergency powers 2 months into this crisis.
Posted Monday, May 4, 2020 4:21 AM
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Fixing the real COVID crisis
The DFL, using its favorite mouthpiece, aka the Star Tribune, is trying to paint a rosy picture in this article . It opens by saying "Hundreds of Minnesotans were released from COVID-19 quarantine over the weekend as wider testing discovers more cases that aren't ending in death or serious illness."
It's good news that these COVID patients survived without "serious illness." Still, there were 24 COVID deaths reported Sunday, the vast majority of whom were living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Here's the breakdown of COVID-related deaths by age group:
Again I ask, why shut the entire state's economy when 90+ percent of the fatalities are people who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities? That's as foolish as putting out extra highway patrols to cut down on drownings. It makes sense to focus the resources where the biggest problems exist. Right now, the biggest problems aren't with healthy 20-somethings to 50-somethings.
This doesn't require a rocket scientist to figure out, though it might require Republican to figure it out. Thus far, the DFL certainly hasn't figured it out. The DFL, especially Gov. Walz, has talked about public-private partnerships, increasing testing, etc. They haven't said a thing about what they've done to fix our nursing home-assisted living crisis.
That's the real crisis. Why hasn't the DFL fixed the real COVID crisis? If you're the leader of the entire state, perform like it. Thus far, Gov. Walz and the DFL haven't performed like it.
Posted Monday, May 4, 2020 6:11 AM
Comment 1 by eric z at 04-May-20 12:17 PM
Both parties and the press are full of liars, Gary. I can still go to the market and get food, so what matters is not shut down. Aside from toilet paper and rubbing alcohol hoarding, by absolute idiots, things are okay.
You should be writing about Trudeau, after a mass shooting, doing something. Something which does lessen the ability to confront police state action, but really, the people allowed to parade around carrying weapons are not our best or brightest. But they are allowed, and it is curious that other forms of real instead of staged protest are put down with militarized police. Everyone should worry about that. DC is a cesspool, as Mark Dayton said after a single Senate term.
Neither of the two parties has merit. They're owned. We both know that, Gary. It's bullshit to say otherwise. Your guy Bloomberg, all that wealth and all, is a menace. We both know that, Gary.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 04-May-20 06:59 PM
What the bleep are you talking about? The media is 90+ % Democrat. Last week, a ditzy reporter asked President Trump if he deserved to be re-elected if the Wuhan Virus killed more people than were killed in the Vietnam War? She asked whether President Trump should be fired because the Chinese knowingly unleashed a killer virus on the US.
DC is a cesspool & Trump is doing his best to clean it up. Democrats have repeatedly shown that they want the Swamp to continue. Why give them the ability to protect the Swamp? That's Adam Schiff's & Nancy Pelosi's main job. If you really cared about helping the little guy, you'd vote against Ilhan Omar & AOC. They're as much a part of the Swamp as anyone. (How much has her new husband made from her nonexistent campaign thus far?)
How much investigating did the DNC do when Karen Monahan accused Keith Ellison of physically abusing her? The party of women, my ass. Don't get me started about the Swamp, Eric, because I'll cite example after example of Democrat corruption.
Why #DrainTheSwamp is a must
If I've heard it once, I've heard it a million times. Yeah, that politician is crooked but they're all crooks. That's disheartening. What's worst is that it's a defeatist attitude. I'm planting a stake in the ground and saying 'No more!' If our president is willing to fight against the Swamp, and he's definitely willing, then it's time for people of integrity from all political persuasions to join him in saying No More!
There's nothing more Swamp-like than the upper echelon ( singular, not plural ) of the FBI. Republicans Jim Jordan and Michael Johnson have put FBI Director Christopher Wray on notice that they intend to interview "a mysterious FBI agent, Joe Pientka" in connection with the perjury trap crafted against Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. Expect Democrats to attack Jim Jordan and Mike Johnson for impugning the reputation of the FBI. Spare me the dramatics.
Democrats, starting with Adam Schiff, (D-Calif.), have launched one defense of the FBI after another. The infamous Schiff Memo was demolished by the Horowitz Report. The Schiff Memo said that "FBI and DOJ officials did not 'abuse' the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act process, omit material information, or subvert this vital tool to spy on the Trump campaign."
The Horowitz Report determined the exact opposite. In fact, the Horowitz Report went further than that :
The Justice Department inspector general's report contradicted Schiff's defense. It listed 17 significant omissions and errors that the FBI made in the Carter Page surveillance warrants, including derogatory information about Steele and at least one of his sources.
Then there's this:
The key claim in the Nunes memo, that the Steele dossier "formed an essential part of the Carter Page FISA application", is backed up by the inspector general's report. The inspector general also faulted the FBI for failing to tell the surveillance court that Steele told a Justice Department official, Bruce Ohr, that he was "desperate" in September 2016 to see Donald Trump lose the election.
Don't expect Mssrs. Jordan and Johnson to relent. Here's why:
Pientka was conspicuously removed from the FBI's website after Fox News contacted the FBI about his extensive role in Crossfire Hurricane Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) matters, a change first noticed by Twitter user Techno Fog, but sources say Pientka remains in a senior role at the agency's San Francisco field office.
This is what the Democrats' pushback will look like:
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The Horowitz Report utterly demolished the Schiff Memo. I've listed some of the specifics. The fact is that Pientka, Wray, Comey, McCabe and Strzok all need to testify. Further, it's worth noting that field agents wanted to close Crossfire Razor, the name for the operation against Gen. Flynn. Strzok ordered it to stay open.
Here's a question that hasn't been posed to Strzok, Comey or Wray: why would field officers who interviewed Gen. Flynn want to shut the operation down but a suit from the 7th Floor overrule the field officers? The Swamp must be drained. The Swamp's defenders must be defeated ASAP. Keeping gavels in Pelosi's and Schiff's hands is protecting the Comey/Strzok/Wray of the FBI Building. That isn't acceptable.
Posted Monday, May 4, 2020 7:56 PM
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Democrat-delivered frustration
There's little doubt that the Democrats' decisions have created frustration during this pandemic. That's perfectly illustrated in many places. None, though, capture that frustration like this article captures it.
The scene of the 'crime' in this article is Bristol, TN, and the Virginia state line. This is the tale of one city in two states. Tennessee's governor is Bill Lee. He's a Republican. Virginia's governor is Ralph Northam. He's a Democrat. I'm betting that you can predict the rest of the story. Here is the heart of the article:
Joe Deel is behind the chrome-trimmed turquoise counter of his legendary diner, The Burger Bar, working with his wife Kayla, daughter Emily, and sous chef Corey Young; they can see people going in for lunch at the State Line Bar and Grill just across the street from them less than 50 yards away in Tennessee.
But their round, black-topped stools in Virginia remain as empty as they were nearly two months ago when the coronavirus first shut down the country.
'When they talked about opening Tennessee and not Virginia, I knew this was going to be a problem," Deel said. "I love the other businesses downtown. We all have a great relationship and help each other. It's nothing directly toward them. If people haven't been able to go out and sit down and eat and have a drink, and all of a sudden it opens, that's the priority where they're going to eat."
He explained, "It's just not a very fair battle or fight. And I'm glad for the guys that get to open up, but I sure wish it was us, too."
I'm not in the mood for mincing words tonight so here goes. Ralph Northam is putting Virginians at a disadvantage because he sees Virginia as the northern suburbs and the rest of the state:
The fact that his governor, Democrat Ralph Northam, has to date yet to consider that a southwestern Virginia region deep in the heart of Appalachia might be having a completely different experience than the densely populated northern Virginia frustrates him.
I can empathize with Mr. Deel. Our governor is also a Democrat. Until a week ago, one-size-fits-all seemed to be his motto. Listening isn't Gov. Walz's strong suit. Apparently, it isn't Gov. Northam's strong suit either:
'I would like to cordially invite Gov. Northam down and treat him and his staff to a burger anytime if he could come down and just see where we're at and our situation," Deel said. "If you sat on my front porch in my restaurant and looked over across the street and watched the parking lot fill up, maybe he would feel a little bit different, but I'm not sure if he would or not."
You can always tell a Democrat. Unfortunately, you can't tell them much. Here's proof:
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Posted Tuesday, May 5, 2020 5:41 AM
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Will Brandon Van Grack become the DOJ's new target? He should.
Most people outside the DC Beltway know who Brandon Van Grack is. Before this morning, I didn't know who he was. That's certainly changing rapidly. After reading this article , I suspect that's going to change.
First, Van Grack was part of Robert Mueller's team of partisan attorneys. Next, it's important to know that since "February 2018, Van Grack has been obligated to comply with D.C. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan's standing order in the Flynn case to produce all evidence in the government's possession 'that is favorable to defendant and material either to defendant's guilt or punishment.'"
Third and most importantly, Van Grack might have some explaining to do:
In an October 2019 filing, Van Grack denied governmental misconduct and assured the court that the government "has complied, and will continue to comply, with its discovery and disclosure obligations, including those imposed pursuant to Brady and the Court's Standing Order."
That might be difficult to prove in light of this information:
What Van Grack didn't inform the court about, and didn't provide to Flynn, was the newly unsealed January 4, 2017 "Closing Communication" from the FBI Washington Field Office, which recommended the FBI close its investigation of Flynn, as its exhaustive search through government databases "did not yield any information on which to predicate further investigative efforts."
It's difficult to picture anything more exculpatory than an FBI document that says an "exhaustive search" through the FBI's databases "did not yield any information on which to predicate further investigative efforts." Nothing says 'he isn't guilty' than a document that says there's no predication for "further investigative efforts." That's like a bright flashing neon light saying 'He isn't guilty. Stop wasting our time."
Remember that Operation Crossfire Razor, the surveillance operation into Gen. Flynn, remained open only because Peter Strzok overruled field officers who wanted to shut down Operation Razor. Then there's this:
He argued to Sullivan that Flynn's "conduct and communications with Russia went to the heart of that inquiry." And Van Grack said that Flynn's alleged "false statements to the FBI on January 24, 2017, were absolutely material."
But by that time, the FBI had already cleared Flynn of any improper ties or coordination with Russia. Shedding light on internal FBI deliberations, notes from the then-assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division Bill Priestap, written before the Flynn interview and after discussions with then-FBI Director James Comey and then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, Fox News is told, show discussions of whether their "goal" was "to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired."
Devin Nunes has taken hit after hit from partisan hacks like Adam Schiff for years. Schiff even published a memo that said virtually everything in the Nunes Memo was wrong. The Horowitz utterly discredited Schiff's memo.
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Now the question is whether the Senate will interrogate Brandon Van Grack. If they believe in justice and equal justice under the law. Unfortunately, that's still debatable at this point.
Posted Tuesday, May 5, 2020 6:37 AM
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Is Tim Walz in over his head?
After reading this email, I'm wondering if Gov. Walz has lost it. It's that or he never had it. Here's the text of the email:
Today's budget outlook confirms what we suspected: COVID-19 will badly damage Minnesota's economy. As I said during my State of the State address, there is a long winter ahead. COVID-19 is upending life as we know it - and our economy will not be spared. This will mean shared sacrifice among all of us. Hard decisions will be made.
But thanks to smart budgeting, Minnesota is in a much better position than other states to weather the storm. We must not undercut what got us there: Investing in our children. Expanding access to health care. Putting Minnesotans first. These last few weeks have been difficult, and it's only going to get harder.
It is more important than ever that we lead with our values and protect Minnesota's quality of life. Minnesotans will look out for one another. We will help each other back on our feet. We will get through this winter - together - and we will see spring.
What isn't said is what's important. Minnesota's economy didn't need to be sacrificed. Gov. Walz choked in his first crisis. COVID-19 didn't hurt Minnesota's economy nearly as much his decisions have hurt Minnesota's economy.
For instance, Gov. Walz stopped elective surgeries and the DFL House agreed with him. As a direct result, Mayo Clinic operated at just 35%. Other hospitals laid off people, too. That's on Gov. Walz's hands and the DFL's hands. Republicans didn't have a say in the matter, though it's worth noting they opposed the policy.
He didn't sufficiently protect nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The majority of Minnesota's COVID-19 deaths happened in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. I was told by Julie Anderson of the Minnesota Department of Health that "Long-term care facilities should be a priority and they are. As you may know, there are specific challenges related to long term care settings. That includes the health of the workforce and the challenge presented by the virus that people may carry when asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic. In addition, as people age, their immune systems do not respond as fully and they often have complex underlying conditions further challenging their ability to fight any infection."
This article highlights the difference between an effective governor, Ron DeSantis, and our governor:
As of Friday, the state counted 1,314 deaths. Of those, 423 were in senior-care facilities, which includes both staff and resident deaths, according to the data.
One third of Florida's COVID deaths happened in "senior care facilities." A whopping 75% of Minnesota's COVID deaths happened in long-term care facilities. Florida's population is almost 22,000,000. It's clear that DeSantis' plan worked while Walz's plan didn't. Gov. Walz's plan is too cautious:
Also today, Governor Walz signed an Executive Order that will provide a roadmap for safely restarting elective surgeries. Starting next week, doctors, dentists, and veterinarians who create a plan to keep patients and healthcare professionals safe may begin offering these procedures, which can treat chronic conditions, prevent and cure disease, and relieve chronic pain.
This action will allow hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and clinics, whether veterinary, medical, or dental, to resume many currently-delayed procedures once facilities have developed criteria for determining which procedures should proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided a plan to maintain a safe environment for facility staff, patients, and visitors.
Let's be clear. Adults understand that there are risks involved in reopening the economy. I can't put it better than this:
[Video no longer available]
When Tim Walz grows up, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he isn't overwhelmed. Until then, I won't give him that benefit.
Posted Wednesday, May 6, 2020 5:03 AM
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Open letter to Sean Hannity, Harris Faulkner
To: Sean Hannity, Harris Faulkner
From: Gary Gross, Uppity Peasants Brigade
Subject: Michigan's protests
Regarding your points made about the protests held inside the Michigan State Capitol Building in Lansing, MI, I find your points well-taken and well-reasoned. Still, there's something that both of you missed, which is that your expectations were too high. Let me explain.
Sean, I can't dispute the fact that men showing up with rifles inside the Capitol drowns out whatever message the vast majority of the protesters were trying to send. That being said, quickly and firmly criticizing these men would've been appropriate had you then pivoted to criticizing Gov. Whitmer's overreach. What she's done with her executive orders has created the protesters' frustration.
Harris, last week on Outnumbered, the panel got into a discussion about the protesters not properly distancing themselves. That's an accurate statement. Again, what wasn't said was important. Expecting perfect, well-reasoned behavior after being ordered to shelter-in-place is unreasonable. These protesters were protesting because their frustration boiled over.
It's human nature to lash out after people had their rights diminished. I suspect that last week's protesters are next week's model citizens. It isn't too much to ask commentators to take into account the frustration (and fear) these people are experiencing. When you combine these factors and frustrations, then couple that with human nature, the outcome is predictable.
As people of faith (I'm a believer, too), let's work overtime this week to show a little extra grace to people who've been improperly suppressed by Gov. Whitmer. Let's give the protesters the benefit of the doubt. They've been through hell, thanks to Gov. Whitmer's overreach.
Speaking of which, this exchange put a smile on my face:
Judge Eric Moye asked Luther if she would make a statement admitting she was wrong and selfish. Listen here... pic.twitter.com/6JMukC3v76
- Andrea Lucia (@CBS11Andrea) May 5, 2020
The judge told Shelley Luther she
could avoid jail time if she apologized, admitted she was wrong, and agreed to close her hair salon until it was allowed to open.
This is her response... @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/1phdNUsLme
- Andrea Lucia (@CBS11Andrea) May 5, 2020
Judge Moye should apologize to Shelley Luther. His tone was unwarrantedly disdainful. Ms. Luther was right to speak truth to judicial overreach. After all, Judge Moye had the option of dismissing the case. Instead Judge Moye opted to lecture Ms. Luther.
Posted Wednesday, May 6, 2020 6:32 AM
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Reaching the wrong conclusion?
It's fair to ask if Democrats are reaching the wrong conclusion. At this point, a legitimate argument can be sustained that the pundits aren't reading things right. Chris Cillizza's article highlights the latest Gallup Poll, which finds that "Trump's job approval is back to 49%, matching the highest it's ever been, while his disapproval is at 47%. That marks a 6-point improvement on Trump's approval number from the last Gallup tracking poll. And that improvement comes exclusively from independents, 47% of whom now approve of the job Trump is doing, the best he has ever done among that group in Gallup polling."
One way to look at this data is by eliminating the partisans from both sides, then focus on independent voters. Independent voters aren't tied to ideology. They're focused on who's solving problems and who's looking to taking the next step in ending this China-induced nightmare. That's clearly been President Trump. I won't dispute the fact that President Trump's made mistakes. In a crisis, that's inevitable. Still, his mistakes have happened while trying to move the nation to a better place. He's worked hard in getting more ventilators built. He's built hospital space in California, New Jersey and New York. Testing has increased dramatically. He's working on changing supply chains from relying on China to relying on domestic manufacturers.
That's before talking about the things he's done to reopen the economy. That's a lengthy list, too, especially including the PPP and the relief payments. He's advocating for reopening the economy quickly but safely. He doesn't always agree with the scientists but he isn't ignoring them, either. That's reading the American people right. Then there's this:
The Point: Be wary of conventional wisdom. Especially when it concerns Trump.
If ever there was a president that shouldn't be underestimated, President Trump is that president. Let's remember all of the ground game that the Trump campaign built before the COVID pandemic. That volunteer army hasn't disappeared. That GOTV machine is still intact. At this point, the Biden campaign's social media game, to use Larry Jacobs' phrase, is just starting spring training. Meanwhile, figuratively speaking, the Trump campaign is working on its 6-pack abs for the summer.
Posted Wednesday, May 6, 2020 7:34 AM
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