William – Page 29 – Really Right

Investigating Corona: Sean Hannity’s Claims on Emergency Declaration

Due to the disruption caused to our daily lives by people that should know better, I’m starting a series on Corona Virus. I’m trying to separate, myth, fact, and propaganda. I personally have no fear of getting this virus, but many people seem really freaked-out about it.

I have rarely, if ever mentioned Sean Hannity on this blog. Why should I? I’m a cable cutter and don’t get Fox News, ESPN, and a host of other media. Frankly, I think my life is better without constant exposure to the 24/7 news cycle. (It’s not too later to give up cable news for Lent. Just sayin’.) Anyway, I occasionally listened to his radio show; especially, since impeachment and now the Corona Virus.

Last week Hannity said something so damning about Barack Obama that I thought maybe this was the silver bullet to get thru to my Liberal buddy at work. Before deploying it though, I wanted to get it in writing from a solid Liberal source so he couldn’t easily discount the information. I began to investigate the claim that Hannity made on both his radio and television shows on March 2, 2020. Here are transcripts complete with audio and video respectively. Hannity has also repeated it on his radio broadcasts since that date.

Audio Transcript 02/20/2020
SEAN HANNITY (HOST): Now if you want to compare it, let’s go back to the Biden-Obama administration. It was April of 2009 when H1N1 became a pandemic. It wasn’t until six months later — now, I’ll concede, 11 days after that, the Health and Human Services of their administration said it was an emergency — but it wasn’t until six months later when Obama declared a public health emergency. But at that point, it was already a pandemic. By the time Obama-Biden did it, we literally had millions of Americans infected, and over a thousand people had died inside the U.S.

Video Transcript 02/20/2020
Now we need to put that in perspective. Let us compare this to H1N1. Swine Flu Virus as it’s known. Now, this hit the U.S. in April of 2009. It wasn’t until six months later, in October of 2009 — after more than 20,000 Americans were hospitalized, more than a thousand of our fellow citizens died — only then did President Obama and, yeah, quid pro quo Joe declare a national emergency.

Original Source

So where did Hannity get this claim that President Obama waited six months–until 20,000 were infected and over 1,000 had died–before declaring a public health emergency? The only source is a single article from P.J. Media posted on February 28, 2020 by Victoria Taft. Her post then reverberated thru various conservative websites where it was eventually picked-up by Hannity.

While American health officials declared a public health emergency on April 26, 2009, then-Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano downplayed the announcement, calling it “standard operating procedure,” adding that she would rather refer to it as a “declaration of emergency preparedness.” It wasn’t until four months later in October, that then-President Obama himself declared an H1N1 national emergency.
Fact-Check: Obama Waited Until ‘Millions’ Infected and 1000 Dead in U.S. Before Declaring H1N1 National Emergency

Timeline: H1N1 v Corona

Folks, this claim by Victoria Taft and by extension, Sean Hannity, is really bad for Obama and good for Trump. Below is the timeline for N1H1 and Corona from first US victim (Day 1) until President declared a public health emergency.

Oops, Obama declared a public health emergency on H1N1 eleven days after the first US case while Trump did so after ten days.

Here are timelines of both virus outbreaks

CDC Timeline H1N1

April 15, 2009 First infection in US
April 26, 2009 The United States Government declared 2009 H1N1 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
2009 H1N1 Pandemic Timeline

October 26, 2009
Washington (CNN) — President Obama has declared a national emergency to deal with the “rapid increase in illness” from the H1N1 influenza virus.
“The 2009 H1N1 pandemic continues to evolve. The rates of illness continue to rise rapidly within many communities across the nation, and the potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities,” Obama said in a statement.
Obama declares H1N1 emergency

Text of Obama declaration October 24, 2009
DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA PANDEMIC

Corona Timeline

December 31, 2019 The World Health Organization (WHO) is alerted by the Chinese authorities of a string of pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people.
January 17, 2020 the CDC announces that it will begin screening passengers arriving from Wuhan at three airports: San Francisco, New York’s JFK and Los Angeles.
January 21, 2020 first US case in Washington State.
Coronavirus timeline: from Wuhan to Washington state

January 30, 2020 First case of transmission in US
January 31, 2020 President Donald Trump issued a proclamation prohibiting non-citizens from entering the United States if they were in China within 14 days of their arrival and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency.
Latest on Coronavirus: Timeline of Events Since the Start of the Outbreak in China

So, both Presidents (or Administration health officials under them) declared an emergency within about ten days.

Two Types of Declaration

Folks, various declarations by the President trigger different laws and regulations to make resources available to various states and people in need. While Obama declared a national emergency six months after declaring a public health emergency, Trump has thus far not declared a national emergency for Corona. If you doubt me, search for yourself. The only national emergency declared by Trump is related to the border wall.

Here’s the video of Obama in April of 2009 declaring a public health emergency.

The posts are conflating two types of emergency declarations a president can make.
On Obama’s response to H1N1:

Obama declared a public health emergency on April 26, 2009 — before a single swine flu death in the U.S. was reported. Such a declaration allows the government to unlock money for antiviral drugs and other medical preparedness measures.

It was in October, after 1,000 U.S. deaths, that Obama made another declaration related to the flu strain, this time a national emergency. That national emergency allowed the U.S. to activate operational plans, such as moving emergency rooms offsite to keep those infected with the virus away from other emergency room patients.

Conclusion

Folks, I’ve dug into this issue with much zeal in hopes of defending Sean Hannity’s claim about Obama’s declaration. However, it is my sad duty to report that Sean Hannity is totally wrong on this aspect of comparing the Obama response on H1N1 and the Trump response to Corona.

The issue where things diverge on the declarations of emergency is the management style employed by each man. Obama, as best as I can research it, was a very hands-off President and let the professionals handle the issue whereas Trump is right in the middle of Corona.

Obama initially authorized $1.5 billion to fight H1N1, whereas, Trump initially asked for $2.5 billion while diverting other money to the fight, pending Congressional action.

Also, Democrats are using Corona as a political weapon against Trump’s reelection; something Republicans did not do to Obama on H1N1. The media is trying to use Corona as a club to beat up Trump like they did G.W. Bush with Hurricane Katrina. In fact CNN has even called Corona, Trump’s Katrina.

Coronavirus as Katrina?: What sunk President George W. Bush and Republicans in his second term wasn’t the war in Iraq. It was his administration’s mishandling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Whispers have begun that President Donald Trump’s handling (or mishandling) of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic has the potential to have political consequences just as devastating for the GOP.
Is coronavirus Donald Trump’s Katrina?

Next up, Corona testing.

Kirk Uhler on the Ropes

Suzanne Jones: Photo from Lincoln Club of the Sierras

Folks, it looks like my $25 advertising investment on Facebook is paying big dividends. Placer County Supervisor, Kirk Uhler, is now trailing his challenger, fellow Republican, Suzanne Jones, in the race for Placer County Supervisor, 4th District. When I last looked in on the race, Uhler was up by about 107 votes but after yesterday’s update was posted, he now trails by 180 votes, a swing of about 287 votes.

Here’s the details.

Meanwhile, a few days and 3,643 votes later…

Just for reference, in Uhler’s 2016 race versus Victor Bekhet, a total of 19,784 votes were cast. Thus I would conclude that Uhler has no hope of beating Jones although the race is within the margin of a recount.

Congratulations to Supervisor Jones.

When you hitch your fate to the Just Us Brothers, such an outcome is no surprise. My only question is will Aaron Park scrub his blog of all the personal attacks on Suzanne Jones (and Tom Hudson) or let them stand?

Lastly, hey Kirk, Aaron always has this outcome when he is given the title of “campaign manager.” Like you, he thrives in the shadows not in the light. For a guy that thinks they’re friends, you don’t pay much attention to Aaron’s track record of mayhem and destruction. An ethical person wouldn’t associate themselves with him. At least now your wife can apply for the director position she’s been coveting without it being a violation of campaign laws on conflict of interest.

Corona Virus Triggers Unnecessary Panic

Folks, parts of our cable television watching society are stocking up on antibacterial soap and toilet paper and looking for fallout shelter plans on eBay while the rest of us have purposed just to live our lives. I’m in the latter category.

So, on the first day of a stupid government school shutdown in my community, I’m going on record with a claim that Corona triggers unnecessary panic? Heck yeh! But the market is down 2K just today. So what?

Here’s a few thoughts on the unforced error of cancelling all classes this week in the Elk Grove School District.

In the Saturday release, the Elk Grove School Superintendent claimed he was moving Spring Break to this week, sorry, not happening. Look for the regularly scheduled Spring Break to happen next month in the second week of April. Both parents and teachers are taking off that week regardless of what was claimed in the press release issued on Saturday—much of which was a lie debunked by the Sacramento Bee which I will get to shortly.

You see, many parents scheduled time-off from work just to coordinate with the District’s schedule, buying airline tickets, making hotel reservations, and such long ago. These people will be out the money if they don’t go now. Also, there is that pesky union contract with the District’s teachers stating that the second week in April is the time off for those on both Traditional and Modified Traditional schedules. A reasonable suggestion that I heard from a teacher in the District was that Spring Break will happen as scheduled and a few extra days will be tacked onto the end of the school year. We’ll see if that prediction pans out.

As I’m writing this, a claim has surfaced that one child in the District tested positive. If that’s true, then please tell me what is the metric that children will ever be allowed to return to school? By being arbitrary, this Superintendent has opened a can of worms that he may never get back in the bottle. Just by being in school a child might give an illness to another, this is reality. If this is his metric, how can he ever risk that classes convene again?

The grilling given to the Elk Grove Superintendent by the Sacramento Bee’s Marcos Bretón is priceless.

More shocking. Saturday’s announcement, with such widespread implications, including the possibility of triggering public anxiety and panic, was rolled out with little or no coordination between the county’s public health department or key elected officials in Sacramento, even though a letter to parents Saturday said “this complex decision involved close collaboration and coordination with our Board of Trustees, labor groups, the Sacramento County Office of Education and the Sacramento County Public Health Department.”
If county health officials were communicating with the Elk Grove district all along then that message didn’t get out to county elected officials.
They were all caught flat-footed: Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna, the chair of the board this year, learned about the Elk Grove announcement when word of the district closure caused his phone to “blow up.”
Serna was at a campaign event for a colleague in the Arden Arcade area Saturday afternoon when he learned. With him was Sacramento Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan, a doctor, who has spent weeks trying to calm public fears about the coronavirus. With them was Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento.
All of them learned at the same time and without warning.
Closing Elk Grove schools gives a shocking lesson in how not to handle the coronavirus

Serna, Pan, Steinberg and McCarty all huddled together after learning about the Elk Grove announcement from The Bee. Together, they have planned a 1 p.m. news conference on Sunday at the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors offices at 700 H St.
The first question that should be answered there must be this: How could the largest school district in Northern California announce it was shutting its doors in a complete vacuum of information and leadership?

Why is a serious step such as closing a school district trotted out via letter to Elk Grove parents as if the contents of the letter referred to a bake sale and not an issue with serious health and policy implications?
And here is another question: Why would EGUSD, apparently with the OK of county health officials, shut down the entire district when such a drastic step is not recommended by state health officials? By late Saturday, the California Department of Public Health released its guidelines for schools, colleges and large public events to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
Nowhere in those recommendations do state officials call for the closure of a district without a single student or staff member testing positive for COVID-19. And up until now, there hasn’t been an EGUSD student or staff member who has tested positive. State health officials only contemplate closing an entire district if there have been students, teachers or staff members who have tested positive at multiple schools in a district.

But entities such as EGUSD can’t simply act without consideration for how the decision will affect a general public already jittery about the coronavirus.
As Steinberg said, Sacramento County must have a coordinated message. They need protocols. Stories of this import cannot simply be dropped like a stink bomb in the dark.

But maybe if it hadn’t been made in such a vacuum someone could have helped the Elk Grove educators make this call in a way that didn’t seem premature and haphazard.

Panic is what happens when a health crisis is mismanaged and when people who should be in the loop are not. This is not the way it should be done.

Marcus is right on this issue. (As always, I’ve quoted him extensively because this article will soon find its way behind McClatchy’s pay firewall.) Marcus, “stink bomb” is a much politer term than the ones I’m thinking of right now.

Since this opinion piece was posted, the high school boys’ basketball game is rumored to get an exemption, while the high school prom last Saturday night was killed five hours before it was scheduled to begin; off district property I might add.

Perhaps educators should try staying in their lane and let public health officials do their job. That might actually be refreshing. A coordinated response is needed not arbitrary nonsense. Panicking and then telling others that you didn’t is disingenuous and harmful; especially when your actions affect thousands of people and millions of dollars. Elk Grove’s Superintendent needs to be fired, but it won’t happen until summer just so he and the District can save face.

Folks, the Corona virus fears will blow over and the stock market will recover. These issues are just distractions to keep folks on the 24-hour news channels employed. Both of these issues will be in the country’s rearview mirror before long and they’ll go on to some other story while we that live in Elk Grove deal with the aftermath of this out of control bureaucrat.

Rick Santelli Shows His True Colors

By Chief

Rick Santelli is a commentator on CNBC who specializes in the bond/treasury markets. He usually contributes throughout the day as he reports on the swings in the market. Thursday, he made a complete and utter fool of himself and backed it up today with a halfhearted apology regarding the coronavirus.

Here is what he said Thursday:

“People are getting nervous, listen, I’m not a doctor. I’m not a doctor. All I know is, think about how the world would be if you tried to quarantine everybody over the generic-type flu. Now I’m not saying this is the generic-type flu, but maybe we’d just be better off if we just gave (the coronavirus) to everybody and then in a month it would be over, because the mortality rate of this probably wouldn’t be any different if we did it that way than the long-term picture,” Santelli said, “But the difference is we’re wreaking havoc on domestic and global economies.”
CNBC’s Rick Santelli suggests giving everyone coronavirus to spare the economy

Maybe someone should check themselves in to the doctor for a foot in mouth disease exam?

Here is his apology, if you can call it that:

“Yesterday, during a segment on ‘The Exchange, ‘I said ‘maybe it would be a good idea to expose everybody to the coronavirus, maybe it would be better off for the economy, the global economy or the markets in general,’” Santelli said of his comment that sparked outrage and calls for CNBC to fire him. “It was the dumbest, most ignorant, stupid thing anybody could have ever said.”
CNBC’s Rick Santelli sorry for saying we should infect ‘everybody’ with coronavirus to help economy

“It was just a stupid thing to say,” he said. “It’s not appropriate in this instance and we are resilient, both in the United States and in the globe. That resilience will get us through. The idea of something so absurd, I apologize, and I apologize to everybody on the segment and all my peers at CNBC.”

So ok, a lot to unpack here but here we go. First off Santelli is your typical 90 day calendar guy, when the market is up all is well, when the market is down, he incites panic. He knows no other lot in life. He is paid to comment on the news and react to market swings but how can any sane human being spout off the vomit he did on live TV and think they got away with one? Give coronavirus to everyone….nice pal…how about those of us who lack a gold plated $0 out of pocket healthcare plan Rickster? How do you expect us to come up with the money for that? Or should the government just pay for it…since in some ways it sounds like a science project to you? As far as your comment about mortality….this virus is wreaking havoc in nursing homes, and hospitals, targeting mostly the elderly and those with weak respiratory/immune systems. So it sounds like your goal is to create a stronger human race….nice. As far as his apology goes, Santelli was obviously sat down by someone far higher on the pay grade chart than him, because what he said in his apology made even less sense. He tried comparing corona virus to smallpox saying you were encouraged to expose others to it, so they could get it, and get the vaccine.

In closing I will say this, Rick is not sorry, those are his true beliefs. He saw the market get very choppy and decided to white knight and declare “we need to get this virus over with because….my retirement!” His comments that this virus is affecting both the domestic and foreign economies is somewhat correct, but the reason people are panicking is because of idiots like you Rick. There could not be more misinformation spread about this virus, both in print, online and TV media. It’s being made out to be an instant killer, with the infected quarantined off and cut out of civilization. While there is no known cure or vaccine, it seems like quarantine and maybe some medicines are aiding in people surviving. Think about that for a minute, this bozo wants to infect everyone with this, knowing there is no cure, which will overload our hospitals and health care system, because again…his stock account. To make matters worse for Rickster, today the jobs report came out….and unemployment dropped yet again. Folks the underlying economy is doing just fine. We are in a small, cable ratings fueled drop in the stock market, that’s all. Go out to lunch, dinner, or go to a gym, church, etc. People are packing these places, yet the talking heads are talking about this virus 24/7. The NBA and MLB are warning people not to go to games, and to essentially shelter in place. Rick, you are not helping.

Rick, stocks go up, and down, the overall economy is not based on whether the “Dow is up or down.” I’m actually not surprised you blew your smoking hot take for all to see, you like to rile people up, you succeeded, now more people will sell off, because they don’t want to get burned. I am however disappointed in a fellow CNBC employee, Kelly Evans. She didn’t challenge your BS at all.

The Chief

PS Santelli is a Tea Party guy, no real shock there.

Elk Grove Schools Cry “Wolf”

At noon today, Saturday, March 7, 2020, the Elk Grove School District informed teachers that due to fears of the Corona Virus, all classes in the entire District are cancelled the week of March 9.

Lest you think that was enough, Monday has now been declared as “Spring Break.” The District says there is nothing to fear. Really? So way are classes cancelled? Why, in the middle of a weekend, did you move Spring Break up one month?

Here’s the publicly released letter to parents.

Oh, rumor mill amongst teachers is that Sacramento Unified has also done likewise.

Ok, so one family might test positive and the whole county is on indefinite lockdown. Please note in the above letter, they reserve the right to cancel classes indefinitely. Again, this is not Ebola. Somebody is watching way too much cable news.

Is Bernie an Armchair Revolutionary?

Bernie Sanders is stuck in the 1970’s; a time when a minority of people in the United States fawned admirably over the idea of a people’s utopia. When guys like Bernie visited Cuba or the Soviet Union, they got guided tours by people that worked for Vladimir Putin (or whoever was running the KGB at the time). They were conducted on a controlled tour to see how the ruling class lived in such places and told that this was the lifestyle that everyone in such a society could achieve. What they experienced during their visits was diametrically different than what people back home were saying about life under communism.

Folks like Bernie had soured on Vietnam and Watergate and thus were inclined to discount Western critiques of communism. Also, socialism was on the ascendancy in Europe which cherry picked various parts that they liked and selectively applied them to public policy. This reinforced the belief that transformation from capitalism was not only possible without revolution but desirable. This formative period for Bernie is his touchstone for what should be.

History has taught us a much different lesson about how radical change is implemented. Barack Obama took some concrete steps towards socialist transformation but was halted by Republicans taking control of Congress. Ultimately, Donald Trump was elected to correct Obama’s overreach—especially by Executive Orders. The Obama revolution was largely beaten back by Trump or significantly reduced in its impact.

This Presidential cycle, Democrats on the national stage are unanimous that they want to transform the United States into a socialist nation. There was little difference in the top tier candidates on any issues.

Sanders was the only guy in the Democrat field that was honest about his goals. I had assumed that Bernie was a true believer and tired of half measures. Given his age and rhetoric, I thought he was going all in on making the revolution happen now. I viewed this campaign as him giving his beliefs as a legacy to the next generation. I took him at his word on the campaign trail.

If you heard his speech the night of Super Tuesday, Bernie sounded ready to burn our whole country to the ground.

Now, what makes this movement unique is we are taking on the corporate establishment, we are taking it on the greed of Wall Street. The greed of the drug companies who charge us the highest prices in the world. The greed or the insurance companies. And given the existential crisis of climate change, we are saying to the fossil fuel industry… We are saying to the fossil fuel industry, their short-term profits on not more important than the future of our country, or the world.
But we are not only taking on the corporate establishment, we’re taking on the political establishment. But we’re going to win because the people understand it is our campaign, our movement, which is best position to defeat Trump. You cannot beat Trump with the same old same old kind of politics. What we need is a new politics that brings working class people into our political movement. Which brings young people into our political movement. And which in November we’ll create the highest voter turnout in American political history.
Super Tuesday Speech Transcripts: Biden, Sanders, Warren, Bloomberg Speeches to Supporters

I thought it was entertaining when the next day, Mark Stein took after Bernie for being spineless. Upon his return, Rush Limbaugh also piled on. Why?

Because Bernie was outmaneuvered yet again by the Democrat Establishment. The power brokers in the party called in their markers and cleared the decks of everyone but Warren on Monday. Warren split the vote to thwart Bernie on Super Tuesday and give Joe Biden a path forward to the nomination. Her job now completed, a few days later, she too, stepped aside.

Meanwhile, since Super Tuesday, Bernie has not attacked Joe Biden for anything. Joe is the most target rich opponent that anybody would ever hope to face in politics and all we get from Sanders is crickets. I have yet to hear a single media report about Bernie or what or where he is. What kind of guy ever succeeded in fomenting a revolution that quit at the first sign of adversity?

I think the young people that believe Berie’s B.S. are in for a shock. They finally find a politician that believes just like their college professors and after going all in for Sanders, he just leaves them hanging. Depending on what happens next, Bernie’s loyal followers might decide to sit out the election in November.

Bernie wouldn’t be the first guy to stake-out a position that is all about image and lacks substance. I get the feeling that the words of the man don’t match his deeds. Thus I’m starting to view him as an armchair revolutionary.

Will Bernie fold like a cheap suit or will he soldier on for the cause? We all know there’s not another Presidential run in his future because he’s too darn old. What he does in the next few weeks will be enlightening to watch.

Hidin’ Biden after Super Tuesday

Folks, just a quick update on the supposed results of Super Tuesday.

The media reports of Biden suddenly being ahead of Sanders by 60 delegates are true—from a certain point of view. What is missing is this. 290 delegates are still in play and not assigned to either guy. If you gave all remaining delegates to the candidate that currently leads in that state, Sanders is ahead by two. Biden would have 685 to Sanders with 687. Due to proportional assignment this won’t be the outcome but Bernie is not out of this yet… except…

What is going on with Pocahontas? Will she stay or will she go? Coming in third in your home state is usually an automatic sign to “pack it in” but this is politics. Will Warren stay in as the spoiler to Sanders chances or will she step aside and let the geriatric gents duke it out?

For a Party claiming to represent diversity to come down to the two oldest white guys in the race, it just illustrates the farce of Democrat image versus reality. Lest you think this is an accident, how was it that Jerry Brown has severed two terms as Governor of California in two successive centuries? Do you see a pattern? Power is pried from their cold, dead hands, and only reluctantly.

California votes will take so long to count that even though he won, Sanders will not be helped. The magnitude of his actual victory will probably not even get reported by the media as relevant because they will have moved on to the next shiny object long before the count is completed.

The media loves the drama of the horserace and the dream of beating Trump but somehow I think that the script will not go as planned.

Once Warren exits, stage left, Trump will be the youngest candidate in the race.

However this goes, the Presidential debates this fall will be entertaining; probably the best since Carter v Reagan.

Mini Mike’s Millions

Just a quick note on Mike Bloomberg’s campaign for President. Mike has reportedly spent close to half a billion dollars (~$500 million for folks in Rio Linda) yet I have not seen a single ad for his campaign. Not on radio, television, or the Internet! How can this be? Where is all that money going?

Truthfully, I think the answer is that Bloomberg’s pockets are being picked by his political consultants. It’s not unusual that consultants get as much as 15 percent of whatever the candidate spends. Bloomberg is also paying extra for media buys since many people want to advertise and there are only so many slots. In economic terms, demand is higher than supply so the supplier can pick their price for their product. As a result, “Mini” Mike is not getting much bang for his buck.

While I vote Conservative, I’m registered as having No Party Preference (NPP)—the second largest political block in California—yet I have not heard from any candidates other than President Trump. The County Clerk has offered me the opportunity to vote in one of four party primaries—none of which was Republican—so in theory I could vote for “Mini” Mike, or Crazy Bernie. About 30 percent of California is NPP and yet nobody is reaching out to us. I vote in every election so frankly I’m surprised.

Thus far, Bloomberg is not getting his money’s worth; however, there is one area that I expect he may drop even more funds. I think Mike will make candidates an offer that many can’t refuse; namely, I look for him to offer to pay campaign debts of those that drop out in exchange for their endorsement of his campaign and pledge of their delegates. I will qualify this idea by acknowledging that this might hinge on the outcome of Super Tuesday.

For a guy that’s supposed to be this big shot billionaire, Bloomberg is more out of touch than Biden or anyone else. He also has a deficit in charisma and personality and no amount of money can fix that.

H. Ross Perot–a Presidential candidate that was all ears

Bloomberg really makes me miss Ross Perot. Perot was entertaining to watch and had a much larger following than Mike ever will.

Republican Kirk Uhler Courts Democrats by Dissing Republicans

Yep, I’ll get to the audio tape in a minute but wow. Folks Kirk is a lifelong Republican. Lest you doubt me, I call as my key witness Aaron F. Park—Uhler’s 2020 campaign manager.

On December 17, 2019, Park wrote:

Some people on the Placer GOP Cent Com were trying to defeat Kirk Uhler, even though Kirk was the endorsed candidate of the Placer Cent Com. I think several of them did not know Kirk and may well have been following Tom Hudson and Suzanne Jones’ lead. Deborah Jackson and Ken Campbell, both former officers in the Placer GOP, actually showed up as a donor to Viktor Bekhet against the Republican Kirk Uhler, writing checks to Bekhet while sitting members of the Placer GOP.
Another Political History Series: Kirk Uhler, Suzanne Jones and 2 Decades in Placer GOP Politics (Part 8) The Jones and Bekhet Show

Ok, lots to unpack here but Park is a Placer County Republican operative that runs a pay-to-play blog that is part of his personal campaign operation. He has a checkered track record. Park will routinely trash someone leading up to an election and if his guy should loose, once the winner writes Park a large enough check, Aaron dutifully purges his website of offending material and will then go all in on his new patron. My advice to Park watchers is go to Archive dot org (also known as Way Back Time Machine) and archive the crap out of his writings so he can’t cover his tracks so easily. Do it now, before election day.

Aaron and Kirk’s relationship goes way back as we have chronicled on this blog. When Park calls Uhler a Republican in the above quote, please trust that this is the case. However, not all is happy and harmonious in the last Republican area of California. Park and his allies are arrayed not just against Democrats but fellow Republicans.

Aaron and George Park we once business partners and political allies with Tom Hudson (also mentioned in the above quote) long before Uhler came along but in recent years, Aaron often takes shots that are harsh on Hudson and in my opinion beyond what civilized people who call themselves “Christian” should say on their blog. Tom and Aaron were fellow travelers for many years, but Tom has the good sense not to excavate all their past deeds. Aaron likes to weaponize things in Hudson’s personal life and then beat him mercilessly with them to score cheap points against his onetime friend.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have occasionally been on Aaron’s good side in the past but over time his methods were such that I could no longer associate myself with him.

There are two kinds of folks in Aaron’s world, his friends and everyone else. I think many people that he goes after on his blog were once his fellow travelers or potential allies but for a variety of reasons, they disagreed with him on some issue and then became targets of his ire. I think that is true of all the people that he attacked in the above quote except Victor Bekhet— Suzanne Jones, Deborah Jackson, and Ken Campbell are all Republicans active in Placer County.

Anyway, Republican Kirk Uhler is currently robocalling registered Democrats in Placer County, asking for their vote while attacking his opponent as a divisive Republican. Folks, you can’t make this stuff up.

Here’s the transcript and the audio link.

This is Rob Haswell, lifelong Placer County resident and former regional director of the California Democratic Party. With an important message for fellow Democrats.
I am asking you to vote to re-elect Kirk Uhler for Placer County Supervisor on March third. In assisting local Democratic elected officials over the years, I have worked with Kirk on a number of issues that matter to most of us. Kirk has addressed traffic problems impacting our quality of life, he has focused on the real threat of catastrophic wildfires and has lead Placer County’s effort to adopt groundbreaking conservation plan.
His opponent is vice-chairman of the Placer County Republican Party, one of the most divisive and partisan organizations in the county. She is trying to hide that fact, don’t be fooled.
Please join me in supporting Kirk Uhler for Placer County Supervisor.
Paid for by Kirk Uhler for Supervisor.

Audio Kirk Uhler Robocall by Rob Haswell

So as is usual, the pot is calling the kettle black. Based on this transcript, it is Kirk Uhler that is trying to hide the fact that he is a Republican by pretending to be a Democrat. Folks this is classic Aaron Park in action. Since Aaron claims to be Uhler’s campaign manager, I’m happy to give him credit for this charade.

Folks, Republicans in California have very little reason to go to the polls on March third. There are no Republicans on the ballot in most parts of the State and Trump is the nominee, but Democrats do have more of a reason to vote.

From a strategic point, it makes sense to get Democrat votes when running for a nonpartisan office but to do so by calling your own Party’s Central Committee WHICH HAS ENDORSED YOU “one of the most divisive and partisan organizations in the county” is over the top.

Again, you can’t make this stuff up.

If Republicans are dissing their own Party to get support for a nonpartisan office in the last remaining Republican stronghold in California, then I would conclude that Kirk Uhler and Aaron Park have made a dumpster fire in their own backyard.

Corona Crazy

Folks, I’m sick (no pun intended) and tired of hearing about the Corona virus. A month ago, the Corona virus was caused by someone drinking too much cheap Mexican beer but now it’s the bogeyman that will end civilization as we know it. Folk, Ebola scares that crap out of me but, by comparison, this is not such a big deal.

For consumers of the mainstream media (and Fox News), this illness is being blown way out of proportion. Rush Limbaugh is correct that this illness is being weaponized as a political club to hit Trump with because when it comes to accomplishments, the Dems have no candidate that can lay a glove on him.

Folks, you’d think all the doom and gloom of Y2K was happening now or we just got hit by an EMP blast that left only the media to run the infrastructure of the country.

Original Corona hurt

Due to the media’s impact on low information voters, Corona beer sales are reportedly down 38 percent in recent days. (No word if there is a corresponding slowdown in the sale of lime slices.)

Another case in point: 38% of American beer drinkers surveyed this week said they wouldn’t buy Corona “under any circumstances” at the moment.
Because of coronavirus, 38% of beer-drinking Americans now say they won’t order a Corona

New ways to get Corona

Now we have word that a new infection vector for Corona virus has been found. Besides, bats, reptiles, and other exotic food you might eat from your local market, now your good ole family pet may be to blame. Yep, little fluffy may give you the plague.

THE PET dog of a coronavirus patient in Hong Kong has tested positive for the deadly disease.
The owner of the dog, Yvonne Chow Hau Yee, who lives with her beloved Pomeranian, tested her pet pooch after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
The dog has been quarantined by officials, suggesting they have concerns that the pet could pass on the disease.
If confirmed, the Pomeranian would mark the first case of coronavirus in a pet animal…
Dog tests positive for coronavirus and quarantined in Hong Kong ‘sparking fears pooches could spread the killer bug’

Panic at local Schools

While all this is going on, parents at my son’s school received a letter earlier today that reads in part:

Clean hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
Cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow. (Our school trains students to cough and sneeze into their elbow.)
Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
Thoroughly cook meat and eggs
Avoid unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals

Part of school letter to parents 02/28/2020

Folks, the stuff listed is what used to be called common sense. Wash your hands when they’re dirty and have protected interaction with farm animals.

Stock Market decline

In response to the feeding frenzy created by the media, this week the Stock Market is down significantly ~ 3,500 points.

Trump is the biggest winner of the week. Need proof I’m right? Where does Wall Street get their news? It’s not Fox or Limbaugh but the Liberal Media—NY Times, ABC, CNBC, etc. Amazingly, the Market is way overdue for a correction and Trump will not get the blame.

In my opinion, Trump dodged a bullet that I didn’t think he could. He is now able to take credit when The Market is up and Corona (and China) gets the blame for the decline. This correction was created by the very same media that has been trying to crucify him since he won the Republican nomination four years ago. The Corona narrative crafted by the media makes it plain that Trump is not at fault for the market correction. Can you say irony?

Conclusion

Shut off your television.
Buy a Corona from your local market and use a lime to prevent Corona virus—acid in lime kills the germs.
Pull out your favorite Clive Cussler book—he died earlier this week—drink your Corona, thoroughly barbeque your favorite farm animal, and enjoy our unseasonably warm weather.

Clive Clussler
Jul 15, 1931 – Feb 24, 2020 (age 88)

Oh, lastly enjoy watching people like 90-Day Guy, the chatty lady at the grocery store, and Wall Street investors panic due to media hype overload.