FUTURE PAIN

The United States is doing very well and winning the war on the Corona virus? When Trump was asked in an interview if the United States is losing the war against Covid he responded,  “We are winning and we will have areas that flamed up and they will be fine over a period of time. We had this plague sent in from China, it’s a disgrace they didn’t stop it. They should have stopped it”.  This was the statement by the president Friday as a record of over 70,000 confirmed new cases on July 10th.

We have had increased cases in 36 of the 50 states. Case surges are in Florida, Texas, and Arizona. Doctors worry that escalating hospital cases in these states may last longer than in earlier areas hit, like New York. In New York, when regular wards were being converted into intensive care units, medical staff barely gets by. On the 10^th of July, the U.S. had 3,184,920 confirmed cases and 134,752 total fatalities. Infectious disease expert Dr Michael Osterholm said that new shutdowns could occur regionally and went on to say that this time we need to bring things back gradually to slow the virus.

Dr. Fauci said he last saw Trump in person at the White House on June 2^nd—and said he had not briefed the president for at least 2 months. Today Dr. Fauci said in a Financial Times article “We are living in a perfect storm.  I have a reputation, as you probably have figured out, of speaking the truth at all times and no sugar-coating things. And that may be one of the reasons why I haven’t been on television very much lately” Yet Trump insists he knows enough to say were doing very well and winning the war? 

The Washington Post said in a July 10^th article that the President complains to his staff in private about being a victim of the pandemic. He feels the virus is bringing his poling numbers down. Trump is solemn when roaming through the halls.  …”Trump often launches into a monologue placing himself at the center of the nation’s turmoil.  The President has cast himself in the starring role of blameless victim of a deadly pandemic, of a stalled economy, of deep-seated racial unrest, all of which happened to him rather than the country.”  Trump taking no responsibility, is looking for someone to blame calling the virus the China Virus and the Kung flu.

STONE IS SILENCED

Roger Stone had his sentence commutated by the president on Friday the 10^th.  The White House statement read “Mr. Stone would be put at serious medical risk in prison. He has appealed his conviction and is seeking a new trial.”  He maintains his innocence and has stated that he expects to be fully exonerated by the justice system.  Roger Stone was convicted on all 9 felony counts including lying to congress about his ties to WikiLeaks and the Russian connection in 2016, and witness tampering.  This was a commutation, not a pardon.  Stone has collaborative evidence that could convict Trump of felonious activities in lying to the Muller investigation in Trump’s written testimony.  Stone said “he could have ratted him out” This is a brazen act and should be a big scandal in a normal administration..

 Trump asked if Stone wanted a pardon and Stone said he did not want to admit guilt, which he would have done by accepting the pardon thus the commutation..  I look at this in a different light.  By Trump commuting his sentence Roger Stone can still claim 5^th amendment protections for anything related to the charges, whereas if pardoned he loses those rights since he cannot be charged again for the same crimes. Commutation has the same effect as a pardon, however Stone can stay silent with the 5^th for the Donald.  Is this another laser show to detract from 134,752 deaths that he should show some responsibility?  I say it’s more like a criminal act.  At least it needs further review and rebuke by gutless silent republicans.