ALL GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN

                                               is there a vaccine for stupid?


as the covid-19 virus continues to escalate in this country, the stupid virus, aka the trumpus idiotitous, maintains a hold on the administration.  a few examples:

fresh of his success establishing peace in the middle east, jared 'mr. ivanka' kushner has been added to the coronavirus task force.  he has yet to weigh in but will apparently do so as soon as he's completed his research, which i'll assume is when he's finished coloring in his copy of 'virology for dummies'.

despite the fact that just days ago he met and was photographed standing next to the brazilian secretary of communications who has since tested positive for the virus but the white house STILL claims there is no need for him to be tested.  and why should he?  you'd think the 'one who was sent by god' wouldn't have to go through something as silly as some medical evaluation.

in congress, emergency coronavirus funding is being held up as gop-ers are demanding that language from the hyde amendment, which prevents any federal funding be used for abortions, be included.  interesting way to show they're 'pro-life', hold up funding that would be used to help families pay for vaccines, food, rent, any essentials that would help get them through this emergency by pandering to that part of their base who think it's more important to protect the unborn rather than the already living.

on tuesday, the white house budget director, russ vought, told a congressional hearing that the administration does not intend to amend it's 2021 budget proposal which would reduce the funding of hhs by $9.5 BILLION which includes a reduction of 15% to the cdc ( to a tune of $1.2 BILLION) while eliminating $35 million from the infectious diseases emergency response fund.  this all apparently plays into their claims that they're doing everything possible to keep things under control (meaning i guess as long as it doesn't cost a lot of money).  none of this takes into account the disbanding of the global health security team due to funding or the $65 million cut (10%) to the center on emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases (those which can be transmitted from animal to human), both in '18, then down another 19% in '19 and ANOTHER 20% in '20.  once more it's down to priorities, people, even if some have to die to save the bucks.  now, to be fair (something you won't hear me say often in regards to anything involving the mango moron), congress did restore many of the cuts but he still succeeded in reducing funding to essential cdc programs by a total of 10% from 2016 and proposed cutting it a further 1.3 BILLION in fiscal 2020.*

outside the confines of the beltway, his go-to suck-up at fox, sean 'are my lips soft enough for you, sir' hannity, has continued the previous claims of "hoax", more recently calling the situation "a fraud" (someone got a thesaurus for christmas) and even going so far as to say "we're all dying anyway" so there's really no need to expand our response.
another pal, rush 'how many oxi can i get for this stupid medal?' limbaugh went much along the same lines by saying the whole thing is no worse than "the common cold" and it's all "exaggerated and built up".  when he was told that the mortality rate is 10 times that of the flu, mr. empathy came back with a "who cares?".   back at fox, tomi 'i can be more stupid that you' lauren said she's "far more concerned with stepping on a used heroin needle."  remind me not to go to the beach with her.
stepping away from fox we found lizzie hasselbeck co-hosting 'the view' (why, i have no idea) saying she felt "comfortable and confident" in the midst of this because of 45s "strong leadership".  oh, and prayer, which she brought up several times, even when it wasn't exactly called for because...jesus?

                                         
on wednesday he made a major announcement from the oval office, banning all flights from europe.  well, almost all.  he didn't include the u.k. even though confirmed cases are rising but that would mean he'd have to include scotland and ireland where he just so happens (can you spell coincidence) to have a couple of golf courses.  can't take any chances on affecting business, y'know, 'cause it all comes back to the priorities, this time taking money in not spending it because people are going to need a fun round of golf to take their minds off the fact that some around them might be dying.  and speaking of fun, a day or so before his fireside chat-like (but without the fireplace but by the light of the burning stock market) 'words of comfort' he offered another uplifting sentiment: just "stay calm.  it'll go away."  does that include a chorus of 'don't worry, be happy'? after his 'rapid and decisive action' banning incoming passenger flights, some couldn't help but remind him the virus was already here, likening it to the babysitter being told the killer is calling from inside the house.  we know how you feel.

                                                    NOW you tell me?

and, finally (i wish!), we were left with him telling us today that "everything is going to plan".  going back over just the few things i've mentioned here, if all of this is part of 'the plan'...

we're fucked.


*thanx to the raw story and amamda marcotte of salon for the info.  couldn't express my opinions without them.