PLAYPEN: Covid-19 Everything Political

[Robert Roaldi]

Maybe Trump was talking about Canada. Canada is in the Western Hemisphere, and we could easily bus all the Canadian killers back to Canada.

It's ok you can keep him.

[TechTalk]

Maybe Trump was talking about Canada. Canada is in the Western Hemisphere, and we could easily bus all the Canadian killers back to Canada.

Given Trump's penchant for giving rambling speeches in the Rose Garden. I think he should consider making Ramblin' Rose his campaign theme song. I can picture his supporters singing along in unison at rallies for Donald "Ramblin' Rose" Trump.

Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose
Why you ramble, no one knows
Wild and wind-blown, that's how you've grown
Who can cling to a ramblin' rose?

Ramble on, ramble on
When your ramblin' days are gone
Who will love you with a love true
When your ramblin' days are GONE

Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose
Why I want you, heaven knows
Though I love you with a love true
Who can cling to a ramblin' rose?

Of course the Nat King Cole version is my favorite... YouTube Nat King Cole Ramblin' Rose with Lyrics

[Robert Roaldi]

Trump's kids and son-in-law served the country and none of them received a salary.    VP Joe Biden's kid Hunter got paid millions for a  no-show job working with a Ukrainian corporation because of his father's political position.

Your use of irony is killing me, Alan. Stop, my sides are hurting.

[Craig Lamson]

You're right. It isn't true. The ACA agreements and Trump's secret carrot and stick negotiating tactic are what he was referencing in his Rambling Rose Garden appearance. It's what I was explaining to Alan above.

Except it is true, Mexico, is a big part of this plan. And when it was first announced Mexico said hell no we won't take them.  Gosh I think Trump mentioned something about "they" not wanting to take them in his speach.  Yea he got good agreements, and the king pin in these agreements is Mexico. Sure you can air mail some back, but is way cheaper and quicker to send the majority right over the border to Mexico and they do the rest. 

Key word...MEXICO


You can try and spin it all day long but its Mexico as well.  Learn to live with it. 

[Craig Lamson]

I watched part of a press conference on youtube somewhere of the Governor of Florida blaming the media for the uptick in Covid cases there. You see, his argument goes, the media spent too much time in May reporting on demonstrations and riots, and because of that, people forgot how dangerous Covid still was and stopped protecting themselves. So, it's the media's fault. I don't have a link for you, because frankly it's too stupid to watch.

But he is right in a sense.  We were told over and over by the media that despite the risk of Covid infections the protests were vital and must go on danger of infection be damned.  Maybe the media thought the protesters were essential workers.

[LesPalenik]

But he is right in a sense.  We were told over and over by the media that despite the risk of Covid infections the protests were vital and must go on danger of infection be damned.  Maybe the media thought the protesters were essential workers.

Other commentators thought that the demonstrations were not-essential, self-indulgent and at these times dangerous activities.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-protests-australia/australian-minister-calls-anti-racism-protests-self-indulgent-idUSKBN23E07C

[Paulo Bizarro]

Let's get back to Covid. When is this heat coming so this virus would magically disappear. That's Trump's only plan...magically disappear.

Here in Portugal we are around 40 Celsius and the virus has not magically disapear...

[Alan Klein]

It's done thru an Asylum Cooperation Agreement (ACA) sometimes known as a "safe third country" agreement. It requires that people from any country asking for asylum in the US that have been in or passed thru Guatemala to apply for asylum in Guatemala instead of the US and the agreement requires Guatemala to accept them as a "safe third country". It has allowed asylum seekers from a variety of countries to be dumped on Guatemala.

First began late last year... https://www.npr.org/2019/11/22/u-s-sends-first-migrant-to-guatemala-under-asylum-agreement

A more detailed story shortly after the program began (Google cached story from Washington Post)... https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/www.washingtonpost.com/us-putting-asylum-seekers-on-planes-to-guatemala-often-without-telling-them-where-theyre-going/2020/01/13/us

Similar agreements have been signed with Honduras and El Salvador. The ACA with Guatemala was the first to be signed and put into effect  https://www.dhs.gov/factsheet-northern-central-america-agreements_v2.pdf

In other words, people seeking refuge and asylum from the US are being sent back to ask for asylum in the very same countries they are fleeing due to widespread violence, rape, kidnapping, and murder.

The "why Guatemala would take people who aren't from there" is the old carrot (US aid money) and stick (threats of tariffs on agricultural imports). It appears Donald Trump thinks that the "carrot and stick" approach is a new secret tactic that he invented and will reveal at a later date.

And... There is a Covid component to all of this as Guatemala has asked the US to pull back on the deportation program due to the fact that huge percentages are arriving from the US infected.  https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/15/834999661/official-alleges-the-u-s-has-deported-many-covid-19-positive-migrants-to-guatema

Thanks for that info.  Leaving aside these type of refugees, what arrangements do we have with other countries when we send back their citizens, in general.  Let's say a Frenchman visiting here commits a crime and is sentenced to jail here.  At the end of his sentence, we send them back to France.  What if France says they don't want him?
a. We still have his French passport from when he came over here?  or b. We assumed he was French but he was illegally here. He sneaked into the USA.  When he arrives in France, they say, we don't want him because no one can prove what country he's a citizen of?

[Alan Klein]

The whole world is going to wake up soon with no income.

British Airways retires entire 747 fleet (of 31) after travel downturn

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53426886

[Paulo Bizarro]

The whole world is going to wake up soon with no income.

British Airways retires entire 747 fleet (of 31) after travel downturn

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53426886

Well, when the upturn comes up, they will buy bigger plains again. Nothing new.

[jeremyrh]

Thanks for that info.  Leaving aside these type of refugees, what arrangements do we have with other countries when we send back their citizens, in general.  Let's say a Frenchman visiting here commits a crime and is sentenced to jail here.  At the end of his sentence, we send them back to France.  What if France says they don't want him?
a. We still have his French passport from when he came over here?  or b. We assumed he was French but he was illegally here. He sneaked into the USA.  When he arrives in France, they say, we don't want him because no one can prove what country he's a citizen of?

It would be difficult for France to refuse to accept him - it is only inhuman governments like the current UK shower who get their kicks from stripping people of their citizenship.

[Robert Roaldi]

Here's an interesting story about the handling of protesters in Portland, Oregon, https://www.opb.org/news/article/federal-law-enforcement-unmarked-vehicles-portland-protesters/#.XxD9y_CwH4w.twitter.

Unidentified federal law enforcement snatching people off the street. Very KGB. The only thing missing is Joe McCarthy.

[KLaban]

The whole world is going to wake up soon with no income.

British Airways retires entire 747 fleet (of 31) after travel downturn

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53426886

The 747 was introduced in 1969: they're obsolete. BA was in the process of 'retiring' the planes pre Covid-19.

[Robert Roaldi]

The whole world is going to wake up soon with no income.

British Airways retires entire 747 fleet (of 31) after travel downturn

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53426886

You and others have been predicting end-days economic gloom and doom for months now. Things are bad for a lot of people, but by and large I find that most of the world has figured out what to do and is doing it. No one thought it was going to be easy but it's not the end-times so far as I can see.

I find this continued attitude a little odd because the people who were worried about Covid have been accused of "chicken little" on these pages but their fears have more or less materialized. I see no admission of that, however.

Alan, it's time to change the record. People do what they always have done in difficult times, they learn to cope. I mean, what's the other choice? Some jurisdictions make it easier by providing some safety nets so that lives aren't all completely destroyed. Sure it costs money to do that. So what? It costs money to do anything, build interstates, maintain the military, keep the snow plowed, etc. We spend money on all kinds of things when the need arises, why wouldn't we spend money to prevent widespread suffering. It is money well spent.

What doesn't seem to worry you is that while most of the rest of the world is coming up with coping strategies, the USA is seemingly lost at sea, to butcher a metaphor. My advice would be a version of "stop your effing whining and get on with it."

[faberryman]

Here's an interesting story about the handling of protesters in Portland, Oregon, https://www.opb.org/news/article/federal-law-enforcement-unmarked-vehicles-portland-protesters/#.XxD9y_CwH4w.twitter.

Unidentified federal law enforcement snatching people off the street. Very KGB. The only thing missing is Joe McCarthy.

This is an example of Trump’s America. I understand that the U.K. wants its Resolute Desk back. They have offered one of their extra thrones in exchange. Cabinet members are vying for the role of court jester. Melania is out shopping for new drapes.

Speaking of idiots, has anybody seen Jared lately? Did he come back from vacation or stay out at the dude ranch. They say if you stay for ten days, they let you wear chaps and drive the jeep. Whoa Nellybelle!

[Alan Klein]

You and others have been predicting end-days economic gloom and doom for months now. Things are bad for a lot of people, but by and large I find that most of the world has figured out what to do and is doing it. No one thought it was going to be easy but it's not the end-times so far as I can see.

I find this continued attitude a little odd because the people who were worried about Covid have been accused of "chicken little" on these pages but their fears have more or less materialized. I see no admission of that, however.

Alan, it's time to change the record. People do what they always have done in difficult times, they learn to cope. I mean, what's the other choice? Some jurisdictions make it easier by providing some safety nets so that lives aren't all completely destroyed. Sure it costs money to do that. So what? It costs money to do anything, build interstates, maintain the military, keep the snow plowed, etc. We spend money on all kinds of things when the need arises, why wouldn't we spend money to prevent widespread suffering. It is money well spent.

What doesn't seem to worry you is that while most of the rest of the world is coming up with coping strategies, the USA is seemingly lost at sea, to butcher a metaphor. My advice would be a version of "stop your effing whining and get on with it."

I saved money most of my life so I could retire which I am.  The government's printing is just dissipating those savings with inflation.  Most of that money is going to rich bankers and other rich people just like in the 2008 crisis.  The middle class is going to get wiped out as all the money gets devalued and goes to the rich, something I thought you were concerned about.  Maybe you're rich.   

I'm not too sure people know what to do.  I know a lot of people who no longer have jobs.  They're worried sick. Government handouts will end.  Then what?  My own state of New Jersey sales taxes will be down billions due to loss of sales.  Property and other taxes will go up big time to make up the difference.  You're living in a dreamworld.  The people who will get hurt the most are  the poor and lower income who are either out of work or will face huge increases in living and sales taxes.  You didn't live through the 1970's like I did when inflation reduced the purchasing power of the dollar 55%.  $100 in 1970 had purchasing power of only $45 by 1982.  At least then you could get double digit interest on your savings to make up some of those losses.  But now, the Fed has interest at 0%.  So your money has to absorb all of the devaluation.  People complain about a roll of film at $18.  Imagine paying $40 for the same roll?

[Alan Klein]

The 747 was introduced in 1969: they're obsolete. BA was in the process of 'retiring' the planes pre Covid-19.

But they would have replaced them.  Now they're getting rid of them because no one is flying.  Boeing and Airbus are laying off thousands.

[KLaban]

But they would have replaced them.  Now they're getting rid of them because no one is flying.  Boeing and Airbus are laying off thousands.

BA isn't alone in replacing 747 for years.

[HSakols]

Here is another version of Ramble on Rose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSjoAtPgUc4

Even stranger is that Tucker Carlson of Fox news likes the Grateful Dead.

[hogloff]

I saved money most of my life so I could retire which I am.  The government's printing is just dissipating those savings with inflation.  Most of that money is going to rich bankers and other rich people just like in the 2008 crisis.  The middle class is going to get wiped out as all the money gets devalued and goes to the rich, something I thought you were concerned about.  Maybe you're rich.   

The 2008 crisis is what allowed me to retire at age 57. I invested wisely after the market dropped...made a killing on some bank stocks and Apple...now just playing the market again to make a quick buck. Like everything else...things always come back if there is a need for them. If they don't come back...then maybe there just wasn't a need in the first place. We have restaurants close shop every year in my city...but new ones spring up taking their place as the need justifies them. Simple supply and demand.