Headlines

Trump will pay respects to Ginsburg at Supreme Court on Thursday

Johnson & Johnson enters late-stage trial testing with its coronavirus vaccine

President Trump announces ban on ‘woke’ companies working with U.S. government

Trump expands fight against Critical Race Theory to federal contractors

Poll: Biden, Trump virtually tied in Arizona, Florida

DOJ unveils Trump administration’s legislation to reform tech’s legal liability shield

Graham: Senate GOP has votes to confirm SCOTUS nominee before election

Biden 2008 : John McCain coward & ‘angry man’

‘Cindy can have Sleepy Joe’: Trump targets McCain’s widow after Biden endorsement

Coronavirus live updates: Sweden’s high death toll may be linked to mild flu season; FDA to reportedly tighten vaccine standards

Seattle City Council overrides mayor’s veto of police defunding — cuts to proceed

Study: China has forced 500,000 Tibetans into labor camps this year

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Headlines

Trump’s bluster and millions haven’t stopped universal mail-in voting plans

‘Pandemic fatigue’ leads to resurgence of coronavirus in Europe where France and Spain hit records

White House to announce $11.6 billion in disaster relief for Puerto Rico

POTUS to stop downloads of TIKTOK by Sunday

Outgoing China ambassador: Trump ‘believed the Chinese’ early in pandemic

The next wave of the global recovery could send commodity prices soaring

Pennsylvania Supreme Court sides with Dems — allows mailed ballots to be counted 3 days after Election Day

Rasmussen: Trump highest approval rating since impeachment launch

Poll: Biden up 9 points in Arizona, tied with Trump in North Carolina

Coronavirus live updates: U.S., Canada and Mexico extend border closures through October

Most voters now believe there is a ‘war on police’ — back ‘blue lives matter’ laws

Trump ‘putting a lot of pressure’ on CDC and FDA, I’d trust Fauci on vaccine


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Short Note

I recently wrote about how new national coronavirus deaths,  not new cases was the metric to follow how we were progressing against this virus ... see: Scaredy Cats. Now, new deaths are starting to creep up ... primarily because of new cases spikes in Florida, California and Texas are causing new deaths to follow. (Not so much in Arizona.) I think the issue in the Southwest is all driven by what is happening in border leakage from Mexico. But the Florida numbers well might be the result of some number funny business.

Bottom line: Overall new deaths are still the metric to use ... but until new cases in California and Texas level out and decline I have gotten less optimistic and, as President Trump has said, things are likely to get worse before they get better.


STAND UP FOR AMERICA!

Garbage In

Garbage out.

The clouds may be beginning to part on the recent spike in coronavirus cases ... without the concomitant spike in virus deaths ... particularly in Florida and the Southwest. It seems that there may be some funny business in how these numbers are being collected ... at least in Florida ... and possibly elsewhere. Before we delve into this analysis, dear reader, you need to first read what crack bit of real reporting started this whole onion-peeling ... see: Florida Expose.

So, at least 36 virus-testing labs in Florida have been reporting jiggered results ... 22 of which have indicated that 100% of the tests they performed came back positive ... impossible! ... and 14 of which are highly suspicious. To say that such result are unusual and likely political is an obvious conclusion.

Let us now move into the analysis part. If one assumes that Florida’s overall positive test results would have been 10% (was 12.5%) and each lab tested on average 50 people (needs further clarification), then the labs reporting 100% positive results likely overstate virus cases by 45@ ... and 45x22 is 990 false positives. Add 280 as a rough guess from the obviously inflated results,  produces an overall false positive reading of 1,270 IN ONE DAY ... a significant overstatement.

My guess is that the real overstatement, given the visible evidence, is a whole lot higher ... one reason that new virus deaths did not follow new virus cases as would have been expected.

Are these same data collection shenanigans taking place in Texas, Arizona and California? Probably ... augmented by a cross-border flow of real cases of Mexicans and American ex-pats, since Mexico is experiencing a real surge.

I have no idea if there is a law against such data manipulation ... but there should be. And the Trump administration and the governors of all states experiencing a spike in cases should investigate this possible political malfeasance further. (And see if the virus death numbers are also now being tinkered with.)

Headlines

Trump allies push for a new campaign opening act: Michael Flynn

Nasdaq stocks led by Tesla continue their blistering run while chill envelops rest of the market

President Trump defends Roger Stone commutation — blasts Dem witchhunt

Seattle City Council backs call to defund police by 50%

New documents show internal debate on whether to prosecute Flynn

5G accelerating factory automation which could add trillions to global economy

President Trump asks Treasury to examine tax-exempt status of universities

Poll: Trump and Biden tied

Trump discounts chances of new China trade deal

Coronavirus deaths tick up in Florida, Texas, California, Arizona

President Trump confirms he greenlit US cyberattack against Russia in 2018

Trump promises citizenship to DACA illegal aliens

Headlines

WHO: Sunday was a record day for coronavirus infections

All 8 Ivy League schools won’t require standardized testing next year

President Trump to rally in Arizona and Wisconsin next week

Joni Ernst proposes to disclose lawmakers’ PPP loans

Supreme Court gives Trump a win on his steel tariffs

There’s nearly $5 trillion parked in money markets as many investors  are still afraid of stocks

Sarah Sanders says Bolton was drunk on power

Kudlow: ‘There is no second wave coming’

Trump ways he’ll only meet with Maduro to discuss him stepping down

Coronavirus updates: Hospitalization rise in some states, Gottlieb says Northeast states unlikely to see spikes

Black Lives Matter founders describe themselves as Marxists

At least 100 shot on Father’s Day weekend in Mayor Lightfoot’s Chicago

Headlines

Trump’s top health officials predict diminished coronavirus death toll

Coronavirus live update: MLB may play all games in Arizona, USNS Comfort crew member tests positive

Food bank line stretching miles in Florida ...

CDC Director: Death toll will be ‘much, much, much lower’ than predicted

Biden : ‘We cannot delay’ November’s general election

New York coronavirus deaths jumped by 731 Monday, the single-biggest daily increase, Gov. Cuomo says

More than half of Chicago’s cases are African-American ...

Harry and Meghan plan U.S. non-profit amid coronavirus pandemic

Kudlow leaves door open for more small-business funding

JP Morgan’s market guru, who called the rebound, sees ‘limited reopening’ of the economy soon

Poll: 73% say Trump should wear mask ...

Peter Navarro memo in late January warned of coronavirus

Barcaloungers

Not only has CNN’s Democrat debate tonight unfairly excluded Tusli Gabbard ... been moved from standing in front of a live audience in Arizona to its studios in Washington, DC without an audience ... but CNN is also seriously considering allowing Biden and Bernie to offer their political arguments relaxing on Barcaloungers.

Headlines

John Kerry: We are way behind on climate change

5G broadband is an existential threat to cable companies, but execs and investors aren’t worried

Chinese tech groups writing UN facial recognition standards ...

Trump still has not released aid to Lebanon

U.N. Chief warns of ‘point of no return’ on climate change

Winter storm snarls post-Thanksgiving air travel

Focus on early release of convict in London stabbings ...

Islamist militants hack to death 12-year-old Christian boy in Cameroon

Doug Collins wants Adam Schiff to testify in front of House Judiciary Committee

China wants rollback of tariffs in phase one trade deal with US, Chinese state media says

Unusual tornadoes confirmed in Arizona ...

NBC’s Todd accuses GOP Senator of pushing Putin talking points

Polishing the Apple

Apple is featuring a huge Mac Pro manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas where its CEO, Tim Cook, visited yesterday with President Trump. This move conforms with Trump’s pledge to emphasize domestic manufacturing over offshore venues. We also know that Apple has gotten tariff relief from Trump for its China-manufactured iPhones ... but will also bring some of its manufacturing of this product to Mesa, Arizona.

Is this all quid pro quo? Very likely. And will this help Trump’s re-election chances? Most certainly, since this is a fulfilling of his campaign promise to expand domestic manufacturing and return the US to robust economic expansion.

The question then presents itself ... will Rep. Adam Schiff hold more impeachment inquiry hearings on this bit of Trump’s political self-dealing? I think we all know this answer.

Headlines

Japanese leader plans grueling D.C. dash for Trump face time

Mortgage purchase applications hit highest level in 9 years

Miracle: Most [Notre Dame] interior intact ...

Pew Research: Hispanics to outpace black Americans as largest voting majority by 2020

Republicans stockpile cash to safeguard Senate majority

China says its first quarter GDP grew by 6.4 percent, topping expectations

Yuma, Arizona declares state of emergency over surge of illegals ...

Supporters cheer Peter Buttigieg kissing husband at 2020 announcement

U.S. to announce tough policy on businesses in Cuba

If Trump wins second term, stocks will likely get a boost, Robert Schiller says

Judge: Barr sowing public mistrust ...

Trump vetoes bill aiming to end American involvement in Yemen civil war

Headlines

GOP exhales after McSally romp in Arizona

Boom! US economy logs best performance in nearly 4 years

Google CEO refuses to testify at Senate hearing ...

Trump taunts Florida Democrats for nominating 'failed Socialist mayor' Gillum

Clinton lawyer backs Kavanaugh

'I hate them':Locals apparently frustrated with Alphabet's self-driving cars

TWITTER bans more for 'divisive commentary' ...

China claims 'will soon be behind majority of infrastructure projects worldwide'

'The race has tightened': Cruz allies sound alarm over Texas Senate race

US has no plans to suspend future exercises with South Korea amid nuke talks with North, Mattis says

Dozens of employees at FACEBOOK unite to fight bias ...

Venezuela: Maduro proposes paying citizens in gold bars

Headlines

[Ariz. gov.] Ducey aims to please Trump with McCain fill-in

The US-Mexico trade deal may be bad news for China

SAfrica withdraws land expropriation bill for further reconsideration  ...

... [Donna] Brazile: Swamp will drain Trump!

Trump embraces Mexico, threatens Canada with new trade deal

Trump accuses Google of rigging searches in favor of 'bad coverage'

Czech PM calls for no illegals in Europe ...

Chuck Todd wants Paul Ryan to launch impeachment proceedings now

Jerry Falwell Jr. saysmpeachment Sessions has lost evangelical support

Trump orders flags lowered for McCain: 'Despite our differences,' I respect his service

China withholds samples of dangerous flu virus from USA ...

Chinese media: 'Absurd' for U.S. to link trade with NK denuclearizing

Headlines

Trump: U.S. and U.K. will strike a 'great trade deal'

Trump declines to denounce Putin over election meddling at summit, blames 'both countries'

Brennan: Trump's press conference an impeachable offense ...

Poll/ Brits say police have lost control, blame political correctness

Is THIS the year that Arizona finally turns blue

Op-Ed editor for The Nation for removed from Trump-Putin presser

National Guard deployment led to the arrest of 10,000 illegals ...

Biden: Trump's border policies make me 'feel ashamed'

Putin: World Cup has triggered millions of cyberattacks on Russia

Britain's May bows to Brexit pressure in Parliament

Bezos' net worth exceeds $150 billion ...

John McCain rips Trump-Putin presser: 'shameful,' 'disgraceful'

Headlines

Inside the EPA: 'It's just a slow-motion train wreck'

DOJ will allow House, Senate Intel committees access to Carter Page FISA court applications

Texas, Arizona announce troop deployments [at Mexico border] ...

Several killed as vehicle 'delibertly' hits pedestrians in Germany ...

Trump sanctions Putin's inner circle

Newt Gingrich shocker ... California could become a Red State

China warns "arrogant"America [over trade war] ...

Soros organizations seeking to "break Hungary" ahead of Sunday elections

Space war is coming -- and the U.S. is not ready

America's voracious appetite for SUVs and trucks is making passanger cars disappear

Secret direct talks underway between USA, NKorea ...

BET founder says Trump economy great for black American jobs

Headlines

All from Internet news sites, Guess which from Politico?

Use of personal services widespread in Trump's West Wing

Feds open civil rights probe into church shooting by Sudanese immigrant

Earliest start to Arizona ski start ...

Feds rush aid to Puerto Rico, while Tr,ump tweets about debt

Bannon to Alabama: 'They think you are a bunch of morons'

Trump dedicates $200 million to STEM education

SURVEY: Just quarter of Americans can name three branches of gov't

UNC Charlotte offers 345 diversity, social justice courses

[Sen.] Collns' opposition dooms latest Obamacare repeal effort

Pentagon scenario of new Korean War estimates 20,000 deaths a day in South Korea: retired US general

USA to curb Russian military flights over American territory ...

Almost half of crimes in Berlin committed by migrants

Headlines

All from Internet news sites. Guess which ones from Politico?

Cruz, Texans accused of hypocrisy  on Harvey aid

New poll shows Flake in deep trouble in Arizona GOP primary

Burning Man officially opens. Traffic in the middle of Nowhere, Nevada is brutal

Rush Limbaugh on Trump White House: 'How is Gary Cohn still there?'

Republican floats measure to kill Mueller probe after 6 months

North Korea fires missile over Japan

200,000 deportation cases quietly 'closed' under Obama ...

Governor Abbott activates entire Texas National Guard ...

Bolton writes in op-ed he can't get in to see Trump anymore

De Blasio to march in Columbus Day parade

DHS takes next step in 'extreme vetting' ...

Every [Cleveland] Browns player stands for anthem after Jim Brown lays down the law

Headlines

All from Internet news sites. Guess which ones from Politico.

Doomsday canceled, NKorea calls off Guam

Republicans stand up to Trump over Charlottesville comments

DOJ Charlottesville hate crime probe will extend beyond driver

Pope warns against 'horoscopes band fortune tellers' ...

Fleas in 2 Arizona counties test positive for the plague

Venezuelan leader may have launched Rubio assassination plot

Why were the police held back in Charlottesville?

China bans key North Korean imports ...

Kuwait arrests 12 for ties to Iran, Hezbollah

McMaster declines to rule out military response to North Korea threats

Senate Intel Chair: Russian probe could end up within months

Assange: 'The last government was evil. This government is evil' ...

Awwww: No one likes Al Gore's new movie

Six Old Men on Entitlement Reform

Not the Real Signers

This blog entry is an user-submission by a reader (Brad Stroup).  I must relay the fact that Brad is generally of the liberal persuasion … as are most of his friends.  But this areopagitica is very conservative in its tone and purpose.  I will not divulge the other five signers of this pledge other than to indicate that their first priority is their country.  Here is their argument for entitlement reform: 

We six old men [all from Tucson, Arizona)] oppose the “me first” culture of the elderly who demand no reforms in entitlement especially in “retirement” states like Arizona.  Most of us over 65 have been guaranteed subsidies in the form of Social Security and Medicare for the rest of our lives that far exceed our contributions.   If we include the “baby-boomers” retiring in the next few years, we elderlies have more annual income than people our age have ever had, and yet we expect the rest of you to take care of us in our leisure years.  Thanks to the profligate generosity of our nation over the past 50 years, we have created an approaching train wreck no one wants to face.  

The AARP’s lobbying efforts to protect old people at everyone else’s expense make no moral or economic sense.  The nation simply cannot afford Medicare and Social Security without some cost reductions.  Medicare co-pays to patients should be increased; Social Security retirement ages should be increased to 67 or 70.  Both entitlements should be means-tested so that those who have more do not take from those whose needs are great.  If we don’t reform these programs now, they won’t be there when younger people go to the window for benefits.

To my amazement, most of the return-e-mail dissenters to this pledge were usually liberals … often radical (and semi-famous) liberals … offering lots of AARP-inspired me-first excuses ranging from “I paid for this benefit and don’t you dare touch it” to “when defense spending is brought under control, then our entitlements will be affordable” (thinking defense spending represents “over 55% of Federal spending" – a liberal chimera.)  For the real facts, see: Heritage Foundation Analysis).  And, if you want to see how an uber-liberal mind works, please see the link I received back as justification for this original outrageous statement: War Resisters League Rationales.  I guess [too] many Americans believe Obama when he said [to Boehner], “[government] spending is not a problem.”

I have volunteered to Brad to be added to the “List of Six.”