The US is averaging nearly 1,000 Covid-19 deaths per day. That equals:
– 250 Benghazis per day
– A 9-11 every three days
– An Omaha Beach every two days
– A Pearl Harbor every 2 ½ days
And yet: “I wanted to always play it down,” the president said in an interview with Bob Woodward, the audio recording of which was made public in September. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”

I wonder when, if ever, we’ll hear any explanation for or apology because he has needlessly (his own best interest excepted) put secret service personnel, first responders, White House staffers and even his own supporters at risk of illness by campaigning and fund raising (without masks or social distancing), perfectly exemplified by his attending a fund raiser in New Jersey after his known exposure last Thursday, and then taking a joy ride for political theater the day before his release. His irrational behavior was then compounded further by his maskless reentry into the White House after discharge.  Public health advocates are driven to despair…

It’s definitely not typical, but evidently some national security experts, military and civilian,  have both a conscience and a discerning intelligence and so have endorsed Joe Biden. From their September 24 “Open Letter to America”: “We are 489 retired Generals, Admirals, Senior Noncommissioned Officers, Ambassadors and Senior Civilian National Security Officials supporting Joe Biden for President.” And more samples of the text:  “The current president has demonstrated he is not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office; he cannot rise to meet challenges large or small,” and “Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures, our allies no longer trust or respect us, and our enemies no longer fear us…”  They conclude: “Joe Biden has the character, principles, wisdom, and leadership necessary to address a world on fire. That is why Joe Biden must be the next President of the United States; why we vigorously support his election; and why we urge our fellow citizens to do the same.”  Now if only more people would listen…

This hurts in so many ways.  We’ll miss you, Justice Ginsburg!

Scientific American steps up: “Scientific American has never endorsed a presidential candidate in its 175-year history. This year we are compelled to do so. We do not do this lightly. The evidence and the science show that Donald Trump has badly damaged the U.S. and its people—because he rejects evidence and science. The most devastating example is his dishonest and inept response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cost more than 190,000 Americans their lives by the middle of September. He has also attacked environmental protections, medical care, and the researchers and public science agencies that help this country prepare for its greatest challenges. That is why we urge you to vote for Joe Biden, who is offering fact-based plans to protect our health, our economy and the environment. These and other proposals he has put forth can set the country back on course for a safer, more prosperous and more equitable future.”

Timothy Egan and Charlie Warzel of the NYT both brilliantly describe the increasing catastrophe, both environmental and humanitarian, of the western wildfires. Worth reading and then considering what you can do to help.

These pretty much say it all re. the U.S. response:

As impossible as it seems, DJT actually had the audacity to call himself “a great environmentalist” when today he signed a moratorium on offshore drilling off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina – a moratorium his own administration had earlier proposed lifting. Despite his abysmal record of rolling back environmental protections, denying climate change, and and appointing incompetent (and industry-favoring) directors to government agencies with roles in regulating natural assets and the environment, he lauded his administration for “our incredible record of natural conservation and environmental protection.” Just incredible.  See Karni and Friedman’s report in the NYT.

I think Adam Jentleson has it right ( What if Trumpism Is the G.O.P.’s Natural State? ) when he concludes that Republicanism is no longer (if it ever was) ideologically aligned with classic conservatism; rather, it now comprises a base aligned with reactionary, authoritarian, nescient, sectarian/racist and non-compromising attitudes that are unlikely to change even if Trump is defeated in November. And Charlie Warzel has it right again. 

The Washington Post has a story on how Trump’s now just come out and admitted it – he’s attempting to starve the US Postal Service in order to prevent mail in voting. They quote (and have video from his interview on Fox) him as follows: “Now, they need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots..Now, if we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money. That means they can’t have universal mail-in voting, they just can’t have it.”