Author: Jack
I retired in 2008 and so I have more time now to devote to several of my interests The blog here is mainly for my interests in some current events but may have the occasional rant on other subjects. I have also decided to keep my genealogy posts and book reviews here instead of 2 additional blogs (and so simplify my life a little).

Follow-up on Amy McGrath and Ditch Mitch

Follow-up on Amy McGrath and Ditch Mitch

Posted on by Jack

Just following-up in my last post COVID-19 is not a joke even if Mitch McConnell thinks so. I mentioned his opponent in the senate race in Kentucky and the debate, Amy McGrath.

Unlike Senator McConnell, Amy McGrath does not find the plight of people dealing with the health and economic effects of COVID-19 to be funny. She would actually like to help people in Kentucky and around the county.

So here are a few highlights from her website. She brings much experience to her campaign and i think she will be much better for both the people of Kentucky and Americans around the county.
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COVID-19 is not a joke even if Mitch McConnell thinks so

COVID-19 is not a joke even if Mitch McConnell thinks so

Posted on by Jack

During their one and only debate, candidate Amy McGrath asked the Senate Majority Leader repeatedly why he refused to try to alleviate some of the economic pain ordinary Americans felt from the COVID-19 crisis. Senator Mitch McConnell just laughed.

This is the start of the CNN article on that:
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President Trump continues to lie about COVID-19

President Trump continues to lie about COVID-19

Posted on by Jack

President Trump now claims that the World Heath Organization (WHO) now supports his position on COVID-19.

I am not surprised that President Trump continues to lie about COVID-19. After all there are over 215,000 Ameicans dead and the President does not seem to be doing much to stop the spread.
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Trump doesn’t seem to wory much about senior citizens

Trump doesn’t seem to wory much about senior citizens

Posted on by Jack

President Trump thinks COVID seriously affects virtually nobody unless they are older. There are over 200,000 dead and many of those deaths are in the over 65 group. Well, the Retire Guy is in that age group and I resent the president’s disregard for us older Americans.

He said that several weeks ago (see Trump’s coronavirus remarks weigh on minds of senior voters and Trump Has Declared the Coronavirus—Which Has Killed 200,000 Americans—Affects ‘Virtually Nobody’.

Fake News and the 2020 Democratic Party Platform

Fake News and the 2020 Democratic Party Platform

Posted on by Jack

There is some fake news going around as an email about the upcoming election. An email lists some disturbing facts about the 2020 Democratic Party Platform. This is a good example of why you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet even an email from a friend. In my case this came from a friend who is a Republican.

Before I get started let me give you couple of links.
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Deepfake videos in this election

Deepfake videos in this election

Posted on by Jack

I have been forwarded quite a few videos by friends warning me about how bad the candidate I support is. Be careful since you may see something that never happened and form your opinion of the candidate based on a falsehood pretending to be a fact. In my experience most come from Republicans and are about a Democrat. I’ll not say it never happens the other way around, just that I’ve never seen it.
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CDC and Dr. William (Bill) Foege

CDC and Dr. William (Bill) Foege

Posted on by Jack

Dr. William (Bill) Foege was the director when I started at CDC. Back then (1978) it was the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Now it is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They reorganized into a series of centers with focus in specific areas and added prevention to the name but kept the acronym.

I spent 30 years at CDC and so went through many changes of Directors. As far as I was concerned, Dr. Foege was the best.
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The most dangerous man in America

The most dangerous man in America

Posted on by Jack

The most dangerous man in America is President Donald Trump.

Actually his past actions has already established that. He has made a series of moves that made the pandemic worse in the United States. He has promoted false cures and ignores science and public health measure.
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Do Republicans want to steal the Pennsylvania election ?

Do Republicans want to steal the Pennsylvania election ?

Posted on by Jack

Several days ago I wrote Pennsylvania Republicans want to block the vote about this effort. It was long and detailed and many readers may have missed some essential points. We should be worried about this.

To summarize, Republican State Rep. Garth D. Everett is trying to get the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to form a select committee with powers to investigate the 2020 election. I think this could be a useful idea if done a bit differently. But I think the house resolution as written is just a power grab enabling this committee which would be majority Republican to subpoena election officials and seize ballots while the count is going on.
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Still Life by Val McDermid

Still Life by Val McDermid

Posted on by Jack

Still Life is the third novel I have read and reviewed in the Karen Pirie series by Val McDermid.

The other two are Broken Ground and The Distant Echo . The first was because someone had suggested this book and the second was because I wanted to read more of the series.
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Pennsylvania Republicans want to block the vote

Pennsylvania Republicans want to block the vote

Posted on by Jack

Pennsylvania is a swing state and so will be a major factor in the Presidential election. President Trump is already making noise about not accepting the results of the election and not allowing peaceful transition of power if he loses.
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Presidential debate is new American low-point so far

Presidential debate is new American low-point so far

Posted on by Jack

But we shouldn’t worry. If our goal is to find a new low President Trump could probably get us there. The P resident feed us a series of lies, constantly interrupted when his opponent tried to talk, refused to denounce violence and white supremacy groups, and refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he lost the elections.

In summary, it was a bad night for American democracy.
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President Trump fails to be worthy of the office

President Trump fails to be worthy of the office

Posted on by Jack

President Trump again refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he lost the election to VP Joe Biden in the debate last night. I think this is one of many very disturbing parts of the debate. Time described The Biggest Moments From the First Presidential Debate and this was one of them.

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