Part II needs no introduction.
The Presidential Events of September 2020 are here.
Trump's Department of Justice:
Last year E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of rape. In September the DOJ decided to make Trump's personal defamation case a federal case, defended by the full force of the United States and the public treasury. If Carroll wins American taxpayers will have to pay for the President's assault and lies. Barr personally defended the absurd decision. Barr made additional unusual moves designed to help the President. He prematurely allowed a statement about a handful of discarded ballots in Pennsylvania, sent information about the Steele dossier to Lindsey Graham, and released additional notes about Flynn's prosecution. The rush to publicize these events for political gain, without a proper review, led to questions about the DOJ's political neutrality. Finally, the Justice Department began investigating Bill Barr's intervention in Roger Stone's trial.
International Relations:
At the UN China embarrassed Trump and the United States. The President continued to attack allies and democracies, siding with petty dictators, while China embraced the leadership role of a global system. The President continued to fight with the European Union, which urged the court to drop its sanctions against staff on the International Criminal Court, who are investigating possible war crimes in Afghanistan. Trump further undercut American standing and power by attempting an illegal withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
In the Middle East the White House convinced the UAE and Bahrain to establish official relations with Israel. Later the President threatened to destroy Iran in retaliation for any attack, and unveiled new sanctions related to Iran's withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Taxes and Corruption:
After more than four years the public finally received access to the President's tax returns. The New York Times obtained more than two decades of Trump's returns. In short, Trump paid no federal income tax for 11 of 18 years, and only $750 in 2017. He is under audit for a $72 million tax refund. The Trump organization wrote off $750,000 to a contractor; Ivanka Trump. Trump's businesses lost money and were buoyed by his time on the Apprentice. His businesses benefited from his Presidency. And most worrisome, he owes hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, due within the next year, and it isn't clear to who. Trump isn't an anomaly. The Republican party of the last half decade are responsible for a tax policy which favors the wealthy. The Democratic establishment is nearly as willing to allow the rich to avoid paying their share. Two trillion dollars of corrupt money passed through the US financial system over the last two decades. Among the many people who benefited was Paul Manafort.
The Military:
Trump has always vacillated between disdain for, and exaggerated support for the military. From the unnecessarily bloated military budgets to the bizarre attacks on John McCain, the President has straddled two extreme positions. In September it was reported that Trump canceled a visit to WII cemetery in Paris because of rain, and that he said, “It's filled with losers.” He also denigrated his generals. One of the strangest aspects of the Trump presidency is his willingness to make statements that seem progressive, while enacting the exact opposite policies (this seems to be one reason why Glenn Greenwald defends him). For example, Trump criticized the Pentagon's desire to fight wars, because the officials want to help weapon companies. But Trump actively courts weapon manufacturers with his appointees and policies.
Other:
Another woman accused Donald Trump of sexual assault, making the total more than twenty.
This blog tries to avoid too much speculation, though the utter lack of transparency of the Trump White House has rendered even the most basic issues opaque. After a new book from a NYT reporter claimed that Pence needed to be on standby during the President's sudden visit to the Walter Reed Medical Center, Pence denied the claim saying, “"I don't recall being told to be on standby.”
The Coronavirus:
A significant issue of the election has been the creation of a vaccine for the coronavirus. The United States refused to collaborate with the international community and decided to develop their vaccine alone. The President and his officials repeatedly contradicted each other on the likely date of its completion. Critics expressed concern when the CDC told health officials to prepare for a vaccine in November, fearing political pressure. Then the President suggested the vaccine would be done by October (12 days remaining). Dr. Fauci implied that a vaccine wouldn't be readily available until “well into 2021.” When the CDC director said it could be a year before the United States had enough doses for the public, the President said he was confused, warned against masks, and said everyone would be vaccinated by April.
In the month of September the United States passed 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus. While the average daily cases dropped slightly at the beginning of the month from 42,000 to 35,000, it rebounded to 43,000 by September 30th. On average, 800 people died each day from the disease. Of the five million cases, 500,000 children tested positive. Though they suffered few acute effects, they spread the disease and might experience chronic underlying conditions. And though Republican's have attacked peaceful protesters and sided with police, they've left law enforcement vulnerable. At least 100 police officers died from the coronavirus, more than from any other cause, and that number may, “surpass 9/11 as the single largest incident cause of death for law enforcement officers.” The President politicized the deaths by coronavirus, lying about whether they occur in Democrat leaning or Republican leaning states. Though he claimed “blue states” account for most of the deaths, that isn't true. Trump again implied that he is only President of some states, and not responsible for the health and safety of Americans in other states. Compared to other countries, the United States performed poorly.
There were the numerous accounts of interference at the CDC and other health agencies. The White House prevented Fauci, Navarro, the FDA commissioner from testifying to the House about the dangers to children, ventilators, and the national response. Political appointees pressured the CDC to manipulate reports on the coronavirus, with Michael Caputo (an ally of Roger Stone's) leading the attempted sabotage. Caputo, a former Trump campaign official, and now spokesman for the US health department, claimed he was fighting against the "deep state's" attempt to smear Trump. Caputo spiraled out of control, accusing government scientists of “sedition.” On September 15th, Caputo took a medical leave to promote other conspiracies. Another malcontent was William B. Crews who published unfounded attacks on Fauci pseudonymously for RedState, while working as a public affairs specialist for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. The CDC under pressure vacillated back and forth. In September they reinstated their recommendation that “people without symptoms get tested for the coronavirus if they have come into close contact with someone known to be infected.” Then the CDC said the coronavirus could be transmitted indoors by those more than six feet apart. Unfortunately, they backtracked days later, probably under political pressure.
The greatest scoop was from the President's own mouth. Trump sat for more than a dozen interviews with Bob Woodward. In early February, and through March, Trump said, “This is deadly stuff,” that the coronavirus was five times more deadly than the flu, and that “I wanted to always play it down.” Woodward released tapes that included the President admitting it “goes through air,” as publicly he said, “within a couple days is going to be down close to zero.” The President claimed he didn't want to panic the country, but that isn't an easy lie to swallow considering his campaign fosters panic. Lying isn't a form of comfort, it's deception, plain and simple. Trump tried to claim he “up-played the coronavirus in terms of action,” but he can only point to one action, banning travel when it was too late.
The President said, the virus is “so easily transmissible,” and “Nothing more could have been done.” I supposed we'll find out if Biden becomes President.
Corruption:
Medicaid chief, Seema Verma, who is seeking to make it more difficult for Americans to access their social safety net, spent more than $3.5 million in taxpayer funding to promote herself. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, was accused by an aide of having her do personal errands while working, like write Christmas cards, schedule dinner reservations for the family, and arrange expensive taxpayer funded Madison Dinners, to expand Pompeo's political power. Eric Trump lost his quest to delay an interview with the New York attorney general over questions related to the family business.
And the President repeatedly refused to commit to a transfer of power if he loses in November.
Recent:
Tacoma: Can You Go Home Again?
Relevant:
The Presidential Events: September 2020 Part I of II
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