It’s incredible how quickly the media can spin the narrative. Two weeks ago, the media labeled anyone who dared to step foot outside as a psychopathic grandmother killer. Now, they’re urging the masses to gather by the thousands to take part in a revolution.
Even Joe Biden announced plans to attend the public funeral for George Floyd, with thousands of others, despite supporting harsh quarantine measures that ensured thousands died alone without a proper burial. A few weeks ago the media praised police officers as heroic frontline workers, only to quickly demonize them as the enemy.
The media has completely shifted their 24/7, 365, coverage of the coronavirus over to the worldwide protests and the racial war narrative. So, according to the media, I guess the coronavirus is no longer a concern.
The riots could not have come at a better time for Joe Biden. Days before the riots began, Biden famously minimalized a portion of the population by saying, “Well, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.” This coincides with the Democratic Party’s rhetoric that all minorities and women must vote for them instead of independently choosing a candidate. In fact, Biden recently told CNN that he felt the interviewer was “baiting” him to make such a comment. Then Ukraine quietly mentioned that Joe’s son, Hunter Biden, has been found innocent of all charges on the same day as George Floyd’s funeral service. CNN has released a news article claiming now would be the perfect time for Biden to choose a young black woman as his Vice President. Politicians will never allow a good crisis to go to waste.
The media apoplexy over stunningly positive economic news is directly related to how much damage a positive economy does to the Antifa/BLM strategy to divide our nation through class warfare. A thriving Main Street economy is antithetical to the objective.
A thriving Main Street means an expanding U.S. middle-class. As the middle-class expands it becomes more difficult to organize outrage based on division.
Part of the reason why limo-liberal elites have been successful politicians through the years is the outcome of their economic policy inherently creates a wider gap between the haves and have-nots. This divide allows politicians to control apportioning.
Exploiting the gap, essentially exploiting class warfare as a political strategy, is the fuel that drives identity politics. Ergo all progressive economic policies, the offshoring of jobs; the policies that support Wall Street and globalism etc; are designed to weaken the U.S. middle-class while making rich people more affluent, and poor people more dependent.
The ruling elites deny this fundamental truth, but the rust-belt did not create itself. The erosion of the U.S. manufacturing base -and Main Street- was an outcome of policy. Republicans and Democrats participated in this process. Democrats claim, falsely, to be champions of the middle-class; but their narrative is refuted by the actual results of their policy. Both parties are deep in the pockets of Wall St multinationals.
Many people call for a third party in politics without realizing President Trump represents the first second party DC has seen in decades. That’s why he is opposed by both wings of the same legislative bird.
Through dependency the political elites begin their role to decide who gets what part of their limited and controlled economic pie. Economic intervention, supported by both wings, in the spending process is what has allowed political interests to retain control.
Main Street and the freedom within the free market is a problem for command and control economic systems. Wall St global financial systems, controlled by a limited number of large institutional multinationals, are much easier to control.
Remember the catch phrase “too big to fail” in the banking system? The DC ruling class said a small group of banks controlled too much wealth. So they instituted ‘banking reform’. The result was even fewer banks that were even bigger. The outcome was the exact opposite of what they said was the purpose. Their policy made the problem worse.
President Trump’s America First agenda is specifically a benefit to Main Street and the middle class. In the banking sector treasury policy and targeted deregulation focused on creating more community banks and credit unions to benefit Main Street. That’s exactly what happened. By focusing on Main Street, Trump and Mnuchin fixed what the uniparty congress did not. [Arguably, congress purposefully and willfully did not.] Smaller, more nimble, banks are now positioned to assist small and medium Main Street businesses.
President Trump’s domestic and global political opposition recognize that his trade and economic policies have reversed much of their control. There are trillions at stake, that’s the financial motive for the opposition. However, a lack of control over the economic outcome; meaning President Trump creating more pies; means not only do they lose control over the money, they also lose control through diminished political power.
America-First is a program focused on Main Street and it expands the middle class. That is why during President Trump’s first term the wealth gap actually started to narrow for the first time in decades. The wage growth for line-level or blue collar workers was/is rising faster than the supervisory wages. This is a uniquely trumpian effect from a return to economic policies that benefit Main Street USA workers.
More jobs means the value of labor to do those jobs increases. This economic path is against the interests of coastal elites and the politicians they pay to retain the wealth gap.
It is much harder to create outrage over a wealth gap when the workforce is seeing increased wage growth. In that scenario, the voices who live on the fuel of class warfare are ignored.
All of the current U.S. antagonism is dependent on the class struggle. If the police are defunded only the wealthy will have access to police.
The same process is true for healthcare, housing and a host of economic measures. If a person can independently afford to access these sectors, those who construct the system of controlling, dividing and apportioning the benefits become irrelevant.
The media outrage over the positive economic data today is indicative of their concern the economy will quickly rebound; and that means diminished influence for the politicians the media are in position to support.
The current protest movement is reliant upon the class struggle as the primary narrative underpinning the need for protest leadership. Abundance is against their interests.
When the economy was shut-down by the COVID virus, it was an unnatural economic event. Everything inside the U.S. economy including: the number of workers; the growth in wage rates; the availability of jobs; the lack of inflation; the expansion of investment, was the strongest in our history. However, when everything was stalled all of that positive architecture, the policy that created the outcome, did not go away.
U.S. economic conditions were being driven by internal economic activity that was no longer as dependent on global drivers. When the underlying economic strength is domestic, it makes sense the economy can restart much faster because the activity is not dependent on outside global stimulus. In essence, the USA can rebound much faster because we are NOT dependent on the restart of other global economies. Again, another uniquely positive attribute that is enhanced by ‘America-First’ policies.
China, Obama, Pelosi and Schumer can, and did, attempt to throw a COVID wrench in the expanding U.S. economy. However, they cannot undo the foundation President Trump had already established. Those America-First policies will again work in our favor; and yes, when President Trump says he “can do it again” his confidence is based on that underlying foundation.
Trump may not articulate it, but he knows the U.S. economic independence he has already achieved through three years of advanced policy to benefit Main Street. He knows the trade agreements, the cutting of regulation, the unleashing of energy development and the weight of tariffs on imports all mean the best place for investment is inside the U.S.A.
That fundamental structure did not change, and is not going to change.
A recent example – Remember the previously mentioned policy focus on deregulated community banks and credit unions to assist Main Street? The success and efficiency of the Paycheck Protection Program for small and medium business was a direct result of that earlier policy. Even in crisis the America-First foresight pays dividends.
The far left is hoping to curtail the strength of the economy; that’s why the blue state governors are fighting against reopening. However, the organized protests of thousands of people gathering together have made their best COVID shutdown arguments moot.
The professional grievance operators have a very narrow window to achieve their objective, and that desperation is starting to show in how severe they are pushing to create division before the economy restarts. Every social justice protest movement has been activated and Antifa footsoldiers are attempting to sow chaos.
The next funeral for George Floyd is being held in North Carolina today. Then the grievance tour travels to Texas for a full day viewing on Monday, and final funeral on Tuesday. With the COVID nonsense collapsing at the same time the currency of the race-card is exhausting, what are they going to do after that?
A classic Alinsky agitator, President Obama and his global allies have a goal to exploit the current economic conditions to once again push divisive class warfare. However, the economic conditions are rebounding faster than he/they are able to exploit…
…There is a collective desperation showing amid their alliance.
In a complete rebuke to lower court activism the supreme court in Michigan has ruled 7-0 to vacate a lower court ruling attempting to close the shop of barber Karl Manke.
Mr. Make’s lawyer, David Kallman, called it the “biggest, most lopsided victory of his career.” This court ruling shoots down Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel’s attempt to fine Manke and pull his license after he started to cut hair before lifting certain executive orders.
Barber Karl Manke, of Owosso, Mich., gives a free haircut to Parker Shonts on May 20 on the steps of the State Capitol.
MICHIGAN – […] The decision by the state’s high court came with only a concurring opinion written by Justice David Viviano in which he questioned initial handling of the case by a three-judge appeals court panel.
“Courts decide legal questions that arise in the cases that come before us according to the rule of law,” Viviano wrote. “One hopes that this great principle — essential to any free society, including ours — will not itself become yet another casualty of COVID-19.”
The three-member Court of Appeals panel’s majority decision for an immediate closure of Manke’s barbershop over Judge Brock Swartzle’s objection was “inexplicable,” Viviano said. The court also decided the matter without a full briefing, he wrote. (read more)
The ruling by the Michigan supreme court on the topic of COVID madness is particularly timely when contrast with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer defying her own social distancing dictates to permit marches and political protests that she approves.
The hypocrisy and selective enforcement of arbitrary rules/regulations, for ideological and political intents, is beyond stark.
Governor Whitmer has, and continues, to try and destroy the economy and businesses of Michigan residents over a fictitious fear of the COVID virus; but when her political ideology means she needs to break her own dictates, she does so without any regard or concern. A typical progressive politician.
As this example highlights the power of government comes from the people; or as we say in the U.S. “from the consent of the governed.” When the people lead, the politicians are forced to follow.
Without implied consent the municipal or state government has no power. None.
As a result, the lock-downs end when the majority of We The People no longer give our consent.
How do We The People retract our consent? We simply refuse to comply.
When the majority of people simply refuse to comply with unilateral dictates, and laugh in the faces of those who attempt to enforce them, the government no longer has power.
If one person refuses to comply government can, and likely will, intervene. However, if tens of thousands rebuke these unconstitutional decrees, there isn’t a damn thing govt can do to stop it… and they know it. This is why some state governors are quickly starting to retract or modify their dictates.
A non-compliant snowball becomes an unstoppable freedom avalanche.
Local, regional and state officials know they can control the behavior of an individual. If one barber shop opens, the owner becomes a target. However, those officials also know they cannot control the behavior of the majority. If every barber shop and beauty salon in town opens… there is absolutely nothing the government can do about it.
If one restaurant and/or bar opens, the state can target the owner. But if every bar and restaurant in town opens; and if everyone ignores and dispatches the silly dictates of the local, regional or state officials; there isn’t a damned thing they can do about it.
The power of the local, regional or state authority comes from the expressed consent of the people. As soon as the majority of people deny that consent, those officials and state authoritarians lose all of their power.
Yes, it really is that simple.
Those who construct the systems of control need to weaponize fear. Fear of arrest; fear of losing a business; fear of losing liberty or financial security. Local, regional and state officials rely on fear. As soon as the people are no longer fearful, the control ends.
The overwhelming majority of dictates around COVID-19 mitigation are not laws. There was no debate; no input from representative government; and no option for the public to weigh-in on the decisions.
All unilateral rules are arbitrary, and despite many proclamations to the contrary, they rely upon voluntary compliance. As soon as citizens no longer voluntarily comply, the term of the rules has expired. If masks are effective then why didn’t government give masks to prison inmates instead of releasing them?
Liberty is inherent.
The removal of liberty requires consent.
Additionally, if you choose not to decide you still have made a choice. So choose wisely.
It seems quite transparent what the agenda is for Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. After giving the DC police orders to stand down; and after ending the previously declared state of emergency; and after cancelling the flow-through purchase contract where feds repay the city for national guard housing; she is now demanding that all national guard troops and security elements leave the nation’s capital city:
…”It’s our expectation that until soldiers are called home, we don’t think that soldiers should be in the nation’s capital patrolling or policing streets. We’ve made that formal request to the White House.”… (link)
Simultaneous to her demand that all security forces, including the added DC police, be withdrawn operations, the Mayor is helping to organize the introduction of far-left mobs under the pretense of her facilitating weekend mass protests against the White House.
In essence, Mayor Bowser is simultaneously removing DC security and introducing an extremist force. This is beyond dangerous and appears to be an intentional effort by the mayor to force and create a violent Kent State type confrontation. This is Alinsky 101.
Provocation to a specifically designed conflict is why Mayor Bowser had the streets painted earlier today; and why she is pretending not to know what the end goal is for the operation where she is a key player.
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WASHINGTON DC – Demonstrators are expected to swell the area around the White House Saturday, placing President Trump and the White House under siege and testing his law-and-order message.
D.C. Metropolitan Police said the event “may be one of the largest we’ve had in the city.”
Calls for action shared on Twitter, including one by a group called Refuse Fascism, say demonstrators will meet outside Lafayette Park.
[…] Trump was scheduled to fly to his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club, but the trip was canceled. “The president’s looking forward to another working weekend,” a senior administration official told Politico. (more)
Let’s hope President Trump hasn’t been set up again by resistance operatives within the White House.
Mayor Muriel Bowser
✔@MayorBowser
·
New Jersey @GovMurphy: I request that you remove your National Guard from our city. They were brought to the District without my knowledge and request.
I appreciate your service, but your presence encroaches on the rights of 705,000 tax-paying residents.
Mayor Muriel Bowser
✔@MayorBowser
Ohio @GovMikeDeWine: I request that the Ohio National Guard be removed from the District. Without my knowledge and request, they were brought to our streets.
While I appreciate your service, we ask that you respect the right to self-governance of 705,000 tax-paying Americans.
Crowds of enthusiastic supporters lined the streets cheering as President Trump traveled through Maine to arrive at Puritan Medical Products to deliver a speech thanking the industry and company for their efforts to produce vital medical equipment.
Workers at the event wore white T-shirts with a green logo on the back that read: “Saving The World One Swab At A Time,” as President Trump delivered his remarks. The theme remains “Transition to Greatness.” [Video Below – Transcript ADDED]
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[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Appreciate it. We had some crowd coming in. I don’t know, you have a lot of people up here. A lot more than people think. And they’re great people, and they like Trump — that, I can tell you.
No, we had — (applause) — we had a lot of people. We got off Air Force One, and we came, and the roads were packed. Five deep; ten deep, in some cases. I have to be very careful because I have the fake news back. They’ll say, “It was only two deep.” (Laughter.) “There were some areas where it was only one deep.” And they’ll end up putting me on the front page.
But we had some fantastic crowd, and I just want to thank you all. You’re very special people. And this is a great plant, and it’s doing a phenomenal job. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
I also want to thank Scott. I’m thrilled to be back in the magnificent state of Maine. As you know, you treated me very nicely in the last election, 2016. You treated me very nicely. I needed the one point. Now I’d like to win the whole state. Could you mind, please? Okay? (Applause.)
Maine and Nebraska — they cut them in half and they say, one way or the other — I don’t know, you have the double. That’s okay. But this one we had tremendous, tremendous turnout, and we did very well in both parts, actually. But it’s a great state. And we just solved a big lobster, fishermen problem. We gave 5,000 acres of water, and we gave you your rights back. (Applause.) It was taken away by the previous administration, and it was disgraceful.
So with a stroke of the pen, your fishermen like me maybe even more than you like me. Okay? It could be — could be. But it was a great thing.
But I just want to say hello to the hardworking men and women of Puritan Medical Products. Great company. The incredible workers of this company have carried on the noble tradition of American manufacturing excellence for more than 100 years. Now our nation has turned to you as we massively increase our unrivaled testing capacity.
We’re at — as an example, 20 million tests. Germany is at 4 million. South Korea, which you heard so much about — they’re doing a good job — they’re at about 3 million. We’re well over 20 million. Very shortly, we’ll be well over 20 million tests.
Remember this: When you have more tests, you have more cases. I say to my people: Every time we test, you find cases because we do more testing. So if we have more cases — if we wanted to do testing in China or in India, or other places, I promise you, there’d be more cases.
But we’re doing a great job with the testing. And you’re doing a fantastic job in getting out the swabs.
On behalf of the entire nation, I want to thank you. You’re building a big addition right alongside. You know that. So you’re going to have a lot more jobs coming here in a very short period of time.
Puritan is one of the only manufacturers in the world producing the high-quality medical swabs that are crucial for the rapid testing, and every swab you make at Puritan is proudly stamped with a beautiful phrase, “Made in the USA.” Do you like that phrase? (Applause.) Beautiful phrase.
Thanks to the testing capacity that you’re making possible, our country is reopening and our economy is recovering like nobody would have thought possible. I guess you all saw the news today, right? It was unbelievable.
Earlier today, it was announced that the U.S. economy added 2.5 million jobs in May. It was supposed to lose 9 million, you know, during this period — transition period. I call it “transition to greatness,” but it’s coming a little earlier than I thought, and that’s okay. I don’t like to be wrong on the other side, but earlier is okay. But it was supposed to be 9 million.
If you watch — I don’t know if anybody watches the business shows, but I’m watching this morning, and they thought it was a typographical error because it was supposed to be nine. And before the show — or during the show, they’re predicting. It comes out, the job numbers — the very famous job numbers — and it comes out, and — 8:30 in the morning, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s going on. And turn it on, and they’re predicting: “No, I think it’s going to be more than 9 million jobs lost,” during the period prior to going back up. And another one said, “No, 8.5. No, 11. No, 10.” You know, all geniuses. (Laughter.)
And now it’s 8:30, you hear a bell go off, and the woman gets it, in this case, and she’s going, “Well, it’s only 3 million jobs lost.” And then a couple of seconds later, she goes, “Wait a minute, this isn’t jobs lost; this is jobs gained.” And it’s almost 3 million jobs gained. And she thought she had a typographical error, and what happened was incredible. I mean — and the market went through; it finished very, very high — almost, I guess, around 900 points up.
And our stock market is booming, and our jobs are booming. And, you know, you just have to look at a place like this. You just have to get off the plane and ride here, and you see the spirit of Maine and other places — other places. (Applause.) It’s amazing. It’s amazing.
So we absolutely shattered expectations. And this is the largest monthly jobs increase in American history. American — think of that: That’s a long time, right? By far. I think it’s more than double or about double of what our highest was before.
So this is the largest monthly job increase in American history. How about that? And we’re going to have a phenomenal next year. We’re going to have a tremendous couple of months prior to the election, on November 3rd. A very, very important day. It’s going to be a very important election because the only thing that can screw it up is if you get the wrong President and they raise your taxes, and they open up your border so that everybody pours into our country.
COVID or non-COVID — you used to never hear of COVID, but now we have COVID to add to the list of other things. So, we have a wall that’s over 210 miles long already going up. We’ll have 400 miles — (applause) — 400 miles by the end of the year, maybe more than that. And we’ll be finishing it off very early next year with 500 miles of wall in the most treacherous places. And it’s been an amazing thing. We have — we’re setting records on our border right now for — for holding people out. We don’t want people coming in. We want people coming in through a legal process and through merit — and that’s what we’re doing — where they can help our country.
But economists forecast that the unemployment rate, as I said, would be about 19 percent, and they were hoping for 20 percent, the opponents of ours. They’d rather have things be bad so they can try and win an election. So they were hoping it would be 20 percent. Instead, it’s 13 percent. That was good. That — we made up a lot of time, a lot of distance. It’s really great. (Applause.) Even I was surprised by this one. This was better than I thought. I thought it would be okay, but I didn’t know this. It means you were much ahead of schedule. And don’t forget, that doesn’t include New York, New Jersey, and many other states — and, by the way, your state. When are you going to open the state up?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Open up!
THE PRESIDENT: No, seriously, you’re going to miss your whole — you know, you do 40 million people in tourism, and you have a governor that won’t let you open up. What’s she doing? What’s she doing? I don’t know that much; I just know you’re great people.
You know what I know about Maine? I know you’re great people. But you have — this is like — you know, they say December, for Tiffany’s, that’s their big month, right? This is your time. This is your big month. This is your Christmas, in terms of tourism, your dollars, when you — how can you be closed? I mean — and I see it all the time. Everybody wants to have Maine open, so I figured I might as well say it while I’m up here. You ought to get the state open, Governor. (Applause.) Open the state.
Got a lot of — you have a lot of angry people in Maine about that. I mean, they think — I say, “What are you doing? That’s a strange one.” Some, I understand a little bit more, but this one is not one that should be closed. You’re missing a lot of money and a lot of everything and a lot of people and a lot of spirit. Get it open.
We added 1.2 million leisure and hospitality jobs; 464,000 construction jobs; 424,000 education and healthcare jobs; 368,000 retail jobs. And listen to this one: Remember, the previous administration said, “Oh, there’ll not be any more manufacturing jobs in our country.” I say, “Excuse me?” Two hundred and twenty-five thousand manufacturing jobs, and that’s during a pandemic. (Applause.)
And we had the greatest economy in the history of our country. You know, we had a — an economy, the likes of which we’ve never had. We had almost 160 million, which was the highest number we’ve ever had, by far. African American, Hispanic American, Asian American — the greatest employment and unemployment numbers we’ve ever had.
Greatest stock market numbers. And we’re very close to those numbers, which is pretty amazing. That means that these geniuses on Wall Street, and also a lot of people with 401(k)s — you have 401(k)s?
AUDIENCE: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, you’re going to only vote for Trump, because otherwise, those 401(k)s are going to be worthless. (Laughter.) That’s a big incentive. (Applause.) That’s a big incentive. (Applause.) That’s a big — nah — well, it is. Look, it’s bad things. The only way you’re going to end it is stupid policy, because I built it once, now I’m building it again. We had to close it down. We did the right thing. We closed it down and we saved millions of lives.
But now we opened it up, and it’s opening up to a bang. We’re going to have better — this next year will be better, I think, than any year we’re ever had. That’s how I feel about it. And I’ve been saying it for a long time. The year coming up.
America’s economic comeback has begun. The next year is set to be a year, and — I remember I said it, but it’s going to be an amazing year. For you, it’s going to be great. Your new site is going to be open. It’s a big area that you’re building, and your expansion at Puritan.
But I’m grateful to your leadership team, including Timothy Templet, Scott Wellman, and David Perkins — great people, fantastic people — (applause) — for welcoming us. We have — these are tremendous people. These are great — really, loving people. They’re doing something very important. When you think about what they’re doing, their product is superior. It’s terrific. And it’s made in the USA, and that’s — I shouldn’t tell you this, but I use it every other day. (Laughter.) I go like this. I say, “Is that a Puritan, please?” (Laughter and applause.) No, it’s great product. (Applause.)
But we’re also joined by Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, who’s doing a great job. Thank you, Alex. (Applause.) And Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt. (Applause.) We just left — we just that meeting with David Bernhardt and Peter Navarro, who’s right here. Peter — stand on up, Peter. (Applause.)
Mr. Congressman, would you please stand up? Come on. We did a thing. (Applause.) We did a — we passed a bill together, right? One of the most important things, Right to Try. Do you know what Right to Try is? That’s where we have the most advanced medical people in the world — labs and everything else — and labs, in many cases, that you work with.
And we have a case where somebody was very sick and they’d go to Asia, they’d go to Europe, they’d go all over the world looking for a cure. You know, they were terminally ill or very sick, very ill. If they didn’t have the money, they’d go home and die. They’d go home. But we have tremendous things coming along, and yet you have to go through a process of testing.
And I said, when we have a situation where somebody is terminally ill, or in that category, we want a right to try our labs. They shouldn’t have to go to Europe and Asia. They shouldn’t have to go all over the world to look for a cure. And we call it the “Right to Try.” You have a right — and it was complex because the drug companies didn’t want it because of liability. The country didn’t want it because they didn’t want to get sued. The insurance companies didn’t want it. The labs didn’t want it because they didn’t want to have anything bad happen to them in terms of what they had to put on — so, you know, on their — on their schedule.
So we said Right to Try. So they have the right to try. They sign a document. They waive the liability. The results — I don’t know if you know, but the results have been unbelievable. The results have been absolutely unbelievable. I mean, we’ve had some great things. (Applause.) So — great. One of the many things we’ve done. But every person here today is playing a vital role in the greatest national industrial mobilization since World War Two. We’ve marshaled the full power of the U.S. government and U.S. industry to defeat the invisible enemy.
And it is indeed an enemy. Should have been stopped in China. Came from China; should have been stopped in China. They didn’t do that.
We’ve delivered over 1.5 billion pieces of personal protective equipment to doctors and nurses on the frontlines. We slashed through red tape to speed the development of vaccines. And vaccines are coming along incredibly well. Wait until you see them. Therapeutics.
And we partnered with private-sector leaders, such as Puritan, to build the largest and most advanced testing capacity on the face of the Earth, like this one.
At this single factory, you quickly ramped up production to produce nearly 20 million foam-tip swabs each month. Then, in April, my administration invoked the Defense Production Act to help you scale up even more. Under a 75-million-dollar public-private partnership, Puritan will soon double production to 40 million swabs per month. That’s a lot. That’s a lot. That’s why we’re beating the world. (Applause.)
And ultimately, you’ll triple production to an astounding 60 million swabs a month, an amazing achievement of American industrial strength. To accomplish this tremendous increase, you partnered with another legendary Maine institution. You’ve never heard of this, I’m sure: Bath Iron Works. Right? (Laughter.) Builder of some of the most powerful warships in the United States Navy for over 135 years. They do a great job.
Under the Defense Production Act, Bath Iron Works is now producing the complex machinery you need to manufacture tens of millions more swabs. And we’re all profoundly grateful to the amazing workers at Bath Shipyard and the executives. They’re really working very closely in many ways, including the building of ships.
Here at Puritan, you’ve already hired 200 new employees with full benefits. And when your new 95,000-square-foot factory in Pittsfield comes online, Puritan will hire an additional 150 Maine workers. Made in the USA, right?
Powered by the dedication of the men and women in this room, America has become the world leader in coronavirus testing. The United States has completed more than 19 million tests, the most anywhere in the world, by far, as I said. You’re now over 20 — 21, almost.
Thanks to you, our country has conducted more tests than all other countries in the world combined. Other than that, you’re not doing very well. (Laughter.)
No, if you listen to the fake news, it’s like, well — you know, I give them a number: “We did 20 million.” “Why didn’t you do 40?” (Laughter.) “Trump should have done 40.” If we did 40, they’d say, “Should have done 100.” Ay-ya-yay, what I have to put up with. (Laughter and applause.) True.
And, you know, when we took over, the cupboards were empty. I always say “the cupboards,” meaning the stockpile. We had very little. And we became now the king of ventilators, also. We’ll have to talk to Puritan. You want to make some ventilators? (Laughter.) We don’t need them. We’re making thousands a week. We have 11 factories, plants. We had practically none, and we saved thousands and thousands of lives.
Ventilators are very hard because they’re big, they’re expensive. I say it’s like making a car, in a certain way. High technology, right? And we’re now making thousands of ventilators a week. And we are at a point where we’re actually helping other countries. We’re sending ventilators to other countries — Nigeria, 200 ventilators. And then they called and we sent them eight hun- — we have a thousand going to Nigeria. Italy, France, Spain. Many, many countries. Russia — we’re sending some to Russia. It’s good for relationship. It’s good for everything.
And we’re knocking them out, and, you know, people aren’t able to just — you can do a swab, even though it’s not that easy, but a ventilator takes a long time. It’s the greatest mobilization, as I said. I mean, greatest since World War Two. It’s been really amazing.
And I’d love the people of the administration, but I’d also like to have our people that work on it, even our — the people of our country to get credit for these things. You know, we got geared up; we did so well. Then you heard about ventilators. There hasn’t been one person in the entire country, from the beginning of this horrible plague that came in — the plague; it’s what it is. There hasn’t been one person that needed a ventilator that didn’t get it. And we started off from a very low platform. They needed, desperately, thousands and thousands of ventilators.
But when you think of it, not one person — with all of the size of our country and all of the people that were sick — not one person, not one that needed a ventilator didn’t get it. I think it’s an incredible achievement to Mike Pence, to all of the people that work in the administration, and to all of the people that went and worked so hard to produce them. (Applause.) Amazing.
And the testing, the same thing. We get — whether it’s Abbott Laboratories or any of the many plans — Roche — we have this incredible testing capacity. We started off with zilch, nothing.
So they’ve done a fantastic job. The whole team has done a really great job, Peter. Wouldn’t you say? Been very amazing.
I want to take a moment to recognize just a few of the hardworking patriots — and that’s what they are — of Maine, who were instrumental in this colossal effort that you’ve done at Puritan.
Angie Buscher. Where is Angie? Come on, Angie. Come on up here. (Applause.) She’s an operator in Puritans laboratory kit manufacturing area, where she’s been working 10 hours a day, 7 days a week for the health of our nation. She’s highly respected. I think she’s very good. Maybe I should hire her. Let’s bring her back. (Laughter.) Let’s bring her back to Washington.
Please, say a few words. Please.
MS. BUSCHUR: I have worked at Puritan for the past 21 years. Since the coronavirus hit, we have spent every day making millions of swabs that helped save lives and helped people save the world. I am so grateful to this company and for the chance to serve our country, that the best way we can pay back is to work harder.
Ever since the President started us helping us grow, we have been so happy and excited to produce even more that I don’t want to stop until the job is done. The President has done so much to support us, and we are all so grateful to know he is fighting for us. Thank you for your leadership, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Angie. Appreciate it. (Applause.) Thank you very much, honey. Let’s — let’s take a picture. Come on. Get over here, Angie. Thank you, darling. I’m not supposed to do that, but it’s okay. What can I — what am I going to do? Say, “Angie — don’t do that, Angie”? (Laughter.) Thank you very much. Great job, Angie.
We’re also joined by Tracy Porter. He has worked here at Puritan for over 40 years — (applause) — and he’s your lead shipping and packaging technician. Tracy, come on up and say a few words, please. Tracy. (Applause.) Forty years. Looks too young to say 40 years, I can tell you. Fantastic, Tracy.
MR. PORTER: Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Forty years?
MR. PORTER: Actually, it was 31 years. There was a — a mistake, but that’s fine.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay.
MR. PORTER: Yeah, we all mess up. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: I feel better. I’m looking at you, I say, “How is that 40 years?”
MR. PORTER: Oh, I appreciate that.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.
MR. PORTER: Thank you. More often than not, when we see news of a crisis in the world, we — we lament that few of us have any chance to changing the outcome. Today, we find ourselves blessed with this opportunity to make a difference.
During this recent push to make medical products, we’ve received many letters of thanks from all around the country and kind words of encouragement from our local community.
Just prior to this tragic outbreak, we were working — already working long hours, filling orders for customers who’ve been very good to us — customers like Becton, Dickinson; Hologic; and Quidel, just to name a few. A lot of my coworkers and I were expressing a wish for more machines so we could fill orders faster, and maybe keep our customer’s price down. Well, it looks like we’re going to have enough equipment now. (Laughter and applause).
We look forward to working with two great Maine companies like Cianbro Construction and Bath Iron Works. And I want to thank you, Mr. President, for making it all come together.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. (Applause.) Great job. Thank you very much. He’s — even 31 years, he’s — good head of hair he’s got, too. (Laughter.) Good head of hair you have. (Applause.) Thank you, Tracy. Keep looking good. Keep looking good. Keep healthy, everybody in here. Keep healthy.
With us as well is Derek McKenney, the senior manufacturing engineer at Puritan and a project manager for the new manufacturing plant — which is a big deal — coming on line. Derek, please come up and say a few words. (Applause.)
MR. MCKENNEY: Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Hi, Derek. Thank you very much.
MR. MCKENNEY: Good afternoon. I’m Derek McKenney, senior manufacturing engineer and second-generation employee of Hardwood and Puritan Medical Products. My mother has been with the company for 35 years, and I spent my childhood — (applause) —
THE PRESIDENT: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. That’s really your mother?
MR. MCKENNEY: That’s my mother. (Laughter.) I spent my childhood —
THE PRESIDENT: Good genes. (Laughter.)
MR. MCKENNEY: I spent my childhood playing in her office, so I — I’ve been around since about kindergarten.
I was lucky enough to be able to go gain education and experience across the U.S. before returning to my roots here in Guilford, Maine. In the last three years, I’ve been presented with many amazing opportunities to make a difference in the world with Puritan’s critical products.
But nothing compared to that day on March 12th when we got the call from the White House Task Force. From that day forward, I’ve been part of a team who’s chosen to rise up and serve their country and the American people. We have worked tirelessly around the clock and through the weekends for the last 12 weeks to provide the testing supplies required to keep Americans safe.
On July 1st, we’ll start production at our second manufacturing facility with the ability to produce 60 million COVID swabs per month. (Applause.)
This project would normally take 18 months to complete, but in a truly unimaginable feat, it will be operational in 8 weeks. It wouldn’t be possible without the total and complete support of the federal government and the dedication of the phenomenal workforce here in the great state of Maine. (Applause.)
This company and all these people are what make the United States of America the greatest country in the world. God bless you all. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Come on, get over here. Let’s take a picture. Get over here. Come on. Come on. Come on, mom. Come on, mom, get in here.
MS. MCKENNEY: Thank you so much, Mr. President.
MR. MCKENNEY: Yeah, thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Beautiful. Did he do a good job, mom?
MS. MCKENNEY: He did an awesome job.
THE PRESIDENT: I think he did. He’ll be running for office next year. Watch. (Laughter.) Thank you very much, Derek. Appreciate it. Great job.
And thank you all. The remarkable testing capacity that each of you has made possible, it’s not only helping our nation to defeat the virus — that horrible, horrible, terrible, disgusting, angry virus — it’s paving the way to get America safely and responsibly back open for business, and that’s what we’re doing right now. We’re doing it right now. It’s happening very quickly, a lot quicker than people thought.
Our strategy for a phased and gradual reopening protects our most vulnerable citizens — and you know who they are; we’ve learned a lot about that — especially in the nursing homes, while allowing younger and healthier Americans to get safely back to work and go to school. I think, in the fall, you’re going to see the schools all open and in great shape.
The best approach to protect the health of our citizens is to focus our resources on safeguarding those at highest risk, while allowing those at lowest risk to go and resume economic activity, including education.
A key element of our effort to reopen, revitalize, and rebuild America greater than ever is bringing critical industries back to our shores.
As the workers of Maine know well — and that’s for many decades — Washington politicians shipped away your jobs, outsourced to your supply chains, and offshored your industry. It’s probably the number-one reason I’m here today, although I was going to say another politician — probably, they wouldn’t be here. They wouldn’t bother with it. To me, it’s very important. I had to save your fishing industry. It was so easy — so easy to do, if you want to do it.
But we — we really talked about this for a long time. Our companies would leave us. They’d fire everybody, pay no taxes. They’d go to another country. They’d make the product. They would sell it into our country with no tax, no nothing — while we ended up with no jobs, empty buildings, empty factories. You had them in Maine all over the place.
But we’re changing all of that. We’ve made tremendous trade deals now. Tremendous trade deals. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal is an incredible deal. Incredible deal for our country. And many other deals. We just signed a deal with China, but unfortunately, in that case, the ink wasn’t even dry, and all of the sudden, the plague came in — and so I view it a little bit differently, perhaps.
But they’ve been living up to the deal. They’re buying a lot of — a lot of things. They never had any deal. They just came in and took advantage of the United States. Took out hundreds of billions of dollars a year. So they don’t do that anymore, but it’s a terrible thing that happened.
But as the global pandemic has shown, once and for all, the United States must produce essential equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and technologies for ourselves. And we cannot rely on China and all of these other countries that, in bad times, take advantage of us and rip us off. We don’t do that anymore. We’re moving things back into our country.
That’s why the United States is now engaged in a great national effort to bring industries, factories, and jobs back to America where they belong. We want them back here. Just like you’re doing it, we have other — other places all over the country. Of course, they’re not as good as Puritan, but they’re pretty good. (Laughter.)
And I’m committed to ensuring that our country will be the world’s premier pharmacy. It’s going to be a pharmacy, drugstore, and medical manufacturer. We don’t make our medical products here. We don’t make our drugs here that we need — our desperately needed prescription drugs or otherwise.
In my administration, we live by two simple rules: Buy American and hire American. (Applause.)
So, just in ending — I mean, I say: For centuries, the people of this great state have fished the oceans and farmed the fields and worked the factories that have supplied and sustained our nation. And then they went through a very bad time — a very bad time. Right here in Guilford, generations of proud Maine patriots have poured out their heart, sweat, and soul for this country, making the critical products produced by Puritan. And now Puritan is doing better than it’s ever done, I guess, by a factor of a lot, right? Right?
You know, they call themselves “associates.” See, in the old days, they’d say they were the boss. (Laughter.) Now they’re associates. They’re very smart. I say, “Oh, that’s very smart.” But they’ve done a great job as associates. You’re all associates.
Each of you now carries on this extraordinary legacy and exceptional heritage, serving our nation at this very historic time. This is a historic time. This is a very important time for our country. You see what’s going on. But a lot of good things are going on. A lot of things are going on. A very big thing happened, though, today, when we saw numbers the likes of which we’ve never seen in the history of our country. Good timing. Because people look at that, and they say, “Hey, this country is great. We’ve done things that nobody else has ever done.” It was good to — good that they see that, right? Good timing.
You and your families are making momentous contributions to the vitality of our country, helping us reopen, rebuild, and most importantly, saving lives. The workers of Maine have always been loyal to America. And while I’m your President, this government will always be loyal to you.
Just ask your fishing industry, “How’s Trump doing?” Because they can’t even believe what happened today. (Laughter.) Five thousand square miles of ocean that you couldn’t touch. They just wrote it off — President Obama. He signed. You couldn’t use it anymore. They took it away. I gave it back. With your help — (applause).
By the way, I said, “Why’d they take it away?” Nobody knew. You know, it’s okay to take it away if it means something. I mean — but nobody knew.
With your help, we will vanquish the virus, we will get our nation back to work, and we shall build our glorious future with American hands, American grit, and American pride. And I want to just thank all of you for being here. You’re very special people. This is a very special place. And it’s a great state. And thank you very much.
And get that other half, by the way — get that other half to go with Trump, okay? (Laughter.) You — you, I don’t have to worry about. And I think they’ll be there, too. Because there’s a very, very important election coming up — the most important. It’s amazing what’s happened, and you’ve been a big part of it.
Thank you very much. Congratulations to everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)
Earlier today President Trump and trade advisor Peter Navarro traveled to Bangor, Maine to participate in a roundtable discussion on supporting America’s commercial fishermen. During the visit the president signed a proclamation modifying the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
Participating in the roundtable were: Paul LePage, Former Governor of Maine; Terry Alexander, Owner, Jordan Lynn Inc.; Jim Odlin, Member of Board of Directors, Blue Harvest Fisheries; Frank O’Hara Jr., President, O’Hara Corporation; Kristan Porter, President, Maine Lobstermen’s Association; Maggie Raymond, Executive Director, Associated Fisheries of Maine; Mary Beth Tooley, Former Council Member, New England Fishery Management Council and Jon Williams, Owner, Atlantic Red Crab Company
.
Background – On September 15, 2016, the Obama Administration designated the first and only national marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, using authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906.
This action abruptly ended commercial fishing within its boundaries, limiting economic prosperity for this crucial industry in the northeast. President Trump’s proclamation amends that economic restriction, reauthorizes commercial fishing, but will not alter the boundaries of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
[A Proclamation ] In Proclamation 9496 of September 15, 2016, and exercising his authority under section 320301 of title 54, United States Code (the “Antiquities Act”), the President established the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, reserving for the care and management of objects of historic and scientific interest approximately 4,913 square miles of water and submerged lands in and around certain deep-sea canyons and seamounts situated upon lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government.
The President prohibited commercial fishing, with a phase-out period for American lobster and red crab fisheries, within the monument’s boundaries. This proclamation lifts the prohibition on commercial fishing, an activity that is subject to the Magnuson‑Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson‑Stevens), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., and other applicable laws, regulations, and requirements. This proclamation does not modify the monument in any other respect.
Proclamation 9496 identifies a number of canyons and seamounts as objects of historic and scientific interest. The monument is designated in two units, which correspond to two distinct geological features. The Canyons Unit comprises three underwater canyons that start at the edge of the continental shelf, whereas the Seamounts Unit consists of four undersea mountains. Both units are located in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone.
In addition to the geological features, Proclamation 9496 designates the natural resources and ecosystems in and around the Canyons and Seamounts Units as objects of historic and scientific interest. Proclamation 9496 describes diverse ecological communities in the canyon and seamount areas, which include seabirds, whales, dolphins, turtles, and highly migratory fish species, such as tunas, billfish, and sharks.
Proclamation 9496 observes that some of these species have appeared in the canyon and seamount areas in large aggregations and increased numbers. In support of the monument designation, Proclamation 9496 notes that “[t]hese canyons and seamounts, and the ecosystem they compose, have long been of intense scientific interest,” with “[s]cientists from government and academic oceanographic institutions” studying “the canyons and seamounts using research vessels, submarines, and remotely operated underwater vehicles for important deep-sea expeditions.”
As part of the management of the monument, Proclamation 9496 prohibited, subject to the phase-out period previously noted, all commercial fishing within the monument’s boundaries.
As explained herein, following further consideration of the nature of the objects identified in Proclamation 9496 and the protection of those objects already provided by relevant law, I find that appropriately managed commercial fishing would not put the objects of scientific and historic interest that the monument protects at risk.
Indeed, Proclamation 9496 allows for recreational fishing and further acknowledges that “[t]hroughout New England, the maritime trades, and especially fishing, have supported a vibrant way of life, with deep cultural roots and a strong connection to the health of the ocean and the bounty it provides.”
With respect to fish in particular, many of the fish species that Proclamation 9496 identifies are highly migratory and not unique to the monument. Some of the examples of fish species that Proclamation 9496 identifies are not of such significant scientific interest that they merit additional protection beyond that already provided by other law. Moreover, the fish species described in Proclamation 9496 are subject to Federal protections under existing laws and agency management designations.
For example, Magnuson-Stevens regulates commercial fishing to ensure long-term biological and economic sustainability for our Nation’s marine fisheries, taking into account the protection of associated marine ecosystems. Magnuson-Stevens establishes regional fishery management councils, supervised by the Secretary of Commerce in coordination with the States and affected stakeholders, that develop fishery management plans to regulate our Nation’s fisheries, using the best available science and observing strict conservation and management requirements.
Magnuson-Stevens requires a similar process of science-based fisheries management for highly migratory species, including the tunas referenced in Proclamation 9496. In addition, Magnuson-Stevens provides that fishery management plans may include, among other measures, management measures to conserve target and non-target species and habitats, including measures to protect deep-sea corals.
A host of other laws enacted after the Antiquities Act provide specific protection for other plant and animal resources (including coral species) both within and outside the monument. These laws include the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 703-712, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, 16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee, the Refuge Recreation Act, 16 U.S.C. 460k et seq., the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq., the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., and Title I of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (Ocean Dumping Act), 33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.
For example, the Endangered Species Act generally prohibits the taking of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered, and also generally ensures that Federal actions, including fisheries management, are not likely to jeopardize the existence of any such species.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act provides protections for marine mammals, and prohibits their take, subject to some exceptions. Numerous other statutes, including the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and Ocean Dumping Act, address both land-based and ocean-based sources of pollution and help ensure that water quality continues to support plankton and other pelagic organisms.
After further consideration of the nature of the objects identified in Proclamation 9496 and the protection of those objects already provided by Magnuson-Stevens and other relevant law, I find that a prohibition on commercial fishing is not, at this time, necessary for the proper care and management of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, or the objects of historic or scientific interest therein.
WHEREAS, Proclamation 9496 of September 15, 2016, designated the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean and reserved approximately 4,913 square miles in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone for the care and management of objects of historic and scientific interest identified therein;
WHEREAS, I find that removing the restrictions on commercial fishing set forth in Proclamation 9496 to allow for well-regulated commercial fishing use is in the public interest and that the objects in the monument can be, and are currently, protected pursuant to carefully tailored regulation and management under existing Federal law:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, hereby proclaim that Proclamation 9496, which established the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, is amended as follows:
(1) in the section entitled “Prohibited Activities,” by deleting paragraph 6; and
(2) in the section entitled “Regulated Activities,” by deleting paragraph 5 and by re-designating paragraphs 6 and 7 as paragraphs 5 and 6, respectively.
Furthermore, nothing in paragraph 4 in the section entitled “Prohibited Activities” in Proclamation 9496 shall be deemed to apply to commercial fishing that is carried out in accordance with Magnuson-Stevens and other applicable laws, regulations, and requirements.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to revoke, modify, or affect any withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation, other than the one created by Proclamation 9496.
Nothing in this proclamation shall change the management of the areas designated and reserved by Proclamation 9496, except as explicitly provided in this proclamation.
If any provision of this proclamation, including its application to a particular parcel of land, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and its application to other parcels of land shall not be affected thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.
Jumpin’ ju-ju bones, it’s raining winnamins ! ~ Analysts and economists were predicting May jobs report would show losses of around 7 to 8 million jobs in May. That’s what everyone suspected, and why they were stunned this morning to find out the U.S. economy actually added, yes ADDED, 2.5 million jobs.
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics released the good news data earlier today and shocked everyone. However, the results are really not that surprising when you think about how successful the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was. First this video is funny:
[BLS RELEASE] – […] Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 2.5 million in May, reflecting a limited resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to contain it.
In May, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 1.2 million, following losses of 7.5 million in April and 743,000 in March.
Construction employment increased by 464,000 in May, gaining back almost half of April’s decline (-995,000).
Employment increased by 424,000 in education and health services in May, after a decrease of 2.6 million in April.
In May, employment in retail trade rose by 368,000, after a loss of 2.3 million in April.
Employment increased in the other services industry in May (+272,000), following a decline of 1.3 million in April.
In May, manufacturing employment rose by 225,000, with gains about evenly split between the durable and nondurable goods components.
Professional and business services added 127,000 jobs in May, after shedding 2.2 million jobs in April.
Financial activities added 33,000 jobs over the month, following a loss of 264,000 jobs in April.
Wholesale trade employment was up by 21,000 in May, largely reflecting job gains in its nondurable goods component (+13,000). (link)
“Today’s report shows much higher job creation and lower unemployment than expected, reflecting that the re-opening of the economy in May was earlier, and more robust, than projected. Millions of Americans are still out of work, and the Department remains focused on bringing Americans safely back to work and helping States deliver unemployment benefits to those who need them. However, it appears the worst of the coronavirus’s impact on the nation’s job markets is behind us.”
The small business PPP program was designed to keep U.S. workers attached to their employers. The treasury funds became grants if the funds were used to cover payroll expenses and retain the employees within the business.
If the business did not retain or rehire their employees they would have to pay back the treasury under the terms of the PPP fund. That PPP rule was a massive incentive to re-hire anyone who was laid-off in the first several weeks of the shutdown.
I would suggest the majority of the re-hires, the jobs data that is shocking everyone today, is actually from small/medium businesses and directly relates to the way Treasury Secretary Mnuchin put the funding mechanism together by using the FDIC network.
Earlier today President Trump held a news conference at the White House to discuss current events that are of interest to the nation. [Video Below – Transcript Will Follow]
In these darkest of days, intended to drive the masses into despair, the archbishop of Washington will go on to serve—albeit unwillingly—as a lifelong reminder that clerics and governments may be able to shut the masses out of houses of worship—but will find it frustratingly impossible to shut them out of Prayer.
By shutting down all churches as an unnecessary means to curb the spread of Coronavirus, all participating governments and clerics have ingloriously painted themselves into a corner from which there is no return.
As long as it lasts, the church shutdown is only making people of faith increasingly aware that they don’t have to have brick and mortar buildings in order to pray.
In other words, Coronavirus made the churches of the day, the homes of all of those denied being able to go to church.
Private homes are now what churches are supposed to be—Houses of Worship where people gather to pray.
Only the Almighty can rightfully lay claim to owning all churches. The archbishop of Washington cannot possibly lay claim to owning the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, which belongs to the Creator and all People of Faith.
“The Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, archbishop of Washington issued a scathing condemnation of President Trump’s visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine Tuesday with first lady Melania. (Fox News, June 3, 2020)
“Wilton Gregory opposed the long-planned visit by Trump and first lady Melania Trump, who is Catholic.
“I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree,” the archbishop said in a statement.”
Some of us find it “baffling and reprehensible” that there was not even a meek peep of protest from the archbishop and other church hierarchy when government, without a by your leave, shut our churches down.
In his public put down of the president’s long-planned visit to the Shrine, Gregory pontificated on the virtues of Saint Pope John Paul II—never once mentioning that as Bishop of KraKow, Karol Wojtyła, Pope John Paul 11, routinely faced down the guns of the Communist regime in Poland when he led outdoor Masses summer and winter at Nowa Huta (Canada Free Press, Oct, 2, 2002)
“Saint Pope John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and dignity of human beings. His legacy bears vivid witness to that truth,” Gregory added. “He certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace.” (Fox News).
“The archbishop was referring to Trump’s Monday night surprise walk from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church, amid the protests following Floyd’s death. Trump held up a Bible and posed for a photo. Prior to his visit—and a mandated curfew in the city—police officers took steps to remove protesters from Lafayette Park.
Putting words into the mouth of a Saint who has already passed is, to say the least, egregious.
The archbishop’s attack on the president and his wife, who the Washington Post described as “identifying as a Catholic”, is purely partisan in nature.
The archbishop’s Trump rebuke was all the more telling because both visits happen to coincide with an international religious liberty executive order.
“Brian Burch, the president of CatholicVote, a political Catholic organization, said Trump’s visit to the shrine and executive order should be “celebrated” by those who love the church and religious freedom.” (Fox)
“It is regrettable that the Archbishop of Washington chose this occasion to engage in a partisan attack on the President, especially when the country is in desperate need of healing and unity.
“Dwight Longenecker, a Catholic priest, shared an image of Gregory with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with the caption: “I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated.”
Fr. Dwight Longenecker@dlongenecker1
I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated…
I have created this site to help people have fun in the kitchen. I write about enjoying life both in and out of my kitchen. Life is short! Make the most of it and enjoy!
This is a library of News Events not reported by the Main Stream Media documenting & connecting the dots on How the Obama Marxist Liberal agenda is destroying America
Centinel2012 