As one would expect of a president, Barack Obama stopped and put on his mask after giving the eulogy for John Lewis.

Investigation out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today following a Georgia summer camp is imperfect. Nevertheless it adds to the body of evidence demonstrating that children of all ages are susceptible to covid-19, and contrary to early reports, play a significant role in transmission.

The findings demonstrate that "SARS-CoV-2 spread efficiently in a youth-centric overnight setting, resulting in high attack rates among persons in all age groups, despite efforts by camp officials to implement most recommended strategies to prevent transmission." The highest incidence of covid-19 infection was in children 6-10 years old. The median age for the campers was 12, and the gender split was even.

Note: Business as usual is far from possible for professional sports.

Observe the challenge covid-19 is creating for MLB.    
Let's beware our decisions and protocols for America's school children.   
Our goal is to open schools safely and keep them open for the rest of the school year.

Trump's 2020 re-election campaign halts radio and TV advertising to review strategy as he struggles in the polls.

The Republicans adjourned the Senate and let the unemployment bonus expire.  
What are poor Americans supposed to do?
Tomorrow's the first of the month, Americans are at risk of eviction.

WI Senator Ron Johnson is undermining the United States Postal Service.

It would appear Trump's campaign strategy is to undermine the election.

Be aware: there's a constitutional fail-safe.

If with all Trump's antics there's no decisive winner in the presidential election, at 12 o'clock noon, on January 20, 2021, Nancy Pelosi will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States.

Game over?
MLB now has two teams with outbreaks of covid-19 among team members: Marlins and Cardinals.
That means 20% of MLB teams are not playing ball this weekend due to concerns about the virus: Marlins are not playing Nationals; Cardinals are not playing Brewers; and Phillies are not playing Blue Jays.
Is it possible "let's-play-two" doubleheaders consisting of seven-inning games will not be enough to make up games? (and save MLB's 2020 season?)
MLB Commissioner Manfred had considered shutting down the 2020 season, but now insists "the season will go on. We have to be fluid, but it is manageable."

Meanwhile, Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain has opted out of playing the rest of the 2020 season (and will most likely forfeit any portion of his salary for this season).

Imagine how this foreshadows football... baseball players don't spend the entire game "breathing, coughing, sweating, spitting, and/or bleeding on each other."

If you decide to vote absentee in the presidential election,

please do NOT put your ballot in the mail until you check the policy in your state.***    
There may be a better way to have your ballot delivered to your secretary of state.

The USPS is overwhelmed. And its leadership is intentionally slowing down mail delivery. If current trends continue, by November, first-class mail will be days or weeks behind schedule.  
Mail-in ballots are expected to further overwhelm the USPS, and if your ballot is lost or delayed, you're out of luck.  
Many states will not allow ballots received after Election Day to be counted, even if they were mailed weeks before.

Voting in person might be tedious, complicated, or even dangerous.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

Most states that provide for early voting or mail-in voting or absentee voting, whatever you want to call it, also provide an alternate method for delivering your ballot to your secretary of state in time to be counted.

***It's called DROP-OFF BALLOTING.***

Check the policy in your state about DROP-OFF BALLOTING.  
Do an on-line search for "DROP-OFF BALLOT LOCATIONS" in your state.  
Deliver your ballot to an official drop-off location on or before November 3rd if that option is available to you.

It's time to check the procedure in your state for receiving an absentee ballot.  
Remember to sign your ballot when it's completed.
Deliver your ballot to an official  DROP-OFF BALLOT LOCATION on or before November 3rd if that option is available to you.

It's faster than mailing your ballot; it's safer than in person voting; it's convenient; it's easy; it's free; and it won't overwhelm the Post Office.

Spread the word.

P.S. Depending on the rules in your state, it's possible your vote may be tabulated ahead of Election Day, so there won't be a days- or weeks-long wait to determine a winner in each race.

Unlike his wild interview with Jonathan Swan, Trump can hope, as the incumbent, that in the three presidential debates, starting September 29th, he appears assured and confident.

"If this incredible interview shows one thing, it's that the president is completely out of gas. The job has chewed him up, spit him out, and there's nothing left in the tank."  -- Max Burns

"How can you watch this exchange and think that this person should be in charge of managing the response to a deadly pandemic?"  -- Republican Voters Against Trump

"It's honestly hilarious that this is the guy who supposedly wants MORE debates"  -- Jon Favreau

It's scary to recall the title of Rick Wilson's book: "Everything Trump Touches Dies"

Ninety-one days 'til the election.

It's Barack Obama's birthday: found this quote from his May 2013 Ohio State University commencement address:  
"The cynics may be the loudest voices---but I promise you, they will accomplish the least. It's those folks who stay at it, those who do the long, hard, committed work of change, that gradually push this country in the right direction and make the most lasting difference."

Trump continues to blame China for not stopping the virus in Wuhan while saying the death rate in the U.S. "is what it is" and remains "ho-hum" watching the virus out-of-control in the U.S.    
Americans are begging for help and he fails to provide leadership.

Five states (Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Utah) have relied on mail-in ballots since before the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns about voting  in person; there is no evidence to support Trump's assertion that voting by mail leads to widespread fraud.

Now, after months of criticizing vote by mail, after suggesting by tweet that the November election should be delayed, Trump has made an abrupt reversal about mail by vote - in Florida - otherwise NOT.

By tweet, Trump declared Nevada's new vote by mail law "an illegal late night coup."  
Making good on Trump's threat of legal action, the Nevada state GOP filed suit yesterday to stop Nevada's vote by mail plan, contending the new law would undermine the election's integrity.

How is it Florida gained Trump's praise?

Both Marlins and Phillies returned to play this week after both teams sitting out last week due to Marlins' outbreak of covid-19, which results in a major impact on Marlins' roster.

This week it's the Cardinals who show the fragility of this season; they are sidelined (quarantined in Milwaukee), at least until tomorrow when they're scheduled to welcome Cubs to St Louis.

It's an especially tough season for pitchers and injuries due to the long layoff and short ramp-up time to beginning the season.

MLB is tightening its coronavirus restrictions after dozens of positive tests: more masks, fewer meetings, and no letting up on "NO SPITTING."

Tonight FOX broadcasts Cubs @ Royals at 6:07 PM.

Fun to see Mahomes sitting behind the batter's box tonight in Kansas City.  
Only wish it was a Marquee night when Cubs are falling so far behind.  
Otherwise it's not as difficult to watch Royals cream Ricketts' team.   
Ricketts do not understand Chicago or appreciate Cub fans.

I am troubled hearing Trump rant about Biden "hurting God."    
Whatever our present notion of God is is not all that God is.  
As St Augustine boldly stated: "Si enim comprehendis, non est Deus" (If we comprehend it, it is not God").

Trump's experience with God seems small.

For those of you not into the Latin... a classmate shared: "I have no idea what your post means. I have never understood the concept of God. I just know it's ridiculous when Trump says Biden will hurt God."

Biden findin' his Biden... MVP,  Madame Vice President.

               Biden - Harris  2020

         * a coalition of conscience *

        Eighty-four days 'til the election.

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is being sabotaged by Trump and his appointee, Louis DeJoy. The USPS is as sacred as the 1st amendment, as cherished by our country as freedom of religion, as critical to freedom as the Constitution. Trump and Louis DeJoy are intentionally tearing down this fundamental part of our democracy.

The USPS employs over 500,000 people and is the #1 employer of veterans.

Hours have been slashed, mail is to be left behind and routes to go unfilled. The USPS is critical to cities and especially to rural communities where no other service will deliver. Whether Democrat, Republican, or Independent, Americans rely on the postal service for paychecks, medicine, and other critical correspondence. Yet mail vital to American survival is being delayed for weeks.

USPS employees are part of the life blood of America. The USPS is too important to life in America and American democracy to be vulnerable to partisan politics.

(Tampering with the mail and tampering with elections are federal crimes.)

Many Ohio State football fans who voted for Trump in 2016 and have remained faithful supporters are irate. They blame Trump for mismanaging the coronavirus pandemic, he never had a plan.

The Big Ten Conference has canceled its football season: the Buckeyes will not play football this season. There will be no games: no tailgating, jammed stadiums, or marching bands.

It is predicted Trump will take a hit at the polls.

Meanwhile, what is Trump doing?  
He's back in birther mode - a desperate, deplorable distraction.

White House correspondent S.V. Date asked Trump during yesterday's coronavirus task force briefing: "Do you regret at all all the lying you've done to the American people? All the dishonesties?"

"That who has done?" Trump replied.

"You have done," said Date.

Trump paused and then moved on to the next question.

Date has reported about Trump's stream of falsehoods across nearly every topic and in any setting noting the stream of falsehoods is corroding America's democracy as it normalizes lies coming from the nation's highest office.

Fact checkers at the Washington Post say "Trump's tsunami of untruths just keeps looming larger and larger. His persistent downplaying of the coronavirus, suppression of warnings from experts, and repeated pushes to prematurely reopen businesses, speculating that the virus will just 'go away' has contributed to a resurgence of COVID-19 in the U.S. that's killing more than a thousand people each day."

Based on his track record, there is zero reason to trust Donald Trump. Zero.

Senate Republicans left D.C. without completing their work.  
When will they be back? after Labor Day.  
(Mitch McConnell controls the Senate agenda).