Cheeto: Tell a lie often enough and people will believe it

At least, the gullible people.

Well, the ones gullible enough to support him and send him money, and that's all he wants, anyway.

Of course, he didn't invent the concept.

From Psychology Today, dated 1/2022 -

Illusory Truth, Lies, and Political Propaganda: Part 1

Repeat a lie often enough and people will come to believe it.

Many of us are familiar with the quotation, “Repeat a lie often enough and people will eventually come to believe it.”

Not ironically, the adage — often attributed to the infamous Nazi Joseph Goebbels — is true and has been validated by decades of research on what psychology calls the “illusory truth effect.” First described in a 1977 study by Temple University psychologist Dr. Lynn Hasher and her colleagues, the illusory truth effect occurs when repeating a statement increases the belief that it’s true even when the statement is actually false.¹

[snip] [referring to the novel 1984]

“The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

Needless to say, “doublethink,” along with Orwell’s description of “newspeak,” gave rise to the modern term “doublespeak” defined by Merriam-Webster as “language used to deceive usually through concealment or misrepresentation of truth.”

Cheeto hasn't just embraced the idea.  He's living the idea. 

From The Hill (emphasis added by me) -

Trump slams Biden, voices unsubstantiated election fraud claims at first rally of 2022

Former President Trump held his first rally of the midterm year in Arizona on Saturday, taking the opportunity to hit President Biden and continue to voice his unsubstantiated claims about election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. 

In an address from Florence, Ariz., Trump covered a plethora of issues, including the coronavirus pandemic, the economy, foreign policy and crime

He *does* whine like a baby..an absolutely vindictive baby...when one of his acolytes doesn't wholeheartedly support his lies.

From KPNX -

Trump says he will never endorse Ducey for Senate ahead of Arizona visit

Former President Donald Trump is again ridiculing Gov. Doug Ducey, more than a year after he criticized him for certifying Arizona's 2020 election results that declared Joe Biden the state's victor.  

The day before his scheduled visit to Pinal County, Trump released a statement Friday announcing he'd never support Ducey's possible ambitions to run for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

 

In short, the 2020 election didn't turn out how he'd prefer, and the Arizona fraudit didn't go his way either, and Cheeto is pissed.  And showing it.

Whether it's Ducey or DeSantis (or whoever), GQP governors think of gaslighting as a political strategy

Yes, Ducey is running for Senate in 2024 and DeSantis is running for president in the same year.

And both are doing so on the backs of dead people.

From Merriam-Webster -

From the Tampa Bay Times -

Gov. Ron DeSantis State of the State address: ‘We were right and they were wrong’

Gov. Ron DeSantis had a simple message to Floridians during his address to state lawmakers on Tuesday.

“We were right,” he said, “and they were wrong.”

Celebrating a booming economy and riding high in the polls during his run for reelection, DeSantis echoed his talking points over the last year during his State of the State address to state lawmakers on Tuesday.

62000+ people, and their friends and families, may disagree with him.

From Johns Hopkins University -

DeSantis lies about Covid.  A lot.

From Columbia University -

COVID-19 Data Misrepresented by Florida Governor

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that the Florida Department of Health had commenced an inquiry into the state’s reporting of COVID-19 deaths, after Governor Ron DeSantis suggested that the official reports overstate the number of deaths. According to the report, Governor DeSantis and members of his staff repeatedly questioned the accuracy of the COVID-19 death rates, with his press secretary Fred Piccolo Jr. tweeting: "we can tell you definitively that Florida is counting deaths that were not directly caused by COVID-19.” Mr. Piccolo has also sought to downplay the COVID-19 pandemic in other ways. On one occasion, he erroneously tweeted: “we had one COVID death in Florida yesterday . . yes you read that right. One.” In fact, on the day in question, there were 47 deaths.

Ducey of AZ did much the same thing in his own State of the State address.

From KTAR -

Arizona Gov. Ducey promises busy 2022 with focus on education, border in State of State address

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey promised a busy 2022 and focused on improvements in education and border security during his eighth and final State of the State address on Monday.

Ducey, a Republican, spoke at the House of Representatives to kick off his final legislative session as governor and ahead of unveiling the 2022 budget on Friday.

“For those who think it’s going to be a quiet year on the Ninth Floor, you haven’t been paying attention,” Ducey said during his speech. “And as I stand here today, the job isn’t done. The goodbyes will come later, much later.

[snip]

Ducey spoke heavily on the state of education in Arizona, singling out the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and reiterating schools would remain open for in-person learning.

He vowed to open free summer camps in June aimed at catching up students in math, reading and American civics.

The governor also said critical race theory wouldn’t be taught in schools, six months after he signed a bill banning state or local governments from requiring training in the area.

From Ducey's press release on the matter of his speech -

From his speech -

[snip]

But still, there’s no denying what’s happening on a national level is straining families and seniors’ checkbooks. Washington’s spending spree, combined with mismanagement of COVID, has broken our supply chain and inflated the cost of everything. A staggering surge of 6.8 percent – food, clothing, gas, prescription drugs. The largest increase in the cost of daily life in nearly four decades. A White House in denial it’s even occurring. And a President hell bent on printing and borrowing money while raising taxes. This is not a strategy that will help working people.

When all else fails, blame others.

Yet Ducey should shoulder the blame himself.

From Katherine Davis-Young at the AZMirror in 2020 -

As COVID-19 Cases Soar, Arizona Scraps Its Own Business Closure Benchmarks

The pandemic has been devastating for many businesses, especially those that have been made to close their doors. And lawmakers have been in the difficult position of having to decide when to require businesses to shut down. Arizona had a set of benchmarks for making these decisions, but the state’s health department recently changed its own rules, effectively ruling out any future closures, regardless of how high virus numbers rise. 

In June, COVID-19 was surging in Arizona. The state’s outbreak was among the worst in the world. Gov. Doug Ducey took action. On June 17, Ducey allowed cities and counties to issue mask mandates. On June 29, he ordered bars, gyms, movie theaters, and water parks to close. The policy actions appeared to work. Cases fell dramatically.

In August, when Arizona's outbreak appeared to be stabilizing, Ducey announced a set of rules for allowing businesses to reopen. He based his plan around the state’s virus data.

[snip]

But a COVID-19 report from the Department of Health Services released Friday included an unannounced change to the benchmarks. The document shows there's now no difference between moderate transmission business guidelines and substantial transmission rules. The change eliminates any level of virus spread that would require closures of any business other than some bars and nightclubs. 

Even though Arizona is seeing higher caseloads than it was when the benchmarks were created, Christ said the state’s rules were really never meant to be used to decide when businesses should close.

From Johns Hopkins University -

Of course, lying about Covid isn't a concept that Ducey (or DeSantis) invented; Cheeto may have perfected it.  From The Atlantic in 2020 -

All the President’s Lies About the Coronavirus

An unfinished compendium of Trump’s overwhelming dishonesty during a national emergency

President Donald Trump has repeatedly lied about the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s preparation for this once-in-a-generation crisis.

Here, a collection of the biggest lies he’s told as the nation endures a public-health and economic calamity. This post will be updated as needed.

Still, as bad as DeSantis' lies were, Ducey's may be worse.  Florida has approximately 3X the population of Arizona, yet only 2.5X the Covid deaths.

From the U.S. Census Bureau -

When it comes to Doug Ducey, maybe we should worry less about the "politicization of public health" and more about "follow the money"

From KJZZ -

Gov. Ducey's new school program has some worried about politicization of public health

Gov. Doug Ducey’s new program to provide money to parents whose school closes has some worried it will only further politicize public health. 

Governor spokesperson C.J. Karamargin says the Open for Learning Recovery Benefit program looks to provide parents options rather than closing schools.

From Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, published in the Arizona Capitol Times -

Closing Schools Not An Option

Gov. Doug Ducey is doubling down in his fight with public schools over their virus policies, offering cash to parents to send their kids to private or parochial schools if a school – or even a classroom – has to shut down for even one day due to an outbreak of Covid. 

In what his office describes as “preemptive action,” Ducey announced Tuesday his Open for Learning Recovery Benefit program to provide up to $7,000 for parents who face “financial and educational barriers due to unexpected school closures.” It can be used for things like child care and online tutoring. 

But the cash, taken from federal COVID-relief programs, also can be used for tuition so parents can send their youngster to a private school, covering what gubernatorial press aide C.J. Karamargin said are “any charges from the school: tuition, books, uniforms if required.” 

Ducey's press release on the subject is here.

Ducey has a habit of redirecting public funds into private pockets.

Also from Fischer, published in the Cap Times, this one from 2017  -

Ducey defends using public funds for private schools

Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday defended state laws that let parents use public funds to send children to private and parochial schools.

But he sidestepped questions of whether he would sign legislation to open up that possibility to all 1.1 million public school students statewide.

From the NEA -

AZ Gov. Ducey and Betsy DeVos share a commitment to destroying public schools

When Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sent a congratulatory tweet (see below) to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey after he expanded a voucher scheme within his state, the gesture represented a pat on the back from someone the governor respected and considered a mentor.

However, for education activists, DeVos’s tweet was like a bright warning flare against a dark midnight sky. A signal to let everyone know that, when it comes to public education, DeVos, considered a four-star general among her privatization peers, and Ducey, who is seeking re-election in November, share the same agenda: dismantling our public schools.

From the Phoenix New Times in 2018 -

Author John Carreyrou Tells How Theranos Scammed Doug Ducey and Arizona

It was April 6, 2015, and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey was standing at a podium at the Scottsdale laboratory of blood-testing startup Theranos.

"Some people are born to be leaders," he said. "Some people are born to be business leaders. Elizabeth Holmes is both of those."

Doug's good friend, Elizabeth Holmes, has since been convicted of fraud.

From NBCNews, also in 2018 

Emails show Arizona governor's cozy relationship with Uber

Emails released Wednesday between Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's staff and Uber executives shed new light on a cozy relationship between the first-term Republican and the company whose autonomous vehicle recently was involved in a fatal crash.

The previously unseen emails released by the governor's office were first reported by The Guardian newspaper. They show that Ducey's staff worked closely with the company as it began experimenting with autonomous vehicles that the company began testing on public roads in August 2016 without informing the public.

From KNAU in 11/2021 -

Ducey’s effort to use federal COVID-19 relief money for private school vouchers has funded fewer than 100

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s disputed effort to use federal COVID-19 relief money for a private school voucher program has funded fewer than 100 vouchers. That’s despite receiving more than 2,000 applications.

Ducey’s plan offers a $7,000 voucher to families whose child’s school requires masks so that they can attend school elsewhere. Critics say it's another example of Republicans trying to undermine public education.

Ducey has a pattern of being all about the money, a pattern that pre-dates his political career.

From the American Bridge PAC in 2014 -

THE COLD HARD TRUTH ABOUT DOUG DUCEY'S COLD STONE LEGACY

The Wall Street Journal reported this week on the “10 worst franchise brands in terms of Small Business Administration loan defaults.” Despite touting its rampant success as a reason he would make a good governor, Republican Doug Ducey’s Cold Stone Creamery was found near the top of that list, with its franchisees “defaulting at more than double the rate for SBA borrowers who invested in” other chains, per the Journal’s analysis.

Like an ice cream cone in the summer heat, Cold Stone’s business plan, for which Ducey has claimed credit, created a sticky mess for many franchise owners. Numerous franchisees have been quoted saying Cold Stone’s business model was “defective” and pushed the cost of running a store so high that it was difficult for individuals owners to make a profit. Franchisees have called Ducey’s business practices “deceptive,” and said the company’s business model pushed personal bankruptcies, cost savings, and homes.

[snip]

CNN: Cold Stone Business Plan Was Ducey’s

Early Success Of Cold Stone Was Credited In Part To “Ducey’s Master Plan” For Franchisee Relations, Which Included A Franchisee Advisory Council And Ways For Franchisees To Communicate With Each Other About Issues And Ideas. According to CNN Money, “Six years ago CEO Doug Ducey emerged from a Cold Stone Creamery retreat in Arizona with a plan to expand to 1,000 profitable ice cream stores by 2005–a lofty goal, considering that the company had just 74 at the time. Ducey has more than hit his mark. Cold Stone Creamery has nearly doubled the number of its shops each year since 2001–zooming past the 1,000-store goal this month–which places it among the top 20 fastest-growing franchises in the United States. What’s Ducey’s secret? Cold Stone’s butterfat-rich ice cream, served up with exotic accessories such as apple pie filling and graham-cracker pie crust, isn’t as crucial as you might think. Many in the industry credit the company’s unusual formula for franchisee relations–a communications loop that makes owners as happy as customers and keeps stores on a fast track to profit. Ducey’s master plan called for a Cold Stone franchisee advisory council–a group of owners that could serve as a clearinghouse for not just gripes but also new ideas. Last year the seven-member panel, which meets four times annually and runs periodic conference calls for franchisees, won the company’s support for a national buying program that gets all owners lower prices for supplies.” [CNN Money, 4/1/05]

Well, at least Dougie's consistent - he has never been shy with other people's money.

Is "whereas" Doug Ducey's version of "let them eat cake"?

 Covid is still ravaging the US, and Arizona, but the most Ducey will do is create a PSA urging vaccinations and to issue an executive order about an "Enhanced Surveillance Advisory".

There *are* 51 uses of the word "whereas" in Ducey's order (EO 2021-21)

Maybe he thinks that those can treat Covid.  Like ivermectin can't.

He better hope they can, because, late December PSA notwithstanding, he's been using his office to fight masks and vaccines.

From EO 2021-15 -

From EO 2021-15 -

He appears to be concerned with his legacy, especially since his legacy will almost certainly be all about dead Arizonans.

From Johns Hopkins University -

Also from JHU -

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated. 

Note: I would have linked to the executive orders, but I couldn't, so I didn't.

In a Christmas gift to the R base, Doug Ducey says that infecting others or endangering them is a "personal choice"

From KJZZ -

Experts urge masks for all in AZ. Ducey says it's personal choice

Public health policies and politics continue to collide in Arizona. Pima County is reimposing a mask requirement in public places as the omicron variant spreads. But Gov. Doug Ducey says that kind of mandate is unenforceable in the state.

In response to Pima County’s plan, Ducey tweeted Arizonans who want to wear a mask can, but he said he believes it’s a personal choice

. 

The last time I heard, masks are about not exposing others to Covid.

And, like a good 21st century R, Ducey is all about using his position to cause harm to others.

Covid numbers, from the Mayo Clinic -

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated.  

Election season has started in AZ

 

The questions on each ballot will vary based on which jurisdiction/city one is in..

Mine were for a budget override and increase for Phoenix Union High School District, and given Dougie's propensity for using money to discourage school districts from requiring masks, it may be needed.

I voted "yes".

Ducey follows the GOP playbook: puts fox in charge of henhouse security

In case you missed it...

This has all of the hallmarks of a financial scandal waiting to happen.

From KTAR -

Arizona Gov. Ducey appoints new Liquor Licenses and Control director

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Thursday a new director for the state’s Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.

Tracy Uffelman replaces John Cocca, who resigned from his post in April. Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Col. Heston Silbert has been serving as the interim director.

[snip]

Uffelman held numerous positions working at Alliance Beverage from 1990 to 2013, including general manager, director of sales, hotels and resorts as well as vice president of legislative and community relations, according to the release.

Prior to that, he was the western regional manager for William Grant and Sons from 1991 to 2001, a family-owned company that sells whisky and other spirits to almost 200 markets.

[snip]

Uffelman became a partner of TBK Partnership LLC. after his time with Alliance Beverage, according to the release.

From the website of the Arizona Corporation Commission -

From the website of the AZ Department of Liquor -

TBK looks to have gone bankrupt but the actual docs are available only on PACER (the document system for the federal court system) and they want money to access the docs.  Something that isn't in the blogging budget :) .

From the Inforuptcy website -

Ducey's press release bragging about the appointment is here.

Arizona makes the national news again. And again, it's not in a good way.

 At least it's not for the fraudit this time.

From The Hill -

Arizona father threatens to zip tie principal after son told to quarantine

An Arizona father threatened his son's elementary school principal with a citizen's arrest while wielding zip ties after he received news that his child would be required to quarantine after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Vail Unified School District officials told a local NBC News station that the man, who was not named, arrived at Mesquite Elementary School on Thursday morning along with his child and two other men to protest the quarantine policy.

The story from KVOA, the "local NBC News station" referenced in The Hill's story -

Police on-scene at Vail elementary school after group threatens to zip-tie principal over COVID-19 protocols

A conflict over the COVID-19 quarantine policy at a Vail Unified School District elementary school has been resolved shortly after protesters threatened to make a citizen's arrest on the principal Thursday morning.

According to VUSD officials, a student at Mesquite Elementary School was asked to quarantine after he reportedly was in close contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19.

VUSD said this decision was made per state policy, citing that when a school in Arizona experiences a positive case of COVID-19, it is required to report the case to its county health department - in Vail's case, Pima County Health Department. Then, the county decides which individuals need to quarantine in order to prevent a potential outbreak in the community.

AP picked it up, too -

1 arrest after clash over Arizona school’s COVID mandates

The father of an Arizona elementary school student was arrested after he and two other men showed up to the campus with zip ties, threatening to make a “citizen’s arrest” on the school principal over a COVID-19 quarantine, school officials said Friday.

Diane Vargo, principal of Mesquite Elementary School in Tucson, said the parent came to her office Thursday with his son in tow. The father was upset the child would have to isolate and miss a school field trip because of possible exposure to someone with COVID-19. She said two other men also “barged in.”

So far, I haven't found the arrested man's name, but I fully expect Dougie has it and will pardon the man, if it gets that far.  Dougie may just make a call and have Markie force/influence the Pima County Attorney's Office to drop the case.

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated. 

3. Don't commit or even threaten violence.

In a shot across Ducey's bow, the Biden administration looks to protect students, staff, and teachers

From Politico -

States can’t block federal funds for districts that mandate masks, Education secretary says

Public schools who want to institute mask mandate rules can't be denied federal funds, even if their state governments try to pressure them out of mask mandates, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said.

The Florida state government threatened to withhold funds for schools in Broward and Alachua counties if they imposed mandatory mask rules. But the Biden administration has proposed using federal funds to make up the difference, with Cardona specifying Sunday that the schools "do not have to get the green light for [their] governor to use these funds."

While the Politico article cited only the Florida example, Cardona's statement may have been directed at Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona.

From Jim Small of the AZ Mirror - 

Ducey: Schools won’t get COVID aid money if they require masks

A day after a judge ruled that a new state law barring Arizona public and charter schools from requiring mask use can’t be enforced until late September, Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday said school districts considering enacting temporary mask mandates won’t receive some federal COVID-19 relief money unless they call off those plans.

And those who have already enacted mask mandates seemingly won’t be able to claim pandemic aid payments they were expecting.

Ducey's press release about his apparently forbidden act is here.

From Twitter, Congressman Greg Stanton's response -

It's almost as if Ducey plans to ascend to the Republican nomination for president on dead bodies and criminality.

Who does he think he is, Trump?

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey publicly siphons federal funds into private pockets.

Could have said he is using federal funds to encourage the deaths of students, teachers, and staff or that he's not one to allow a pandemic to get in the way of a good grift.

Would have been just as true.

From ABC15 -

Gov. Ducey announces $163M in grants for schools without mask mandates

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Tuesday that he has allocated $163 million in grants, using federal funds, for district and charter schools that are "following all state laws" and offering in-person learning.

The funding, part of the American Rescue Plan, will be distributed through the state's Education Plus Up Grant program, the Governor's Office said in a news release.

Ducey's press release is here.

Kathy Hoffman, defending Arizona's schools, calls out Arizona's governor

From KTAR- 

Arizona’s schools chief slams Ducey for limiting COVID mitigation policies

Arizona’s schools chief didn’t mince words Wednesday criticizing Gov. Doug Ducey limiting the ability for schools in the state to enforce COVID-19 mitigation measures, including requiring face masks.

“You can tell that he’s not asking our school leaders what would help them have in-person instruction, he’s just making big political moves to get on national TV,” Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad.

Pic courtesy the AZ Department of Education

Even pediatricians think kids in school should wear a mask, but Doug Ducey disagrees

 The American Academy of Pediatricians guidance is here.

From NPR -

Everyone Should Wear A Mask In Schools, Vaccinated Or Not, U.S. Pediatricians Say

The American Academy of Pediatrics released updated guidance for schools Monday, recommending that all students over 2 years old, along with staff, wear masks, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The new AAP guidance comes less than two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its own recommendations, calling for indoor mask-wearing for unvaccinated students ages 2 and up, as well as staff. (Children under 12 are not yet eligible for vaccination.) The CDC notes, however, that schools might find universal masking necessary in areas with low vaccination rates, increasing community transmission or a number of other factors.

Health professionals may say one thing, but Doug Ducey (et. al.) knows better.

From Cronkite News -

Arizona’s ban on mask mandates in schools criticized by health experts

Health experts are concerned that Arizona’s recently approved budget, which bans public schools and universities from enforcing mask mandates and COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated students, is endangering public health across the state.

[snip]

Ducey’s executive order stated that students could not “be mandated to take the COVID-19 vaccine or submit COVID-19 vaccination documents.” Under the order, students also cannot be required to be tested or wear masks to participate in learning.

“Public education is a public right, and taxpayers are paying for it,” Ducey said on his website. “We need to make our public universities available for students to return to learning.”

Ducey's executive order in question is 2021-16.

Dougie may think he knows better than folks who do this all day every day, but he doesn't have a medical license. From the website of the Arizona Medical Board -

Got the same (lack of) results when looking for an osteopath's license or a PA's license. :)

Two things:

1. Wear a mask

2. Get vaccinated