Weekend Open Thread
[guest post by Dana]
Hello! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.
In a pre-news item, I wanted to share that, for the first time during this cockamamie pandemic, I experienced “mask drama” play out in my little local market. I should preface it by saying that my neck of the woods has an inordinately high population of elderly people. This is not uncommon: you arrive at a four-way neighborhood stop and you can see three shocks of white hair and maybe glasses above the steering wheels of the old Mercedes sedans and ancient Cadillac boats at the other three stop signs. You, because you are not old and follow the rules, wait for the appropriate driver to make their move. But no one does. They sit. And their neighbors sit. And everyone waits. Including you because you understand that safety demands it… Finally, one of the too-big cars slowly lurches forward, as if waking from a long nap. That in turn seems to signal the other drivers that it’s time to go. All at once. Meanwhile, you know better, and you wait. So begins the collective lumbering dance across the intersection. Eventually, everyone miraculously manages to safely cross and you feel like you just ran the gauntlet and survived. Which you did. So, when I zipped into my neighborhood market on Christmas Eve morning, I pretty much knew who might be in the store because I had scanned the parking lot. Sure enough, seconds after I entered the store, an elderly woman’s raspy but firm voice LOUDLY called out: “PUT YOUR MASK ON!!” I reflexively checked my face and breathed a sigh of relief. Not me! I turned around to see that the target was a 20-something a few feet behind me. Again the order came, but this time it was louder and more specific: “PUT YOUR MASK ON NOW! I’M TALKING TO YOU!! YES, Y-O-U IN THE GREEN JACKET!!” You could hear everyone at the front of the store breathe a collective sigh of relief: no green jackets, masks in place. Everyone seemed frozen on the spot though, torn between fearing the shaky finger of accusation finding its way to one of us and exposing some unknown sin and watching the embarrassed young woman trying to laugh it all off while putting her mask on. Anyway, about 10 minutes later I was in a checkout line and glanced to my right. Two lines over from me I saw the same masked-shamed young woman in the green jacket. Except, she was now unmasked. And SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TWO OTHER UNMASKED COMPANIONS! I chuckled. Reinforcements! While I understood the elderly woman’s concern (and the concerns of the other elderly shoppers), I nonetheless continued on with my business because the unmasked trio was about to exit the store. And because I am not an 80-year old baller with a commanding voice and presence and loaded bony finger of confrontation ready to go off on some idiot [without a mask]. But I can’t wait until I am.
Here are a few news items to discuss. Please feel free to share anything you think might interest readers, and make sure to include links.
First news item
Back when she was a full-time model, Melania Trump used to get the odd fashion magazine cover. No more—and that seems have her hubby a little grouchy on Christmas. “The greatest of all time. Fake News!” the president tweeted about the wife for whom he rarely publicly advocates. Trump retweeted a post from Breitbart sharing an article about what the First Lady wore on her way to Mar-a-Lago from D.C. on Wednesday. “The elitist snobs in the fashion press have kept the most elegant First Lady in American history off the covers of their magazines for 4 consecutive years,” the tweet from Breitbart said.
Second news item
That’s fine. But Americans need money NOW. Sign the bill so they can get it asap, and Congress can get to work and earn their keep by producing another bill for a more substantial round of payments:
Made many calls and had meetings at Trump International in Palm Beach, Florida. Why would politicians not want to give people $2000, rather than only $600? It wasn’t their fault, it was China. Give our people the money!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 25, 2020
I simply want to get our great people $2000, rather than the measly $600 that is now in the bill. Also, stop the billions of dollars in “pork”.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2020
Third news item
“I saved at least 8 Republican Senators, including Mitch, from losing in the last Rigged (for President) Election,” Trump tweeted Thursday. “Now they (almost all) sit back and watch me fight against a crooked and vicious foe, the Radical Left Democrats. I will NEVER FORGET!”
Fourth news item
Nashville is turning from relief to resolve, Mayor John Cooper said Friday evening after an early morning explosion downtown upended Christmas Day and caused destruction for several blocks.
No known suspects nor motive have been announced behind a bomb that detonated inside a parked RV on Nashville’s historic Second Avenue near Lower Broadway.
Police have found what they believe are human remains but had not confirmed any fatalities.
Fifth news item
Prayers needed during this most grievous of all winters:
Francesca Kaczynski, also known as Bean, Beanie or Beans, died December 24th of complications from cancer. She was nine months old.
In her short life, Francesca was an outgoing, bold and curious baby. She had huge, deep brown eyes that followed whatever her parents were doing. She loved eating and being held close, particularly in the evenings.
And on a lighter note, if you aren’t following the antics of this rescue beaver, then you’re missing some fascinating fun:
So I’ve posted TikToks from this woman before…she rescued a beaver and is rehabilitating him for eventual reintegration into the wild
But he can’t stop being a beaver, so he keeps trying to build a dam in her house using her furniture and other items. https://t.co/kUspyG9p6q pic.twitter.com/QjAi7iAqsa
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) November 22, 2020
Have a good weekend.
–Dana
Good morning.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/26/2020 @ 10:26 amI hope everyone had a great Christmas. We had a really lovely quiet one.
Think of that $600 as money coming from children who will have to pay down this debt. I know it’s gotten so big we can’t really comprehend paying for it, but why are we doing this?
I hear about rent assistance programs, I see folks demanding student loans be paid back, don’t those ideas make those paying rent on time and paying student loans feel like suckers?
I would much rather see a program where every adult citizen in the country gets those electronic food stamps, usable only for curbside or delivery unless it’s just not available somewhere, and in exchange the recipient agrees to avoid travel (with no enforcement, just folks giving their word). These checks we got last time were signed with the name of a guy running for office months later. It’s just a founding father’s nightmare. As tempting as it is, we’ve got to reconsider this whole idea.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 10:45 amWhile I don’t necessarily disagree overall, Dustin, I know that the government is going to overspend and ignore the debt and tell future generations, too bad, so sad. Simply said, they will continue to spend like drunken sailors and not give a rip about who is harmed by increasingly excessive debt in the future. So, if there is going to be massive spending, why not spend it on Americans who are suffering during a pandemic? Citizens had no control over the pandemic and how it impacted them. They didn’t choose for this to happen. So I would rather excessive spending at least be directed toward those in need. And if it simultaneously exposes and shames the pork spenders who get away with this sh!t every single year with appropriation bills, and under every single president, then so be it. Let’s face it: $600 for every American during a catastrophic event isn’t what’s breaking the bank. Not by a long shot.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/26/2020 @ 10:50 amTraitor George Blake (98) has died.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/26/2020 @ 11:01 amVery true points. It’s a hard time, people are desperate for help, and the help is not the reason this overall spending is breaking the bank. I don’t even think the democrats have some sinister Cloward Piven plan. I think mostly they have good intentions, realizing how financially uneven the year has been with winners and losers, how destabilizing that is.
I guess we’ll see what this means in a few years. I think we all expect checks with a politician’s name on them to be a solution to many crisis going forward. If Katrina happened next year, if 9/11 happened next year, we’d see a lot of calls for a check, and a lot of condemnation of those (republicans) who say no.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 11:32 amWell, the year is ending for the Montagu family in classic 2020 pandemic fashion. We were looking forward to skiing at Mt. Baker on Christmas Day, which is traditionally uncrowded with zero lines, so it’s usually one of the very best times to ski. However, it was unseasonably pouring rain at the base, so we turned around and went home. Five hours driving for naught, and the only mammal who loved every minute of it was Nellie, our semi-black lab.
Paul Montagu (77c694) — 12/26/2020 @ 11:41 amAs for that Nashville bombing, if it was the bomber’s intention to knock out civilian telecommunications infrastructure (after all, it is being called an “intentional act”), then isn’t this being called an act of domestic terrorism?
Paul I remember a few years ago my police radio stopped working, and soon I realized everyone’s in our little area had stopped working, and our 911 PSAP had also stopped working. It was nothing sinister. Construction had knocked out a few cables underground. I think a lot of our critical infrastructure is vulnerable if someone just happens to know. I also think whoever set that bomb believes they are the good guys (hence the warning). They say they have already developed suspects.
I hope this isn’t the first of a bunch of domestic terror acts against the ‘deep state’, etc. The anger from places that I used to consider almost mainstreem is amazing. If you read instapundit you will consistently find comments hoping for violence. i know most of these guys are obese losers, but we’ve been at war for 20 years. There are a lot of folks who need help who didn’t get it. Every time Trump says Jan 6 will by wild, I think the Proud Boys types hope there are a few more of these RVs.
Whether I’m paranoid or not, everyone should think about their first aid kits, water supplies, food, just in case they need help and can’t get it. Families should have a plan for if communication fails. I’d make sure to keep a mostly full tank of gas in my car, have a little cash.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 12:03 pmThat’s fine. But Americans need money NOW. Sign the bill so they can get it asap, and Congress can get to work and earn their keep by producing another bill for a more substantial round of payments
Another bill??? They took six months to cook up this pork chop so if you believe they’ll get right on it to fry up another bill w/more $ for AMERICANS PDQ I have me a bridge in Brooklyn to sell’ya. Won’t happen.
$600 is sucker bait while funneling millions overseas in “aid.” It’s insult to every U.S. citizen going through this hell. No. Absolutely not.
DO NOT SIGN THIS PORK CHOP, MR. PRESIDENT. STAND FIRM.
Pocket veto or whatever. Another 10 or 20 days won’t matter to Americans already squirreled way for the holiday period. The Executive proposes; the Congress disposes. Strip out the pork and only accept a STAND ALONE Covid bill for aid to Americans and w/a $2,000 direct payment to U.S. citizens and get it done by the first of the year. The computer-literate staff rodents in bed w/t lobbyists running around the Capitol know how to do it– and quickly. It can be done.
My late grandfather, a banker and a generous soul, had a motto he lived by: PAY YOURSELF FIRST.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/26/2020 @ 12:05 pm@6. AT&T??? What makes you think it wasn’t just some pissed off, wannabe guitar-strumming good ol’boy country singing bumpkin repeatedly rejected by the Nashville clique and just decided to go full Dukes of Hazzard on ’em and skunk-up the party by blowing up his trailer on wheels.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/26/2020 @ 12:13 pmThe bomber took efforts to minimize loss of life. Not just the warning, but calling the police (the shots fired call) making sure someone knew about the bomb and had a chance to do something about victims in the area. They even timed it well to give a good amount of time. Most folks who were just dejected losers who wanted to ‘skunk-up the party’ wouldn’t be able to do that, and wouldn’t want to.
Great point, but isn’t Trump going to be unemployed in 24 days? Does he have any power over a veto proof majority? The time for Trump to make a difference was before, when he was goofing off on twitter. this is just noise, showbiz, distraction. Remember one thing, DCSCA: Trump does not care about you or anyone else out there. He doesn’t care at all if you get $600 or if you die this second. He simply doesn’t care.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 12:23 pmLin Wood is a tweet or two away from accusing the Queen of England of dealing drugs.
lurker (d8c5bc) — 12/26/2020 @ 12:39 pmAnimal Facts
nk (1d9030) — 12/26/2020 @ 12:40 pmFun Facts: Beavers’ teeth never stop growing, and may eventually grow into their brain. That’s why they constantly gnaw on objects to keep them at a manageable length.
@10. Smack Nashville in the chops in the AM on Xmas morning… not people… and leave a ‘demo tape’message?
Yeah. Right… ‘Just’a good ol’ boys; never meanin’ no harm…’
_____
He pushed for for $1200 since the last batch; the executive proposes; the Congress disposes. The corporatist delegates responsibility and tells staff to get it done. But he doesn’t tell Congress how to grind the pork into the sausage. It up to Nancy and Mitch to fry up a clean bill. Get it done. When he leaves is irrelevant but going out the door insisting on $2K for Americans is a smart move. If the parties go full swampy again and deny Americans while funding overseas pork, it just reinforces why Trump was elected in the first place.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/26/2020 @ 12:47 pmThis Trump defender wonders if the Nashville explosion is about voting and Dominion, or maybe even the NSA Deep State.
DRJ (aede82) — 12/26/2020 @ 1:10 pmI don’t post too much anymore—the negativity makes me more sad than I need to be (though it is of course everyone’s right to express themselves however they wish).
But I wanted to wish Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all. I wish everyone well.
Simon Jester (72e89c) — 12/26/2020 @ 1:14 pmHey, SJ. Merry Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
DRJ (aede82) — 12/26/2020 @ 1:16 pmSo far … the first Nashville person of interest.
DRJ (aede82) — 12/26/2020 @ 1:22 pmI sincerely hope you’re right! Just some loser who managed to put together a bomb.
Regarding your Trump argument… the stimulus payola job didn’t get done. Trump failed. We can point fingers I guess, but he ran on a platform of getting those deals done. Never seemed to do it. In this case it’s quite a failure, since it was Team D begging to give more money, Trump’s team fighting it. You have to really have a lot of trust for Trump’s word to buy that he’s sincere at this point. But in 24 days, it won’t matter.
Simon Jester, I hope you had an awesome Christmas!
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 1:23 pmI hear about rent assistance programs, I see folks demanding student loans be paid back, don’t those ideas make those paying rent on time and paying student loans feel like suckers?
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 10:45 am
It makes me feel fortunate that unlike some people who were my workmates not too many months ago, I still have a job and can afford to pay mine. The checks are pointless. Unlike the last checks I would rather see the money go to those who were directly affected by government shutdown of businesses.
I hope this isn’t the first of a bunch of domestic terror acts against the ‘deep state’, etc. The anger from places that I used to consider almost mainstreem is amazing. If you read instapundit you will consistently find comments hoping for violence.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 12:03 pm
I hope so too Dustin. The problem is the anger is being stoked by the President of The United States, his adult offspring, his campaign, his sycophants in the Republican Party and right wing media. I can’t figure out if this is just a combination of a childish, narcissistic loser in chief who can’t admit he lost, or is it something else. Either way, I wouldn’t be to surprised if people get hurt as a result.
ERIC COOMER, Ph.D., Plaintiff
vs.
DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT, INC., SIDNEY POWELL, SIDNEY POWELL, P.C., RUDOLPH GIULIANI, JOSEPH OLTMANN, FEC UNITED, SHUFFLING MADNESS MEDIA, INC. dba CONSERVATIVE DAILY, JAMES HOFT, TGP COMMUNICATIONS LLC dba THE GATEWAY PUNDIT, MICHELLE MALKIN, ERIC METAXAS, CHANEL RION, HERRING NETWORKS, INC. dba ONE AMERICA NEWS NETWORK, and NEWSMAX MEDIA, INC.,
Defendants
And
Dominion Demands Retraction of Sidney Powell’s Defamatory Falsehoods.
Purple Haze (34bae0) — 12/26/2020 @ 1:26 pmMerry Christmas to you, Simon Jester. Please take time to watch the beaver videos. There’s a collection of them. Each one is just fascinating and enjoyable. A good nature balm for today’s state of affairs.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:05 pmI thought all unemployment enhancements are set to end December 30, 2020. The relief will need to come sooner, not later.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:08 pm@8-
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:14 pmLet’s shut down the government-that’ll teach ‘em!
Paul @6
One year I was visiting relatives in SnoCo in September, and a brother was visiting from the Midwest, and we drove to Mt. Rainier for an overnight, but it was raining so persistently that we turned around at Longmire and went back home.
Radegunda (b6cc34) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:20 pmWe tried again the next weekend, even though it was still wet and cold. We had rooms at Paradise Lodge, but first we sat for a while in the wraparound balcony of the great hall, where the heat rises up from the massive fireplace and it gets very warm.
Next morning it was perfectly clear, and colder, and gusty. We did a little hiking and enjoyed the blue sky and the most beautiful mountain on earth.
Sometimes the flawed adventures are more memorable than the perfect ones.
#13 —
Please do not equate family business owner Trump with a genuine corporate CEO. He has a lot more in common with the guy who owns the family bakery than a CEO of a Fortune 500.
Appalled (1a17de) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:26 pmBeavers are not house pets. They are wild animals. And fish are food.
nk (1d9030) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:46 pmA 29 year old California woman may be the second person of interest in the Nashville bombing, but it sounds like she knew nothing about it.
DRJ (aede82) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:50 pmnk — that beaver is a rescue, being prepared for release into the wild when it’s mature enough. I think there’s also a pond outside where it can practice dam-building skill — at least I saw it in one beaver-rehab video.
Radegunda (b6cc34) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:52 pmCNN reports ‘person of interest’ a local boy/suicide bomber. Somebody was pissed at that Nashville sound. No doubt the whole thing will end up as lyrics in a c&w tune.
____
He has a lot more in common with the guy who owns the family bakery than a CEO of a Fortune 500.
LOL Strudel and Danish for the wife an mistresses, eh; where does Sara-Lee park her helicopters?
Pepperidge Farm. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:54 pmMy rules for golf and skiing are the same, Rad, borne of experience living in this climate: Just show up, because you’ll never know it’s like ’til you get there. It’s probably the same for Mt. Rainier.
Paul Montagu (77c694) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:56 pmOn a different note, 2020 just keeps getting up, walking over, and slapping us in the face. Starting November 2019 of last year, we drove our neighbor to chemo every week or two (and she also has COPD and an aortic aneurysm) until she moved to her daughter’s house near Jacksonville last summer. We were careful about catching CV19, and we took extra precautions for her sake. Last Sunday, the son-in-law came home with a positive diagnosis (caught it from a Boeing co-worker), then his son tested positive on Christmas Eve, and the daughter of our neighbor tested positive this morning. If our neighbor catches it, it’s over, and chances are good that she caught it or will soon.
Sign the bill so they can get it asap, and Congress can get to work and earn their keep by producing another bill for a more substantial round of payments
Not to mention another opportunity for a pork-filled 5000-page bill.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/26/2020 @ 2:58 pmTraitor George Blake (98) has died.
Many died due to his treachery. I hope his last years were terrible.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/26/2020 @ 3:01 pm“I will NEVER FORGET!”
From a man who can’t remember what he did yesterday.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/26/2020 @ 3:02 pmYea, nk, the beaver is a rescue brave who is being prepared to live in the wild. His innate compulsion to build damns is fascinating to watch come out in the unique situation in which he finds himself.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/26/2020 @ 3:06 pmHe wanders the house, collecting items he finds and stockpiles them. I’ve also watched a video of him where he drags a towel into the shower in the corner and lays down and sleeps for hours, sounding not unlike a snoring dog. And there is indeed a pond outside for him to practice the skills as well.
It is still possible to impeach Trump.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/26/2020 @ 3:06 pmThe ‘Red Slime’ Lawsuit That Could Sink Right-Wing Media
…….
……. [W]hen Rudy Giuliani, serving as the president’s lawyer, suggested that one voting company, Dominion Voting Systems, had a sinister connection to vote counts in “Michigan, Arizona and Georgia and other states.” Mr. Giuliani declared on Twitter that the company “was a front for SMARTMATIC, who was really doing the computing. Look up SMARTMATIC and tweet me what you think?”
……..
…….. Smartmatic wasn’t even used in the contested states. The company, now a major global player with over 300 employees, pulled out of the United States in 2007 after a controversy over its founders’ Venezuelan roots, and its only involvement this November was with a contract to help Los Angeles County run its election.
……..
Last week, (Smartmatic’s) lawyer sent scathing letters to the Fox News Channel, Newsmax and OAN demanding that they immediately, forcefully clear his company’s name — and that they retain documents for a planned defamation lawsuit. He has, legal experts say, an unusually strong case. And his new lawyer is J. Erik Connolly, who not coincidentally won the largest settlement in the history of American media defamation in 2017, at least $177 million, for a beef producer whose “lean finely textured beef” was described by ABC News as “pink slime.”
……..
…….Dominion Voting Systems has hired another high-powered libel lawyer, Tom Clare, who has threatened legal action against Ms. Powell and the Trump campaign. Mr. Clare said in an emailed statement that “we are moving forward on the basis that she will not retract those false statements and that it will be necessary for Dominion to take aggressive legal action, both against Ms. Powell and the many others who have enabled and amplified her campaign of defamation by spreading damaging falsehoods about Dominion.”
…….
The letters written by lawyers for Smartmatic and Dominion are “extremely powerful,” said Floyd Abrams, one of the country’s most prominent First Amendment lawyers, in an email to The New York Times. “The repeated accusations against both companies are plainly defamatory and surely have done enormous reputational and financial harm to both.”
Mr. Abrams noted that “truth is always a defense” and that, failing that, the networks may defend themselves by saying they didn’t know the charges were false, while Ms. Powell may say she was simply describing legal filings.
“It is far too early to predict how the cases, if commenced, will end,” he said. “But it is not too early to say that they would be highly dangerous to those sued.”
……..
“They have a very good case,” another First Amendment lawyer who isn’t connected to the litigation, the University of Florida professor Clay Calvert, said of Smartmatic. “If these statements are false and we are taking them as factual statements, that’s why we have defamation law.”
……..
A Dominion executive, Dominion’s director of product strategy and security, Eric Coomer, has sued various persons who have named him specifically as being part of the “Steal the Vote” conspiracy theory.
Newsmax and OAN appear likely to face the same fate as so many of President Trump’s sycophants, who have watched him lie with impunity and imitated him — only to find that he’s the only one who can really get away with it.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/26/2020 @ 3:15 pmHang in there, Paul. This virus can spread but I have seen households where one or two people get it but others don’t. Here is hoping you and yours don’t.
DRJ (aede82) — 12/26/2020 @ 3:30 pmPence can invoke 25th/art4 tomorrow, and Trump is permanently out as of tomorrow, he has no recourse before Biden is sworn in. Technically, his recourse wouldn’t have time to be implemented, but samey same. It was a good idea Jan 20th 2016, great idea today.
Colonel Klink (Ret) (1367c0) — 12/26/2020 @ 3:46 pmPence and a majority of the Cabinet.
nk (1d9030) — 12/26/2020 @ 4:00 pmIn theory. In practice, even a soundly premised impeachment (which you have derided) failed to garner but a single vote in the Senate to convict from the president’s own party. As I have been at pains to argue here, the impeachment process has been demonstrated to be a paper tiger, which will never result in the removal of a president who refuses to admit he has done something wrong.
Patterico (115b1f) — 12/26/2020 @ 4:03 pm@35: Right wing media probably fears this defamation suit as much as the NYT fears Sarah Palin’s suit against them, or Nick Sandmann’s.
beer ‘n pretzels (042d67) — 12/26/2020 @ 4:04 pmY’all know why the orange did a 180 on the $2,000 stimulus check, right? He figures, and correctly, that his faithful will donate a big part, if not all, of it to him. Messing with Pelosi and McConnell is a bonus.
nk (1d9030) — 12/26/2020 @ 4:04 pmMessing with Pelosi and McConnell while he plays golf in Florida. A double bonus.
nk (1d9030) — 12/26/2020 @ 4:05 pmThe way I read it it’s Pence and a majority of the confirmed cabinet members, of which Pence is one. Acting actor’s aren’t fully constitutionally empowered. Although that’s just my opinion of what the Appointments Clause says, so I’ll take it with a salt of slab, but YMMV, grain maybe.
There aren’t many non acting actors left, Pence, Pompeo, DeVos, Mnuchin, Perdue, Scalia, Ross, Azar, Chou, Carson, Brouillette, Wilkie. I think that’s all the senior staff eligible and bold is who I think would side with Pence in my phantasy.
To review
Colonel Klink (Ret) (1367c0) — 12/26/2020 @ 4:33 pm@18. Nancy is calling a for another vote on Monday, Dustin. If Republicans want to pee in the coffee of the citizenry on the record and send $ overseas, instead, great!
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/26/2020 @ 4:47 pmAgain, the federal budget, and the Covid relief bill, are two different things, packaged in an single omnibus (problematic) but seperate bills, both negotiated by Trump’s admin separately, then packaged in a way to streamline the signing process. You keep conflating two things that were never negotiated together as some type of “deal”, but that is just untrue.
Colonel Klink (Ret) (1367c0) — 12/26/2020 @ 4:58 pm@45.Don’t give a damn about the FB; they’ve had six months; nobody told them to do an omnibus w/a holiday countdown nor shutdown programs w/closeout dates around the holidays.
They did this to themselves. Piss on them.This is one of the reason people voted for Trump in the first place. Do a stand alone Covid bill for Americans and get $2,000 to citizens now.
Strip out the overseas pork and superfluous funding. Covid: PAY YOURSELF FIRST.
Otherwise, the president just sohldn’t sign the damn thing. =mike drop=
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/26/2020 @ 5:08 pm@43-
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/26/2020 @ 5:09 pmPence may attend cabinet meetings, but he is not a member.
@40-
Right wing media probably fears this defamation suit as much as the NYT fears Sarah Palin’s suit against them, or Nick Sandmann’s.
Fox fears it enough to run “disclaimers“ at the end of its opinion shows.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/26/2020 @ 5:16 pmto the extent Trump’s trying to get rid of the nonsense waste, it’s a shame he took so long to find this power. In 23 days he will be an unemployed twitter troll and nothing more. But maybe Biden will plagiarize Trump and demand $2k? (ducks)
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 7:45 pmPhotos of the aftermath of the Nashville bombing here, and it’s amazing that only person died (it appears to be the bomber, indicating a suicide bombing).
Paul Montagu (20ba13) — 12/26/2020 @ 7:53 pmThe bomber appears to 63-year old Anthony Warner, a white dude from nearby Antioch, motive unknown. It’d be nice if he had a manifesto. This does appear planned. He quit-claimed his house last month to a gal from LA, as if were getting his affairs in order.
Whatever Trump is trying, it won;t work. I think it’s just that Trump just woke up an thinks he will be more popular if he’s for more money,
The reason the Republicans could stop a second House bill was that a majority of the House was not in Washington on Thursday. They could only pass it by unanimous consent, which would avoid a roll call vote because a roll call would have revealed the absence of a quorum. There’s a lot of precedent for passing bills in the absence of quorum – that’s why each party stations a floor watcher ready to object in case the other party tries to slip something through – both parties fnd it convenient to operate sometimes in the absence of a quorum.
Now if Trump wanted to be for something that maybe stood a chance, he should get behind Marco Rubio’s plan for family leave fr the birth of a child in which people could borrow against Social Security benefits
https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/08934114-895a-4525-bcdd-4105215004fa/5C4F75D39ED8D44BF58128208DB426CA.economic-security-for-new-parents-act-rubio.pdf
and maybe get that, or something close to that, enacted, with Covid-19 relief added as a reason for borrowing $1,500. (approximately the amount Trump wants to add to the $600 per person)
This would help overcome the objection that it would be going to people who don’t need it and if people want it to be a grant they could work out the details of whose loans gets forgiven later.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/26/2020 @ 8:01 pmMore of what I heard about the election>
1) There will never be another election which people will have confidence in.
2) [Republican election officials] ave been threatened. Attorney General William Barr was threatened. That’s why he resigned. Sidney Powell, too, was threatened.
From the ame person as number 2:
3) Mike Pence has the power to stop the approval of the Electors by not signing a certificate.
Ditto:
4) You’ll be surprised what happens.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/26/2020 @ 8:06 pmThe call to the police in Nashville about shots fired happened at 5:30 am Friday not 4:30 Also, I got an idea from one story that the countdown of 15 minutes might have started more than one once (it ran in a loop) and from another story that it apparently exploded just a bit after another 15 minute countdown had started. There is somebody who lives nearby that they are investigating.
The RV was not parked overnight, but was parked there at 1:22 am. (they know this from surveillance video, which is ubiquitous in business districts)
It was parked outside an AT&T transmission building and disrupted telephone and Internet service (including some 911 service) and shut down the airport temporarily. It destroyed a building across the street and severely damaged others. There is a local curfew till 4:30 pm Sunday. Three people were moderately injured.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/26/2020 @ 8:16 pm3) Mike Pence has the power to stop the approval of the Electors by not signing a certificate.
That’s all he does. He doesn’t need to sign anything.
nk (1d9030) — 12/26/2020 @ 8:25 pm@49. … it’s a shame he took so long to find this power.
That would be news to NATO.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/26/2020 @ 8:27 pmDCSCA, that Trump aided NATO’s enemy is no great feat. I assure you the great Ronald Reagan could have won the cold war in a week if he had control of the Soviet leadership.
Trump promised great deals, legislative wins that cut the crap and got the job done, here in the USA. He utterly failed to do it. At the last second he realizes he has the veto power, and can leverage for certain outcomes. The way Trump employed it has pleased you, but perhaps it would have pleased you even more if he had done this stuff a month ago. As you’ve noted, Trump claimed he wanted twice as much of a handout. He failed to get that. I doubt anyone in DC wants Trump to get a win. They can just override him or pass something in three weeks when Trump is an unemployed twitter troll.
I do think Trump could have been a great president. As much as I complain about his character, he was obviously a one -termer and he could have really solved some unpopular problems. I don’t know why anybody ambitious enough to get that far doesn’t accept one term as good enough.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 8:51 pmI do think Trump could have been a great president.
Such a stable genius, how could he not have? He could gotten three or four Noble prizes, even. And it’s just circumstances that horses don’t grow feathers.
nk (1d9030) — 12/26/2020 @ 9:45 pmLOL yeah
See he gets it
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/26/2020 @ 10:33 pmR.I.P. Tony Rice, bluegrass guitarist extraordinaire
Icy (6abb50) — 12/26/2020 @ 10:49 pma soundly premised impeachment (which you have derided)
We differ as to the nature of impeachment. You seem to think that proving he committed a crime is sufficient, and I firmly believe that it has to be politically damning, such that his public support is eroded. The Senate is not a jury finding guilt of a crime, it is a political body making a political decision.
In the current case, Trump’s attempts to subvert a free and fair election is such a damning political act, where the crimes he was accused of a year ago were not (and in fact, as you have said, not even the full range of crimes he had committed).
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 1:45 am56. Trump getting Europe, long living on Russia energy resources, to start paying more of their NATO way is a good thing, Dustin. He was elected to be president for Pittsburgh– not Paris. There’s a better quality of life in Munich and Brussels than Scranton and Wilmington. The Middle East peace deals are on his watch as well. And the ‘Cold War’ thawed on GHWBush’s watch, Dustin. Not Reagan’s. The administrations of HST, Ike, JFK, LBJ, The Big Dick, Ford and Carter maintained containment. For anyone to suggest Reagan ‘won the Cold War’ is silly; and Ronnie would be the first to tell you that.
It’s a laugh whining about Trump’s “character” when a plagiarist has been elected who had to quit a run in ’88 because of it. Trump’s triumph has been to neuter the modern ideological conservative movement into irrelevancy. — and he has been entertaining as hell.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 1:46 amthe impeachment process has been demonstrated to be a paper tiger, which will never result in the removal of a president who refuses to admit he has done something wrong.
It would have worked in 1974, where the criterion I suggest above was satisfied (Nixon’s support had fallen from his landslide victory to under 30%). Nixon resigned because it was so.
It should have worked in 1868, but failed due to infighting in the GOP.
I have no idea if an impeachment today would work, with charges related to his attempted coup. I do think it would be more than just Romney.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 1:52 amPence and a majority of the Cabinet.
Or, going forward, the VP and a majority of such body as the Congress shall establish by statute.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 1:54 amThis on face value is true, DCSCA.
Yes, this is true in hindsight. They had a sneaky strategy and largely as a result we’re just not the country we could be.
Well, this is one of those accomplishments that will not stand the test of time any better than winning the cold war did. Conservatives have had their ideas challenges, their cowards (Their many many cowards) exposed, and they are a collapsed movement of populists begging to give checks to people and lying about election fraud. In a way, it might turn out to be healthy and inspire better leaders in a few years. It might just mean a ruined GOP and a more moderate democratic party (since I’m a conservative and I’m voting in democratic primaries now).
Who knows? I just don’t think the idea of limited government was killed by Trump’s flagrant abuses of government.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:56 amYeah that better get established before 2024.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:56 amThe 45th President of the United States tweeted:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was never going to lose to Amy McGrath Henderson. Mrs Henderson outspent Representative Andy Barr (R-KY 6th District), a solid but unspectacular congressman, $8 million to $5 million in 2018, and still lost, in the second most liberal district in Kentucky. There was no way on God’s green earth that she was going to be able to defeat Senator McConnell statewide.
Thanks to all of the out-of-state money flowing in, she outspent Mr McConnell $88 million to $55 million, in the last figures I had; by the time the final numbers are in, I wouldn’t be surprised if she topped $100 million, and still lost in a huge landslide. Mrs Henderson lost to Mr McConnell by the second widest margin of any of his previous opponents. Only an unserious nominee in 2002 fared worse, and even that was not by much.
President Trump did carry Kentucky by an even larger margin than Mr McConnell’s win.
The Dana in Kentucky (facd7c) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:22 amShe should return Larry Flynt’s calls.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:23 amDCSCA wrote:
I worked in Wilmington, Delaware, for two years, and lived in Hockessin, a suburb. New Castle County is very heavily segregated, with the city of Wilmington being heavily black and Hispanic, while the suburbs are very white, with a lot of Asians thrown into the mix.
The good people of New Castle County destroyed the public schools in response to a federal judge’s desegregation order. Segregation academies sprang up all over the place, and the already existing parochial schools were full to bursting. The K-8 school my daughters attended had 33 students per classroom, and the students all ate bagged lunches at their desks, because the lunchroom had been converted into more classrooms. The high school my older daughter would have attended, had we not moved, had a waiting list. Archmere Academy, where Joe Biden attended, and where he sent his kids, has a higher tuition, $29,700, than the University of Delaware, $14,280, or Pennsylvania State University, $18,450. Padua Academy, the high school my daughter would have attended, has a current tuition of $15,700.
Mr Biden, of course, was very politically attuned to what the people of his home county wanted, and was very much in favor of what was done.
From what I hear, things have changed somewhat. Corpus Christi School in Elsmere, where my daughters attended, has closed, and a friend of mine has told me that Hockessin is not quite as segregated as it was when I was there (2000-2002).
It’s costly to live in New Castle County, if you want to live outside the slums. Every parent who can possibly afford it sends his kids to private schools.
The Dana in Kentucky (facd7c) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:41 amYeah, Dave. to be honest Melania isn’t as elegant as Laura or Michelle. She just doesn’t have that confidence. I was really scratching my head when twitter told me she made Heidi Cruz look ugly by comparison. Her face looks like she’s being electrocuted.
I roll my eyes at the “Dr.” Biden stuff, but at least she’s flaunting something she achieved.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:43 amDave quoted:
Checking out the channel guide yesterday, I saw that CNN had “The First Ladies” scheduled. The first episode was about Michelle Obama, about whom is was raaaaacist to say that she wasn’t gorgeous, and the second one in the guide was on Hillary Rodham Clinton. No political bias there.
I’m pretty sure that we’ll hear how Dr Jill Biden is tremendously educated and amazingly beautiful. She certainly isn’t ugly, but at 69 years old she’s, well, not that young. The credentialed media will be much more obsequiously flattering to her than they ever were to Melania Trump.
The Dana in Kentucky (facd7c) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:48 amCentral and Southern California have 0 percent I.C.U. capacity, in a state already low on hospital beds.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:52 amShe must put on her makeup with a trowel.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:56 amI think Dr. Jill Bf.D. married Slow Joe 30 or 40 years ago. Melania being younger than most first ladies isn’t much of an accomplishment, and keeping a marriage for a few decades is an accomplishment. To an extent politicians are fake and I don’t give them too much credit, however I definitely like that George and Barack were family men with no sleazy scandals. Fake or not, that’s the right example for men who want to be happy and successful in life.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 9:10 amhttps://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/12/warnocks-gospel-of-hate.php
Warnock’s virulent bigotry and radical views should be obvious to all, but the most indoctrinated. How anyone can support him is beyond me.
NJRob (eb3655) — 12/27/2020 @ 9:20 amThe Trump faithful want him to win, just to punish the GOP for not being quite slavish enough in allegiance to their demigod.
Radegunda (b6cc34) — 12/27/2020 @ 9:54 amAnd yet they are complaining about the alleged “elitist snobs” not putting the first lady on the cover…they hate them but they want them.
Melania Trump hasn’t done much to ingratiate herself with the American people. I think that she doesn’t relate to the average American, and frankly, has made little effort to. To be fair though, Michelle Obama would be a tough act for any First Lady to follow. She clearly made every effort to relate to people from all walks of life and worked tirelessly to reach out to those less fortunate, or from the wrong side of the tracks. That, coupled with understanding the immense power and influence (for better or worse) of the First Lady, she wasted no time in using that power to better the lives of Americans, especially with an eye toward education/mentoring young women. Whether one agreed with her politics or not, she was accessible and open to the people. Laura Bush was similar, but I think she came into the White House with less baggage and unsureness about the role. She was a more quietly confident and understated First Lady. Yet she too was able to relate to the everyday American, their struggles, and their needs. Very unpretentious and accessible as well. But I just don’t see any of those qualities displayed in Melania Trump. She appears aloof and like she’s just killing time. Public appearances have been stilted. There is no openness to her, no accessibility or heavy reaching out to the public. I’ve never been convinced that she really wanted the job of First Lady. And while many may argue that she is a glamorous beauty, I think there’s more than just what meets the eye when making that call. Perhaps her lack of openness and arm’s length from the public plays into things. She appears to have cultivated a haughty, take-it-or-leave-it attitude. While other First Ladies have had demonstrable substance and relatability, I don’t think Melania Trump does.
Of course, being married to President Trump certainly hasn’t helped things.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/27/2020 @ 10:12 am@71
FWIW, these numbers are a weee bit misleading.
There are always plans to expand the number of beds when the needs arises.
The telling number to look for? The number of staff needed on a given day than in the past… The number of overtime hours… availability of specialized devices. The number of admittance from ER to inpatient floors. The avg wait time in the ER. Those are the telling signs of whether or not institutions are being stretched.
My institution in Missouri, we’ve had large increase needs for observation beds, but our ICU trajectory has remained flatish. So, we had to open up (or reuse unused departments) for new observation units to keep our ICU census reserved for those who really need it.
Also, we’ve recently had a company-wide townhall, and our executives remarked that hospital systems will never, ever shutdown like they did earlier this year. Partly because it was so damaging to the financial health of the organization but mostly because, we can operate just fine during a pandemic, we just need to be nimble enough to adapt to whatever protocol needs to our day-to-day operation.
whembly (c30c83) — 12/27/2020 @ 10:13 amCalifornia has had to open a number of field hospitals to help with the overcrowding. A San Diego friend who works with a consortium of medical professionals was working in Central California, and the field hospital remained empty – not for a lack of patients though. It was empty because so many medical personnel were isolated at home with active Covid (symptomatic) and there weren’t enough nurses and doctors to man the field hospital. Inside the facility, there were no more beds and no available gurneys left, so new patients were assigned chairs to sit in. My friend eventually contracted Covid, spread it to his wife and three small children, and was off work as a result of experiencing significant symptoms. Meaning one less medical professional available there to treat patients.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/27/2020 @ 10:26 amMe, I just tend to have less respect for the kind of woman that you have to pay for. Call me old fashioned.
Patterico (105fbe) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:13 amMe, I just tend to have less respect for the kind of woman that you have to pay for. Call me old fashioned.
Or the man who has to pay.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:19 amHow anyone can support him is beyond me.
The toxicity of the Trump regime is such that it harms all Republicans. Those that support Trump it hurts directly and those that oppose him must face his minions.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:26 amWell, this is one of those accomplishments that will not stand the test of time
45 years will be just fine; time enough.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:26 amAnd the ‘Cold War’ thawed on GHWBush’s watch, Dustin. Not Reagan’s.
It ended on Bush’s watch, but that’s like saying the relief pitcher won the baseball game.
Historians now know that the die was cast at Reykjavik, and that the West’s plan was executed by Reagan and Shultz based on Nixon’s outline. Isolate and squeeze. By the time that Reagan left office, the USSR was dead man walking.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:36 amBTW, I’ve come to the conclusion that “Star Wars” was a fraud, and possibly the biggest swindle in world history. The Soviets spent half of their GDP in the late 80’s trying to match the impossible, and went broke.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:38 amOne wonder if this place was outed as the successor to the D.C. pizzeria — I’ll resist the urge to call it a hate crime until they find some tats:
urbanleftbehind (f19e77) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:43 amhttps://abc7chicago.com/rockford-shooting-don-carter-lanes-bowling-alley-news/9111034
Bruce Sutter much more so than Dennis Eckersley or Mariano Rivera. And in most cases, a relief pitcher gains a win for blowing a lead but having his team bail him out in the next 1/2 inning.
urbanleftbehind (f19e77) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:46 amGo to Heavy.com for the real spiel on #85.
urbanleftbehind (f19e77) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:46 amEvery parent who can possibly afford it sends his kids to private schools.
Los Angeles is like that, too. Cross-town busing in the 70’s (your kid is on a bus over 2 hours a day so he can go to school in Watts) killed the LAUSD. Now, everyone who can (including middle-class blacks) sends their kids to private schools or, at the very least, charters. LAUSD is full up in Hispanic areas (often with split-day sessions) and underutilized in other areas. In my West LA neighborhood almost all the
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:46 ampublicmagnet school students from outside the area.The fact that she married Donald Trump doesn’t speak particularly well of her.
Trumpers keep insisting that disapproval of Trump is based on superficiality — a snobbish distaste for his unpolished “style.” Then they wonder how we could not adore Melania when she’s so beautiful and elegant.
Contradiction is an essential pillar of the Trump cult.
Radegunda (b6cc34) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:47 am76.“The elitist snobs in the fashion press have kept the most elegant First Lady in American history off the covers of their magazines for 4 consecutive years,” the tweet from Breitbart said.
Melania was a model and been on/in-between [and under] plenty of covers beyond our shores. Will miss her slowly boarding AF1 😉 . Jackie’s still the gold standard; Laura the modern Betty Crocker; Michelle the modern Aunt Jemima; Nancy- a waxen candle; Rosalyn, the spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down; Lady Bird, a slice of rhubarb pie; Patricia, the stick that drove the snakes out of Ireland; Bess, the shot dropped in a boilermaker; Mamie, the dry ice to keep a polio vaccine chilled; Eleanor, teeth aside, much better legs than FDR; Barbara, the huggable Cabbage Patch doll— and Hillary…. the charm and elegance of a fire plug.
___
@80. Everybody pays-one way or the other; what’s ‘nagging’ you on your honey-do list? 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:48 amDennis Eckersley
I was at the stadium when he blew 1988’s WS Game 1 with that gopher ball to Kurt Gibson. Beautiful view from above first base.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:49 amIt ended on Bush’s watch, but that’s like saying the relief pitcher won the baseball game.
No. It’s not. Credit– nd the bill to pay for it- goes to 50 years of consistent containment policy.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:54 amOn the 4-way stop: I overheard two British men talking about their American travels while waiting for a guided tour of Durham Cathedral. They probably didn’t suspect there were any Americans in hearing range. One of the men spoke of the strange phenomenon of the 4-way stop and the amazing way that drivers all politely waited their turn. “That would never work here,” he said. “We would all be killing each other.”
Radegunda (b6cc34) — 12/27/2020 @ 11:59 amI’ll miss that too just because of the awkward ‘no I ain’t holding your hand grandpa’ thing she often does. She doesn’t seem to like anyone or anything. She could have been a terrific leader on immigration or human trafficking or something, but she really doesn’t seem to care. It is very hard for me to identify with her. If she really were this incredibly attractive woman, that would definitely help, but she isn’t. She’s the weirdo runway model attractive. Too weird to be an extra on a Lady Gaga video. Maybe Trump shoulda married Stormy.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:00 pmThe Soviets spent half of their GDP in the late 80’s trying to match the impossible, and went broke.
You really don’t get it. Been to Soviet Russia– Brezhnev’s CCCP. Sears Roebuck, Thom McAn and Hollywood did more to win the Cold War than SDI and at much less cost. Thank stackable washer/dryers, polished Oxfords and ‘I Dream Of Jeannie’ beamed East.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:07 pm@94. You need glasses – or just one of Liz Lemon’s ‘gentlemen’s intermissions.’ 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:09 pm@93. Their biggest mistake: roundabouts.
Hated them.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:11 pmHe should have stayed with Marla. She is pretty, loyal and a good mother. But I guess he likes foreigners.
DRJ (aede82) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:13 pmSlavic foreigners. It helps his Russian projects.
DRJ (aede82) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:15 pm@98. To a New Yorker, the Georgia Peach was a foreigner. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:19 pmNew Yorkers are foreign to everyone.
DRJ (aede82) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:21 pmNot often that I agree with Geraldo Rivera…
“Sadly he lost a bitterly contested election. Sh!t happens. However since he has behaved like an entitled frat boy.”
noel (9fead1) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:26 pmLittle Italy, Chinatown; Spanish Halm… the United Nations… Brooklyn.
Guess so. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:26 pm^Spanish Harlem
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:27 pm#90
Michelle is the modern…
…what did you just say?
I think you are going to have a tough time in this era of wokery.
Appalled (1a17de) — 12/27/2020 @ 12:50 pmAnybody in the New York area who has a positive Covid test should head to Maimonides Hospital where a doctor’s referral is not needed for the antibodies, but only a test and proof of high risk. (high risk is over age 65, a BMI of 35, a heart condition and some other underlying conditions)
That may not be the best place for inpatient treatment. Considered the best inpatient treatment: Includes plasma, blood thinners and steroids.
There may be another hospital in Rockland County (Good Samaritan) that may not throw out obstacles but also has ER walk-in. Only a few hospital administer it.
Mt. Sinai in NYC gives convalescent plasma. Online registration for that hospital is covidserum.com/eua-antibodies
Under the protocols antibodies are not given once someone has started oxygen.
For more and later information and about other areas of the country, email monoclonal@covidplasma4life.com or call 828-4-PLASMA (Mordechai Serle, founder)
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 1:23 pmI have an idea that to really spread Covid asymptomatically, there must be more than one person there breathing out virus.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 1:27 pmThere are three important bills:
1) The National Defense Authorization Act. Passed and vetoed override vote scheduled. Trump wants a repeal of Section 230 added. Also objects to a commision to rename military bases named after Confederate generals.
2_ Covid Relief etc bill: Passed, sent to White House and later flown to Florida to be where Trump can get to it. Trump is thinking about that. Wants $2,000 instead of $600 checks, which could be provided in a separate bill.
3. Continuing resolution: Latest extension not yet passed – the last one shuts down the government on Monday.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 1:33 pmConfirmation:
Warner died at the site of the bomb.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/27/2020 @ 2:45 pm@ Radegunda,
I think there are lot of places in the U.S. that wouldn’t be so tolerant of older drivers as we are here. It just comes with the territory in a place with a high population of elderly people. Unfortunately, some of them should be giving up their cars sooner than they do. My now-passed away neighbor down the street drove until she was 90, and only stopped because from her home to the corner (approximately 7 large lots), she fell asleep and drove into a street lamp. Fortunately, no one was hurt, including her. But no more driving. Another neighbor across the street drove until her stenosis was so bad, she couldn’t control her legs. Both examples were extremely independent, sweet and strong-minded widows who didn’t see any reason to stop driving. Until they were forced to.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/27/2020 @ 2:49 pmWeird question re 4 way stop signs:
if all all 4 approaches have vehicles doing a straight-through movement,
should the vehicles proceed one at a time based on a clockwise assignment (approach left has preference)
or
can the respective northbound vehicle move in tandem with the southbound vehicle (or EB in tandem with WB) depending on which was first to stop line?
urbanleftbehind (f19e77) — 12/27/2020 @ 3:06 pmMelania Trump: An (illegal?) immigrant doing a job no American wants to do.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 3:08 pmin my experience, the first person to the intersection will usually go first. It is up the opposite driver to take advantage of the opportunity created by the car that will block traffic for the other two drivers.
felipe (630e0b) — 12/27/2020 @ 3:11 pm@109-
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 3:13 pmLet the conspiracy theories begin!
If that driver is too slow, not paying attention, then the next driver with opportunity to act will be the driver to the first driver’s left, since the first driver will still be blocking the intersection for the driver on his right. If the second scenario occurs, then a pattern has been suggested so that the driver to the second driver’s left may now proceed. The order being clock-wise.
felipe (630e0b) — 12/27/2020 @ 3:18 pmRIP Phil Niekro (81).
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 3:22 pmIf someone is to your right, let them go first.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 3:53 pm#105. The reference is to the artwork. Unless you believe Laura looks like a 1935 Betty Crocker as well.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 4:27 pm@111.4-way stop signs = municipality can’t afford a traffic light.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 4:30 pmTrump apparently caves on signing omnibus funding bill.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 4:32 pmThe first vehicle at the intersection has the rightaway and continue in order. If two or more vehicles arrive at the same time, I agree with Dustin: Yield to the vehicle on the right.
DRJ (aede82) — 12/27/2020 @ 4:36 pmThe funding bill really captures Trump’s horrible leadership style. Trump sends Mnuchin to negotiate on his behalf, for several months, and on Trump’s behalf, with Trump’s knowledge, Mnuchin proposed the $600 level of aid. Trump takes no responsibility for his failure, or even for changing his mind. He had no choice but to backtrack before the world overrides his veto, making him an even lamer duck. I know Trump needs to stay relevant and look like he’s in charge, fighting for us, but the truth is that Trump is not fighting for us. He had months to take care of this basic task and he wasn’t even doing the hard work. A text message from the golf course that he wanted $2k would have gotten the job done. We’ve had a lot of lame presidents, but this one really doesn’t care about anybody.
I hope he doesn’t go to war with Iran or something nuts like that. I hope Jan 6 is just bluster. The damage is already pretty severe.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 4:42 pmThe most beat up vehicle has the right of way. If someone’s car is not as nice as yours, let them go first.
nk (1d9030) — 12/27/2020 @ 4:43 pmhttps://midhudsonnews.com/2020/12/27/kiryas-joel-healthcare-provider-under-investigation-for-covid-19-vaccine-fraud/
This is the only story I’ve seen that mentions Joel Kyrias and the Hassidic connection. All the other #FakeNews reporting of this story just says “New York” and “Brooklyn” and “Orange County”. I wonder if it’s the same hydroxychloroquine hustlers that Sammy was linking to back when.
nk (1d9030) — 12/27/2020 @ 4:52 pm122.The funding bill really captures Trump’s horrible leadership style.
Wrong.
The corporatist delegated; pushed for $1200 months ago. Little point in firing Munchin nd the imbciles now for fvcking up. It highlights one of the many reasons Trump was elected in the first place. The executive proposes the Congress disposes. There is zero excuse for Nancy and Mitch to go all swampy and have wasted half a year pissing in each other’s coffee at the expense of the American people, scheduling programs to shut down over holiday periods and infusing ‘omnibus’ bills as a lazy-azzed way to push through porked-up crap, fein aid packages and add lobbyist lard museum annexes. These droids are mindless.
A stand alone Covid bill strictly for Americans is all that’s needed and can be done. Anything less just swamp swill.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:00 pmShutdown averted after Trump signs Covid stimulus package and spending measure
Folds like a cheap suit, again.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:09 pm109. Dana (cc9481) — 12/27/2020 @ 2:45 pm
But he wasn’t in the car.
Does that mean that the bomb was not set off by a timer, but was triggered personally by Anthony Quinn Warner? If so, why wasn’t he seen, or was he? How many ties did the countdown play? in between it before the countdowns, was music – specifically the 1964 (or 1963) song “Downtown” by Petula Clark.
Until they conformed the bits of human remains were his, which they did by matching it’s DNA both to material recovered from the house and to his mother, they weren’t ready to definitively describe him as the culprit. They first connected him, or the best proof before was, that in a Google Street View picture taken in May 2019, a similarly looking RV was there – and it is not there now and was missing for a few weeka. He also hasn’t been home for awhile, and he signed away his house to a 29 year old woman living in Los Angeles (selling it for ($0.00) without telling her.
They won’t label it an act of terrorism unless unless it was intended to achieve a goal, or affect opinion. His father worked for AT&T so a theory that is he believed AT&T, and in particular its wireless service, had killed him. That would not be considered terrorism.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:19 pm@126. Disappointing. As every Ruskee and Chinaman knows, Americans can be bought cheap: sex, gadgets or this time, a mere $600.
The swamp creatures win.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:19 pmBreaking: Trump signed the COVID-19 relief bill.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:19 pmI thought the spending bill hadn’t yet been passed.
There was no way for Trump to do anything without looking bad.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:22 pmSo, a proctologist in need of a hobby signs up for a night school class in car mechanics at the local community college, which he finds he enjoys very much. Come the end of the semester, the final exam is to disassemble and reassemble a car engine. He gets his grade and he sees that he has scored 150 out of a possible score of 100.
He asks his instructor, “How it’s this possible when the high score is 100?”
“Well”, says the instructor, “it’s this way. You disassembled the engine perfectly, and that’s 50 points. You reassembled the engine perfectly, and that’s another 50 points. The extra 50 points is for doing it all through the tail pipe.”
nk (1d9030) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:23 pmMembers of Congress were urging Trump to veto the Covid-19 relief bill, so they could override his veto, rather than leaving things hanging for a while longer.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:23 pmActually, DCSCA, this is wrong. Trump was fully aware that his representative in negotiations, on Trump’s behalf, proposed $600. Trump had month after month to get what he wanted in negotiations. What Trump says on twitter means nothing. He’s never kept his word and can’t really expect anyone to take him seriously. I cannot think of a single thing he’s ever stayed consistent on. He wanted section 230 repealed or needed to get attention off his pardons. He didn’t care about the $600. He doesn’t care about you.
At any rate, Trump’s failure to lead his delegated negotiator at all, and his failure to explain his changes of heart, are not successful leadership. It’s cowardly to throw your guy under the bus when you set him up to fail. Better men do not do that.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:29 pmA pocket veto cannot be overridden, that’s true. They’d have to start over again. On the other hand, there can be no pocket veto if Congress remains in session. Rome had an emperor, so only one Nero fiddled. We have a Republic, so we have 536 Neros.
nk (1d9030) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:30 pmMcConnell will never follow through w/any ‘promise’ to proceed w/a process ‘vote’ to add another $1400.
America: your time has passed.
Europe is chuckling; Putin is laughing; Jinping just grins.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:31 pmHell, saying he’s going to veto a bill and signing it in a few days is a great example of how weak a leader Trump is. Not that it matters, but do his veto threats mean anything now? Do the representations of his negotiators have credibilility now? Do they even want to see Trump succeed at this point?
Trump would not graduate from an entry level leadership school. It is amazing he is president, a true credit to soviet strategy.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:31 pmLol, nk, I’ve missed your jokes.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:32 pmMembers of Congress were urging Trump to veto the Covid-19 relief bill, so they could override his veto, rather than leaving things hanging for a while longer.
The “COVID relief bill” was part and parcel of the omnibus funding bill for the entire government, so it was all or nothing.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:32 pmI guess Trump didn’t make America great again after all then. Sounds like he really screwed up, but fortunately it’s time for Biden to copy the old success playbook word for word!
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:33 pm@133. No. It’s not. And now it’s irrelevant.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:35 pmAny of y’all watch Sassy Justice on youtube?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WfZuNceFDM&ab_channel=SassyJustice
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:35 pm@139. $600.
A every swamp creature knows, Americans can be bought cheap.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:37 pmhttps://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/12/26/harvard-calls-women-birthing-people-because-not-all-who-give-birth-are-women-1009558
Further evidence we are living in Orwell’s world.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:37 pmI guess Trump didn’t make America great again after all then
He stole the line from Credit Card Reagan, Dustin.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:42 pmIt’s irrelevant because of what specifically? Is it because the guy who attempted leadership in the too little and too late sense also had basically no backbone and has contradicted his own bold promise to veto the bill?
How is this great leadership?
I think you will find that Trump’s demand for $2k has pushed the overton window on this issue well to the left. In exactly 555 hours, Trump is out of office and what’s stopping Biden from coming in with the rest of the handout.
One good strategy for leadership is to get a quick easy win and use the gained credibility to work for bigger wins.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:45 pmWell the difference between 1979 and 1989 is profound. As is the differerence between 2016 and 2020.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:47 pmThank you, Dana.
nk (1d9030) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:47 pmMemo to Nancy & Mitch:
$40 million to the shuttered Kennedy Center but golly, will $600 buys-me 30 acres and a mule???
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:47 pmit’s time for Biden to copy the old success playbook word for word!
Once a plagiarist; always a plagiarist. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:53 pmAmerica: your time has passed.
DCSCA, planning to move?
Had Trump won (in reality), my GF and I were planning to move to New Zealand.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:59 pmLin Wood: We can prove Trump was cheated — if Republicans boycott the Georgia Senate runoffs
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:01 pmnk (1d9030) — 12/27/2020 @ 4:52 pm
I kind of suspected it had a connection and it was more than Rockland and Orange counties. Some stories said it had branches in Boro Park and Willismberg – it was mostly in Hassidic communities, although they have one location in East Harlem. It could be that might be there because it is near a hospital. They had the Moderna vaccine, which requires less extreme cold storage.
The New York Post made it a front page headline today – also said the owner was close to (or a supporter of) Mayor Bill de Blasio. They acted as if there was no legal problem with what they were doing. They had a website, got news coverage in
local community outlets, but finally, after a few days, it filtered up to the New York State Department of Health.
Maybe they didn’t realize there was a legal problem – after all this is all, it seems, or can seem, Governor-made law and therefore maybe no law at all – but it could also be that if nobody realizes there is a problem, nobody will inform the powers that be.
It’s not clear if they said first come first serve, period, or meant to qualify that by conditions, but it’s too early right now to give the vaccine to any people but health facility workers and residents of nursing homes and the like.
ParCare’s locations are described as Boro Park, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Bensonhurst, (all in Brooklyn) East Harlem, and Kiryas Yoel.
https://nypost.com/2020/12/26/brooklyn-clinics-face-criminal-probe-over-covid-19-vaccines
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:12 pmThis week our church helped four families at an apartment complex for low-income folks catch up on their rent. There were 24 families that were behind at least six months. We only had money for four and with the help of the complex identified those that seemed to be most in need. It was heartbreaking to have to make a choice. But hey, I’m sure that the $600 Pelosi called “substantial” will enable those other 20 to put a good downpayment on their own house or catch up their rent….
More importantly now Pakistan is going to be able to “follow the Science” and determine that there are more than two genders…… screw DNA evidence.
How about if we shut off the paychecks of some of the politicians… like all of Congress and all the bureaucrats that make the decisions of who gets to survive and have a job and who doesn’t for the next six months. Let THEM go without pay and see what happens.
Marci (405d43) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:28 pmnk
Don’t know, but Kiryas Yoel is a Satmar community, but only one of them.
Dr. Zelenko seems to have practiced only up there and not in the “frum” communities of Brooklyn, which he indicated had a higher death rate.
(There’s a different Satmar Rabbi up there than in Williamsburg, although each has his followers in both places, and there are further splits.)
While ParCare seems to have several offices in different places.
Satmar groups in particular didn’t like masks or shrinking attendance at funerals and weddings or closing synagogues and schools or changing anything
Both a cure and a vaccine ideas would fit in with avoidance of masks and lockdowns: Both would allow people to avoid them.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:32 pm150. Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 5:59 pm
How could you? Nobody can go there now, even for a visit. All of New Zealand is a Covid free bubble.
There may be some plans to open up. New Zealand has bought three times as much vaccine (of different kinds) as there are people in New Zealand and now they say they;re thinking of giving some of it away, (probably, first, I would guess,to Australia and other places they may want to include in the bubble with them)
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:37 pm@150. Actually, it is on the to-do list.
Miss London.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:39 pm@150. NZ is actually nice; so is Australia.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:40 pm138. I stand corrected.
https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-passes-omnibus-appropriations-and-coronavirus-relief-package
So many of these news reports talk like we already know these things.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:43 pm@150. Guess what: The Donald just might have given you enough for a one-way ticket 😉 :
Cheap Flights to New Zealand from $604 only | Expedia
http://www.expedia.com/Destinations-In-New-Zealand.d133...
How much is the cheapest flight to New Zealand? Prices were available within the past 7 days and starts at $520 for one-way flights and $861 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:44 pmHow could you? Nobody can go there now, even for a visit. All of New Zealand is a Covid free bubble.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:55 pmMy GF has a NZ passport, and owns property there, I would marry her here and go as her husband.
But since we don’t have to at this time, we can wait.
Australia is also an almost Covid free bubble but I think they are considering ways to let people fly there – a negative test result or maybe a vaccine. This webpage is for peple thinking of flyng out of Australia.
https://theconversation.com/do-i-need-a-covid-flight-clearance-test-to-fly-in-australia-or-overseas-and-do-i-have-to-pay-151470.
There are some efforts to unite the two bubbles. (Scheduled date: Early 2021)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Ji5KQKjCo
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/27/2020 @ 6:56 pmMassGOP Vice Chairman Tom Mountain Says He Tested Positive For COVID After Attending White House Hanukkah Party
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 7:01 pmOy vey!
One in 1,000 Americans have died from COVID-19
……..
With a population of 328 million, the US has recorded at least 331,000 virus-related deaths, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.
Meanwhile, December has become the deadliest month since the start of the pandemic — with more than 63,000 Americans killed by the virus in the past 26 days, CNN reported.
By comparison, the nation recorded 36,964 deaths in the entire previous month.
Experts have warned that another 193,000 Americans could die from the virus over the next two months as the health crisis continues to accelerate, CNN reported.
Rip Murdock (bc5701) — 12/27/2020 @ 7:11 pm……..
@ Dana
I think the Englishman meant that drivers of all ages would be unwilling to wait their turn. So it was a candid compliment to American manners. (I hadn’t said a word to anyone, and Durham isn’t a hot spot for foreign tourists, so I’m sure the men didn’t have any inkling that an American heard them.)
Radegunda (b6cc34) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:08 pmOTOH, I noticed that British drivers, at least outside London, were pretty good about stropping for pedestrians at uncontrolled crosswalks.
Funeral Home Capacity Shrinking As More People Die From COVID-19
I have to ask. How does a funeral home do triage?
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:44 pmstropping for pedestrians at uncontrolled crosswalks.
I’m not sure how to read that.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:46 pmThere was no way for Trump to do anything without looking bad.
Again.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/27/2020 @ 8:47 pmSince I have little hope that the mainstream parties will correct the behavior that led to the Trump interregnum, I can only hope that next time the person who leads the angry mob will be competent and righteous.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/28/2020 @ 1:56 amCBS This Morning seemed to imply it is two bills. It said Trump “also signed,”
I think part of the confusion is caused by the fact that, had Trump not signed it, Congress would have taken up a continuing resolution,
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/28/2020 @ 4:12 amThe number of deaths in the United States is about 15% hiher this year than last year; about 1 in 1,000 have officially died of Covid, and 1 in 17 were diagnosed and counted. Total counted deaths about 335,000; total cases diagnosed, around 19 million.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/28/2020 @ 4:15 am“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Trump lost fifty election-related court cases yet still rages against the reality of his loss. Over the weekend, he attacked US Senators and the Supreme Court, as well as the FBI and Justice Department, because they won’t grant him a second term.
He attacked ALL THREE branches of government. Now, we must rely on THEM to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
noel (9fead1) — 12/28/2020 @ 4:51 am`7`, noel (9fead1) — 12/28/2020 @ 4:51 am
That’s why they have EVERYBODY swear:
U.S. Constitution, Articke Vi, clause 3:
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-6
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/28/2020 @ 8:14 amDana, Ballard was where there they had a heavy concentration of older drivers, until the area became gentrified after grandmas sold their ramblers for big bucks to developers.
Paul Montagu (cb9e15) — 12/28/2020 @ 8:59 amNew Yor Times summary of what’s in the stimulus bill (the part that is supposed to be stimulus related) that was published last week, before Donald Trump raised some objections and didn’t sign it:
https://www.nytimes.com/article/stimulus-deal-update.html
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/28/2020 @ 10:31 amSammy, I’m sure you will be interested in this:
Highly Touted Monoclonal Antibody Therapies Sit Unused in Hospitals
Rip Murdock (80e6b4) — 12/28/2020 @ 10:47 amWell the difference between 1979 and 1989 is profound. As is the difference between 2016 and 2020.
The 80’s were a decade where much went right. Even the difference between 1968 and 1974 is better than the last four years.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/28/2020 @ 11:18 am175. Rip Murdock (80e6b4) — 12/28/2020 @ 10:47 am
Yes, I missed this/ Once you pointed it out to me I found the article mentioned as the 4th item in the World Wide list and printed on page A7.
This is a good link – I heard this a week ago on Face the Nation but this is an update and means that it is still true it is not being used, although it might not really be an update since the statistic might be coming from Operation Warp Speed.
Of course a lot of people do all right with nothing besides rest and nutrition, but that’s the way this disease is and has been. I think they should also give it to:
1) People seriously ill – although they should do multiple infusions, not just one time one standard dose. There;s no reason to think this wouldn’t help. Doses are standardized in clinical trials, but they shouldn’t be in fighting an ongoing infection. Doctors are supposed to use judgment.
2) Much smaller doses to people possibly exposed to the virus. I read that use of antibodies as prophylactic worked well in animal trials
The Wall Street Journal has been practically the only publication talking about this – sometimes Face the Naton will, too because of Dr. Scott Gottlieb. He sometimes mentions it too. In addition to being on practically every week on Face the Nation he has many Op-eds (sometimes with a co-author) in the,Wall Street Journal. He has an article today but doesn’t mention the antibodies.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/turning-the-corner-on-covid-11609103489
He’s conceding that a vaccinated person could still spread the disease == but this really should be minimal.
I found out the difference between the regular and the UK strain: The spike protein is taller. Which means it is not covered so often. Which probably means the incubation period is shorter. Which actually could make it easier to contain.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/28/2020 @ 12:07 pmIt’s really tragic. THIS BASIC IDEA HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
Article from 2007: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17979597
It’s just that medical progress has been tremendously slowed down since the 1960s.
The worst part is people don;t realize how many curs for many diseases are really just around the corner.
Antibodies got mentioned in 2007 as a way to get around resistance to antibiotics. Another way to get around it (for bacteria) is phages (viruses that can infect bacteria)
There are lots of avenues of approach that don’t get followed up on and/or that get dropped. You could use dialysis too to fight severe viral infections – you can set the dialysis to remove the virus..
The response of the world medical community to Covid (after the initial emergency efforts) has not been good at all. They don’t deserve an A+ They deserve a B- But Trump made it a B- instead of a C.
If Covid-19, was a more serious disease, if SARS-Cov-2 caused a much more serious infection, this stalling and delay could be a much more serious problem. The consequences would be absolutely intolerable. As it is, it’s killing at least several times as many people as it had to.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/28/2020 @ 12:12 pmBreaking: Computer repairman at center of Hunter Biden laptop scandal sues Twitter. (New York Post)
Not over what any Twitter users tweeted, but over what Twitter itself said. (called him a hacker)
He also says he had no knowledge that New York Post had the information from the hard drive before it published its story and never told Giuliani to contact the New York Post, nor did he want his name published. (Steve Bannon contacted the newspaper.)
https://nypost.com/2020/12/28/computer-repairman-in-hunter-biden-laptop-scandal-sues-twitter
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/28/2020 @ 5:56 pmI think part of the reason the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies aren’t used much is that FDA label makes it sound like it doesn’t do much.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/29/2020 @ 6:06 amhttps://freebeacon.com/2020-election/camper-recounts-abuse-at-warnock-church-camp/
Information you won’t find at the Washington Post, NY Times, CNN, Jake Tapper, etc…
NJRob (eb56c3) — 12/29/2020 @ 6:09 amhttps://hotair.com/archives/john-s-2/2020/12/28/california-now-epicenter-winter-surge-covid-cases-u-s/
But but but they’ve locked down and destroyed their businesses. It was to save lives. How could this happen?
NJRob (eb56c3) — 12/29/2020 @ 6:15 amI think part of the reason the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies aren’t used much is that FDA label makes it sound like it doesn’t do much.
It’s called “hoarding”, Sammy. The hospitals are reserving them for the Trumps, the Giulianis, and the Newsoms, their other Cadillac and boutique plan patients, and for their own personnel.
I’ll stand corrected if you tell me there’s enough for every person from anywhere on any health plan, but I doubt if you can tell me that.
nk (1d9030) — 12/29/2020 @ 6:17 amIt’s like Captain Grimes of the Ankh-Morpork police famously said, NJRob: “Where there’s police, there’s crime.” Where there are lockdowns, there’s coronavirus. And have you noticed that every time there’s a big fire, the Fire Department is there, and the more firemen there are the bigger the fire is?
nk (1d9030) — 12/29/2020 @ 6:27 am#183
There isn’t enough for everyone. You need connections to get access. The steps my brother took to get his father in law access to the treatment are not available to a normal guy who has to work through the healthcare system and insurance. Since brother is an infectious disease doctor, he had the juice to get it done.
Hardly fair. But most people can stand some unfairness if it keeps a close relative from dying.
Appalled (1a17de) — 12/29/2020 @ 6:42 amThen whose gonna pull the first John Q for the antibodies?
urbanleftbehind (78ae79) — 12/29/2020 @ 7:42 amAs a person who sees differently from one eye, I deeply resent this: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2020/12/28/arizona-gop-chair-kelli-ward-joins-cockeyed-suit-upend-election/4064806001/
The main plaintiff is Louie Gohmert. Locoweed in the water supply, or has Texas always been like this and it took Trump to bring it out?
nk (1d9030) — 12/29/2020 @ 8:02 amWhen you think of Richard Nixon, you think Watergate. What word or two will history attach to Donald Trump’s Presidency?
Impeached, Lawless, Narcissist, Racial Disharmony, Chaotic, Called for Opponents Arrest or… what I think is likely…. Attempted to Overthrow Election. Martial Law was never condemned by him either, was it? That is right up there too.
So many to choose from.
noel (9fead1) — 12/29/2020 @ 8:10 am183.
There isn’t enough for everyone, but there’s more and more everyday, and Operation Warp Speed said that there’s about five times as much available as is being used, or was a week or two ago in some places.
In other places there’s actually about as much being used as is supplied.
There is vast unevenness in what hospitals get it – if there’s hoarding it’s being done by state departments of health. I wonder if maybe they are wasting time trying to figure out a fair way to distribute it. Of course, since hospitals have to invest something to do this, it may be that’s it’s being assigned “fairly” to some people who aren’t using it much.
But I do think the label is part of the reason. People are refusing consent, I read, in some cases because they are getting better already. In which case, it is being targeted more to the wrong people.
Whether somebody is getting worse or not should be a very important criteria, but they are probably following the indications in the clinical trial and it would be extremely difficult to use a metric based on deterioration. They’d have to develop a special blood test, rather than relying on observation. Ad another problem is that a clinical trial standardizes the doses. So it comes out being most useful in mild or early.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/29/2020 @ 8:30 amAnother thing: Who knows if the suggested dose is too small for bad cases? What dosages did President Donald Trump and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former presidential candidate Ben Carson get?
185. Appalled (1a17de) — 12/29/2020 @ 6:42 am
When was this? Because this situation was worse before.
Back at the end of September, you practically had to be the president of the United States to get this or deeply connected to the medical community, particularly this part of it.
.
Ben Carson got it because of President Trump, but Herman Cain did not, probably because this was before Trump came down with Covid and because Trump’s staff was not yet aware of how much it could help. Once it had been gotten for Trump, it was gotten for a few other people to, and there hadn’t been exceptions, they would have helped nobody.
Trump promised to get it out the next week or so to everyone, but apparently he was dissuaded, and perhaps also falsely assured the FDA would give emergency authorization any day now. But they waited until after Election Day and then approved first the Pfizer vaccine, and then the Eli Lilly monoclonal antibodies, which Trump hadn’t used – he’d used the ones from Regeneron, whose president he was more in contact with. Regeneron came after Eli Lilly. There’s politics involved here.
At the time Trump got it, it was still in clinical trials, or needed emergency authorization, and they didn’t want to spoil the clinical trial so anyody that got it at that atage was a super exception.
Now you merely need the right information. In most places, the shortage is not the bottleneck.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/29/2020 @ 8:41 am#190 — Last week.
And don’t forget about finding somebody to pay for the treatment…Most people rely on insurance or Medicare. Are they going to pay of you find a way to get to the treatment? The person I am talking about was a big time lawyer back in the day. Money isn’t an issue.
Appalled (1a17de) — 12/29/2020 @ 8:47 am188. noel (9fead1) — 12/29/2020 @ 8:10 am
I think Twitter, maybe with an additional adjective, and immigration.
But probably Claims about Election Fraud, combined with wild attempts to reverse the results, will trump everything.
Also, coronavirus.
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/29/2020 @ 9:07 am191.
Medicare pays for it, and most insurance pays for any treatment Medicare does, but just about nobody pays for taxis.
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/covid-19/monoclonal-antibody-covid-19-infusion
Sammy Finkelman (081278) — 12/29/2020 @ 9:38 amThis is partly why I stopped making predictions…
Paul Montagu (77c694) — 12/29/2020 @ 11:01 am