Trump and Melania test positive for COVID
Announcements and documents can be found here.
2020 has been quite a year, hasn’t it? And not over yet.
Both President Trump and the First Lady are feeling well so far. Let’s hope and pray it stays that way.
And I don’t plan to wade into the Twitter cesspool to read the tweets of the celebratory left.
Am I wrong, or the President’s tweet is inundated by comments looking like satanic curses, written in esoteric font?
The wickedness is palpable.
The fate of POTUS and FLOTUS is up in the air. I hope for their swift recovery.
It’s clearly time for McConnell and Barr to step up. No time to get wobbly about SCOTUS – get Barrett confirmed with all due dispatch. Likewise, the DOJ has to act promptly re the Durham investigation and the defense of Michael Flynn.
This is such a strange time and my prayers are with all of those who might become very ill, Trump has been working rather hard and I hope he gets the rest he will need to get on past this. What a deal, the first thing I thought of was when Eisenhower had a severe heart attack in 1955, I was in grade school and the Nation was terribly upset during his hospital stay in Denver from the end of September through early November. Ike was 65 years old at the time and now that event was 65 years in the past and we were happy when he recovered ran for president a second time and won.
Tulsi Gabbard is a very decent person:
“My husband Abraham and I offer our best wishes and aloha to President @realDonaldTrump and the First Lady @FLOTUS and praying for their speedy recovery. We also send our best wishes to Ivanka, Tiffany, Donald Trump Jr., Eric, and Barron during this difficult time. “
IIRC the Diamond Princess data, about 1/2 of those who tested positive among that somewhat geriatric set of people had no symptoms, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t develop any. I think some other studies have found the same. Melania is just 50 with no excess weight, so she is not in danger; he just might be.
I hope they recover quickly with minimal symptoms. If their doctors treat them successfully with Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc, that would be a bonus. It has probably been found early, which I think makes a quick recovery more likely.
This is just a thought, and who knows what will actually follow here – assuming Trump displays symptoms, follows the same hydroxychloroquine regimen that Paul Vallone did – https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/matt-margolis/2020/08/08/another-democrat-says-hydroxychloroquine-saved-his-life-n766872 – and is almost immediately returned to health as was Vallone? That would be pretty interesting.
Second thought – what if after his quarantine, Trump and his lovely wife are asymptomatic? That too, would be interesting.
In any event, I send my best wishes to both DJT and FLOTUS.
By unanimous proclamation, Art Deco’s observation that Melania has “no excess weight” will be entered in 2020’s “Understatement of the Year” sweepstakes. As this most unusual year enters the final turn before heading into the stretch, he is the clear leader.
Elsewhere, someone posted: Where’s Jack Bauer?
And, the reply: He IS Jack Bauer.
Art Deco, I asked Briggs, when I interviewed him, if the Diamond Princess wasn’t all the model we needed, and he agreed.
“If their doctors treat them successfully with Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc, that would be a bonus. It has probably been found early”
LOL, just what I had planned to type. OK, I’ll add “don’t skimp on the vitamin D”
I feel very hopeful for their full and complete recovery. 2020, what a year.
Since they have tested positive, but as yet have no symptoms, according to the White House doctor, we can hope they will be fine. Trump took a course of HCQ earlier in the year after an exposure, so presumably now they’re both on HCQ + zinc + azithromycin.
I don’t know about leftist Twitter, but this morning I read an ABC News report, on the local affiliate site, that reveled in how bad this is for the Trump campaign. A “major blow” to a president who’s been “desperately trying” to convince the nation the virus is gone. Um, no.
Tulsi Gabbard is a very decent person:
She’s the one person in the Democratic Party who recognizes that political disputes shouldn’t colonize every other area of life.
So much of the Left’s agenda proceeds from false assumptions.
“Given that Global Warming is real, we need to spend trillions on X, Y and Z”
I think we’re about to refute this one: “Given that COVID is a deadly scourge, we need to close schools, wear masks, shutdown the economy.”
But … what if there are many mild, even asymptotic, cases?
We had a conversation about HCQ with our pharmacist on Tuesday, while getting flu shots. He says he has restrictions which come from the state on HCQ; the prescribing doctor must certify the patient has COVID-19. He believes it’s not prescribed much because it’s cheap, and there’s no money in it. And he’s a Democrat!
It’s obviously a Russian conspiracy to discredit Biden! Wait what?
*quietly adjusts tinfoil hat
Survive to 2021, humanity, if you want to see the Golden Age prophesied. This isn’t a “vote your guy election”. This is a war of light and darkness.
Get ready, mortals.
https://genius.com/The-cruxshadows-winterborn-this-sacrifice-lyrics
[Dry your eyes…]
Dry your eyes
And quietly bear this pain with pride
For heaven shall remember the silent and the brave
And promise me they will never see
The fear within our eyes
[My eyes are closed]
We will give strength to those who still remain
So bury fear, for fate draws near
And hide the signs of pain
With noble acts
The bravest souls endure the heart’s remains
Discard regret, that in this debt
A better world is made
That children of a newer day might remember and avoid our fate
[I waited all day in the pouring rain
But nobody came
No, nobody came]
[Prepare for battle!]
And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be your light
You’ve asked me for my sacrifice
And I am winterborn
Without denying, a faith is come
That I have never known
I hear the angels call my name
And I am winterborn
Hold your head up high
For there is no greater love
Think of the faces of the people you defend
And promise me they will never see
The tears within our eyes
[My eyes are closed]
Although we are men with mortal sins
Angels never cry
So bury fear, for fate draws near
And hide the signs of pain
With noble acts, the bravest souls
Endure the heart’s remains
Discard regret, that in this debt
A better world is made
That children of a newer day might remember and avoid our fate
[Prepare for battle!]
And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be your light
You’ve asked me for my sacrifice
And I am winterborn
Without denying, a faith in God
That I have never known
I hear the angels call my name
And I am winterborn
And in the fury of this darkest hour
I will be your light
A lifetime for this destiny
For I am winterborn
And in this moment
I will not run
It is my place to stand
We too shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands
[Our bloodied hands…]
And in our dying
We’re more alive
Than we have ever been
I live for these few seconds
For I am winterborn
And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be the light
You’ve asked me for my sacrifice
And I am winterborn
Without denying, a faith in man
That I have never known
I hear the angels call my name
And I am winterborn
Within this moment I am for you
Though better men have failed
I will give my life for love
For I am winterborn
And in my dying, I’m more alive
Than I have ever been
I will make this sacrifice
For I am winterborn
*Winter is here* Haha
October is here… SURPRISE!!!
She’s the one person in the Democratic Party who recognizes that political disputes shouldn’t colonize every other area of life.
Plus Marianne Williamson.
@Paolo Pagliaro said: “Am I wrong, or the President’s tweet is inundated by comments looking like satanic curses, written in esoteric font?”
“Starting within roughly ten minutes of Trump’s tweeting his diagnosis, thousands of people responded with a curse in the Amharic language, which they paired with whatever grotesque pictures struck their fancy. ”
The Antifa Progressive Left has a very good skill set when it comes to secret preparations that are held in reserve and then sprung at the most opportune moments, for maximum shock effect. It is amazing to me that people don’t notice this diabolical threat for what it is.
Take a moment to think about what it costs. It is a methodically-planned, regimented attack on our way of living. If they can organize a mass Twitter attack of ill will on the President and First Lady, and if they can mobilize thousands of Antifa rioters to cities to engage in arson, looting, destruction, and physical violence – then they can do it to you,too. And that is the point of the exercise; if you believe that there have not been other pre-investments made and plans laid, that are currently held in reserve for the right moment – well, then you’re just kidding yourself and pretending not to notice the snake on your doorstep.
Hurrah for Boris
and to hell with the Covid.
We voted for the Donald
and are damn glad we did!
Hat tip Grover Cleveland
Amharic curses? That’s bizarre. Nice people, leftists.
Imagine for a moment that a simple, reliable test existed that could simultaneously detect the presence of antibodies to 100 or more viral and bacterial infections (e.g. ebola, malaria, polio, bubonic plague, legionnaire disease, measles, mumps, a dozen of so influenza strains, smallpox, AIDS, coronavirus, etc etc.).
That is, one simple test that is administered that could detect the presence of antibodies to any or all of 100 infectious or bacterial infectious agents.
This test is then administered to 100 million Americans.
How many would test positive to one or more infectious agents and yet have never contracted the disease for which they tested positive and / or are presently asymptomatic?
How many would test positive yet their viral/bacterial “load” is below some threshold that renders them incapable of transmitting that disease ?
Is it possible that testing techniques are so advanced and sensitive- to the point they can detect the presence of something within one part in 100 billion? one part in a trillion? – that for all intents and purposes a “positive” test result does not indicate a “real world” positive.
I ask this because for the first time ever, due to coronavirus, they are testing just about everybody , even those who have zero symptoms.
If massive testing were conducted for other viral conditions, would the results be similar??
After all, much of the time one finds what one seeks; and if you are not looking to find something, you probably won’t.
Just wondering.
Amharic curses
https://mashable.com/article/trump-covid-amharic-copypasta-explainer/
This is a mind numbing development. First, my prayers are for the President, First Lady, and all of those around them. Then my prayers are for the nation. This is an almost unbelievable development at a time when we most need strong leadership.
It is impossible to predict the course of the disease. My daughter, 56 years old, is recovering. She was able to work from home throughout and maintain a demanding schedule. She had no medication other than Tylenol for fever and the accompanying severe muscle pains; and cough medicine. But, it has been a month, and she is still experiencing the wild swings in heart rate that is a known to be a side effect. These severely affect her stamina. The key point is that even with a so-called mild case, the President is going to be isolated for an extended period; and it will take a toll on him that is unpredictable at the moment.
Some are already mocking him for getting the virus; as though it was through some negligence. Back to daughter. She is a health care professional and has been an absolute Ninja when it comes to personal precautions. Her experience shows that there is no fool proof defense.
We have to trust, or hope, that those around the President have a plan to minimize the impact on his governing agenda, and to continue making the case for re-election. I also think it is important that the nation understand the legal ramifications of various pre-election, or post-election/pre-inauguration scenarios. I expect there will be wild theories advanced; but, maybe some responsible soul will clarify some of the unknowns.
I do not mean to sound ghoulish, but it is now essential that Mike Pence make a strong case that he would be the best option as President if the worst should come to pass.
Copy and paste by idiots, then. Thanks, John.
Message to Mitch: Don’t get cold feet. Confirm Barrett pronto.
When he “recovers” from this (though I doubt he’ll have any symptoms), you can bet that some “unnamed sources” will say that after he tested negative Trump commented that “only losers” got sick and died from the virus.
That would be my play if I was a Biden handler. Don’t pounce on him for testing positive, but lie and say that he denigrated the dead afterward (they already did this with great success regarding s***hole countries and soldiers).
John Tyler, I thought the same thing regarding tests for the “common cold” flu, etc. We are probably laboratories of various antibodies to things we’ve been exposed to over a lifetime and didn’t even know it. Sorry to hear your daughter is suffering residual issues, Oldflyer. I hope for quick and complete recovery for her.
I saw this news right before I went to bed last night and it worked its way into my dream later. In it, I myself had been connected to somebody who was “COVID +” (kind of sounds like how we used to talk about someone being “HIV-positive” in a way.. anyway) and was self-quarantining in this odd open-plan apartment or hotel room – not a very nice hotel, if that was what it was. Some contractor was coming into my room to install a second wall mirror right next to the wall mirror that was already present, and I wondered why this was necessary but did point out to him that my disease status was questionable, so we did the mask and distance thing. But I remember asking myself as I woke up whether that bit I heard about Trump getting the bug was my imagination? – no, I said, that part was real.
I recall Trump’s initial reaction to RBG’s death. It wasn’t this.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/10/hope-dies-former-obama-staffer-hillary-clinton-spokeswoman-tweets-death-wish-president-trump/
Pence has tested negative for the virus following Trump’s diagnosis.
The Left’s unrestrained glee at the possible demise of President Trump will drive the wedge between us and them even deeper. They have no decency.
Well the progressive response to the passing of President Trump’s brother was just a preview of their current behavior.
Dogs returning to their vomit. https://biblehub.com/proverbs/26-11.htm
Let us, for a moment, assume that Trump will emerge from this bout of COVID-19 not seriously ill. I think this is more likely than not (although I wish he carried less body mass). We will then have one candidate who is immune to the illness and able to carry on with the business of the nation, and one candidate who is four years older, in possibly more fragile health, and who must continue to be very carefully kept out of public life for his health’s sake.
(1) It has been recently revealed that the covid tests are too sensitive for practical widespread use. Ref. the proportion of “positive cases” that are “asymptomatic.” If a “positive case” is “asymptomatic,” is the person “ill?” Or would some other term apply? Does it even matter anywhere outside the bureaucracy?
(2) The President and all around him are tested daily.
(3) The publicized death rate has been corrupted due to government monetary incentives.
(4) Attempts to correct the publicized death rates end up showing a “bad flu” level of death rate, not the existential threat promulgated by the cult of covid. I can’t verify these numbers, and neither can you.
(5) No one on the planet has better health care than the POTUS, with the possible exception of George Soros.
(6) Trump the individual, not merely in his position as POTUS, no doubt has demanded that he receive the most forward care — probably including HCQ and any other off-label potential ameliorants.
(7) Although some describe Trump as obese, he is apparently healthy. Personally, I don’t know any 73-year-old who has as much energy as he has, and I know a lot of 73-year-olds. He and his doctors describe him as very healthy.
(8) I know several 60’s and 70’s (not nursing home residents) who have had the covid, and all recovered nicely after a bout of “bad flu or cold” type symptoms. It is not an automatic death sentence, even for over-70’s. It may be a different story for nursing home residents.
(9) I conclude that it is most likely that Trump and lovely Melania will not be seriously ill and will recover nicely. It is also quite likely that they will not be “sick” at all – i.e. asymptomatic.
(10) Given the increase in number and intensity of satanic curses being directed at them, I suggest we all pray specifically for them until their recovery is announced.
Trump is the Indispensable Man. Like Washington, Lincoln and FDR before him, God sent him to save the United States in time of need.
He will recover and win 39 states; even with Dem cheating.
This is a case in which Trump’s usual unthinking optimism may work in his favor. He’ll try to keep working and campaigning, and if his condition doesn’t worsen – which it probably won’t – then it’ll make him look smarter than his “Sky is Falling !” critics.
If Trump actually has COVID-19, and there are reasonable grounds for doubt here (bone spurs, anyone?), let us not forget:
1. Play with fire, you’ll eventually get burned.
2. Trump mocked “frail Hillary” when she had pneumonia, and a reporter with a congenital disability. Does he deserve “sympathy and decency” from the other side?
3. Actually, I like Presidents who don’t get Coronavirus.
4. You reap what you sow.
Nobody Atall, I agree with all you say, except that the White House is reporting Trump has “mild symptoms” this morning. I am praying that the Trumps recover promptly, and if Biden gets it, I will pray for his recovery also.
“The publicized death rate has been corrupted due to government monetary incentives” Nobody Atall
I stopped looking at the numbers in July.
On March 30th when my husband was called with a positive test result (we didn’t know a single person who had it or was exposed to it), I already had the same symptoms but not as serious and I asked if I needed to be tested. I was told, “no, assume you have it and quarantine for 14 days.” While my husband was hospitalized I asked one of the doctors treating him in the ICU about the fact that I was never tested and how could the numbers ever be right? His response, “the numbers are never right”. I did have the blood test for antibodies. We both have the antibodies.
My02bitses…you seem to behave in the manner of the person you are excoriating. I’ve seen a lot of that over the last 4 years. Biggest whiners about the President’s faults exhibiting said fault.
@SharonW
Look, character is destiny. If you call that whining, then guilty as charged.
I just learned that the governor of Virginia and his wife were diagnosed with COVID last week. Is character also destiny there?
The dogs bark – but the caravan rolls on.
Thanks for the clarification, Aggie and John.
It’s not only creepy and deeply insulting, but the guys using those messages and images are playing with fire. Hatred exercised as a noble or even sacred act attaches to your soul.
Kate:
My02bites doesn’t know what character is. Our troll quality/dignity index is reaching “peak progressive.”
@Kate
Come on, I don’t recall the governer of Virginia and his wife lying for months about the seriousness of the Coronavirus, politicizing testing and the science around the disease at the CDC and NIH, mocking it as the “China virus,” promising (or joking) about miracle cures without any real scientific basis, making a mockery of mask-wearing and social distancing, let alone previously publicly mocking victims of other diseases and defects.
So, no, I can’t say there’s really anything resembling karma in the case of the VA governor and his wife. With Trump, it’s, well, much less clear, isn’t it?
Come on, I don’t recall the governer of Virginia and his wife lying for months about the seriousness of the Coronavirus, politicizing testing and the science around the disease at the CDC and NIH, mocking it as the “China virus,” promising (or joking) about miracle cures without any real scientific basis, making a mockery of mask-wearing and social distancing, let alone previously publicly mocking victims of other diseases and defects.
The President didn’t do that either.
Everyone sees you for what you are.
@Art Deco
Tell me which part is false.
What I am is your conscience, not a troll.
Trump is going to be fine:
He can get Remdesavir.
He can get convalescent plasma from young patient.
He can get monoclonal antibody against the coronavirus as part of a trial from UCSF and other places.
He can get RNA vaccine as part of phase III trials from dozens of big Pharma research outfits.
He could get DNA vaccine similarly.
He could get attenuated whole virus vaccine ibid.
He’ll get dexamethasone if needed.
He could get hydroxychloroquine.
I don’t think the public will find out what he gets because this might display the asymmetry of elite health care. Eg I think Boris Johnson probably got convalescent plasma.
My02bitses, the only thing of which you accuse Trump which is true is that he called this the China virus. That happens to be true: The virus came from China, the Communist Chinese government lied about it for weeks and probably months, and if it had acted properly, and if the WHO had acted properly, the worldwide epidemic might have been avoided or been much less severe.
What I am is your conscience, not a troll.
Your handlers haven’t told you to be subtle. Every discrete point was false, by the way.
@Art Deco
Nobody handles me.
And I’ll provide evidence for the assertions above later, not that it will make any difference to people who are into “alternative facts.”
By the way, do you know the difference between me and a Trump lemming? I know I’m not a Trump lemming.
Be back later. Ciao.
My02bites:
Junior varsity troll. Did Mommy call you out of the basement or do you have to LARP an adult?
My02bitses knows the truth, guys, pay attention.
We cannot resort to alternative facts any more. Sad.
And I’ll provide evidence for the assertions above later,
No, you won’t. They are bogus talking points ginned up by partisan Democrats, not anything in the observable reality around us. They’re not even inventive talking points, just BS that’s been circulating for months.
Paper of Record: Party that wants to run your health care roots for political opponent to die.
Or any facts at all, Paolo Pagliaro. 🙂
Biden is a decent Democrat as well. He tweeted this morning.
“Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.”
This is the right thing to say.
@My02bitses: You sound worried about a pro-Trump sympathy vote. You should be worried.
Two-Bit: You consider the facts upon which we rely to be alternative. “Alternative” to what? Logically (I presume you use logic), they must be alternative to the facts upon which you rely.
We eagerly await your presentation of the facts upon which you rely. Perhaps you will include citations to recognized and reputable authorities to said facts?
Worth the watch and perspective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yuoU6kUZJ0
02bitses:
You overvalue yourself. I think 2 bits is a bit high.
Nor are you the judge of whether you’re a troll or not.
You write (or Trump):
“mocking [COVID] as the ‘China virus,’ promising (or joking) about miracle cures without any real scientific basis, making a mockery of mask-wearing and social distancing, let alone previously publicly mocking victims of other diseases and defects.”
“China virus” is not a mockery; it’s a statement of fact. The virus originated there and was originally called the Wuhan virus by reporters as well. There is a long tradition in science of naming illnesses by their place of origin in terms of where they first infected people (Lyme disease, etc. etc.). This is been discussed often online.
Trump never called hydroxychloroquine a miracle cure. And there’s plenty of medical evidence for it having some efficacy under certain conditions and in tandem with other drugs, much of it discussed on this blog and of course plenty elsewhere.
Trump and masks/scarves back in early April when they were in short supply. He has repeated at various times since then (for example,this) that masks are good. But he is very against federally-ordered mandatory mask-wearing, and although he sometimes wears a mask he often does not. Plus, of course, people who wear masks are hardly immune from contracting COVID. The efficacy of masks is strongest in keeping an infected person from spreading it rather than keeping an uninfected person from getting it, but the research is very difficult to do and it’s hard to filter out other things that might be affecting the rates of infection (here’s a summary of research on the subject up to mid-August).
As for mocking people with defects, if you mean mocking the handicapped, that’s not true.
Not that you care about any of that.
“if Biden gets it, I will pray for his recovery also.” – Kate
I was wondering just how close they got to each other on Tuesday.
Biden would be in much more serious danger if he catches the virus.
Chris Wallace needs to be tested also, and prayed for.
And all of the tv techies.
For those concerned, an updated report on masks and their effectiveness:
https://aapsonline.org/mask-facts/
I wear them myself in locations where they are requested or required, mainly as a courtesy to those who are frightened, not because I actually think they protect me. People who are ill should stay home if at all possible, and if they must go out, a mask may offer some minimum protection to the people they encounter.
AesopFan, they were in the same room for two hours or more, although not close together, and there was a whole lot of emphatic talking going on. Chris Wallace says he’ll be tested on Monday, to give the virus time to incubate, if he’s got it. Biden was tested today; it’s too early, I think. I agree that Biden is probably less medically resilient than Trump.
I just read online that Judge Barrett and her husband had the virus this summer, and have tested positive for antibodies. There goes the argument against Senate meetings.
Kate, fantastic link on the efficacy of masks that is very well-documented with multiple references (unlike the drive by 2-bits). Unfortunately if any of us link that article to our left/liberal acquaintances they will immediately come back that they are an out of touch, conservative group of doctors, therefore to be ignored. They have been labeled as such for quite a few years in the MSM. Facts coming from a “conservative” source can easily be ignored.
Yes, physicsguy, just like the highly qualified and highly respected Dr. Scott Atlas, who is treated in the left-wing press as some kind of quack.
Trump has consistently taken a risk about getting Covid, because he is out there doing his job as President and the campaigning required to keep that role. When you take risks, sometimes you get hurt.
Biden barely gets out, and hides behind a mask unless he really has to. He is “safe”.
The message they are selling is very different. One is of optimism, that the country is good, and as part of that we should take risks and not live in fear. The other the very opposite — negative about the country, fearful of any risk.
I would very much like the US to buy the message of hope (hey — remember when that was the cry of the Democrats?)
We Californians are more worried about chronic smoke inhalation, our pets dying and Critical Race Theories than we are about the virus, Trump and Biden. But its hard to rank the 23 things we have to worry about. Somewhere in there is that its impossible to buy disinfectant wipes and our kids are going nuts.
my02bitses: “2. Trump mocked “frail Hillary” when she had pneumonia, and a reporter with a congenital disability. Does he deserve “sympathy and decency” from the other side?”
The “congenital” reporter story is a Dem lie.
Who remembers the details?
1) Trump said that Muslims in America celebrated 9/11 and American deaths.
2) WaPo said that Trump lied
3) Trump cited a WaPo article. Yes, it was in WaPo itself. They reflexively labeled Trump a liar with NO investigation or checking.
4) WaPo forced the reporter to come out and disavow the article
5) Trump said that WaPo forced the poor reporter to come out and disavow his own writing. While describing this, Trump waved his arms and used a funny voice to show how painful it must have been.
6) Lefties everywhere said Trump was mocking the reporter.
@neo You can see my evidence for my previous assertions in my other comment.
“Nor are you the judge of whether you’re a troll or not.”
No, I can certainly judge myself however you want, just as I can judge you and others here however I want. Everyone is entitled to his or her own judgments.
The best medicine for PresidentTrump is to confirm Amy coney Barret NOW !!!
@Gentle Readers
My evidence for my previous assertions is here: https://pastebin.com/mTLsrKhy
I tried pasting in directly to comments and it keeps failing.
Have a nice weekend.
Kate (4:01 pm) said:
“I wear them [a mask] myself in locations where they are requested or required, mainly as a courtesy to those who are frightened, not because I actually think they protect me.”
We the immunosuppressed [I’ve mentioned this status here before] thank you for your consideration. God bless.
“People who are ill should stay home if at all possible, and if they must go out, a mask may offer some minimum protection to the people they encounter.”
I’m not at all ill but I do “stay home if at all possible”, as my trips out are practically all for medical or very occasionally financial reasons. I have a wife who sees to the grocery shopping, for example, and I’m retired so my income stream is intact (knock on wood). But many are not so fortunate: many have to have more contact with others, many who work do not get to work from home, and so on.
I do think it’s time for the majority of us to resume our lives — it was time by the middle or end of April, frankly, once the famous curve had flattened and there were ample ICU beds available — but along with that, wearing a mask in places that are indoors and without opportunity for distancing seems to be a considerate approach, and not an onerous burden or an attack on our civil liberties. It’s not a game-changer, but it helps a little to stem the spread of the virus, which was much more a concern at the end of April than it is now.
I’ve seen and heard talk about opening up while continuing to protect those that are most vulnerable. The foregoing (limited masking) is the way to do that.
Kate continues, “a mask may offer some minimum protection to the people they encounter,” yes, and the masked people whom I encounter do offer “some minimum protection” to me.
It’s minimum, all right, but this thing still has unpredictable aspects, such as asymptomatic transmission and/or the emergence of new strains or mutations. The additional protection is minimum, but is nonetheless appreciated.
A final word. I’m not thrilled with the characterization of staying safe as cowering (I see it a lot), although I can’t argue it if push comes to shove. To me, I’m not cowering, I’m just doing what I have to do for me, and appreciating others’ consideration.
M J R:
Someone who is high risk is not “cowering” when laying low. Just showing sense. My guess is that most people saying that people are “cowering” are referring to low risk people who refuse to do much of anything and are very fearful despite their low risk.
This just makes me even more stressed for the next five weeks or so.
Will Trump and Melanie recover?
Will the Senate vote in ABC as RBG’s replacement? Will it be postponed?
Will Trump win re-election? Will he lose? If he loses will it be because of voter fraud or because the people of America have decided to move on from him?
Cornhead said “God sent him [Trump] to save the United States in time of need.” For four years or eight years? If four, that’s not long enough.
“The efficacy of masks is strongest in keeping an infected person from spreading it rather than keeping an uninfected person from getting it.”
This is *precisely* the argument for requiring *everyone* to wear masks in public spaces. The only way we can protect each other (imperfectly, sure as masks don’t completely stop transmission) is if we all wear masks. And better masks (such as surgical masks) would be better still.
For a very stable genius, I would think some of this stuff would be obvious.
Still, still, Trump’s White House doesn’t require visitors to wear masks. Trump’s rallies hands out masks, but doesn’t make them required. Trump takes great pains to say “It’s a personal decision.”
Because Trump would rather keep masks as a wedge issue, since it plays so well with the anti-vax/anti-science crowd, bikers, and defenders of liberty and freedom everywhere; public health and safety be damned.
How many lives might have been saved if he role modeled wearing a mask at every public appearance? What if he started and ended every public address by reminding people to wear a mask (surgical or N95 if possible) and practice safe social distancing. Think about how many lives he could have saved. How many hospital trips he could have saved. How much quicker we could have gotten through this goddamn pandemic.
But, naah.
You want to be full MAGA? Wear the hat, ditch the mask. That’ll show the libs who’s macho.
How many lives would have been saved if Andy Cuomo didn’t send covid infected patients to nursing homes? Conservative estimate is over 6600. New York’s been in lockdown for how long now? Hasn’t slowed things down much.
Nice misdirection. Were we taking about Cuomo? No. I don’t vote in New York elections. We all vote for President.
Anyway, vote Cuomo out if he’s not taken the Coronavirus response seriously, been deceptive about it, been equivocal about basic public health measures, or if you just don’t like the guy’s politics.
neo (5:56 pm) said, “M J R: Someone who is high risk is not ‘cowering’ when laying low. Just showing sense.”
Thanks for that, neo. You have shown me that I’m somewhat more sensitive, at least on this stuff, than I thought I was (stoic, immovable me — hah!).
My02bitses:
The mask argument has been trashed around here for many months and it appears you haven’t even read Kate’s link. So peddle your ignorance elsewhere. Public health and safety, see NYC, and see Sweden (you ain’t no stable genius, buckwheat). How many angels can dance on your pinhead?
Stupid SOB, Sweden’s response has worked better what you mask-o-phillic idiots have forced on the nation.
M J R, I agree with Neo. You are being sensible because of your risk category. Anyone with a compromised immune system must be very careful.
What I think is that if we’d taken steps to be very careful with the elderly and those with conditions like yours, and others, and allowed the healthy younger people to go about their lives, by this time we’d be approaching general immunity and the old and immune-compromised could begin emerging from self-imposed quarantine. Instead, we “flattened the curve” and extended the epidemic far beyond its expected time.
Kate (6:54 pm) said:
“[I]f we’d taken steps to be very careful with the elderly and those with conditions like yours, and others, and allowed the healthy younger people to go about their lives, by this time we’d be approaching general immunity and the old and immune-compromised could begin emerging from self-imposed quarantine.”
YESSS! — with two “modulo”s . . .
– modulo the question of what we know today, on October 2nd, compared with what we knew at the time at the end of April. To the best of my memory, by April-end, I *think* we knew enough to do as you suggest (and I concur); and
– modulo the time-line inherent in your suggestion (“by this time we’d be . . .”). Not too sure on that one, because I think one of the things we’re still not very clear on is, what and how much of the population comprises “general immunity”?
But enough of my nit-picking (I majored in nit-picking in college). Kate, I appreciate your concurrence, thank you!
I’m impressed Neo and happy for you. You’re small following of trolls is growing and you’ve acquired a particularly insipid and aggressive one today.
This means you’ve been noticed because you have a quality blog. You’ve got some intelligent, well-written, serious regulars and so, the trolls will come to fling their poo around the place. You’ve gotten yourself over the target.
The price of success!
Meanwhile the Babylon Bee forgot it was supposed to be satire, not news:
https://babylonbee.com/news/party-that-wants-to-run-your-healthcare-roots-for-political-opponent-to-die
Meanwhile the Babylon Bee forgot it was supposed to be satire, not news:
That happens a lot.
As for judges, I’ll judge 02 once they expire. After all, I’ll be on the judge panel for many people here too.
Tulsi Gabbard is a very decent person:
Hat’s off for Tulsi. She has a lot of grace.
Fractal Rabbit: “I’m impressed Neo and happy for you. You’re small following of trolls is growing and you’ve acquired a particularly insipid and aggressive one today.
This means you’ve been noticed because you have a quality blog. You’ve got some intelligent, well-written, serious regulars and so, the trolls will come to fling their poo around the place. You’ve gotten yourself over the target.
The price of success!”
How true!!
I, too, recognized the arrival of the latest tool—er, troll—as flack over the target!!
Fantastic blog, Neo!! Some fantastic commenters!!
(And I just realized I’ve been reading your blog for, what, 15 years? Or more.)
Biden is a decent Democrat as well. He tweeted this morning.
I agree that Biden said the right thing. However, this is the same guy that called President Trump a clown. He is also politically motivated to say the the right thing. Good for him. His words are required. Tulsa’s were sincere. She is not running at the moment for anything.
Hangtown Bob on October 2, 2020 at 5:36 pm said:
“The best medicine for PresidentTrump is to confirm Amy coney Barret NOW !!!”
Your wish is granted.
https://babylonbee.com/news/trump-preemptively-pens-dying-wish-canceling-out-rbgs-dying-wish
This post, however, apparently should have been on the Not the Bee site as Real News.
https://babylonbee.com/news/party-that-wants-to-run-your-healthcare-roots-for-political-opponent-to-die
Fractal Rabbit on October 2, 2020 at 8:00 pm said:
I’m impressed Neo and happy for you. You’re small following of trolls is growing and you’ve acquired a particularly insipid and aggressive one today.
This means you’ve been noticed because you have a quality blog. You’ve got some intelligent, well-written, serious regulars and so, the trolls will come to fling their poo around the place. You’ve gotten yourself over the target.
The price of success!
Not much different from 2005 or 2003.
Also, I love 2020. The year in which humanity was humbled and broken of their willfulness before the Divine. And this is only the prologue so to speak.