eVille Times

May 15, 2020

What's Wrong With The Right?

In the proverbial nutshell - they're a buncha whiny-butt pussies.

I've never seen such obvious contradiction between how people talk and the way they behave.

The Week:

The United States has had the worst national response to the coronavirus pandemic among rich nations largely because President Trump is an incompetent leader whose narcissism means he can focus on little beyond his own approval ratings. From the start of the crisis to today, he has completely failed to take the virus seriously, and refused to do anything meaningful to stop it. It was his job to protect America, and he can't do the job.

But Trump's appalling failure is only the most visible part of a vast ocean of right-wing dysfunction. For conservative zealots and media figures, the pandemic is quickly becoming just another culture war battleground — an axis of postmodern symbolic conflict, another vent for bottomless grievance, and fuel for a screeching victimhood complex. The practical effect will be to fuel infection and hamstring economic recovery. It's a stark obstacle before fixing this or any other crisis.
- and the money quote:

Yet a developing narrative on the right holds that masks are a sign of weakness and cowardice. Trump refuses to wear one even to set an example, reportedly because he thinks it will make him look bad. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) refuses to wear one even though it is not clear he is permanently immune after recovering from the disease. Vice President Pence refused to wear one even while visiting COVID-19 patients. On Fox News, Laura Ingraham defended Pence from critics, saying "They'll say this whole mask thing is settled science just like they do with climate change. Of course, it's not and they know it," despite having previously endorsed wearing them. (Naturally, after two cases of coronavirus cropped up in the White House last week, all staffers are now required to wear masks when in the building.)

"CONSERVATIVE"

When you manifest being pro-choice

by choosing to stay ignorant.

COVID-19 Update

We should have well over 100,000 dead in the next week to 10 days.

(we're already over that number, but anywhere from about 15,000 to 40,000 deaths haven't been accurately attributed to COVID-19 yet)

And we continue to hear about Cult45 pressuring the reporting agencies to put a happier spin on this thing.

So we could be inching closer to the Russian model - where there are over 250,000 cases, but fewer than 2500 deaths.

TOP 20 STATES

Today's Vox Tox

Behind every great thing achieved by man, there's a woman being ignored.

Sandi Toksvig

Today's Health Tip

Beck Bennett

May 14, 2020

Yesterday

Out on my walkies yesterday - apparently someone recognizes the need to train the dog owners.

Today's Brian

Brian Tyler Cohen

It would seem 45* is weeks behind on information that should be considered when making decisions about what to do in response to COVID-19. He "cites" the statistics, but he either omits new information, or he demonstrates his ignorance of it.

I think we should know by now that it doesn't matter whether or not he doesn't know or he doesn't care.

And we should stop wondering about, and arguing over, whether or not he knows right from wrong. He doesn't care about what's right or wrong. For a man who sees everything as a straight up transaction, right and wrong are just a coupla more items on the list of negotiable items.

What matters is that we have a "president" who spouts whatever bullshit he thinks will get him what he wants right now.

He is the absolute epitome of the bad salesman who thinks only in terms of what he has to promise, and not what he has to deliver.

COVID-19 Update

30 days ago in the world:

1,934,583 cases
120,863 deaths

30 days ago in USAmerica Inc:

582,594 cases
23,649 deaths

The pandemic is persistent, and continues to grow at an exponential pace. That growth rate has slowed considerably, but we're still on track to see the numbers double what they are now before the end of June.

Meanwhile, IMHE has revised their estimate upwards. They estimate the number of dead Americans between 103,000 and 223,000 by August 1, but they aren't too forthcoming with any guesses about what happens after that.

And the reason they had to revise upward is that we're not doing what has to be done to keep the numbers down.

Meanwhile, NYT:

Coronavirus Live Updates: Virus Could Be Here to Stay, and Economic Pain Long-Lasting

Jobless claims over the past two months are expected to rise above 35 million. The Fed warned of long-term pain without urgent intervention, and the W.H.O. said the virus “may never go away.”

New figures are expected to show that more than two million Americans joined the swelling unemployment rolls last week.

Here’s what you need to know:

Data is expected to show millions more unemployment claims; experts warn of a long struggle ahead.

A whistle-blower will testify before a House committee today.

As jobless claims soar, lawmakers push to cover workers’ wages.

Wisconsin governor urges residents to adhere to a stay-at-home order after a court strikes it down.

In a display of armed defiance, some shops in Texas turn to militia-style protesters for support.

The nursing home lobby has won legal provisions that make it hard for families to sue.

Scientists race to better understand the dangers the virus poses to children.