Vaccines, Infrastructure, and Kids In Cages: US Politics April 2021

i'm guessing the reason is they are political cowards. that's usually the reason with the democrats.

One has to assume they would have said that at any point over the last three months, if that were the reason.

Meanwhile, a new variant has been found in India, and they are continuing to allow over fifty flights a day to potentially import this, just as with the Kent and Brazilian and South African variants that now make up effectively 100% of new infections.

^ was xp to The administration's stance on refugees only makes sense if it's in the context of containing COVID spread.

This sucks. The only way to spin this is the White House assuming the cynical worst about Democratic voters, and, speaking of cynicism, they will get not one more vote and, should the situation worsen, possibly lose a few.

One has to assume they would have said that at any point over the last three months, if that were the reason.

Yes one would assume that, which is why I said "[it] only makes sense if..." and not "[it] must be because...". I don't believe that's why they're doing it and it's extra-dumb because it's the only context in which it's even nominally defensible given what they campaigned on.

Psaki seemed to get good reviews at first when she seemed like a normal smart human being without severe brain worms and rebuffing some Fox News stunt question bullshit with the contempt they deserve, but this condescending "I can assure you..." blah blah blah stonewalling shit is getting old wrt the border (and assuming other things too)

Times article has been updated to include:

Mr. Biden still plans to raise the level of refugee admissions to 125,000 in October for the next fiscal year, the administration official said.

Americans worry 'a great deal' about illegal immigration:

https://news.gallup.com/poll/1660/immigration.aspx

you do hear about it incessantly

That's not a very helpful question that you cite, pomenitul— I worry a great deal about so called "illegal immigration," but mostly because I want the term abolished and the borders opened up.

Don't they realize how hard we worked to be spat out of our mothers' birth canals and onto American soil?

The next question is more telling.

xp

Thanks, that's depressing.

On the optimistic side, it looks like an overwhelming majority approve of immigration in general. So, yeah, the demonization of phrases like 'illegal immigration' could go a long way towards changing perceptions.

Update, after the backlash by his party's Senate Majority Whip https://t.co/NNd91WyDFI

— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 16, 2021

but still, "his initial goal of 62,500 seems unlikely."

"subject of some confusion", gtfo with your obfuscation and stonewalling bullshit. just do the right thing.

I was agreeing with you, not arguing, Dan.

Lol sorry! Sometimes it’s hard to tell 🤷🏾‍♂️

((hugs))

One of the reasons I hate the sniping on these threads so much is because it automatically puts me in the frame of mind to read responses in the least generous manner possible. It’s absolutely a me problem and I can’t blame others here for it; I can only control how I react/behave.

I don't know if this is the right thread for this, but the father of the neo-nazi girl who stole Pelosi's laptop has been arrested for child porn.

https://www.abc27.com/news/local/dauphin-co-security-guard-accused-of-child-porn-father-of-woman-accused-of-stealing-pelosis-laptop/

Jen Psaki rn https://t.co/iqU0m48JG2

— Tom Scocca (@tomscocca) April 16, 2021

Meantime, when your pardon didn’t mean as much as you think

DOJ filed a lawsuit today against ex-Trump adviser Roger Stone saying he owes nearly $2 million in unpaid taxes and penalties and that he and his wife used an LLC to "shield their personal income from enforced collection and fund a lavish lifestyle." pic.twitter.com/HrGXciIMcV

— Brad Heath (@bradheath) April 16, 2021

well i never

Goshdarnit!

he seemed like such an above-board kinda guy

I never believed the stuff those potty-mouthed scandalmongers said about the swinging and the acid baths

https://www.dailyposter.com/p/sinema-and-manchin-headlining-event-93a

lol

.@Cnn graphic of the other pandemic. @NewDay pic.twitter.com/5cLmQKOOrb

— Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) April 16, 2021

If I were going to write a conspiracy thriller right now, it would be about Russia and Saudi Arabia funneling money into the U.S. to buy as many guns as possible and distribute them as widely as possible, especially to people who seem like they might hurt someone.

But I think the bigger picture is about corruption, which is really how a lot of this stuff should be framed I think. There are corrupt forces at work, a union of racist evangelicals who want a theocracy and a legion of foreign interests and outright scammers and mercenaries. They have taken control of one of our two political parties, although there is still some establishment resistance, and they are trying to really get control of the whole thing. Not just the presidency next time, because that turned out to have limitations, but the courts and the military too. The courts are probably more than half gone in terms of having people willing or eager to undermine democracy. The military has held up at the top but probably less so further down the ranks. But it's mostly all just in the interest of money.

(If I were going to start a podcast right now, it would be a historical primer on American corruption.)

With all children like Adam Toledo who might be struggling, it’s up to all of us to mentor them, to guide and nurture them.
When we don’t, the streets will.
Every child is looking for their village, their community.
We decide what they will find.
We failed, and the streets won.

— Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) April 16, 2021

paging Mr. Choppy

fascism in MN!

Don't you ever, EVER have the balls to claim you are a Constitutionalist if you support this action. https://t.co/U2y8gyNxZ3

— Tim Johnson (@TimJohnsonMN) April 17, 2021

Meanwhile, a new variant has been found in India, and they are continuing to allow over fifty flights a day to potentially import this, just as with the Kent and Brazilian and South African variants that now make up effectively 100% of new infections.

― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), Saturday, April 17, 2021 5:14 AM (fifteen hours ago)

oh never mind, it's here now so there's no point in trying to restrict or mitigate it, that's only been an effective strategy in every country that's tried it and has been back to normal life for ten months

The B.1.617 variant was first detected in India, but has since been found elsewhere, including California. It has worried experts as it contains two mutations in the spike protein that, it has been suggested, may boost its ability to escape the body’s immune responses. It is thought the variant may also be able to infect the body more easily.

Prof Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the arrival of the India variant was potentially worrying.

“These two escape mutations working together could be a lot more problematic than the South African and Brazilian variants who have only got one escape mutation,” he said. “It might be even less controlled by vaccine than the Brazilian and South African variants.”

2 preventable deaths in Wyoming this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
3 preventable deaths in Hawaii this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
6 preventable deaths in North Dakota this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
10 preventable deaths in Rhode Island this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
10 preventable deaths in South Dakota this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
10 preventable deaths in Maine this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
10 preventable deaths in Vermont this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
12 preventable deaths in Kansas this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
13 preventable deaths in Utah this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
13 preventable deaths in New Hampshire this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
13 preventable deaths in District of Columbia this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
16 preventable deaths in Oregon this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
19 preventable deaths in Alaska this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
23 preventable deaths in New Mexico this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
24 preventable deaths in Arkansas this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
25 preventable deaths in Colorado this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
26 preventable deaths in Idaho this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
27 preventable deaths in Iowa this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
27 preventable deaths in Delaware this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
34 preventable deaths in Montana this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
36 preventable deaths in Wisconsin this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
37 preventable deaths in West Virginia this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
41 preventable deaths in Puerto Rico this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
44 preventable deaths in Tennessee this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
45 preventable deaths in Mississippi this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
50 preventable deaths in Connecticut this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
51 preventable deaths in Nevada this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
61 preventable deaths in Alabama this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
66 preventable deaths in Massachusetts this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
67 preventable deaths in Minnesota this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
70 preventable deaths in South Carolina this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
73 preventable deaths in Louisiana this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
80 preventable deaths in Indiana this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
84 preventable deaths in Washington this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
85 preventable deaths in Arizona this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
88 preventable deaths in Kentucky this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
91 preventable deaths in Oklahoma this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
93 preventable deaths in Virginia this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
102 preventable deaths in Maryland this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
103 preventable deaths in Missouri this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
116 preventable deaths in North Carolina this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
156 preventable deaths in Illinois this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
173 preventable deaths in Ohio this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
250 preventable deaths in Pennsylvania this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
270 preventable deaths in New Jersey this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
288 preventable deaths in Georgia this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
345 preventable deaths in Florida this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
367 preventable deaths in Michigan this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
431 preventable deaths in New York this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
447 preventable deaths in Texas this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine
690 preventable deaths in California this week, but it's okay because the president didn't tweet about hydroxychloroquine

What do you propose?

These deaths are not preventable at this point. I’d love if everyone suddenly became responsible too, but the cat is out of the bag at this point.

Getting Trump off the TV has unquestionably saved lives. Bidens team putting together a vaccination plan (which the previous administration didn’t have at all) is going to save many many more. Of course you can always do more. But it’s not nothing.

These deaths are not preventable at this point.

The Kent variant is now the most prevalent in the US, found in every single state even AK and HI, and nearly 100% of infections in MT, ND, WY, NM, IA, LA, WV and VT.

Alaska U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Arizona U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
California U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Colorado U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Connecticut U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
District of Columbia U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Florida U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Georgia U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Illinois U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Indiana U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Maine U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Maryland U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Massachusetts U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Michigan U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Minnesota U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Nebraska U.K. variant/Brazilian
New Hampshire U.K. variant/Brazilian
New Jersey U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Ohio U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Oklahoma U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Oregon U.K. variant/Brazilian
Pennsylvania U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Rhode Island U.K. variant/Brazilian
Tennessee U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Texas U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Utah U.K. variant/Brazilian
Washington U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Wisconsin U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Alabama U.K. variant/South African
American Samoa none
Arkansas U.K. variant/Brazilian
Delaware U.K. variant/South African
Guam none
Hawaii U.K. variant/South African
Idaho U.K. variant/South African
Iowa U.K. variant
Kansas U.K. variant/South African
Kentucky U.K. variant/Brazilian
Louisiana U.K. variant
Mississippi U.K. variant/Brazilian/South African
Missouri U.K. variant/South African
Montana U.K. variant
Nevada U.K. variant/South African
New Mexico U.K. variant
New York U.K. variant/South African
North Carolina U.K. variant/South African
North Dakota U.K. variant
Northern Mariana Islands none
Puerto Rico U.K. variant
South Carolina U.K. variant/South African
South Dakota U.K. variant/South African
U.S. Virgin Islands none
Vermont U.K. variant
Virginia U.K. variant/South African
West Virginia U.K. variant
Wyoming U.K. variant

― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), Thursday, April 15, 2021 5:27 AM (three days ago)

what realistically can we do at this point? like say you're President of the United States. what sort of things are you pushing through?

(I don't mean this in a sarcastic or rhetorical way, I'm genuinely curious. half these states are run by Republican governors who are actively trying to get their constituents killed. how do you combat that?)

What do you propose?

an effective strategy in every country that's tried it and has been back to normal life for ten months

― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), Saturday, April 17, 2021 8:37 PM

it was bad policy not to close / quarantine the borders for three months last March & pay ppl $6k to stop spreading it / save businesses. it’s bad policy not to close / quarantine the borders for three months this March & pay ppl $27k to wait for vaccinations while stimulating those businesses that have survived.

― armoured van, Holden (sic), Thursday, March 11, 2021 12:35 PM (one month ago)

I also forgot (or never saw) that Harris wanted the payments to continue for three months after the pandemic, too?

I’m proposing $2,000 monthly payments throughout the pandemic and for 3 months after, because rent and bills are still due during this crisis and people are going hungry. It’s that basic.

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 11, 2020

If expectations of herd immunity by summer play out, that's $38,000. Pay people that amount to stay home right now, and you'll stop the currently-rising hospitalisation numbers as well.

― armoured van, Holden (sic), Sunday, March 28, 2021 11:03 AM (three weeks ago)

obv actively importing and spreading a double-mutant variant that may not be quelled by existing vaccines could delay that expectation now

YMP - I meant in the sense of following up on her previous "calling for" and "proposing". I'm not abandoning my own 13 months of advocating restrictions, border quarantine, and other public health measures that work. In those posts the other week I noted that a three-week hard lockdown would have been effective a year ago, and a three-month managed lockdown would have gotten things significantly under control by the time the $2K monthly bill was drafted in May. Giving people an actual deadline (with a cash* payment at the end of it) would be a massive difference psychologically to "it'll be gone by Easter 2020."

(Or, I dunno, give out the $38k now but have $39K fines for people that party unmasked, so the stimulus can also start to work before summer.)

― armoured van, Holden (sic), Monday, March 29, 2021 5:37 AM (two weeks ago)

The number of crowds of drunk/stoned unmasked partiers staggering out of bars and hooting in each others faces, or ramming shoulder-to-shoulder on bar patios, that I've seen around midnight the last two weekends since posting this, suggests that it could be a useful revenue raiser for cities to build tiny house villages for homeless ppl.

caek has argued against instituting track & trace this far in but we're still importing new (and stronger) variants. just from a research pov it has to be useful to see how fast they spread, even if the passive aim is still to let them spread.

The Biden administration announced Friday it will allocate $1.7 billion toward tracking the highly infectious coronavirus variants that now pose a major threat to the United States’ fight against the pandemic.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/16/covid-variants-biden-admin-spending-1point7-billion-tracking-new-strains.html

"The number of crowds of drunk/stoned unmasked partiers staggering out of bars and hooting in each others faces, or ramming shoulder-to-shoulder on bar patios, that I've seen around midnight the last two weekends since posting this, suggests that it could be a useful revenue raiser for cities to build tiny house villages for homeless ppl."

where do you live?

The number of crowds of drunk/stoned unmasked partiers staggering out of bars and hooting in each others faces, or ramming shoulder-to-shoulder on bar patios, that I've seen around midnight

you're up after midnight?

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/16/covid-variants-biden-admin-spending-1point7-billion-tracking-new-strains.html

👍 I'm ready for my highly-paid public health advisor role, Mr President

akm - Seattle.

Track and trace is separate to sequencing for variants. I don’t think track and trace would be money well spent until it’s like Korea or Australia or New Zealand here. Sequencing should have happened way way more than it did, and more money for it is good news.

I don’t think closing the borders is politically tenable. I don’t know if it would help much.

Yes they should have spent way more money on getting people to stay home. I think if they offered to do that now though they wouldn’t get many takers.

Probably the best thing they can do is throw money at vaccination efforts (including imo stimulus payments contingent on vaccination or certified reason you can’t get it) and provide federal support for businesses/state/local governments that want to require vaccines. Vaccination rates are still climbing but I’m starting to worry we’re going to top out at like 50%, leaving kids vulnerable and making the US a great breeding ground for new variants.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/at-38-5-vaccinated-us-may-be-running-low-on-people-eager-for-a-shot/

I’m starting to worry we’re going to top out at like 50%

You aren't alone. This is probably the number one worry among public health authorities about where the US could be in August.

I don’t think closing the borders is politically tenable. I don’t know if it would help much.

At a statistically significant level, every current US infection and daily death is from one of three international variants that have been tracked in the last four months. One has to assume that not actively, knowingly importing and spreading them would lead (and have led) to fewer infections and deaths, no?

Probably the best thing they can do is throw money at vaccination efforts (including imo stimulus payments contingent on vaccination

Fuck yeah.

https://pics.me.me/l-reason-to-eat-quaker-oatmeal-l-its-the-right-16409588.png