Posts Made By: James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

The lab(s) apparently isolated the virus from bats and given what's in the Washington Post article today, American officials over there in 2018 were freaking out about the lack of precautions in their labs...
"Multiple reports have detailed how China is blocking U.S. researchers from information about the virus, including live samples of the virus needed to develop a vaccine.
“They didn’t make the virus available to anyone,” former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told National Review editor Rich Lowry. ” . . . They didn’t make the live virus available. The United States eventually got the live virus, but they got it weeks later than they otherwise could have, and that delayed development of diagnostic tests.”
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/u-s-diplomats-warned-about-safety-risks-in-wuhan-labs-studying-bats-two-years-before-coronavirus-outbreak/

Hi Rod:

When I first heard this theory, some time ago, it sounded  like a total crackpot conspiracy theory.   It seems the lab escape theory is gathering some semblance of legitimacy, but I am still highly skeptical.  I'll watch what develops with an open mind.

Jim

Everyone knows that the situation in New York is the worst.  The graph below demonstrates just how much worse it is as of 4/14/20 (data from Worldometer).  New York has about ten times more cases and deaths / million population than the average of the other six largest states.  Why would this be?  I have heard some partial explanations: NYC is of course uniquely densely populated, but not this much denser than Chicago, LA, Houston and Dallas.   New York City is a cold weather town, but so are Chicago and Philly.  The virus imported into New York from Europe might be more virulent than the strain imported to CA from Asia.  These all might be factors, but none seems to justify a 10x difference.  

Here is something to think about:  If the country as a whole had New York's infection and death rate, the USA would have 3.4M cases serious enough to have been tested and detected and 181k deaths so far. 

Maybe the other large states will catch up?  I doubt that, none are showing accelerating infection rates, including NY.

My guess is that the infection took hold and spread in NYC quite deeply, before any voluntary social distancing, rigorous hand washing or mandatory stay at home efforts began.   Hopefully more detailed analysis of the infection in NY vs. the rest of the country will pin this discrepancy down and inform the efforts to reopen each state.

Jim

p.s. I just read that the extensive use of subways in NYC, as and after the infection took could be a factor too.

Originally Posted by Steven Moore

Mel not many people would hear her here in my back yard!

Nice!  Good thing you don't live in Michigan, or you might not be able to get veggie seeds!

Jim

I listened to Colorado Governor Polis and part of Donald Trump's briefing on the radio yesterday.  I thought Polis did a good job of easing into the "re-opening of Colorado" discussion.  He noted that he and the governors of UT, WY, KS, NE, and NM had been in close contact and were coordinating their strategies.  He noted that that the CO infection rate has plateaued and would hopefully decline over the next 5 days or so.  He hinted that we might be able to move into a "stabilization" phase from the current "urgent" phase.  He made no promises, but I think the clear implication was that we might move into stabilization on 4/26 when the current stay at home order expires.

Stabilization will involve opening closed businesses, but with social distancing measures still in place.  So, for example, restaurants might open, but with 6' spacing between tables.  Here's an original idea of mine:  I would support closing neighborhood streets having lots of restaurants, or making those streets limited access so that the dining establishments could add lots of outdoor seating.  It would be a like Paris in the early summer!

As the closed businesses re-open, the governor would encourage continued telecommuting, since many of us have gotten used to it.  The basic social distancing measures would stay in place (spacing, hand washing, so on).

The stabilization phase would not be a return to "normal."  I don't see the Governor permitting Coors field to be filled with fans or big concerts at Red Rocks any time before there is a vaccine or effective anti-viral, or a determination that we have herd immunity.  The stabilization phase is focused on getting everyone back to work, and the Governor came across as really passionate about that as his goal number 1.  He also was very clear that the stabilization would be implemented gradually, with a careful watch kept on increasing infection rates.

I heard Trump's introductory remarks, and they left me a bit cold.  I am not sure if it was a good idea to float trail balloons regarding closing congress to facilitate recess appointments at a Coronavirus briefing.  I understand that congress is playing games by stalling appointments, and I agree with the president when he says this is unreasonable and detrimental to the welfare of the country.  I would prefer him to take the high road publicly, and strong arm congress privately, but that is not his style, of course.  Trump obviously now understands that it is up to the Governors to decide how and when to open their states.  I hope that the conference call scheduled for today between the White House and the 50 Governors will be productive.  

I thought Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Dr. Birx and Pence gave well delivered and concise presentations.  I was out of the car by the time questions were taken, so if there were fireworks between the President and the press, I missed it.

Jim      

Originally Posted by James Lacey

It was a mistake in judgment, the appointment was cancelled, and this was back in 2017. Exactly how does this relate to the WHO's response to the Coronavirus?

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/health/WHO-Trump-coronavirus.html

W.H.O., Now Trump’s Scapegoat, Warned About Coronavirus Early and Often

The World Health Organization, always cautious, acted more forcefully and faster than many national governments. But President Trump has decided to cut off U.S. funding to the organization.

Look, you guys rewrite history all you want to vindicate yourselves for supporting this utter disaster of a Presidency, but I promise most of the US and the world is just not buying it.

Hi James:

It is likely (I think) that Trump is unreasonably scapegoating, and the W.H.O. dropped the ball.  One thing is certain, the linked NYT article oozes with anti-Trump bias.  Lines like this written to provide cover for the W.H.O. are cringe inducing:

"It is impossible to know whether the nations of the world would have acted sooner if the W.H.O. had called the epidemic a global emergency, a declaration with great public relations weight, a week earlier than it did."  

Also, the article dwells on insider context where the W.H.O., as a sub-unit of the UN, is culturally disinclined to criticize member nations.  This context seems real enough, and is all well and good for normal times, but this emerging pandemic was not normal.  This situation called for courageous action, and it looks like the W.H.O., by coddling China, may have cost Italy, Spain, New York City and so on six or seven critical days.

I'm saying this without supporting Trump's version of events.  Sometimes two, three, four or more wrongs compound into a disaster where no one wears the white hat.

Jim

Have we had a Tara Reade thread?  If so, I missed it.¹  

Of course I do not know if Tara Reade is telling the truth.  I personally think she is probably not telling the truth.  I would estimate that I lean 60/40 toward believing Biden.

I will admit that I think it is "more likely" Reade is telling the truth about Biden than Christine Blasey Ford was telling the truth about Brett Kavanaugh.  I would estimate that I lean 80/20 toward believing Kavanaugh.  I'm basing these personal opinions entirely upon the reputation of each alleged perpetrator before the allegation was made.  Is that fair?  Probably not, but it's just my unfounded political opinion, not a legal conclusion made after considering extensive evidence of any sort.

I must reluctantly admit that I am biased against believing a sexual assault allegation that comes up from the distant past at a politically expedient time.  I say this hesitantly, while acknowledging that it is entirely understandable if an assaulted woman does not come forward immediately, and I am sympathetic to the pain of the thousands of assault victims who suffer in silence. 

I am appalled by the different treatment given the Blasey-Ford and Reade stories by the NYT, Washington Post, CNN and the like.  I am even more appalled by the lame attempt the NYT made this weekend to explain why Blasey-Ford v. Kavanaugh was such a 24/7 news story yet it took them weeks to even acknowledge Reade's allegations.  If I were Kavanaugh's wife, I'd be looking for journalists to strangle with my bare hands.  I have also concluded that certain Hollywood activists (like Alyssa Milano) are hypocrite scum with not a single honest fiber in their being, based upon their reactions to Reade's allegations vs. Blasey-Ford's allegations.

Jim  

p.s.  Are Trump and Bill Clinton so much worse than Biden or Kavanaugh even if every allegation is true?  Of course.  Doesn't matter, but I thought I would get it out of the way up front.

1.  Assuming we all passed on an earlier opportunity to post a Tara Reade thread, then according to at least one person, we are all liberal Biden-lovers who draw breath merely to provide aid, support and cover for the D nominee. Each and every forum member.  Good to know.

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Trumptoids storm Michigan capitol:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/politics/gretchen-whitmer-michigan-protests/index.html

From the CNN article:

"She {Gov. Whitmer}  points to what she describes as an "incredibly cordial and responsive" working relationship with Vice President Mike Pence and acknowledges the state's recovery depends upon forging a partnership with the federal government.

Since that initial fiery exchange with Trump last month, she said they have had a one-on-one conversation that went smoothly.
"President Trump called me out of the blue about a week and a half ago and we had a good conversation," Whitmer said, not revealing the specifics of their discussion. "It was out of the blue. Often these calls are prescheduled, this one was not, but I'm grateful for it."

I am sure that despite his public bluster, bombast and idiocy, Trump and his team accomplish a lot behind the scenes.  Articles like this help me keep my optimism.

Jim

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/tara-reade-joe-biden-democrats/

Hi Rod:  I think that you are kinda-sorta making my point about the media.  Let's consider the first paragraph and a few select quotes from the Nation article you linked by Joan Walsh:

"There is no evidence that former vice president Joe Biden, now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, sexually assaulted aide Tara Reade in 1993. There is no evidence that he did not. Reade claims he did—specifically, that he pushed her against a wall and digitally penetrated her against her will, when she worked in his US Senate office. Biden’s campaign firmly denies it."

"...In his closely documented, almost 50-year career, there have been no other similar claims against Biden. The Times interviewed the other seven women who came out last year to accuse Biden of touching them against their will; none said his behavior crossed the line to sexual assault. After many dozen interviews, with Reade and her friends, along with lawyers and two dozen Biden staffers, the writers concluded: “The Times found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr. Biden.”

Not surprisingly, Ms. Walsh wrote about Kavanaugh too.  Here is the first paragraph:

"Too many women woke up Friday morning feeling too much the way they felt the morning after the 2016 election—crushed by a suffocating sadness. The day before, a talented, thoughtful, long-suffering woman who did everything that was asked of her faced off against a boorish, angry, entitled bully, and unbelievably, she came up short. The Ford-Kavanaugh hearings were a master class in the annihilating expectations that bind women versus the lofty entitlement that shapes the world for men. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was patient, kind, deferential. She listened. She asked what was best for the senators questioning her. She wanted to be “collegial.” Her sadness and grief were evident but tightly wrapped, behind an emotional burka."

"Kavanaugh’s confirmation shows that angry, boorish, entitled, female-abusing male behavior isn’t disqualifying to Republican senators; one would have to conclude it’s credentialing."

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/the-heart-wrenching-trauma-of-the-christine-blasey-ford-and-brett-kavanaugh-hearings/

I get it that Joan Walsh is an activist and editorial commentator, not a journalist.   But still, not one peep in her Kavanaugh article that the Judge had a 100% spotless and unimpeachable record of gentlemanly conduct before Blasey-Ford.  With Biden, Walsh walks the rhetorical tight rope of (paraphrasing) 'Sure Joe has groped, kissed and touched lots of women, that sort of thing, but he has never before been accused of sexually assaulting anyone...' 

Walsh's hypocrisy and the hypocrisy born of political expedience displayed by like-minded others on the editorial pages is simply breathtaking.  

Jim

Originally Posted by James Lacey

We have not!

I did a quick survey, and I could find plenty of reporting in most places other than CNN, such as NYT, Washington Post, MSNBC, etc.

It's legitimate to talk about sexual assault allegations against any candidate for the Presidency, including Donald J. Trump and Biden, and she has the right to be heard. No one should ever be allowed to gloss over or make excuses for their history in this regard.

James:

When was the first mention of the Reade story in the NYT or Washington Post relative to the story breaking?  at least 10 days later, I think, but have not confirmed.  I do not believe CNN has ever reported anything about the Reade story, to date.

Consider, when did these same outlets first report the criminally libelous and laughable Julie Swetneck/Mike Avanatti "Kavanaugh ran gang rape parties" story?  The answer of course is the very day that Avanatti fed the story to them.  Wednesday September 26, 2018.  Lots of vetting going on there.

I think I've made my point.  When it comes to this issue, and probably all contentious political issues, CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post - these traditional media titans are as completely in the bag for one political party as Fox or the most scandalous yellow-journalism rag of bygone days.  I can deal with that.  But it is too bad.  There is no unbiased press in 2020 in the United States.  The best one can do is read widely and discount heavily.  This is basically the failure and self-immolation of an important institution.

Frankly, this phenomenon underlies my relative tolerance of Trump.  I figure that the press he receives (pro or con) is so corrupted by media bias as to be virtually worthless.  Being an optimistic sort, I figure the truth is somewhere in between.

Jim

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

From Fox:
"Reade initially stepped forward last year, when multiple women emerged claiming inappropriate touching by Biden. Reade, at the time, claimed Biden put his hands on her shoulders and rubbed his fingers up and down her neck, but the story got no traction aside from an article in a local newspaper."
"In late-March, Reade told a far more graphic account, with different and more serious details, raising the allegation to the level of sexual assault."
Obviously, one has to wonder why there's a major discrepancy in her account from last year as compared to the one made last month...
"Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims. We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false," Kate Bedingfield, the deputy campaign manager and communications director for the Biden campaign, said in a statement to Fox News."

Understood.  I agree the inconsistencies in Reade's story undermine her credibility.  Still, in September/October 2018, I don't think that Kate Bedingfield or her boss were saying anything like, "Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims. We encourage them to do so..." 

Jim