Posts Made By: James Brown

July 23, 2021 10:12 PM Forum: Politics

Three States Cause 40% Of Covid Cases

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by James Brown

Hi Rod:

I wish they would all get vaccinated.  Skipping the vaccine is a silly choice to make, in my opinion.

That said, it cracks me up how you always fall for the administration's spin.  Did you know that yesterday 42% of all US cases were in three states?  Yep, shame on you and yours.
I've posted this sort of chart before - this one is current as of right now.  Data from World-o-meter.  I think this is useful review for those like the Biden administration and Rod who simply can't resist (A) Politicizing the damn pandemic, and (B) blaming Republican States for everything.

Look at this table carefully.  By the Deaths/million citizens metric, Texas and Florida (states Rod and Biden like to pick on) are ranked 24th and 25th in the union, middle of the pack.  Certain D bastions like New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts top the list.  Was it their monolithic D politics that caused so much death?  Maybe in the case of New York, but generally no, not in my opinion.  It was other factors.  Timing, population density, public transportation, age and so on.

Anyway, it would be nice if Rod and Biden would stop trying to score cheap political points by mocking us rubes in red states.  Especially given the complexity of the factors at play in each state's pandemic response.  Fat chance....

Jim    

July 23, 2021 10:12 PM Forum: Politics

Three States Cause 40% Of Covid Cases

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Brian McFarland

Ok, that made me laugh. Thanks!
Excellent!  Thanks,  cool

July 23, 2021 11:31 PM Forum: Politics

Three States Cause 40% Of Covid Cases

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

You're confusing and conflating values here. 
Perhaps.  Maybe you should write to Biden's press secretary pool and warn them of this risk!  

J

July 26, 2021 11:29 PM Forum: Politics

Three States Cause 40% Of Covid Cases

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by James Lacey


But isn't it true that the current 4th wave is almost entirely a wave of the unvaccinated? And aren't most of the unvaccinated Red Americans? And even more interesting is why is the GOP now flipping on their previous anti-vax stances? Oddly enough, I think it's related to something we talked about recently, and that is political realignment. Now that the 4th wave is affecting their constituents, they suddenly care about getting vaccines into people's arms. Why? Well, I don't believe in conspiracy theories. Still, I know they have political analysts who are always looking at polling data and are always aware of the latest things happening in the groupthink of the electorate. My guess is their analysts have told them they would face a massive political backlash if they don't start back-pedaling and encouraging the vaccine-hesitant to change their minds.

Interestingly, Trump, Kushner, and the GOP thought that using vaccine hesitancy as a wedge issue was politically advantageous when the virus affected mostly blue regions. But now, that political calculus has changed entirely due to the Delta-variant. And if you had only been paying attention to what was going on in India two months ago and listening to the experts, you knew it was coming here; it was inevitable. Every variant of concern has eventually gone worldwide.

I find it odd too that Trump did what was necessary to warp-speed development of the vaccine, which he deserves credit for, but to this day has never publicly advocated for its widespread use. You watch, though. I guarantee you it's only a matter of time before the GOP starts telling us they never were anti-vax.

By the way, I realize I've posted a random pile of thought not completely related to Rod's original post or your response. It's merely interesting to see how the politics of this pandemic are playing out.
Hi James: 

Interesting comments.  The unvaccinated I know are predominately young and stupid.  All of my own R friends and family are vaccinated - but my bubble skews to fairly well educated and older than 50.  Rod's simplistic (Trumptoids!) conclusion is in fact pretty simplistic.  It gives him comfort I suppose.

It is welcome to me if certain R politicians and R press start backpedaling hard on this issue.  Yes, Trump used it as a wedge.  Shame on him.  He would have used anything as a wedge that he thought might be successful.   If Rich returns, he'd mention that the D's are not above this sort of thing, and I reckon he's correct.  But downplaying vaccinations was/is pretty stupid.  The sooner that thinking flips the better.

I bought some trail shoes on line the other day - the supply was extremely limited.  I gather from a contact that the factories in Vietnam and Malaysia are shut down because they have limited vaccine available and they are getting hammered in an exponential "first wave".   This is one example of a supply chain disruption that is going to take some time to work out.  Other than minor things like these (minor for me, not so minor for the Vietnamese)  my life is pretty much back to normal.  

Jim 

July 26, 2021 11:40 PM Forum: Politics

Tucker Carlson Vs The NSA

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/24/politics/nsa-review-tucker-carlson-spying-claims/index.html
This CNN story is meaningless drivel.  Unnamed sources quoting unnamed people in the NSA allegedly absolving the NSA of wrongdoing.  Who could have guessed!

I appreciate Matt Taibbi's take on this from a few days ago.  Although he does not know whether Carlson's allegations have a wisp of truth to them, he clearly points out that this is the sort of thing our intelligence agencies have been doing for years.  He also points out how the gloating of Carlson's detractors has pumped his ratings to the top.  Read the whole thing and let me know what you think.

https://taibbi.substack.com/p/spying-and-smearing-is-un-american-6d5

Jim

July 27, 2021 01:28 AM Forum: Politics

What in the world is this senile imbecile saying??

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by James Lacey


I hear, "My bitch is Trump."

Isn't it pretty obvious he's saying something spontaneous like, "Must what be what?" in response to the question that he couldn't hear over the rotors of the helicopter.

Nothing to see here.
That made me laugh!  grin

July 27, 2021 02:18 AM Forum: Politics

Three States Cause 40% Of Covid Cases

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Read the link in post 14...
OK, just did.  Partisan politics shows up, I'll not deny that.  But;

"To be clear, the partisan gap is not the only reason why the US is lagging. For example, the vaccination rate of those under age 30 is far higher in Canada and the UK than in the US. There are also fewer Black and Hispanic residents in Canada and the UK, who are less likely to get vaccinated in the US."

Like I said , your "It's just Trumptoids" mantra is over-simplified.

Jim

July 27, 2021 02:24 AM Forum: Politics

Tucker Carlson Vs The NSA

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

I'd also remind you that the NSA has specifically denied Carlson'e allegations...
I'd like to think they are telling the truth.  But I'm not confident of that.  Our intelligence agencies have disregarded civil liberties and the law far too often in the past for their non-denial/denial to carry weight.  (I recall that they denied that Carlson is the target of an investigation, they did not specifically deny that they had ever intercepted and read some of his emails).

Since everyone in the regular press hates Carlson, no one will investigate the story properly.  That is Taibbi's point, among others.  This is a failure of journalism.

Jim

July 27, 2021 04:40 AM Forum: Politics

Three States Cause 40% Of Covid Cases

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

The Trumptoids causality factor here is not oversimplified. And it's their mantra via their continuing streams of disinformation and conspiracy theories that are driving the resistance to vaccinations amongst all groups because that is the message of fear and doubt that they hear. It's the main reason we don't have herd immunity. Instead, we have herd stupidity...
I'm willing to acknowledge that Trumptiod sentiment, including conspiracy theories *, are part of the anti-vax problem.  When you state that this sentiment is driving anti-vax behavior among the blacks, Hispanics and youths of all flavors, groups who are well documented to be less inclined to get vaccinated, you are being silly.  This is the oversimplification I am talking about.

Jim

* Speaking of conspiracy theories, my sister-in-law's husband's brother-in-law allegedly refused to get vaccinated 'because the vaccines were made from aborted male embyos...'  Apparently he got covid recently and had a rough go of it, but lived.  I've never met the guy and have no idea of his politics, but he is pretty stupid, if the story is true.  He's probably a Republican, since he lives in Colorado Springs along with Rich, but I'm just guessing.

July 28, 2021 12:32 AM Forum: Politics

Three States Cause 40% Of Covid Cases

Posted By James Brown

Originally Posted by Greg Shaffer
Well, if you have not yet gotten the vaccine and plan to then there really is one choice....

Put your faith in the Pfizer vaccine. Dont forget they make Viagra. If they can raise the dead, then they can save the living smile
cool