Political Roundtable Part XXIX

[Zonkerbl]

Russian trollfarm employees spreading the idiotic idea that since only Republicans are getting sick, it's a Dem attack. :eyeroll:

Also, given how many elderly Republicans have been infected, there's a better than fifty fifty chance that at least one of them dies.

As opposed to the main of of Democrat words and actions, Republicans have dismissed COVID as exaggerated or an outright hoax, responded to it with partisan favoritism, denounced rules, regulations, and guidelines promoting or dictating masks, social distancing, minimizing gatherings, and other precautions. Religious and secular conservative groups have frequently held large gatherings, both outdoors and indoors, without masks. Attendance at a large and largely maskless indoor gathering at the White House a week ago corresponds with a growing list of top Republicans testing positive for COVID.

On the surface, what should immediately come to mind is poetic justice, absurdist irony, hoist with their own petard, a COVID self-own circle jerk. Obviously, their own arrogance, obliviousness, callousness, selfishness, etc. directly contributed to this potentially fatal debacle. To paraphrase Occam's Trac II Razor channeled carelessly through No **** Sherlock, "Once you eliminate the plausibly deniable, whatever remains, no matter how darkly comic, well that's gotta be the truth." It is so plain on its face how this has happened. To assert otherwise would be like looking at the final score of last night's game and insisting that the Heat won. Or it's like this guy:

Watch on YouTube

Therefore, it is the perfect time for a Democratic operative to conduct a sabotage operation to expose Trump and other top Republicans to COVID (call it "Operation All Teary"). The Republicans' own litany of blithe and bumpkin-like carelessness is the perfect rebuttal to such a ridiculous assertion. The only people that could possibly believe such an unhinged allegation are people who would literally believe anything Trump and his minions and acolytes say, anything at all, no matter how ridiculous. Them and the Democrats who planned it and pulled it off. And, of course, me.

If he gets a cytokine storm he's a goner. I guess that's why they have him on steroids already.

[Zonkerbl]

Man people on my twitter feed are idiots. Here's how COVID works - for the first few days your symptoms are relatively mild - you're tired, you have a non productive cough. You feel like you have a medium to serious flu. Then at some point your immune system decides to have a lethal overreaction to the virus.

People on twitter saying they're giving all these cutting edge therapies to Trump as evidence that he is seriously sick. No. They are giving him all these therapies to try to prevent him from getting sick, because once you go on the ventilator you only have a 20% survival rate, or they did before they started treating those patients with steroids, but why not just get them on steroids ahead of time.

Consistent with what Doc is saying, Trump doesn't have to fight with insurance companies to get therapies that he technically doesn't need yet. If the POTUS says he wants the experimental therapy, and you don't think it'll kill him (like hydroxychloroquine might), you can just give it to him.

So far so good, we are getting the best possible outcome. Trump is sick enough that he can't say "I TOLD YOU IT WAS JUST THE FLU" but not sick enough to die. One, I don't want our POTUS to die, no matter who it is, and two I don't know what the effect on the election would be if he did and I'd rather not find out.

[Zonkerbl]

Friend of mine from high school died of COVID last week. Used to go out with her on and off, she was super smart but got caught up in stuff that threw her off track (it involved the witness protection program, not her fault at all), drank herself into early onset dementia (because southwest Ohio) and ended up dying of COVID. I'm just... so angry and frustrated right now. That's two classmates out of a class of 60 now.

[doclinkin]

Man people on my twitter feed are idiots. Here's how COVID works - for the first few days your symptoms are relatively mild - you're tired, you have a non productive cough. You feel like you have a medium to serious flu. Then at some point your immune system decides to have a lethal overreaction to the virus.

People on twitter saying they're giving all these cutting edge therapies to Trump as evidence that he is seriously sick. No. They are giving him all these therapies to try to prevent him from getting sick, because once you go on the ventilator you only have a 20% survival rate, or they did before they started treating those patients with steroids, but why not just get them on steroids ahead of time.

Consistent with what Doc is saying, Trump doesn't have to fight with insurance companies to get therapies that he technically doesn't need yet. If the POTUS says he wants the experimental therapy, and you don't think it'll kill him (like hydroxychloroquine might), you can just give it to him.

So far so good, we are getting the best possible outcome. Trump is sick enough that he can't say "I TOLD YOU IT WAS JUST THE FLU" but not sick enough to die. One, I don't want our POTUS to die, no matter who it is, and two I don't know what the effect on the election would be if he did and I'd rather not find out.

No indicator that things are deadly serious, BUT dexamethasone tends to be administered when it is clear your body is starting to have inflammation in the lungs, that one tends to be an indicator that things are significantly troublesome, because otherwise it can interfere with your immune system's proper working.

Also the fact that they said there is currently no interference with liver, cardiac function etc, and that anything being affected was normal or 'improving'. Suggests they had concern about interference with other systems. We know he has had heart issues. Just his age and weight put him at risk of serious complications. But yes, aside from the fact that he doesn't listen to sense and wants to endanger people with drive-bys and visits to injured service members in the hospital, he is getting the best treatment available. If science can help him, if he doesn't decide he knows more than Science, then he is in good shape. For now. With the probability of long term complications. How COVID reacts in various systems with those protein crowns that grow and get 'sticky' it's like pouring sand in the gears of a machine. Whatever minor problem you have is that much trickier to manage.

I get the sense COVID history is going to prove to be a 'pre-existing condition' that causes future system flare-ups and vulnerabilities. Another reason to hope the SCOTUS gets thoughtful and reasonable and compassionate adults who are motivated by wisdom and not short term politics.

[dckingsfan]

And to the ICU docs and how far they have come with their treatments and halving the death rate of COVID.

[dckingsfan]

Friend of mine from high school died of COVID last week. Used to go out with her on and off, she was super smart but got caught up in stuff that threw her off track (it involved the witness protection program, not her fault at all), drank herself into early onset dementia (because southwest Ohio) and ended up dying of COVID. I'm just... so angry and frustrated right now. That's two classmates out of a class of 60 now.

Yeah, it stings. For me it has been the dropping of customers. People you are used to helping in their businesses disappearing.

For sure it is different than losing family members, but it still stings.

[montestewart]

Trump is sick enough that he can't say "I TOLD YOU IT WAS JUST THE FLU" but not sick enough to die. One, I don't want our POTUS to die, no matter who it is, and two I don't know what the effect on the election would be if he did and I'd rather not find out.

Agree, and I would add: three, I don't want 10-20 years of incredibly ridiculous "deather" conspiracy theories further encouraging people who vote to willfully detach from concrete reality.

Sorry about your friend.

[Pointgod]

Man people on my twitter feed are idiots. Here's how COVID works - for the first few days your symptoms are relatively mild - you're tired, you have a non productive cough. You feel like you have a medium to serious flu. Then at some point your immune system decides to have a lethal overreaction to the virus.

People on twitter saying they're giving all these cutting edge therapies to Trump as evidence that he is seriously sick. No. They are giving him all these therapies to try to prevent him from getting sick, because once you go on the ventilator you only have a 20% survival rate, or they did before they started treating those patients with steroids, but why not just get them on steroids ahead of time.

Consistent with what Doc is saying, Trump doesn't have to fight with insurance companies to get therapies that he technically doesn't need yet. If the POTUS says he wants the experimental therapy, and you don't think it'll kill him (like hydroxychloroquine might), you can just give it to him.

So far so good, we are getting the best possible outcome. Trump is sick enough that he can't say "I TOLD YOU IT WAS JUST THE FLU" but not sick enough to die. One, I don't want our POTUS to die, no matter who it is, and two I don't know what the effect on the election would be if he did and I'd rather not find out.

Just ignore twitter man it’s **** toxic trash. Also sorry to hear about your high school friend.

[Zonkerbl]

Man people on my twitter feed are idiots. Here's how COVID works - for the first few days your symptoms are relatively mild - you're tired, you have a non productive cough. You feel like you have a medium to serious flu. Then at some point your immune system decides to have a lethal overreaction to the virus.

People on twitter saying they're giving all these cutting edge therapies to Trump as evidence that he is seriously sick. No. They are giving him all these therapies to try to prevent him from getting sick, because once you go on the ventilator you only have a 20% survival rate, or they did before they started treating those patients with steroids, but why not just get them on steroids ahead of time.

Consistent with what Doc is saying, Trump doesn't have to fight with insurance companies to get therapies that he technically doesn't need yet. If the POTUS says he wants the experimental therapy, and you don't think it'll kill him (like hydroxychloroquine might), you can just give it to him.

So far so good, we are getting the best possible outcome. Trump is sick enough that he can't say "I TOLD YOU IT WAS JUST THE FLU" but not sick enough to die. One, I don't want our POTUS to die, no matter who it is, and two I don't know what the effect on the election would be if he did and I'd rather not find out.

Just ignore twitter man it’s **** toxic trash. Also sorry to hear about your high school friend.

Yeah I've curated the crap out of it so it's mostly witty political commentary and well respected journalists, historians, and fallout 76 players. Still a lot of craziness leaks through.

[dobrojim]

Friend of mine from high school died of COVID last week. Used to go out with her on and off, she was super smart but got caught up in stuff that threw her off track (it involved the witness protection program, not her fault at all), drank herself into early onset dementia (because southwest Ohio) and ended up dying of COVID. I'm just... so angry and frustrated right now. That's two classmates out of a class of 60 now.

So sorry about that Zonk. That really sucks.

[dckingsfan]

And speaking about COVID disinformation, I wonder where that is coming from???

https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Evanega-et-al-Coronavirus-misinformationFINAL.pdf

[doclinkin]

Great. Prepare for a storm of 'leakers'. White House staff are infuriated that WH Chief of Staff gave them no instructions until Sunday pm, when Pence and Melania's staff told people on Friday to work from home if possible. And that Trump knew he tested positive as early as Tuesday, but nobody was warned. AND NOW of course report suggest he is bored of being in the hospital so he is haded to the White House tonight, though Doctors say he is not out of the woods on this, and in heading to the WH there's no real way to self quarantine for 10days/2 weeks, considering how large the staff is, etc.

[Pointgod]

Read on Twitter

[Zonkerbl]

I really don't understand the right wing "logic" here - don't let your fear of the virus dominate you, therefore don't take common sense safety measures like wearing a mask. I mean I understand maybe social distancing is problematic because it necessarily hurts the economy but what is the problem with wearing a mask? Other than toxic masculinity?

[doclinkin]

The logic is: fear is bad for the stock market. Be tough. Work hard. Don't let death or debilitating illness scare you. Masks look pussy and remind people that the Feds effed up big time. Move on. What's a little death here and there. So what we have a COVID death rate equivalent to a 9/11 every 3 days in this country. We've got to make those corporate billions somehow. It's not so bad. Our president kicked it easily -- with constant free testing, early diagnosis, and a helicopter ride to a private suite with personalized care and an experimental drug regimen that literally only 10 other people have tried since there have been no clinical trials for early treatment by dimethicone and remsidivir in patients that are not yet on ventilators. Free medicine for rich people works!

[Zonkerbl]

But it's so insane. DON'T LET FEAR DOMINATE YOU - SKYDIVE WITHOUT A PARACHUTE!!!

NASCAR is a super macho, risky scary sport. And they wear safety gear up the wazoo and nobody thinks they're cowards.

[dobrojim]

I'm surprised by some of what I would have thought were more down to earth
friends saying they don't think Golfy McBonespurs is really sick. I do.

I understand a certain lack of trust but...not buying that one.

[doclinkin]

I'm surprised by some of what I would have thought were more down to earth
friends saying they don't think Golfy McBonespurs is really sick. I do.

I understand a certain lack of trust but...not buying that one.

Whereas I don't believe he is actually alive


I think he will disappear into social distancing and no one will see him for a while and if he actually passed away, Stephen Miller would continue writing his tweets, and no one would tell Pence, and they'd lie to the press, and the deliquescing corpse of 45 would rule from his bed amid the Big Mac wrappers and french fry crumbs and congealing bowls of ice cream, while Mitch McTurtle would wheel in Senators on respirators to give the SCOTUS a conservative suppository, and a Trump impersonator would sign the official documents.

I think frankly these past few years are a badly written Matrix program, where the writers ran out of material and an Artificial Intelligence developed a sense of mischief and started messing with the parameters of the Credibility algorithm. We've been hacked but there is no Neo in the system to shake things up. Unless AOC has a team of secret ninjas who are battling behind the scenes.

[Pointgod]

I really don't understand the right wing "logic" here - don't let your fear of the virus dominate you, therefore don't take common sense safety measures like wearing a mask. I mean I understand maybe social distancing is problematic because it necessarily hurts the economy but what is the problem with wearing a mask? Other than toxic masculinity?

If you wear a mask that means you acknowledge covid isn’t a hoax and is serious. If covid isn’t a hoax and is serious, then that means you have to take precautions like shutting down some businesses and applying regulations. If businesses shut down that’s bad for the economy (read Trump) and if you have to apply covid regulations then it’s bad for the Republican billionaire donors. So basically it’s the same old trick of Republican billionaires duping voters into going against their own interests. You’re right masks absolutely do not hurt the economy and would mean you can actually open up sooner. It’s complete idiocy to be against wearing a mask but it’s completely on brand for right wingers.

[montestewart]

But it's so insane. DON'T LET FEAR DOMINATE YOU - SKYDIVE WITHOUT A PARACHUTE!!!

NASCAR is a super macho, risky scary sport. And they wear safety gear up the wazoo and nobody thinks they're cowards.

They should make some masks that look like this to get more manly men to wear them



And maybe a hand sanitizer dispenser that looks like a pistol.