What's Next For Democrats
A new year has dawned and Congress is finally getting back to work. In the Senate, this means (as it has for the entire past year) trying to figure out what Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin will accept. So far, the answers seem to be the usual "not much of anything," but perhaps they'll surprise us and actually get something done in the next few weeks.
Right now there are two big pressing issues in the Senate: Joe Biden's Build Back Better plan and passing some sort of voting rights bill or bills. The news on Build Back Better is pretty dispiriting, as the Washington Post is reporting that Manchin no longer supports the version of the plan he himself offered to the White House, just before the holidays. That's right -- he no longer supports his own proposal:
The week before Christmas, Sen. Joe Manchin III sent the White House a $1.8 trillion counteroffer to President Biden's Build Back Better agenda that included substantial funds for climate, health-care and education initiatives.
About four weeks later, the West Virginia Democrat has made clear that he does not currently support advancing even that offer following a breakdown in negotiations between Manchin and the White House right before Christmas, three people with knowledge of the matter said.
Manchin said publicly this week that he was no longer involved in talks with the White House over the economic package. Privately, he has also made clear that he is not interested in approving legislation resembling Biden's Build Back Better package and that Democrats should fundamentally rethink their approach. Senior Democrats say they do not believe Manchin would support his offer even if the White House tried adopting it in full -- at least not at the moment -- following the fallout in mid-December.
In other words, he's in a snit. Poor, disrespected Joe Manchin!
I'm sorry, but at this point snark is all I really have left. Manchin is doing precisely what the progressives in both the House and Senate warned of last year: he has been merely flirting with passing Biden's economic agenda as leverage to get his beloved bipartisan infrastructure bill passed -- and once it did, he has precisely zero interest in cutting any sort of deal at all on all the rest of it. Again: just like the progressives warned everyone would happen.
Even the coal workers' Union, the United Mine Workers of America, now backs Build Back Better, putting the lie to any fantasy Manchin might have of looking out for his home state's interest. Of course, the mine owners are against the plan, which is who Manchin truly considers his constituents.
With that dead in the water for now, Democrats have tried to pivot to another pressing issue, that of securing voting rights and fighting back against all the state-level laws red states have been passing ever since Trump trotted out his Big Lie of a stolen election. Chuck Schumer made news by announcing that the Senate will vote on the two voting rights bills currently drafted (the Freedom To Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act). Since these will fail to get 60 votes (this isn't the first vote on either one of them), Schumer then promised that "by Martin Luther King Junior Day" the Senate would vote on changing the filibuster rules to allow bills dealing with basic constitutional rights to pass the chamber with a simple majority vote.
Publicly, neither Manchin nor Sinema have indicated that they will support any change to the filibuster. But Manchin at least seems to be considering some alterations to the rule -- although after the dance he's led the rest of the Democrats on over Build Back Better, perhaps this is meaningless. Nevertheless, a delegation is trying to convince him to accept at least changing the filibuster back into a "talking filibuster," or switching it so that 41 votes are required to block debate instead of 60 being required to move forward (which would put the onus on the opposition to always have that many on the floor, ready to vote, during a talking filibuster). Creating the constitutional "carve-out" for voting rights seems to be less attractive to Manchin.
And, as usual, nobody has the slightest clue what Sinema wants or will accept.
This looks pretty hopeless, at least for now. Later this week -- perhaps Wednesday or Thursday, the votes will be held on the two voting rights bills. They will fail. Then Schumer will have to come up with some sort of filibuster reform idea to put on the floor (which may fail to pass).
As if this weren't all complicated enough, Mitch McConnell seems a tad bit worried that Manchin and Sinema might actually be convinced to make some filibuster changes. So he's got a counteroffer of sorts circulating. Both the John Lewis Act and the Freedom To Vote Act fail to deal with one very critical issue: reforming the Electoral Count Act from the 1800s. This law is incredibly badly written and very vague, which Donald Trump tried (unsuccessfully) to exploit. But the next time around might be different, with all the changes being made at the state level. So some Republicans are actually getting on board with a major rewrite of the Electoral Count Act which would toughen up the rules for when a state's certified election result for president might be challenged in Congress (when they officially count the votes, as they tried to do and eventually succeeded in doing on January 6th of last year). Such clarity would not only be welcome, but should be seen as critically necessary, at this point.
But the Republicans are acting not to supplement the two Democratic bills but rather to replace them. So the Democrats in the discussions are now pushing for a lot of the voting-security measures that are contained within the two Democratic bills to be included in whatever bipartisan draft they come up with. As Politico reported: "The talks started with reform of the Electoral Count Act, but they have broadened to include other election subversion issues, including some that are included in the Freedom to Vote Act."
This may all be a feint by Republicans to dangle something purportedly bipartisan in front of Manchin so he will refuse to accept any filibuster changes. And it might work -- they could continue negotiating until it is clear that the filibuster won't be changed, and then the talks will break down and nothing will come of it.
Democrats only have one real hope of any of this bearing fruit, and that is that a concerted push from both the bottom and the top can indeed convince Manchin and Sinema that the time to act is now. President Joe Biden will be at the forefront of this effort, as he is heading down to Georgia to give a speech on voting rights tomorrow, after laying a wreath at Martin Luther King Junior's crypt and visiting the Ebenezer Baptist Church where King preached. The grassroots will also be mounting a major campaign to get behind the push for filibuster reform and for voting rights legislation in the Senate.
Will this work? Nobody knows. But it's going to consume the next few weeks in Washington one way or another, so it will be interesting to see it all play out. Black voters saved Joe Biden's campaign (in South Carolina) during the 2020 primaries, and they have been rather annoyed that voting rights has taken a back seat to the economic parts of Biden's agenda for a full year now. Biden knows this and is looking to mend some fences by making a big push now. The big question is how strongly he will call for changing the filibuster -- something he has been reluctant to support in the past. But he could indeed make a difference, so beginning with tomorrow's speech and throughout the week we'll all be able to tell whether Democrats are going to fight back against what the Republican Party is doing to the system of elections in this country, or whether the Democrats are going to fail to do much of anything and let them get away with it.
The stakes really couldn't be any higher than that.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Yes, the holidays are over and we're back to trying to armtwist our two DINOs into not trashing the Dems collective chances in the midterms. #SSDD. I refuse to read the myriad stories about the day to day with Manchin and Sinema in POLITICO etc. I just scroll right by them (as though they're trolls) because I gain nothing in exchange for being annoyed. None of this matters as Joe either gets 'er done or he doesn't. Sooner would have been better, yes, but later is better than nothing.
The most important thing about BBB and John Lewis Act et al is passing all of it into law. The second most important thing is forcing the Repugs to vote on the record against the overwhelmingly popular elements of the Progressive agenda. Win or lose, Democrats have to get the Republicans on record as opposing what most of us want. Dems cannot be so stupid as to miss this gift wrapped opportunity.
CW
In other words, he's in a snit. Poor, disrespected Joe Manchin!
Manchin has definitely got that butthurt whiny victimhood routine perfected, doesn't he? The principal concept in modern right-wing politics is the perpetual whining victimhood and grievance; it's how Manchin connects with the righties.
CW
Publicly, neither Manchin nor Sinema have indicated that they will support any change to the filibuster.
Seems to me that neither Manchin nor Sinema had a problem with supporting the carve-out to raise the debt ceiling that was definitely a change to the filibuster.
MtnCaddy
1
Win or lose, Democrats have to get the Republicans on record as opposing what most of us want.
Exactly... put them on record on all manner of issues and run on Republicans being the Party of Denial.
Voting rights? The Republican Party of Denial is against those.
Choice? The Republican Party of Denial is against that... even in cases of rape and incest.
Climate Change? The Republican Party of Denial has been in climate denial for multiple decades.
COVID? Republican COVID denialism is on full display for all to see. How can the Republican Party of Denial protect you and your children from a pandemic they insist isn't serious? The virus is serious; the Republican Party of Denial isn't.
You name the issue... Republicans are in denial.
Ooo, I like that, Kick. It's go so far as to judge it to be a talking point. L
I refuse to read the myriad stories about the day to day with Manchin and Sinema in POLITICO etc. I just scroll right by them (as though they're trolls) because I gain nothing in exchange for being annoyed.
TRANSLATION:
I prefer to remain ignorant and only read the stuff that makes me happy, total BS propaganda though it may be..
Why am I not surprised.. :D
Face reality, MC...
Your Democrat Party has totally scroo'ed this country over...
When Democrats are totally shellacked come Nov and the GOP takes over both the HOUSE and SENATE come Jan 2023, we'll see what REAL competent governance looks like..
And then, when President Trump returns to the Oval Office in 2024, the Democrat Party is going to be relegated to Minority Party status for the next decade.. :D
Again, keep in mind.. That's not *MY* predictions.. That's the claims of the Democrats themselves... Hell, even Democrats here in Weigantia(™michale) are saying it.. :D
OH, by the bi, MC..
Your claim is that if you ignore my comments, I'll go away...
Howz that werkin out for ya??? :D
Nothing like being wrong ALL THE TIME, MC...
BBBWWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
'Rachel Maddow Show' worried Madison Cawthorn might ask to come on show if they asked him for comment: Email
MSNBC producer accidentally copied North Carolina congressman's office on email: 'If we did inquire he might ask to come on ... don't want to take that risk'
https://www.foxnews.com/media/rachel-maddow-show-worried-cawthorn-email
Heh... :D
What IS it about Democrats that they don't have the strength of their own convictions?? Why are they so afraid to engage people that disagree with them??
Are they afraid to learn that the entire belief system is total kaa-kaa???
I guess that same question would apply to Weigantians(™michale) here.. :D
"Fake news MSNBC doesn’t want to ‘take the risk’ that I’ll come on their show and trigger the left with my America First message and burst their woke dystopian bubble. The left doesn’t want debate from conservatives, they want silence. And now we have it in writing. Sad!"
-Madison Cawthorn
That is SOOO dead on ballz accurate...
We see the same thing happening here in Weigantia(™michale)... People here so over-whelmed with FACTS, they are afraid to engage in the back and forth debate they CLAIM they want..
I feel for ya, Mr Cawthorn.. You and I are in the same boat...
Democrats are afraid of us... :D
Even CNN is admitting that Democrats fear-mongering on COVID is misleading..
CNN's Jake Tapper panned for finally saying COVID hospitalization stats are 'misleading': 'Two years too late'
The CDC director admitted up to 40% of reported COVID hospitalizations are not actually due to COVID..
https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-jake-tapper-misleading-covid-hospitalization
This is what Democrat "governance" is all about.. Hysterical fear-mongering with no actual facts or science..
We see it with their global warming con.. We see it with their COVID hysteria.. It's what the Democrat Party is all about..
It's not surprising what with Democrat "science" all started out as Democrat activism...
"So, the hospitals are still stretched thin because of this... but if 40% in some hospitals- 40% of the people who have COVID don't necessarily have problematic COVID- they're there because they got in a car accident, they're there because, you know, they bump their head, and they're being included as ‘in the hospital with COVID,’ that number seems kind of misleading."
-CNN Jake Tapper
That is what Democrats are all about.. MISLEADING the public into thinking that COVID is worse than it is..
The facts are as clear and plentiful as they are conclusive..
Democrats lie.... Pure and simple..
"We're two years into this, and we need the clearest picture possible. If somebody's in the hospital with a broken leg and they also have asymptomatic COVID, that should not be counted as hospitalized with COVID, clearly."
-CNN Jake Tapper
Yes, that is clearly factual..
But, you see, Democrats HAVE to count it as a COVID case to further their hysterical fact-less and science-less agenda..
The facts are all there.. Democrats like MC who refuse to even learn the facts are forever going to be ignorant and wallow in their hate and bigotry...
"In this clip, @JakeTapper is absolutely right that counting all people in the hospital WITH COVID as being there FOR COVID is wildly misleading -- especially since it applies to close to 50% -- but it's so striking how many arguments that were long taboo are now all being aired."
-Glenn Greenwald
Ya'all know my feelings about Greenwald...
But, once again, GG is dead on ballz accurate here..
The floodgates are opening.. Even normal reliable Democrat Party water-carriers like the Pedo Network CNN are starting to question Democrats on their fact-less and science-less hysterical COVID agenda...
Ya'all just GOT to know that when your own Goebbels-esque propaganda machine starts to question the Democrat Party agenda, the Democrat Party is going down in flames... :D
It's going to be a fun day today.. :D
"Two years into covid @cnn has suddenly discovered the difference between being hospitalized with covid and being hospitalized because of covid. Anyone who has bothered to look at the data has, of course, known this for two years."
Anyone who actually has more than 2 brain cells to rub together knows that Democrats have been illogically and irrationally hyping COVID all this time.
I mean, between the CD&GC admitting that only 5% of the total death toll actually died from COVID and now the CD&GC admitting that upwards of HALF the hospital admissions listed for COVID were actually admitted for other reasons not COVID related...
It's clear that there is a fact-less and science-less hysterical agenda going on..
"All of these people completely turned on a dime and acknowledged the things 'conspiracy theorists' have been saying for two years were true only when Joe Biden's national covid strategy collapsed during an election year that Democrats are losing."
Heh... The floodgates are opening..
The election news keeps getting worse and worse for the Democrat Party..
Just think how much fun we are going to have here in Weigantia(™michale) when Democrats are uber-nuclear-apocalyptic shellacked in Nov!!! :D
You think my comment count is large now?? :D heh...
And in the BOY THAT'S GOTTA HURT department!! :D
How Manchin and Sinema’s status as Senate holdouts is proving lucrative
This article is more than 1 month old
The Democratic senators have received a flood of money from conservative donors, leading some to raise concerns of corruption
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/28/joe-manchin-kyrsten-sinema-build-back-better-plan
So, not only do Manchin and Sinema have their normal Democrat donors, they are also drawing money from Conservative groups who like Manchin's and Sinema's pro-America stance.. :D
So, with such a huge war-chest, the idea that Joe and Kyrsten could be successfully primaried is ludicrous..
You Democrats need to face reality.. If Democrats can't convince their own Party members that their agenda is just... If Democrats can't convince the American people that their agenda is just...
Maybe it's time for the Democrat Party to re-evaluate their anti-America agenda, eh?
And, in the Hypocrisy.. It's not a bug in Democrat programming. It's a feature. department...
2021's most despicable villains: Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema
The vast majority of Democrats are eager to save democracy, yet these two ruined the party's reputation with voters
https://www.salon.com/2021/12/28/2021s-most-despicable-villains-joe-manchin-and-kyrsten-sinema/
It's funny... When John McCain went against President Trump and frak'ed up the Pro-America America First agenda, Democrats fawned and gushed over what a "Maverick" McCain was and how McCain put principle and country before Party. Democrats couldn't say enough good things about McCain..
Now, when Democrats are having not ONE but TWO 'McCains' in their midst, who are stalling the DEMOCRATs anti-America America Last agenda, all of the sudden words like "Maverick" and "principled" become words like "traitor" and "turncoat"...
What IS it about the Democrat Party that Democrat = hypocrite???
And what's so hilarious is that Democrats don't even CARE about their hypocrisy.. Democrats KNOW that it's a feature of the Democrat psyche....
And Democrats whine and cry and bitch and moan and make BS claims like " NO ONE knows what Sinema wants!!" which is a COMPLETE fabrication.. In shorter words, it means it's a total BS LIE...
"I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request.... Means NO..."
Captain Barbosa, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Kyrsten Sinema is on the record that she refuses to negotiate her politics in the media.. And she has stayed true to that fact..
Her colleagues in Congress know exactly what Sinema wants.. They have been in constant contact with her and there has been a LOT of back and forth while they discuss the agenda...
People who claim "NO ONE KNOWS WHAT SINEMA WANTS" are full of kaa-kaa because the people who count, the people to NEED to know what Sinema wants, DO know what Sinema wants..
Personally, I think it's refreshing that Sinema refuses to fight these battles in the media..
If more Democrats were like Sinema, maybe the Democrat Party would not be such a mess it is today...
To sum up...
The RELEVANT people know what Sinema wants. ANYONE who claims that no one knows what Sinema wants are ignorant and full of themselves and full of anti America hate and bigotry...
Joe Manchin apparently no longer supports his own Build Back Better counteroffer
An ExxonMobil lobbyist previously called the West Virginia senator the industry's "kingmaker"
https://www.salon.com/2022/01/08/joe-manchin-apparently-no-longer-supports-his-own-build-back-better-counteroffer_partner/
Of course Manchin doesn't support his own offer anymore..
Do Democrats *HONESTLY* believe that Manchin would just sit and wait for Democrats to say YES..
Democrats had their shot to make their Wet Dream bill AKA Build Back Broke a reality.. They blew it... They thought that Manchin would come around..
Manchin finally got sick of Democrats Anti-America attitude so Manchin said, "FINE.. You don't want to play, I'll take my ball and go home.."
Which left the Democrat Party ball-less...
Which is rather apropos, don'tcha think?? :D
Liz had asked yesterday what brought me back to Weigantia(™michale)...
'Betrayed': House progressives erupt over Manchin Build Back Better opposition
Pramila Jayapal led the progressive charge in denouncing Manchin. He "betrayed his commitment" to Biden, Democrats and the American people, she said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/betrayed-house-progressives-erupt-over-manchin-build-back-better-opposition-n1286287
Seeing Progressives get rolled brought me so much joy and happiness, I just HAD to share it with all my friends in Weigantia(™michale)... :D
I mean, I have been saying for YEARS how out of touch and out of sync with everyday Americans progressive Democrats were..
And to see it played out in reality??? Well, I was just BURSTING with happiness and joy...
And, since I am the kind of person I am, I just had to spread the happiness and joy to my fellow Weigantians(™michale).... :D
And, since I have adequately addressed the wagers made in 2020-2021, there really seemed to be no reason to NOT stick around..
I mean, com'on.. Weigantia(™michale) was simply BEGGING for facts and reality to replace all the dittoheads and their "Yep.. Fer sure... Right on!! Sing that truth!!" crap that permeated Weigantia(™michale)...
And so here I am.. :D And it's only going to be MORE and MORE fun as we get closer and closer to the Uber-Nuclear-Apocalyptic Shellacking Of The Democrat Party in November... :D
And in the WELL, NO SHIT SHERLOCK department..
Progressives’ biggest fear about the Build Back Better Act has come to pass
There’s a reason they wanted the social spending bill tied to infrastructure.
https://www.vox.com/2021/12/19/22845190/progressives-build-back-better-act-squad-joe-manchin
Well, DUH.... Of course that was the plan the whole time.
The only question is, why were Progressives to STOOPID as to cave??
The idea that West Virginians do not stand behind Joe Manchin is ludicrous and a total lie...
Joe Manchin stood up for West Virginia values
In his decision to oppose the Build Back Better bill, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) didn’t just stand up for himself. He stood up for West Virginia.
A December poll found 60 percent of West Virginians opposed the bill. Large majorities feared it was too expensive and would exacerbate inflation.
They had good reason. Despite promises from Manchin’s fellow Democrats that their $1.7 trillion bill would somehow be “free” to taxpayers, the Congressional Budget Office affirmed Mountaineers’ suspicions, projecting Build Back Better would ultimately add close to $3 trillion to the national debt.
https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/588271-joe-manchin-stood-up-for-west-virginia-values
Oh sure.. Unions support Democrats Wet Dream bill, AKA BUILD BACK BROKE...
But only Union leaders do because they are getting a health chunk of bribes.. The rank and file coal miners are positively in Joe Manchin's corner.. They know that the Democrats Wet Dream will mean the end of their livelihoods with all that global warming con crap that's in the Build Back Broke bill...
You people need to face the facts and face reality...
The progressive con is over.. Dead... Fini....
All that work and Democrats have ZERO to show for it?? :D
What a great time to be an American... :D
The second most important thing is forcing the Repugs to vote on the record against the overwhelmingly popular elements of the Progressive agenda.
If the elements of the Progressive agenda is so "overwhelmingly popular" why doesn't the Democrat Party push those thru as stand alone legislation??
Because your claim is utter bupkis and everyone knows that the Progressive socialist agenda is as popular as swamp-ass...
You really need to face reality, MC.... America is a center Right country...
The more you and your fellow progressives try to push socialism on this country, the more and more Right this country will go..
Patriot Americans don't want a socialist country... The socialist-esque programs we DO have are bad enough... Americans don't want an entire socialist government in place... Everyone knows what happens in socialist countries.. Just look at Venezuela...
"Socialism always fails because, sooner or later, you run out of other people's money.."
-Margret Thatcher
You lose, MC... And you better get used to losing... Because between now and November Democrats are going to keep on losing... :D
Stacey Abrams will miss Biden’s voting rights speech in Georgia
Biden will be in Georgia with Vice President Kamala Harris to make his pitch to the American people
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stacey-abrams-will-miss-bidens-voting-rights-speech-in-georgia
WOW....
Basement Biden is so toxic that not even the Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate wants to be seen with him!!!
Now THAT is funny!! :D
Biden will be in Georgia with Vice President Kamala Harris to make his pitch to the American people. They will visit Ebenezer Baptist Church and place a wreath at the crypt of Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King.
Actually, Basement Biden is there to spit on the grave of Dr King...
That's what Biden's support of CRT amounts to...
That's what Bidens policy of giving preferential medical treatment based on skin color amounts to...
Democrats are spitting on the grave of Dr Martin Luther King...
JL??? Liz???
You remember LewDan??? He was a Weigantian for a while back in the early days..
If I recall correctly, he was really big on black Americans' rights and such...
I have to wonder what he thinks of today's Democrat Party who are bringing back segregation and race-based medical treatments and such....
I wonder how he feels about Democrats proving conclusively that their Party is STILL the Racist Party...
Things that make ya go "Hmmmmm......"
"There’s bad, and then there’s 'Gubernatorial candidate in a state you carried cancels on you' bad.."
-Ben Williamson
Heh.... No doubt... :D
The liberal justices’ lies reveal the left’s addiction to virus fears
Democrats, Big Tech social-media companies and the mainstream liberal media have spent two years raging about the spread of coronavirus misinformation, pointing their fingers at conservatives resisting government efforts to curb the disease’s spread via lockdowns, mask requirements and vaccine mandates.
But it turns out the source of some of the worst pandemic myths wasn’t right-wing podcasters booted from Twitter for the sin of disagreeing with Dr. Anthony Fauci.
They came from liberal Supreme Court justices.
https://nypost.com/2022/01/10/liberal-justices-lies-reveal-lefts-addiction-to-virus-fears/
Once again, it's uncanny...
ALL the "mistakes" that Democrats make on COVID ALL go in the same direction..
They all make COVID seem worse than it actually is..
Proof positive that these aren't honest mistakes, but rather a systemic and sustained agenda to fear-monger patriotic Americans into being compliant...
It's that simple...
On Friday, the high court heard oral arguments about the Biden administration’s push to impose vaccine mandates on private employers. The case involves a dubious effort to twist Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations meant to prevent health hazards specific to the workplace to include diseases that can be caught anywhere. But this problematic expansion of government power over the private sector and the rights of individuals to govern what is put into their bodies — the mantra of “My body, my choice” apparently only applies to abortions — was not the main takeaway. (emphasis mine)
Justice Sotomayor falsely stated that over 100,000 children are in serious condition with COVID-19, but CDC chief Rochelle Walensky said the true number is under 5,000 children.
Instead, it was the whoppers about the COVID threat from the three members of the court’s liberal faction.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor falsely asserted that COVID deaths are at an all-time high and the Omicron variant, which produces mild symptoms, “is as deadly as Delta.” Most egregiously she claimed, “We have over 100,000 children, which we’ve never had before, in serious condition, and many on ventilators.”
As even CDC chief Rochelle Walensky later conceded, fewer than 5,000 children are in hospitals with COVID. Many, if not most, were not hospitalized for COVID but merely tested positive on admission for another ailment. And children are, as they have been throughout the pandemic, the least affected by the virus.
The same is true for hospitalized adults, with Walensky admitting that at least 40 percent of all cases counted as COVID are not people who required hospitalization because of the virus. Most of those who have died have had up to four comorbidities that were responsible for their plight.
Once again, the FACTS clearly prove beyond any doubt that Democrats are simply using hysterical fear-mongering to make COVID seem worse than it is...
Sotomayor was not alone in spreading misinformation.
Justice Elena Kagan claimed vaccines and masks prevent the spread of the disease: Workers, she said, “have to get vaccinated so that you’re not transmitting the disease that can kill elderly Medicare patients, that can kill sick Medicaid patients. I mean, that seems like a pretty basic infection-prevention measure.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t true. The vaccine reduces the seriousness of COVID in those afflicted, but it doesn’t stop the vaccinated from catching or spreading it.
Justice Stephen Breyer also falsely asserted that the vaccine prevents infection, hospitals are overflowing with COVID patients at death’s door and the country reported “750 million new cases” the day before — though America’s total population is around 330 million.
It’s fair to ask how three of the people who are supposedly among the smartest in the land could be so poorly informed. But it also speaks volumes about the way the mainstream media has helped spread COVID dishonesty intended to fuel the kind of fear of the disease that lies behind these fibs.
Misinformation has come from those who dwell in the fever swamps of the far right and the far left. But some of the worst of the fallacies about the pandemic have come from public-health officials and their dutiful enablers in the mainstream media.
The list of Democrats ignoring the REAL science and exaggerating the dangers of COVID is endless..
What started out as an agenda to bring down President Trump has morphed into a plan to impose an authoritarian government on a compliant America.. Part of this agenda is to federalize all elections where the federal government can take control and make the fraud and cheating of the 2020 election the norm..
But once the GOP takes control of Congress, the Democrat Party will be the minority Party for at least a decade.. :D
Bent on scaring people into compliance with arbitrary rules that have changed continuously as they’ve reacted to a crisis for which they were unprepared, the experts have often encouraged the kind of exaggerations and mistakes that the three Supreme Court liberals repeated.
The high-court hearing wasn’t just fodder for a fact check that earned liberal judges scorn. It should be a wake-up call for the rest of us to understand that the real problem here isn’t a disease. It’s the way those who ought to know better have gone along with fearmongering intended to quash opposition to the most heavy-handed COVID regulations regardless of the truth.
The facts are as plentiful as they are conclusive..
COVID is not nearly as bad as Democrats want people to believe...
Pandemic is another word for what we've always known as "the flu".
Dempanic is another word for "We thrive on panic & crisis", and "We want to control the world"
Dempanic is another word for "We thrive on panic & crisis", and "We want to control the world"
While I understand what you are saying, I must point out that while Dems are panicking for political reasons, they are FAR from "thriving"..
Their panic is being exposed for the political agenda it is and Americans are treating Democrats accordingly...
DH,
I don't agree that Democrats and Republicans are 2 sides of the same coin..
Democrats support policies that are actively BAD for this country..
As we saw during the President Trump years, his and the GOP policies actively and actually helped this country..
And will do so again come 2022 and 2024...
Michale,
You are cruisin' for a bruisin'.
Or, is that what you actually want.
It's only been a little while now and it's already becoming very tiresome.
If I pulled any weight around here, I would limit you to two comments and two responses per day. Period. Because I think that would tend to force more intelligent contributions.
Education Secretary Cardona solicited NSBA letter comparing protesting parents to domestic terrorists: email
NSBA official said controversial letter followed 'a request by Secretary Cardona'
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/education-secretary-cardona-solicited-nsba-letter-comparing-parents-domestic-terrorists-email
So, apparently, it was the Basement Biden administration who wanted to invoke the Patriot Act against parents whose SOLE "crime" was being concerned about their children being indoctrinated by an Anti America agenda... :eyeroll:
Michale,
How should people be behaving during this pandemic?
Are public health measures like physical distancing and hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette and staying home when you are sick, etc. wise protocols to follow or should we just ignore them and do as we please?
If I pulled any weight around here, I would limit you to two comments and two responses per day. Period. Because I think that would tend to force more intelligent contributions.
Just me?? Why?? Because the facts are not convenient to the reigning ideology here???
If all my comments were Pro Biden, you wouldn't have any problem with them..
Are you sure you want to be in the LET'S CENSOR COMMENTS WE DON'T LIKE group??
Is there no room in your ideology for differing opinions and facts??
You want to limit my facts??
It's easy to do.. Either come up with countering facts of your own or concede the facts.. :D
How should people be behaving during this pandemic?
The same way they behave during every pandemic previously.. The same way they behave during every flu season we have..
This COVID is no different.. As the FACTS clearly prove beyond any doubt..
Are public health measures like physical distancing and hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette and staying home when you are sick, etc. wise protocols to follow or should we just ignore them and do as we please?
That's what we did during Odumbo's H1N1 pandemic and this country survived...
It's what we do during the flu season and this country survives..
COVID is no different..
The ONLY difference is the heights of fear-mongering BS and lies that Democrats have reached for to push their Anti America anti-freedom and anti-liberty agenda...
My problem with your comments, Michale, have little to do with ideology or whether they are pro-Biden or anti-Trump in slant.
My problem is the utter disdain and contempt with which you treat your fellow Weigantians whenever you are here.
Why just you? No one else around here revels in dominating this place quite like you do and ... because I care about you, my friend.
Liz,
How about this.. If the trolls of Weigantia(™michale) cease all their personal attacks I'll tone down the number of my comments in reciprocation..
What could be more fair than that?? :D
My problem is the utter disdain and contempt with which you treat your fellow Weigantians whenever you are here.
Only the ones that deserve it.. I treat people how they treat me..
See comment #43
No one else around here revels in dominating this place quite like you do and
Considering the abuse that I and my family have had to endure at the hands of these trolls and TPTB...???
Yes. Abso-frakin'-loutly I enjoy dominating... I'm only human after all... :D
Michale,
Your constant claim that "silence gives assent" - our failure to refute all of your claims, no matter how asinine many of them may be means that we agree with you - is also quite annoying.
Most of us haven't anywhere near the time that would be necessary to intelligently respond to your every claim and expose the utter lack of veracity that often accompanyies them.
It's a shame. Because you often highlight some very uncomfortable truths that scream out for a cogent debate of the issues and best solutions. Which, to me, is the essential purpose of this blog and why we are all here.
Elizabeth, I just spent five minutes scrolling past yards of column space to find non troll comments. All I can say is that somebody needs to get a life.
Why, exactly, do you consider troll your friend?
How do you define the word friend?
Why do you engage with trolls who don't engage back?
Are you happy with Weigantia lately?
Is there some lesson to be learned in all of this?
Your constant claim that "silence gives assent" - our failure to refute all of your claims, no matter how asinine many of them may be means that we agree with you - is also quite annoying.
And yet, during Charlottesville and thru the BLM riots, Democrats and Weigantians were holding up signs (figuratively and literally) that said SILENCE GIVES ASSENT...
This is documented fact.. You remember Paula?? Her and the rest of ya'all were claiming because President Trump hadn't condemned Charlottesville every time a Democrat wanted him to...
That was pretty annoying, I readily agree..
But I simply play by the rules that Democrats have set..
Most of us haven't anywhere near the time that would be necessary to intelligently respond to your every claim and expose the utter lack of veracity that often accompanies them.
If the facts are on your side, there shouldn't be any problem with refuting my facts..
I throw a lot of softballs that would be easy to refute if they were refutable..
Take the current discussion about the Biden administration actually being the impetus for the NSBA letter trying to invoke the Patriot Act against parents whose SOLE "crime" is caring for their children..
Should be easy to refute that if it is refutable..
It's a shame. Because you often highlight some very uncomfortable truths that scream out for a cogent debate of the issues and best solutions. Which, to me, is the essential purpose of this blog and why we are all here.
Agreed.... Wholly and completely..
So, how can we work together to bring about the honest debate that we obviously want??
Elizabeth, I just spent five minutes scrolling past yards of column space to find non troll comments. All I can say is that somebody needs to get a life.
Why, exactly, do you consider troll your friend?
How do you define the word friend?
Why do you engage with trolls who don't engage back?
Are you happy with Weigantia lately?
Is there some lesson to be learned in all of this?
This is exactly what I am talking about, Liz..
We *ARE* engaging.. We ARE discussing things like reasonable adults..
And that just scares the CRAP out of people like MC...
I am sure you would agree that it's THESE kinds of comments from the likes of MC et al that Weigantia doesn't need..
If THOSE kinds of comments can be curtailed, then my comments can also be curtailed..
Elizabeth, I just spent five minutes scrolling past yards of column space to find non troll comments.
Took you FIVE MINUTES to scroll past 48 comments???
What are you using?? A Stone Tablet, a chisel and a can with a string attached???
Michale,
The phrase, 'Silence Gives Assent', is widely used in any number of circumstances.
One must be capable of discerning the differences in applicability and meaning of words and phrases in order to participate in meaningful discussions.
The phrase of the day for today?
DISCERN THE DIFFERENCES!
Caddy,
Is there some lesson to be learned in all of this?
Yes, many ...
Michale,
So, how can we work together to bring about the honest debate that we obviously want??
Good question!
For starters, I think we all need to accept our own resposibility for the state of Weigantia and understand what we can do individually to improve the level of discourse here and be an example to emulate.
For starters, I think we all need to accept our own resposibility for the state of Weigantia and understand what we can do individually to improve the level of discourse here and be an example to emulate.
I am more than willing to do my part..
But NOT if I am the only one making the effort...
Someone has to go first ... or, you know, second. :)
Michale, what do you think I can do to make things better here?
What do you think you could do to make things better here?
I'll go first ... I can try harder to discern the points being made by fellow Weigantians and just ignore the noise. That way I can respond more meaningfully to the essential points being made. This will necessarily reduce the number of contributions I make because I will stick to the very heart of any matter.
I'll go first ... I can try harder to discern the points being made by fellow Weigantians and just ignore the noise. That way I can respond more meaningfully to the essential points being made. This will necessarily reduce the number of contributions I make because I will stick to the very heart of any matter.
I can limit my posts to just the few issues that REALLY concern me, as opposed to anything that strikes my fancy...
I don't think I can ignore the troll postings and personal attacks, nor do I think it's fair that be asked of me..
But we can see how it goes.. :D
No, no one is aking you to ignore personal attacks. If I had to deal with personal attacks, I would just leave this place and never look back. So, props to you for putting up with it all and still coming back.
You and I have an oversized responsibility to change the way this place works. I know we can do it. It won't be easy and there will be many temptations to reverse any progress we may make. But, I thnk you will agree with me that this place is worth every effort we can make.
You and I have an oversized responsibility to change the way this place works. I know we can do it. It won't be easy and there will be many temptations to reverse any progress we may make. But, I thnk you will agree with me that this place is worth every effort we can make.
Agreed...
We'll see how it goes...
Caddy,
You also have a very big role to play here in the effort to make this a fun place where we can engage in good-natured debate and discussion. To be sure, it will take ALL of us here to make a serious effort to live up to the great potential of Chris's wonderful blog.
We are a great bunch, when you get right down to it, after all. :)
Checking in, I see not much has changed. After I read the first four interesting posts discussing Chris' points and information, I find one poster putting out 26 posts in a row that don't bear reading, based on past experience. The same character seems to be the sole topic of the rest of the discussion thread.
I'll pass.
I hope you don't pass commenting here, John, at least not for long.
We are trying to make an effort to change this place for the better and I hope you are part of that effort.
ELIZABETH, I agree that a cogent Conservative or three would be a great boon to Weigantia. But I missed the part where this particular troll has ever acted even remotely interested in enlightening or persuading anyone. Pretty much just needs attention and will write anything to get it is what I recall. So stop the encouragement, please. Weigantia is depopulated enough already.
John,
In other words, we need you!
I want to debate policy with Republicans. Is it any coincidence that I can't find any to oblige me? Seems they just want to keep themselves buried in the Newsmax parallel universe that they live in.
Caddy,
What can you do to help in the effort to change this place for the better?
You could just stop calling people trolls. That would be a great start. Seriously. Did I ever say that this effort would be easy? Far from it!
Caddy,
If you are not willing to do your part, then I am very sorry to hear that. But, I would urge you to reconsider.
Elizabeth, John ain't going to be able to help. Who are you or John or anyone going to convince to change their behavior? The only solution is a red card.
As I said...
Improving Weigantia and making things better scares the hell out of those who are only interested in trolling and personal attacks...
I can control my actions and, due to our history, am willing to work with ya..
I don't envy your job getting others who have a vested interest in keeping the turmoil going to go along..
Ya got yer work cut out for ya.. :D
MC,
I want to debate policy with Republicans. Is it any coincidence that I can't find any to oblige me?
Maybe it's because you call them "RETHUGLICANS" all the time, eh???
Perhaps if you truly want to have honest debates, you should stop with the hate and bigotry and name-calling..
Just a helpful suggestion.. :D
. Who are you or John or anyone going to convince to change their behavior?
She's already convinced me...
Why does Liz succeeding scare you so much??
From Merriam-Webster
Troll
2 : a person who intentionally antagonizes others online by posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content is called a troll. In the late 1980s, Internet users adopted the word "troll" to denote someone who intentionally disrupts online communities.
So not calling troll a troll is going to accomplish just what?
From Merriam-Webster
Troll
: to harass, criticize, or antagonize (someone) especially by provocatively disparaging or mocking public statements, postings, or acts
You see, MC.. By your own definition, you are the troll..
As to what Liz is trying to accomplish, she is trying to make Weigantia a better place for EVERYONE..
Not just those who have a specific ideological belief..
Why does that scare you so much??
It's a sincere question that someone who is sincerely interested in honest debate would answer..
ENOUGH!!!
New column will be up soon! Heh.
And, while we're waiting for the weekend, I've decided upon a theme for this week's CW Sunday Night Music Festival and Dance Party ... wait for it ... new music that we have recently discovered from bygone decades!!!
I, for one, can't wait! :-)
wait for it ... new music that we have recently discovered from bygone decades!!!
I, for one, can't wait! :-)
Oooo Now THAT is creative!!! :D Something I might stay awake for!! :D
Cop Who Killed Ashli Babbitt Was Cleared of Criminal Wrongdoing Without Interview
https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2022/01/06/capitol_police_officer_who_shot_ashli_babbitt_refused_to_answer_investigators_questions_810720.html
The facts were readily apparent..
This was a good shoot... End of story...
You will have a lot of fun ... and listen to many great tunes!
You might even start dancing around the living room.
You might even start dancing around the living room.
Now THAT'S a scary mental picture!!! :D
Heh.
Anyone who tests positive with COVID and requires a hospital stay for any reason (even if they are asymptomatic) are treated “for COVID” as they carry a highly contagious disease and cannot be treated as if they are not carrying the virus. How difficult is this to understand?!? These patients require the staff to use specialized precautions when treating them — in this way they ARE being treated “FOR COVID”!
You are screaming that your trip has been ruined because the deck chairs aren’t where they are supposed to be as the ship is sinking.
[80]
#Covidiots, thank you for playing the natural selection game.
How difficult is this to understand?!?
How difficult is it to understand that the ADMISSIONS was not for COVID in 60% of the cases??
We're talking ADMISSIONS, not treatments..
Democrats exaggerated ADMISSIONS for COVID, even though the ADMISSIONS for COVID was 60% *LESS* than what the Democrats claim..
Why is that so difficult for you to understand??
#Covidiots, thank you for playing the natural selection game.
Oh yes.. Caddy is interested in honest and sincere back and forth debate... :D
Anyone who disagrees with him is an "idiot" or a "Rethuglican"... :D
New column coming up soon!
But, did anyone listen to Biden's speech today?
It was the old Biden that I know and love!
Russ and Michale,
Yes, patients admitted to hospital for something other than COVID but then test postive for the virus must, of course, be treated for COVID-19 with all of the necessary precautions taken by all hospital staff.
In fact, Michale, I would assume that the admitting process in hospitals these days is not complete until the COVID-19 status of the patient being admitted is discerned. So, there's that.
The other thing is that testing has fallen off a cliff for a number of reasons and so even the number of COVID-19 cases that are announced everyday is being underestimated by a lot - in Canada, it is being underestimated by at least a factor of 5 to 7.
Besides, at this point in the pandemic, we should be focused on what needs to be done to get to the other side of it and not get mired in a fruitless debate about numbers that aren't reliable.
The thing is this, Liz..
When it comes to a pandemic, the ONLY real stats that matters are Hospital Admissions and deaths..
We know that Omicron has ZERO deaths here in the US...
And now Democrats are trying to exaggerate Admissions.. Again, to make COVID appear worse than it is..
People are being admitted for car accidents and then catch COVID while they are in the hospital..
Sure, they have COVID.. But that's not what they were admitted for..
So, when Democrats claim XXX,XXX Admissions for COVID, they are lying...
Just like when they claim 800,000 died from COVID when, in fact, only 5% of that number actually died from COVID..
It's ALL spin with the SOLE goal to make COVID appear worse than it is..
These are the FACTS...
OK, I am done for the night..
Great work here today, Liz..
You got me to HALF my comment count.. You sure be very proud of what you accomplished.. :D
Have a great night.. :D
Michale
86
When it comes to a pandemic, the ONLY real stats that matters are Hospital Admissions and deaths..
Incorrect, particularly when said pandemic is caused by an airborne virus for which a vaccine exists and herd immunity is the goal. Stats for those having had the infectious disease and/or having been immunized against it are therefore key to discerning at what point herd immunity might be reached in a particular population. You obviously need to know this in order to plan hospital logistics, supplies, etc.
We know that Omicron has ZERO deaths here in the US...
Incorrect. Although the United States doesn't actually (at the current time) report deaths by variant strain but simply death by COVID-19, we do know for a fact that a patient in Houston, Texas, died on December 20, 2021, from the Omicron variant strain of COVID-19:
Continued from [87]
And now Democrats are trying to exaggerate Admissions.. Again, to make COVID appear worse than it is..
Ridiculous. All patients are tested for COVID-19 before they're admitted... even those that aren't ill. Going to have rhinoplasty or going to have a baby? Not exactly an illness, but you'll be tested regardless.
People are being admitted for car accidents and then catch COVID while they are in the hospital..
Ridiculous. COVID has an incubation period before it detectable via testing. If you are being admitted to the hospital, you are tested upon admission. If you test positive for COVID, you were obviously exposed at least about a week or so before you were tested by hospital staff. Also, people aren't admitted for "car accidents," they're admitted for broken bones or internal bleeding, etc. as a result of a car accident. The majority of people in car accidents are never admitted; they are stabilized in the ER and sent home. The vast majority of patients for all manner of issues don't even have an overnight stay in a hospital; they are either outpatients who have surgical procedures and recover at home or spend only a night or two and go home. Cholecystectomy? Tonsillectomy? All manner of routine surgical procedures? Outpatient surgery with no overnight stay. Open heart surgery? Usually days not weeks.
Patients are tested upon admission and classified accordingly.
Sure, they have COVID.. But that's not what they were admitted for..
So, when Democrats claim XXX,XXX Admissions for COVID, they are lying...
You think ER staff are conspiring with Democrats to inflate COVID statistics. Heh. Funny. They keep the statistics of anyone who tests positive for COVID for a reason... gauging herd immunity, which is getting harder to determine due to the ever-expanding list of variant mutations.
Just like when they claim 800,000 died from COVID when, in fact, only 5% of that number actually died from COVID..
Ridiculous. The cause of death is listed on a death certificate, and COVID-19 is not listed as your cause of death unless you die from complications of COVID-19.
It's ALL spin with the SOLE goal to make COVID appear worse than it is..
The spin is all yours with the goal of minimizing and downplaying COVID. Just like Donald Trump and the right-wing propaganda machine has been doing since Day 1 when COVID reached the shores of the United States.
These are the FACTS...
No. That's right-wing drivel and standard spew. People have died from Omicron and more will die believing it's not a serious disease; anyone telling you otherwise is a useful idiot for right-wing propaganda.
Victoria.... Still the fact-less wannabe of Weigantia...
Face the facts, girl.. Yer pwned here... Always have been... Always will be.. :D
Michale
89
I accept your concession regarding your factless posts claiming no one has died from Omicron. I would wager you've posted that lie on this forum a multitude of times, which still doesn't magically make it a fact.
Run along now, trailer poon, and crack a book. :D
As usual, Victoria has ZERO facts to support her claims..
As usual, I ALWAYS have the facts to support my claims..
The U.S. has now had its first reported Omicron variant-related death: a Covid-19 coronavirus reinfection in a man who was unvaccinated against Covid-19.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2021/12/22/first-
omicron-death-in-us-reinfection-in-unvaccinated-man-who-previously-had-covid-19/
There has been only a SINGLE death in the US that was thought to be from Omicron..
As it turns out, it wasn't from Omicron but rather a RE-INFECTION from his previous bout with COVID..
So, once again the FACT remains.. There has not been a single death from Omicron in the US.. There HAS been a SINGLE SOLITARY death that was RELATED to Omicron, but was NOT from Omicron.
Like the guy who died in a motorcycle accident was "related" to a COVID death.. :^/
Gods, don't you get tired of ALWAYS being WRONG about EVERYTHING!!??
Face the facts, Victoria.. Yer pwned...
AGAIN.....
Michale
91
As usual, Victoria has ZERO facts to support her claims..
I see you reposted my facts regarding the first death. You may now cease and desist in your misinformation on this board.
The U.S. has now had its first reported Omicron variant-related death: a Covid-19 coronavirus reinfection in a man who was unvaccinated against Covid-19.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2021/12/22/first-
omicron-death-in-us-reinfection-in-unvaccinated-man-who-previously-had-covid-19/
Yes, that is an old article that contains a link to the press release which I posted. Thanks for admitting you were wrong every time you posted the asinine claim that there were zero deaths. They're archived on this blog for all posterity and easily searchable.
There has been only a SINGLE death in the US that was thought to be from Omicron..
Not likely, but thanks for at least admitting you were wrong to claim there were "ZERO." You may now stop posting that misinformation here.
As it turns out, it wasn't from Omicron but rather a RE-INFECTION from his previous bout with COVID..
Incorrect. Reading is fundamental, and you have a problem doing it. He died from Omicron strain. It's in the press release contained in the link. You just never tire of of posting misinformation; thanks for proving it time and time again how utterly bad you are at reading the information contained in the actual links you post. Bashi is right, you know; you supply the proof of your own ignorance. We all here appreciate your repetitive ignorance; it's the special gift that keeps on giving.
So, once again the FACT remains.. There has not been a single death from Omicron in the US.. There HAS been a SINGLE SOLITARY death that was RELATED to Omicron, but was NOT from Omicron.
The man died of the Omicron strain of COVID, and reading is fundamental. Thanks for displaying your utter lack of being able to comprehend simple English.
It's so helpful when you repeatedly step up and volunteer freely to demonstrate and reiterate your utter lack of intelligence.
So, to recap: Learn to read. Thank you for reiterating your utter dearth of intelligence. :)
So, you have NO FACTS to support your claim that there has been ANY actual deaths FROM Omicron..
I accept your concession of your own ignorance..
Michale
93
So, you have NO FACTS to support your claim that there has been ANY actual deaths FROM Omicron..
Already posted at [87]. I can provide the facts, but I definitely cannot make the ignorant poons read them or understand them.
You're just determined to prove your too ignorant to know you're too brain cell deficient to understand? And you need your nose rubbed in it again? Fine with me:
DANG IT, EDITED ABOVE
Fine with me:
I accept your concession of your own ignorance..
I think your obvious problem here is not seeming to understand that the man actually died of the Omicron strain which is COVID-19. He had previously suffered COVID-19 (a different variant strain)... proving conclusively that the unvaccinated morons who believe they are immune because they have already been infected are utterly clueless.
Repeat: Omicron is COVID-19.
So... I offered no concession. I provided the proof, and I reiterate that I can provide proof until the cows come home, but I can't make the ignorant poons like yourself understand the written words.
Please keep cuing up the proof that reading comprehension is too complicated for you to accomplish.
I'm fine with your insistence on proving you're brainless. :D