Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to health workers...'Shut up and save us.'

 

E.J. Montini, local Phoenix columnist, strikes again, and as before, he castigates the current governor-thank God! only one more year-Doug (the DUD) Ducey for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Arizona. In his recent State of the State address, Ducey's emphasis was on education and border security, each of which is important, but this idiot ignored the state's 1.5 million Covid-19 cases, and 25,000 deaths. Basically, his reaction,"Shut up and save us."

Montini's response...

If I was one of them I’d be tempted to respond, “Fine, then save yourselves … jerks.”

If I was one of them, I would organize state healthcare providers and come up with a recall petition to dump this moron in disgrace before the end of his last year. More than "1,000 physicians, nurses, caregivers and others have signed an open letter to Gov. Doug Ducey, health care leaders and state and county officials asking for immediate action to help combat the latest omicron surge of COVID-19 cases in Arizona," according to the Arizona Republic.

Here is an excerpt from the letter...

“Our healthcare workforce is suffering from moral injury and burnout from the sustained onslaught that wave after wave of COVID has had on us, our families, and our communities. The COVID-19 pandemic is running unmitigated throughout the state and is straining our hospitals and affecting patient standards of care. Our current situation is unsustainable.”

"Unsustainable," should ring bells and send up flags all over the governor's office.

So, one must assume that Ducey's aides are as stupid as he is? Two top aides left last August, his Chief of Staff, and Deputy Chief of Staff, to take jobs in Washington and Arkansas. The COS is a key position for any politician and you have to wonder if what little brains Ducey had...left with them. The letter also clearly states healthcare workers are suffering from moral injury and burnout.

Here's the scenario...

"The group is asking Ducey, lawmakers and other officials to implement indoor mask requirements, increase access to COVID-19 testing, provide free, high-quality masks to the public and increase funding for air filtration systems in schools and businesses. And they want a safer workplace for themselves.

"They’re asking us this collectively, and they’re asking it individually. You can see some of their stories online."

Recognize CDC protocol? Wearing a mask indoors, increase COVID-19 testing, increase funding for air filtration systems in schools and businesses. This doesn't sound unreasonable to me and these moves could help suppress future outbreaks of the virus. Phoenix-based Dr. Christina Bergin is one of the letter signers and had this to say on her Twitter account...

“We are the ones seeing the devastation of this pandemic day in & day out. We know the realities of working in the hospital and in outpatient settings right now … And that earlier thread didn’t even get into single rooms turned into double rooms, or physicians trying desperately to find beds for critically ill patients but not being able to find any. And it didn’t address the deep moral injury that comes from seeing so much death … .”

Montini wraps it all up with nurses on the frontline begging for help with both Covid cases and deaths soaring. The totally obtuse Ducey chose to ignore all of the above in his State of the State address. But even after all this Montini notes that none of the healthcare workers said, “Fine, then save yourselves, jerks.” They have an oath they keep, which they do. Politicians have one too, but do not keep it.

I would like to thank E.J. Montini for his excellent commentary, which provided the substance for this blog post.

Doctors Venting Misinformation Guilty of Malpractice?

 

NBC says "doctors spreading lies are facing almost no consequences for what they’re doing." You've heard it before...you should be honest with your doctor so he or she can provide you with the best medical treatment. And, the Hippocratic Oath demands as much of physicians. You trust the doc, so, if they go online and come up with some disinformation for either attention or for profit, some will believe it, no matter how false or bizarre. It's happening every day on the Internet.

The Associated Press reports that 70% of Americans trust doctors "according to the poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research." This is bipartisan among Democrats and Republicans; as well as equal among men and women; and white, Black and Hispanic Americans. In addition, nurses are trusted 79%, pharmacists 75%, but hospital executives only 22%.

NBC's opinion piece, THINK, continues...

"But a vocal minority of doctors are undermining this relationship and taking advantage of the public’s trust by intentionally spreading Covid misinformation and disinformation."

And here's how...

"From making false claims about vaccines to offering to sign medically unnecessary mask exemptions in exchange for payment, these “disinformation doctors” are amplifying lies and often profiting from a cottage industry of social media posts, websites, live and virtual conferences and podcasts."

‘I think you’re crazy’: CNN reporter confronts doctor spreading Covid-19 lies...

This is scary as hell since it is obvious that some of this misinformation must have resulted in deaths. And that is why physicians who do this must be held accountable. Have you heard this one?...

"Across the country, physicians have falsely claimed that Covid vaccines change people’s DNA, that the vaccines have been proved ineffective at preventing Covid and that the vaccine has killed more people than the disease itself."

One must wonder why those poor souls out there who believe this crap don't take the time to check it out. But, the fact that they don't is what these bogus physicians depend on. And the worst part is...

"these doctors are facing almost no consequences for what they’re doing. Data shows that nearly every state medical board — the state-sanctioned government agencies with the authority to license, investigate, discipline and regulate medical doctors — is failing to hold these doctors accountable."

They stick together and protect each other. Bet you have been in the position where

you criticized one doctor to another and the doctor you are talking to makes excuses for a colleague, just because they are another doctor. There have been warnings from the Federation of State Medical Boards, which represents the nation's 71 state medical boards. Here's the scenario...

“Physicians who generate and spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation are risking disciplinary action by state medical boards,” including having their licenses suspended or even revoked. In December, the federation shared survey findings showing that two-thirds of state medical boards had seen an increase in complaints “related to licensee dissemination of false or misleading information.”

Here are the results...

only 12 of the boards — just 17 percent — reported taking disciplinary action against those disseminating false or misleading information.

The figure of 17% is abysmal and just proves doctors are bound together to protect each other, which puts patients in a precarious position, in some cases a life or death situation. So what do you do? You've heard the age-old phrase, 'If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.' Take a minute to check out what you hear, especially from the Internet, and report anything that looks fraudulent. It could save your life, as well as others. 

Insurrection Index Lists Names of Those Connected with Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol Riot

 

It has been said that Donald Trump sat in the Oval Office watching "with glee" the mayhem going on at the U.S. Capitol. And just yesterday Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan told the Jan. 6, commission that he would not cooperate. Many double-digits across the country agreed with Jordan, but many did not and are giving their testimony. This includes Trump's vice president, Mike Pence. Here is what the Insurrection Index is all about...

Insurrection Index is a searchable database of records on individuals and organizations in positions of public trust who were involved in the deadly attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. As of January 2022, the Insurrection Index has over 1,000 records of those in public trust who played a role in the insurrection.

There are gobs of information on "elected officials to extremist groups, individuals and organizations mobilized thousands for an egregious attack on democracy." All led by one man, the ex-White House maniac. If you want people, just select "View all profiles." You'll find a host of names including the infamous Wis. Sen. Ron Johnson, who is doubles as an anti-science advocate. Also Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Roy Blunt, Rand Paul, Rick Scott, Pete Sessions, Louie Gohnert and more.

WATCH: Capitol insurrection: Tracking the attack 1 year later...

With each picture is the position of the person. It goes on for 20 pages and I am horrified by the number of participants alone. Next is a U.S. state map, listing the numbers of individuals, elected officials, candidates from office and individuals arrested from that state. There are 1,404 records in the database that include people of trust in this country, those that should be protecting our democracy. These number 214 elected officials, 393 organizations and 1,011 individuals.

There is a box where you can search by insurrectionist name, state or affiliation. There is also a place to donate if you want to support this group. My gut tells me this is a work in progress, and one that will be a top priority for Democrats in the 2022 and 2024 elections. In the meantime, NPR is bringing us up to date on the Jan. 6, riot investigation with the reminder...

"It's been one year since a mob of Donald Trump's supporters, armed with everything from pipes and flagpoles to chemical sprays, smashed their way through police lines and into the ornate halls and chambers of the U.S. Capitol.

"The deadly assault on Congress, as lawmakers met to certify Joe Biden's election win, temporarily forced them to scramble for safety and disrupted the peaceful transfer of power."

Christopher Wray, FBI Director, has branded the attack an act of "domestic

terrorism," initiating "a sprawling federal investigation to track down and bring to account those who took part in the mayhem." Attorney General Merrick Garland says Justice is working hard to "identify, investigate and apprehend defendants from across the country." But based on Garland's handling of the Trump corruption investigation, some think it is not enough.

You'll want to check out the Insurrection Index now to see how many culprits are in your state. And then I suggest regular visits in the future, if you are interested in keeping up with the Jan. 6, investigative committee. 

The Agony of Stupidity...Will Pissing Off Anti Vaxxers Result in More vaccinations?

 

French President Emmanuel Macron is doing it in his country due to the recent surge of the Omicron virus hitting France and the rest of the world. Macron said...

"he wanted to “piss off” millions of his citizens who refuse to get vaccinated by."

Now that's novel and am sure heads of government worldwide are watching to see the results, hopefully Macron's success. But politics are involved as the president indicated it was better to alienate anti-vaxxers who would never vote for him anyway. There's more...

"Using his harshest language yet to urge the recalcitrant to get their shots, Mr. Macron said he would not “throw them in prison” or “vaccinate them by force.” But he made it clear he meant to make their lives harder."

I don't know exactly what the strategy of "squeezing them out of the country’s public spaces" means but if it refers to isolation and ignoring them, I am for that. No one likes to be ignored and this act could help shut down the anti-vaxxing movement. As of today, France has 11,511,452 cases, 314,604 deaths. The country just picked up 328,214 more cases and added 193 deaths. Right now they are running close to the U.S., a much larger country, in new cases.

Watch the out-of-control partiers on Sunwing Airlines...

And speaking of the U.S., we are currently seeing 60,002,978 total cases, 857,165 total deaths. There were 438,862 new cases on Friday, 1,063 additional deaths. Still, we are facing people dying by the day because they did not get a vaccination. Here's a case from Orange County, California...

"Kelly Ernby — a GOP activist known for her opposition to vaccine mandates — has died of COVID-19 at the age of 46, according to the Daily Pilot."

Ernby was an anti-vaxxer even before coronavirus, objecting to req1uiring children to get their shots before going to school. It seems to me only a complete imbecile would object to protecting the school population against things like measles, chickenpox or other diseases. 

Turning next to an Arizona couple who apparently thought they were invincible, as

have so many other anti-vaxxers. The article says Bob and Sue Walker were inseparable during more than 44 years of marriage, "they were soulmates." Neither was vaccinated and they both had health issues, and they were separated in the end, dying on different floors of a Phoenix hospital.

And here is one of the best anti-vaxxing stories I have heard so far. A Canadian group chartered a Sunwing plane to take them from Montreal to Mexico. They filmed themselves partying without masks...

"Videos of the 30 December flight shared on social media show
unmasked passengers in close proximity while singing and dancing in the aisle and on seats. In one video, a large bottle of vodka appears to be passed among passengers and a woman appears to be smoking an electronic cigarette."

The gang was so unruly that Sunwing cancelled their return flight. Later, three other airlines refused to provide them passage back to their home in Canada. It was so bad, Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, called them "idiots," one of the best descriptions of anti-vaxxers I know of since it represents the lowest level of mentality. They face fines (U.S.) $3,900 for each infraction. If they can't pay, I say throw them in a Mexican jail.

Maybe Macron and Trudeau can get together and come up with a strategy between the two countries that will get vaccinations going worldwide. Unfortunately, we haven't had that luck in the United States.

FINALLY...GOOD NEWS...About the Coronavirus Pandemic

 

Several of the media have published articles lately that purport to know both the current status of and projected direction of Covid-19. They are enlightening but don't carry the credibility of DATELINE'S, "What, Me Worry? Government Officials Downplay Covid-19 Panic Even As Case Counts Soar." Has someone finally discovered the approach to measuring and reporting the coronavirus pandemic? The analogy with the Stanley Kubrick film, Dr. Strangelove, strikes gold...

more and more of those with pandemic fatigue across the nation are starting to recognize the film’s sub-title as the way they should be carrying on: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

The author, Bruce Haring, sets the stage with comments like, "some officials appear to be tossing up their hands," and "The federal government has already said they have no solution, kicking the can to the states." Sounds like the wheels are coming off but in retrospect, we can actually see light at the end of the tunnel. That light comes from states with governors that realize the potential damage from Covid, but take a levelheaded approach.

It does not include governors like Florida's Ron DeSantis, Texas' Greg Abbott or South Dakota's Kristi Noem. Currently these states have a total of 4,610,197 cases of coronavirus, 62,625 total deaths, 5,003,717 cases, 76,838 deaths, 189,411 cases, 2,522 deaths, respectively. The recent antics of DeSantis and Abbott are ample

reason to brand these two lunatics, killing machines, their two states alone with a total death toll of 139,463. That's 16% of total U.S. deaths.

Here's the scenario from four governors, one, Phil Murphy, a Democrat...

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has suggested Covid-19 and its variants could be treated more like the flu. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is focused on voluntary mask wearing and vaccinations. “We don’t have the practical ability to really put on a statewide mask order at this point,” DeWine said in late December. “I don’t think it’s appropriate at this point. We have the vaccine. We have the tools.”

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy echoed that approach. “Here is what we need everyone to really take to heart — the need to mask up, to get boosted and to just practice common sense,” Murphy said.

South Carolina set a record for positive tests over the New Year’s weekend. But Gov. Henry McMaster took it in stride. “If you get real sick, there will be room in the hospitals,” he promised. “There’s no need to panic. Be calm. Be happy. We just had a great Christmas season. Business is booming.”

Haring calls California a "nanny" state where Gavin Newsom feels his people will "self-enforce and do the right thing.” However...

Over the last week, California has seen an average of 54,695 new coronavirus cases per day. That’s the highest rolling total of the pandemic. The previous high in the surge was about 46,000 cases per day last winter.

At least Newsom has his head on right and not up his hind end like Abbott and DeSantis. Continuing...

hospitalizations are also not skyrocketing in the big picture. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the rate of those infected with Covid-19 who are hospitalized has dropped 50 percent in many locations compared to the record highs seen a year ago. Three percent of cases are admitted to hospitals, the CDC data shows. While percentages may be up, that’s not indicative of imminent armageddon.

Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Assn., feels the recent events are a transition of the virus and that we will be able to live with it. Just like the bomb. This is somewhat confirmed by a number of recent assurances by experts that the major variant, Omicron, is peaking. This article supports these assertions. 

Axelrod: It is Way too Early to Count Joe Biden Out

 

President Biden is taking hits from every direction, mostly the right, but some from his own people because he is not aggressive enough. Well, that all changed yesterday at the U.S. Capitol when he figuratively decapitated Donald Trump. His castigation of the ex-president was very thorough without even mentioning the former White House maniac's name. The Daily Beast says Biden "struck the perfect balance" in assailing Trump on "the day that Biden became president."

Here's the scenario...

"It was serious, but not whiney. And he didn’t just mock Trump for losing. "You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t obey the law only when it’s convenient. You can’t be patriotic when you embrace and enable lies,” Biden said. "Those who stormed this Capitol, and those who instigated and incited, and those who called on them to do so held a dagger at the throat of America.”

 Biden addresses nation year after Jan. 6 Capitol attack...

If ever there was a condemnation of the attacks on U.S. democracy by Republicans, led by Donald Trump, this is it. Alex Henderson of AlterNet likens Joe Biden's current status--before the Jan. 6 speech, that is--in this manner...

"As 2021 draws to a close, President Joe Biden finds himself in a position that recalls President Barack Obama around late 2009 and 2010, President Bill Clinton around 1993 and President Ronald Reagan around 1982. Biden’s poll numbers are disappointing, and he is facing the possibility of the opposition party enjoying a midterms wave election — not unlike Obama, Clinton and Reagan before him."

And the idiot replies to Biden's speech...

 However, DB calls the defense of democracy, preachy, alarmist, and even weak, adding...

(this was the same problem liberals faced in the 1930s, when they looked weak and impotent in the face of more dynamic and energetic fascist leaders).

Going back to that era, The Washington Post reports three reasons fascism spread...

• The first was a major economic depression and social dislocation that undermined people’s confidence in democracy and led them to look for alternatives.
• The second factor was fear of communism, which led many leading intellectuals to embrace fascism as a bulwark against Bolshevism and as the lesser of two evils.
• The third factor was the rise of Nazi Germany as an economic and military powerhouse.

Addressing each, we currently have a great economy, the threat of communism is

nil, but there is concern over communist China's latest moves as an economic power, but not a threat. So, one must face the fact fascism's recent rise is due almost entirely to Donald Trump and his administration. WaPo mentions other factors, inequality, unemployment in certain areas and a massive drug epidemic. Most encouraging, though, is former Obama adviser, David Axelrod's comment...

"that it is way too early to start writing an obituary on Biden’s presidency."

This is good news that Biden and all of us lefties have been waiting to hear, and from a political pro at that. Now, all you Biden naysayers can bite the bullet and get ready for 2022, then 2024.

Republicans Don't Want Democracy. They Want a Concentration Camp

 

The GOP has long forgotten the mission of Congress, which is to make the United States, and the world, a better place to live in. They don't want a better place. They only want control, and led by Moscow Mitch McConnell, they have been working in this direction for several years now. If they succeed in taking over Congress and the White House in 2022 and 2024, they will get their wish. They will have Democrats in the concentration camp of their making.

Here's the definition of a concentration camp...

internment centre for political prisoners and members of national or minority groups who are confined for reasons of state security, exploitation, or punishment, usually by executive decree or military order.

At this point, Democrats will be the minority group of power, destined to live under a dictatorship of the chosen one that next rules the Republican Party. Currently in authority is, of course, Moscow Mitch and Kevin McCarthy. Others might include Mike Pence, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, John Cornyn and a host of others. I would doubt id if any self-respecting leftie would agree on any of this gang of idiots.  Mitt Romney, now, might work.

Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post says in an opinion piece, "The GOP isn’t even trying to sound coherent anymore." And in the disjointed rhetoric is an indication of how this body of morons is acting. There is a picture of Ron Johnson, Sen. from Wisconsin, in the article, which I assume is an illustration of current GOP idiocy. An avid anti-vaxxer, instead of getting vaccinated, Johnson just this past December recommended gargling with mouthwash to "kill the coronavirus."

Republicans Are Running Against Democracy Not Democrats | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

Unmentioned in the potential dictators above, is ex-president Donald Trump, not an oversight, just anticipation that he has finally become a has-been. Not so when Rubin designates him as "the undisputed head of the party," and she is much closer to the Washington political circus than I. She describes his "babbling" cancellation of his Jan. 6, press conference at Mar-a Lago, adding...

"Even nuttier than the statement itself was the entire Republican Party’s refusal to remark upon his aberrant behavior."

And here lies the horror of seeing the GOP in control of this country. A lunatic as the dictator, and hundreds of maniacal minions bowing at his feet. In the meantime, the U.S. slides back into the downward spiral we went through from 2016 to 2020. In the Guardian, "One-party rule is now the credo of Trump and his followers," with a sub-headline, "An illiberal democracy, similar to Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, is increasingly the model for Republicans."

This is scary and could be partially realized by the end of this year. More from the

Guardian...

"The first anniversary of the invasion of the Capitol approaches, our cold civil war grows hotter by the day, and the numbers tell the story. A majority of Republicans view the attack as a defense of freedom (56%) and just under half (47%) cast it as an act of patriotism. For good measure, one in six Americans approve of the events of 6 January 2021, including nearly a quarter of Republicans."

The Democrats are a pathetic bunch who mean well but apparently have completely forgotten how to wager a political fight for their life. If someone on the left doesn't turn up the heat soon, we'll only be able to experience democracy in the history books.