So let’s talk about Rand, to start.
Out of a hundred senators, 8 voted against the first relief bill targeted against the coronavirus. Rand was one. His argument was that the bill needed to be paid for, that they were the defenders of fiscal responsibility and it would be irresponsible to vote for this and not somehow pay for it. He suggested all troops and support personnel should be pulled out of Afghanistan to pay for the bill.
Rand also voted for the trillion dollar tax cut that was not paid for and added that amount to the debt and pushed our deficit above a trillion.
So Rand is a very transparent hypocrite. That is clearly established.
Now he has been identified as having Covid-19. His activities were irresponsible, and his excuses despicable.
Rand appeared at a fund raiser that it was discovered had hosted at least two participants that tested positive for the virus. On being informed of this, the senator did not self-quarantine as so many others have when finding they had contacted infected folks. No, he went on with his normal schedule. He did get tested, inexplicably as no one without active symptoms are currently authorized to receive the test, but we’ll get back to that.
While waiting for the results, Senator Paul decided he would look out for his physical health and go for a workout in the Senate’s gym and swim a few laps in the Senate’s private pool.
After drying off his still youthful, curly mop he got the results.
He had the virus.
Now quarantine seemed appropriate.
The cocky senator seemed nonplussed by the whole ordeal. Asymptomatic, he seems to see himself as the poster boy for the overblown nature of the whole mess. See, this is just a cold. The fact that the onset of symptoms can take up to a week to present gave the senator no pause.
In announcing his results, he addressed the fact that he was able to get a test and that you could not. Though outside the federal guidelines, wasn’t it great that he violated those decrees and got tested? The whole Senate could have been infected.
The stupidity of all this is magnified by the fact that the Senator is also a doctor.
Why do we have the restrictions on tests anyway? Because Trump refused the offer of the WHO to supply tests for our country in favor of making them at home at a company associated with his advisor and son in law, Jared Kushner. They fucked it up of course, the tests didn’t work and the WHO was now busy helping other, saner countries. We have been behind the eight ball ever since, and still are the most severely undertested country in the world. We have no idea how widespread it really is, though the deaths are mounting and can be counted.
The WHO also announced today that the crisis is gaining speed, not losing momentum. The cases in our country took a huge spike today. Very scary stuff. So glad we would have a press conference to see what the national strategy might be to turn the tide. Hunker down, stay inside. Ok. That’s what I’ll do. What will you do, Mr. President? How will you help?
We are truly screwed. Today’s press conference eliminated Dr. Fauci, replacing him with Dr. Debbie Burks, and featured A.G. Barr announcing hoarders would be prosecuted and the President announcing that no matter how bad this gets we are going to open back up for business no matter what. The costs of staying closed are simply too great to the economy. Can’t do it. Go to work. He acknowledged the doctors want to keep it closed for months and we just can’t do that. They have a doctor kind of agenda that just isn’t realistic.
His strategy wll kill people. Rand Paul’s arrogance will kill people. We had two chances to save our lives, 2016 and the impeachment, and we didn’t do it. People are going to die. I might be one. I can stay out of work for a few months, and then I will be forced out into the world. If my job even exists then, it will be impacted in a devestating way. It’s commission sales in a retail environment. That may never come back. I will likely work at slave wages, if at all. At 62 I won’t have businesses fighting for my services. My game may be up.
I’m being unfair of course. The press conference was great fun. When the more compliant Fauci replacement mentioned she had a slight fever over the weekend Trump hilariously threw up his arms and ran away from her. Attorney General Barr couldn’t contain his laughter, and Vice President Pence couldn’t help but show his signature reserve while smiling in spite of it. The President is such a cut up and really is great in keeping the population jolly and unconcerned, and isn’t that what we need the most right now? To laugh at the overwrought snowflakes who think the sky is falling?
By the way, the negotiations for a bailout that will exceed two trillion dollars to address a non-issue continue. The President described that as just a boost for the working folks to jumpstart the post Covid-19 economy. That’s all. Just a jolt, a little spark.
Two trillion. The largest bailout in human history.
A nudge.
How can supporters of this monster still exist? I simply don’t understand how that is possible. What is it about this man that you are literally willing to die for him?
The new messaging is going to be focused on coaxing you out of hiding for the sole purpose of saving his economy. This is not a health decision, this is not a bold assertion that this isn’t as bad as it is. This is an admission that it isn’t about you at all.
If he loses the economy, he loses. He can not believe that could happen. He doesn’t believe that will happen, and he will try to convince you that it won’t happen. Life as usual come Monday. All behind us. Next case.
Just like that, Italy would look quaint.
The second wave we will create will be more intense than the first, as it will have an already existing base that was there anyway, not conquered and swept off the porch like so many oak leaves. We will be encouraged to go back to “normal life” as the President put it. Nothing to see here.
It will explode. Completely predictable. You will be asked not to believe that. You will be those soldiers that were told to walk toward the mushroom cloud. Go ahead. It’s safe. Thank heaven there will be a greater good this serves. I shall not have died in vain.
Hyperbole? I hope so. If we do everything right and we actually do flatten the curve (which will take longer than Monday) this will still be devestating, and we’re not doing everything right. We still gather to see the cherry blossoms. We aren’t telling our kids that spring break will be there next year. We as a population aren’t taking it that seriously because he didn’t. So we won’t control ourselves, and we have no federal directives to stand down. None. He doesn’t want you to stop working. Since it isn’t his edict to stay at home, the only tool he will have to put us all back in the eye of the storm is to put intense pressure on the governors to end their state imposed quarantines. He can also block relief legislation, but the political costs would be too high. Will the governors stand together?
What’s left is the hail mary of the miracle drug. Trials start tomorrow morning in New York on Chloroquine, a malaria medicine that is attempting to be repurposed for use against Covid-19. Let’s hope for it, in spite of the political consequences, which would be dire for this country and perhaps the world. If it is successful millions will be saved and he will get four more years.
People will be certain he deserves it. Maybe you will be. He believed. He’s good at this stuff. Maybe he should have done this instead. Only he could have saved you.
He will be anointed. Don Jr. will follow. Ivanka, first woman President of the United States. Sorry Jared. Blood first.
That’s how we could lose it all, and the irony is it’s the best shot we got.
All Hail King Chloroquine I !