Sunday, March 15, 2020

Remember the Last Global Pandemic? Probably Not

Bloomberg
In 2009, a new strain of H1N1 influenza emerged. It did not cause anywhere near the disruption that Covid-19 has, and for good reason.


. . . "Swine flu has a history that makes health authorities pay special heed. In 1918, a variant of H1N1 influenza caused a global pandemic that is estimated to have killed as many as 50 million people, or 2.7% of the world’s population. After tests found H1N1 in two soldiers during a flu outbreak at the Fort Dix army base in New Jersey in 1976, the U.S. government jumped into action, with President Gerald Ford announcing a plan to vaccinate “every man, woman, and child in the United States.” That turned into something of a debacle, though, as the virus didn’t seem to spread beyond Fort Dix and the hastily assembled vaccine killed about 30 people."
. . . 
"By the time the vaccines became widely available in November, though, H1N1 was already on the decline. By January, many countries were canceling their vaccine orders, and a German physician and former Social Democratic politician was leading a campaign lambasting the WHO for declaring a “fake” pandemic to gin up business for pharmaceutical manufacturers." . . .

Biden has experience dealing with pandemics as this 2009 cartoon proves:

Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News




Joe's a mess and Bernie's a disaster, but the Democrats are insidious

Biden and Sanders one-on-one debate will be a good preview of Biden against Trump
. . . "Now, it's difficult to believe that the same man who often seems easily flustered and confused during debates once treated Paul Ryan with such confidence that the Guardian wrote the following headline: "Joe Biden's alpha-male display leaves Paul Ryan overwhelmed in VP debate." Times certainly have changed." . . .
. . . Sunday night's debate between Biden and Sanders will be less about who is victorious in the present battle and more about how similar behavior would translate to a stage with Trump as the opponent. If Biden is looking to reassure Democrats and potentially sway independents to his side, he'll have to be strong and assured throughout. Recent history is not on his side, and any failure to deliver will only embolden his ultimate rival." . . .



Slow Joe Getting Slower (Updated: He Lied - Again)  "Since we’re all settled in now for The Great Hunkering and looking for things to do, you might want to spend four minutes watching Slow Joe Biden from his “virtual town hall” in Illinois a few days ago. The opening section of this clip shows his propensity for sheer confusion and befuddlement, but then in response to a question about the Endangered Species Act he goes off in into full Biden Loghorrea Mode." . . . Video here


Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s 87th birthday should be motivation for Democrats to back Biden   "Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a four-time cancer survivor, turns 87 on Sunday.
"That’s it.
"That’s all you really need to know for the 2020 presidential election if you’re a Democrat or left-leaning moderate." . . .



Watch Joe Biden Forget What Year It Is And Then Walk Away During Live Video Stream  "Yikes." 
"It’s moments like this that have more and more people understandably concerned about the mental well-being of the Democrat front-runner for president.
"And note too how his handlers quickly replace the image of confused Joe Biden shuffling out of frame with a campaign logo image during what was a live video stream meant to show Mr. Biden discussing concerns with voters.
"Trying to keep these Biden gaffes somewhat contained/hidden has become a 24/7 operation for the Biden campaign." . . .  Video



If not these two, then who?  I'm afraid to ask.

We’re Paying The Price For The Death Of Journalism

"The death of journalism has left Americans with nowhere to turn to for reliable, honest reporting. All of these outlets could and should have only experts on to talk about coronavirus. What someone on the payroll with zero background in medicine thinks about this situation might be good for ratings, but it’s not journalism. And people tune in to news networks expecting to get news, especially in times like this."
Townhall


"That journalism is dead has been a punchline for so long that we’ve forgotten how that fact has real world consequences. We’re now paying the price for the failure of that profession to hold itself to any semblance of standards. As worry and straight-up panic sweep large swaths of the country, causing irrational toilet paper hoarding and runs on canned goods, there is no outlet and no journalist worthy of trust when it comes to conveying truthful information to the public or to hold anyone in power accountable.
"Eight years of sycophantic, throne sniffing coverage under President Barack Obama gave way to four years of nitpicking, hostility, and conspiracy theories. There are no standards anymore; if someone on TV hates President Trump, there is no outrageous, medically dubious statement they can make on CNN or MSNBC that will be challenged and if they love him, there is nothing that will be challenged on Fox. The opposite is true on those networks if you replace “President Trump” with any Democrat." . . .
. . . "These are unserious people in a time of serious challenges. The world’s greatest minds in the field of infectious diseases are working to save the lives of older, vulnerable people and they see opportunity. Senators fret, “Right now in America, it is easier to get an AR-15 than a test kit for COVID-19,” while noted liberals complain, “Note that Trump’s coronavirus team is all male, all old, and all white,” while there are women, one a woman of color, speaking at that very moment." . . .

SEE IT: Televangelist claims to cure coronavirus through television sets; Viewers urged to put their hands on their screens to be healed

Not - repeat NOT - from the Babylon Bee! The Bee probably knows they can't top this.
(What if it's a rerun? Does it still work?)
The left calls this man a conservative, implying we are all this silly, but I assure them I cannot tell you how embarrassing I find people like this and their followers to be. I consider Copeland to be the Don Lemon of evangelists. 
Conservatives may have Copeland and Benny Hinn, but liberals have Lemon, Maddow, Jim Acosta, Lawrence O'Donnell, Krugman, and....TD

NY Daily News



The apostle Paul passes his wisdom on to his disciple Timothy, including this warning: 1 Timothy 6:5 . . ."and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." (Go to the Scripture posted to see this in its context.) The source is implying conservatives believe this man, but I assure you most of us are repulsed by this heresy and implore people to reject his teachings. I consider men like Copeland to be the CNN of religion. . . .
The Tunnel Dweller



. . . "I'm not even sure how you out-evil us, but he's managed it."

Kenneth Copeland Unveils New, Greener Jet That Runs On The Souls Of Those Deceived By The Prosperity Gospel
. . . "Copeland's good friends Benny Hinn and Creflo Dollar immediately placed an order with Kenneth Copeland Ministries for their own models.

Compassionate Kenneth Copeland Utters Brief Prayer For Third-World Countries While Flying Over Them In His Luxury Jet
"You claim WHAT?
" . . . on the way to his latest lucrative speaking engagement.

Kenneth Copeland In A Real Pickle After Audience Member Names, Claims His Private Jet
. . . "At publishing time, the televangelist was feeling a little better after remembering that he also owns a Cessna 550 Citation Bravo."